The Annapurna Express honored 100 distinguished individuals for their contributions to Nepali society at a special function titled ‘Saluté’ in Kathmandu on May 23. 

The event also marked the conclusion of ‘My Vision for Nepal’, an ApEx special series that brought together 50 eminent personalities from various fields to share their visions for the country. It was also the start of ‘ApEx Pioneers’, a new series that tells the stories of 50 Nepalis who have done pioneering works in their respective fields.       

Anupama Khunjeli, Pioneer (left)

The individuals featured in ‘My Vision for Nepal’ were honored with medals while those in the ‘ApEx Pioneers’ were honored with tokens of love.

A coffee-table book ‘My Vision for Nepal’ was also unveiled on the occasion.  

Addressing the function, Kalyan Shrestha, chief guest and former chief justice, congratulated and thanked all the visionaries and pioneers. He emphasized the need of driven individuals who dare question things and are determined to change what is not working. 

Nilam Poudel, Visionary (middle)

”We need to build a society that is ready to question [the authority], only then can we develop as a country,” he said. 

Representing the visionaries, Anuradha Koirala, prominent anti-women trafficking campaigner and social worker, expressed her commitment to continuously work to materialize her vision—’zero trafficking of women and children’. 

On behalf of the ‘ApEx Pioneers’, Madan Rai, Nepal’s first seed and agricultural equipment expert, said  “we have to live up to the faith that has been bestowed upon us–no matter how big the challenges.”

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Pioneer

Capt. Rameshwar Thapa, chairman of Annapurna Media Network, said that since its establishment, AMN has always tried to find solutions to the problems plaguing the country. 

“There is a need for a network of eminent persons, like the ones we have in our midst today, who can contribute to nation building,” he said.

Sachan Thapa, AMN director, said ApEx had become a “reliable source of news and views and reflected the diversity of the Nepali society.”

Ram Dayal Rakesh, Pioneer (left)

Sanat Neupane, AMN Group CEO, saluted the visionaries and pioneers. “Today, we present to you our undying respect disguised as medals and tokens of love,” he said. 

On the occasion, Biswas Baral, editor-in-chief of The Annapurna Express, said ApEx would continue to push for social transformation through responsible journalism. 

Shanta Nepali, Visionary ​

Madan Rai, Pioneer (left)

Anuradha Koirala, Visionary (middle)

Chief guest former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha and AMN Chairman Capt. Rameshwar Thapa uneveling the coffee-table book 'My Vision for Nepal'.

Ani Choying Drolma, Visionary (left)

Sanat Neupane, AMN Group CEO

Anil Keshary Shah, Visionary (second left)

My Vision for Nepal

1. Aayushi KC  

2. Abhaya Subba   

3. Ambica Shrestha  

4. Ani Choying Drolma  

5. Anuradha Koirala  

6. Bimala BK 

7. Bonita Sharma 

8. Dr Lhamo Y Sherpa 

9. Greta Rana 

10. Hima Bista  

11. Mira Rai  

12. Mohna Ansari 

13. Nikita Acharya 

14. Nilam Poudel  

15. Onsari Gharti Magar 

16. Roja Kiran Basukala  

17. Rubina Chhetri  

18. Sabitra Bhandari  

19. Sama Thapa  

20. Sampada Malla  

21. Shanta Nepali

22. Shrinkhala Khatiwada 

23. Sushma Rajbhandari 

24. Tista Prasai Joshi 

25. Amar Neupane 

26. Anil Shah  

27. Bipin Adhikari 

28. Birendra Basnet  

29. Biswo Poudel  

30. Capt. Rameshwar Thapa 

31. CK Lal  

32. Dr Anup Bastola  

33. Dr Bagawan Koirala  

34. Dr Sanduk Ruit 

35. Hari Sharma  

36. Jagannath Lamichhane  

37. Juju Kaji Maharjan  

38. Khagendra Lamichhane  

39. Min Bahadur Bham  

40. Nikhil Uprety  

41. Nischal Basnet  

42. Nischal Nath Pandey  

43. Pradip Pariyar  

44. Pramod Dhakal 

45. Ram Sharan Mahat  

46. Sixit Bhatta  

47. Sujeev Shakya 

48. Swami Anand Arun  

49. Vijay Lama  

ApEx Pioneers

1. Ashesh Malla  

2. Baburam Bhattarai 

3. Baikuntha Manandhar  

4. Bal Krishna Joshi  

5. Basant Raj Mishra  

6. Bhairab Risal 

7. Bharat Pokharel  

8. Binod Chaudhary 

9. Buddhi Narayan Shrestha  

10. Capt. Siddhartha Gurung  

11. Devendra Raj Pandey

12. Dr Bhagawan Koirala  

13. Dr Kumud Dhital 

14. Dr Ram Kantha Makaju  

15. Dr Sanduk Ruit  

16. Durga Baral  

17. Gagan Pradhan   

18. Ghanashyam Gurung  

19. Harry Bhandari 

20. Himalaya Shumsher JBR  

21. Kanchha Sherpa 

22. Kiran Manandhar  

23. Kulman Ghising 

24. Madan Rai  

25. Mahabir Pun  

26. Mahesh Acharya  

27. Min Bahadur Gurung 

28. Mukesh Chalise  

29. Neer Shah  

30. Pawan Golyan  

31. Rabindra Puri  

32. Ram Dayal Rakesh  

33. Ram Kumar Panday 

34. Ramesh Sherpa  

35. RP Pradhan 

36. Shyam Goenka 

37. Suresh Raj Sharma 

38. Tulsi Ghimire 

39. Uday Raj Khanal 

40. Upendra Mahato 

41. Uttam Sanjel 

42. Anupama Khunjeli  

43. Anuradha Koirala 

44. Bhinda Swari Shah  

45. Bhuwan Chand 

46. Bishnu Maya Pariyar 

47. Jhamak Ghimire 

48. Mallika Shakya  

49. Manjushree Thapa 

50. Usha Nepal