By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, July 13: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai expressed reverence for Aadikabi Bhanubhakta Acharya on the poet’s 207th birth anniversary on Monday.

Issuing a message on the occasion, he called Acharya a pioneer poet in the field of Nepali literature just like Valmiki in Sanskrit and Homer in Greek.

“His works are a poetic and artistic reflection of the then Nepali society,” the message read.

Aadikabi Acharya translated the epic Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali for the first time and Minister Bhattarai called this translation lyrical, simple and easy to understand for the people. “This translated Ramayan touches upon the normal lives of Nepalis,” he said.

Bhattarai further said that Acharya’s works guided the society towards truth, justice, peace, non-violence and helpfulness and called it our duty to educate future generations about the Aadikabi and his works.

Meanwhile, in Chitwan, the occasion was marked by reciting Acharya’s Ramayan. Chitwan Literary Council, Narayan Kala Mandir and Bhanu Secondary School jointly organised a programme wherein various literary personalities like Govinda Raj Binodi, Kapil Agyaat and others spoke about Acharya’s contribution to Nepali language.

Aadikabi Acharya was born in 1814 in Chundiramgha, Tanahun.

(With input from our Narayangadh correspondent)