Kathmandu, July 13:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, said, today that the literary figures had played a significant role in the recent Jana Andolan II and general people were inspired by their views and opinions, cartoons and paintings and satire and other creations to take to the streets to fight for the cause of total democracy and human rights.

“Literature, art and culture have left an immense impact to democratise the Nepali society and they have also added energy and inspiration to the democratic movement for a long time,” Oli said.

He was presenting the Rastriya Pratibha Puraskar to litterateur Madan Mani Dixit, musician and singer Prem Dhwoj Pradhan, fine artist Batsa Gopal Baidhya and cultural expert Bhuvan Lal Pradhan on the occasion of 193rd Bhanu Jayanti today.

The prize was set up by the Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry in 1995. The four personalities were honoured with a letter of appreciation along with a cash prize of Rs 100,000.

He said that the prize, which was set up in 1995 with a view to promote emerging talents in literature, culture, drama, music and fine art, had been derailed from its original concept. Although it was praiseworthy to honour the personalities who have gained life time achievements in their respective fields, it was equally important to encourage emerging talents from mofussil as well, he said.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Pradip Gyawali, said, that the ministry was considering restructuring the existing Nepal Academy. He said that there would be separate academies on Fine Arts and Theatre and Music.

He said that the government has allocated budget to create separate academies specialising in particular disciplines to help their development. He said that those academies should also be able to develop “rainbow” culture to reflect the “rainbow” of the Nepali society.

Appreciating the winners of the national prize, minister Gyawali said that country’s language, culture, arts, music and theatre needs to be developed and modernised along with the physical development.

Physical structures might wither away over times but contribution of the literary personalities would remain forever, he said, adding that Dixit’s first novel Madhavi had been able to analyse the post-Vedic era in modern style deviating from the traditional and religious interpretation.