Ideological rift prompts poets to decline Nepal Academy recitation invitations

Selected poets decline to participate in Nepal Academy’s 'Autumn Poetic Gathering' following controversy over the selection process and ideological alignments.

Nepal Academy. File photo

KATHMANDU: Laxmi Rumba was 14th among the 22 poets selected to recite poetry for the ‘Shaaradiya Kaabya Milan’ (Autumn Poetic Gathering) program being organized by the Nepal Academy on October 4.

However, on Friday, Laxmi announced that she would not participate in the event. Writing on the social media platform Facebook, she said, “Since I have stayed away right from the formation process of the Academy this time, I will not be participating in the Autumn Poetic Gathering program or any other events.”

Among those whose names appeared on the public list of 22 poets, Abhay Shrestha, Raju Syangtan, Keshab Silwal, Chandra Bir Tumbapo, and others have also already announced through social media that they will not participate in the event.

Laxmi said that while she was at another program, news of her selection arrived, but the list was made public before she could properly understand the matter. She clarified that she announced her non-participation because it did not align with her own ideology. She says, “It is not to make the organizers fail; since it is a matter linked to ideology, poets and artists should not be like birds blowing with the wind—that is why I chose not to participate.”

Not only Laxmi, but among those listed in the public roster of 22 poets on September 30, Abhay Shrestha, Raju Syangtan, Keshab Silwal, Chandra Bir Tumbapo, and others have also already announced through social media that they will not participate in the event.

List of poets selected for poetry recitation made public by Nepal Academy.

A grand book exhibition is currently underway at the Academy. On the final day of the exhibition, Sunday, a poetry recitation program titled ‘Autumn Poetic Gathering’ was scheduled. For this, the Academy had formed a ‘Poet Selection Committee’ coordinated by poet Shrawan Mukarung, with Rajkumar Baniya and Prakash Thamsuhang as members.

Members of the committee contacted poets residing in Kathmandu and those known to them via telephone to invite them for poetry recitation. Initially, all poets accepted. On that basis, the Academy made the poets’ names public on its letterhead. However, starting the very next day, poets began announcing a boycott of the program one after another.