The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has presented this year’s National and Provincial Talent Awards 2081 in a ceremony held at Rastriya Naach Ghar, Kathmandu. Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey handed out the awards during the event. He emphasized the significance of the continuity of the award program, which began in 2051/52 BS, stating that the creations of writers and artists have deeply touched the public consciousness.
In his address, Member of the House of Representatives Chhabilal Bishwakarma highlighted the legacy and importance of awards established in the names of eminent figures such as Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya, Gopal Prasad Rimal, Bhagat Sarbajit, Yugkavi Siddhicharan Shrestha, Itihas Shiromani Baburam Acharya, and Shatabdi Purush Satya Mohan Joshi for their contribution to Nepali language, literature, and culture.
Amrit Yonja Tamang from Ramechhap was presented National Talent Award of Language and Literature, Som Bahadur Dhimal from Morang was decorated with the National Talent Award of Culture, Rajendra Bahadur Shah from Bajura was decorated with Music, Drama National Talent Award and Mukesh Malla from Kathmandu was honoured with the National Talent Award of Fine Art.
Among the recipients of the Provincial Talent Awards in the Language and Literature category were Bimala Tumkhewa from Morang (Koshi), Shyam Shah from Siraha (Madhes), Narmadeshwari Satyal from Kavrepalanchok (Bagmati), Min Raj Basanta (Regmi) from Baglung (Gandaki), Bhagwan Das Yadav from Banke (Lumbini), Samir Shah from Khalanga Salyan (Karnali) and Narendra Prasad Bhatta from Baitadi (Sudurpaschim).
In the Culture category, awards were presented to Kamal Jung Rai from Dilpa-Nagi, Bhojpur (Koshi) Shital Giri from Rautahat (Madhes), Tara Devi Sunuwar from Dolakha (Bagmati), Bhakti Prasad Sharma from Gorkha (Gandaki), Idris Kha from Banke (Lumbini), Motiraj Bam from Kalikot (Karnali) and Devendra Prasad Bhatta from Achham (Sudurpaschim).
Under the Music and Drama category, the awardees were Bipin Poudel Kiran from Sunsari, Shivashankar Rijal from Sarlahi, Sudeshraj Sharma from Kathmandu, Deeya Maskey from Kaski, Udiram Khadka from Rolpa, Tilak Pariyar from Rukum West, and Prakash Bahadur Thapa from Bajura.
In the Fine Art category, the awardees included Himmat Bahadur Nemwang from Jhapa, Gita Kumari Thakur from Siraha, Pramila Bajracharya from Lalitpur, Shashi Dhoj Tulachan from Mustang, Hariram Adhikari from Gulmi, Thekchhok Tamang from Humla, and Mithu Chaudhary from Kailali.
The Mahakavi Devkota Award was presented to Tirtha Shrestha from Kaski, Laxman Gautam from Chitwan, Narayan Dhakal from Kathmandu, Kalpana Pradhan from Kathmandu, and Resham Ghimire ‘Birahi’ from Chitwan.
Professor Dr. Ram Prasad Gyawali from Gulmi received the Aadikavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya National Award along with a cash prize of Rs. 100,000.
Bharat Bahadur Bhandari from Bajhang and Kiran Rai from Panchthar were honoured with the Gopal Prasad Rimal National Award, each receiving Rs. 100,000.
Dr. Nilam Karki Niharika from Bardiya received the Yogmaya National Award with a cash prize of Rs. 100,000.
Man Bahadur Bishwakarma from Arghakhanchi, Bhimkanta Panthee from Gulmi, and the television serial Dalan received the Bhagat Sarvajit Manav Maryada National Award, each with Rs. 100,000.
Professor Dr. Devi Prasad Nepal from Jhapa received the Yugkavi Siddhicharan Shrestha National Award with Rs. 100,000.
Dr. John Whelpton from the UK received the Itihas Shiromani Baburam Acharya National Award with a purse of Rs. 200,000.
Professor Dr. Bina Poudel from Kathmandu received the Shatabdi Purus Satya Mohan Joshi National Award of Rs. 100,000.
