Press Club of Sikkim to honour Mala Rana Patro with Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar 2026

Award celebrates Sikkim Express & Himali Bela founder-publisher’s lifetime contribution to journalism in Sikkim

GANGTOK,:  The Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) has announced that Mrs. Mala Rana Patro, founder-publisher of Sikkim Express and editor of Nepali daily Himali Bela, will be conferred with the prestigious ‘Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar 2026’ in recognition of her outstanding lifetime contribution to journalism and media in Sikkim.

The award will be presented during the 24th Foundation Day celebrations of the Press Club of Sikkim on July 17 at Gangtok, informs a PCS press release on Monday.

Associated with newspaper publishing since the founding of Sikkim Express in 1976, Mrs. Patro has played a defining role in shaping Sikkim's media landscape for nearly five decades. Earlier this year, Sikkim Express celebrated its Golden Jubilee, completing 50 years of uninterrupted publication and marking a historic milestone in the State's newspaper industry.

Mrs. Patro becomes only the second woman to receive the Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar since the award was instituted in 2005.

Following the untimely demise of her husband, late Ram Patro, in 1994, Mrs. Patro assumed the responsibility of leading the publication of both Sikkim Express and Himali Bela. While raising her two children, she ensured the continued growth and credibility of the newspapers. Today, her son Amit Patro serves as the editor of Sikkim Express, carrying forward the legacy established by his father and strengthened by his mother's leadership.

Over the years, Mrs. Patro has been honoured by several organisations for her invaluable contributions to journalism and society. Her recognitions include honours from Kurseong Press Club (2004), Press Club of Sikkim (2015), Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Sikkim (2016) and Sikkim Women Journalists' Association, among others.

The Kanchenjunga Kalam Puraskar is the highest honour instituted by the Press Club of Sikkim to recognise individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to journalism.

Mrs. Patro’s unwavering dedication to newspaper publishing and editing, and her enduring contribution to Sikkim's media landscape, make her a deserving recipient of the award, said the PCS.