Himal Press 
POKHARA: Prof Dr Kusum Kumar Neupane has been appointed Chancellor of the Gandaki Academy.
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey appointed Neupane, a permanent resident of Paiyun in Parbat district, to the position for a four-year term on Tuesday.
Neupane is a former Head of the Nepali Department at Pokhara-based Prithvi Narayan Campus. He is regarded as an expert in Nepali music, arts and culture.
The Gandaki Academy had remained without office-bearers for a long time. It has been over a year since the tenure of founding Chancellor Surya Khadka Bikharchi ended.
As per Section 8(1) of the Gandaki Academy Act, 2019, a 24-member Academic Assembly representing diverse fields such as literature, music, language, instrumental performance, painting, sculpture, film, acting, singing, composition, culture, and folk traditions was nominated based on the recommendation of a selection committee.
Shankar Birahi Gurung of Syangja has been appointed as vice-chancellor and Man Kumar Shrestha of Tanahun as member-secretary.
Similarly, Anurag Adhikari, Gayatri Parajuli, Cholendra Poudel, Pavitra Ghimire, Baburam Bastakoti, Balkashi Gurung, Rambhakta Jojiju, Ramji Prasad Poudel and Harimaya Shrestha from Kaski have been appointed as members.
Likewise, Indraman Khatri, Krishna Kumar Gurung, and Shanti Bhusal from Parbat; Ishwori Prasad Bhusal and Sanju Mahato Thanet from Nawalpur; Prof Dr Ishwar Chandra Wagle, Tukadevi Poudel Acharya and Shanta Bastola from Tanahun; Kamal Poudel from Syangja; Bhupendra Baniya from Myagdi; Basanta Adhikari from Lamjung; and Dr. Birendra Pudasaini from Gorkha have also been appointed as members of the Academic Assembly.
