TRIBUTE TO THREE LUMINARIES

TRIBUTE TO THREE LUMINARIES

12-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA------------------------Birth anniversary celebrations for 'Rashtrakavi' (National Poet) Maithilisharan Gupt, Mahesh Narayan (the patriarch of Hindi journalism), and freedom fighter-litterateur Ramdayal Pandey were held at the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan in Patna. On this occasion, Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta—a prominent spokesperson of the Sammelan, as well as a senior poet, litterateur, and journalist—was felicitated on his 72nd birthday with the presentation of a traditional shawl (*angavastra*), a floral garland, and a bouquet.

Sammelan President Dr. Anil Sulabh described Dr. Gupta as a hardworking, diligent, and enterprising writer-poet, wishing him a long life and hoping he would live to be a centenarian. Others who extended their best wishes included Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Dr. Shashibhushan Prasad Singh, Dr. Manoj Govardhanpuri, Shambhunath Pandey, Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Siddheshwar, Dr. Poonam Anand, Shama Kausar, Dr. Om Prakash Pandey, Sadanand Prasad, Ashok Kumar, Vibha Rani Srivastava, Rajnish Kumar Gaurav, Indubhushan Sahay, and Surya Prakash Upadhyay.

The program commenced with an auspicious song (*Mangal-gaan*) by Chanda Mishra. Dignitaries—including Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Shashibhushan Prasad Singh, Kumar Anupam, Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta, Dr. Poonam Anand Pandey, Dr. Vibha Rani Srivastava, and Dr. Shama—lit the ceremonial lamp.

Sammelan President Dr. Anil Sulabh described Mahesh Narayan as the pioneer of free-verse poetry, the father of the Bihar Movement, and the patriarch of Hindi journalism. He paid tribute to Maithilisharan Gupt as the 'Rashtrakavi' and remembered Ramdayal Pandey as a freedom fighter, patriot, and dedicated servant of the Hindi language.

During the *Kavi Sammelan* (poets' gathering), Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta began the session by reciting a *ghazal*. This was followed by recitations from Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Dr. Shashibhushan Singh, Prof. Poets including Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Brahmanand Pandey, Dr. Poonam Anand Pandey, Shama Kausar, Dr. Om Prakash Pandey, Sadanand Prasad, Siddheshwar, Er. Ashok Kumar Sinha, Surya Prakash Upadhyay, Kumar Anupam, Vibha Rani Srivastava, Rajnish Kumar Gaurav, Indubhushan Sahay, and Adhini Kaviraj presented their works. Brahmanand Pandey conducted the proceedings, while Krishna Ranjan Singh proposed the vote of thanks.

Several literature enthusiasts—including Custodian Pravir Kumar Pankaj, Vijay Kumar, Geeta Prasad, Sohini Priya, Mohini Priya, Prem Prakash, Saumya Kumari, and Anshuman—were present.