Final Shortlist for ‘Sahityapost Uttam Gairakhyan Puraskar 2080’ Announced

The final shortlist for the ‘Sahityapost Uttam Gairakhyan Puraskar 2080’ has been announced, featuring three non-fiction works. Presented by Sahityapost, this award was initiated to encourage the debut authors who have formally entered Nepali literature by publishing the work of non- fiction in a given year.

The shortlisted works are “Amarbhoomi” by Jigme Lama, “Buddhakalin Samaj” by Umakanta Paudyal, and “Magar Sanskriti, Parampara, ra Garima” by Gom Vikram. One of these three works will be awarded the “Sahityapost Uttam Non-Fiction Award 2080” with a prize of 50,000 rupees.

Before announcing the final shortlist, Sahityapost had announced a longlist of 8 works, followed by a shortlist of 5 in the first and second rounds, respectively. A total of 19 books were received from debut authors whose woks were published within the year 2080.

According to Ashwini Koirala, the chief editor of Sahityapost and coordinator of the evaluation committee, a special public ceremony will be organized by Sahityapost on June 29 (Ashadha 15) to distribute the prizes and certificates to the award winners. Koirala said, “The three literary works in the final list are excellent in their own unique ways. We are committed to awarding the best work among them. A special public ceremony will be organized to announce and distribute the award and honor the winning work and its creator.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2 PM at Apex Business Hotel on Saturday, located opposite the main gate of Tribhuvan International Airport.

The three shortlisted works:

1. Amarbhoomi – Jigme Lama (Nar Bahadur)

“Amarbhoomi” is the travel memoir of Jigme Lama (Nar Bahadur), a rural development expert and Buddhist meditation practitioner involved in social development for twenty-five years. In this book, Lama recounts stories from various geographies, societies, and histories, including the Karnali and Kailash regions. The book centers around the pursuit of inner happiness and prosperity. The book proves to be an excellent read for non-fiction enthusiasts. Published by Books Himalaya, the book consists of 12 chapters, starting from “Tyo Bishal Tala” and ending with “Mayavi Jeevan.”

2. Buddhakalin Samaj – Umakanta Paudyal

Debuting with “Buddhakalin Samaj: Pali Tripitak ko Sakshyama”, researcher Umakanta Paudyal reveals various social aspects of Buddha’s time through. In the book, he explains Buddhist terminology in simple and accessible language. The book compiles and explains Buddha’s words in Pali, which are considered authentic and reliable, covering topics such as states, governance, religious doctrines, sects, caste systems, and culture of that era. The book is 301 pages long and published by Fineprint.

3.Magar Sanskriti, Parampara, ra Garima – Gom Vikram

“Magar Sanskriti, Parampara, ra Garima” is a research-based book by journalist and literary figure Gom Vikram Kshetri. The book details the Magar ethnic group, their culture, and illustrious individuals. It highlights the cultural aspects of the Magar community, such as Sorathi, Ghatu, Paseru, and Maruni, and their practices, which are important for the younger generation to understand their culture and traditions. The book is recommended for anyone interested in learning about the history and culture of the Magar ethnic group. Spread across 216 pages, the book is published by Bhundipuran Prakashan.