Dr. Hem Sagar Baral Honored with Hem-Ganga Research And Conservation
Location: Kathmandu
Venue: Institute of Science and Technology, Natural Science Museum, Swayambhu
Occasion: Second memorial of senior artist and ornithologist-poet Hem Paudyal
Kathmandu, Magh 18 — Senior ornithologist Dr. Hem Sagar Baral has been honored with the Hem-Ganga Research and Conservation Honor.
The honor was conferred on Dr. Baral at a program held at the Natural Science Museum under the Institute of Science and Technology in Swayambhu, on the occasion of the second memorial of senior artist and ornithologist-poet Hem Paudyal.
Dr. Baral was jointly honored by the chief guest K. K. Karmacharya, the Dean of the Institute of Science and Technology Prof. Dr. Shankar Prasad Khanal, and writer Ganga Karmacharya Paudel.
At the memorial program held in remembrance of ornithologist Paudel, his spouse Ganga Karmacharya Paudel and his family announced the establishment of an endowment fund of NPR 500,000. Paudel said that the annual interest earned from the fund would be used each year to honor researchers in this field and to provide scholarships to students.
Museum Chief Dr. Ishan Gautam stated that a decision has been made to begin, from next year, providing scholarships for students and honors for researchers using the amount generated from the endowment’s interest. He expressed gratitude to the family for establishing the endowment fund in trust of the museum.
On the occasion, 20 paintings by ornithologist Paudel were handed over to the museum by his spouse and writer Paudel.
The museum presented Paudel with a letter of appreciation and stated that the bird paintings would further enrich the museum’s exhibition hall. It was also stated that Paudel’s bird paintings would play an important role in increasing motivation and awareness for bird conservation among students, researchers, and the general public.
The program was addressed by former Vice-Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts K. K. Karmacharya, the Dean of the Institute of Science and Technology Prof. Dr. Shankar Prasad Khanal, Museum Chief Dr. Ishan Gautam, Prof. Dr. Ram Prasad Gyawali, and writer Ganga Karmacharya Paudel, among others. Poems by ornithologist and writer Hem Paudyal were recited at the program.
Senior ornithologist Hem Paudyal passed away on Magh 17, 2080. Along with Dr. Robert Fleming’s “Birds of Nepal,” Paudyal created all illustrations included in the book “Nepal and Gospel of the God,” written by Jonathan Lindell.
All illustrations in the 2039 publication “Nepalka Charaharu” issued by the then Royal Nepal Academy, as well as the bird illustrations in “The Himalayan Birds” and the “Children Memory Game Card 2063,” are his creations. His published works related to birds include Nepalka Chara, The Birds of God, The Himalayan Birds, and Memory Card.
In recent years, ornithologist Paudyal established the Hem Art Gallery at his residence and produced bird paintings. These artworks are collected in Nepal, India, Japan, Belgium, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Russia.
He was also a writer. His published poetry collections include Shantiko Aalok (2062) and Hem Paudyalka Kavita (2081).
Kathmandu