Upadhyay receives Hemraj Pahari Memorial Award

By Our Correspondent,Kaski, march 1: Poet, linguist, and educationist Mukunda Sharan Upadhyay has been honoured with the Hemraj Pahari Memorial Award having a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 along with a certificate of honour.

Upadhyay, a resident of Pokhara–25, Hemja, has published around one and a half dozen works on Nepali literature, language, and grammar. He received the Madan Puruskar in 2021 for his epic poem Prakrit Pokhara. The award was presented by Gandaki University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Indraprasad Tiwari, Foundation Chair Rita Pahari, and others.

After receiving the honour, Upadhyay said that being recognised at the grassroots level for being engaged in the pursuit of Nepali language and literature made him feel deeply appreciated. “This award has made me feel that my work in Nepali language and literature has been valued,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tiwari expressed the view that the literary figure and linguist Upadhyay represents a pinnacle of Nepali literature. A selection committee coordinated by epic poet Madhav Viyogi, with Haridevi Koirala and Krishna Paudel as members, had recommended Upadhyay for the award.

Previous recipients of this award include Satyamohan Joshi, Sarubhakta Shrestha, folk poet Ali Miyan (posthumously), Bimal Smriti Library, Sahitya Sandhya, Srijana Sahitya Sadan, Rapti Sahitya Parishad, and Jharana Sahitya Parivar.

Established in memory of literary figure and social worker Hemraj Pahari, the foundation has been carrying out various activities for the promotion of literature. Pahari’s travel essay collection A Journey Around the Northern Hemisphere, poetry collection Deshko Abhibhara, and song collection Songs of Hemraj Pahari have been published.