Himalayan Waves
Channel: Nepal Infopark
Date: 2013-09-22

An unheard-of village in western Nepal, deprived of basic facilities of schools, roads and telephones, communicates through the latest intranet technology. These villages can only be reached on foot with a minimum hike of nine hours, but people here make business deals over computers.

Nangi Village, where Mahabir Pun was born, rests high in the Himalayan foothills of western Nepal. Here and in surrounding Myagdi District live the Pun Magar, whose men for generations have soldiered across the globe as Gurkhas. 

Nangi is seven hours' hard climb from the nearest road. No telephone lines have ever reached it. Despite this, these days the people of Nangi are definitely connected to the world outside. Wireless Internet technology has made this possible. Mahabir Pun has made it happen.

Today, connectivity is changing Myagdi. Using Pun's "tele-teaching" network, good teachers in one school now instruct students in others. Local health workers use Wi-Fi to consult specialists in Pokhara. Once-isolated students surf the 'Net and are learning globe-savvy skills. Villagers e-market local products such as buffaloes, honey, teas, and jams and use the Web to draw paying trekkers to campsites outfitted with solar-powered hot showers. In parallel projects, the people of Nagi have added a library, health clinic, and new high-school classrooms. 

Meanwhile, Pun has successfully lobbied Expand wireless technology in Nepal more then 150 Schools