On the occasion of the 109th birth anniversary of novelist Diamond Shumsher Rana, the Diamond Shumsher Rana Literary Foundation conferred the Diamond Shumsher Rana Talent Honour/Award on three distinguished personalities: Dr. Tikaram Pokharel, who completed his PhD on Rana’s historical novels; Madhav Viyogi, who wrote the epic poem Diamondshree based on Rana’s life and works; and Assistant Professor Dr. Bishnu Neupane, who conducted research on Rana.

Dr. Pokharel completed his PhD from Tribhuvan University in 2066 B.S. by studying Diamond Shumsher Rana’s novels on the theoretical basis of the limits of history and imagination in historical fiction, the historicity of such novels, the harmony between fictional craft and artistic quality, and the balance between history and fiction. Similarly, Viyogi wrote the epic Diamondshree, portraying Diamond Shumsher as the central heroic figure on the basis of his life and literary contributions. Another award recipient, Dr. Neupane, prepared a research-based book on the life, personality, and works of Diamond Shumsher Rana.

The three awardees were honoured with a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each and certificates. Speaking on the occasion, former Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Sanskrit University, Prof. Dr. Kul Prasad Koirala, said that Diamond Shumsher Rana’s contribution to historical novel writing was highly significant. He also stated that the Rana family had made an important contribution to the establishment and restoration of democracy in Nepal, and that there was no other novelist in Nepal comparable to Diamond Shumsher in the field of historical fiction.

Literary figure Dr. Tulasi Prasad Bhattarai said that although Diamond Shumsher Rana’s property had been confiscated because of his involvement in the movement for the establishment of democracy, his legacy and reputation had not faded. Similarly, critic Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai said that Diamond Shumsher wrote the novel Grihapravesh on the basis of “magical realism.”

During the programme, award recipient Dr. Pokharel said that Diamond Shumsher Rana’s novels occupy a prominent position in the field of Nepali historical fiction because they maintain a balance between historical elements and novelistic artistry. Viyogi expressed pride in having been able to portray Diamond Shumsher as the hero of his epic, while Dr. Neupane shed light on Diamond Shumsher Rana’s personality and literary contributions.