KATHMANDU: The 212th birth anniversary of Adikabi Bhanubhakta Acharya is being commemorated today through various programs organized by the Nepali community both at home and abroad.
Born on Asar 29, 1871 BS in Chundiramgha, Tanahun district, Bhanubhakta is celebrated as the first poet of Nepali literature. He played a vital role in fostering national unity through language, literature, and culture by producing timeless literary works.
Bhanubhakta made an immense contribution to Nepali literature and cultural identity by emotionally translating the Ramayana—originally written in Sanskrit—into the Nepali language. His version of the Ramayana continues to be recited in households across the country, often in a melodic and rhythmic form.
Bhanubhakta was famously inspired by a humble ‘ghaansi’ (grass cutter), who encouraged him to do something meaningful that would leave a lasting legacy. Motivated by this encounter, he translated the Ramayana into the Nepali language—an act that earned him recognition as a literary pioneer.
Among his other notable works are ‘Prashnottar’, ‘Bhaktamala’, ‘Ramgita’, and ‘Badhushiksha’.
To mark the occasion, various organizations dedicated to language, literature, and cultural preservation are hosting commemorative events across the country and in Nepali-speaking communities abroad.
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