Speaking at the event, the honoree dedicated the award to the people of South Asia, stating that an artist’s true duty is to reflect the beauty of humanity and to heal the fractures caused by conflict. "Art knows no borders," the artist remarked. "A painting created in Nepal speaks to a heart in India, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka with the same intensity. We are all custodians of a shared civilization."
Nepal has long been viewed as a melting pot of cultures, lying between two giants, India and China, yet maintaining a distinct identity. By honoring a Nepali artist, SAARC acknowledged the country's pivotal role as a neutral ground and a beacon of peace in the region. saarc ambassador of peace 2017 artist nepal
Nepal’s representative stood out for but lacked the cross-India-Pakistan impact of the Indian and Pakistani laureates. Speaking at the event, the honoree dedicated the
| Positive Outcomes | Limitations | |------------------|-------------| | Inspired formation of “SAARC Peace Artists’ Collective” (2018) with 40 members from 6 countries. | No formal budget or secretariat support; most projects self-funded. | | The 2017 Nepali ambassador’s murals still stand in 3 public schools in earthquake-affected Gorkha district. | The title is not recognized by SAARC’s political secretariat (only by its cultural chamber). | | Art therapy model was replicated by 2 NGOs in Pakistan and Bangladesh. | After 2017, the “SAARC Ambassador of Peace” series lost momentum due to India-Pakistan tensions. | We are all custodians of a shared civilization