Writer Gopal Saraf awarded

By Our Correspondent,Birgunj, July 15: Literary writer Gopal Saraf, also known as Gopal Ashk, has been awarded the Narayani Wangmaya Kriti Puraskar 2080 by Narayani Wangmaya Pratishthan Birgunj.

 This award was given on the occasion of the 211-birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya.

 Ashk was honoured for his work ‘Kalo Gulaf’ at a ceremony held in Birjung on Saturday.

President of Narayani Wangmaya Pratisthan Birgunj, Dr. Bishwambhar Sharma, and the chief guest of the programme, former academic member and commentator Keshav Subedi, presented Ashk the award with a cash price of Rs. 25,000, and a certificate of appreciation.

Gita Bhandari, a member of the judging Committee, informed that Ashk’s ‘Kalo Gulaf’ was selected by the committee from among the works published in the year 2080 by authors from the Narayani Zone and Madesh Province.

Ashk, who was awarded at the programme, expressed his happiness at being invited to his home district.

 He mentioned that being a Madhesi with dark skin, he identified with the ‘Kalo Gulaf’ and chose this as the title for his collection of stories.

 He also commented that he received this recognition in his native land only after having received various awards at the national level.

During the event, students from different local schools recited their compositions, and artist Azmat Ali performed a children’s song.