Kalimpong, Feb. 26: Gupta Pradhan of Darjeeling received the Paras Mani Award at Ramakrishna Rangamanch today. The family of the Nepali grammarian, after whom the award is named, gave him a cash prize of Rs 10,001.

Several key literary figures across Darjeeling district were present at the seventh Paras Mani Award ceremony organised by the Kalimpong Nepali Sahitya Adhiyan Samity.

The award named after Paras Mani Pradhan — who was a poet and a story-writer and had also written several textbooks for schools — is given to people who have made their mark in Nepali language.

Speaking on Pradhan, general secretary of the samity B.B. Sharma said: “Gupta Pradhan has contributed to the Nepali language for more than 40 years. He has carved out a place for himself in the language.”

Pradhan, who was born at Dali in Darjeeling in 1945, is a poet, storywriter, novelist and a literary editor. He has also taught in different primary schools. His well-known poems include Jandut and Banidao. His stories like Biram Chinah Haru and the collection of short stories Manchhey ko Basti Bhitra is also popular.

His works deal with the day-to-day life of the people. Pradhan makes it a point to give a special dimension to the mundane everyday details that he records in his stories. His writings speak of the problems, hopes, aspirations and frustrations of common man.

Recounting how he had received the news of the award, Pradhan said: “When I got the message over telephone, my happiness knew no bounds. It is wonderful to get such an award at the beginning of the year.”

“Paras Mani Pradhan has always been the greatest inspiration,” he added.

Pradhan stressed the need to preserve the Nepali language and culture. He said the initiative was lacking among the youths of today.