Pushkin's birth anniversary marked

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 8: I'm sitting by bars in the damp blackened cell -- The juvenile eagle, who's bred by the jail,My mournful friend, with his wings stretching wide,Is picking at bloody food right by my side.

These lines written by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin were recited from the background. At the stage, three jailbirds were struggling to be free. Poet Pushkin was seen in the background.

This was a scene of  'The Prisoner', a famous poem written by Pushkin, which was staged by the students of Shailee Theatre and Moksha at a function organised to mark the 224th anniversary of the great Russian poet and the Russian Language Day at the Russian House in the capital on Tuesday. 

Russian Language Day is observed annually and this Day coincides with the birthday of Pushkin who is considered the father of modern Russian literature.

At the function, Pushkin's poetry evening was organised. Momila Joshi, Lisa Karnjit, Bishnu Bahadur Singh, Sushma Khatri Ranjit, Amod Mani Dixit and Bikram KC recited poems by Pushkin. Ram Bindu Shrestha and Sushil Sigdel spoke about the features of the Russian language.

Chancellor of the Academy of Music and Theatre Nisha Sharma and director of Russian House Anton Maslov jointly released two books 'Thap Basibiyalo' and 'Leo Tolstoy: Laghutam Balkathaharu' translated from Russian by Dr. Balaram Aryal.

Chancellor Sharma opined that the importance of Pushkin in Russian and Bhanubhakta Acharya in Nepali is not different.

Chairman of Nepal Russia Literature Society Jangab Chauhan highlighted the private life and love affairs of Pushkin. The programme was organised by Russian House in Kathmandu and Nepal Russia Literature Society.

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born on 6 June 1799 and was killed in a duel on  February 10,1837. He is considered to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature.