LALITPUR
The Society of Fine Arts Journalists (Sofaj) Nepal organized an award ceremony on Thursday in Lalitpur. The award is given every year to outstanding journalists from various media who have been contributing to the field of fine arts through their work.

In this context, journalists Deepak Shrestha and Sirju Bajracharya were awarded the ‘Narayan Bahadur Singh Memorial Fine Arts Journalism Award-2076 BS’. The award was established by Sofaj in the memory of Narayan Bahadur Singh, a leading figure in art journalism and art history.

Similarly, ‘Sofaj-Laxmi Maya Kumale Memorial Fine Arts Journalism Award-2076 BS’ was  awarded to Hemant Gautam while Deepak Pariyar was awarded the same award for the year 2077 BS. Krodhakala Shiromani Kalu Kumale has established the ‘Sofaj-Laxmi Maya Kumale Memorial Fine Arts Journalism Award’ in the memory of his late wife Laxmi Maya Kumale.

Similarly, Radha Poudel (Ajabi) was conferred with the ‘Sofaj Fine Arts Journalism Award’. All the awardees also received a cash prize of Rs 11,111 each. The award was jointly presented by the chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Kancha Kumar Karmacharya, Krodhakala Shiromani Kalu Kumale and Sofaj Chairman Keshav Raj Khanal.

On the occasion, Vice Chancellor KK Karmacharya congratulated the awardees and said that the role of media is important in the development and expansion of fine arts.

Meanwhile, the general assembly of Sofaj too took place on Thursday and it re-elected Keshav Raj Khanal as the chairman for three years. Similarly, the general assembly selected Madhu Shahi as the vice president; Devendra Thumkeli as general secretary, Sangita Shrestha as secretary and Sunita Lohani as treasurer.

Similarly, Dibeshman Singh Pradhan, Sunita Sakhkarmi, Sitaram Badal, Ram Nath Ghimire and Prakriti Dahal were chosen members. One member will be added later.