Saturday, October 26, 2002
@ ACCA Centre, 3530 – 91 Street
Infoline: 459-6781 / 450-3957
The Society of Friends of Nepal (SOFON) invites you to the Celebration of Nepal Day, hosted by well-known artist Urmila Garg (painter, weaver and ceramicist) who in 1983 founded Nepal’s first craft school, Kalaguthi and the Nepal Creative Arts Trust. The day’s program includes:
Craft Exhibition 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Documentary on Nepal Project 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Dinner * (Nepalese/East Indian Cuisine) 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
President Address (Mr. Koilpillai) 8:45 to 8:55 p.m.
Words of Gratitude (Mrs. Urmila Garg) 8:55 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Exhibition remains open for viewing 9:00 p.m. onward
Master of Ceremony: Dr. Ram Metha
* Dinner tickets: $20.00/person. Please contact:
Mrs. Urmila Garg (459-6781) or Dr. Metha (450-3957)
RSVP by October 21, 2002 to Mrs. Urmila Garg at 459-6781.
Note: If paying by cheque, it should be made payable to:
SOFON and mailed to #34 Broadview Crescent, St. Albert, AB (Canada) T8N OB2
A word about His Late Majesty King Birendra (1945 – 2001)
King Birendra Beer Bikram Sha Dev was born on December 28, 1945 at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu, Nepal. The then Crown Prince Birendra began his education at St. Paul School in Darjeeling, India and later studied at Eton College in London, Harvard (USA) and Tokyo University (Japan). Crown Prince Birendra married Princess Aishwarya in February 1970. The royal couple had three children: Prince Dipendra, Princess Shruti and Prince Nirajan. He ascended the throne to become the King of Nepal on January 31, 1972.
Kin Birendra was an accomplished artist, a soft spoken, gentle and kind person. The king was deeply committed to the social and economic development of the Nepalese people. He divided the country into five development regions as a strategy for an effective implementation of his vision. He proposed to declare Nepal a Zone of Peace. It’s during his reign that in 1990 Nepal adopted a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional monarchy. Queen Aishwarya besides being an accomplished poet was also a social worker. She was the founder of Nepal’s Social Welfare Council. Tragically, King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and all their children were killed in a mysterious royal massacre on June 01, 2001.
The Society of Friends of Nepal (SOFON) works in Nepal in partnership with Kalaguthi, which in 2002 was awarded the Tulsi Meher Social Service Award. For information and or to volunteer with SOFON, please contact 459-6781.