Ojha named for Madan Puraskar, Mukhiya for Jagadamba Shree

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 2: The Madan Puraskar Guthi announced the names of winners of this year’s Madan Puraskar and Jagadamba Shree Puraskar amid its general assembly held on Sunday.

According to Kunda Dixit, the Chairman of Madan Puraskar Guthi, this year's Madan Puraskar will be presented to Bibek Ojha for his novel 'Aithan.' 

Similarly, this year's Jagadamba Shree Puraskar will be presented to Tek Bir Mukhiya.

From a pool of 313 books, the Guthi shortlisted five nominees, which included Subin Bhattarai's 'Ijoriya,' Bibek Ojha's 'Aithan,' Dwarikanath Dhungel’s ‘Chakravyuhma Nepalko Jalasort,' Pragati Rai's ‘Thangra,' and Sanjay Bishta's ‘Matako Ghar.'

Established in 1955, the first Madan Puraskar was presented to late centenarian Satya Mohan Joshi in 1956 for his work 'Hamro Lok Sanskriti' in the prose category while Chittaranjan Nepali's 'General Bhimsen Thapa' received it in the social science category. Likewise, Dr. Bala Ram Joshi's book 'Adhikbibhav Sthirbidhoot Utpadhak' was honoured in the science category.

The Jagdambashree Puraskar is conferred upon individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to Nepali language, literature, culture, and various other fields. 

This prestigious award was established in 1988 in memory of the late Jagadamba Kumari Devi, who was the founder of the Guthi. 

Singer Narayan Gopal Guruacharya received the Jagadamba Shree Award for the first time in 1989.

 Each of the prizes now carries a purse of Rs. 400,000.