Birthplace of Bhanu Bhakta lying in ruins

BY AMAR RAJ NAHARKI

Tanahun, Nov. 5: The birthplace of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, the pioneer poet of Nepali literature and a national luminary, has fallen into ruins due to a lack of preservation. Despite its significance as a cultural heritage site that the state should protect, negligence has left the house in a dilapidated state, covered in weeds.

While Bhanu's birthplace in Chundi Ramgha was rebuilt to honour his contributions and establish it as a literary pilgrimage site, 21 years have passed since a fire destroyed the structure.  However, reconstruction of the house has not yet begun. 

Many authors visiting the place cannot stop tears seeing the ruins. Former president of the Gandaki Bangmaya Pratisthan in Tanahun, Sagar Udas shared his sorrow, expressing that without reconstruction, even visiting Chundi feels disheartening.

Bhanu Bhakta Acharya was born on July 13, 1814, in Chundi Ramgha of Bhanu Municipality 4 to Dhananjay Acharya and Dharmawati Devi.

 In 1998, during the shooting of a Nepali movie ‘Aadikabi Bhanu Bhakta’, the Bhanu Birthplace Development Committee renovated the house. However, on April 23, 2003, a forest fire originating west of the jungle destroyed the entire house. At that time, the house had been rebuilt at Rs. 126,995.

Bharat Pokhrel, a resident of Bhanu Municipality-5, urged the local government to rebuild the house promptly. He said, “One doesn’t need to rely on the central or provincial government to construct a house. It is shameful that Bhanu Municipality, named after pioneer poet Bhanu, cannot rebuild it.” 

Locals have called on authorities to rise above politics and develop the area as a literary tourism site, preserving Bhanu’s legacy. Sandesh Acharya said that Bhanu Bhakta’s contributions to the Nepali language and literature must be respected without politicising the matter. He said, “Several valuable artefacts from Bhanu’s life, including his items, are deteriorating without a proper museum to display them.”

Following a decision to transfer the Aadikabi Bhanu Bhakta Birthplace Development Committee under the jurisdiction of the local government, the site has been neglected. 

Former Mayor of Bhanu Municipality, Udaya Raj Goli, said that Bhanu Bhakta's birthplace should remain under federal government jurisdiction, given his national stature. “If responsibility is passed from the central government to the local levels and further to the ward, it only reduces accountability,” he added. 

Eight years ago, the foundation for Bhanu’s home reconstruction was laid, but work has not begun yet. On April 4, 2017, the Western Development Forum laid the foundation stone for the house in the presence of former Chief Secretary Dr. Som Lal Subedi, former Chief Secretary Lilamani Paudel and Chairman of the Western Development Forum Ram Kaji Kone. 

According to Shankar Ranabhat, Executive Director of the Aadikabi Bhanu Bhakta Birthplace Development Committee, construction has not progressed because officials from the forum promised but failed to proceed with the rebuilding. He said although funds were allocated by the forum, work remained stalled due to the committee’s lack of authority after being placed under the jurisdiction of local level.