Literary meet in Sonada revisits legacy of Nepali writer Manbahadur Gurung

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: A literary meet was organised at Sonada in Darjeeling on Saturday to revisit the literary and cultural legacy of eminent Indian Nepali writer, dramatist and cultural activist Manbahadur Gurung.

The programme was jointly organised by Sahitya Akademi and Sonada Sahitya Sansthan (SSS) at the auditorium of Sonada Degree College and featured literary discussions and a poetry session.

According to an SSS press release, the first session, titled “Through My Window – Manbahadur Gurung”, focused on the life, personality and literary works of Gurung, while the second session featured a poetry conference.

Sahitya Akademi's Nepali Language Advisory Board member Asha Mukhiya Lama said the Akademi had been organising literary programmes in different parts of the country to encourage writers, promote regional literary activities and provide platforms to emerging talents.

She expressed hope that such collaborative initiatives with local literary organisations would further strengthen literary exchange and cooperation.

Senior Indian Nepali litterateur Dr. Jiban Namdung, who was the chief guest, described Gurung as a powerful voice in Nepali humour and satire.

Namdung said Gurung occupied a significant place in the literary tradition of Darjeeling and that his works continued to hold lasting literary value.

A major highlight of the programme was a research-oriented presentation on Gurung's personality and literary works by poet and writer Naresh Katuwal.

Katuwal described Gurung as a versatile personality whose contributions extended beyond poetry to fiction, drama, songwriting, music, acting and folk arts.

He stressed the need for further research and critical study of Gurung's literary works, particularly his plays, stories and poems, and also highlighted the stylistic and ideological aspects of his writings.

The programme brought together writers, poets and literary enthusiasts to discuss the contribution of Gurung to Indian Nepali literature and culture.