While many were transfixed anticipating the results of the federal and provincial elections, a sizable crowd gathered on Saturday at Basantapur Dabali to listen to poems. Overlooking the heat of the sun, about 100 people had gathered to listen to the 40 poets who recited the poems to mark the 69th International Human Rights Day.

Dr Naba Raj Lamsal, a poet and a radio host for Radio Nepal, began the event by reciting his metered poem that spoke of the ‘I’ that existed in common between the Tharu Shaman, Hindu Priest and the Chhetri warrior. Established literary figures like Abhi Subedi, Satya Mohan Joshi, Toya Gurung, Viplov Pratik were preceded by emerging poets such as Nabin Bhusal, Pradeunna Raj GC and Vijaya Laxmi. 

When Professor Abhi Subedi started reading a section of his poem, Eulogy of the Modern Man, that went, “ [modern man] can reenact a circus on the descending ray…but is empty like the vast sky,” even the passerby stood still to relish on the beauty and the exposed truth of the poem.

The organiser of the poetry reading, Amnesty International Nepal, emphasised the role of “poets in ensuring the prolongation of universal human rights.” During the event, the organiser also provided honourary membership of Amnesty International Nepal to Satya Mohan Joshi, Abhi Subedi, Toya Gurung, Tulsi Diwas, Banju Sharma for “uplifting the state of language, art and culture top preserve human rights.”  Speaking during the event, Satya Mohan Joshi said that it was a privilege to receive the membership of an organisation that has won the Nobel Peace Prize.