नेपाली बालसाहित्यका चौध कृति मराठी भाषामा प्रकाशित हुने

प्रेस विज्ञप्ती/ मिति: २०७० जेठ १७ गते – नेपाली बालसाहित्यको प्रवर्धनका लागि समर्पित बालसाहित्य प्रतिष्ठान नेपाल र केटाकेटी मिडियाको सक्रियतामा नेपालका विभिन्न बालसाहित्य लेखकहरुको कृति मराठी भाषामा प्रकाशित हुने भएको छ । छिमेकी देश भारतको पुनेमा रहेको स्पर्श प्रकाशनले प्रकाशन गर्न लागेको बालकृतिहरुमा लेखक कार्तिकेयको ६ वटा कृतिहरु रहेको छ । जस अन्तर्गत् पिरिरीको देश, परीगाउँको कथा, तरबारको जादु, फर्सीबहादुरको कथा र इन्र्टेस्टिङ स्टोरिज फर चिल्ड्र्ेन गरी ५ वटा कथाका किताबहरु र अचम्मको देश बालउपन्यास रहेका छन् । यी मध्ये ५ सचित्र बालकथा र १ उपन्यास विधाका कृतिहरु हुन् । सबै कृतिमा गरी कार्तिकेयका ४१ वटा कथा मराठीमा अनुदित भई प्रकाशित हुने भएको भएको छ । त्यस्तै अन्य कृतिहरुमा महेश पौड्यालको किशोर उपन्यास लिटिल लभर्स, रामदेव पाण्डेको सचित्र बालकथा ममताकी खानी, विष्णुकुमार पौडेलको सचित्र बालकथा हात्तीको फुर्ती, भगवती पौडेलको बालकथा मरेको बालक घर आयो, शिवप्रसाद उपाध्यायको भ्यागुताको हाइकिङ, जलेश्वरी श्रेष्ठको बालकथा संग्रह पिंकी र पुतलीहरु, लक्ष्मी उप्रेतीको बालकथा कमिलाको कथा र २० जना अन्य लेखकहरुको एकएकवटा कथा समावेश भएको नेपाली लेखकका बालकथाहरु नामक कथा संग्रह गरी चौधवटा बालकृति मराठीमा प्रकाशित हुन लागेको छ । प्रकाशोन्मुख संयुक्त कथा संग्रहमा गीताकेशरी, रन्जुश्री पराजुली, इन्द्रप्रसाद अधिकारी, ललिता दोषी, उन्नती बोहरा शीला, जलेश्वरी श्रेष्ठ, सुशीला देउजा, वसुश्री पाण्डे, स्नेह पोखरेल, रमा अधिकारी, सुभद्रा गौतम, कोमल पोखरेल, गंगा पौडेल, इल्या भट्टराईलगायत २५ जना लेखकहरु रहेका छन् । मराठीमा प्रकाशन हुन लागेका यी कृतिहरुको अनुवाद र सम्पादन मदन हजेरी, मिना हजेरी र अक्षता अनिकेत जोशीले गर्नुभएको छ । Marathi Edition Book Cover of Piriri's Country, Picture Story Book

दृष्टिविहिन बालिकाको गीति एल्बम तयार हुँदै

(Blind Child Talent Sarita Adhikari) कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषको दशौं वार्षिकोत्सवका अवसरमा विशेष प्रतिभाको रुपमा पुरस्कृत बालप्रतिभा दृष्टिविहिन गायिका सरिता अधिकारीको बालगीति एल्बमका गीतहरु धमाधम रेकर्ड भई तयार हुँदै गरेको खबर प्राप्त भएको छ । यस एल्बममा अमेरिकामै बसोबास गरिरहनुभएका लेखकहरु अन्तर्राराष्ट्रिय नेपाली साहित्य समाजका अध्यक्ष गीता खत्री, साहित्यकार नीलम कार्की नीहारिका र विनोद रोकाका गीतहरु रहेका छन् । त्यस्तै प्रथम दृष्टिविहिन सरकारी महिला अधिकृत नीरा अधिकारी सहित भगवती पौडेल, महेश पौडेल, कार्तिकेय, झमक घिमिरेलगायत १० जना लेखकका गीतहरु एल्बममा समावेश हुने केटाकेटी मिडियाले जानकारी गराएको छ । (First Blind Lady Government Officer Ms. Nira Adhikari)

Kartikeya

With an experience of more than two decades in children's writing, Kartikeya has mastered with sophistication all the fine nuances of children's literature. Besides writing, he has travelled to various nooks and crannies of Nepal, told stories to children, taught and tutored them in writing and expressing themselves, and raised voice for their rights. His writings are compulsory parts of many libraries across the country. He is also founder of Kartikeya Child Talent Award Trust that finds and awards talented but underprivileged children every year. Children's Literature Foundation Nepal, an organization working in the field of children's literature and rights, is his brainchild.

Ketaketi Media

Ketaketi Media is an organization committed to the promotion of children’s literature through publications that encourage creative development and education of children. It has been formed, conglomerating various other organizations like Children’s Journalism and Children’s Literature Award Organization that comprises of eleven participating schools, Jamarko Youth Group, Ketaketi Online, and Ketaketi Nepal. These organizations, before merging into Ketaketi Media, were in operation since 1998. The Media publishes for children, trains children and adult authors to write children’s literature, organizes awareness programs to encourage reading, donates freely to libraries, and coordinates all types of media—print, online, broadcasting and telecasting—to work for the promotion of children’s literature. It organizes workshops, seminars, and writing and storytelling programs in variation remote locations in Nepal, ensuring the collective participations of children, parents, teachers, social workers, media personnel, writers, child right activists and various other stake-holders. It is of the belief that educated and avidly reading children of today will shape a beautiful and peaceful world tomorrow, and so, it is striving to shape the minds and visions of today’s children for the future. We invite organizations with similar interest—both from home and abroad—to be with us for a common goal. Contact us at: kaghire@yahool.com, mahesh.kathmandu@gmail.com Web: www.ketaketi4nepal.blogspot.com

Psychology of Young Lovers - By Hari Paudel

Mahesh Paudyal’s latest novel Little Lovers presents the tragic end of innocent lovers Bikawa and Malshree.It flashes back how Lakhum got married and how his life continued. Lakhum and his family were living happily. The Majhis on Dolalghat were living happily working hard all the day. They do have small huts for shelter and they don’t need more than that. But the bitter part of their life was going to begin. The motor boats started there with irritating sound and massive smoke to compete with the poor little wooden boats. It brought a problem of sustenance to those Majhis, because their bread and butter was connected and only possible by boating which was being snatched from them. Lakhum hadgot married to Dukhini and gave birth to Bikawa. As all of other Majhis Lakhum’s family too sufered from the same problem brought out by these motor boats. When Bikawa was of three -to escape from the problems of Majhis- Lakhum decides to leave Dolalghat and shift to Sera of Nuwakot. Firstly, Lakhum goes to Nuwakot and with the help of Tilke Majhi he manages the place to stay for his family which is recently moving there. After few days his family starts to live there.This is the place where novelist indroduce a event which brings the psychological tension in the novel. In this place Tilke offers the engagement of his one year old daughter Malshree and Lakhum’s three years old son Bikawa. Facing hardship in settlement and to make Tilke happy Lakum agreed the proposal without thinking the future impact of that ‘treety’. As they became younger Malshree and Bikawa became best friends. Without knowing the meaning of marriage they acted the role of would be wife and would be husband. As the days were passing Bikawa’s parents invisioned the future disaster as Tadi was approaching their shelter. They shifted to Dhunge where it seemed more secure. Although Bikawa used to bear many difficulties he didnot stop meeting his would be wife. These small creatures started to talk whole days on the topic of marriage. They started to collect the materials needed in marriage and in this process Bikawa has suffered alot. At last this deep rooted psychology of marriage led them to the tragic end of innocent child lovers. This novel should be taken as an appeal of ‘Bikawas’and ‘Malshrees’ to not play on their psychology. How a seemingly simple agreement between Tilke and Lakhum brought the disastrous end. Actually in this novel two lovers are departed but we cannot underestimate the future problems on these two beings. From the children’s perspective we can’t accept Lakhum and Tilke as the honest fathers. Although Lakhum had done various attempts to make his son happy he slips to reject the propose which really ruined the future of an innocent child. This novel presents the realistic presentation of society which thinks children as insignificant matters in decision making level. ‘Bikawa was not allowed to go sera anymore,and the children didnot meet again.’ line suggests the prolonging tension on those children. I am not telling that children of these age should not be seperated but my arguement is that the psychology of child should be understood and things shouldnot be imposed carelessly. I think to bring the novel in this tragic and tensed mood education is one of the dominant factor. If these chidren were provided with education they would not get sufficient time for these useless activities. If the society was educated they would not allow such activities and obviously they would not tease or make laugh of those kids. Paudyal’s novel also is a critique on industrialzation. It presents the clear image of Majhis who are really about to displace from their homeland. To stay in the country or the place where they born is their right but they are cheated by the modern form of industrialization. They have to compete with the monstrous machines with their handmade objects. This sort of problem is becoming the real problem of developing countries. The main root of all the problems in Lakhum’s family is the launch of those machines which reject the problems of poors.This novel really does have other stuffs for elders too. The writer also opposes the current money-minded tradition of town people which he criticize explicitely.He compares the village fresh fruits and vegetables with town’s rotten ones. He praises village people as helpful and working collectively. His portroyal of Kumar as changed character from villain to a helping one has many things to do with writer’s affection to villiage life. Tilke and Lakhum’s far relative at Dhunge helped him which made his life easier. The writer’s comment ‘money was slowly eating the minds of town people’ suggest he really hates the town men who are running after money. To conclude we can say that this novel is a strong message for those communities which think children’s future not seriously. It is obviously true that such type of psychological parting really hurt children all over the life so their parents and society as a whole shuldn’t play on it.(sir I thought I could write aloton it but when i started it became a melting pot not even a bowl of salad. I even could not dictate my grammatical errors too.)

Ganesh is in the real Ganesh Voyage _ Nabaraj Lamsal,Radio Nepal/BBC Nepali Service

Ganesh is in the real Ganesh Voyage—the grand, divine trip—not by encircling the mountains, but by kissing the essence of hard work. He

is young in terms of age, energy and consciousness, but is quite matured in action. He holds children’s fingers, extends hands to support to the young, and folds his hands to the senior ones, albeit on ration grounds. My observations of his activities as a high school student at Nilakantha Campus, as youth going abroad for higher studies, or as a participant in various literature activities in various parts of the nation have brought me the reason that he is a powerful youth of my pick. He is at times startled by the water that flows down Arun and Thopal in Dhading, by prosperous modern conscience, by youths living in servitude even in the 21st century, and by tutelage plaguing the mind of the pioneers of change, but soon he consoles himself. The collectivity he seeks in his personal journey and his pursuit of novelty in awakening of such consolation, and ideas, actions and styles are his specialties. The same specialties are evident both in his writing, and in action. This is what characterizes Ganesh. For the life ahead, he has many rivers to cross. Literature and life are neither a hundred meter marathon race, nor a mountaineering with some adjectives to celebrate the ascent. It suffices for man to win a marathon or a mountain for once, but life puts man to test in every turn, and waits for repeated tests. This book is a claim that Ganesh is waiting to face such examinations with a higher order consciousness. I wish him a great journey ahead. Live long, and bring home the glory of victory. EMAIL: mrsukhadukha@gmail.com

Author’s Say - Mahesh Paudyal

The story of this novelette is completely fictional, though it draws facts from the

Majhis’ real life. I have made a small attempt to lift the Majhi community’s plight—both economically forced and socially inherited—into the discourse of the mainstream children’s literature, so that children and young adults from both Majhi and non-Majhi communities see how negative culturing, though apparently trivial and at times pleasing, can lead to fatal tragedies. The real readers I have in mind are young adults, who have preferably crossed the water mark of the middle school, and are in a position to convince themselves that certain belief in our society needs a critiquing, because it has many provisions for unproductive culturing of children’s mind. I will be happy if Little Lovers is received as a social novelette against child marriage. Though the narrative itself doesn’t critique the practice overtly anywhere, the events unfold in such a way that the finale becomes evidently tragic. The fuel of the tragedy comes from Tilke and Lakhum, two Majhi men, who decide that their daughter and son respectively, when they come of age, shall marry one another. The children, Malashree and Bikawa, somehow come to know this, and in their fanciful pastime, try to enact adults’ matrimony. For this they undertake a number of life-risking games, which ultimately bring misfortune to them. I thank friends Rama Adhikari and Nitya Pandey for critically editing the language and giving suggestions for improvement at several points. I thank Chandrasekhar Paudyal, who made beautiful illustrations for the story. My friend and writer Kartikeya Ghimire deserves thanks for taking the pain to launch the book in its present form. I thank Innovative Nepal—Surendar G.C. of Dang in particular—for taking the responsibility to promote and distribute this book. I thank Bikram Sapkota, who took me to his home in Nuwakot for the first time, wherefrom I could imagine Sera, the setting for my novel. I am also indebted to Akash Subedi in the US, who agreed to be the first reader of my manuscript, representing my target audience. Suggestions to improve shall help me to perk up. (courtsy: 'Little Lovers' novelette page c n d)

Jaleshwori Shrestha is a renowned storywriter and novelist

About the Author Jaleshwori Shrestha is a renowned storywriter and novelist. Mihineti Gauri and

Sunpari are her novels for children, Shantako Ichchha is a collection of long stories and Pariko Ghar and Tisako Janmadin are her collections of stories for children, from which, this collection derives most of its stories. For adults, she has published two story-collections Lavaka Baaph and Maun Bidroha, and a novel titled Niyati Chakra. She is also a social worker prodigally donating to trusts that award the best of writers in different fields and genres. Some of the awards she has established are ‘Goma Memorial Award’ through Women Literature’s Foundation, ‘Devkumari Thapa Children’s Literature Banita Award,’ ‘Gunjan Talent Award,’ ‘Bandipur Children’s Literature Award,’ ‘Govinda Bahadur Malla Gothale Young Adults’ Literature Manuscript Award’ etc. With royalties for her writings, she has also established ‘Jaleshwori Children’s Talent Award’ at the initiative of her daughter Nibha Shrestha. About this Book Pinki and the Butterflies collects fifteen of the best stories by its author. Each of the stories has at least a child as its protagonist, and the plot unfolds to assert a serious concern about the child’s rights, social cognition, the talent he or she promises and the treatment needed in the adults’ company. A wonderful sense of optimism pervades her stories, and she sees in children dreams that can change the world into a better places. She airs outright disagreement with discriminatory and traditional ways of thinking. For her, genders are equal, handicap is not a crime but an opportunity to unfold other talents, vice is bad, pampering punishes and hard work and dedication always pay. Most of the stories moralize, and the messages are pertinent to both children and adult. The Editor’s Say Pinki and the Butterflies enters the mainstream Nepalese Children’s Literature with a overt announcement: the world needs to read us and our children! In fact, the choice to publish this work into English is an anticipation of global audience. Considered this way, the collection holds the responsibility to present to the world the best of works the author has accomplished in her long writing career, especially for children. I consider most of the stories in this collection thrilling, though some have the inherent flaw of being too overtly moralistic and didactic. I am hopeful that the success of this collection shall inspire the author to look for alternative models of presentation. The author’s attempt to localize the stories in certain, real-life setting is a quality that pervades over all these stories. The stories take readers to locations that can, in reality, unfold before eyes, and the plot becomes easily conceivable. She has been extremely careful in crafting her language, marked by easy vocabulary and wonderful imageries. The best part of her writing, perhaps, is her characterization. All characters appear life-like, and easily identifiable. These stories should be, in my opinion, read for the messages they air. The author has in her mind a world free of violence, caprice and discrimination. In children, she envisions great seers, patriots, social workers and winners. All we need to do is prepare rooms and environment for such exponents to develop. Mahesh Paudyal, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur mahesh.kathmandu@gmail.com

गोठाले किशोर साहित्य पाण्डुलिपि पुरस्कार, २०६९ ‘फ्लास्ब्याकमा जिन्दगी’ नामक लक्ष्मी उप्रेतीको उपन्यासलाई, प्रथम हुने प्रतिभालाई एक डोको पुस्तक पुरस्कार

काठमाडौं, वरिष्ठ लेखक गोविन्द बहादुर मल्ल ‘गोठाले’ को स्मृतिमा स्थापित गोठाले किशोर साहित्य पाण्डुलिपि

पुरस्कार वर्ष २०६९ का लागि लक्ष्मी उप्रेती लिखित किशोर उपन्यास ‘फ्लास्ब्याकमा जिन्दगी’ लाई प्रदान गरिएको छ । वरिष्ठ समालोचक प्रा.डा. चुडामणि बन्धु, प्रज्ञाप्रतिष्ठानका उपकुलपति गङ्गाप्रसाद उप्रेती, जलेश्वरी श्रेष्ठ, गीताकेशरी र उन्नति बोहोरा शीलाले संयुक्त रुपमा यो पुरस्कार प्रदान गर्नुभएको थियो । पुरस्कारमा ११ हजार १ सय एघार नगद र ताम्रपत्र रहेको छ । कार्यक्रममा उपत्यकाव्यापि विद्यालय स्तरीय कथालेखन प्रतियोगितामा ‘अम्लेट, तिलक र बिक्सो’ शीर्षक कथा लेखी प्रथम हुने स्कलर्स होम एकेडेमी स्कुल, सामाखुसीकी १३ वर्षिय बालिका सुयोशा अधिकारीलाई एक डोको पुस्तक र बुद्घको प्रतिमा भएको शिल्ड प्रदान गरिएको छ । त्यस्तै दोस्रो र तेस्रो हुने क्रमशः नीति दाहाल, एडभान्स स्कुल, कालोपुल (‘द म्याजिसियन’ कथा) र तृतीय प्रतिमा भट्टराई, कक्षा ८, गार्गी शिक्षा सदन, गणेशमार्ग, चावहिल । (‘अनिताका अक्षर’ कथा) लाई एक–एक डालो पुस्तक र बुद्घको प्रतिमा भएको शिल्ड दिई पुरस्कृत गरिएको छ । कार्यक्रममा छनोटमा परेका १८३ जना विद्यार्थीहरूको कथामध्येबाट उत्कृष्ट दशवटा छानी उत्कृष्ट तीनलाई विशेष पुरस्कार र अन्य सातजनालाई ट्रफी प्रदान गरिएको छ । साथै पुरस्कृतमध्ये उत्कृष्ट तीनजनालाई मायोज गिफ्ट ह्याम्पर, मिदासको हेर्ने पाठ्यपुस्तकको सिडी र प्रथम हुने प्रतिभालाई रु चार हजार आठसय बराबरको डिएमआइटी टेस्टको उपहार पनि प्रदान गरिएको छ । किशोर साहित्यको टड्कारो आवश्यकता र यस क्षेत्रमा रहेको शून्यताको स्थितिलाई गति प्रदान गर्ने कार्यमा सानै भए पनि सकारात्मक पहल होस् भन्ने सदिच्छाका साथ वरिष्ठ साहित्यकार एवं समाजसेवी जलेश्वरी श्रेष्ठको पहलमा उहाँ आफैले संस्थापकका रुपमा रही दुई लाखको अक्षयकोष जुटाएर किशोर पुरस्कारको स्थापना केटाकेटी नेपालले गरेको हो । यो पुरस्कार यसै वर्षबाट बितरण गर्न शुरु गरिएको हो । यस वर्ष पुरस्कृत कृति ‘फ्लास्ब्याकमा जिन्दगी’ को पनि सोही समारोहमा वरिष्ठ लेखकहरु डा. चुडामणि बन्धु र गीताकेशरीले संयुक्त रुपमा विमोचन गरेका थिए । विमोचित कृतिको वारेमा डा. कुमार कोइराला र रामदेव पाण्डेले प्रकाश पारेका थिए । किशोरकिशोरीको जीवनमा सकारात्मक परिवर्तन ल्याउने कार्यमा प्रेरणादायी भूमिका निर्वाह गरी उनीहरूलाई साहित्यिक मिठास दिन समर्थ उत्कृष्ट कृतिको पाण्डुलिपिलाई हरेक वर्ष यो पुरस्कार प्रदान गरिने भएको छ । यस अवसरमा विभिन्न विद्यालयका किशोर प्रतिभाहरूलाई सिर्जनामा लाग्न प्रेरित गर्न साहित्य लेखन प्रतियोगिता गरिएको हो । सहभागीमध्ये उत्कृष्ट एक सयवटा कथा समावेश गरी केटाकेटीका उत्कृष्ट बालकथाहरू नामक कृति प्रकाशन गरिने भएको छ । उपत्यकाव्यापिव्यापि कथालेखन प्रतियोगितामा उत्कृष्ट दशमा पर्न सफल प्रतिभा र विद्यालयहरू यस प्रकार रहेका छन् ः ४. राजकुमार थपलिया, कक्षा १०, रोल नं. १, पद्मोदय उच्च मावि, पुतलीसडक, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ः ‘यस्तो बन्द कहिले नहोस्’ (भाषा ः नेपाली) ५. प्रज्ज्वल दाहाल, कक्षा ९, एम्बेसडर एकेडेमी, जोरपाटी, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ः ‘हन्टेड’ (भाषा ः अङ्ग्रेजी) ६. सुमना केसी, कक्षा ९ बि, भिएस निकेतन, मिनभवन, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ः ‘म पनि केही हुँ’ (भाषा ः नेपाली) ७. अर्जुन गौतम, कक्षा ८, ब्राइट फ्युचर हाईस्कुल, नैकाप, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ः ‘सुखको सपना’ (भाषा ः नेपाली) ८. बिपिना आचार्य, साइरियस उमावि, वाफल, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ‘त्यो अँध्यारो रातमा झ्यालबाट’ (भाषा ः नेपाली) ९. शाम्भवी पराजुली, प्रिन्सटन् इन्टरनेसनल हाई स्कुल, शान्तिनगर, काठमाडौं । कथाको शीर्षक ‘भाइले ल्याएको हलचल’ (भाषा ः नेपाली) १०. सिद्घान्त सिटौला, कक्षा १०, न्यु सनसाइन स्कुल, नयाँ बानेश्वर, काठमाडौं । कार्तिकेय घिमिरे (अध्यक्ष) केटाकेटी नेपाल ।

केटाकेटी नेपालको तर्फबाट बालसाहित्यका पुस्तकहरु सहयोग

सेन्ट जेभियर्स सोसियल सर्भिस सेन्टरमा आश्रित बालबालिकाहरुलाई केटाकेटी नेपालको तर्फबाट कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषले बालसाहित्यका पुस्तकहरु सहयोग गरेको छ । यस सेन्टरमा पुगेका लेखक कार्तिकेयलाई ह्विलचेयरमा गुड्दै आएका बालकले अभिवादन गर्दै गेट खोलिदिएका थिए । विविध परिवेशले असहाय र अपाङ्ग बन्न पुगेका बालबालिकाहरु यस सेन्टरमा आश्रित छन् । यो स्तुत्य समाजसेवाका लागि ST. XAVIER'S SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE (Heaven for the Homeless) लाई मुरीमुरी धन्यवाद छ Ketaketi Nepal Family would like to thank you all for your personal concern, love and kindness. We are grateful for your continuous support and generous cooperation for ST. XAVIER'S SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE (Heaven for the Homeless).

THANK YOU EVERYONE !!!

Received with thanks from St. Xavier's School, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur: Copies 2671, Eraser 870, Pencil 6360, Sharpener 730, Scale 46, Color Pencil 54, Geometry Box 26, Ball Pen 34, cello tape 11, Books 9, Small Bag 2, Glue 2, Belt 2, Punching Machine 1, Stapler 1 through NCELL brings KUTUMBA “School to School Program”. Our special thanks to all the students and everyone involved for contributing these stationeries for the one who are not blessed enough to buy them. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!                                                                      - PrayasNepal Family

केटाकेटी नेपालका नियमित कार्यक्रमहरू

१. बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार बितरण,
  – कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार ।
  – प्रारम्भ बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार ।
  – प्रयास नेपाल शैक्षिक प्रोत्साहन छात्रवृति ।
२. पिछडियका समुदायका बालबालिकाको लागि स्टेसनरी सामान बितरण, शैक्षिक प्रोत्साहन सहयोग (प्रयास नेपालसँगको सहकार्यमा)
३. केटाकेटी न्युज बालपत्रिका प्रकाशन ।
४. अग्रज लेखकका बालसाहित्यिक कृतिहरू र बालप्रतिभाका कृतिहरूको प्रकाशन ।
५. बालबालिकामा पठन संस्कारको विकासका लागि विभिन्न बालसाहित्य गोष्ठी, लेखनवारे छलफल र कथावाचन कार्यक्रमहरू ।

तपाईंले कसरी सहकार्य गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ ः

१. आवश्यक सरसल्लाह दिएर र आफ्नो क्षेत्रमा यस्ता कार्यक्रमको आयोजनामा अग्रसरता लिएर ।
२. यस अभियानमा दाता सदस्य बनेर ।
३. आफ्नो घरमा रहेका पुराना लत्ताकपडा र स्टेसनरी सामानहरू सहयोग गरेर ।
४. सामाजिक जागरणका कार्यक्रमको लागि आवश्यक सहयोग गरेर वा सहयोगीसम्म पुग्ने कार्यमा सहयोग पु¥याएर ।
५. विलक्षण अपाङ्ग र प्रतिभाशाली बालबालिकाको कृति÷एल्बम प्रकाशन र उत्पादनलाई स्पन्सर गरेर ।
६. बालसाहित्य पुस्तक सेट  किनेर आफ्ना बालबालिकालाई कोसेली लगिदिएर वा समुदायका सामाजिक कार्यक्रमहरू (जन्मदिन, व्रतवन्ध आदिमा) मा उपहार लगिदिएर वा समुदायका विभिन्न पुस्तकालयलाई दान÷ सहयोग÷ उपहार दिएर ।
७. अन्य, जुनसुकै क्षेत्रका बालहितकारी कार्यमा हामीसँग सहकार्य गर्ने वातावरण सिर्जना गरिदिएर .............................
तपाईं हाम्रो भेट सुखद र फलदायी बन्न सकोस् भन्ने कामना गर्दछौं ..............    केटाकेटी नेपाल परिवार, ९८४१४७७५१५

१२ जना बालबालिकाहरुलाई नगद पुरस्कासहित पुरस्कृत

कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषको दसौं वार्षिकोत्सवका अवसरमा आज आयोजित एक समारोहमा प्याब्सनका अध्यक्ष डा. बाबुराम पोखरेलले १२ जना बालबालिकाहरुलाई नगद पुरस्कासहित पुरस्कृत गर्नुभयो । पुरस्कृत हुने बालप्रतिभाहरूमा गायनमा उत्कृष्ट दृष्टिबिहिन बालिका सरिता अधिकारी       (पोखरा), महेश भट्टराई (भक्तपुर), सुयोशा आचार्य (पर्वत), धर्मेन्द्र पाण्डे (मकवानपुर), टीकाराज मानन्धर (रामेछाप), अनिता सेढाईं (धादिङ), नारायण थापा (काभ्रे), सरिता मुखिया (रौतहट), प्रनिशा शर्मा (नुवाकोट) र हिमाँशु निभा कुँवर, अमेरिका रहेका छन् । दृष्टिबिहिन बालिका सरिता अर्याल (सुर्खेत) र राहुल भूजेल  (काठमाडौं) गरी दुईजनाले प्रारम्भ बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार प्राप्त गरेका छन् ।

कोषका अध्यक्ष मोहन कार्कीको सभापतित्वमा सम्पन्न यस कार्यक्रम प्रयास नेपाल, प्रारम्भ बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोष र कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषको संयुक्त आयोजनामा सम्पन्न भएको थियो । कार्यक्रममा प्रयास नेपालका अध्यक्ष मनी जोशी, प्याब्सन अध्यक्ष डा. बाबुराम पोखरेल र लिटिल मिस वल्र्ड विपश्वी पौडेलले संयुक्त रुपमा नगद पुरस्कार सहित पुरस्कृत गरेका थिए । उत्कृष्ट प्रतिभा अधिकारीलाई दश हजार नगद पुरस्कार अन्य पुरस्कृत सबैलाई जनही ५ हजार नगद पुरस्कार प्रदान गरिएको थियो । लेखक कार्तिकेय घिमिरेको लेखकस्वमा स्थापित यस कोषले यस समारोहमा कार्तिकेय घिमिरेका कृतिहरु प्रकाशन गरी नियमित रुपमा लेखकस्व प्रदान गरी कोषको स्थायित्व र निरन्तरतामा विशेष योगदान गर्नुहुने प्रकाशकहरु ऐरावती प्रकाशन (बागबजार, काठमाडौं) र साझा प्रकाशन  (पुल्चोक, ललितपुर) लाई र मुद्रणमा निरन्तर सहयोग गर्ने मुद्रक परिचित छापाखानालाई पनि कार्यक्रममा सम्मान गरेको थियो । कार्यक्रम संचालन र धन्यवाद ज्ञापन महेश पौड्यालले गरेका थिए । पौड्याल प्रारम्भ बालप्रतिभा कोषका संस्थापक पनि हुन् ।

कार्यक्रममा साहित्यकारहरु रन्जुश्री पराजुली, ललिता दोषी, छायादत्त न्यौपाने, ऋषिराम पाण्डे, गरिमा जोशी, विनिषा महर्जन, युवराज रायमाझी, रामदेव पाण्डे, अन्जना राजवंशी, सुमिक्षा खड्का, पुष्पा अधिकारी र दयाराम थापाले रचना सुनाएका थिए भने दृष्टिबिहिन संगीत शिक्षक रमेश सुवेदीको संगीतमा पुरस्कृत दृष्टिबिहिन बालिकाहरुले उत्कृष्ट गीत प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए । समारोहमा बालप्रतिभा सुदीक्षा डंगोलले भायोलिन बजाएर उत्कृष्ट प्रतिभा प्रस्तुत गरेकी थिइन् ।   काठमाडौं, असार १४ ।

केटाकेटी मिडियामा बाललेखकहरूसँग अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न

केटाकेटी मिडिया (जमल, काठमाडौं) मा आज बाललेखकहरूसँग अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भएको छ । कार्यक्रममा साहित्य सिर्जना गरी पुस्तक प्रकाशन गरिसकेका र साहित्य लेखनमा रमाइरहेका गरी २३ जना बालप्रतिभाहरू सहभागी भएका थिए ।

सहभागी प्रतिभामा पुस्तक लेख्ने लेखक प्रतिभाका साथै सिनेमामा अभिनय गरेका, गायनमा एल्बम प्रकाशन गरिसकेका र रेडियो एवम् टिभीमा कार्यक्रम संचालन गरिरहेकालगायत विविध विधाका प्रतिभाशाली बालबालिकाहरू सहभागी भएका थिए ।

कार्यक्रममा अमेरिकामा अध्ययनरत ११ वर्षिय लेखक हिमांशु निभा कुँवर, सेन्टमेरिजमा कक्षा ५ मा अध्ययनरत लेखिका ज्वाला ढकाल भिएस निकेतनको १२ वर्षका लेखक महेश भट्टराई नोबेल एकेडेमीका १३ वर्षीया नियात्राकार र कवि सुशान्तमान सिंह मास्केसँग सहभागी साथीहरूले अन्तरक्रिया गरेका थिए ।

साथै कार्यक्रममा गायनमा उत्कृष्ट प्रतिभाहरू गरिमा ज्ञवाली (कक्षा ६, टाइम्स टेलिक स्कुल) र वर्षा अधिकारी (कक्षा ६, क्रिएटिभ एकेडेमी, कीर्तिपुर) ले प्रतिभा प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए, साथै सहभागी प्रतिभाहरूले एकअर्कालाई साथी बनाउने र आआफ्नो घरमा दराजभरि किताब राखेर पुस्तकालय बनाई जतिसक्यो बढी साहित्यका किताब पढ्ने निर्णय गरेका थिए ।

बालबालिकाहरू कस्तो साहित्य पढ्न चाहन्छन् र उनीहरू कस्तो लेखिरहेका छन् र किन लेख्छन् भन्ने कुरामा आधारित रही बालबालिकाको कुरा सुनौं भन्ने आब्हानका साथ आयोजित यस अन्तरक्रियामा लेखक नयनराज पाण्डेले आफ्नो बाल्यकालको सम्झना बालबालिकाहरूलाई रोचक ढंगले सुनाउनु भएको थियो । साथै कार्यक्रममा लेखकहरू कृष्ण अविरल, नीलम कार्की निहारिका, शर्मिला घिमिरे, कार्तिकेय र राधा पौडेलले पनि आफ्नो लेखनको अनुभव र बाल्यकालिन सम्झना सुनाउनु भएको थियो । लेखक महेश पौड्यालको संयोजनमा भएको यस कार्यक्रममा पौड्यालले साहित्य लेखनवारे प्रशिक्षण दिनुका साथै कथा पनि सुनाउनु भएको थियो । उहाँले लेखन कला र भाषाको लालित्य विकास गर्नका लागि पहिलो अनिवार्य शर्त भनेकै धेरै भन्दा धेरै पुस्तकहरू पढ्ने बानी बसाल्नु हो भन्नुभएको थियो ।

अमेरिकामा बस्ने १० वर्षका प्रतिभाशाली नेपाली बालक पुरस्कृत

काठमाडौं । कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषले कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार २०६९ बाट अमेरिकामा बस्ने १० वर्षका प्रतिभाशाली नेपाली बालक हिमाँशु निभा कुँवरलाई पुरस्कृत गरेको छ । उनी सिर्जनशील र विलक्षण प्रतिभा भएका बालक हुन् । उनले सात वर्षको उमेरमा स्नो फल नामक कविता संग्रह र ९ वर्षको उमेरमा कलरफुल ब्वाय नामक संस्मरण संग्रहमो कृति प्रकाशन गरेका छन् । अंग्रेजी भाषामा लेख्ने उनी अनलाइनमा रेडियो कार्यक्रम संचालन गर्ने कान्छा प्रतिभा पनि हुन् । उनलाई यस वर्ष कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषले आयोजना गरेको कोषको दशौं वार्षिकोत्सवको विशेष अवसरमा प्रयास नेपालका अध्यक्ष मनी जोशी, लिटिल मिस वल्र्ड विपश्वी पौडेल र प्याब्सनका अध्यक्ष डा. बाबुराम पोखरेलले नगद रु पाँच हजार एक सहित संयुक्त रुपमा यो पुरस्कार प्रदान गरेका थिए । पुरस्कृत बालक हिमाँशुले तेस्रो कृति यात्राका सम्झनाहरु तयार गरेका छन् । जसलाई कार्तिकेय बालप्रतिभा पुरस्कार कोषले प्रकाशित गरिदिने भएको छ । उनी अहिले अमेरिकाको नर्थ क्यारोलिनामा रहेको स्टोनी प्याइन्ट इलेमेन्ट्री स्कुलमा कक्षा ५ मा पढ्छन् ।

Kartikeya Child Talent Award, 2012

Master Himanshu Nibha Kunwar (Cumberland County Stoney Point Elementary School Fayetteville, North Caroline, USA)

Dear Master Himanshu, The Kartikeya Child Talent Award Trust is a established by author and child right activist Kartikeya Ghimire with remunerations collected for his books, and for writings published in various newspapers and journals in 2003, to recognize and appreciate children with extraordinary capabilities. The Trust has high appreciation of the rare literary talent you have exhibited with extraordinary success in early age. Your publications Snow Fall (Collection of Poetry 2010, at the age of 8) and Colorful Boy (Collection of Memoirs, 2011, at the age of 9) have convinced the Trust that you deserve to be awarded with Kartikeya Child Talent Award, 2012 with this citation and a cash prize of Rs. 5001. We confer you this title on the occasion of Kartikeya Child Talent Award Distribution Program organized on the occasion of the tenth Foundation Day of the Trust in Kathmandu. The Trust is convinced that if you continue with your literary pursuit with zeal, you will shine out as a global literary talent in future. We wish you a bright and enduring literary career.

— Kartikeya Child Talent Award, 2012

Children’s literature in Nepal: a tale of stagnation

Kartikeya Ghimire

Writers in the coming decade must write children’s mind; enough has come about the writers’ mind in the name of writing children’s literature.

When the question of children’s literature in Nepal comes, I go back in memory to the year 1996 for reference, when I was a student-cum-teacher. I attended my school in the morning, and taught children during the day. My adventure into children’s literature started then. I can still remember the titles I read with zeal those days. The lot we had in hand was nothing more than the retelling of folk and fairy tales. The writers did not want to be addressed as ‘writers of children’s literature.’ The genre was still an underdeveloped one. They loved to call themselves writers of other things, as writing for children’s literature was a derogatory profession. Most of them projected themselves as writers for adults. They wrote with bias, with partialities. There too were some who revered farmers more than the king.

However, children’s literature continued to flourish. Fate decreed my career in such a way that in 2055, I was opportune to edit Balak, a children’s magazine. This paved me a way to keep myself engaged with children’s literature most of the time. I remember the words of most of the senior writers those days: a writer for children must be inspired by didactic and moral motifs.

But time turned out to be powerful. In 2000, after I attended a workshop on children’s literature at Dhulikhel, my understanding of children’s literature changed drastically. Even then, a big chunk of writers who also attended the workshop did not shun the old practice of simplifying and retelling fairy tales. Though some seminars and discussions on the possible future direction of children’s literature ensued, things did not change that much.

Story is more or less the same today. Well, fairy tales have replaces by modern tales, but the underlying motif is still didactic which is plagued by moral agenda. This presupposes that all children are wrong, and writers should correct them. Or, it might presuppose that the writes are police who need to discipline the children for a great national cause. I am not against this, but this is not the only thing about children’s literature.

Today, children’s literature has become a field of glamour. Writers have started occupying gorgeous stages on daily basis these days. In other words, a great and hopeful time has dawned. But time has foisted upon us the challenge to write literature that befits the demands of our age. We have twin problems. In one hand, we need to compete with the ever-flowing entertainment media, and on the other, we need to address the fleeting taste of children. Nevertheless, many good works are going on in the field of Nepali children’s literature. The growing popularity of literature online, increasing diversity in presentation, publication of multi-colored titles, and increased care in editing and language clarity are proofs of this assertion. Sadly however, themes are in jeopardy, and by the same token, the actual motif of our children’s literature is in jeopardy.

Over the years, certain facts have changed though. Books have become available to children not only in cities, but also in places remotely and secluded. We cannot overlook the role of Room to Read, an international organization, in popularizing children’s literature in Nepal. It dispatches books from village to village. It has also been gradually setting a standard for writing, layout and publishing books for children. We must also acknowledge the contribution of Read Nepal in the formative days.

Passing through several turns, children’s literature stands at a challenging moment, as far as writing is concerned. If in yester years, fifteen to twenty books came annually, we have more than 185 books coming out into the market these days. Nepali children’s literature is its rich glory, numerically. What we need now is a literature that lends intellectual input in accordance with the changing times, embellished with the feeling of mutual dignity and brotherhood.  In other words, we need to revisit our themes.

Much of the writing these days is measured against minor indicative of profit and loss, which is fatal for the entire field. We need, in fact, to be moving in the direction of producing a responsible citizen through literature. A good literature today can only ensure the evolution of a good citizen tomorrow. Therefore writing for children is a serious issue. Like a mother putting all her efforts to prepare a healthy gruel for her baby, a writer should put special efforts to enrich his writing with values. If your involvement is just out of a sense of hobby, you are doing injustice upon children, and also upon the nation. You must be aware of this.

A child is today’s ray of hope. He is also a forerunner. Therefore the reading materials we produce for him need to be seriously scrutinized, because it mentality that defines a man. Literature must inspire one’s mentality in the positive direction. 

When we talk about writing for children, we also undertake the subjects of their behavior making, sociability, and linguistic capacity building. A good literature contributes to the making of an amiable and responsible individual. It also enriches his linguistic capacities. An ill-formed literature not only destroys a reader’s language acquisition, but also harms his moral and ethical aspects. This makes children’s literature a very, very serious affair.

In fact, what is written for children should be directly influenced by their age group and family backgrounds. Consideration of age helps one to decide color graphics, selection of words, and reading material as such. This is crucial, because childhood is a fast changing time, and children keep shifting their interest with every single addition in their age. A writer should be fully knowledgeable about a child’s interest, psychology, and linguistic level. What is so dismally lacking in our children’s literature so far is the fact that writers seldom consider the question of age, and the different tastes and qualities children develop with age.

Before we end a short commentary on the situation of children’s literature these days! These days, at least twenty books get published every month, making it around two hundred annually. But the writers seem dazed when it comes to the principles of writing. They cannot tell for sure which age group they are targeting at. If a book’s exposition fits with one age group, climax with another, and the end with yet another, it is considered ill-made. Therefore, before starting, a writer must consider the readers’ age.

It is advisable that before writing, a writer decides among three age groups, and stick to one, of his pick: birth to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 13. I consider is good for our context. A plan with this decidability might be tested with other criteria I have delineated above. But, the best is, observe the activities of the children of that age that conforms to your target; talk with them, and find time to play with them. This will help you develop a great piece of writing that will not only entertain and instruct a child but also archive the shifting paradigm of the world in relation with the young minds of the juvenile children. Writers in the coming decade must write children’s mind; enough has come about the writers’ mind in the name of writing children’s literature. Best wishes!

(Ghimire is an acclaimed writer and trainer of children’s literature)

(Translated and edited by Mahesh Paudyal)

‘भक्तपुर घुम्दाको मज्जा’ विमोचित

बालप्रतिभाको प्रवर्धनका लागि विगत १५ वर्षदेखि काम गरिरहेको केटाकेटी मिडियाबाट प्रकाशित प्रतिभाशाली बालक सुशान्तमान सिंह मास्केको दोस्रो कृति ‘भक्तपुर घुम्दाको मज्जा’ (यात्रासंस्मरण) कृतिको विमोचन सम्पन्न भयो । वरिष्ठ साहित्यकार एंव संस्कृतिविद् सत्यमोहन जोशीले लेखक मास्केको कृति विमोचन गर्नुभयो । विलक्षण प्रतिभावान् बालक सुशान्तले कक्षा ६ मा पढ्दा यो कृति लेखेका हुन् । उनी अहिले नोवेल एकेडेमीमा कक्षा ७ मा पढ्छन् । उनले ११ वर्षको उमेरमा पहिलो कृति लेखेका थिए । उनी रेडियो नेपालका बालसमाचारवाचक पनि हुन् । उनको यो कृतिमा भक्तपुर दरवार क्षेत्रमा रहेका सम्पदाहरुको परिचय फोटोसहित अंग्रेजी र नेपाली दुवै भाषामा रोचक ढंगले दिइएको छ । यो पुस्तक केटाकेटी मिडियाले प्रकाशन गरेको हो ।

नोवेल एकेडेमीका प्रधानाध्यापक डा. जयराज आचार्यको सभापतित्वमा भएको यस कार्यक्रममा केटाकेटी मिडियाका अध्यक्ष कार्तिकेय घिमिरे र महेश पौड्यालले विमोचित पुस्तकको वारेमा प्रकाश पारेका थिए । कार्यक्रममा साहित्यकार गोपाल पराजुली, गोविन्द घिमिरे, धु्रव मधिकर्मी, बालप्रतिभाहरु रविना घिमिरे र सुमिक्षा खड्कालगायतले रचना सुनाउँनुका साथै विमोचित कृतिको वारेमा विचार व्यक्त गर्नुभएको थियो । लेखक सुशान्त मातापिता जयन्ती र सुरेशमान मास्केको एक मात्र छोरा हुन् ।

रविना घिमिरेको ‘जून पोखिएको आँगन’ बिमोचित

बालप्रतिभाको प्रवर्धनका लागि विगत १५ वर्षदेखि काम गरिरहेको केटाकेटी मिडियाबाट प्रकाशित प्रतिभाशाली बालिका रविना घिमिरेको ‘जून पोखिएको आँगन’ कविता संग्रहको विमोचन सम्पन्न भयो । 

वरिष्ठ साहित्यकार डा. मोदनाथ प्रश्रित, नेपाल प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानका उपकुलपति गंगाप्रसाद उप्रेती र उद्योगपति डा. ताराप्रसाद पोखरेलले संयुक्त रुपमा लेखिका घिमिरेको कृति विमोचन गर्नुभएको थियो । विलक्षण प्रतिभावान् बालिका घिमिरेले कक्षा ४ पढ्दादेखि कक्षा १० सम्म अध्ययनरत रहँदा रचना गरिएका ३२ कविताहरू यस संग्रहमा रहेका छन् । यो केटाकेटी मिडियाको दशौं प्रकाशन शृंखला अन्तर्गत् प्रकाशित भएको हो ।

केटाकेटी मिडियाका अध्यक्ष लेखक कार्तिकेयको सभापतित्वमा भएको यस समारोहमा कृतिका वारेमा विश्वविद्यालयका अंग्रेजी विषय शिक्षक महेश पौड्यालले प्रकाश पारेका थिए । साथै प्राज्ञ बुँद राना, सह प्राध्यापक रञ्जुश्री पराजुली, रमा अधिकारी, गोपाल पराजुली, प्राज्ञ विष्णु प्रभात, बालप्रतिभा सुशान्तमान सिंह मास्के, भागवत आचार्य, सुब सेन, रामबहादुर पहाडी, राजेन्द्र घिमिरेलगायत लेखकहरूले रचना सुनाउँनुका साथै कृतिको वारेमा विचार व्यक्त गर्नुभएको थियो ।