Identity Award to Guragain, Rai

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 14: Identity Award (Pahichan Puraskar) for the year 2079 BS will jointly be presented  to two books ‘Junction Pipalbot’ and ‘Thangra’.  Junction Pipalbot is a non-fiction by Prakash Guragain and Thangra is a novel by Pragati Rai.

According to a press statement issued by the founder of the prize, Naresh Kangmang Rai, a meeting of Identity Award Fund held on Tuesday selected two out of eight books for the prize.  The nominated books were Thangra by Pragati Rai, 'Atowoda' by Januka Khatiwada,  'Rasia Raag' by Karuna Rai, 'Kami' by Manjul Miteri,  'Ma Dwara Mero Nirman' by Parajit Pomu, 'Junction Pipalbot' by Prakash Guragain,  'Tin Pharak Bisaya' written jointly by Sribhakta Khanal, Khemraj Ranabhat and 'Sunyako Mulya' by Dr. Navaraj KC. 

The award carries a purse of Rs. 402,002.

A member of Free Generation Movement (Unmukta Pusta Andolan), Guragin's Junction Pipalbot is the literary history of 70 years old of which the Pipalbot of Newroad, Kathmandu, is taken as a central point. A warrior of identity politics, Rai's Thangra speaks for all sorts of rights for women and against caste system.

Previously, nine books had received the award while author and civil activist Khagendra Sangraula was awarded with Identity Honour. The award and the honour are targeted to boost identity politics through literature.

It is stated that the award will be handed over to the winners in Chakhiya of Temke Maiyung Rural Municipality-4 of Bhojpur district on 22 Baishakh, 2081 BS.