Bravo Pun!

As an educator, innovator and visionary, Mahabir Pun has been a driving force for youth of Nepal and the world. His determined sense of mission and persistent hard work has helped thousands of people in the rural villages of Nepal. It is noteworthy that the 2007 Magsaysay Award winner now has successfully connected hundreds of villages wirelessly through his magnificent project called the Nepal Wireless Networking Project. Starting from Mr Pun’s own village – Nagi in Myagdi – the project currently connects 150 villages of 13 districts in the country that includes Baglung, Parvat, Mustang, Gulmi, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Syangja, Tanahu, Nawalparasi and Makwanpur. Along with Internet access, the wireless connection also provides facilities such as e-education, e-communication, e-medicine, e-commerce, e-tourism and credit card facilities for the villagers. This is a remarkable achievement in a country like Nepal where the mountainous terrain has imposed hardship in the lives of the people and where access to education and communication is far from easy. This project is extraordinary and thus is praiseworthy in every sense for it has a direct bearing on the livelihoods of the disadvantaged lot in the country. Similarly, Mr Pun’s extraordinary work deserves recognition. We hail his achievement in this regard!



Unfortunately, however, Nepali governments, both in past and present, have remained complacent and non-supportive of Mr Pun’s ideas and plans. Mr Pun made this amply clear when he said the other day that the implementation of the project was delayed as the government “did not support” him. He made this scheme possible in partnership with local communities and some help that he received nationally and internationally from non-governmental sector. In the past, due to lack of fund, Mr Pun initiated One Dollar a Month program, in which each of his friends from abroad donates a dollar a month for his project. The proceedings then go toward providing wireless facility to schools in the villages. He has collected around US$30,000 from countries such as Japan, America, Honk Kong and the United Kingdom, which is now also being supported by the World Bank and the International Telecommunications Union.



It is a shame that the talent and vision of this home-grown genius has been sidelined and ignored by the decision-makers of his own country. Instead of overlooking, had the government joined hands with Mr Pun a few years ago, more people would have benefitted from this noble project by now. More villages would have been connected with greater and faster communication. It would be foolish on the part of the government not to pay heed to Mr Pun’s projects, which directly touch so many lives. If education is the main priority of the government, then there is every reason why it should immediately extend a hand in partnership and support Mr Pun as there is probably no one better than him in Nepal who can advance this cause with such dedication and zeal.

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