Ten books have been shortlisted for the ‘Bimal Gurung Kriti Award- 2080’, as announced in a press release on Friday by Purna Bahadur Gurung, Chairman of the Poet Bimal Gurung Memorial Library, Dharan. The selection includes a diverse range of literary works from Nepal and India. Among the shortlisted books are Nirjoya (novel) by Daju Gurung, Lahana Ra Teer (poetry collection) by Avaya Shrestha, Kewafungko Geet (poetry collection) by Gagan Yokpangden, Prasanharu Ta Banki Nai Rahanchhan (essay collection) by Momila, and Nepalma Surung Yuddha (non-fiction) jointly authored by Jaskumar Rai and Arjun Upreti.
Other notable entries include Antim Selo (poetry collection) by Indu Nepal Yonjan, Shabdathum (essay collection) by Prakash Thamsuhang, Bora (novel) by Akhanda Bhandari, Chiyaguff (essay collection) by Praveen Khaling, and Kuhirobhitra Ghum Jorbanglo (poetry collection) by Manjula Tamang Subba. These 10 books were selected from a pool of 101 books published within 2080 BS.
One of the shortlisted books will be awarded the Bimal Gurung Kriti Award, which includes a cash prize of . 200,000 rupees.
Additionally, 10 poems have been shortlisted for the Bimal Memorial National Poetry Festival 2081, selected from 81 submissions from Nepal and around the world. The selected poets are Anam Apekshit from Khotang, Season Shrestha from Sankhuwasabha, Anjan Pradeep from Nawalparasi, Shanti Limbu from the UK, Samikshya Chhiling Rai from Morang, Deependra Acharya from Ilam, Minjai Rai from Sunsari, Prashanta Upreti from France, Lekali Kanchha Mukkum from Taplejung, and Deepa Magrati from Sunsari. Three of these poems will be awarded first, second, and third place at the festival.
The Bimal Memorial National Poetry Festival will take place in Dharan on November 9, 2081, during which the awards will be presented. The Poet Bimal Gurung Memorial Library, established in 1991 by Purna Bahadur Gurung and Saraswati Gurung in memory of their son, the late poet Bimal Gurung, continues to honor his legacy through these events. Gurung, born in November 1971 in Hong Kong, tragically passed away in a bus accident in May 1991. He authored two poetry collections: Aatma Ghosana and Swargiya Bimal Gurungka Kehi Kavita (Some Poems by the Late Bimal Gurung), the latter published posthumously.
