134th Nepali Language Recognition Day & Bhanu Memorial Day Celebration
Department of Nepali, Sikkim University – 134th Nepali Language Recognition Day & Bhanu Memorial Day Celebration.
Date: 20 August 2025 Like every year, this year too, the Department of Nepali, Sikkim University, celebrated the 134th Nepali Language Recognition Day and Bhanu Memorial (Smaran) Day with the grandeur. The event was organized by the Department of Nepali, at the Yangyang Campus of Sikkim University under the chairmanship of Professor Laxman Sharma, Registrar of Sikkim University. The program was graced by the presence of renowned Indian Nepali literary figure Man Prasad Subba as the distinguished guest and keynote speaker, while poet, fiction writer, and thinker Pravin Rai ‘Jumely’ graced the occasion as the chief guest. Similarly, Dean of the Schools of Language and Literature, Prof. Rosy Chamling, attended as a Guest of honour. In addition, Joint Registrar and Controller of Examinations Dr. Suresh Gurung was also present as the Guest of honour, DSW Prof. N. K. Paswan, heads of various departments, professors, faculty, students, research scholars, non-teaching staff, security personnel and the SUSA president along with its executive members, were also present. A major highlight of this year’s program was the poetry recitation by young poets Prabin Khaling, Jiwan Kumar Chettri, Ranjana Karki, and Sabina Rai. The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Kabita Lama, Head of the Department of Nepali, delivered the message from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Santanu Kumar Swain to the audience. In her speech she emphasized the importance and preservation of the Nepali language. Students and research scholars of the third semester presented a group song related to language. In her speech Prof. Rosy Chamling highlighted the sweetness, relevance, and continued significance of the Nepali language. This phase primarily featured songs, dances, and poetry recitations. Students of the Department of Lepcha and Limbu captivated the audience with traditional dances related to the seasonal cycle and Khyali tradition. The students of Nepali Department Aditya Chettri and Samjhana Biswakarma presented a duet song while poets Sabina Rai and Jiwan Kumar Chettri enthralled listeners with their eloquent recitations. Keynote speaker Man Prasad Subba presented a thoughtful lecture, highlighting the historical context of the Nepali language and emphasized the significance of observing Language Recognition Day. He also recited a beautiful poem. In this stage, the student of Department of Nepali Department Pratiksha Rai and her group performed a cultural dance, followed by another vibrant dance by the Department of Bhutia students. The Department of International Relations performed a group song, and Lalit Thapa from the Department of Political Science recited beautiful a poem. Guest poets Ranjana Karki and Prabin Khaling also delivered powerful and contemporary poems. 2 The students of the Department of Nepali, third semester, led by Biswajit Sharma, staged a play titled “Hallakar”. Their energetic and expressive performance not only captivated the audience but also effectively conveyed the essence and message of the drama. In the final phase, Chief Guest Pravin Rai Jumeli delivered his insightfull address on the subject of language. He reflected on how colonial dominance often establishes control over languages and emphasized that the time has now come to think deeply about language preservation. Chairperson Prof. Laxman Sharma, in his concluding remarks, highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by the Department of Nepali at Sikkim University. He emphasized that everyone has responsibility to contribute towards the development and promotion of the Nepali language. The master of the ceremony were research scholars Men Prasad Sharma and Gayatri Thapa. It concluded with a heartfelt performance by students and researchers Department of Nepali, who dedicated the song “Jahaan Bagchha Teesta Rangeet” to the late Padmashree Sanu Lama. The program concluded with a heartfelt Vote of thanks, bringing the day’s celebrations to a graceful close.
