Kathmandu, March 15 -- language novelist and Padmashree awardee Lil Bahadur Chettri passed away at his residence in Guwahati, India, on Thursday night.

Born in Assam in 1933, Chettri was best known for his novel 'Basain', first published by Madan Puraskar Guthi in 1958. A film adaptation was later made. His 'Brahmaputrako Chheuchhau' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1986 and has been translated into Assamese, Hindi, and Bengali. His other works include 'Atript', 'Pratidhwaniharu Bismritiko', 'Asamma Nepali Bhasako Sahrogahro', and 'Tin Dashak Bis Abhivyakti'.

The President of India honoured Chhetri with the Padmashree, one of India's highest civilian awards, in 2021.

A prolific writer of novels, short stories, essays, and critiques, Ch...