Book on versatile personality Chitrakar launched

A memorial book on the late Bakhat Bahadur Chitrakar, a versatile personality, has been launched.

The book authored by Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) feature news chief Krishna Adhikari was released on the occasion of the second memorial day of the late Chitrakar here Thursday. The book is based on talks with Chitrakar when he was in mortal life, his articles and interviews, writes-up about him and a collection of his photographs.

It is about tough struggle that Chitrakar went in his life. Born on Magh 18, 1987 BS at Yatkha Tole, Kathmandu in a middle-class family, Chitrakar had played a pivotal role for introducing 10+2 education system in Nepal. He, the founder of Film Development Board, had his involvement in other various social organisations.

Chitrakar was the same person who had his significant contribution to starting the culture of observing the Buddha Jayanti Festival in a formal way.

He had his remarkable roles in the establishment of various religious shrines such as Indrayani Temple, 'Ashok Smriti Chaitya' in Kathmandu, Therbadi Buddha Bihar (a Buddhist monastery)

Pro Dr Bhimdev Bhatta who was close with Chitrakar remembered him as a dedicated, hardworking and a studious personality.

Hailing from a family with the ancestral tradition of engaging in the drawing and painting of deities, Chitrakar was an witness to a significant political development spanning from the Rana regime, the Panchayat system to the multi-party democracy in the country.

He would keep himself engaged in politics, spiritual research, communications, film industry, photography, cinematography and so on at the same time. He is the first cinematographer of Nepal. Senior photographer Rajbhai Suwal remembered him as a revolutionary figure in Nepal's photography industry.

He was a retired civil service employee. He was retired as the joint-secretary following his 35 years in the civil service.

The 372-page book highlights on the identities of Chitrakar through various dimensions.

-----