Aadikabi’s house awaiting reconstruction

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, July 13: It is distressing for any Nepali who reaches Chundiramgha of Bhanu Municipality-4 to see Pioneer Poet Aadikabi Bhanubhakta Acharya’s house in ruins. 

Sagar Udash, outgoing president of Gandaki Literary Academy, Tanahun, said that they decided not to visit Chundi this year on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Aadikabi Bhanubhakta as his house has not been rebuilt. 

Udash said, "I feel like crying seeing the burnt-down house of Bhanu, so I don't want to go there this time.”

It has been 21 years since a fire destroyed the Aadikabi’s  house in Chundiramgha, Bhanu Municipality–4. 

The house, where Bhanubhakta was born, brought up and composed poetry,  is now in ruins. Bushes have covered the areas where Bhanu’s house was standing 21 years ago. 

The house was renovated in 1998 for the shooting of a film 'Aadikabi Bhanubhakta' based on the life of the first poet of the Nepali language.  

But the renovated house was destroyed by a fire that broke out in the western part of the forest on April 23, 2003 and continued for three days. The house renovated for Rs. 126,995 at that time has not been reconstructed even after a long time.

Bharat Pokharel, a resident of Purandihi of Bhanu Municipality-5, said that the local government should immediately reconstruct the house. 

Pokharel said, "There is no need to depend on the federal and provincial governments to rebuild the house, it is a matter of shame that Bhanu Municipality, which was named after Bhanu, could not rebuild his house."

Locals have urged the politicians to develop the area as a literary tourist destination by preserving the house of literary figures like Bhanubhakta Acharya by putting their political ideologies aside.  

Sandesh Acharya, a local, said the contribution of Bhanubhakta to Nepali language and literature should not be ignored. 

Many important items, including household items used by Bhanu during his lifetime, are now disappearing. No effort has been made to make public the materials used by the pioneer poet by turning it into a museum.