Poet Bimal Memorial Library was awarded with Hemraj Pahari Memorial Award amid a ceremony in Dharan on Tuesday, Feb 27. The award, with a cash purse of Rs 1,00,000, was handed over to the conservation chairperson of the library, Purna Bahadur Gurung, by the chairperson of the Hemraj Pahari Memorial Academy, Rita Pahari, in the presence of Rabindra Adhikari, chairperson of Constitution Development Committee. 

Poet Bimal Memorial Library was established by Purna Bahadur Gurung in the memory of his 19-year old poet son, Bimal Gurung, who passed away in an accident in 1991. While the Hemraj Pahari Memorial Academy was established in the memory of poet, author, teacher as well as writer Hemraj Pahari who died in an accident in 2010. 

Speaking at the event, MP Adhikari said, “It’s really good to see that a literary academy from Pokhara is honouring the works done by organisation in Dharan.” He added, “These kinds of works will help promote Nepali literature as a whole.”

Meanwhile, sharing his experience about receiving the award, Purna Bahadur Gurung, said, “I feel really humbled to receive the award. I couldn’t get an education in my village, so I spent my life in a military with guns and bullets.” He added, “As I realised the importance of learning and literature, I decided to open a library and hold literary activities after the demise of my son as he was very interested in the field.” Gurung has also established a trust fund worth Rs 50,00,000 along with the library to promote literature in the region.