Basant Chettri to receive ‘Kanchenjunga Mitrasen Smriti Puraskar’ at 33rd Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas celebrations

05:36 PM Aug 17, 2024 |

GANGTOK,: Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) Sikkim will be celebrating the 33rd Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas in a grand manner at Manan Kendra here on August 20.

“On August 20, the Lok Sabha passed a motion to add the Nepali language to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Since then, NSP Sikkim has played an active role in celebrating the Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas, every year celebrating Nepali language art, literature and people. Each year, a person in the field of art, literature or music is presented with awards. This year, the ‘Kanchenjunga Mitrasen Smriti Puraskar’ in the field of music will be presented to Basant Chettri from Darjeeling,” informed NSP Sikkim president Hari Dhungel.

Dhungel was addressing a press meet here on Saturday.

Basant Chettri has composed many popular songs since 1969 for well-known films and albums. He has also worked in the Royal Government of Bhutan as a music teacher, it was informed.

The NSP Sikkim president further informed that 2023 exam topper in Nepali from Sikkim University Keshav Dahal will be presented the ‘Prem Lal Saishik Puraskar 2024’.

Since Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas is a State holiday, NSP Sikkim has urged all the government officials and employees to come and be part of the celebration at Manan Kendra.

The NSP Sikkim has urged that the signboards around Sikkim should also be in Nepali, along with English as Nepali is a language that everybody understands here.

“Every year, along with the award ceremony, cultural events are also displayed where Nepali language artistes from Sikkim and the neighbouring hills showcase their talents. This year, Tathya Band from Sikkim will be performing, along with artistes from Sikkim. The artistes will perform well-known classic songs,” expressed NSP Culture secretary Ganesh Dhungel.