Dup Tshering Lepcha to be honoured with Bhanu Purashkar 2024

GANGTOK,: The Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) Sikkim on Monday announced Dup Tshering Lepcha as the Bhanu Purashkar 2024 awardee in recognition of distinguished service towards advancement of Nepali language. The prestigious award from NSP Sikkim would be presented to him during the upcoming 210^th Bhanu Jayanti celebrations at Gangtok on July 13.

NSP Sikkim president Hari Dhungel, at a press meet here, mentioned that Dup Tshering Lepcha features prominently among those individuals who have given a lengthy, committed service to development and progress of Nepali language and literature.

Dup Tshering, through Dr. Shova Kanti Thegim (Lepcha) Memorial Trust, has been evaluating and honouring Nepali litterateurs annually with Dr. Shova Kanti Thegim (Lepcha) Memorial Award for the past two and a half decades.

The NSP president added that the prestigious Bhanu Purashkar is not based on literary works but conferred upon those who dedicate themselves in service of Nepali language and literature.

The award consists of a certificate, Tamra Patra, shawl presentation and a cash prize of Rs. 51,000.

At the press meet, the NSP president also announced the recipients of Bhasa Gaurav Samman and Seva Shree Sammans to be honoured during the Bhanu Jayanti celebrations.

The Bhasa Gaurav awardees are Dawa Tshering Lepcha (Lepcha language) and Karma Lobzang Bhutia (Bhutia language).

The Sewa Shree awardees are Bhaskar Poudyal (language), Uddhav Gopal Shrestha (literature), Dhan Kumar Gurung (music), Dr. Bharat Basistha (drama), Nandu Dutraj (journalism), Dheeraj Pradhan (arts), and Gayatri Rai, Kala Bhutia and Mamta Singh (dance).

‘Hamro Ekta, Hamro Samriddhi’ is the theme for this year’s Bhanu Jayanti celebrations which also features a Shova Yatra of all communities at Gangtok. Prominent language and literary figures from neighbouring Darjeeling Hills, Assam and Nepal have been invited as guests to witness how Sikkim celebrates the Adikavi.