Terrorists killed in search operations

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): Five persons including two terrorists with pseudonyms of Karuna and Pratiksha were killed in an encounter with the patrolling squad of the security force at Nabadeu Ilaka and Dilasaini Ilaka of Baitadi district on June 5.

Likewise, six persons died at Dhabang Ilaka of Rolpa district, two at Daiji Ilaka of Kanchanpur district, and one at Juphal Ilaka of Dolpa district, it is learnt from the Ministry of Defence.

The security forces have seized weapons, bombs, socket bombs, guns, materials used in detonating underground explosives, army uniforms and terrorist literature from the places of encounters.

When the security forces fired in self defence at Mid-Marsyangdi Ilaka of Tanahu district on June 7, one suspected terrorist was killed.

Despite warnings, the suspected terrorist group had made an unsuccessful bid to attack the Perimeter Ilaka of the base of the security forces. The security forces are investigating the incident.

When a socket bomb suddenly went off at a place called Dhinne of Laxmipur VDC of Dang district on June 7, three children sustained injuries and they have been brought to Dang Hospital for treatment, according to the press communique of the Defence Ministry.

Four to five police personnel sustained minor injuries when their vehicle was attacked at Tikapur Thada of Kailali district on June 7.

While the front part of the vehicle was totally damaged, one male and female terrorists also died on the spot in the incident.

During the search operation, the security forces seized foodgrains hidden by the terrorists at Badrigaon of Kalikot district on June 6 and distributed it to the local people.

On June 7, the security forces seized two guns, hand grenades, materials used in detonating underground explosives, home-made bombs from the forest area of Karnekhola in Makwanpur district.

The security forces have also seized rifles, live cartridges and socket bombs from Kajeti Ilaka and Jedbang Ilaka of Rolpa district.

Dixit, Koirala honoured with Madhuparka Award

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 8: Poet Mohan Koirala and essayist Kamal Mani Dixit were honoured with Madhuparka Samman Award at a function in Kathmandu today.

Minister of State for Information and Communications Hari Narayan Chaudhary presented the awards established by the Gorkhapatra Corporation on the occasion of 35th anniversary of its publication Madhuparka, the monthly literary magazine. The awards to be given annually to the distinguished writers in poetry and prose contain a Letter of Commendation and Rs. 5,000 in cash.

Presenting the award, Minister of State Chaudhary said Madhuparka had made a large contribution to the country's literature. He said the literary magazine had also produced many literary figures. The Minister said holding symposiums regularly in different parts of the country would help literature reach to the common people.

In his welcome address, Kishore Nepal, General Manager and the Chief Editor of the Gorkhapatra Daily said that the contribution of Madhuparka would remain unforgettable in the country's literary field. He said the awards were instituted to encourage the literary figures in the country. He said the Corporation would welcome any suggestion to make Madhuparka a still more popular literary magazine.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gorkhapatra Corporation Hari Prasad Nepal said the Corporation felt it an honour to felicitate the distinguished literary figures. He also said the Madhuparka had made a great contribution in the literary field and said this would be continued.

Speaking to a gathering literary writers, Mohan Koirala said the Corporation had played a historical role to promote literature. He said the Madhuparka had continued serving the country's literature when several other literary magazines came and went. He also thanked Madhuparka for the honour.

Essayist Kamal Mani Dixit also said Madhuparka had made a big contribution in the country's literary sector. "In fact, Madhuparka has been carrying the country's literary mantle for the last 34 years." He said the Madhuparka was still one of the few literary magazines to survive for more than three decades in the country. Dixit said he had written about 650 essays in his literary career many of which had been published in the magazine.

In his comment, Lok Deep Thapa, Acting Editor-in-Chief of The Rising Nepal and a member of the Corporation's Board of Directors lauded the role played by Madhuparka in the literary field of the country. Thapa congratulated the two recipients of the maiden award, and said everybody should continue to contribute to make the magazine serve a wider spectrum of the country's readership.

Kapil Ghimire, Editor of Madhuparka, said that the magazine still running strong after 34 years was an achievement in itself. "The magazine has become a milestone in the country's literary field."

He said the magazine felt itself privileged to be able to honour two of the most distinguished literary personalities of the country.

Associate Editor of Madhuparka Shri Om Shrestha 'Rodan' said the magazine reached to every nook and corner of the country. He also said Madhuparka was the only literary magazine in the country to go online.

The recipient of the awards had been selected by a sub-committee comprising lyricist and litterateur Ratna Shumsher Thapa, litterateur Toya Gurung, Kapil Ghimire and Shri Om Shrestha 'Rodan'.

Litterateur Thapa said that it was a matter of great honour to choose such prominent figures as the award recipients. They were chosen on the basis of their contributions to the Madhuparka. Both Koirala and Dixit had contributed to the first issue of the Madhuparka, 34 years ago.

He said the institution of the award was good for promoting the country's literary sector. "A country, which cannot honour its litterateurs, cannot be called a cultured country," he said.

The award initiated the monthly literary magazine of the Gorkhapatra Corporation has completed 34 years of publication. On the entering of its 35th year of publication, the Corporation has initiated the Madhuparka Felicitation Awards on prose and poetry to be presented to litterateurs who have contributed in the literary field.

Nepali version of Mahabharat released

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): Senior poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire released the ‘Athara Parba Mahabharat,’ the first version of the great Hindu epic Mahabharat in the Nepali language, and the ‘European Mahabharat’ authored by poet Narendra Nath Rimal here today.

Written some 80 years ago, the original editions of these two books are still preserved at the Madan Pustakalaya (library).

The books have been re-published eighty years after its first publication by the Narendra Bangmaya (literary) Trust.

While the ‘Athara Parba Mahabharat’ is a poetic rendition of the great epic Mahabharat in the Nepali language, the ‘European Mahabharat’ is a ballad on the effects of the Second World War.

Senior poet Madhav Ghimire, Nayab Bada Gurujyu Prof. (Dr) Madhav Bhattarai, litterateur Kamal Dixit, chairman of the Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd Hemraj Gyawali and chairman of the Narendra Bangmaya Nidhi Dr. Ram Ratna Upadhyaya dwelt on the importance of art, literature and culture in enhancing the country’s identity.

Patron of the Narendra Bangmaya Nidhi Prof. Shiva Ratna Upadhyaya commented on the literary creations of poet Rimal.

A message of best wishes from former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was also read out on the occasion.

Chairman and general manager of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) Purushottam Dahal read out Bhattarai’s message as well as recited some verses from the books.

'Road should not spoil environment'

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Narayan Khadka today made an on-site inspection of the 50-kilometres Dhulikhel-Nepalthok portion of the Dhulikhel-Bardibas Highway being constructed with Japanese assistance in connection with carrying out the follow-up and evaluation of projects of national importance.

Addressing a gathering organised at local Bhakundebesi, the NPC vice-chairman expressed his gratitude to the government of Japan for considering the environment and the public needs aspects while constructing the road.

Dr. Khadka also requested for the speedy designing of the portions of the road still to be gravelled and black-topped.

NPC member Dr. Jagadish Pokharel, director general of the Department of Roads Madan Gopal Maleku and officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Nippon Company were present on the occasion.

IIMC alumni ad hoc body

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 8: Nepalese journalists who studied at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) have formed an IIMC Alumni Ad Hoc Committee today.

The ad- hoc committee has Sita Ram Agrahari as its coordinator and Ambar Mainali as secretary. Bir Prakash Malla, Shri Ram Singh Basnet, Madhav Dhungel, Jagdish Pokhrel, Narayan Upadhyay, Namita Singh, Yasodha Timsina, Bal Krishan Prasad and Ram Kumar Kamat are the members of the newly formed ad-hoc committee.

The committee will call a meeting of all the IIMC alumni and will launch various programmes, coordinator Agrahari said

Earlier today, the counselor of the Indian Embassy, Manoj Bharati, hosted an informal reception for the IIMC-ians. Journalists, at the reception, shared their experience gained during their stay at the New Delhi based IIMC. They also decided to form an ad hoc committee. Thirty-two Nepali journalists have so far attended the journalism training course at the IIMC, an Indian Embassy official said.

Songs to pay tributes to late Narayan Gopal, Gopal Yonjan

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): At the "Literature-music evening 2059" organised here today in aid of Women Literature Foundation, singers presented some of the outstanding solo songs as a tributes to two of the national celebrities in the field of music, late Gopal Yonjan and late Narayan Gopal.

Various litterateurs and song composers were present at the musical evening in which Deputy Speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives Mrs Chitralekha Yadav was the chief guest.

Youth musician Bamjan who has been working in the field of music for the last two and a half decades presented heart-rending songs of various litterateurs and composers.

Foundation president Geeta Karki presided over the programme.

Women need to develop skills: Rayamajhi

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi gave away
certificates to the second batch of the trainees completing their training organised by Women
Vocational Training Institute at a function here today.

Twenty trainees had participated in the haircutting and beautician job-oriented six-month training programme, it is learnt.

On the occasion, Dr. Rayamajhi said unless and until income generating capacity of women is raised by imparting vocational and employment-oriented education, actual development of Nepal is not possible, and steps in this direction should be taken.

Director general of the institute Ganesh Adhikari said that the institute was taking initiative to provide some loans without collateral to the trained women with poor economic background.

Principal of the Institute Neera Yonjan, Kishore Kumar Gautam and trainee Parbati Lama also expressed their views at the programme.

Trade team leaves for Mongolia

Kathmandu, June 8 (RSS): The Nepalese trade delegation under the leadership of honorary consul of Mongolia to Nepal Tsetan Gyurman Shrestha left here today for Ulaanbaatar, the Capital City of Mongolia.

The delegation include Samyak Dhar Tuladhar of the World Distributions, Tribhuwan Dhar Tuladhar of Aruna Textile Pvt. Ltd., Uday Kant Jha of Mandela Overseas Super Trading House, Prabhat Singh Pradhan of Everest Tours and Travels, Ujjwal Rajbhandari of Everest Group of Industries Ltd., Tenzin Dakpa of Tsering Incense Manufacturers, D.B. Shakya of Indra Souvenir Industries and Sunil Shakya of U.P. Arts.

This is the first ever trade delegation to visit Mongolia to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.

During its visit, the delegation will call upon the president, prime minister and minister for trade and industry and minister for infastrufure of Mongolia.

The Nepalese business community aspires that this visit will not only enable to develop the cordial relationship between the two countries but will also help in developing the mutual benefit between the business communities of the two friendly countries.

Meetings will be held between the trade delegations of both the countries from June 11 to 13.