Yugakavi Siddhicharan Shrestha Janma Jayanti/International Day for Biological Diversity | युगकवि सिद्धिचरण श्रेष्ठ जन्म जयन्ती/अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय जैविक विविधता दिवस | 2081 Jestha 9 | Hamro Patro

Yugakavi Sidhhicharan Shrestha Janma Jayanti

Let's travel back to 1969BS, about 108 years ago from today, Siddhicharan Shrestha, the great poet of Nepali literature, was born in Okhaldhunga, a city of eastern Nepal. Every year on the day of Jeshtha Shukla Panchami, the birth anniversary of Yugakavi Siddhicharan Shrestha is celebrated.

Poet Shrestha's poems are equally relevant today that is why he is called Yugakavi, the poet of the era. We want to start with some of his lines (Translated from Nepali) very few people have heard or read this poem.

Like a swimming fish
Like a flying bird,
Like running time
He looked at
He went to the water and said “Catch That Fish”
He went to the sky and insisted Catch that bird
He went to Mahakala (God of Death) and begged I can stop time. No one said no, and they both got married.

What a twisted but wonderful feeling in this poem, as if the mood of a person is clearly expressed. Who says that this poem has traveled so many springs? It is still fresh and its proximity to the truth still holds universal. From the time of Siddhicharan to the present and commencing thousands of years, such feelings and lines have been and will be remembered in human beings, the poet Siddhicharan Shrestha. How sweet the simplicity of the concluding melody, marriage is is not just a metaphor in his poem.

"Mero Pyaro Okhaldhunga" poem of Siddhicharan has become an anthem of the birthplace of Nepali who have left their birthplace and come to a different place of work. Narayan Gopal has sung this poem in the song immaculately sink with the feelings, adding the meanings to the verses immersed in the spirit of the poem. Okhaldhunga and poet Shrestha are so closely connected that the highway connecting Okhaldhunga and Katari has also been named as Siddhicharan Highway in memory of the poet. Poet Sidhhicharan advocates about the waves of destiny in his poem "Mero pyaro Okhaldhunga", these waves carry people out of their birthplaces and brings them to different cities and countries of work.
Poet Sidhhicharan had nine children. After the death of his first son at the age of 4, he has covered the pain of his son's grief in his creation "Bishwo Betha". This great poet started composing poetry at the young age of 13. After the catastrophic earthquake of 1990 BS, he collected the stories of the earthquake and wrote a collection of poems called Bhuichalo.

His poems can be found in both Nepali and Newari languages. The epoch-maker Siddhicharan Shrestha, with his profound knowledge of both languages, seems to be keen on portraying the realities of society and bringing reformist currents in his expressions. In his poems, there is a feeling and wish for everyone to be well and smile. What can portray global brotherhood "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" as much as his poems?
Probably he wrote this poem as a threat to freedom, allow me to translate some verses of his poem "Bahula"

Mother, whatever they say, I am not a lunatic.
I haven't done anything I shouldn't have done,
I have not said anything that should not be said.
I have eyes, so let me see
I have a stomach, let me fill
May no one walk around naked, may everyone cover their shame
May my ear hear the voices?
May I be able to put ideas into speeches?
Even so, they say me lunatic
Mother, I am not a lunatic.

In the above poem "Bahula", there is a taste of his freedom, patriotism, and democratic expression. Let me present another translation of his creation, this one he wrote after the Rana regime fell, this is titled "Ba aaunuvayena" Father didn't come mother.

It's raining
The wind is blowing
Time is running out, darkness alarms
The light is on,
The rice is cooked,
Mom is screaming
Ba (Father) has not come.
The era has changed,
Rana has fallen,
Says the chain is broken
But my father is yet to arrive

Awareness is found in his poems. While reading the poems, these social reformer lines feel like warriors, his pens have raised issues of multi-dimensional progress, carved things of prosperity and improvement.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Rana rulers for his views and freedom-oriented writings. Can you believe that poet Shrestha was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Rana rulers just for using the word "revolution" in his poems? There was a time when anti-revolutionary rulers weighed every word of Shrestha's poems. It is said that the great warriors of the Nepali political revolution were also kept in jail along with Siddhicharan. Ganeshman Singh had praised the inspiration and personality of Shrestha's poetry in many formal and informal meetings and speeches.

Poet Shrestha was a huge fan of smoking "Hookah" a traditional oriental pipe for smoking tobacco. His friends called him "Kaji Dai."

The poet also worked in Sarada magazine, Gorkhapatra, Dainik Awaj, and Kavita magazine. At that time, Gorkhapatra was published only twice a week, he also worked as the editor of the daily Awaaz and Kavita magazines. In Nepali language, Urbasi, Mero Pratibimba, Anshu, Kopila, Vishwa Betha, Mangal Man, Junkiri, Kuhiro ra Gham, Bachiraheko Awaj, Jyanmara Saill, Tirimiritantra, Wali, Bhimsen Thapa, Yudhha ra Shanti, Atma Bilauna, Siddhicharanka pratinidhi kawita and Siddhicharan's Jail memoirs are the remarkable creations of this poet. The Newa languages include Lumbini, Trishna, Fuswan, Siswan, Gwaiswan, Muswan, Siddhicharan's essay collection and Gham.

Not yesterday, not tomorrow.
Laughs, plays, and cries, walks around, sings his songs
Sidhhicharan is here today
A philingo (Lightning substance) rose from the deep blacktop,
For the sake of extinguishing, the name of the one who lives is blinking

From postage cards to several statues of this poet, everywhere he smiles and his words translated a rebel into us. The poet, who addressed the era through poetry, died in the year 2049 BS. Every year on the 9th of Jeshta, the birth anniversary of this poet is celebrated.