Danny, the Sikkim-born actor, has confirmed his participation in the felicitation programme

Gangtok, July 5: The Sikkim government has decided to felicitate 100 eminent Nepali speaking Indian citizens across the country who have made significant contributions to politics, music, films, glamour, literature, sports and other areas of specialisation.

The felicitation to be conducted by the government through a committee — Sikkim Samman Sammilan — formed for the purpose has been timed with the 190th birth anniversary celebration of Nepali poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya on July 13 and Bharatiya Nepali Bhyakhyan Srinkhala on July 15. The award ceremony will take place on July 14.

Among the leading figures who have confirmed their participation in the programme are film stars Mala Sinha and Danny Denzongpa, musician Louis Banks, Miss India-Earth Jyoti Brahmin, film director Tulsi Ghimirey, music director Ranjit Gazmer, footballers Bhaichung Bhutia and Shyam Thapa, Olympians Chandan Singh and Jaslal Pradhan and mountaineers Nawang Gombu and Jamling Tenzing. The list of politicians includes four former chief ministers of the state L. D. Kazi, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, B. B. Gooroong and Sanchaman Limbu. DGHC chairman Subash Ghisingh has also been invited. A confirmation on his participation is yet to be received though 15 Sahitya Akademi Award winners in Nepali have promised to be present.

The list also includes cardiologist K. Bhandari, Dro Dupchen Rimpoche, environmentalist Eklavya Sharma, economist Mahendar P. Lama, vice-admiral Laxuman Subba, NIIT vice-president Surendra Rasaily, copy editor of India Today Joel Rai and 2004 Indian Forest Service topper Surabhi Rai.

Those felicitated will be presented with citations. It is yet to be known whether they will be given cash awards too. Addressing a news conference at the Press Club of Sikkim today, rural development minister K. N. Rai, who also officiates as the president of the Sammilan, said: “It is a Nepalese culture to respect and felicitate our own people who have made contributions to the society and the nation. We are doing just that.”