CONVENTION: The International Nepalese Literature Society-Qatar Chapter recently held its fourth convention last Friday. The programme was presided over by Hemanta Pardeshi and chaired by T B Karki. A number of Nepalese writers and representatives — Indra Mani Nepal, Tharcha Lama, Naba Raj B K, Bimal Subedi, Hari Basnet, and Ganesh Banjade — attended the event. The writers recited their poems, songs and ghazals on the occasion. The poems, mostly, were about Nepal’s natural beauty, natural sources, lakes and mountains. More than 150 people attended the programme. A new working committee was also elected in the convention. Tirtha Sangam Rai will be the new chairman, while Shyam Ranabhat and Purna Kanchha Gurung will be the vice-chariman and secretary, respectively. Prem Prasad Bhattarai is the new treasurer. These individuals are shown in the accompanying photograph. The Qatar Chapter of the society was established in 2006 to support the non-resident Nepalese writers. — Photo and text: Usha Wagle Gautam