In August, Madan Puraskar Guthi announced Naba Raj Lamsal and Durga Prasad Shrestha as the winners of Madan Puraskar 2078 and Jagadamba Shree, respectively. And the award ceremony took place on Tuesday, more than a month after the announcement.

Kunda Dixit, chairman of Madan Puraskar Guthi, inaugurated the award ceremony and started by thanking the people who have played a role in taking Madan Puraksar and Jagadamba Shree where they are today. Dixit also handed the awards to the respective winners.

Madan Puraskar is given to the outstanding book released in the previous year, while Jagadamba Shree is given to honour those making incredible contributions to the Nepali language, literature, and culture.

Naba Raj Lamsal, a renowned radio journalist, was awarded the Madan Puraskar for his book ‘Agni’. Shrestha was awarded the Jagadama Shree for his decades-long contribution to Nepali literature through his work in ‘Udaya’, a Nepali literature magazine published in India, and his work uplifting the satirical genre in Nepal’s literature.

“I believe this award is recognition of our country’s marginalised community and their fight for liberation as ‘Agni’ hopes to do just that,” says Lamsal.

Lamsal’s ‘Agni’ was chosen from the 299 books that were submitted to the committee.