कोलिन स्मिथ जसलाई पुतली बाजे भनेर पनि चिनिन्छ । उनको २०८० साल कात्तिक १८ गते राती पेट सम्बन्धि समस्या (ग्यास्ट्रोइनटेस्टनल स्ट्रोम ट्युमर) का कारण ८७ बर्षको उमेरमा निधन भयो । उनको पोखरा स्थित हरियो खर्क अस्पतालमा उपचार गरिदै थियो ।
उनको पार्थिव शरिर पोखरा स्थित गाइघातमा अन्त्यष्टी गरियो । पोखरा महानगरपालिकाका प्रमुख धनराज आचार्यले स्मिथको पार्थिब शरिरमा नेपालको झण्डा ओढाएर सम्मान गरेको थियो ।
टोनी हेगन, एडमण्ड हिलारी, उमहंग पछि नेपाली मानार्थ नागरिकता पाउने उनी चौथो ब्याक्ति हो ।
लामो समय नेपालको शिक्षा क्षेत्रमा बिशेष योगदान दिनुका साथै नेपालमा पाइने बिभिन्न प्रकारका करिव ६ सय ४० प्रजातिका पुतलिको खोज अनुसन्धान गर्दै करिव २५ हजार पुतली उनले संग्रह गरेका छन । उलने संग्रह गरेको पुतली बि.सं. २०२३ सालमा स्थापना भएको र पोखराको पृथ्वी नारायण बहुमुखी क्याम्पस हातामा रहेको अन्नपुर्ण प्राकृतिक ऐतिहासिक संग्रहालय (Annpurna Natural Historical Museum )मा राखिएको छ ।
हार्दिक श्रद्धासुमन कोलिन स्मिथ (पुतली बाजे) प्रति
उनले संकलन गरेको पुतलीको भिडियो हो यो ।
Colin Smith, born November 24 1936, died November 4 2023
Colin Smith, who has died aged 87, travelled to Nepal aged 29 to teach mathematics, science and English and stayed on to become an authority on the country’s butterflies.
Nepal is one of the best places in the world to see butterflies. Of the 17,500 or so known species, 660 are found in Nepal, of which 20 of are on the endangered list. Smith dedicated more than 50 years to their study, publishing numerous research papers and several books and becoming known by locals as “Putali Baje” (“Butterfly Grandpa”).
Colin Philip Smith was born on November 24 1936 in Highgate, north London, to Ebenezer Smith and Rose, née Boosey. As a boy he often visited an uncle whose collection of butterflies and moths sparked an interest which he pursued during school holidays at Boy Scout summer camps.
After taking a BSc in mathematics at Imperial College London, followed by an MSc at University College, he became a teacher, and in 1966 volunteered to serve with the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), a venture involving a number of Christian groups. “I was told that alongside teaching, I needed to have a hobby, too,” he recalled. “I told them that I collected butterflies.” The UMN suggested he should make a collection from Nepal to bring back home.
for more details: Click Here
