New Zealand Conference of the GBLO and Retrospective Perspectives
Gyanbahadur Chhetri
Tezpur, Assam
Global Bhutanese Literary Organization (GBLO) was set up in 2009 with a view to uniting the Bhutanese people who were rehabilitated in developed countries of the world on the basis of Nepali language, literature, and culture. Since inception, this organization has taken up a series of actions for strengthening the bond of humanity through language and culture. The GBLO is an international organization with a very strong executive body and members from various countries of the world. The present executive body is constituted with Denjom Sampang and Karna Gurung (both from the USA) as president and secretary-general respectively.
The fourth Grand International Creative Ceremony (GICC) was held on 21st and 22nd December 2019 at the city of Palmerton North of New Zealand. I got an invitation to take part in the conference as a speaker as well as a panelist on a given topic. It was a rare opportunity on my part and hence I accorded my consent without any hesitation.
I travelled by air from Guwahati to Delhi, Delhi to Hongkong, Hongkong to Auckland and finally, Auckland to Wellington. I started the journey from my Tezpur residence on the 18th and arrived at the Meeting Hall on the 21st in the month of last December. It was an adventurous journey that I undertook for the first time in my life, the details of which will be presented before you soon.
It was a grand occasion, unique of its kind. The event started with the Lighting of candles by Mr Grant Smith and Helen Worboys, the Mayors of Palmerton North and Manawatu district administration respectively followed by singing of the National Anthem of New Zealand and Bhutan. Significantly, it gives a message to the world community that the Bhutanese people are brave and patriotic. They love New Zealand, and they equally love Bhutan too, both countries as the motherland. This inaugural session was presided over by Mr Bal Ghimire. The function of the introduction of distinguished guests was carried out by Indira Bhandari. Soon after the felicitation, appointed speakers were invited to address the audience
The key-note speech was delivered by Gyan Bahadur Chhetri (India) and Prabhat Dixit (USA) on the theme of Nepali Literary writing and culture in globalization. Mr Chhetri, in his speech, threw prime focus on Nepali diaspora literature while Mr Dixit laid stress on correctness and uniformity of language. Mr Prakash Dhamala (Australia) spoke on resettled Bhutanese Diaspora and search of Identity.
On 22-12-2019, the session started on time. Ganga Prasad Uprety (Nepal) and Shankar Prasad Bharati (New Zealand) were the main speakers. They spoke on the Art of Writing and challenges in the present era. The post-lunch session was started with a discussion on a given topic. A good number of scholars and academicians also participated along with the panelists. Tika Regmi, on behalf of New Zealand Radio, conducted an interview and asked a series of questions to Ganga Prasad Upreti and Gyan Bahadur Chhetri separately. Mr Upreti and Mr Chhetri replied to his queries elaborately. The interview was carried out as a part of the GICC program in the presence of a huge audience.
A very attractive cultural show was held in the Regent Broadway Theatre. Among various popular shows, Maori and Nepali culture was exhibited. Welcome song and dance of the Maoris performed by the artists of Hamilton were very appealing. Samrit Rai and Arpan Rai initiated the cultural program. The concluding session was conducted by Ms Anjan Muna in which many poets recited self-composed poems and Ghazals.
In this way, the fourth Grand International Creative Ceremony was held in New Zealand and successfully concluded. I consider myself a fortunate one to remain a witness the historic event.
Mr Denjong Sampahang, the Chairman of the organization, could not attend the conference in person due to some technical reason but under his able leadership, his team made the event a grand success. Chhatra Dangal, the Vice President, Gopal Paudel, the General Secretary, Bhim Gurung, Foreign Secretary. Bal Ghimirey, Dewan Tamang, Munu Karki, Dr Sarina Manandhar Piya, Bidur Paudel, Mohan Raut, Anjan Muna, Gauri Chetri were very active and worked day and night. Tika Regmi from New Zealand Radio recorded the proceedings. He also took extensive interview of Mr Ganga Prasad Upreti and Gyan Bahadur Chhetri and the same was broadcast by OAR. Similarly, there was Prakash Dhamala of Sunkosh TV from Adelaide.
I am thankful to the GBLO team and New Zealand society for their cordial hospitality and efforts in making my stay comfortable as well as meaningful. They provided me with all facilities, including sightseeing for a week-long period even after the conclusion of the conference. It was expected that the Hon’ble Prime Minister of New Zealand or his Deputy would address the World Meet and welcome the International guests. However, the Mayors gave us a warm welcome on behalf of the Government.
The GBLO has provided a platform to all writers, as a result of which a good number of poets have emerged with the literature of high-quality poems of Bhakta Ghimire, Yatiraj Ajnabi, Ramesh Gautam, Shivial Dahal, Rup Pokhrel, Partiman Sewa, IN Dahal, Tek Bhandari, Welkin Siskin, Dilliram Acharya, Dharmendra Timsina, Arjun Pradhan and many more have become popular.
Bidur Paudel has created a history by publishing the first book Prayas in Nepah language from New Zealand in 2009. Katha Vitrako Katha (the story inside the story) was inaugurated in the Conference by Prof Ganga Prasad Upreti, Chancellor of Nepal Academy. Some of the books received on this occasion are as cited below: Bhugolko Nase (collection of Ghazals) Durga Rimal, Australia Nyasro Janma bhumiko (collection of poems). Baikuntharaj Acharya, USA Samayko Aayu (the life of Time) Durga Rimal, Australia Desh Boknuko Pida (collection of essays, Biswasclip Tigela, UK Kangaruko Deshbata (From the Country of the Kangaroo) editor-Durga Rimal, Australia Budhiko Birko (The lid of intelligence) collection of poems, Kama Gurung, USA. The GBLO regularly publishes books and magazines in the Nepali language as a part of its objectives Annual magazine, Hamro Pahichan (Our Identity) has been brought out by GBLO, New Zealand under the editorship of Gopal Paudel.
Diaspora literature is rapidly becoming popular. It depicts a mixture of culture in literature. Half A Life of VS Naipaul is a novel with such a feature. Diaspora literature in the Nepali language is growing very fast from all directions across the globe. Love of ancestral land, homeland and the land that adopted them as children is the central theme of their literature.
The three main ethnic groups in Bhutan are the Nanlongs the Sarchops and the ethnic Nepalese. The Ngalongs live mainly in the west of Bhutan and they constitute the dominant political group in Bhutan. The Sarchops are mostly located in the eastern part while the ethnic Nepalese live in the southern districts of Samchi, Dagana, Chirang. Sarbhang, Sukhna and Samdrup Jongkhar. They are called Lhotshamphas in the native language, which means southerners. The Ngalongs and the Sarcheps are the Buddhists and these two groups together are called Drukpas (followers of Drukpa Kagyu school of Bhutan). The majority of the Nepali speaking people are the Hindus. The autocratic Government adopted an unjust policy of one nation one policy forced a section of people to give up own language and culture. The Nepalese naturally resented having to be forced to wear the dress of the Ngalop majority instead of their own traditional dress.
The interethnic conflict escalated during 1990. As a result, several thousands of Lhotstampas fled Bhutan and settled in the refugee camps that were set up by the UNHCR in Nepal. The autocratic ruler of Bhutan adhered to 1958 as cut off year for granting citizenship as per amended Citizenship Act of 1985. Those people who could not provide proof of residency prior to 1958 were adjudged as illegal migrants. This was a bolt from the blue because most of the people of Nepalese origin were poor cultivators and graziers who did not preserve any document
The Bhutanese Government forced the evicted people to sign voluntary migration form before leaving the country. The local authorities also seized the documents that people have, which can prove their Bhutanese nationality, to ensure they cannot produce them again in the future. Only the Lhotshampas were to produce the documents while others were exempted as Bhutanese by virtue of their гасе.
The Government may come and go. The political scenario of the world is rapidly changing. The days of the autocratic monarchy are no more. The days of autocratic rule in Bhutan are numbered. All the Bhutanese like to return to their homeland sooner or later.
[Editor’s Note: The story, which was first carried by Sikkim Express, is reproduced here with the permission from the publishers.]
