Late Shyam Bahadur Pandey has been honored posthumously with the prestigious P.P. Prasai Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. The award, established by the P.P. Prasai Foundation, was presented by Education, Science, and Technology Minister Vidya Bhattarai to Pandey’s son, Praveen Pandey, during a ceremony held in Kathmandu today.
Pandey, the former president of the Hotel Association of Nepal and the founder of Shangri-La Hotel was a pioneering figure in Nepal’s tourism sector, contributing significantly to its growth and development.
In addition to the tourism award, the Foundation also distributed its annual Exemplary Teacher Awards to outstanding teachers from across Nepal’s provinces. Among the recipients were:
- Matrika Prasad Dahal from Shree Fikkal Secondary School in Koshi Province,
- Ramkripal Mahato from Shree Janata Secondary School in Siraha, Madhesh Province,
- Ambika Dhital from Shree Mahendragram Secondary School in Bagmati Province,
- Santosh Acharya from Machhapuchhre Secondary School in Gandaki Province,
- Yuvraj Kandel from Shree Kalika Manab Gyan Secondary School in Butwal, Lumbini Province,
- Ashok Kumar Rai from Shree Amarjyoti Secondary School in Surkhet, Karnali Province,
- Chandrakala Dawadi from Shree Saraswati Secondary School in Sudurpaschim Province.
Each of these outstanding teachers received a cash prize of NPR 50,000, and their respective schools were awarded educational materials worth NPR 10,000. Additionally, Shree Rashtriya Aadharbhut School was granted a Special Education Prize, including a cash prize of NPR 100,000, in recognition of its significant contributions to education.
The selection process for the Exemplary Teacher Awards involved evaluating teachers based on their teaching methods, understanding of child psychology, commitment to education, creativity, and relationship with both parents and the local community. A selection committee comprising education experts, former teachers, and respected figures in the field recommended the awardees.
The Foundation, which was established on February 18, 2011, in honor of the late Praja Prasai, founder of Natraj Tour and Travels, continues to work towards promoting tourism and developing education in rural areas. Prasai, who passed away in a plane crash in 1999, was a passionate advocate for both sectors. The Foundation plans to further expand its awards in the coming years, making them more inclusive and impactful.
The selection committee for the educational awards included Dhananjaya Adhikari, Tika Bhattarai, Roshana Subba, and Rijuta Maharjan, while a team of tourism experts handled the selection process for the Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, according to Foundation Secretary Dilbhushan Pathak.
The Foundation has made it a tradition to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Nepal’s education and tourism sectors through these awards.
