'Teachers should read first'

BY Avaya Shrestha,Bhaktapur, June 3: On Friday afternoon, chairman of Bhaktapur Municipality Ward No. 5 and former principal of Genuine Secondary School Yogendra Man Bijukchhe was seated on the dais as the moderator while essayist Roshan Sherchan was facing his queries.

There were 75 teachers as the audience.

The topic of the discussion was Galli Sansar (The World Of A Small Street), a newly published collection of essays by Sherchan.

Winner of the Uttam Shanti Award of this year, the book has been a content of buzz among readers, of late. The award is regarded as the biggest one which is given only for non-fictional books published in Nepali. 

At the function organised by the school, essayist Sherchan opined that the literature must be written based on scientific facts. “It is not only for entertainment but also for provoking the thought,” he added. 

To a query by moderator Bijukchhen, Sherchan was of the view that the scientifically right literature works for the sake of human civilisation, simultaneously it is against any sort of superstition. 

A PhD in forestry, Sherchan asserted that forestry is not only the science of trees but also the study of wildlife, botany and human society that are related to the forest.

Moderator Bijukchhen felt that the book presented great knowledge about biology, environment science, sociology, anthropology and philosophy. “It deals with the cultural changes as well as the dynamics of lifestyle in developing town and the village,” Bijukchhen added.

Principal of the school Ananta Ghimire spoke about the creativity of Sherchan while vice-principal Rajan Dhaubadel highlighted the importance of reading culture. Other teachers also raised queries about the essays of the book.

Published by Bookhill Publications Kathmandu, the 308-page book consists of 48 essays that are divided into four parts including thoughts, environment, memory and travel. 

It was an amazing scene for critic and journalist Rajkumar Baniya. “I was amazed to have seen this. You, people, have proved that the individuals who teach should read first.”

Publisher of the book Bhupendra Khadka was also amazed to have heard from the school that ordered 75 copies of Galli Sansar for 75 teachers of the school. It was former principal Bijukchhen who started the programme 'Teachers should read first'.

“We teachers discuss books or important articles every Friday. We show important cinemas to the students as well,” Principal Ghimire disclosed.