By Amar Raj Naharki
Tanahun, Dec. 26: The house of Nepal’s pioneer poet Adikabi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, located at Bhanu Municipality-4, Tanahun, has been lying in ruins.
Covered with weeds, the house has remained in a state of disrepair even 18 years after it was gutted by fire. All the wooden doors and windows were consumed by fire. Only some walls stand today.
Litterateurs from home and abroad, who reach the place with high hopes, often report feeling disappointed upon seeing the dire condition of the house.
An eminent Nepali poet, Acharya is credited with unifying the country linguistically. His contribution to Nepali literature is beyond measure.
However, neither the state nor a private organisation has been able to pay due homage to his contribution – a fact evidenced by the awful state of the house which many revere as a literary pilgrimage and the centre of Nepali language.
Chairman of Geetal Pratisthan Nepal and Natak Manch, Tanahun, Akash Adhikari, said that it was heartbreaking to see only the ruins of the house.
Adhikari shared litterateurs from around the world, who reached Chundiramga some time ago to attend the International Poetry Conference, felt dismayed after seeing the house in derelict state.
“The government should immediately allocate budget and rebuild the Adikabi’s house. Paying no attention to its renovation is an insult to the great poet,” said Adhikari.
Echoing Adhikari, Chairman of the International Welfare and Support Foundation in the United States, Dilli Adhikari, who recently visited the place, said he was disappointed to see the house left in utter disregard.
“Bhanu Bhakta is highly respected in Darjeeling and Sikkim of India. But I feel that he is not paid much respect in his own country,” said Adhikari with a heavy heart.
Chief of Bhanu Municipality Uday Raj Gauli also said that the government had neglected this historic monument by keeping Bhanu’s Birthplace Development Committee under the local government. The committee was formed in 2052 BS.
“The project remained neglected because the federal government handed over the responsibility to the local government,” he claimed.
The committee formed by the government for the development and protection of the historic site has remained without office bearers for more than four years.
Former executive director of the committee Shankar Ranabhat opined that the birthplace of Adhikabi, a heritage of Nepali literature and symbol of linguistic unity, had not gained national importance as it had been kept under a local level.
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation used to allocate budget for the development of a place through the committee.
However, in absence of the office bearers, it has been difficult to carry out the reconstruction work, as well as literary activities.
The house was last repaired in 1998 for the shoot of Yadav Kharel’s film ‘Adhikabi Bhanu Bhakta’. However, on April 23, 2003, it caught fire and was burned down.
Since then, many officials have promised to rebuild the house and restore its glory. But nothing has been done so far.
In March, 2017, the then chief secretary Som Lal Subedi even laid the foundation stone for the house in the presence of former chief secretary Leela Mani Poudyal and President of the Western Region Development Forum (WRDF) Ram Kaji Kone.
At the time, it was announced that reconstruction work on the house would begin immediately with financial assistance from WRDF. A cost estimate of Rs. 6.8 million was prepared too.
The plan was to construct an entire area dedicated to Adhikabi Acharya on 10 ropanis of land, which would consist of his house, a pond, garden, museum, chautaris and other structures. But the work has not moved an inch since then.
Ward chairman of Bhanu Municipality-4 Purna Bahadur Laudaribhat said that it was necessary to make a fire-resistant house as it was located in the middle of the forest.
Laudaribhat also highlighted the need to bring the committee under federal or provincial government so that the historic place would get national importance. “This will also help to attract more tourists to Bhanu’s birthplace,” he added.
The house was built by Acharya’s great grandfather Shree Krishna Acharya.
Do not make expressions casting dout on election: EC
14 Apr, 2022CM Bhatta says may New Year 2079 BS inspire positive thinking
14 Apr, 2022Three new cases, 44 recoveries in 24 hours
14 Apr, 2022689 climbers of 84 teams so far acquire permits for climbing various peaks this spring season
14 Apr, 2022How the rising cost of living crisis is impacting Nepal
14 Apr, 2022US military confirms an interstellar meteor collided with Earth
14 Apr, 2022Valneva Covid vaccine approved for use in UK
14 Apr, 2022Chair Prachanda highlights need of unity among Maoist, Communist forces
14 Apr, 2022Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt: Bollywood toasts star couple on wedding
14 Apr, 2022President Bhandari confers decorations (Photo Feature)
14 Apr, 2022