Mahabir Pun of Myagdi receives Magsaysay Award

Mahabir Pun of Myagdi, western Nepal, will bag the prestigious Raman Magsaysay Awards of 2007 for his efforts in Community Leadership.

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) on Tuesday announced that seven Asians bagged this year's Raman Magsaysay Awards, the Asian Equivalent of Nobel Prize.

Pun, 52, is a resident of the western district of Myagdi. He is awarded with Magsaysay Award "for his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to remote mountain areas by connecting his village to the global village."

Pun is among other seven individuals from China, India, Korea, Nepal, and the Philippines to bag the prestigious award amid a function in Manila, Philippines, on August 31.

Pun is also the fourth Nepali national to win the coveted award after Dr. Sanduk Ruit in 2006, Bharat Dutta Koirala in 2002, and Late Mahesh Chandra Regmi in 1977.

The other individuals, who will bag the 2007  Magsaysay Award are:

Jovito R. Salonga, from the Philippines for Government Service.

Kim Sun-tae, from Korea, for Public Service.

Tang Xiyang, from China, for Peace and International Understanding.

Palagummi Sainath, from India, for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts.

Chen Guangcheng, from China, for Emergent Leadership.

Chung To, from China, for Emergent Leadership.