Tribute to Late Adhikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya on the auspicious occasion of 202nd Bhanu Jayanti Celebrations 2016
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Every year on the 13th of July, The Gorkhas a.k.a. Gurkhas or Gorkhalis all over India and Nepal celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Late Adhikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya. This day is observed as a National Holiday only in the state of Sikkim and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration a.k.a G.T.A. in India and as a national holiday in the People's Democratic Republic of Nepal.
Every school and college, every Panchayat and town, every public and private businesses and offices in Sikkim and G.T.A. and also in many other places where the Gorkhas and the Nepalese reside, pay their homage and deepest respect to Late Adhikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya for his contribution to the society and to a nation as a whole. People pray, offer prayer khadas, garlands, flowers and recite the sloks or hymns of the Ramanaya (especially the Bal Kand and the Ayodhya Kand ), perform cultural dances and songs, wear traditional dresses (male members wear the Daura-Suruwal and Dhaka Topi and also carry their martial art weapon the Khukuri while the female wear Chowbandi Cholo and many Gorkha ornaments with great pride, respect and honour) and take part in processions, social events and gatherings, playing traditional musical instruments and performing dances. In short, the entire day is spent with love, laughter and a lot of merry-making. Meanwhile, in many societies and programmes, a lot of awards and prizes are offered to young students, great achievers and dignitaries who excel in the field of art, culture, science, academics, literature, sports, music, etc.
For those who ask 'Who was Bhanubhakta Acharya??' and Why is he so important???
He was born in 1814 at Chundi Ramgha gaun (village) in Tanahu district of western Nepal. He was educated at home by his grandfather, Shri Krishna Acharya.
Bhanubhakta was the first poet of Nepal. Poets before him in Nepal usually wrote in Sanskrit. One of his writings is well known for its colorful, flowing praise of Kathmandu valley and its inhabitants. (Titled Kantipuri Nagari meaning Kantipur town)
Bhanubhakta translated great epic "Ramayana" from Sanskrit to Nepali. He not only translated Ramayan but also gave a famous rhyme called Bhanubhaktiya laya.
All his ideas and experiences were derived from his intuition. He started the thread of writing. He is the one who made it possible to reach true story of Ramayana to every Nepali speaking Gorkha Community. He is a pioneer and is regarded as one of the creators of Nepali language.
Statue of Late Adhikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chowrasta, Darjeeling.
Many wrote poetry in Sanskrit that were too heavily to understand. Bhanubhakta was definitely "the" writer who gained the acceptance of a wide range of people and his creations played a key role in popularizing the written form of Nepali language.
Bhanubhakta's contribution is unique. Children who received an education at the time began their studies with light epics such as the "Ramayan" and graduated to the more complex "Upanishads" and "Vedas."
Ram's heroic exploits were highly impressive to Bhanubhakta, so he decided to make the deity more accessible to the people who spoke Khas. (Since the social order did not encourage literacy, most country people did not understand anything when epics were read out to them in Sanskrit those days.)
When completed, his translation of the Ramayan was so lyrical that it was more like a song than a poem.
Here are two of his famous poems that are evergreen in the pages of different school and college text books, these poems are recited by millions now in schools, colleges, cultural programmes, elocution contests and many more.
The first and the most famous one is:
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घाँसी
भर् जन्म घाँस तिर मन् दिई धन कमायो
नाम क्यै रहोस् पछि भनेर कुवा खनायो
घाँसी दरिद्र घरको तर बुद्धि कस्तो
म भानुभक्त धनी भैकन किन यस्तो
मेरा ईनार न त सत्तल पाटिकै छन्
जे धन चीजहरु छन् घर भित्रनै छन्
त्यस घाँसीले कसरी आज दिए छ अर्ति
धिक्कार हो म कन बस्नु न राखि किर्ति
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And if translated in English it means:
(For your information:
The poem is called ‘Ghasi Kuwa’ (literally ‘Grassy Well’ or, better, ‘The Grass-Cutter’s Well’), and the memorial park is near the site of the original ghasi kuwa.)
Devoting his life to cutting grass, he earned some money;
And hoping to be remembered, he dug a well.
The grass-cutter is poor at home, but so rich in spirit.
I, Bhanubhakta have done nothing with my wealth.
I have no well, nor inns nor rest houses
Whatever wealth and riches I have are in my home.
What a lesson this grass-cutter has given!
‘Tis a shame to sit idle without doing some good deed.
Here is another famous one of his poems:
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कान्तिपुरी नगरी
चपला अवलाहरु एक सुरमा
गुनकेसरीको फूल ली शिरमा
हिंड्न्या सखि लीकन ओरिपरी
अमरावती कान्तिपुरी नगरी ।।१।।
यति छन् भनि गन्नु कहाँ धनियाँ ।
सुखी छन् मनमा बहुतै दुनियाँ
जनकी यसरी सुखकी सगरी
अलकापुरी कान्तिपुरी नगरी ।।२।।
कहिँ कालभरी गल्लि छ दिल्ली सरी ।
कहिँ भोट र लण्डन चीन सरी
लखनौ पटना मदरास सरी
अलकापुरी कान्तिपुरी नगरी ।।३।।
तरवार कतार खुडाँ खुकुरी
पिस्तोल र वन्दुक सम्म भिरी ।
आतिसुर र वीर भरि नगरी
छ त कुन सरी कान्तिपुरी नगरी ।।४।।
रिस राग कपट छैन यहाँ
तब धर्म कति छ कति छ यहाँ ।
पशुका पति छन् रखवारी गरी
शिवकी पुरी कान्तिपुरी नगरी ।।५।।
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For more information and detailed study one can always take help from the library and also the help of the internet to gather more information.
Thank you everyone for spending some time today to go through the pages of my blog.
You all have been my greatest inspiration to keep posting more and more.
Stay safe and have a good one!!
Vikrant Yonzone
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