Mahabir Pun Appointed as Minister of Education, Science, and Technology
Dr. Mahabir Pun, a renowned scientist and social activist, had recently been traveling across Nepal selling his autobiography to raise funds for operating an agricultural tools factory. Last Saturday, he visited Kathmandu as part of this initiative.
By selling books, he had been generating financial resources for the National Innovation Center. Under this center, he had been actively working to operate the agricultural tools factory in Birgunj.
Upon arriving in Kathmandu, he invited those interested in purchasing a signed copy of his book to visit the National Innovation Center located inside Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur.
He shared that in 526 days, over 240,000 copies had been sold across 45 districts. He also mentioned that after Tihar, book sales would continue in the remaining hilly districts of eastern Nepal.
Coincidentally, while still engaged in his book-selling campaign, Mahabir Pun was appointed Minister of Education, Science, and Technology on Sunday. On September 8 and 9 (Bhadra 23 and 24), the Gen Z uprising toppled the coalition government led by KP Oli of the Congress-CPN UML alliance. An interim government was formed under the leadership of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki.
Prime Minister Karki appointed Mahabir Pun as a minister. He has already taken the oath of office and secrecy and assumed his responsibilities on Monday.
Mahabir Pun was born on January 23, 1955 (Magh 9, 2011 BS) in Nangi, Myagdi. He studied up to grade 7 at his village school. Although many of his peers left school after grade 7, Pun continued his education. Due to financial constraints, he managed to study up to grade 12 and then spent nearly 12 years teaching in various schools.
During his teaching career, he applied for scholarships at universities in the United States and Europe. Eventually, he was awarded a partial scholarship to study at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, USA, where he completed his undergraduate degree.
In 1992 (2049 BS), Pun returned to Nepal and began working to expand access to education and technology in his village. In the remote district of Myagdi, he introduced wireless technology to provide internet services to rural communities. He also contributed to rural healthcare through telemedicine and the construction of health posts. Additionally, he promoted agrotourism and financial management to improve the rural economy.
Mahabir Pun is the founding chairperson of the National Innovation Center. Supported by both public and international contributions, the center has been conducting research in over 20 areas, including drones, biomedical devices, agriculture, education, and health.
Through this center, he has provided young people with an environment for free study and research, encouraging them to become entrepreneurs and contribute to the nation’s economy.
To raise funds for the center’s operations, Pun even auctioned off the awards he had received. He was the recipient of the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize. In 2023 (2079 BS), the Government of Nepal honored him with the Bhawan Kirti Ratna Award, which included a cash prize of one crore rupees. He has also been recognized with titles such as “Internet Hall of Fame” and “Overall Social Innovation Award.”
Mahabir Pun has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska. Despite his intellectual stature, his simple lifestyle and authentic speech have made him widely popular. After his appointment as minister, he requested people not to call him to offer congratulations or bring ceremonial scarves.
Instead, he urged everyone to share ideas and plans for what could be achieved in education, science, and technology within five months. He also asked people not to address him formally as a minister, but jokingly suggested they could call him “Scrap Scientist Minister” if they wished.
Published on: 2082/06/06
