The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) organised a poetry symposium here today, marking the 301st birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified modern Nepal. The programme organised at the local Bhrikutimandap aimed to further acknowledge and highlight on the role and contribution of the late King to the unification of Nepal, according to the party source.

On the occasion, various people recited poems written on the themes of ‘struggle’, ‘hardship’, ‘sacrifice’, ‘valour’ and ‘contribution’ of Shah during the unification progammes. Such themes were presented in the poems through various dimensions.

A blood donation and a reception were the parts of the Prithvi Jayanti celebrations by the party. The party has demanded a picture of Shah should be featured in a Nepali currency notes. Earlier, it issued a circular to all its district committees to celebrate the day.

Prior to this, a team lead by party chair Rajendra Lingden visited the statue of Shah in front of the main entrance to Singha Durbar and laid a wreath. On the occasion, the leader was of the view that Shah deserved wider reverence and recognition from the public to political sphere as he was the unifier of modern Nepal who integrated 22-24 principalities and provided a whole shape to the nation. “We are in the position of taking pride for being the citizen of Nepal merely due to his contribution,” he added.

The government decision to restore a public holiday on the Prithvi Jayanti reflected its respect to the wider sentiment of Nepali people, he said. “The existence of Nepal and Nepali has been possible on the global forum due to the unification during the time.”