Kathmandu, July 12: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that the role of late poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya to bring about linguistic unification in Nepal deserves due respect.

“We must seek inspiration from the selfless deeds of the pioneer poet to expedite the process of nation building,” Koirala told a function organised at the Bhanubhakta Memorial High School.

The Bhanu Bhakta School established in the memory of the late poet was vibrant today upon the accomplishment of a long overdue task.

Prime Minister Koirala unveiled the statute of the late poet made through the concerted efforts of the school family and private donors.

The function coincided with the 187th birth anniversary of the late poet and the 34th anniversary of the school.

Late poet Bhanubhakta Acharya was the first Nepali poet who contributed immensely to Nepalese literature and brought about massive social awareness through his writings.

The five and a half feet tall statue prepared at a cost of three hundred and seventy seven thousand rupees facing the main school building has been built by the Bhanu Statue Establishing Committee.

Eminent Poet Mahdav Prasad Ghimire had laid the foundation stone of the statue around six months ago.

Gopal Das Shrestha who teaches art at the school composed the statue and Prakar Shakya carried out the casting of the statue.

The Committee raised four hundred and ten thousand rupees from the school teachers, students and private donors for making the statue. The Committee looks forward to establish a revolving fund from the remaining fund.

The fund will be used to conduct literary programmes and assist researchers who are keen to bring to light the literary creations of the late poet.

Prime Minister Koirala also honoured eminent personalities contributing to the sector of art, literature and music.

Koirala bestowed special honour upon critic Yadunath Khanal, artist and litterateur Lain Singh Bangdel, Satya Mohan Joshi , musician Nati Kaji and social worker Rana Bahadur Shah.

Former Minister and spokesman of the Nepali Congress Narahari Acharya lauded the role played by the late poet to enhance language and literature in the country.

Principal of the school Raj Kumar Thakuri said that the credit of bringing about linguistic unification in the country went to late poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

He said that the school was striving for excellence in the academic front seeking inspiration from the unwavering contributions made by the late poet to enhance Nepalese language and literature.