A special program was organized to mark the 174th birth anniversary of the late Pastor Ganga Prasad Pradhan, a multi-talented personality recognized as the founding father of Nepali journalism.
The event, held on Friday (July 4) at Quality Foodland, Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, was jointly organized by Christian Journalists Fellowship (CJF) Nepal and the Nepal Bible Society. The thematic discussion focused on "The Contribution of Pastor Pradhan and Our Responsibility."
The memorial gathering was graced by CJF Nepal President Dinesh Shrestha and Executive Director of Nepal Bible Society Arjun Kapri as the chief guests.
Chief guest Kapri assured that the Bible Society would initiate impactful projects next year in honor of Pastor Pradhan's birth anniversary.
During the program, Raju Rai, editor of Bhetghat magazine published from Kalimpong, West Bengal, shed light on Pastor Pradhan's biography, contributions to Nepali journalism, literary works, Bible translation into Nepali, and responsibilities of the church.
Similarly, journalist Ramesh Lama from Siliguri, West Bengal, emphasized the need for Nepali churches and Christian journalists to conduct research on Pastor Pradhan's contributions.
Speakers such as Rev. Dr. Mangalman Maharjan (Senior Pastor, Koinonia Patan Church), Pastor Dilliram Paudel (Vice Chairperson, Nepal Christian Society), Rev. Kiran Kumar Das (Co-coordinator, National Church Mahaguthi Nepal ), Rev. Ishujang Karki (renowned figure in the Nepali Christian community), journalist Parichhed Sharma, Pastor Prem Krishna Maharjan, Bishop Narayan Sharma, Bharat Giri (Chairperson, Aamul Parivartan Republican Party), and former NHRC member Dr. K.B. Rokaya expressed their thoughts on Pastor Pradhan's legacy and the responsibilities that lie ahead.
The program began with an opening prayer led by Pastor Padmanath Parajuli, co-coordinator of National Church Mahaguthi Nepal, and concluded with a closing prayer of blessing by Pastor Hemjargha Magar, executive member of Nepal Bible Society.
It is worth recalling that the late Pastor Pradhan served as the editor of Gorkhe Khabar Kagaj, published from India, continuously from 1901 to March 1932. This publication is considered about six months older than Nepal's official daily Gorkhapatra.
Pastor Pradhan is also credited with translating the Bible from English into Nepali for the first time. He was born in 1851 in Thamel, Kathmandu, and passed away in 1932 in India.
Christian Journalists Fellowship (CJF) Nepal is a common platform of Christian journalists across Nepal.
