90th Krantikari Kavi Haribhakta Katuwal Jayanti celebrated at Panjan in Golaghat

Panjan Sarupathar  

Golaghat 2nd July 2024 

The 90th Haribhakta Katuwal Jayanti was celebrated with a daylong program at Panjan under Sarupathar Sub-division in Golaghat district organised by Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha ( ANSS) hosted by the ANSS Chungajan Unit in association with ANSS  Golaghat District Commitee.

'Krantikari Kavi' Hari Bhakta Katuwal, one of the brightest gems in the history of Gorkha Bhasa literature, was born on July 2, 1935 in a small hamlet called Bogibeel in  Assam's Dibrugarh. He has penned several poems in Gorkha Bhasa, English, Hindi and Assamese

Hari Bhakta Katuwal received his formal education in an Assamese medium school and as a result Assamese poetry had a deep influence on him. But he was also a prominent voice in the realm of Gorkha Bhasa poetry during the 60s and 70s from the northeast region.

It was in Digboi during the late 50s when Katuwal was teaching in A.O.C. Nepali M.E. School that he attained a new glory in the spheres of Nepali literature and culture. That was a period of literary and cultural renaissance in Digboi with the circulation of reputed Nepali journals and newspapers from literary hotspots of the time like Darjeeling, Banaras, Dehradoon and Kathmandu. In fact, the then literary works and writers from Darjeeling inspired him a lot.

The 90th birth anniversary of the Gorkha poet, philosopher, writer, composer and lyricist Hari Bhakta Katuwal was organised at Panjan near Pinnacle English High School organised in aegis of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha. The one day colourful Gorkha Poet's memorial birth anniversary began with hoisting of the ANSS flag by president Shri. Durga Khatiwoda followed by tribute to the poet by the general secretary Shri. Madan Thapa and homage to the Gorkha martyrs by working president Dr. Chintamoni Sharma. The multi-ethnic cultural rally was flagged off by Golaghat Dist AAGSU Founder President Shri. Yuvaraj Gurung.

It was followed by Multilingual Poets Meet moderated by Dr. Indu Prabha Devi, Head of the Department bof Assamese, B Baruah College, Guwahati and analysed by poetess Dakshina Devi Gajurel which was inaugurated by Senior Correspondent of News Live Shri Ram Upadhyay. More than 30 poets of different languages recited their poems and paid tribute to the great Gorkha Poet.

It is for the first time such an intellectual interactive session at state level was organised in a remote interior developing village Panjan under the chairmanship of Shri Joy Bahadur Limboo, Principal, Pinnacle English High School. Speaking about the event Limboo said, " Katuwal's poems and lyrics should be translated into other languages, and as his patriotic poems caused revolution that's why youths called him Krantikari Kavi that is what I understood from today's program. His masterpieces in other languages will surely benefit the literary world. It will add value to the call of Educating Others about Gorkhas and Empowering Gorkhas".

Talking to reporters in the sidelines of the event Shri Nanda Kirati Dewan senior award winning community journalist  said, ' Yo Desh ko Mato ley Bhancha, Yo Desh ko Dhoonga ley Bhancha, Haamro pani Raati Ragat yehi bogeko cha, Haamro pani Taato pasins yehai Khaseko cha' ....This patriotic poem is one of the cause of Gorkha renaissance in Assam. It's a poem filled with patriotism with a message of supreme sacrifice at any time for the nation.  Katuwal's life was influenced due to his friendship with Bhupen Hazarika since they were born and brought up in Eastern Assam."

 "I was interested to explore 'Krantikari Kavi' with my sister Sita Devi Dewan who is an advocate  for his relations with Jajabor Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. It is widely believed and accepted that it was Hari Bhakta Katuwal who had crowned Bhupen Hazarika with the Gorkhali Bhadgawley Topi (particular cap worn by Bhupen Hazarika ) and it remained with the legend maestro till his death and is still being kept at Bhupendra Sangrahalay at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. This made me write an extensive article on Hari Bhakta Katuwal with his life sketch and work which will soon be published in English."

Katuwal wrote his poems with great revolutionary zeal and the subject matter largely revolved around patriotism, sacrifice of the Gorkhas in nation building, cause and sufferings of the Gorkhas, racial consciousness, nationalism, rights needed to be asserted for the safeguarding of the Gorkhas and so on.

He was awarded by the Royal Academy for his poem 'AKASHKA TARA KE TARA'. It was in the year 1973 that he came up with his collection of poems, 'YO JINDAGI KHAI KE JINDAGI'. It is one of his most significant works and a landmark contribution in the history of Nepali literature.

Late Purna Chetri, former chief spokesperson of Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC) and author of the book 'Haami Gorkha - Haami Bharatiya', had proposed the title 'Krantikari Kavi' at Katuwal janma jayanti held at Gorkha Thakurbari , Guwahati two decades ago organised by the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union ( AAGSU), Guwahati City Committee where Nanda Kirati Dewan the then publicity secretary AAGSU attended as Chief Guest. 

Kalpana Katuwal, younger daughter of Late Hari Bhakta Katuwal, expressed happiness attending the  'Krantikari Kavi Hari Bhakta Katuwal Jayanti' with huge participation in a grand way

"My father Hari Bhakta Katuwal had keen interest in painting. His paintings were highly admired by the people. He was unequivocally a great poet but he was a lyricist of equal merit. His ''Malai Nasodha Kahaan Dukcha Ghaaw'' and  ''Pokhiyera Ghaamka Jhulka Bhari Sangharaima'' are still the favourites among the youths of 21st century. The great poet spent even his days in the 70s in forging something new for  Nepali literature," added Kalpana Katuwal after paying tributes to her father. 

At the time of filing this report the open session had just begun and six senior Gorkha personalities namely Biswanath Chetri ; Barpathar, Chandra Sharma; Bokakhat, Somnath Limboo; Merapani (Doyang), Birbal Darnal; Uriamghat, Shanti Rai; Sarupathar , Santa Bahadur Limboo; Chungajan were specially felicitated for their unparalleled contribution to the Gorkha community and the Greater Assamese Society.