Kalimpong MLA Dr. HB Chettri releases ‘Paridhibhitra’

PRADIP LOHAGUN 

KALIMPONG : GJM spokesperson and Kalimpong MLA Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri released his book ‘Paridhibhitra’, a collection of political articles he has written over the years. Confessing of neglecting his passion for writing, Chettri said his political engagements have made it impossible for him to take time out for writing. However, he said he would strive to write along with advancing his political career. Chettri is first known for being an ardent writer and then as a political figure, but the amount of time he used to give to his writing shrunk after he stepped into politics. ‘Paridhibhitra’, which features a number of Chettri’s political articles published in local Nepali dailies, especially ‘Sunchari Samachar, was originally a dream of his wife Radhika Chettri. “This book was my dream. 

We initially wanted to publish it last year, but were no able to,” she said. The book was unveiled by Chettri’s friends Anmol Prasad, RP Dhakal and Sanumit Rai. Visibly happy, Chettri said, “I was always enthusiastic about writing; I could not sleep without reading and writing. But now when I sit to write, my desk is filled with administrative papers and documents.” RP Dhakal termed Chettri as an undaunted writer of the 1990s. “To follow diktats then was to lose freedom, but Dr. Chettri did not; he enjoyed his freedom instead,” noted Dhakal. The book release event was also marked by poetry recitals by eminent poets of town, including Manoj Bogati, Pradip Lohagun, DK Baiba and Chewang Yonzon, among others.