Kathmandu. Kathmandu: The 212th birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya is being celebrated today by organizing various programs in different parts of the country and abroad.

Bhanubhakta has given a big boost to the Nepali people by presenting ‘Ramayana’ with emotional translation of the biography of King Ram of Ayodhya written in Sanskrit language. The Ramayana written by him is still recited in the homes of Nepalis.

Adikavi Bhanubhakta unified Nepal through language, literature and culture. Bhanubhakta, who was born in Chundiramgha village of Tanahun on July 1, 1871 BS, was inspired to compose the Ramayana in Nepali as an ordinary ghasi preached that he should earn a name by doing good work after birth.

‘Vadhushiksha’ is another famous work of his. Similarly, there are works like ‘Prashnatthar’, ‘Bhaktamala’, ‘Ramgita’, ‘Phaotkar Rachana’ among others. Adikavi Acharya, who was imprisoned for failing to settle the accounts of Kumari Chowk, had written in the poem opposing tomorrow by being a staunch opponent of the delay in the government office and ‘tomorrowism’.

Bhanubhakta has made a historic contribution in creating Nepali ethnic unity, national identity and Nepali cultural consciousness and strengthening the national culture. Critics are of the view that Bhanubhakta is a historical person and all Nepalis should respect him and it is the main need of the day to hold discussions and critical programs on the controversies raised about his views.

Tribhuvan University has written many research books on Bhanubhakta in post-graduation. On the occasion, a wreath will be placed at the statue of National Luminary Bhanubhakta in front of Ranipokhari in Kathmandu this morning.

Adikavi Acharya celebrates Bhanu Jayanti by reciting the Ramayana translated into Nepali language. On this occasion, organizations working in the field of language, literature and culture are celebrating Bhanu Jayanti by organizing various programs today.

Since Adikavi was a poet who wrote poetry in Nepali language before Acharya, there is also an argument that he cannot be called Adikavi. Gyannishtha Gyawali, assistant professor at Tribhuvan University, who has been studying and researching bhanubhakta, said bhanubhakta should be called adikavi as he had made an important contribution to linguistic unity by translating texts like Ramayana into Nepali local language. The Ramayana is believed to have created a new era in the linguistic field.

Adikavi Acharya passed away in 1925 BS. Bhanubhakta’s birth anniversary is also celebrated in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan, Burma and other countries and places of India.