London. The Nepali Embassy in London has organized a literature festival on Sunday, adhering to the occasion of the 112th birth anniversary of the Mahaakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota. In the program that was divided into three sections, the Nepalese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi discussed the contribution made by UK based poets, and writers in the development of Nepali language and literature.

Dr. Michael Hutt, a retired expert from the Department of Nepalese and Himalayan Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, discussed the development of overall Nepali literature. He also mentioned the contribution of Nepal’s senior poets and writers and recited a few of their works.

Professor Surya Prasad Subedi highlighted the special contribution made by Mahaakavi Devkota in Nepali language and literature. Suresh Jung Shah, Founder and Chairman of the Nepali Literary Development Council, UK, presented his paper on the development and expansion of Nepali literature in the country.

Laxmi Rai alias Lara, President of the International Nepali Literary Society gave information about women’s contributions in the UK, whilst poet and writer Gopi Sapkota presented a paper on the current state of Nepali literature in the UK. Issues 1 and 2 of Nepali Literary Special, ‘Belayat ma Nepali muktak’ and ‘Belayat ma Nepali gazal’ along with Nepal’s oldest literary monthly magazine ‘Sharda’ edited by Dr. Dubasu Chhetri were launched at the event.

Poets and writers from the UK, Europe and Nepal recited poems, songs and speeches at the poetry symposium organized on the occasion. UK based flute groups, Semant Rai, Bharat Loharung and Surendra Ingam played the flute for the event. Artists Dambar Singh Prayas and Manoj Anjan played the fiddle, while Pramod Sharma sang for the same.