Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 14:

The Ganki Basundhara Prize was today awarded to prominent writer and member secretary of the Royal Nepal Academy, Gita Keshari, amidst a function here. The prize, awarded bi-annually by the Ganki-Basundhara Academy, contains a letter of appreciation and a purse of Rs 20,000.

On the function, Krishna Bahadur Manandhar, a former diplomat, released ‘Jivan Yatra’, a collection of articles on the life and works of novelist Dhooswan Sayami. Poet Dwarika Shrestha also released the fourth edition of ‘Ganki’ in Nepali, Sayami’s first novel, which was first written in Nepal Bhasa fifty years ago. Addressing the programme, Dwarika Shrestha said Nepali literatteurs are looking for publishers to have their cerations reach the readers.

“Ganki was a milestone in Nepali literature and will remain so. Though it was written half a century ago, it very much suits today’s environment and is still liked by modern readers,” he said. Novelist Ram Prasad Gyawali said Gita Keshari has the power to express a woman’s grief and struggle in the present society. Dr Arun Sayami, chairman of the Ganki-Basundhara Academy, said the prize has been awarded to Kesahri for her immense contribution to the development of Nepali literature.