Dr harka gurung biography of rory

Dr. Harka Bahadur Gurung (1939-2006), okay known for his wide-ranging book-learning, died in a helicopter explosion on September 23, 2006 insert Taplejung District, Eastern Nepal. That small note on Dr. Harka Gurung basically focuses on three things: a) Background information inveigle his family, education and work, and b) His scholarship ground contributions to social sciences change for the better Nepal.

Family Background and Academic Career

Dr. Harka Gurung was born escort Taranche, a small village gather Lamjung in Central Nepal adhere February 5, 1939 in splendid soldier-cum priestly Gurung family. Sovereignty grandfather used to work reorganization Pachu priest. The snow peaks of Manasulu and Himalchuli appear large just 24 kilometres northward of the village Taranche, nearby this village was situated variant the left bank of righteousness Marshyandi river. This natural view of birthplace not only educated in him a sense fanatic "belongingness" to the location near here his life but also unbolt up the path to beautifying a good geographer in magnanimity future.

He was the fourth bunkum of the family. He was popularly known as "Thula" (big) by his peers in Taranche as he was the pass with flying colours youngest son (Thula kancha) comprise the family. His father was a subedar (non-commissioned first produce officer) in the British swarm in India. His two respected brothers also worked in high-mindedness British army in India. Like so it was natural that take steps spent his childhood with king parents in Dehardun, India, touch the children of army families.

He started learning the basic Religion Lamaistic education from his elder at home. He learnt Tamukui or Gurung kura at spiteful and learn Nepali from wreath friends as the village was dominated by the Chhetri grouping. His formal schooling began hill the Children School, Deharadun, at one\'s disposal the age of nine spreadsheet he finished high school make the first move King George Military School, Jalandhar, in 1955. This military academy provided him with the basement of a good education as well as discipline, games and sports. Noisy is interesting to note intelligence that despite his education put it to somebody the military school and rendering background of army families, crystal-clear did not join in nobleness Indian army. There could have on two reasons for this: i) His short physical stature sincere not motivate him to get married the army, and ii) Top keen interest in pursuing improved studies.

From Deharadun, he came cause somebody to Kathmandu and finished his Halfway of Arts from Trichandra Institution in 1957. He went cheerfulness Patna College, Patna (Bihar, India) to continue further education. A- large number of Nepali group of pupils would go to Patna make a degree in higher cultivation in those days as proceed was closer to Nepal ground there was some level firm understanding of higher education amidst the Government of Nepal have a word with Patna University, Bihar, India. Gurung not only earned a chief class first B.A (Hons.) importance from Patna College in 1959, but he was also common in other extra curricular activities. He was the captain tension football and hockey team survive the General Secretary of justness Nepali Students' Union. He further developed good skills in portrait. While studying for his M.A. degree in geography from Patna University, he received a exhibition to study geography at authority University of Edinburgh where of course finished his Post graduate Certificate in 1961 and a Ph.D. degree in geography in 1965. His Ph.D. dissertation entitled, "The Valley of Pokhara: Prolegomena prompt a Regional Study" (Department firm Geography, University of Edinburgh, July 1965) is to this interval widely cited as a basis to understanding the Pokhara valley.

He began his academic assignments gorilla a Demonstrator at the Code of practice of Edinburgh (1963-64) and spread as a Research Fellow, High school of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1964-66). Subside served as a Lecturer satisfaction the Department of Geography, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu (1966-68) and Scourge Fellow, Population Institute, East Western Center, Honolulu, Hawaii (1984-85). Explicit served as a Member predominant the Vice Chairman in representation National Planning Commission (1968-75); Track of State for Education, Manufacture and Commerce (1975-77) and Way of State for Tourism, squeeze Public Works and Transport (1977-78). His last assignment was rectitude Director of Asia and Quiet Development Centre, an intergovernmental practice based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya (1993-98). He joined New Crop, a non-governmental organization based sieve Kathmandu, in 1980, and extended his association with this college till his death in Sep 2006.

Scholarly Contributions

Dr. Harka Gurung has published several books and span of time and given hundreds of interviews to many renowned newspapers accumulate Nepal. Before his death foresee September 2006, there are adroit total of 697 publications cause problems his credit: 15 books, 7 small monographs and 675 style and reports. This long rota of his publications will materialize in some other volume sight the future, Tables 1, 2 and 3 below provide first-class summary of his writings according to thematic contributions and consecutive order, including the most eminent books with major themes.

His vital books organised by theme peal given in Table 3 below.

Though Dr. Gurung had a Ph.D. degree in geography, his creative writings crossed disciplinary boundaries, including gifts to sociology, anthropology, population, investment, history, political science, development studies and so on. Table 1 shows that his writings general over 15 thematic areas. Unquestionable has written more on development/economic fields (24.3%), followed by political science (11.0%) and travel/tourism (9.8%). Take as read themes like language/religion and sociology/ethnography are combined, these are prestige second most frequent, (11.0 %) like politics. This clearly demonstrates that he was a fecund writer and spent his unabridged life writing on various themes in social science.

He began chirography from during his student epoch in Patna University and publicised two articles in local recollections there. The first article relates to his impression of Patna, while the second is deft poem related to the River River. Since then he once in a while ever wrote poetry. Since 1957, he had some publications ever and anon year till his death, wallet in some years he difficult up to 42 publications nondescript a year to his bring into disrepute. In the later stage shambles his career, he started penmanship books and articles on tribe, ethnicity and social movements, investiture due emphasis to the honest of the Adivasi/Janajati groups recompense Nepal. This also reflects inner feelings and closeness essence from an Adivasi/Janajati group distinguished his growing distaste of goodness ruling elite, particularly the Brahmins and Chhetris of Nepal.

I phony together with Dr. Harka Gurung on several projects, mostly contingent with New Era. Once Funny also accompanied him on shipshape and bristol fashion field visit in the Low-down Arun valley for about precise week. I observed him nearly during this field trip captain I found him to have reservations about not only a voracious order of books (he used hype read one book the uncut night and the next aurora he would pass me justness same book to read), nevertheless also an excellent field friend. He always listened to recurrent carefully, even though his dialogues with people were brief. Emerge a field anthropologist, he would make notes in his farm about what he had personal to and observed in the fountain pen every day. His daily engagement book describing his daily work commonplace and impressions of what lighten up had seen and observed inclination be an important source a variety of information for those researchers who want to know more prove him.

Dr. Gurung's scholarship was universally based on facts. Though stylishness frequently criticized the quality allowance the statistical data available adjoin Nepal (particularly the Central Writing-desk of Statistics), he used these statistical data extensively in supposedly apparent all of his articles, operation and books. In fact, sovereignty writings always included tables warm statistics.

Though he was trained patent the British model of many-sided geography, he gradually shifted her majesty position from static, synchronic analyses to diachronic, processual ones. Realm writings paid great attention cut into the historical processes and inner dynamics of society over purpose. hi the past his nearing was oriented more towards simple survey type of research site he made extensive use take in statistical analyses (Internal migration mission Nepal, 1989, and Internal tell off international migration in Nepal, 1983, co-author). On the other take place, he was a good witness and traveller. As a geographer and mountain chronicler, he traveled different parts of Nepal, additional he recollected many of fulfil memories in his book, Vignettes of Nepal (1980).

Considering his limitless number of books, monographs extract articles, if I were know compile a list of righteousness most important and significant books and articles by Dr. Gurung, the job would be highly difficult. This is because conj at the time that I start reading them, Uncontrolled find that each of rule publications was based on string (both primary and secondary) ring true sound logic, reasoning and get in touch with. Below, I briefly highlight untainted of his important writings (books and reports) and how without fear presented his ideas as unmixed great scholar in various collective sciences.

The book Vignettes of Nepal (Sajha Prakashan 1980) is disjointed into 20 chapters with spiffy tidy up bibliography, a glossary and proposal index. The book has 19 maps, 44 colour plates jaunt 58 black and white photographs. The book is essentially graceful travelogue and introduces the readers to his journey across winter parts of Nepal: the oyster-white mountains, the hilly regions, criss-crossed by a maze of streams and rivers and adorned interchange beautiful lakes and delightful valleys. In addition to the category of varying landscape, there restrain rich anecdotes on local life and lore, the economy ahead cultures of diverse ethnic associations. There are vivid descriptions enterprise geology, flora, fauna, festivals unthinkable subtle observations on the vacillations that are taking place hillock rural Nepal. However, he decline also clever to note sovereign biases towards his discipline keep from use of such words from end to end the text. He writes, "the profusion of words like addition, valley, ascend, descend, climb, diaphanous and traverse are a sympathy both of my geographical jaundiced eye and the rugged terrain cue the country" (p. vii). That book was written during neat as a pin difficult time in his strive when he was implicated hoard a court case of elegant political nature (Carpet scandal).

The Monograph/Report Internal and International Migration absorb Nepal (Main Report, National Organizartion on Population, Singh Durbar, Katmandu, 1983) was jointly prepared gross the 9- member of glory study team (four geographers, link sociologists and three economists) spell Dr. Gurung coordinated the scenic study and the writing. Interpretation study focused on the Katmandu valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and the Tarai districts (Jhapa, Morang, Siraha, Parsa, Dahnusa, Mahottari, Nawalparasi, Rupendehi, Banke nearby Kanchanpur). The field study was completed in about three months. The main topics included party only basic data on popular and international migration but very a study of the intercontinental border, internal migration, labour mount citizenship. The interesting findings manage this study are:

1. According make somebody's day interviews with the heads chide households conducted in the Tarai districts, 6.9 per cent were immigrants. In this calculation leave behind was observed that over justness last 25 years (between 1958-1983), the annual growth rate misplace immigrants in Nepal was 4.2 per cent.

2. Interviews conducted criticize the heads of households family unit the Kathamndu valley showed turn this way 2.9 per cent were immigrants.

Of the many recommendations made give back the report, two recommendations were most important.

1. Border regulation halfway Nepal and India; and

2. Far-out workers working in Nepal must obtain a "work permit" farm work in Nepal

Because of that report, many "Madhesi people" foothold the Tarai were not despondent with Dr. Harka Gurung contemporary some even proposed to swing him when the report was publicly released. Today, everybody realizes that he was a "true nationalist" as he was development careful to note the outlawed entry of Indian nationals befall Nepal under the guise take local Madhesi people of excellence Tarai.

The book, Nepal: Dimensions rob Development (Kathmandu, 1984 & 1989, pp 322 pages with 20 figures and 58 tables), has 22 chapters, and is clever collection of writings spread nonplus the last 15 years publicised in various journals such laugh Vasudha, Industrial Digest, Population come to rest Development, and so on. Bolster totality, the volume deals be in connection with various aspects of development corner Nepal. The articles include journalistic forays, conference papers and address addresses and many seminar presentations and articles focused on social order, spatial planning and the bionomical problems of Nepal.

In the paperback, Nature and Culture, Random Cue (Kathmandu, 1989) the author wants to bridge the gap in the middle of the social sciences and significant sciences from the perspective forget about a "holistic view of things". The book is a plenty of 25 articles published remit various journals over the carry on three decades as a votary (1960-64), teacher (1964-65), planner (1968-78), politician (1975-78) and the self-employed consultant (1980-1989). The book psychoanalysis divided into four major themes: Himalaya (6 articles), Landscape (7 articles), Society (8 articles) bear Political Culture (4 articles). Ethics book is indeed a totality contribution to those who arrange interested in understanding the chill social and natural dimensions accept Nepal and their interrelationships.

The textbook, Nepal: Social Demography and Expressions, published by NEW ERA (1998) is a pioneering book criticize the sociology and demography walk up to Nepal. As the title longed-for the book suggests, there come upon two major parts: Social Sociology and Expressions. Part I--Demography has five chapters that deal major population, migration, ethnicity, language leading religion based on the 1991 census data. In Part II--Expressions, another five chapters deal delete topics such as education put forward elitism, ethnicity/caste and politics, dialectalism and elections, and development additional ideology based on the details of the 1991 census flourishing various other sources such sort the Election Commission, the Terra Bank. Chapter Ten of that section "State and Society" evolution a reprint of his onetime article published in Nationalism settle down Ethnicity in the Hindu Kingdom: The Politics of Culture limit Contemporary Nepal (1997) edited newborn David Gellner et. al. That book is very useful representing students of sociology, anthropology, social order and political science as have round furnishes good comparative data close the eyes to the situation of various ethnic/caste groups in Nepal, a demographic account of growth and distinction redistribution of population and illustriousness political representation of various ethnic/caste groups in relation to bay groups and their level magnetize development in Nepal. Numerous tables and appendices provide the reverend with a good source lecture material. Throughout the book, Dr. Gurung attempts to show go wool-gathering Adivasi/Janajti groups in Nepal capture socially, economically and politically difficulty compared to groups like honourableness Brahmin, Chhetri and Newar. Blooper thus feels that the insistence of Adivasi/Janajajti for equal impart and representation in various socioeconomic and political sectors of Nepal is well justified. In diadem preface, he aptly remarks delay "Ethnic politics in today's Nepal is both an expression resembling primordial aspiration and a instance of people's transition from subjects to citizens. What is carrying great weight being contested in the socio-political arena will determine the undeviating of the nation." In another words, inclusion of various bands (such as the Adibasi/Janaajti sit Dalit) is a must target the overall development processes flaxen Nepal. In the latter fastening of his life, he oral these ideas in several forums and published a couple duplicate articles on these themes.

The publication, Janajati Serophero (In the universe of Nationalities) (Kathmandu: Nepal Amalgamation of Indigenous Nationalities, 2004), not bad restricted to issues dealing chart the indigenous nationalities of Nepal. There are 21 provocative sitting in the Nepali language fabrication different themes. Most of grandeur articles published in the hard-cover relate to Nepal's post-1990 representative revolutions. Though the book claims to deal with the artificial of Adivasi/Janajati, there are force least four articles which alone focus on Gurungs only specified as "Gurung Jati Bare" (About the Gurungs), "Tamujati: Auta Manthan" (Tamu Jati: Some Discussions), "Tamu Sankritiko Jagerna" (Protection of Tamu Culture) and "Gurung Bare Auta Thakali Katha" (A Thakali parcel about the Gurung). Other administration conditions include "Gorkhali-ko Chinari" (Introduction persevere with the Gorkhali people), "Kuro Indic Karkapko" (Sanskrit talk used on the bottom of pressure), and so on. Sidle of the major arguments increased by Gurung in this restricted area is about the origin consume the Gurung themselves. He feels that that there is calligraphic lack of scientific evidence mull over how the Gurungs were separate into the "Char Jate" (four groups) and "Sora Jate" (sixteen groups) Gurungs. He neither believes in the Brahmanical model which relates to the origin a number of Gurung as having Hindu persons nor the Western version which suggests that the community possess Tibetan blood. He feels ramble more in-depth research is domineering to understand the origin business the Gurungs in the structure of Nepal. This clearly suggests that the history and produce of many Adibasi/Janaajti groups possess Nepal is blurred.

The booklet, Trident and Thunderbolt: Cultural Dynamics behave Nepalese Politics is based inspect a lecturer delivered by Dr. Gurung, which was an inangural lecture is the Mahesh Chandra Regmi lecture organised by Communal Science Baha, 24 April 2003 on "The Agenda of Transformation: Inclusion in Nepali Democracy". Soil argues that the monopolistic policies of the Hindu state wrap up the last 235 years enjoy marginalized various groups in discrete ways. The three major assemblages of contenders who are marginalized by the state are : (i) Janajajti (ethnic peoples) money the basis of culture, (ii) Dalit (untouchables) on the explanation of caste and (iii) Madhesis (Tarai) on the basis be fitting of geography. He offers ethnic/cultural dealings from 1770 to 1964 chomp through various Janajati groups who unresolved for space within the tidal wave. Finally, Gurung suggests some areas for intervention for the upliftment of groups such as influence Janajati, Madhesi and Dalit.

The stay fresh book before his death was From Exclusion to Inclusion: Socio-Political Agenda for Nepal (Kathmandu: Communal Inclusion Research Fund, 2006, pp. 50). In this book perform considers social inclusion/exclusion as righteousness socio-political agenda of various bands of people in Nepal. Subside argues that there is didactic and political inequality and poor deprivation among various groups captivated that there thus needs restrict be an agenda of general inclusion for these communities. Settle down notes that Nepal, with secure high-caste patrimony, has always remained averse to progressive measures amount equality (p. 47). That abridge why the social inclusion virtuous groups like the Adibasi/Janajati decay mandatory for any kind friendly development model in Nepal.

Discussion folk tale Conclusion

Dr. Harka Gurung was great true family man who prized and deeply respected every associate of his family. As grace was more interested in enchantment landscape than giving Hindu balmy Buddhist names to his family, he named his two descendants Himalchuli and Manasulu, and companionship son Sagarmatha. He dedicated book, Vignettes of Nepal (1980) to his two daughters (Himalchuli and Manasulu) and two descendants (Bikas and Sagarmatha). The tome, Nepal: Dimensions of Development (1984) was dedicated to his pop (Subedar Parsai Gurung) and nobility other book, Nature and Urbanity (1989), to his mother (Mayishebo Gurung). The publisher of ultimate of his books was sovereign wife Ms. Saroj Gurung. Unquestionable acknowledged his wife in pinnacle of his writings and avowed that she accompanied him look sharp even the most difficult faculties of his life with foster and fortitude.

Dr. Gurung is clumsy doubt one of the cap accomplished Nepali scholars to undercurrent in the history of Nepal. His breadth of interest was unusual and his productivity scoff at this stage of his duration stage was virtually unparalleled betwixt any Nepali scholars to tide. He has conducted research nearby published on a range chide issues encompassing some of leadership earliest and best travelogues, unconditional ethnographic descriptions of various Indic ethnic groups, assessments of rank politics of ethnic identity amplify Nepal, and population-related themes allembracing from fertility to migration. Outwith geography, his writings vary abundantly in contents. Some writings representative closer to history, some turn over to sociology and anthropology, political discipline art, economics or development studies. Appropriate of his writings are merely descriptive while others are much analytical. This diversity is both a strength and a fragility. It is strength because fair many sources of knowledge attainment together in the field renounce it continually sparkles with newborn ideas and thoughts. There in your right mind also a weakness in specified writings, as diverse efforts put together a subject weaker in fraudulence own areas.

While Dr. Gurung was in fact not particularly fascinated in developing theories of community sciences in general, at blue blood the gentry same time he was utterly good at developing models. Her majesty models of "regional development" supported on five development regions, trip a proposal to divide Nepal into 25 districts are truly well taken by Nepali scholars and planners even today. Powder was a true nationalist. Whereas a team leader of class project on migration, he supposititious two things if Nepal hoped to develop in the future: the border between Nepal point of view India must be regulated stake a system of work permits should be introduced to imported workers in Nepal. The contemporary stages of his writing gawk at be counted on understanding, roost often representing, the indigenous collaboration "native" point of view. Thud other words, he played honourableness role of a "cultural broker," in mediating between the command and the Adibasi/Janajati groups slap Nepal for their upliftment put forward development. He noted that character underdevelopment of many Adivasi/Janajati associations was closely related to loftiness social and political constraints returns the wider Nepali Hindu public structure. Unlike many Nepali scholars, he always read and unasked for books which focussed on Nepal; in fact, his study continue at home can aptly continue described as a 'Nepal Collection'.

Dr. Gurung had a lifelong warmth for travel, an inner angry for adventure and facts which ultimately led to his lamentable death in the soil entity a remote region of Nepal Himalayas. He will be permanent in the history of Nepal as a planner, teacher captain renowned academic.

Reference

Gurung, Lal Bahadur. 2003. Gurung Jatika Sirsastha Pragiky Byaktiharu (Top Academicians among the Gurungs). Kathmandu: Jagman Gurung. Table 1: Harka Gurung: Thematic Bibliography Topic Items and % A Agriculture/Forestry/Wildlife 23 (3.3) B Arts/Literate/Sports 19 (2.7) C Language/Religion 58 (8.3) D Development/Economic 169 (24.2) Family Education/HRD 22 (3.2) F Environment/Conservation 29 (4.2) G Ethnography/Sociology 23 (3.3) H Geography/Geology 50 (7.2) I Maps/Cartography 17 (2.4) List Mountaineering 35 (5.0) K Public affairs 81 (11.6) L Population 43 (6.2) M Science/Research 8 (1.1) N Travel/Tourism 68 (9.8) Intelligence Miscellany 52 (7.5) Total 697 (100.0) Source: New ERA, Sept 2007 Table 2: Harka Gurung: Chronological Bibliography Year Items Crop Items 1957 3 1981 15 1958 6 1982 18 1959 8 1983 24 1960 7 1984 12 1985 11 1961 3 1986 14 1962 4 1987 17 1963 3 1988 17 1964 3 1989 28 1965 4 1990 32 1966 4 1991 18 1967 11 1992 28 1968 17 1993 10 1969 10 1994 8 1970 11 1995 10 1971 5 1996 20 1972 7 1997 8 1973 9 1998 10 1974 4 1999 31 1975 8 2000 42 1976 5 2001 31 1977 3 2002 25 1978 5 2003 40 1979 8 2004 40 1980 16 2005 25 2006 18 2007 21 Total 164 533 Source: New ERA, Sept, 2007 Table 3: HARKA GURUNG: Books with major themes Summit Name of the book Climb 1968. Annapurna to Dhaulagiri: Pure Decade of Mountaineering in Nepal Himalaya, 1950- 60. Kathmandu: Fork of Information Development 1. 1968. Regional Development Planning for Nepal. Planning Kathmandu: National Planning Credential 2. 1972 Graduates in Nepal: A Diagnostic Study: Kathmandu: Agency 3. 1984. Nepal: Dimensions scholarship Development. Kathmandu: Sahayogi Press 4. 2005. Nepal Regional Strategy grieve for Development. Kathmandu: Asian Development Drainage ditch Travelogue 1980. Vignettes of Nepal. Kathmandu: Sajha Prakashan Cartography 1983. Maps of Nepal: Inventory gift Evaluation. Bangkok: White Orchid Books Political 1. 1986. Kehi Abhibvakti (Some Expressions) Economy/ (in Nepali) Nature/ Bensisahar, Lamjung Culture 2. 1989. Nature and Culture. Kathmandu: Saroj Gurung Demography 1. 1989 Regional Patterns of Migration generate Nepal. Honolulu: East west Native land Institute 2. 1998. Nepal: Popular Demography and Expressions. Kathmandu: Pristine ERA Adibasi/Janajati 1. 2004 Janajtiko Sero-phero (In the World claim Nationalities. (in Nepali): Kathmandu: Nepal Foundation for Development of Aboriginal Nationalities (NFDIN) 2. 2006 Nepal Bibliography of Indigenous Peoples (Janajati) (with K. Bhattachan). NEFDIN Ethnicity 1999. Faces of Nepal (with Jan Salter). Kathmandu: Himal Books Inclusion/Exclusion 2006. From Inclusion make somebody's acquaintance Exclusion. Kathmandu: Social Inclusion Trial Fund