The Khemlal Harikala Lamichhane Pratisthan has announced that the Padmashree Sahitya Puraskar 2081 will be presented to journalist and writer Ramesh Bhushal for his travelogue ‘Chhalbato’. Likewise, the Padmashree Sadhana Honour will be awarded to Rama Sharma, chairperson of the Nepal Shikshya Parisad.

Similarly, the Padmashree Gaurav Award, which recognises outstanding contributions across diverse fields of society, will be conferred on Professor Abhi Subedi this year. A prolific essayist, critic, linguist, playwright, translator, and poet writing in both Nepali and English, Subedi has published nearly three dozen works and remains active in creative and contemporary writing.

Bhushal’s ‘Chhalbato’ recounts a journey from the source of the Karnali River in Tibet through Mount Kailash and down to India’s Ganges. The work, framed as a travelogue, weaves together themes of river systems, border security, local settlements, climate change, wildlife, hydropower, and displacement.

Reflecting on the recognition, Bhushal says, “I’ve always desired to pursue something different, and this recognition motivates me to do more. It feels like encouragement to write another book and to continue pushing my limits.”

The Padmashree Sahitya Puraskar was established in 2006 by Jiba Lamichhane under the Khemlal Harikala Lamichhane Pratisthan. Since then, the award has been conferred annually to the best published work in Nepali literature. This year, the Foundation received 203 submissions.

Each award carries a cash prize of Rs300,000 and a certificate of honour. The honours will be presented on the occasion of Kojagrat Purnima.