by: Bishal Shah

The International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) Convention which was held in New York on August 15, 2009, with or without intention made Nepali language speaking people feel disrespected. In spite of the efforts are on the way to cover up the disrespect shown by the INLS to Nepali language, literature and Nepali language speaking people, the blunders cannot be corrected unless sincerely accepting the weaknesses and offering an apology. It was neither historical nor grand. Let me put some of the blunders made by the INLS and the Convention organizers in chronology:

1. From the very start of the inception of the INLS Convention, it proceeded with lies. Nobody spoke how the idea of the convention was generated. One who knew about it tried to get credit for herself. Selfishness from the start prevailed. A few Convention organizers lied to other important members in the middle who tried to help make Convention successful. At the end, the organizers could have offered an apology for the inconvenience and for the inexperience that might have calm down the audiences and second-hand listeners they lied again as if the Convention concluded with grand success. All liars in INLS? Can liars protect and promote Nepali language and literature? Can liars defend the attacks on Nepali language, literature and the interests of the Nepali language speaking people?

2. Convention without National Anthem or Song- how come it is International Convention on Nepali literature? It looked like family oriented small business party to raise 2000-2200 dollars. What a great achievement? Is Nepali language worth just for such an amount?

3. People came to listen there on the evolution of Nepali language and literature, but nobody could listen even 15 percent of what the speakers said. What a management? It would have been better if the Convention would have taken place at the picnic spot and named that as ‘Poetry Picnic’.

4. All MCs showed sheer negligence and complete childish behavior, completely incompetent and they were enjoying as if they were handling DJ Nites with beers and liquors. This is disrespect to Nepali language and literature.

5. Members were shouting for something from the hall instead of passing their words in small paper. It looked they wanted attraction for their dresses and get ups. The ladies did not realize that the program was not for their cheap fashion. Nobody cared the value of Nepali language and literature.

6. Organizers worked just for the names and credit without considering the importance of Nepali language, the only remaining tangible tenet of the unity of Nepal and Nepalese.

7. The management side was very weak, wrong choice of the MCs, irritating sound system, choice of venue in the basement for the Nepali language and literature, noises, no initiative to attract the audiences who were chatting throughout the program out of frustration. Many of them were also reading newspapers. Some of the organizers were chatting outside of the hall at the corridor.

8. Organizers exhibited zero knowledge on protocol service. The Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN, His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya has been called on the stage as an ordinary guest when he should have made the Chief Guest as per the status he enjoyed. It is the tradition that the Chief Guest extends the awards or prizes. However, the Chief Guest himself received the award. How funny? The MC made the blunders while taking the name of His Excellency Ambassador. He also made himself as laughing-stock when he made Mrs. Basundhara Bhusal, Nepal’s one of the popular artists stand in the middle of the crowd and asked her name. It was not necessary to take her name in that fashion which is an insult to the renowned Nepali artist. Another popular artist, Mr. Hari Bahadur Thapa (Mangale)’s presence was reminded from the hall as if the organizers are competing to each other to show that they have better artist as guests.

9. One of the speakers spoke on independence of India rather than on the development of Nepali language and its constraints. He did not feel proud to be Nepali language speaker but expressed his happiness to speak on the independence day of India which coincided the date of INLS Convention.

Outcome of INLS Convention:

There is no positive outcome from the INLS Convention. Just holding the convention is not the outcome when the message of the convention sent the wrong signals. The INLS Convention failed not due to the lack of efforts of the organizers who were entrusted to hold the convention but because the wrong advice they received from under the table. However, the organizers are blamed for keeping the details in secret as if they were to hold political events. The organizers are blamed for failures because they worked for the name and fame under the cover of INLS and the INLS itself was exposed for its wrong doings from the past several years. Openness, clarity, changes in INLS by-laws should be done at the earliest to tackle the flaws of INLS. Otherwise, it will definitely see the competing organization or even stronger and reliable organization having similar purpose with clean intention very soon. Many people have already planned to start creating new organization that will promote and preserve Nepali language, literature, arts, culture, paintings (lalitkala), and sculptures. I would definitely like to suggest those friends to have an institution called ‘Diaspora Academy for Nepali Arts, Culture, Language and Literature’ to help save Nepali heritage, the foundation of our identity and survival.

Missed opportunity:

INLS Convention missed to consider many important aspects. Among them:

1. It should have sent the Constituent Assembly the note that INLS as an authoritative and representative body wishes to have Nepali language as only official and median language of Nepal.
2. It should have requested the Government of Nepal to consider some of the Diaspora writers’ workings in the curriculum of the Tribhuvan University.
3. It should have requested the Nepal Academy to establish a branch that could foresee the developments of Nepali language and literature in Diaspora.
4. It should have considered establishing a permanent office and library instead of running from the home which shows that INLS is a family oriented organization.

Finally, I personally feel the INLS must offer kind apology to the public for the mismanagement even though it had more than a year. Covering up the blunders that have already exposed before the public will generate more questions and credibility of INLS. Putting distorted stories in newsmagazines and publishing book trying to make the failed program as grand one will only put suspicion that INLS is for something else and not for the development of Nepali language and literature. I request the INLS not to disrespect Nepali speaking people by dishonoring Nepali language and literature. The office bearers must realize that Nepali language and literature has a direct link to the survival of Nepal and the Nepali people. Its importance exceeds the INLS, its office bearers and behind the curtain advisors