Mahabir Pun Appointed Minister of Education, Science, and Technology in Nepal’s Interim Cabinet
Mahabir Pun, the globally renowned Nepali social entrepreneur and Magsaysay Award laureate, has been appointed as the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology in the newly expanded interim cabinet of Prime Minister Sushila Karki. The appointment, announced on September 21-22, 2025, sees the celebrated innovator transition from relentless activist to governmental leader, a move welcomed by many who view him as a “right man in the right place.”
Mahabir Pun’s History and Contributions
Born in Nangi village, Myagdi, in 1955, Mahabir Pun’s life has been dedicated to bridging the technological and developmental gap in rural Nepal.
Key Milestones and Projects:
- Education and Return to Nangi: After teaching for 13 years post-SLC, Pun earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the U.S. He returned to his home village, Nangi, in 1994 with a mission to uplift the local community.
- Nepal Wireless Networking Project: Pun pioneered the use of wireless technology to connect remote Himalayan communities to the internet and the global village, establishing the Nepal Wireless Networking Project in 2002. This effort connected over 175 remote villages, providing access to e-learning, e-healthcare, and local e-commerce.
- Ramon Magsaysay Award: For his outstanding work in community leadership and innovative application of wireless technology, he was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (often called the “Nobel Prize of Asia”) in 2007.
- National Innovation Centre (NIC): In 2012, Pun established the non-profit National Innovation Centre (NIC) to foster research and development, support inventors, and promote an innovation-based ecosystem in Nepal. The NIC’s work includes developing scientific equipment for agriculture and recently restoring numerous medical devices, including ventilators, in government hospitals.
- Activism for Innovation Funding: Pun has been a vocal critic of the government’s failure to allocate sufficient funds for science and innovation. His commitment to this cause was highlighted by his efforts to raise funds for the NIC and other projects, including selling his autobiography, Mahabir Pun: Memories, Dreams and a Continuous Journey, across the country. He famously urged the government to allocate at least one percent of the national budget for research and innovation, a proposal the government later agreed to in principle after he staged a sit-in.
Pun’s appointment comes during a period of significant political flux and public demand for technocrats in government, following widespread youth-led protests against corruption.
- Public Demand for Technocratic Leadership: Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s interim government was formed amidst public pressure to install capable, non-political figures—technocrats—who have demonstrated competence and integrity in their respective fields. Pun’s decades-long track record as an incorruptible innovator and social entrepreneur made him an undeniable choice.
- Focus on Science and Innovation: Given his pioneering work in technology and his relentless advocacy for funding research and innovation through the NIC, his appointment to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology aligns perfectly with his expertise. This suggests a governmental intent to prioritize science and technology development.
- Symbol of Integrity and Service: Pun is known for his simple, down-to-earth personality and his commitment to service. Following his appointment, he publicly urged people not to call him ‘Minister’ and even suggested they call him “Kabadi (Scrap) Mantri” instead. He also indicated he would not take government facilities and asked for actionable ideas for his five-month tenure. This commitment to non-luxury and efficiency likely resonated with the interim government’s desire to restore public faith.
His move from being a critical activist and fundraiser to a government minister is seen as a direct response to the call for capable, non-politically aligned individuals to take charge during this interim period.
