Folk storywriter MM Gurung passed away today at his residence in Bong busty, leaving the Nepali literary world in utter shock. Award winner Gurung (88) breathed his last at 7:00 am in the morning. He was not keeping well of late and suffering from age-related ailments.
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| MM Gurung |
Popular as MM Gurung, Michael Martin Gurung was born on January 1, 1926 in Rangit tea garden. The year 1944 marked the begining of his literary career after his first work ‘Neta’ (Leader) got published in a Varanasi-based magazine Uday. After graduating from Calcutta University in 1946, he joined the Chincona plantation as an official. During his tenure as an official, Gurung became increasingly attracted to folk literature.
He was awarded the Sahitya Academy prize in 1982 for ‘Birsieyka Sanskriti’ (Forgotten Culture) and also the Bhanu Puraskar for the same work. He was also honoured with the Mahakavi Devkota Satabdi Samman and Madan Smarak from Nepal for his contributions to Nepali literature.
Along with being a prominent litterateur, MM Gurung was also a staunch upholder of traditional values. Despite being a Christian, he upholded traditional community values throughout his life.
On one occasion, Gurung was barred from wearing the Daura Surwal while teaching in St. Joseph’s College in Darjeeling. He had questioned, “Is wearing one’s traditional attire a crime?” and had stopped attending college as a mark of protest.
Family sources have informed Gurung’s final rites will be conducted on January 20.
Source:EOI
