KATHMANDU, March 21: The Gopal-Kamala Rajbhandari Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence, established in honor of a prominent social activist Gopal Rajbhandari and his wife Kamala Rajbhandari, was presented to Khetipati, an organization dedicated to the agricultural sector.
The Vocational Excellence Award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 2 million, was handed over to Prakriti Gautam, the director of Khetipati, during the 17th National Conference organized by Rotary Club District 3292 on Friday in Lalitpur.
The award, named in memory of Gopal Rajbhandari, a businessman who adhered to the principle of ‘Service Above Self’, has been presented annually since 2011 to young entrepreneurs with exceptional business ideas. Originally offering a cash prize of Rs 500,000, the award has been increased to Rs 2 million starting this year, according to Gopal and Kamala’s grandson, Amod Rajbhandari.
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Amod Rajbhandari emphasized that the award aims to encourage individuals making notable contributions to societal change, particularly highlighting Gautam’s work in the agricultural sector. He expressed confidence that the award would inspire others in various sectors, including agriculture, and affirmed that the younger generation of the family would continue this legacy.
Gopal Rajbhandari, who established industries in Birgunj and was active in trade and business in India, played a pivotal role in the growth of the Rotary movement in Nepal. He was instrumental in founding Nepal's own Rotary district, District 3292, which was formally established in July 2008, though Rajbhandari passed away just three months before its official formation. Prior to this, Nepal had been part of the Indian district of Rotary.
Late Rajbhandari remains the first and only Nepali to have received the Service Above Self Award, the highest honor from Rotary. His significant contributions to Rotary's humanitarian, educational, and social initiatives, including the establishment of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre and a library in Kirtipur, continue to inspire the country.
Jitendra Bahadur Rajbhandari, a fellow Rotarian, reflected on Rajbhandari's instrumental role in promoting the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, which began operations in 2000. His coordination with Australian volunteers led to the construction of essential facilities such as the Cath Lab and the Gopal-Kamala Surgery and Intensive Care Building.
Gautam was presented with a certificate alongside the cash prize in a ceremony attended by the Rajbhandari family. She expressed her gratitude, stating that the award has given her a significant morale boost.
"When we face challenges in seeking support from the government, such recognition strengthens our resolve to contribute to the country," she said. Gautam also mentioned that the award money would advance her work and her plans to promote Nepal’s fruits and products internationally. Her organization, Khetipati, based in Kathmandu but with operations in Dhankuta, collects and stores seasonal fruits, vegetables and spices, exporting them to markets in the US and Japan.
Additionally, Manju Karki and Niharika Shrestha were honored with the Sunita Gopal Award during the event.
The 17th Annual General Meeting of Rotary Club District 3292 was attended by 1,200 representatives from across the country. Rajendra Man Shrestha, Governor of District 3292, shared that discussions at the conference would focus on seven key topics covering various sectors of the country.
