Remembering Elder Uncle DHARMA RATNA YAMI
On recalling the name of elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami, it virtually reminds me of the old days that I spent back in Kalimpong. Perhaps as a small lad, the first time I came to know him or happened to meet him during my life period could have been in the lovely hill station of Kalimpong just below the Great Himalayan Ranges where it is neither hot nor cold. The hill station wears a moderate climate indeed. This in event happened in the year of 1959 A.D. I was then studying in the primary level. Most of the lucrative merchants called the Lhasa-Newars got settled down by the 10th Mile. It was a relevant tradition then during those days, you see. Another uncle of mine namely Lupou Ratna Tuladhar was soccer crazy. Thus as he needed to watch the different matches played by the veterans or the professionals, he chose Motor Stand for his residential quarter overlooking the town stadium known as “Mela Ground.†I bet Kalimpong is better than Darjeeling and Kurseong at soccer. The team of Kalimpong Eleven had showed up in Kathmandu as well occasionally to expose their fundamental sportsmanship with top pride.
A tall stocky figure over any average Nepalese height, elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami possessed a big personality indeed. May he be dressed the Nepalese style or the European style, it suited him well. We are obliged to address him as one of the best orators of Nepal and was fluent at spoken Newari, Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan and simple English --- always loud and clear. He had good companions numerous in number that I knew of very well. Some of them as far as my memory power gives in include King Tribhuvan, Ven. Dhammalok Mahasthavir, Purna Bahadur Manav, Harkha Das Tuladhar, Neel Bir Singh Kansakar, Bhuwan Lal Pradhan, Rev. Fr. Marshal Moran, S.J., etc. Besides, he had supported Ananda-Kuti High School with a full will as well which is unanimously believed to be the First Buddhist Boarding Alma Mater of Nepal established in 1952 A.D. Had also authored many books till his death did us all apart. The renowned titles thus include: c/xtgGb, ;+b]of ln;M, e[s'6L, a'Wb dflg; x'g, hut Hof]lt, dxfdg'io a'Wb (lxGbL). They have been prescribed in various academic levels like I.A., B.A., M.A. of Tribhuvan University. He was a big shot around Dharmodaya Vihar --- a famous Thervad monastery of Kalimpong where great monks like Pragyanand Mahasthavir, Dhammalok Mahasthavir, Mahapragya Mahasthavir, Mahanam Mahasthavir, etc. have served the Buddhist society blessed by any Shangri-La atmosphere. The former three reverend figures of the saffron robe had come down to Kalimpong from Lhasa to propagate the rich tenets of Lord Buddha in Dharmodaya Vihar. And they stood successful in committing so. Dharmodaya Vihar was also established with the financial contribution of the Lhasa-Newars --- the enterprising merchants who were very progressive during those days.
Very obviously, Newa culture is the richest culture in all Nepal and one of the richest in South Asia. Hence he never hesitated in imposing a colossal support towards it. A pure Buddhist by faith, he had an excellent link with Lhasa too up north. Lhasa was the city whence he got inspired in penning REPLY FROM TIBET in his own maternal tongue after falling in deep love with a Tibetan damsel who owned a pure heart definitely. Matrimonial relations with Tibet reproducing progenies brought a stable relation between native Nepal (Kathmandu Valley) and native Tibet (Lhasa Valley) as well. Long live Tibeto-Nepalese solidarity! Today REPLY FROM TIBET bears international currency and has been put into Nepali, English, Mandarin and Hindi versions also in bringing his authentic treasure to universal limelight. His foreign travels include Sikkim, Tibet, China and India. Despite being liked and cherished by many, there were in the mean time inevitable mobs of jealous guys. The Brahmins, the Hindu fundamentalists of Nepal who also stood obnoxious by morality, possessed a big hatred towards him. Envying elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami was constantly in their minds. They could not endure his superb endeavors at all. In other words, they constantly nursed a grudge on him for no reason. Yet he never lagged behind in struggling hard for his native language plus indigenous religion. His untiring effort is to be counted for sure ever after and must get paid too in sheer return. Do trust me, Nepal will not develop any further without the imminent evacuation of the Brahmins --- the notorious Hindu fundamentalists in the cabinet.
As a man of letters, he was a socialist reformer and stood constantly against any racial discrimination that incurred within the filthy environment. In other words, he hated the caste system put to current practice in the contemporary society of Nepal. Democracy dawned in Nepal in 1951 A.D. after the century old Ranarchy got completely overthrown. Yet social reforms did not take place spontaneously. Too many conservative citizens were still attached to the unwanted superstitions, numerous in number. They were generally under the impression of valueless taboos, you see. Thus elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami kept on persevering towards the correct goal. Had always wanted a government of the people, by the people, for the people. How melancholy to notice that he met an untimely demise at the age of 60. Bir Hospital, believed to be the first national hospital of Nepal historically, is where he underwent a surgical operation. Many suspect that the governmental doctors of the concerned authority have played a foul game on his invaluable life. He could have survived for many more annals ahead. Strangely the physicians set a dirty trick in a deliberate manner over a noble sociologist like elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami under the immoral instruction of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace just to curtail his life period some way or other. The operation squad was pressurized by the Shah dynasty plus the oligarchy of the Panchayat Regime in order to shorten his life span indeed. The radical advisors of the palatial monarch were none other than the Brahmin scoundrels without any denial. This appeared as a heinous act of Bir Hospital just to spoil their reputation which would be heavily sinful on our part. They never knew how to distinguish between vice and virtue at all. Nevertheless elder uncle Dharma Ratna Yami deserves being decorated with the honorary degree of doctorate even posthumously. The official release of a postage stamp dedicated to him is expedited at the soonest. The new Government of Nepal is highly obliged to felicitate him straight without any delay or failure.
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Faithfully yours,
Amrit Ratna Tuladhar, B.A.
Lifelong Member
S.L.C. Batch of 1966
ANANDA-KUTI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Chou En Lai Road, Manjushree Hill
K.M.C. Ward No. 15
Swayambhu, Kathmandu, Nepal
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