Magar Studies Centre organized a seminar on Saturday 18 Magh 2065 at Staff College Jaulakhel. Dr. Mahabir Pun has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay 2007 for his outstanding contribution to community leadership. He won Asia?s premier prize for his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to the remote mountain, connecting Nangi village to the global village. He was honored by Magar Studies Center as its Honorable Member. Pun delivered a lecture on the occasion.
Magar Studies Center organized a one day seminar on ?Cultural Practices of Magars of Rukum, Rolpa, and Dolpa? on 3 Bhadra 2063 (19 Aug 2006). MSC team had conducted a survey study on these issues. Associate Professor Krishna Bahadur Thapa and Mrs Shyamu Thapa of TU presented the report. Eminent historians Prof. Dr. Rajaram Subedi, Prof. Dr.Triratna Manadhar, MS Thapa, Dr. Harsh Bdr Budha; linguists Hira Singh Thapa, Dr.Yogendra Prd Yadav, Bhim Regmi, Dantraj Regmi, Amrit Yonjan, Pavitra Rana; socio-anthropologists Chudamani Bandhu, Tamla Ukyab, Norbu Ghale, were amongst others present on the occasion. Many others could not attend the event because of strike (banda) on that day. Efforts of MSC were appreciated. More in-depth studies on these areas to protect and promote diverse cultures of the peoples of Nepal were felt necessary.
The Center also organized one day seminar on Constitutional Assembly and Restructuring of the State on 6 Srawan 2063 (22 July 2006) in Kathmandu. Two theme papers were presented on this occasion. Mr. Kashiraj Dahal?s paper dealt with the experiences of more than hundred countries in constitution making. Mr Malla K. Sundar elaborated on the views of indigenous and ethnic people of Nepal. Chairman of Magar Sangh also stressed upon some of the demands of Magars. Eminent personalities- professors, scholars, politicians, social activists and people from other walks of life attended it.
Magars of Nepal speak three different Magar languages: a) Magar dhut bhasa which is spoken in Gulmi, Myagdi, Palpa, Baglung etc; b) Kham bhasa which is spoken in the Mid Western region like Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan etc; c) Kaike -which is spoken in few wada of Dolpa district only. At the time when these languages are struggling for survival, Magar Studies Center has published Kham Magar Pang-Nepali-English dictionary written by Mr. Jukti Prasad Pun Magar. This dictionary is the first of its kind. It will be very useful for researchers, linguists, and those interested in linguistics.
The Magar Studies Center and Bharseli Magar Samaj Sewa jointly organized a four days workshop on ‘The role of supervisors and enumerators in research’ for the benefit of TU students on 16-19 Aswin, 2061(2-5 Oct 2004). Around eighty students participated in the workshop. The theme of the workshop was to enlighten on the issues of research methodology, tools, data collection, data analysis, report writing, presentation, proposal writing, etc. The data schedules prepared for the action research on the state of Magars living in Kathmandu valley was also reviewed.
A one day SWOT analysis workshop was organized on 19 Asar 2061 (1 July 2004). Several Magar organizations participated in the workshop. The workshop drew the following conclusions:
1. Practically all Magar institutions/associations do not have their strategic plan.
2. The organization structures are portfolio based rather than specific task based.
3. All organizations lack skilled manpower to handle their activities.
4. They have no networking. They have very little lateral communication with district and other Magar organizations. Many of them also do not have access to GO, NGO, INGO at district level.
5. They have not been able to tap open and available resources.
The Center organized an introduction program on 22 Chaitra 2059 (5 April, 2003): Chairman of the Center Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa chaired the program. Former Minister Gore Bahadur Khapangi was the chief guest of program. Former minister Balaram Gharti, MS Thapa, former IGP Khadga Jit Baral, Dr. Lakshman Pun, Ms Bom Kumari Bura, were among the prominent guests. At the outset, General Secretary Trilok Singh Thapa welcomed the guests and highlighted upon the concept, mission, objectives, and activities of the Center. Sant Bahadur Pun, member of the Executive Committee, briefly spoke on ‘Mungars of Yore.’ It was a sort of prodding into the history of Nepal.