KATHMANDU: Two veteran artistes of the Nepali music industry — singer and theatre artiste 91-year-old Hari Prasad Rimal and composer 78-year-old Chandra Raj Sharma have been honoured by Bhakta Raj Acharya Pratisthan on July 28.

At an event held at Karki Banquet, Maitighar Rimal was feted with Bhakta Raj Acharya Rastriya Sangeet Samman 2074, and Sharma with Bhakta Raj Acharya Antarastriya Sangeet Puraskar 2074.

The first singer of Radio Nepal, Rimal was not present due to his poor health — his wife Kalyani Rimal received the award on his behalf. Named after Bhajan Shiromani Bhakta Raj Acharya, the awardees were also honoured with Rs 50,001 each.

It was a big day for Bhakta Raj Acharya Pratisthan as their dream was fulfilled. “The dream we had dreamt to help veteran artistes financially has materialised and is moving forward,” Bhakta Raj’s eldest son Satya Raj Acharya shared about another endeavour of Pratisthan.

He added that it becomes financially difficult when the health of a breadwinner deteriorates and the way of earning stops. So, he hopes that “the help we have provided to them could be useful to buy medicine…”

Sharma and Hari Prasad have been chosen by Bhakta Raj himself, added Satya citing, “They are yesteryear’s artistes who have been overshadowed and are ill and unknown to youngsters.”

Along with the felicitation, Sangeet Kalyankari Kosh was given Rs 30,000. From a programme ‘Bhakta Raj Acharya Sumadhur Saanjh’ they did in 2016, they gave royalty of Rs 3,500 to Music Royalty Collection Society Nepal, and Rs 1,000 of royalty from July 28’s programme.