Bokaro: The Mithila Sanskritik Parishad in Bokaro hosted a vibrant celebration of the birth anniversary of renowned Maithili writer Dr. Braj Kishore Verma, popularly known as ‘Manipadma’, late Saturday at Vidyapati Auditorium, Mithila Academy Public School, Sector 4E. The event featured a Maithili Kavi Sammelan, drawing poetry lovers and literary enthusiasts from across the city.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp and floral tributes to Manipadma’s portrait by chief guest Rajendra Kumar, President of Mithila Academy Public School, along with Jai Prakash Chaudhary, President of Mithila Cultural Council, General Secretary Neeraj Chaudhary, Cultural Program Director Arun Pathak, and other dignitaries. Neeraj Chaudhary welcomed the gathering, recalling Manipadma’s towering contribution to Maithili literature, including his Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for the novel Naika Banijara.
Chief Guest Rajendra Kumar praised Manipadma’s socially conscious writings and emphasized the continued efforts of the Mithila Cultural Council in commemorating the writer since 1990. Literary stalwarts Buddhi Nath Jha and Vijay Shankar Mallick reflected on Manipadma’s multifaceted personality, while poet Shailaja Jha described him as a guiding “pole star” for future generations. Arun Pathak highlighted Manipadma’s remarkable use of folk tales in his works.
The evening’s Maithili Kavi Sammelan, chaired by Buddhi Nath Jha, featured mesmerizing poetry and songs capturing human emotions. Notable recitations included Rajiv Kanth’s ‘Sabh Sam Paigh Kaj’, Neelam Jha’s ‘E Dhara Ke Shaan Mithila, Thick Hamar Pehchan Mithila’, Arun Pathak’s ‘Biharak Gaurav Gatha’, and Vijay Shankar Mallik’s rendition of ‘Akulahati’. The stage was smoothly managed by Shambhu Jha, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Arun Pathak.
The event saw an impressive turnout, including Poonam Mishra, President of Mithila Mahila Samiti, and many cultural figures like Avinash Avi, Mihir Jha Raju, Sudip Kumar Thakur, Govind Kumar Jha, Aman Kumar Jha, and Dr. Ram Narayan Singh, among others, celebrating the enduring legacy of Manipadma.
