Lumbini Literary Academy honours nine artists

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Feb. 9: The 123rd birth anniversary of theatre icon Balkrishna Sama was marked here by organising an event.  In the programme jointly organised by the Lumbini Literary Academy, Banke and Bardiya, in Nepalgunj, nine senior theatre and music artists were honoured.

Representatives from all 12 districts of Lumbini Province along with the central committee of the Academy, includingits Central President Rishi Azad, were present in the event.  

Those honoured included senior theatre artist and literary figured Sushil Chaudhary, Vishnu Thapa Sargam and Khagendra Nepal of Bardiya. From Banke, veteran theatre artists Purna Chandra Upadhyay, Sundar Gurung, K.B. Shahi, Birendra Yadav, Jahirul Haq Jinu, and Anita Lamichhane were honoured.

The programme was chaired by Bharat Ranabhat, President of Lumbini Literary Academy, Banke. On the occasion, the founding General Secretary of Lumbini Literary Academy Nepal and Central Secretary of the Progressive Writers’ Association Nepal, Dr. Hari Timilsina, along with Prof. Dr. Krishna Prasad Ghimire, academician Mahanand Dhakal, and Rishi Azad, honoured the awardees by presenting them with shawls and certificates of appreciation.

A concept paper on Balkrishna Sama presented by critic and Assistant Professor Dr. Narayan Panth of Butwal Multiple Campus was discussed, with comments by critics Ishwari Rizal and Narendra Jung Peter. A proposal presented by Dr. Narayan Panth, Provincial President of Nepal Theatre Academy (Lumbini Province), to observe Magh 24 as Theatre Day was unanimously passed.

On the same occasion, the Nepal Theatre Artists Academy Banke–Bardiya Committee was also formed. Chief Guest Dr. Timilsina spoke about the personality and works of playwright Balkrishna Sama, highlighting his historical, qualitative, and quantitative contributions.

More than 25 poets from across the province recited their literary works.