The International Nepali Literature Society felicitated Bhutanese litterateur Ganga Lamitare amidst a literary function in Washington D.C. on Nov. 30.
“Considering my passiveness at this period, I felt that the award bestowed to me is a kind of irony,” Lamitare told Bhutan News Service. “The other side of this award is that I must do something to promote our language and literature.”
The ethnic identity remains inseparable with mother tongue, Lamitare further said. “There is a dire need to conserve and promote our mother tongue, esp. among the younger generations.”
Born in Lapsibhotey of Chirang district in southern Bhutan, Lamitare volunteered to teach Nepali language in Bhutanese refugee camps for over one and a half decade. The Lamitare’s team also established Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhutan enabling dozens of refugees to earn academic degrees in Nepali literature.
According to the society’s secretary, Padam Biswakarma, Lamitare was recognized for his contributions made in the promotion of Nepali language in the Bhutanese community. Biswakarma also claimed that the society would assist in publication of literary works of Bhutanese writers in future.
Litterateurs like Modnath Prasid and Amber Neupane were some of the guests during the felicitation program.
