NRNA Honors Bisundev Mahato

At the Fourth Regional NRN Conference held from May 28 - May 30 in Houston, Texas, the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) has felicitated and recognized Mr. Bisundev Mahato with an honorary plaque for his contributions and achievements in the area of public healthcare. Mr. Mahato is the youngest person to receive such an honor. Dr. Shankar Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to the United States presented the plaque on behalf on the NRNA. 

 

However, Mr. Mahato was unable to receive the honor in person, as his flight from Boston was canceled at the last moment. Dr. Binod Shah, a Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who is also Director-Enlarge of NRN NCC, USA, accepted the honor on Mr. Mahato's behalf. 

 

"It is my honor to accept this award on behalf of Mr. Bisundev Mahato. He has made all of Nepalis proud," said Dr. Shah. 

 

"Mr. Mahato has made all of us proud of his accomplishments as a young Nepali scholar" echoed Mr. Suman R. Timsina, the President of the NRN National Coordination Council of the USA. The General Secretary of the NRN International Coordination Council, Mr. Ratan Jha said, "On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 4th Regional Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Conference, it is my great personal pleasure and a distinct honor to felicitate and recognize Mr. Bisundev Mahato for his outstanding achievements and contributions." 

 

On telephone conversation, Mr. Mahato said, "I feel very happy and honored, especially because it is coming from people whose roots are in my own country, Nepal. I am thankful to all NRNs for the recognition. I hope encouragements like this can inspire many Nepalis to fight against any barrier that may come along and illuminate Nepal's good name by serving humanity wherever they maybe."

 

Earlier this year, Mr. Bisundev Mahato had received Steven A. Schroeder Fellowship from Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. He is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in economics, and is now is a candidate for Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from Harvard Medical School. Before entering the field of medicine, Mr. Mahato worked as the Senior Economics Programmer at the Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University, New York. He also worked for a major health policy think-tank known as the Commonwealth Fund, New York. Mr. Mahato is originally from Lahan, Nepal and is a graduate of Budhanilkantha School.

 

Regional Conference is mandated by the constitution of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) - which is a common global organization for more than 2.5 million Nepalese expatriates residing in various countries of the world. Currently, the NRNA has its sister organizations in 55 countries around the world - which acts as the National Coordination Council (NCC) for that country. The past three regional conferences were held in Doha (Qatar), Bonn (Germany) and Bangkok (Thailand) in 2004, 2006 and 2008, respectively. 

A declaration of May 28 as “Nepal Day” by Mayor Annise Parker, of Houston, Texas (USA), was made to commemorate the three-day long 4th Regional Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Conference in Houston, Texax, USA. Also with the theme : “Channeling Knowledge and Investments for Rapid Development of Nepal”; this conference held several discussion sessions such as Open University for Nepal, Dual Citizenship, Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Women and Youth Issues, Collective Investments and Charitable Projects for Prosperous Nepal, and Nepali Poetry Festival.  

 

Including the NRNA, Chief Patron Dr. Upendra Mahato of Russia (also a former President of the NRNA) and current President of the NRNA Mr. Devman Hirachan of Japan, the conference also welcomed over 300 attendees including the representative and delegates from 20 countries around the world to deliberate on their potential, as Nepalis living outside Nepal, to help the motherland develop her economy, education and democracy as well as to support the enabling NRN demand for dual citizenship. Ambassadors of Nepal to the US – HE Shankar P. Sharma, UN – HE Gyan Chandra Acharya, Chancellor and President of the University of Houston Prof. Renu Khator and Dr. Frits Pannekoek, President, ICDE and Athabasca University, Dr. Mohamed Ally, Program Director of Athabasca University, and Provost Carl Stokton and Vice President Dr. Mrinal Mugdh both of University of Houston as well as the NRNA leaders and many accomplished NRN worldwide graced the meeting.  

Written By: Amit Pratap, USA