Old printing press handed over to TU

BY NAWARAJ KATTEL

Biratnagar, Nov. 7: A 198-year-old printing press built in the UK has been handed over to the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. 

During an event on Tuesday, Radha Prasad Ghimire’s youngest daughter-in-law, Durga Ghimire, officially handed over the press to Kundan Aryal, the head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Tribhuvan University. 

On the occasion, Durga said that the press was given to the Department of Mass Communication to preserve the history of the printing press her father-in-law established. She emphasised the importance of protecting historically significant materials and studying the works done during different stages of struggle.

This printing press was manufactured in London in 1883. The late minister Radha Krishna Ghimire brought it to Biratnagar in 1957 from India. After purchasing it from Kolkata, he established the Pioneer Printing Press in Rangeli Road, Biratnagar.

Ghimire had served as the Minister for Education and Communication and State in the cabinet led by the late Nagendra Prasad Rijal. Political scientist and professor Krishna Pokharel said that Ghimire had set up the press to print leaflets and posters for the general election in 1959. 

After being used for a long time, the press was eventually put into storage. However, Aryal, head of the Mass Communication Department, expressed confidence that this press, which arrived in Biratnagar 67 years ago, would now help students understand the history of Nepali journalism. He said that the department had accepted it as a study resource to aid in learning about journalism’s history.

Professor and political analyst Krishna Pokharel, Vice Chancellor of Purbanchal University Biju Thapaliya, Human Rights activist Sushil Pyakurel, journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, head of Mahendra Morang Campus Ram Avatar Sharan, senior retired teacher Dinesh Shrestha and others were present on the occasion.