National 5 (Spotlight Weekly)

Literary Connection

The satirical poets from Nepal and India come together to exchange their talents and keep the audience in Nepal captivated through their art.

By THAKUR AMGAI

Nepal and India share common values and culture. From literature to music and religions to culture, there are many similarities between the people of the two countries. In a recent satirist and poetic programs, poets and satirists from the two neighbors showed these commonalities through their artistic expression.

After a three-year long 'agitation' (in the words of satirist Krishna Murari Gautam popularly known as Chatyang Mastar), with 'a one-point demand' to hold a joint conference of satirical poets in Nepal, about a dozen satirists and poets got together at the Royal Nepal Academy Monday evening (November 1), and had the audience bursting in laughter. The hall was jam packed with hundreds in the audience, many standing on the pave ways due to lack of space.

Begun with ritual formalities, the audience was totally moved when the master of ceremony handed over the microphone to Ashok Chakradhar, a renowned satirist, literary figure, and television program presenter from India. With his naturally spontaneous remarks on a variety of subjects, the audience could feel the warmth in his humor.

When Om Byas "Om" stepped up to the microphone to recite his satirical poems, once again the audience was in stitches. His repertoire focused on social transformation, and incorporated incisive satire to bring out the humor the subject.

Not only did the poets win over the audience with humor, but they also aimed for their listeners' softer side. Lyricists like Kabita Kiran from Rajasthan and Dr. Bishnu Saksena, a Delhi-based lyricist, recited (or rather sang) songs speaking out the mind of youngsters.

The conference was perfectly conducted in a most natural, friendly, satirical, and, of course, humorous manner. The audience was totally impressed by the art and personality of Ashok Chakradhar.

"Poets see and tell you of what you have seen," said Ashok Chakradhar. "And that is what we all have done here. You tend to take up euphoria on hearing what you have seen from others."

This humor, warmth and thrill kept the audience spellbound for more than four hours at a program, which was initially scheduled for only two hours. After the formation of B.P. Koirala Nepal-India Foundation, people of both the countries get opportunities to observe this kind of programs.

Gajendra Salonki's melodious humor poems and light-hearted comments to his fellow poets not only amused the audience, but also provoked replies from Kabita Kiran and Deepak Gupta further giving the audience reason to laugh. Young poet Deepak Gupta amused the audience with a 'love poem' using computer terminology.

And Guru Saksena's self-deprecating poems based on science had the audience rolling in the aisles.

Participants from Nepal presented poems with incisive satire on the current political situation, the political leaders, and the current social issues. Laxman Gamnage and Chatyang Mastar recited excellent poems with penetrating satire towards the bureaucracy, politicians and leaders of society. Manoj Gajurel's caricature triggered yet more waves of applause.

The program organized jointly by B. P. Koirala Nepal- India Foundation and the Indian Embassy was organized to strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries through people to people relations. Sishnu Pani Nepal and Nepal Bharat Maitri Sangh were instrumental in making the program a success. And Shiv Shankar Mukharjee, the Indian envoy to Nepal stressed the need of such programs to further strengthen the cultural ties between the two neighbors.