Mahabir Pun Biography: A Trailblazer in Rural Innovation

Mahabir Pun Biography

Mahabir Pun (Nepali: महावीर पुन) is a Nepali teacher, researcher, social entrepreneur, and activist, best known for introducing wireless internet to remote Himalayan villages and for founding the National Innovation Center (NIC). Born on January 22, 1955, in Nangi Village of Myagdi District, Pun grew up in a rural community where life revolved around farming and animal herding. As a child, he spent his days grazing cattle and sheep while attending a village school that lacked even the most basic resources such as textbooks, notebooks, and trained teachers.

In his community, many young men traditionally joined the British Gurkha army, but Pun’s father, a retired Gurkha soldier, chose a different path for his son. He moved the family to Chitwan in Nepal’s southern plains and invested in Mahabir’s education. After completing high school, Pun worked as a teacher for nearly thirteen years in four different schools while also helping to finance the education of his younger siblings.

His determination eventually opened new doors. In 1989, he won a partial scholarship to study in the United States. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Science Education in 1992. Returning to Nangi, he became convinced that education and technology could uplift his community. He went on to establish the Himanchal High School, which placed special emphasis on computer education and local economic development projects. Later, in 2001, he pursued a Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he also gained practical skills in repairing, assembling, and refurbishing computers—skills that he believed could transform education in Nepal’s villages.

Back in Nangi, Pun faced the problem of internet connectivity. Telephone lines did not reach his village, making online education seem impossible. Looking for help, he wrote to the BBC, which brought international attention to his cause. Volunteers from Europe and the United States soon joined him, and in 2001 they successfully built a wireless connection between Nangi and the nearby village of Ramche using handmade TV dish antennas mounted on trees. This was the beginning of the Nepal Wireless Networking Project, which officially launched in 2002.

Despite challenges, including government restrictions on importing wireless equipment and the lack of electricity in rural villages, Pun and his team pressed forward. By 2006, they had connected 13 villages, and over the years, the project expanded to more than 175 remote villages across 15 districts of Nepal. Through this network, villagers gained access to e-learning programs, where good teachers from one school could teach students in others; e-health services, where local health workers could consult with doctors online; and opportunities for local e-commerce, where farmers could market products like honey, tea, and handicrafts. The network also supported weather monitoring and community discussions, making it a vital part of rural life.

Building on his vision, Pun founded the National Innovation Center (NIC) in 2012, officially registered as Rashtriya Abiskar Kendra. The center was created to promote research, support inventors, and help Nepal retain its innovative talent. NIC assists individuals in developing prototypes, securing patents, and connecting with investors. Some of its notable projects include the creation of medical drones, a Sel Roti machine, a monkey repellent system, and an online bus ticketing platform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the center played a crucial role by producing personal protective equipment, building sample collection booths, and repairing broken ventilators for hospitals.

Pun has often struggled to find sustainable funding for NIC. To raise money, he has organized crowdfunding campaigns, sold copies of his autobiography, and even announced plans to sell his awards to revive Nepal’s defunct agricultural equipment factory. His commitment to innovation has always outweighed personal gain.

Throughout his career, Pun has been honored with numerous awards. In 2002, he was selected as an Ashoka Fellow for his social innovation. In 2007, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, one of Asia’s most prestigious honors, for his pioneering use of wireless technology in rural development. That same year, the University of Nebraska awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2014, his global impact was recognized when he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame as a Global Connector.

In September 2025, Mahabir Pun took on a new role as Minister of Education, Science and Technology in the interim government led by Sushila Karki. True to his humble and unconventional style, he asked people not to call him “Minister” but instead the “scrap scientist minister.” Rather than congratulations, he requested practical, actionable ideas for reform. He has long advocated for dedicating at least one percent of Nepal’s national budget to research and innovation, arguing that only through investment in science and technology can the country achieve real progress.

From his modest beginnings in a remote Himalayan village to becoming an internationally respected innovator and now a government leader, Mahabir Pun’s life is a testament to the power of vision, persistence, and community-driven change. His journey continues to inspire countless people in Nepal and beyond to believe in the possibilities of innovation, no matter how limited the resources may be.