The 27th Dr. Shobha Kanti Thegim Lepcha Memorial Award for 2024 was presented to renowned author Prem Pradhan for his novel ‘Chinta Saleko Pahad’ (चिन्ता सल्केको पाहाड). The award ceremony, organized by the Dr. Shobha Kanti Thegim Lepcha Memorial Trust, took place in Gangtok, with Minister G.T. Dhungel bestowing the honor upon Pradhan.
This prestigious award, given annually on July 4th to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Dr. Shobha Kanti Thegim Lepcha, recognizes outstanding contributions to literature.
Prem Pradhan was born on June 1, 1948, in Darjeeling to the late Babulal Pradhan and the late Ganga Devi Pradhan. He completed his schooling in 1961 from St. Robert’s School in Darjeeling and pursued higher education at Darjeeling Government College. He completed his Pre-University Course (PUC), Bachelor’s (B.Sc. Honors), and Master’s (M.Sc. in Botany) between 1969-1970.
Pradhan began his teaching career as a lecturer/assistant professor in Botany at Darjeeling Government College, later moving to St. Joseph’s College until 1974. In 1975, he joined the West Bengal Government’s teaching service and retired in 2008 as the principal of Darjeeling Government Higher Secondary School.
Prem Pradhan’s Publication
Apart from ‘Chinta Saleko Pahad’ (चिन्ता सल्केको पाहाड), published in 2022, Pradhan has authored several other notable works, including:
- ‘Kalo Sarp’ (कालो सर्प, a collection of stories, 1995)
- ‘Hamar Kehi Upayogi Banaspati Haru’ (हाम्रो केही उपयोगी वनस्पतिहरू, children’s literature, 1995)
- ‘Udasin Rukh Haru’ (उदासिन रूखहरू, novel, first edition 1999, second edition 2017)
- ‘Prayogko Machine’ (प्रयोगको मेशिन, novel, 2009)
- ‘Kehi Adhyan Kehi Bibechana’ (केही अध्ययन केही विवेचना, criticism, first edition 2009, second edition 2010)
- ‘Umerko Ghau’ (उमेरको घाउ, a collection of stories, 2019)
In addition to honoring Pradhan, the ceremony also celebrated Simeon Sikuta Rai, winner of The Poet Idol-2; Sabina Rai, a finalist of The Poet Idol-2; and Monika Rai and Vivek Basnet, finalists of the fifth season of Voice of Nepal.
The Dr. Shobha Kanti Thegim Lepcha Memorial Award holds great significance in the literary community, promoting and recognizing excellence in literary works and inspiring future generations of writers.
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