# Nepalese Writers Keshab Sigdel and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh to Receive Prestigious SAARC–FOSWAL Literary Awards in New Delhi

**The 67th SAARC–FOSWAL Literature Festival to Bring Together More Than 200 Writers from Six South Asian Countries**

**NEW DELHI / KATHMANDU, November 7, 2026** — Two distinguished Nepalese literary figures, poet, editor and translator Keshab Sigdel and writer and Mithila culture specialist Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh, will receive prestigious literary distinctions at the 67th SAARC–FOSWAL Literature Festival, scheduled to take place at Siri Fort, New Delhi, from November 15 to 18, 2026.

The awards recognize the significant contributions of both writers to literature, cultural heritage and the development of literary exchange across South Asia.

Keshab Sigdel will receive the **SAARC–FOSWAL Lifetime Achievement Award**, one of the festival’s major distinctions, accompanied by a cash prize of INR 100,000. The recognition celebrates his longstanding contributions to poetry, literary editing and translation, as well as his role in strengthening literary dialogue across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh will be honoured with the **SAARC–FOSWAL Literature Award** in recognition of his literary achievements and his expertise in Mithila culture, an important component of Nepal’s and India’s shared cultural heritage.

The announcement reflects the continued recognition of Nepalese literary voices within the wider South Asian literary landscape. Last year, Nepalese literary figures Dr. Abhi Subedi and poet Laxmi Mali received the corresponding awards.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to distinguished writers and cultural personalities from other participating countries, including Kunzang Choden of Bhutan, and Alok Bhalla, Amarendra Khatua and Suresh Goel of India, alongside Nurul Hoque of Bangladesh.

The Literature Award will recognize several other prominent writers, including Dr. Kumara Hettiarachchi of Sri Lanka, Dr. Shehpar Rasool, Kavita Singhal, Dr. Rawail Singh and Dr. Sushmindar Jeet Kaur of India.

Another highlight of the inaugural ceremony will be the presentation of the **Sabuddhi Golden Poetry Honour Award for Global Literary Excellence 2026** to celebrated Indian writer Padma Shri Ajeet Cour. Dr. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, is expected to attend as the chief guest.

Organized by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), the four-day festival is expected to welcome more than 200 writers from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Its programme will include more than 50 sessions featuring poetry readings, literary conversations, fiction presentations and academic papers.

Nepal will be represented by a substantial delegation of poets, journalists and fiction writers, including Sarita Tiwari, Bhisma Upreti, Bidhan Acharya, Rajni Mila, Chandra Gurung, Prakash Thamsuhang, Sudar Kurup, Anish Ghimire, Avaya Shrestha, Rami Priya, Laxmi Rumba, Hemanta Giri and Anusha Sharma, alongside the two award recipients.

Writers from India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will also contribute to the programme, creating opportunities for cross-border literary encounters and cultural cooperation.

Beyond its awards, the 67th SAARC–FOSWAL Literature Festival represents an important platform for strengthening regional understanding through literature. By bringing together writers from diverse linguistic traditions, the gathering reinforces the role of poetry, fiction, translation and cultural heritage in building bridges between societies.

The recognition of Keshab Sigdel and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh adds another significant chapter to Nepal’s contribution to South Asian literature, while the festival itself promises to celebrate the region’s creative diversity and shared intellectual heritage.

Source: The Rising Nepal, November 6, 2026 — [SAARC–FOSWAL Lifetime Award goes to Sigdel, Rakesh](https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/88434?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

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