June 11, 2007
Shree Prasad POKHAREL
The Japanese Esperanto Institute is issuing a special invitation to 23 Asian Esperanto activists to take part in this year's World Esperanto Congress in Yokohama. In the April issue of the Japanese magazine La Revuo Orienta JEI has published statements by each of these people. I am reproducing them here, in English translation, one by one.
The next listed activist is Shree Prasad POKHAREL of Nepal. Pokharel is a 46-year-old farmer and former teacher.
Esperanto and I
I started learning Esperanto four years ago, when I met Mr. Cholnat POKHAREL. At almost the same time Mr. Bharat GHIMIRE came from Kathmandu to teach Esperanto. I and my daughter Alinka learned Esperanto together. After the course Bharat founded an organization named "East Nepal Esperanto Society" (ONES). Four months later the Nepalese Esperanto Association (NEspA) organized the 5th International Himalayan Meeting. I took part in it. I found there a very helpful Japanese, Mr. HORI Yasuo. He helped me a lot and encouraged me to speak in Esperanto. I found that Esperanto speakers are very helpful and that Esperanto is an easy and very good language.
I like Esperanto because Esperanto is easy and useful for all people in the world. It does not belong to any nation and is equal for all. That's why I am an Esperanto speaker, and my family members love it, too.
World Esperanto Congress and After
I hope that I will meet many Esperanto speakers from various countries in the World Esperanto Congress. I want to learn how I can teach Esperanto in my town.
After the congress I have the following plans: 1) I will go on informing people about Esperanto. 2) I will practice more to improve my language. 3) I want to make a film in and about Esperanto. 4) I want to have our ONES office in my town so that Esperanto speakers can have a permanent address. 5) I want to invite the next 8th International Himalayan Meeting to eastern Nepal.