Ram Lal Joshi wins Madan Puraskar, Assam-based Lil Bahadur Chettri gets Jagadamba Shree

KATHMANDU: Storyteller Ram Lal Joshi has won this year's prestigious Nepali literary award Madan Puraskar for his newly published story collection "Aina", the Madan Puraskar Guthi announced on Tuesday.

Likewise, Assam-based veteran litterateur Lil Bahadur Chettri would be honoured with the Jagadamba Shree for his contribution to the Nepali literature and language.

Born in 1932 in Guwahati, Chettri is author of popular Nepali novel "Basain" which was published in 1949. The novel has been translated into Assamese and English also.

Chettri has penned more one dozen books in Nepali.

Chettri has won India's prestigious Sahitya Academy Award for his novel "Brahmaputrako Chheu Chhau".

Joshi was born in Doti and he currenty resides in Dhangadhi of Kailai district in far-western Nepal.

"Aina" is his second published work. His ghazal collection "Hatkela ma Aakash" was published 15 years ago.

As many as seven books were shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar this year.

Joshi and Chettri would be honoured with the Madan Puraskar 2072 and the Jagadamba Shree 2072 respectively, on the day of Ghatasthapana on October 1.

Both the awards carry a purse of Rs 200,000 each.