Sikkim’s Chandra Prakash Sharma Bhattarai wins Nepal’s prestigious Bhim Bahadur Smriti Sahitya Samman

Senior writer and social worker Chandra Prakash Sharma Bhattarai of Sikkim was honoured today with the Bhim Bahadur Smriti Sahitya Samman. The award, set up in memory of noted poet Bhim Bahadur Limbu, was presented at a ceremony in Dharan organised by the International Pardeshi Sahitya Samuha.

Bhattarai, who first gained attention with his 1992 work Savitri and later with Harishchandra in 2008, was praised for his lifetime of contributions to Nepali literature and culture. His books—Introduction to Nepali Civilization, Nepali Folk Traditions, Nepali Folk Culture, and The Treasury of Traditions—have become essential reading for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

At the same event, Dr. Narad Pokharel, a Bhutanese‑Nepali scholar based in the USA, received the Bhim Bahadur Smriti Sahitya Puraskar. Both honours celebrate outstanding literary efforts and community service, and have been awarded annually since 2079 BS (2022). Past recipients include Padmashree Lil Bahadur Chhetri of India and Janu Kabji of Hong Kong in the first year, followed by Dr. Madhu Madhya of the USA and Deepak Subedi of Jhapa.

The ceremony welcomed a host of writers, artists, and dignitaries. Prof. Dr. Tankanath Nyaupane served as chief guest, while Prof. Dr. Shankar Sharma and other literary figures joined as special guests. Attendees were also treated to the launch of two new publications: Barudle Koreka Aksharharu (“Letters Drawn by Gunpowder”) by poet Bhim Birahi Rai, and Pardeshi Bimbaharu (“Images of Expatriates”), a magazine from the International Pardeshi Sahitya Samuha.