Kedar Shrestha to receive ‘Yuva Barsha Moti Award’

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 26: This year’s ‘Yuva Barsha Moti Award’ will be presented to the writer of young children’s literature and theatre artist, Kedar Shrestha.

 He is being awarded for his contributions to the enrichment of Nepali language, art, literature, and culture both nationally and internationally through children’s literature and theatre.

The decision to present the 2081 BS prize to Kedar Shrestha was made based on the recommendation of the evaluation committee formed by the National Youth Service Fund, chaired by senior literary figure Prof. Ram Kumar Pandey.

This award was established in 2042 BS in memory of Nepal Youth Poet Motiram Bhatta.

 The award, which includes a cash prize of Rs. 40,000, a gold medal, and a certificate, is presented annually on the occasion of Moti Jayanti, which falls on Kushe Aunsi, to a young creator aged below 40.

The ‘Yuva Barsha Moti Award’ which has been regularly presented, was first awarded to the literary figure Daibagya Raj Neupane, and last year, in 2080, it was awarded to poet, lyricist, and translator Pramod Sarang.

Creator Shrestha is active in children’s literature, writing stories, storytelling, and writing and directing children's plays and films.

He is also known as a committed young theatre artist in the contemporary art-literary field.

Among his five published children's books, ‘Guliyo Syau’ and ‘Ice-Cream Sapana’ are well-known in the field of Nepali children’s literature. 

In the field of theatre, Shrestha is active as a playwright, actor, conceptualiser and director. 

His plays like ‘Upiya Ko Nibandha’,  ‘Karesa Concert’ ‘Maan Versus Mati’,   ‘Badaranga’,  ‘Bhoko Ghar’ and ‘Jamun Ko Rukha’ have established his theatrical identity. 

He is also the conceptualiser of a play based on the literary work ‘Shirish Ko Phool’  by the literary figure Parijat.

Just as in theatre, Shrestha has made his mark in another visual literary field, cinema. He is the producer and director of the internationally awarded short film ‘Junu Ko Jutta’.