| Revision as of 11:38, 18 November 2023 edit194.193.223.62 (talk) →Educational and economic developmentTag: possible unreferenced addition to BLP← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:48, 18 November 2023 edit undoTacyarg (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers64,787 edits no need to change to American English; copyedit for clarity and promotional languageNext edit → | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Mahabir Pun''' ({{lang-ne|महावीर पुन}}, {{IPA-ne|maːbir pun|pron}}) is a Nepali researcher,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/national-invention-center-inaugurated/|title = Mahabir Pun's dream of donation-based national innovation center finally comes true}}</ref> teacher,<ref name="Teacher">{{cite web| url=http://himanchal.org/mahabir-pun/ |title=Mahabir Taught 5 years in Himanchal Higher Secondary School |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2016-09-06 |work=Himanchal Education Foundation}}</ref> ]<ref name="social entrepreneur">{{cite web| url=http://storycycle.com/stories/story/29 |title=Villages Should be self dependent |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2014-07-28 |work=Story Cycle}}</ref> and an activist<ref name="Kantipur">{{cite web| url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-08-01/tired-of-seeking-funds-pun-offers-own-land-to-run-innovation-hub.html |title=Mahabir donates his own land to make Innovation Center possible |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2016-08-01 |work=Kantipur Network}}</ref> known for his work in applying ] to develop remote areas of the ], also known as the ].<ref name="bbc1">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1606580.stm |title=Village in the clouds embraces computers |access-date=2010-11-01| date=2001-10-22 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="bbc2">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7708558.stm |title=Internet dream becomes a reality |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2008-11-05 |work=BBC News}}</ref> He is a widely known figure in Nepal, and his work has been |
'''Mahabir Pun''' ({{lang-ne|महावीर पुन}}, {{IPA-ne|maːbir pun|pron}}) is a Nepali researcher,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/national-invention-center-inaugurated/|title = Mahabir Pun's dream of donation-based national innovation center finally comes true}}</ref> teacher,<ref name="Teacher">{{cite web| url=http://himanchal.org/mahabir-pun/ |title=Mahabir Taught 5 years in Himanchal Higher Secondary School |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2016-09-06 |work=Himanchal Education Foundation}}</ref> ]<ref name="social entrepreneur">{{cite web| url=http://storycycle.com/stories/story/29 |title=Villages Should be self dependent |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2014-07-28 |work=Story Cycle}}</ref> and an activist<ref name="Kantipur">{{cite web| url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-08-01/tired-of-seeking-funds-pun-offers-own-land-to-run-innovation-hub.html |title=Mahabir donates his own land to make Innovation Center possible |access-date=2016-09-06| date=2016-08-01 |work=Kantipur Network}}</ref> known for his work in applying ] to develop remote areas of the ], also known as the ].<ref name="bbc1">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1606580.stm |title=Village in the clouds embraces computers |access-date=2010-11-01| date=2001-10-22 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="bbc2">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7708558.stm |title=Internet dream becomes a reality |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2008-11-05 |work=BBC News}}</ref> He is a widely known figure in Nepal, and his work has been recognised by the Ashoka Foundation, the ], ], and ].<ref name=Ashoka /><ref name=Nebraska /><ref name=Magsaysay /><ref name=globalideasbank /> | ||
| == Early life and education == | == Early life and education == | ||
| Mahabir Pun was born on January 22 1955 in Nangi, a remote village in the mountainous Myagdi District of western Nepal. He spent his childhood grazing cattle and sheep and attending a village school without paper, pencils, textbooks or qualified teachers. Traditionally, the local people had no education, and most men joined the British army. Mahabir Pun's life changed dramatically when his father, a retired Gurkha, took the remarkable step of moving the family to the southern plains of Nepal and investing their entire savings in his son's education. After finishing high school, Pun worked as a teacher for about 12 years in four schools, while supporting his brothers' and sisters' education. In 1989, after numerous applications to UK and ], he succeeded in gaining a partial scholarship to the ], from which he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Science Education. After graduation, he returned to his native village, twenty-four years after having left there as a child. It was in Nangi that he |
Mahabir Pun was born on January 22 1955 in Nangi, a remote village in the mountainous Myagdi District of western Nepal. He spent his childhood grazing cattle and sheep and attending a village school without paper, pencils, textbooks or qualified teachers. Traditionally, the local people had no education, and most men joined the British army. Mahabir Pun's life changed dramatically when his father, a retired Gurkha, took the remarkable step of moving the family to the southern plains of Nepal and investing their entire savings in his son's education. After finishing high school, Pun worked as a teacher for about 12 years in four schools, while supporting his brothers' and sisters' education. In 1989, after numerous applications to UK and ], he succeeded in gaining a partial scholarship to the ], from which he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Science Education. After graduation, he returned to his native village, twenty-four years after having left there as a child. It was in Nangi that he recognised the critical need for sustainable education and began to formulate his goal of creating a high school to serve as a model for local educational and economic development. Pun founded the Himanchal High School with a special focus on computer education and other programs with income-generating capacity. He then returned to the University of Nebraska for a master's degree in Educational Administration, which he completed in 2001.In 2002 the aim of the project is to build a local communications network using wireless technology. The Project helps connect people in remote Himalayan communities with one another as well as the outside world. By 2006, through the Project, Pun was able to establish a Wi-Fi network to connect 13 mountainous villages to the Internet. The Project has now expanded to include over 175 remote villages in 15 districts of Nepal.<ref name=Ashoka>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashoka.org/fellow/2754 |title=Mahabir Pun |access-date=2010-11-01 |year=2002 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706073439/http://www.ashoka.org/fellow/2754 |archive-date=2010-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Himanchal>{{cite web |url=http://www.himanchal.org/mahabir-pun/ |title=Mahabir Pun/Publisher-Sushant Gurung School-Global Class-7-B |date=2022-07-14}}</ref> | ||
| ==Educational and economic development== | ==Educational and economic development== | ||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| While in the United States of America, Pun had |
While in the United States of America, Pun had recognised that information technology had the potential to transform the education system and the economy of his village, and he had taken courses to acquire the skills needed to assemble, refurbish and use computers. On his return to Nepal, he campaigned for the donation of used computers from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, ], and the US, and powered them with two small ] (donated by Singaporean climbers on their way to ]) installed in a nearby stream. Pun began teaching computer classes to students and fellow teachers, but it proved impossible to establish a telephone connection to the nearest city, ], and the Internet. Pun e-mailed the ], asking for ideas. The BBC publicised his dilemma, and volunteers from Europe and the USA responded. In 2001, donors and volunteers helped him to rig a wireless connection between Nangi and the neighboring village of Ramche, using small handmade TV dish antennae mounted in trees. Small grants soon led to the construction of improvised mountaintop relay stations and a link to ]. By 2003, Nangi had a wireless connection to the Internet. Later, Pun brought in more used computers donated from abroad, distributed them to other schools in other villages, and began work to develop a wireless distance-learning project supported by income-generating ventures. | ||
| began teaching computer classes to students and fellow teachers, but it proved impossible to establish a telephone connection to the nearest city, ], and the Internet. Pun e-mailed the ], asking for ideas. The BBC publicized his dilemma, and soon volunteers from Europe and the USA responded. In 2001, donors and volunteers helped him to rig a wireless connection between Nangi and the neighboring village of Ramche, using small handmade TV dish antennae mounted in trees. Small grants soon led to the construction of improvised mountaintop relay stations and a link to ]. By 2003, Nangi had a wireless connection to the Internet. Later, Pun brought in more used computers donated from abroad, distributed them to other schools in other villages, and began work to develop a wireless distance-learning project supported by income-generating ventures. | |||
| Pun's work on distance learning and online educational services constitutes the first attempt in Nepal to address the scarcity of qualified teachers through technology. He took steps to ensure the success and growth of his projects, by arranging for other teachers to attend a computer training course in Pokhara, starting economic projects to fund students' expenses and teachers' salaries, and by attracting hundreds of international volunteers with wide-ranging skills. He has since built a new cultural centre, and has developed communication links for yak farmers, as well as new ventures to hc international trekking and tour groups |
Pun's work on distance learning and online educational services constitutes the first attempt in Nepal to address the scarcity of qualified teachers through technology. He took steps to ensure the success and growth of his projects, by arranging for other teachers to attend a computer training course in Pokhara, starting economic projects to fund students' expenses and teachers' salaries, and by attracting hundreds of international volunteers with wide-ranging skills. He has since built a new cultural centre, and has developed communication links for yak farmers, as well as new ventures to hc international trekking and tour groups.<ref name=Ashoka /><ref name=Himanchal /><ref name=ghurkas>{{cite web |url=http://www.gurkhas.com/showarticle.aspx?id=486 |title=Welcome to Dr Mahabir Pun in UK on Thursday 6 Nov 2008 |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2008-11-06 |publisher=Ghurkas.com }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | ||
| ==National Innovation Center (राष्ट्रिय आविष्कार केन्द्र)== | ==National Innovation Center (राष्ट्रिय आविष्कार केन्द्र)== | ||
| {{main|National Innovation Center}} | {{main|National Innovation Center}} | ||
| Mahabir Pun led the initiative to register a nonprofit organization named |
Mahabir Pun led the initiative to register a nonprofit organization named Rashtriya Abiskar Kendra in 2012, often called ] in English. The primary objective to establish the Innovation and invention center according to Mahabir Pun is to foster research and developments for the economic development of the country. Mahabir worked with the government for funding for the project, which did not happen, and since July 2016,<ref name=NIC1>{{cite web |url=http://nepalitimes.com/article/nation/innovating-a-new-nepal,179 |title= National Innovation Center, Innovating New Nepal |access-date=2016-09-06 |date=2016-08-10 |publisher=My Republica }}</ref> Mahabir is running a crowd-funding campaign to fund National Innovation efforts. National Innovation Center crowd-funding campaign plans to collect build a 10MW hydropower station, which according to the initiative would sustainably fund its running cost.<ref name=NIC2>{{cite web |url=http://www.nicnepal.org/concept-paper/ |title= NIC Nepal Concept Paper |access-date=2016-09-06 |date=2016-08-31 |publisher=National Innovation Center }}</ref><ref name=NIC3>{{cite web |url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/3546 |title= National Innovation Center to collect money from crowd-funding|access-date=2016-09-06 |date=2016-08-31 |publisher=National Innovation Center }}</ref> Mahabir has got social attraction with his donation of land for the National Innovation Center.<ref name=Online1>{{cite web |url=http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2016/07/31/382846 |title= Dr Mahabir Pun Donates 28 Ropanies of Land to National Innovation Center |access-date=2016-09-06 |date=2016-07-31 |publisher=Online Khabar }}</ref> | ||
| ==International recognition== | ==International recognition== | ||
| In 2002, Pun was elected Ashoka Fellow by the Ashoka Foundation, the |
In 2002, Pun was elected Ashoka Fellow by the Ashoka Foundation, the association of social entrepreneurs. The Foundation noted Pun's contribution to overcoming the geographical isolation of many of the communities in which he works, with a new idea which could be replicated in other geographically isolated areas with few educational or economic opportunities.<ref name=Ashoka /> | ||
| In 2004, Pun received the Overall Social Innovations Award from the ], aka the ]. They said, "Using an inspired mix of solar power, tree-based relay systems, and wireless technology, the project is helping yak farmers stay in touch, families communicate and, with an expansion into distance learning, children to gain the education."<ref name=globalideasbank>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/news/index.php?articleId=116 |title=Social Innovations Award-Winners 2004 |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2004-09-20 |publisher=] }}</ref> | In 2004, Pun received the Overall Social Innovations Award from the ], aka the ]. They said, "Using an inspired mix of solar power, tree-based relay systems, and wireless technology, the project is helping yak farmers stay in touch, families communicate and, with an expansion into distance learning, children to gain the education."<ref name=globalideasbank>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/news/index.php?articleId=116 |title=Social Innovations Award-Winners 2004 |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2004-09-20 |publisher=] }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}} | ||
| In 2007, Pun was awarded the ] |
In 2007, Pun was awarded the ] in recognition of "his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to remote mountain areas by connecting his village to the global village".<ref name=Magsaysay>{{cite web |url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationPunMah.htm |title=The 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2007-08-31 |publisher=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation }}</ref> Pun is one of five Nepalis to receive the Magsaysay Award, and the only one to receive the Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.<ref name=magsaysaylist>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/year.htm|title=The Raymond Magsaysay Awardees by Year|access-date=2011-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019235231/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/year.htm|archive-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
| Later in 2007, the University of Nebraska awarded Pun an ] as ] for his outstanding work for his country, Nepal.<ref name=Nebraska>{{cite web |url=http://www.unk.edu/news/index.php?id=35392 |title=Mahabir Pun's Commencement Address: Dec 2007 |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2007-12-21 |publisher=] }}</ref> | Later in 2007, the University of Nebraska awarded Pun an ] as ] for his outstanding work for his country, Nepal.<ref name=Nebraska>{{cite web |url=http://www.unk.edu/news/index.php?id=35392 |title=Mahabir Pun's Commencement Address: Dec 2007 |access-date=2010-11-01 |date=2007-12-21 |publisher=] }}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 22:48, 18 November 2023
Nepali researcher, teacher, social entrepreneur and activist| Mahabir Pun Magar | |
|---|---|
| महा बिर पुन | |
 | |
| Born | (1955-01-22) 22 January 1955 (age 69) Nangi Village,Myagdi, Nepal |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska |
| Known for | Introducing Wireless Internet technology in remote areas of Nepal, National Innovation Center |
| Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Award |
| Website | nicnepal |
Mahabir Pun (Template:Lang-ne, pronounced [maːbir pun]) is a Nepali researcher, teacher, social entrepreneur and an activist known for his work in applying wireless technologies to develop remote areas of the Himalayas, also known as the Nepal Wireless Networking Project. He is a widely known figure in Nepal, and his work has been recognised by the Ashoka Foundation, the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation, University of Nebraska, and Global Ideas Bank.
Early life and education
Mahabir Pun was born on January 22 1955 in Nangi, a remote village in the mountainous Myagdi District of western Nepal. He spent his childhood grazing cattle and sheep and attending a village school without paper, pencils, textbooks or qualified teachers. Traditionally, the local people had no education, and most men joined the British army. Mahabir Pun's life changed dramatically when his father, a retired Gurkha, took the remarkable step of moving the family to the southern plains of Nepal and investing their entire savings in his son's education. After finishing high school, Pun worked as a teacher for about 12 years in four schools, while supporting his brothers' and sisters' education. In 1989, after numerous applications to UK and US universities, he succeeded in gaining a partial scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, from which he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Science Education. After graduation, he returned to his native village, twenty-four years after having left there as a child. It was in Nangi that he recognised the critical need for sustainable education and began to formulate his goal of creating a high school to serve as a model for local educational and economic development. Pun founded the Himanchal High School with a special focus on computer education and other programs with income-generating capacity. He then returned to the University of Nebraska for a master's degree in Educational Administration, which he completed in 2001.In 2002 the aim of the project is to build a local communications network using wireless technology. The Project helps connect people in remote Himalayan communities with one another as well as the outside world. By 2006, through the Project, Pun was able to establish a Wi-Fi network to connect 13 mountainous villages to the Internet. The Project has now expanded to include over 175 remote villages in 15 districts of Nepal.
Educational and economic development
While in the United States of America, Pun had recognised that information technology had the potential to transform the education system and the economy of his village, and he had taken courses to acquire the skills needed to assemble, refurbish and use computers. On his return to Nepal, he campaigned for the donation of used computers from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, and the US, and powered them with two small hydro generators (donated by Singaporean climbers on their way to Mount Everest) installed in a nearby stream. Pun began teaching computer classes to students and fellow teachers, but it proved impossible to establish a telephone connection to the nearest city, Pokhara, and the Internet. Pun e-mailed the BBC, asking for ideas. The BBC publicised his dilemma, and volunteers from Europe and the USA responded. In 2001, donors and volunteers helped him to rig a wireless connection between Nangi and the neighboring village of Ramche, using small handmade TV dish antennae mounted in trees. Small grants soon led to the construction of improvised mountaintop relay stations and a link to Pokhara. By 2003, Nangi had a wireless connection to the Internet. Later, Pun brought in more used computers donated from abroad, distributed them to other schools in other villages, and began work to develop a wireless distance-learning project supported by income-generating ventures.
Pun's work on distance learning and online educational services constitutes the first attempt in Nepal to address the scarcity of qualified teachers through technology. He took steps to ensure the success and growth of his projects, by arranging for other teachers to attend a computer training course in Pokhara, starting economic projects to fund students' expenses and teachers' salaries, and by attracting hundreds of international volunteers with wide-ranging skills. He has since built a new cultural centre, and has developed communication links for yak farmers, as well as new ventures to hc international trekking and tour groups.
National Innovation Center (राष्ट्रिय आविष्कार केन्द्र)
Main article: National Innovation CenterMahabir Pun led the initiative to register a nonprofit organization named Rashtriya Abiskar Kendra in 2012, often called National Innovation Center in English. The primary objective to establish the Innovation and invention center according to Mahabir Pun is to foster research and developments for the economic development of the country. Mahabir worked with the government for funding for the project, which did not happen, and since July 2016, Mahabir is running a crowd-funding campaign to fund National Innovation efforts. National Innovation Center crowd-funding campaign plans to collect build a 10MW hydropower station, which according to the initiative would sustainably fund its running cost. Mahabir has got social attraction with his donation of land for the National Innovation Center.
International recognition
In 2002, Pun was elected Ashoka Fellow by the Ashoka Foundation, the association of social entrepreneurs. The Foundation noted Pun's contribution to overcoming the geographical isolation of many of the communities in which he works, with a new idea which could be replicated in other geographically isolated areas with few educational or economic opportunities.
In 2004, Pun received the Overall Social Innovations Award from the Global Ideas Bank, aka the Institute for Social Inventions. They said, "Using an inspired mix of solar power, tree-based relay systems, and wireless technology, the project is helping yak farmers stay in touch, families communicate and, with an expansion into distance learning, children to gain the education."
In 2007, Pun was awarded the Magsaysay Award in recognition of "his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to remote mountain areas by connecting his village to the global village". Pun is one of five Nepalis to receive the Magsaysay Award, and the only one to receive the Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.
Later in 2007, the University of Nebraska awarded Pun an honorary degree as Doctor of Humane Letters for his outstanding work for his country, Nepal.
Mahabir Pun was inducted in Internet Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2014 Pun was awarded the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award by the Internet Society.
In 2021 Pun announced a TV Show Aaviskar on Nepal's first 4K TV channel Galaxy 4K.
References
- "Ramon Magsaysay Awardees". rmaward.asia/.
- "Mahabir Pun's dream of donation-based national innovation center finally comes true".
- "Mahabir Taught 5 years in Himanchal Higher Secondary School". Himanchal Education Foundation. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "Villages Should be self dependent". Story Cycle. 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "Mahabir donates his own land to make Innovation Center possible". Kantipur Network. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "Village in the clouds embraces computers". BBC News. 2001-10-22. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- "Internet dream becomes a reality". BBC News. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "Mahabir Pun". Ashoka Foundation. 2002. Archived from the original on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "Mahabir Pun's Commencement Address: Dec 2007". University of Nebraska. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "The 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "Social Innovations Award-Winners 2004". Global Ideas Bank. 2004-09-20. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "Mahabir Pun/Publisher-Sushant Gurung School-Global Class-7-B". 2022-07-14.
- "Welcome to Dr Mahabir Pun in UK on Thursday 6 Nov 2008". Ghurkas.com. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- "National Innovation Center, Innovating New Nepal". My Republica. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "NIC Nepal Concept Paper". National Innovation Center. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "National Innovation Center to collect money from crowd-funding". National Innovation Center. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "Dr Mahabir Pun Donates 28 Ropanies of Land to National Innovation Center". Online Khabar. 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- "The Raymond Magsaysay Awardees by Year". Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
- "Internet Hall of Fame Inductee". Internet Hall of Fame by Internet Society. 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
External links
| Internet Hall of Fame | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||