INLS Florida Chapter-PRESS RELEASE Of First PATHSHALA And Devkota Satabarsiki In Tampa (12/05/2009)

                                        PRESS RELEASE of First PATHSHALA and Devkota Satabarsiki in Tampa ,Florida

-        Sadhana Sharma

International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) Florida Chapter-Tampa Region together with the Nepalese Students’ Association (NeSA) has successfully organized the commencement of “Pathshala” in Tampa region and the “Centennial Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota Anniversary” on Saturday Nov 21st, 2009, in University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.

On this occasion, (Retd) Major Gyan Bahadur Karki, opened  the “Pathshala” program formally in presence of INLS Florida Chapter President Bimal Nepal, Secretary General Krishna Shrestha, Regional Vice President / Tampa Region Mrs. Punam Ghimire Risal, Mr. Srihari Shrestha and Mr. Hari Adhikari Pathshala Coordinator West Palm Beach and Tampa respectively. More than 25 students were registered in Pathshala and all were excited to learn Nepali. Bimal Guru, Shrihari Guru and Krishna Guru demonstrated the best practices how to run Pathshala on a regular basis to meet the need of providing the basic need of teaching Nepali language andculture to our children. Saamuhik Saraswati Bandana was recited by all students. Matri Devo Bhawa, Pitri Devo Bhava, Guru Devo Bhava and Athiti Devo Bhava was highlighted and students were asked to chant OM and color it. All students were registered and provided with a clip board and text materials. On behalf of INLS Florida Chapter, President Bimal Nepal highlighted the importance of Pathshala and thanked the coordinating team led by Hari Adhikari and provided a check of $ 50.00 cash (with a addition of approx. $150 worth of materials) to Hari Adhikari, as a seed money to give consistency to the Pathshala.

On behalf of the participants, INLS President Bimal Nepal offered garlands to the picture of late poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota opening the second half of the program “Centennial  Mahakavi Laxmi P. Devkota Satabarsiki”Mr. Kamal Tiwari talked about the life of Mahakavi Devkota, Mr. Rajendra Singh Raut recited his poem “Sandesh”. Mr Hari Adhikari and Mrs. Binash Adhikari recited the poem “Muna Madan” Major ( Retd) Gyan Bahadur Karki recited the poem “Yatri” and Mrs. Rajeshwori Karki sang the song “Sansara rupi sukha-swarga bhitra..” a beautiful song written by late Mahakavi Devota. Mrs. Sadhana Sharma recited the first few paragraphs of his masterpiece essay “Ke Nepal Sanu Chha?” also recited the poem “Aama” by Krishna P Bhattarai , Mr. Sanjay Sharma presented “ Ukhan Tukka”- a translation of Nepalese  Ukhan tukka in funny English. Also, Mrs. Nira Devi Ghimire recited her own poem about a grandson-grandmother relationship, which made the audience spellbound. Mr. Khagendra Bhattarai and Mr. Kamal Tiwari won the prize becoming first in the Quiz contest about Devkota. The Quiz, including an excellent set of questions about Devkota’s life and his work was prepared by the Secretary of NeSA Mrs. Sadhana Sharma.

President of NeSA and member of Pathshla Coordinating Team Mr. Keshav Pokhrel highlighted about Pathsala in particular and the program in general. On behalf of NeSA, Pathsala and all the Tempalese, Mr. Pokhrel thanked Bimal Nepal, Krishna Shrestha and Srihari Shrestha for coming here to encourage Tampalese to conduct Pathsala.

INLS President Bimal Nepal concluded the two events by extending a special thanks to all Pathshala students for their enthusiasm to learn Nepali, Respected Parents for their full support and all Tampalese, NeSA President Keshav Pokhrel, INLS Pathshala Coordinator Tampa Region Hari Adhikari, Mrs. Rajeshwori Karki, member of Pathshala coordinating Team and Advisors to Pathshala Respected  Major ( Retd) Gyan Bahadur Karki, INLS Regional Vice president Punam Ghimire Risal together with all INLS Florida Chapter Tampa region members and well wishers.

INLS Secretary General Krishna Shrestha and INLS regional Vice President Tampa Region Punam Ghimire Risal, were the master of the ceremony of Pathshala and Devkota Anniversary respectively.

Link for the some snaps of this event is attached as below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=inlsfloridachapter&target=PHOTO&id=5410775273447273682&aid=5410759912733096625&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3dqI-d0O3ZGA&feat=email