World Newah convention concluded

Monday, 21 November 2011 17:50

LONDON: With a series of different programmes and passing the London Declaration, the First World Newah Convention concluded here in London in the last week of October.

The three-day convention, which kicked off on 29th October, was jointly organized by World Newah Organization (WNO) and Pasa Puchah Guthi UK (PPGUK). Newah delegates from the home country Nepal and various parts of the world participated in the programme.

Dr. Satya Mohan Joshi, who is the Chancellor of the Nepal Bhasa Academy and a culture expert of Nepal, inaugurated the convention by lighting the traditional sukunda lamp. At the function, Dr Joshi, noted human rights activist Dr Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Professor Manik Lal Shrestha, Charge de affair Nepalese Ambassador for the UK Mrs Ambika Manandhar Luintel, , Head of Central Department of Nepal Bhasha (Tribhuvan University) Professor Prem Shanti Tuladhar, General Secretary of Nepa Rastriya Party, Dr. Bijaya Sainju, Dr. Mahesh Man Shrestha and Member of Parliament Bhikkhu Ananda Path expressed their views on the need for preservation of Newar culture and tradition and the unity among the community members. The whole programme was also telecasted live through WNO's official website worldnewah.org.

The second session started with a discussion on the WNO constitution prepared by the WNO constitutional committee. The question-answer session was chaired by Prof. Manik Lal Shrestha and Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha. During this session, the ad hoc committee was dissolved by Mr Daya Ratna Shakya and the participants unanimously selected Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha as the first president of the WNO.

On the second day of the convention, PPGUK president, Dr Sachetan Tuladhar, presented the draft of the WNO London Declaration for discussion. A declaration adoption committee consisting Dr. Bijaya Sainju, Mr. Daya Ratna Shakya, Dr. Mahesh Man Shrestha and Mr. Krishna Chakhu was formed to refine the declaration. The participants, including the guests Dr Satya Mohan Joshi, Dr Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Prof Manik Lal Shrestha, offered valuable feedback to the draft which was later adopted. The attendants from Nepal also participated in the session over a tele-conference. The second session saw a Prajyan Sabha chaired by Dr Satya Mohan Joshi. The presenters of this session were Daya Shakya, Dr David Gellner (video recording), Bhikku Ananda Path, Dr Bijaya Sainju, Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha, Dr Mahesh Man Shrestha and Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha. The following session was the Sahityik Sammelan chaired by Prof Manik Lal Shrestha in which Prof. Prem Shanti Tuladhar, Shrilaxmi Shrestha, Bimal Prabha Bajracharya, Ganesh Ram Lachhi presented their literary works. Shashi Mahaju, the editor of 'Matina' quarterly was felicitated by Dr Satya Mohan Joshi on the occasion.

The second day concluded with the Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat 1132 celebrations at Hammersmith Town Hall, which was organized by PPGUK. On behalf of PPGUK London, Dr. Sachetan Tuladhar welcomed all the participants and guests. A variety of cultural dances and songs followed by a traditional Newah Bhwoye (feast) followed the inaugural session. PPGUK's annual souvenir magazine 'Guthi' was also released by chief guest Dr Joshi during the programme.

On the third day, participants were taken to London on a study tour which later culminated into a group dinner.