CM announces ‘Anuvad Setu Puraskar’ to promote Nepali literature

NAWDEEP SHARMA & IPR

Annual Rs 3 lakh award to be presented during Bhanu Jayanti; Pakyong to host next year’s national-level celebration

 SORENG,: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday announced the institution of ‘Anuvad Setu Puraskar’, an annual award carrying a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh to promote and preserve Nepali language and literature.

The award will be presented every year from 2027 during the Bhanu Jayanti celebrations to an eminent literary personality, the Chief Minister announced while addressing the 212th National-Level Bhanu Jayanti celebration in Soreng.

He said the award has been introduced with the objective of promoting translation, literary excellence, and the preservation of the Nepali language and literature.

During his address, the Chief Minister said the State government’s vision to organise national-level events across different districts, rather than restricting them to the State capital, is aimed at identifying, encouraging and nurturing talent from rural areas by providing them with opportunities to showcase their potential on national platforms. He said such initiatives would promote inclusive development while ensuring that the rich cultural and literary heritage of each district receives wider recognition.

The Bhanu Jayanti celebrations in Soreng were organised at the national level this year, marking a departure from the traditional practice of holding the main event in Gangtok.

The Chief Minister also announced that next year’s national-level Bhanu Jayanti celebrations would be hosted in Pakyong district.

Paying rich tributes to Bhanubhakta Acharya, the Chief Minister highlighted his unparalleled contributions to the development and enrichment of the Nepali language and his enduring influence on the Nepali-speaking community. He noted that Acharya’s literary works continue to inspire generations and remain an integral part of Nepali literature. During his address, the Chief Minister also recited the celebrated poem “Ghasi”, emphasising its timeless message of dignity of labour, humility and social responsibility.

The Chief Minister further observed that the people of Sikkim have consistently excelled in the fields of Nepali language, literature, art and culture, making significant contributions at both the national and international levels. He reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to preserving and promoting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Sikkim through sustained support for writers, artists, scholars, and cultural institutions.

Acknowledging the historic efforts towards the constitutional recognition of the Nepali language, the Chief Minister paid tribute to former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari and former Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Dil Kumari Bhandari for their significant role in advocating for the inclusion of the Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. He described their contributions as milestones in safeguarding the linguistic identity and cultural aspirations of the Nepali-speaking community.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the preservation of regional languages, the Chief Minister stated that several schemes and programmes are being implemented to encourage literary activities, cultural exchanges, documentation of indigenous languages, and the promotion of local traditions among the younger generation.

The event, organised to commemorate poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, witnessed the participation of literary figures, scholars, artists, students and visitors from across Sikkim and other parts of the country.

The programme began with a floral tribute to Bhanubhakta Acharya’s statue at Bhanu Salik, followed by a Shova Yatra featuring cultural tableaux from Bazar Thana to Jautar Ground, the venue for the main function.

The celebrations included literary and cultural performances including the winning presentation in the Ramayan Path competition by Lachen-Mangan constituency, folk dance, folk song and poetry competitions.

A documentary on Soreng district was screened during the programme. The "Secondary Nepali Dictionary", published by Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, and "A Tribute to Bhanu", a book by Kishan Dahal, were also released.

Several eminent poets and writers from Sikkim were felicitated in recognition of their invaluable contributions to Nepali literature. Literary organisations and associations from across the country were also honoured for their continued efforts in preserving and promoting the Nepali language and literary heritage.

Sikkim University won the national-level inter-university debate competition, while Khangchendzonga State University-Sikkim finished runner-up. The final round of the debate competition, held on the topic, “AI Manav Jati Ko Heet Ma Cha Ki Chaina?”, was one of the highlights of the event.

In the digital content creation competition, Shalini Chettri of Jorethang secured the first prize.

The celebration also featured inter-constituency Ramayan Path competition, folk dance performances by students from schools, college-level poetry recitation, folk song competitions and painting competitions. The Chief Minister presented prizes to the winners of the competitions held earlier at Engineering Complex, Dak Bungalow, Malbasey.

The Chief Minister also felicitated Sonia Subba, a bronze medallist at the recently concluded 5th National Sub-Junior Boxing Championship, along with literary and cultural contributors representing Sikkim’s 19 communities.