Honour
Litterateurs
A COUNTRY, which cannot
honour its litterateurs, cannot be called a cultured country. The opinion expressed by
litterateur Ratna Shumshere Thapa at a function organised the other day to mark the 35th
anniversary of "Madhuparka", the monthly literary magazine published by
Gorkhapatra Corporation, deserves much attention when it comes to promoting Nepal’s
contemporary literary sojourn. It, indeed, is a fact that the decline of literature is an
indication of the decline of a nation. If we do not protect and encourage the literary
figures of the country, the literature of the country cannot be promoted. We cannot see
ourselves if we forget literature because it is also regarded as the mirror of the
society. The very idea of awarding literary personalities recognizing their contribution
for the promotion of Nepali literature by Madhuparka, perhaps the largest selling literary
magazine of the country, is a welcome step for promoting and preserving literature. With
the introduction of Madhuparka Award the literary figures contributing to the magazine are
sure to be encouraged to further produce good works of art that best reflect the
nation’s contemporary society, culture and tradition.
History has proved that
the literary magazines come and go. It is really very difficult for such magazines to
survive and make a long journey as did by Madhuparka when there are few readers, few
advertisements and the habit of buying on the part of the readers is not well developed.
However, Madhuparka always retained and passed 34 years due to its quality and with the
love of its readers and well-wishers. There are very few literary magazines in the country
which have maintained such a long journey by serving the changing taste of readers with
the write ups of well known literary figures of the country. By presenting its first
annual awards on poem and prose to writer duos Mohan Koirala and Kamal Mani Dixit,
Madhuparka has done an examplery job of paying respect to the country’s literary
assets. The Rising Nepal, sister publication of Madhuparka, likes to extends
congratulations to awardees Koirala and Dixit.
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