Literature should focus on building cultural basis of socialism, says PM

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 11:Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has highlighted the need for literature to carry the sentiments of the people.

Addressing a function organised at his official residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu to honour the recipients of the Pushpa Lal National Award 2079 on Monday, Prime Minister Prachanda said that since the constitution, obtained through great sacrifices and struggle, had envisioned the building of a socialism-oriented state, literary works also needed to focus on building the ideological and cultural basis of socialism.

The Prime Minister said that Pushpa Lal Shrestha, founding general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, not only contributed to communism but also to the entire political movement in Nepal. He also said that the ideas, philosophies and policies Shrestha propounded and practised played a huge role in bringing the country to its present federal democratic republican state.

Prachanda said that Shrestha would only be honoured if we applied his teachings in our lives.

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal said that it was necessary to make the youths aware of Shrestha's contributions. He also remembered him as not only the initiator of the communist movement in Nepal but also an icon in Nepali politics.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati called Shrestha a towering figure in the Nepali communist movement and urged one and all to work towards fulfilling the dreams he saw for the country.

"Pushpa Lal had four dreams," he said, explaining that they were to end the absolute monarchy, establish new people's democracy, establish socialism and study Nepal's society and history in depth. 

Minister Kirati said that the promulgation of the present socialism-oriented constitution has put the nation on the path to socialism. He also stressed the need for ending corruption to realise Shrestha's dreams and said that that campaign had already begun under Prime Minister Prachanda.

Praising the research Shrestha carried out to understand the country and its people, he called on everyone to promote the academic study and research of the Nepali society.

State Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushila Sirpali Thakuri recalled the role played by Shrestha for political transformations in the country.

The Pushpa Lal National Awards for the Nepali year 2079 were presented to Kamal Prasad Koirala, Bal Chandra Mishra and Gopal Prasad Thapaliya. Koirala received the award under the political/philosophical category, Mishra under the history category and Thapaliya under the literature, culture and science category. Each category carries a purse of Rs. 100,000.

Prime Minister Prachanda feted the three personalities.