A biography of Dr. Harka Gurung, Lamjung, Nepal.
1. Outline:
Dr. Harka Gurung was a first Ph.D. Geographer in Nepal. Dr. Gurung worked with several association as a Consultant, Director, Planner and State Minister. He was a founder of ‘New ERA,’ a non-Governmental Organization based on Kathmandu. Dr. Gurung was an honest researcher, brilliant Geologist, Traveler, Anthropologist, Author, Artist, Sportsman and Socio-Politician in his era.
2. Birth:
Dr. Harka Gurung was born at Tarache village on January 5, 1939. It’s situated on the left bank of Marsyangdi river, Lamjung district, Gandaki zone, Nepal. His mother Maisebo was a housewife and father Subedar Parsai Gurung in Indian army.
3. Childhood:
He travelled in India living with his parent. Gradually, he understood the reality of military life and continued his study. Physically, he was small, light but big headed with sharp mind. He was a good player in football and hockey.
4. Education:
1. Primary, Children School, 3rd Gorkha Rifles, Dehradun, India, 1948.
2. Matric, King Gorge Military School, Nawagau, India, 1955.
3. I.A., Trichandra Collage, Kathmandu, 1957.
4. B.A. Honors, Patna Collage, Patna, India, 1959.
5. Post Graduate, University Edinburgh, Scotland, 1961.
6. Ph.D., University Edinburgh, Scotland, 1965.
5. Awards & Decorations:
1. Collage Color (Outstanding Student) Patna, India, 1959.
2. Mahendra Vidhya Bhusan, Nepal, 1966.
3. Gorkha Dakshin Bahu class II, Nepal, 1971.
4. Tri-Shakti Patta, class II, Nepal, 1975.
5. Sukeertimaya Sripad, class III, Nepal, 1988.
6. National Physical Sports Honor Medal, China, 1988.
7. Honorary Member, Nepal Heritage Society, 1992.
8. Tourism Award, Hotel Association of Nepal, 2000.
9. Distinguished Person Award, Federation of Nationalities, Nepal, 2001.
6. Assignments:
1. Demonstrator, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 1963.
2. Research Fellow, University of London, 1964.
3. Lecturer, Tribhuban University, Kathmandu, 1966.
4. Member, National Planning Commission, Nepal, 1968.
5. Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission, Nepal, 1972.
6. Minister of State, Education, Industry & Commerce, 1975.
7. Minister of State, Tourism, Public Work & Transport, 1977.
8. Vice Chairman, NTPC, HMG of Nepal, 1982.
9. Chairman, Mountain naming Committee, HMG of Nepal, 1982.
10. Member, National Commission of Population, Nepal, 1982.
11. Chairman, Task Force on Migration, HMG of Nepal, 1983.
12. Visiting Fellow, Population Institute, EWC, Honolulu, 1984.
13. Director, APDC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1993-97.
7. Associations:
1. Fellow, Royal Geography Society, 1960.
2. Member, Royal Scottish Geography Society, 1960.
3. Member, Institute of British Geographer, 1960.
4. Member, Tribhuban University Senate, 1967.
5. Member, National Education Advisory Council, Nepal, 1967.
6. Secretary, Nepal Geography Society, 1968.
7. Member, Family Planning & Maternal Child Health Board, Nepal, 1968.
8. Member, National Education Committee, Nepal, 1968.
9. Member, National Development Council, Nepal, 1973.
10. Consultant, Constitutional Reforms Commission, Nepal, 1975.
11. Member, National Panchayat, Legislature, 1975.
12. Member, CNAS, Tribhuban University, 1984.
13. President, Nepal Geographical Society, 1986.
14. Vice Chairman, Dharmodaya Sabha, Nepal, 1987.
15. Member, Cultural Encyclopedia of Nepal, 1987.
16. Member, Lumbini Development Trust, Nepal, 1991.
17. Member, National Committee of Cultural Policy, Nepal, 1992.
18. Member, National Development Council, Nepal, 1992.
19. Member, Tourism Council, Nepal, 1992.
20. General Secretary, Board of Management, (ADIPA), 1993.
21. Member, International Institute of Edu Planning (UNESCO), 1994.
22. Member, Visit Nepal Year, 1998.
23. Member, Pokhara University Council, 1998.
24. Eminent Panel, UNESCO, Nepal, 2000.
25. Advisor, WWF, Nepal Program, 2000.
26. Executive Member, Transparency International Nepal, 2001.
8. Published Books:
1. ‘Annapurna to Dhaulagiri,’ Mountaineering in Nepal Himalaya, 1950.
2. ‘Graduates in Nepal,’ A diagnostic study, Kathmandu, 1972.
3. ‘Vignettes of Nepal,’ Journey in Nepal, 1980.
4. ‘Maps of Nepal,’ White Orchid Books, 1983.
5. ‘Nepal,’ Dimensions of Development, 1984.
6. ‘Regional patterns of Migration in Nepal, Honolulu, 1989.
7. ‘Nature and Culture,’ Random Reflections, 1989.
8. ‘Faces of Nepal,’ with Jan Salter, Kathmandu, 1996.
9. ‘Nepal,’ Social Demography and Expressions, New ERA, 1998.
10. ‘Nepal-ko Artha-rajniti,’ Deshbhakta Prajatantric, 2001.
11. ‘Pokhara Valley,’ A Geographical Survey, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2002.
12. ‘Migration in Nepal,’ INHURED, 1994.
9. Monographs:
1. Regional Development Planning for Nepal, 1969.
2. ‘Kehi Abhibyakti,’ Political & economy, Nepal, 1986.
3. Environmental Management of Mountain Tourism in Nepal, 1991.
4. ‘Nepal,’ Main ethnic caste group by district, 1994.
5. Gurung Sambandhi Tathyanka, Kathmandu, 1994.
6. Nepal Himalaya Inventory, Kathmandu, 1994.
7. Ethnic Demography of Nepal, Kathmandu, 1996.
8. Flying Geese and Sitting Ducks, Nepal, 1997.
9. Mountains of Asia, A Regional Inventory, ICIMOD, 1999.
10. Janaganana 2001 Anusar Jatiya Tathyanka, Nepal, 2002.
10. Personal life:
Dr. Gurung was a true family man who loved deeply respect to all family member. He married to Miss. Saroj Gurung, had two daughters, Himalchuli and Manasulu; two sons Sagarmatha and Bikas Gurung. They are well educated.
11. Outstanding activities:
Dr. Gurung was an outstanding student at the Patna University. He was a captain of football and hockey team and the general secretary of “Nepali Student Union.” He served several associations after his Ph.D. degree and became as State Minister. But he wouldn’t work as his mission and vison due to the negative mentality of Nepal’s political climate. One of his hot topic research was a “Boarder regulation between Nepal and India, 1983.” Many boarder people of Terai weren’t happy when the report was publicly released and they proposed to hang him. Today, everybody realized that he was a ‘true nationalist,’ when Nepal suffered on population crisis. Finally, he back to ‘New ERA,’ a non-Governmental Organization based on Kathmandu. Dr. Gurung was an honest researcher, brilliant Geologist, Traveler, Anthropologist, Author, Artist, Sportsman and Socio-Politician in his era.
12. Travelling:
Nepal 70 Districts, Asia 50 Countries, Europe 11 Countries, America 5 Countries and Africa 3 Countries.
13. Hobbies:
Sports, Music, Reading, Writing, Travelling, Photography, Research and Social worker.
14. Tragic accident:
Dr. Harka Gurung was brilliant Geologist, Anthropologist, Author, Artist, Sportsman and Socio-Politician. Who knows what happens tomorrow? A tragic helicopter accident happened at Dunsa in the shadow of Mt. Kanchanjunga northeast of Nepal on September 23, 2006. Dr. Gurung, a shining star and visionary hero lost his life with other 23 high level personal in this crash.
15. Biography Sources:
1. Gurung Jatika Shirsastha Pragyik Byaktiharu by Lalabahadur Gurung, 2004.
2. Dr. Harka Gurung ‘Smjhana and Abhibyakti,’ 2007.
3. A Short note from Dilli R Dahal and Media sources.
Note: Your comment shall be highly appreciated to update this biography.