Mahabir Pun has brought a wireless revolution to the challenging terrain of the Himalayas. Pun, a man of indomitable will from a remote village near Myagdi, took his master's degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. With the support of volunteers from Finland and the US, he has since transformed the local landscape of the Himalayas and the way people communicate. The story started when a college in Australia donated four computers to Himanchal High School, which is run by Pun, in 1997. Two were 386 PCs, one was a 486 PC, and the other was a 486 laptop. Pun wanted to enable his students to communicate via e-mail. With no phone line, though, there was no way to access the internet. That's how the struggle started. Pun asked the government to help to bring phone lines to the village, but nothing materialized. He even inquired about satellite telephones, but found the technology too expensive. He then realized that he would be unable to realize his dreams without outside support, so he wrote to the BBC asking for advice. The BBC published two articles - "Village in the Clouds Embraces Computers" and "Praise for 'Inspirational' Web Pioneer" - and interviewed him. After that, he got responses from all over the world and everything changed for the better. It was then that he heard about 802.11b wireless technology, the cornerstone behind the whole project.

In Johan Verrept from Belgium, Jonni Lehtiranta from Finland, Mark Michalski and James Pearson from the University of Los Angeles California (UCLA), Sage Radachowsky from Boston, Robin Shields from California and Jo Ann Ong, a graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Pun found a team willing to give its best shot whenever required. Though the team faced many technical challenges, most were overcome by awesome technical acumen and sheer hard work. Mark Michalski, who became interested mid-way through the project, applied for a grant from the Donald Strauss Foundation and eventually won it, giving the cash-strapped team a huge financial and moral boost. Finally, after a series of tests and experiments and seven years of hard work, the whole project proved a success. The wireless network currently serves five villages, namely Tikot, Paudwar, Ghara, Sikha and Nangi. Two relay stations, one at Khopra and the other at Mohare, ensure that a Wi-Fi signal from the five villages, which cannot bend around obstacles, isn't obscured by the high mountains and reaches the server at Pokhara. Previously a proxy server had been set up in Pokhara, which connected to an internet service provided by World Link. "The connection does not go through the Pokhara proxy server anymore; therefore we aren't using it", Pun told the Post. The wireless system is currently the only modern means of communication available to villagers. The distance from one village to another is up to 15 miles, and farmers, who are mostly involved in Yak farming, can now communicate easily with their villages, which are as far as two days away by foot from the Yak farms. According to Pun, the technology is saving a lot of their time and is making their lives much easier. The villagers can also use the system to send e-mails via a POP server, which is run by Jonni Lehtiranta in Finland, or to use any other messenger service. The whole process, however, doesn't stop her. Pun and his team are working hard to attain higher goals. They want to expand the wireless network to nine more villages, which can be easily supported by the existing system provided that they have more computers and wireless access points. Pun, who is also running handicraft e-commerce site himalayanhandicraft.org along with Robin Shields and Mark Michalski, wants to teach villagers and students how to manage e-commerce sites at a local level. He is also planning to start a tele-medicine program to give villagers easy access to health services. Mahabir Pun is currently in Myagdi pursuing his dreams. Speaking to the Post, he urged Nepali businessmen and volunteers to contribute in whatever way they can to this project. "I really don't like to always ask foreign donors and volunteers for help. I want this project to be the project of the Nepali people," he revealed.

OTHER NEWS

• Air Sahara beginning Delhi-Ktm flight from Sept 1: Air Sahara, one of India's leading private airlines, is set to launch operations in the Delhi-Kathmandu sector from September 1 as part of its plan to expand in the regional sectors. According to a press release issued here recently, the airline will operate daily flights in the sector. Two Boeing 737s, with a capacity of 165 seats each, will serve the route. The release states that flights will leave Delhi at 1.10 PM and arrive in Kathmandu at 2.55 PM.
  
  
• Furtemba Sherpa Pedaling for peace and harmony: While most of us Nepalis are busy minding our own business and dealing with our nagging problems while blaming the politicians and poor governance, there is one Nepali amongst us who is ready to sacrifice 16 precious years of his life to pledge for world peace and harmony. Furtemba Sherpa set on his cycling journey on December 26, 2003 from Kathmandu. Enduring various hardships, he has traveled through 11 countries so far. The countries include Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Sherpa is determined to carry on his world tour despite the numerous hindrances to his program. He wants to introduce Nepal to the world and maintain its dignity. Furtemba's next destination is Brunei where he intends to hoist the flag of Nepal.
  
  
• Outer Ring Road to disperse 'crazy traffic': A four-lane expressway encircling the five municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley! That had been one of the plans conceived more than a decade ago at the time of drawing up the Kathmandu Valley Transport Master Plan. Now that's beginning to look like turning into reality. This week, the Chinese government agreed, among other things, to provide assistance to develop the Outer Ring Road in the Valley, and concerned officials here say that the construction of the road could start in about two years' time.
  
  
• Blockade boosts airlines business: Though the blockade imposed by the Maoists in the Kathmandu Valley has adversely affected trade and industrial sectors, it has helped boost the business of airline operators. With vehicular movement from and to Kathmandu Valley coming to a grinding halt, the number of air passengers has considerably increased, giving immense opportunity to the airlines to witness a remarkable growth in their business.
  
  
• Commodity prices soar in the Valley: Infinite blockade imposed by the Maoist rebels in the Kathmandu Valley, has pushed up the prices of the essential goods. Though there has not been adverse impact on the supplies of commodities, consumers' fear and intention of retailers and farmers to make most out of the current situation has been the main cause behind increasing prices.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu