Shilash Thapa Tamang
Kathmandu, 6 August
Sahityabarta: Shrasta ra Sirjana, an online literary talk show run by SahityaPost, has decided to honor three Nepali artists in the UAE on the successful celebration of the 50th episode of the programme. Poet and cultural expert Tulasi Diwasa, novelist and Editor-in-Chief of SahityaPost Aswini Koirala and singer Raj Sigdel will be honored during the event scheduled for August 27, Sunday at Bardubai, Dubai.
Sahityabarta, on the completion of its 50th episode, will honor the literary giant, poet and cultural expert Tulasi Diwasa with cash prize. Poet Diwasa will be honoured with ‘Sahityabarta Bishista Srashta Samman’. “We have decided to honor poet Diwasa for his exceptional contribution to Nepali literature,” said the coordinator of the event, poet Jeevit Khadka Magar. Poet Diwasa is one of the most celebrated modern Nepali poets who is credited for popularizing Nepali poetry and culture in more than 70 countries abroad. He has chaired many literary and cultural conferences, including those on folklore, and has represented Nepal in key global literary conclaves and seminars. A professor of culture, poet Diwasa is also an articulate speaker.
Novelist and Editor-in-Chief of SahityaPost, Aswini Koirala will be honored with citation and cash in critical appreciation of his efforts in promoting Nepali literature. As a literary journalist, writer and literary campaigner, Mr. Koirala has spent more than three decades popularizing Nepali literature and grooming young talents. He conceptualized SahityaPost, an extremely popular literary portal that has become a global literary phenomenon for Nepali writers all over the world. He also leads English SahityaPost, the English edition of the portal launched recently. He has moderated several creative writing workshops and seminars especially arranged for young and evolving writers. Koirala is also a patron to the literary talk Sahityabarta: Shrasta ra Srijana. He is scheduled to attend literary events in Doha, Abhu Dhabi, Dammam and other cities in the Gulf, besides Dubai, during his upcoming visit.
Popular singer Raj Sigdel will also be honored for his continuous effort in promoting Nepali music. Singer Sigdel is renowned for the voice and melody he has lent to Nepali songs, especially ghazals that have earned him global acclaim. Semi-classical and soulful singing is his trademark.
It might be noted that Sahityabarta completed its 50th episode on July 15 and has decided to mark the achievement with the distribution of the aforementioned honors during a grand poetic meet due for August 27 in Dubai. The event will also include poetry recital and musical performances, event manager Deepak Raj Neyonghang told SahityaPost.
Kathmandu-based poet Indira Adhikari will also attend the event as a guest ghazalist. She will have special ghazal recitation in the event. Besides the visiting artists, Nepali poets living in the UAE will also have their literary presentation in the event.
Sagarmatha Sahitya Prathisthan, Sirjana Bachan Dabali, International Nepali Community of UAE and various social organizations are sponsoring the event.
Literary talk Shaityabarta was being broadcasted every Saturday at 8 pm Nepali time through the official Facebook Page and YouTube channel of SahityaPost. Upon the completion of its 50th episode, the programme is reportedly taking a short break. Its presenter DG Sharma informed the press that the organizers had to withhold the programme for a short time owing to some technical issues. Coordinator Magar said, they will be conferring Shahityabarta Bisista Shrasta Samman to a distinguished litterateur upon the completion of every fifty episodes hereafter.
