Few literature enthusiasts or those affiliated to literary organizations reached Poudyal´s house on Sunday to mark his 129th birthday anniversary, the only day of the year when people recall his poetic glory. [break]The thin crowd gathered near his house even lacked any presence of his near and dear ones. Two granddaughters on his daughter´s side were the only remaining kin at the function.
"Apart from on this date, the house, which has such historical value, rarely sees any visitors. Local schools, the municipality itself, community hospitals and literary organizations are all named after him but no one has shown any interest in renovating his old house," said a local.
Shanti Poudel, one of his relatives, said the house has become an easy hideout for drug users. "With drug use increasing in the village lately, this house has become an ideal spot for them," she said.
"Most of the villagers have shifted downhill to the market area, and the village has lost its poetic reputation," said a local.
Gobinda Wagle, chief of Archale Society Reform Committee, also shared the sadness over the sorry state of the poet´s house. "For decades the house of our great poet has been left in sheer neglect. We can renovate the house and make it a tourist attraction as the village lies pretty close to Pokhara city," he added.
"When even the municipality, which bears his name, has not yet taken a single step in renovating the house, what can we expect from others," added Wagle.
Nodding in agreement, Ram Mani Adhikari, chief of the municipality, gave assurances of allocating enough budget for its proper care.
During the birth anniversary function near the poet´s house, Adhikari said the old house and its 1 roppani 6 anna of land would be brought under the municipal committee´s authority in the first phase and necessary items installed to turn it into a museum.
Among the poet´s published works are Ritu Bichar, Tarun Tapasi, Buddhi Binod and Pinjara ko Sugha.
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