(Photo – Keshab Maharjan)

The First World Newah Convention concluded successfully on 31st of October with a series of different programs and the London declaration. The three day long convention, which started on 29th October, was organized by World Newah Organization (WNO) and hosted by Pasa Puchah Guthi UK (PPGUK) in London. Delegates from various parts of the world had participated in the convention.

On Oct 29th, 2011, the first day, Nepal’s renowned scholar and the Chancellor of the Nepalbhasa Academy Dr. Satya Mohan Joshi inaugurated the convention. Dr Satya Mohan Joshi, as the chief guest of the event, highlighted the importance of Newar language and cultural heritage. He reiterated only if the Newars can achieve their own Newar state (Newah Rajya) with the special rights (agradhikar) and right to self-rule, (swasashan) the Newars will be able to protect their language, culture, heritage and religion else if no others will do anything for them.

Keynote speaker of the event Prof. Manik Lal Shrestha, urged by utilizing bright aspects of the political, social and cultural aspects of Newah tradition, the Newah people should take a leading role in advancing the urgent task of the Nepalese people, the sacred task of building new Nepal.

During this session, Dr Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Nepal’s human right champion and a long time Newar activist, as the special guest speaker in the program expressed his happiness over the foundation of WNO, and advised WNO to play necessary role to strengthen the Newar people’s fight in Nepal for their rights. He said human rights of Newar people and other nationalities in Nepal are totally violated since they are denied to use their mother tongues at schools, judiciaries and administrations.

Special guest of the occasion, acting Nepalese ambassador for the UK, Mrs Ambika Manandhar Luitel said Nepal as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural country needs mutual trust among these peoples for peace and development.

Chief of the Central Department of Nepal Bhasa, Tribhuvan University, (T.U.) chief Prof. Prem Shanti Tuladhar, general secretary of the Nepa Rastriya Party, Dr. Bijay Sainju, Newar activist Dr. Mahesh Man Shrestha, Mrs, Rajani Pradhan, Mrs. Srilaxmi Shrestha and Ven. Ananda expressed their views on Newar unity and challenges, and emphasized the need for preservation of Newar culture and tradition.

On the occasion Mrs Ambika Luitel launched several Nepal Bhasa books including “Nepal Bhasa Varnamala” a colorful book written for children by Chancellor Satya Mohan Joshi. Similarly, Satya Mohan Joshi and Prof. Manik Lall Shrestha launched “A Cry In the Wilderness and Other Short Stories” English translation of Nepalbhasa short stories, and “Santiya Santi” a collection of poems respectively, both written by Srilaxmi Shrestha.

Krishna Chakhun shortly acknowledged to the gathering the felicitation letters received for the WNO convention from the President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadhav, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattrai, Deputy- Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and different organizations from various parts of the world. The program was telecasted live through WNO’s official website worldnewah.org.

The second session of the programme started with the presentation of WNO, the draft constitution prepared by the WNO constitution committee. Presenting the draft constitution Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha highlighted the goals and objectives of the WNO. Many participants put forward their views on the constitution during the discussion. Prof. Manik Lal Shrestha and Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha moderated the question-answer session. Incorporating suggestions that came from the floor the Convention accepted the constitution.

Soon after approval of the constitution, the participants unanimously selected Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha as the first president of WNO. WNO ad hoc chairman Mr Daya Ratna Shakya dissolved the ad hoc committee to pave the way for forming WNO executive committee. The first day’s program concluded with a dinner at a Nepalese Restaurant in the Euston area where participants interacted with each other informally.

The second day of the Convention saw PPGUK president Dr Sachetan Tuladhar presenting the WNO London declaration draft. The participants including the chief guest Dr Satya Mohan Joshi, and other guests such as Dr Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Prof Manik Lal Shrestha offered valuable feedback to the draft declaration, which was further adopted by a declaration adoption committee. The attendants from Nepal also participated in the session over a tele-conference.

The second session of the day saw a Pargya Sabha chaired by Dr Satya Mohan Joshi. Daya Ratna Shakya, Prof. Dr David Gellner (video recording), Bhante Ananda Path, Dr Bijaya Sainju, Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha, Dr Mahesh Man Shrestha and Ram Kumar Shrestha presented their papers covering various issues on Newar Culture, heritage, Nepal Samvat, etc. and discussion was followed after each presentation.

The next session of the day was the Sahityik Sammel, a literary symposium, which Prof Manik Lal Shrestha chaired. Among others Prof. Prem Shanti Tuladhar, Srilaxmi Shrestha, Bimal Prabha Bajracharya, Bansidhar Bajracharya, Ganesh Ram Lachhi presented their literary works. Dr Satya Mohan Joshi felicitated Shashi Mahaju, the editor of ‘Matina’ quarterly in this session for his outstanding contributions to Nepalbhasa abroad.

In the same evening Pasa Pucha Guthi, UK hosted a Mha Puja, the worship of the self and the New Year Nepal Samvat 1132 celebration at Hammersmith Town Hall. Pasa Pucha Guthi, UK, Dr. Sachetan Tuladhar welcomed the guests and participants to the programme. Chief guest Dr Satya Mohan Joshi inaugurated the event by lighting a traditional sukunda lamp. He explained the importance of Mha Puja. Similarly, Dr Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Prof Manik Lal Shrestha, Mrs Ambika Luitel, Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha, and Prof. Prem Shanti Tuladhar expressed their views on Newar language, culture and identity. It was followed by an extravagant show of cultural dances and songs, and a Newah feast (Bhvay). At the same occasion the chief guest Dr Joshi released PPGUK’s annual magazine “Guthi’.

On the third day, participants of the convention were taken for a London study tour followed by a group dinner.

On the fourth day the participants were given a tour of Oxford. Professor David Geller of Oxford University hosted the tour program. On the fourth day evening, participants gathered for a dinner at Slough in SO ASIA Restaurant hosted by its owners Mr. Surendra Shrestha and Mrs Minu Shrestha. It was here that the much-awaited London declaration was read to the masses by the then president of WNO ad hoc committee Daya Ratna Shakya. This 5-point declaration was welcomed by one and all, which was followed by expression of views by all participants. In the evening gathering, the chief guest Dr Satya Mohan Joshi also released “The WNO newsletter Bu Khan Pau”.