Pant Memorial Foundation Honors Acharya Kamal Rijjal and Others

Kathmandu. The Pant Memorial Foundation, which has been honoring and awarding creators of various genres since 2058 BS, has presented this year's Ramraj Pant Memorial Award to Acharya Kamal Rijjal, former editor-in-chief of Gorkhapatra Daily and spiritual columnist for Lokantar.com. He was awarded for his novel Shakuntala. His novel was published by Shikha Books.

The novel Shakuntala, based on the themes of Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads, opposes the evil practices, superstitions, and ill customs that have been deeply rooted in society for years in the guise of religion, and emphasizes women's empowerment. Acharya Rijjal, who has already published 21 works including novels, essays, treatises, and moral stories, is currently hosting a weekly spiritual column called Mahabharat Gyanmala on Lokantar TV.

Similarly, the foundation has presented this year's Tika-Mukunda Pant Memorial Award in the field of criticism to former secretary and former auditor general, litterateur Gopi Mainali. Mainali has about a dozen published works.

Likewise, this year's Sushila Pant Memorial Children's Literature Award in the field of children's literature has been presented to children's litterateur Kartikeya Ghimire. He has published many works related to children's literature.

Similarly, the foundation has presented this year's Gopalraj Pant Memorial Award in the field of humor and satire to artist Manoj Gajurel. Gajurel is considered an established comedian in Nepal.

Similarly, other talents honored include Sumana Thapa with the Sumana Balpratibha Award for child dance, artist Rasik Rai with the Sitashree Memorial Award for campus-level painting, Hamro Purushartha Quarterly Magazine Gorkha, editor Shashi Panthi with the Indira-Bandhu Pant Memorial Award for literary magazines, and Samiksha Ghimire with the Aama Indira Pant Memorial Talent Award for disability and social service.

Prof. Dr. Veena Poudyal, Rochak Ghimire, Ramprasad Pant, Thakur Sharma Bhandari, and Manikratna Shakya, who have been providing invaluable suggestions and advice for the growth of the foundation for 25 years, were felicitated at the program.

All these awards and felicitations were presented by former ambassador and litterateur Jayaraj Acharya, the chief guest, at a program held in the capital on Friday under the chairmanship of the foundation's chairman Indu Pant.