The 'Pahlmansingh Swan Nepal-India International Literary Conference and the 2nd Provincial Poetry Festival' has started in Dhangadhi from Saturday under the organization of Sudurpaschim Pragya Pratishthan.

In appreciation of the contribution of Pahalmansingh Swaran, the senior writer of the Far West, the two-day conference was organized with the active participation of invited writers from various regions of Nepal and India. The inaugural session of the

conference was completed under the chairmanship of Dr. TN Joshi, Vice-Chancellor of Sudurpaschim Pragya Pratishthan. Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Kamal Bahadur Shah was the chief guest while special guests were former Chief Minister Rajendrasinh Rawal, Shri 1008 Vishwaguru Swami Gaurishankar Acharya Maharaj, Social Development Minister Meghraj Khadka, Vice Chancellor of Sudurpaschim University Dr. Hemraj Pant, former Member of Parliament Yagya Raj Pathak, Provincial Assembly Member Shivsingh Oli and others.

Chief Minister Shah said that the state government will take initiatives to make Swaran's contribution known internationally. He mentioned that the government is committed to the protection and promotion of the literature, art and culture of the Far West. Vishwaguru Swami Gauri Shankar Acharya explained the literature of Nepal-India as two parts of one soul and held an opinion on the integral relationship between religion and literature. In the

program, various writers have been honored and a book titled "Culture of Sudurpaschim" has been released. Throughout the conference, there will be poetry readings, musical performances and discussions on the literary history of the Far West and the contribution of poets, according to the organizers. The works of 40 representative poets selected for the competition will be presented.