FELICITATION CEREMONY ORGANIZED

FELICITATION CEREMONY ORGANIZED

7-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------The Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Patna, organized a felicitation ceremony in its magnificent, historic literary auditorium. The event honored the birth anniversaries of 'Rashtrakavi' (National Poet) Maithili Sharan Gupt, Mahesh Narayan (a champion of Hindi and a pioneering founder of the Bihar province), and litterateur Ram Dayal Pandey. Additionally, a celebration marked the 72nd birthday of Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta—a senior poet, litterateur, journalist, and the Sammelan's articulate spokesperson. A *Kavi Sammelan* (poetic symposium) was also organized on this occasion. The proceedings began with an auspicious song (*Mangal Gaan*) by Chanda Mishra. Subsequently, the ceremonial lamp was jointly lit by Sammelan President Dr. Anil Sulabh and other distinguished guests present on the dais, including Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Shashi Bhushan Prasad Singh, Kumar Anupam (Finance Minister of the Sammelan), Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta, Dr. Poonam Anand Pandey, Dr. Vibha Rani Srivastava, and Dr. Shama. Kumar Anupam welcomed the guests.

Following this, Dr. Anil Sulabh, Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Singh, and other dignitaries honored Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta on his 72nd birthday by draping a ceremonial shawl (*Angavastram*) around him and presenting him with a floral bouquet. Dr. Anil Sulabh remarked that Dr. Gupta is a highly industrious, hardworking, and enterprising writer and poet, and extended his best wishes for a long life—hoping he would live to be a centenarian.

In addition to these, senior litterateurs Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Singh, Dr. Manoj Govardhanpuri, and Shambhunath Pandey, along with senior poet Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Siddheshwar, Dr. Poonam Anand, Shama Kausar 'Shama', Dr. Om Prakash Pandey, Sadanand Prasad, Er. Ashok Kumar, Vibharani Srivastava, Rajnish Kumar Gaurav, Indubhushan Sahay, Surya Prakash Upadhyay, and others also extended their best wishes for Dr. Gupta’s health and longevity, hoping he would live to be a centenarian. ...

Expressing his heartfelt sentiments, Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta said, "I am overwhelmed by the honor you have bestowed upon me and by receiving your good wishes. Your love, blessings, and respect will undoubtedly serve to boost my longevity, zest for life, and morale."

The *Kavi Sammelan* (poetic symposium) commenced with Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta himself reciting a *ghazal*: "I am burning and melting away like a candle... in truth, I am deceiving my own self; the very person I loved inflicted wounds upon me, and it is the burning sensation of those very wounds that consumes me..." followed by a second *ghazal*: "I wish to smile amidst the fire of love; I wish to melt and flow like a burning candle..."—verses that deeply moved the entire audience. ... Next came poet Dr. Ratneshwar, followed by Dr. Shashi Bhushan... and thus, the session of *ghazals*, *geets* (lyrical songs), and poems continued for a long time.

Senior poets Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Brahmanand Pandey, Dr. Poonam Anand Pandey, Shama Kausar 'Shama', Dr. Om Prakash Pandey, Sadanand Prasad, Siddheshwar, Er. Ashok Kumar, Vibharani Srivastava, Rajnish Kumar Gaurav, Indubhushan Sahay, Surya Prakash Upadhyay, and Ashwini Kaviraj also presented their poetry.

Brahmanand Pandey conducted the proceedings, while Krishna Ranjan Singh proposed the vote of thanks. Many distinguished individuals—including the venue's caretakers Pravir Kumar Pankaj and Vijay Kumar, along with Geeta Prasad, Sohini Priya, Mohini Priya, Prem Prakash, Saumya Kumari, and Abhiram—graced the occasion with their presence.