Morang, Nov 5: A printing press manufactured in 1883 has been handed over to Tribhuvan University, Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday.     

The printing press was at the house of the late Radha Prasad Ghimire in Biratnagar-2. Ghimire had served as the Minister of State for Education and Communications in the cabinet led by Nagendra Prasad Rijal.     

The youngest daughter-in-law of late Ghimire, Durga Ghimire, handed over the press to Department Chief, Kundan Aryal.     

Senior journalist Mohan Bhandari shared that former State Minister Ghimire had established Pioneer Printing Press at Rangeli Road of Biratnagar in 1957 by purchasing it from Kolkata of India to print pamphlets and posters for the General Election held in 1958.     

On the occasion, Department Chief Aryal mentioned that the printing machine would help students and researchers gain knowledge about the history of the printing press.     

Similarly, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University, Biju Thapaliya, said the Pioneer Printing Press carried a history of print journalism in the Biratnagar area.     

Likewise, human rights activist Sushil Pyakurel, senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, and professor Krishna Pokharel, among others talked about the contribution to the development of print journalism by printing pamphlets, newspapers as well as other content during the politically difficult times.     

Aryal added that the Department received the printing press at the initiative of a board member of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Shankar Kharel.