I had always believed in documentation, we need to document things for the next generation. Even if the matters are smaller and unnoticeable, we should never ignore them.
Continuing to my last week's article on the history of Newar Sakha of Singtam; time took a major facelift, Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam was formed in the month of December 2018. The first meeting was held at the premises of L.N Pradhan and was attended by Binod Pradhan, Singtam Bazaar, Bijay Pradhan, Golitar, L.N Pradhan, Shantinagar, Hem Kumari Pradhan, Lower Tinek, Dhiraj Pradhan and Manoj Pradhan, Lower Tinek, Shital Pradhan and Sishir Pradhan, Shantinagar. They were the founder members.
The name “Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi” was chosen among a list of names suggested by Bikash Pradhan, Newa Language Coordinator, HRDD. “Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi” means an institute of learning the Newa language and culture. L.N Pradhan was selected as a Chief Advisor while Binod Pradhan was nominated as its first President. The rest of the executives were also designated. Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi came together to work towards the preservation and conservation of the Newar culture and tradition of Singtam. Over a short period of time, many activities were accomplished.
A month-long Newa Language Speaking and Learning Course (Jan 6 – Feb 3, 2019) was held at Singtam Senior Secondary School. Around 57 students of all ages of life participated. Some students came as far from Dentam, Khamdong, Rangpo and other places. The teaching lessons were guided by Bikash Pradhan and his group of newa teachers. The small effort of NBB was appreciated at the 1st Sikkim Newar Youth Convention 2019 held at Nepali Dharamsala, Singtam on February 24, 2019. They were awarded the Best Upcoming Sakha of Sikkim for the year 2018-2019.
Twenty days of Summer Classes for Newa Language Learning, Traditional Dance and Recipe Cooking Class from July 1, 2019, was organized. Laxmi Sakya, Member, Newa Deya Dabu, Tamsipakha, Kathmandu and Yogbir Sakya, Kalimpong were the teachers. Thirty individuals had registered their names for the classes. NBB had taken a permission letter from Sikkim Newar Guthi to visit Nepal to look for teachers.
The popular Newar festival "Kwati Purne" was celebrated on August 18 with great enthusiasm at Nepali Dharmasala by Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam. A team of 10 members of NBB went on to attend the first-ever Bhimsen Jatra held at Rongli, East Sikkim. They handed over the contribution of Rs 8,000 to the Bhimsen Jatra Committee. Members of NBB were invited to participate in a programme organized by Akhil Bharatiya Newar Sangathan at Chilauney, Doars, West Bengal.
At the Annual General Meeting of Sikkim Newar Guthi held at Gangtok, Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi represented Singtam Sakha. Members of NBB participated in 207th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration at Shantinagar, Singtam organized by Shantinagar Gaon Sudhar Samiti. They participated in the 73rd Independence Day celebration in Singtam and sponsored the winner trophies of the cultural programme. Activities of NBB were moving from strength to strength; here a suggestion of an NBB T-Shirt was pondered. NBB T-shirt with the logo was officially released on the auspicious occasion of Indra Jatra 2019 where the members were divided to attend both the events at Dentam and Gangtok. At Dentam Indra Jatra, members of NBB participated in the culture program and were awarded a souvenir.
A major contribution to the construction of the Newar Bhawan at Gangtok was completed by Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam when they contributed One Lakh towards Newar Bhawan Fund. The activities of NBB extended beyond its community when they contributed Rs 10,500 towards the relief fund for helping landslides affected families of Tshong Village, Yuksom, West Sikkim that occurred on September 16. On October 17, 2019, two members of Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Aadarsh Pradhan and Reshma Pradhan visited Ranka SSS to teach the students Newari Folk Dance for the Kala Ustav 2019. A letter of appreciation was sent in the name of President, Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi. Towards the end of the year, the election was held; Binod Pradhan was further nominated as the President for the next two years.
Corona pandemic knocked on with the start of the New Year. In March, Singtam District Hospital was looking for volunteers to help them with the safety measures. NBB came forward and volunteered for two weeks helping the patients in and around the premises. NBB conducted a one-day blood donation camp at District Hospital Singtam (June 1, 2020). Twelve individuals both male and female participated in the donation camp. During the plantation drive month of July, a plantation drive was organized at the premises of Karma Thuje Choling Monastery, Shantinagar, Singtam (July 12, 2020). More than 60 different varieties of saplings were planted. Presently, members of NBB are quite busy organizing Lumanti Phykhyn 2020, Online Newa Folk Dance Competition. When this article was written, the first round of the competition had ended where 75 newa participants from different parts of Sikkim had participated.
As the old phrase goes by...if you rest you rust, following it, the members of Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam is regularly having meetings through WhatsApp and discussions for the encouragement of Newari tradition and culture.
Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam Sakha of Sikkim Newar Guthi presented Rs 50,000 to the four affected families from Singtam Lal Bazaar late-night fire incident on June 16, 2020.
A team of NBB participated at Rangpo to welcome Boxing legend Bhaju JL Pradhan to becoming the Vice President of the Boxing Federation of India. on February 10, 2021. NBB congratulated Bhaju Prashant Pradhan on becoming the Chairman of NHPC and visited him at his office.
A Meritorious Educational Grant cheque was presented to Bhaju Pravesh Pradhan and Meiju Sushmita Pradhan on July 14, 2021, from the hand of Alankar Guruji. The sponsors of the grant were LN Pradhan and Bharat Pradhan. A general meeting was held on September 5, 2021, where teacher members of NBB were felicitated on occasion.
Blood Bank, District Hospital Singtam felicitated NBB on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day at Singtam Hospital. NBB had sponsored the cash prizes for the top three winners of the marathon event on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav organised by Singtam Nagar Panchayat.
A team led by President NBB, Binod Pradhan attended the Annual General Meeting of Sikkim Newar Guthi at Tadong on December 19, 2021. The team provided their best wishes to the newly formed Executive body of Sikkim Newar Guthi and extended their support.
On January 30, 2021, Newa Bhay Bowneykutti on its annual general meeting elected a new committee headed by Bhaju Gopal Pradhan as its new President and Bhaju Manoj Pradhan as the General Secretary. Six members of NBB participated in the blood donation camp at District Hospital Singtam,
Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam Sakha of Sikkim Newar Guthi presented its Annual Meritorious Educational Grant cheque to Bhaju Pravesh Pradhan and Maeju Anamika Pradhan on March 3, 2021. On April 3, 2021, Members of NBB led by Gopal Pradhan, President and Binod Pradhan, former President joined the rest of Sikkim Newar Guthi to welcome Everester and Mt Kilimanjaro winner Meiju Manita Pradhan at Rangpo.
On this day, Newa Bhay Bowneykutti has taken an initiative to set up a Newa Mandir in our jurisdiction. Gangtok resident Meiju Karuna Kumari Pradhan, her husband Bhaju Leela Pradhan and her son Bhaju Dushyanta Pradhan have donated their land at Tenek, Chisopani GPU for the purpose.
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