KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said late Ghanashyam Dhakal has made a great contribution to Nepali progressive literature and social and political movements in the country.

Speaking at a program organized to mark the first memorial day of Dhakal, the UCPN (Maoist) supremo said that he was influenced by Dhakal when the two met for the first time in 30s as late Dhakal was committed to progressive transformation of the country and ensuring rights to people.

Dhakal, former Chairman of Progressive Writers’ Association and All Nepal Writers’ Association, was killed after a motorcycle knocked him down last year while attending a rally organized by the UCPN (Maoist) on the occasion of the ‘People’s War’ in the capital.

Likewise, the Maoist supremo said that the party would help publicize the books penned by writer Dhakal.

Dahal expressed the belief that the late Dhakal will be renowned as an established litterateur and ideologue ever in the Nepali society and in the progressive literary movement. Dahal said that the UCPN (Maoist) would take initiative to build a building of the Ghanashyam Memorial Foundation.

Also speaking on the occasion, late Dhakal’s daughter Bandana said her father was the guardian of country’s cultural movement and guided them to pen for the marginalized community.

Chairman of All Nepal Writers’ Association Ramesh Bhattarai, UCPN (Maoist) leader Ninu Chapagain, General Secretary of All Nepal Cultural Federation Ishwor Chandra Gyawali and others lauded the roles of late Dhakal for the literary and political movements in the country.

On the occasion, Chairman Dahal released a book titled “Sahitya Sangam” on memory of the late Dhakal and published by the Gandaki Literary Sangam. The 446-page book is priced for Rs. 500.