Kathmandu, August 4:

Winner of the Magasaysay award Mahabir Pun today said the authorities concerned might have mistakenly selected him for the award.

“I am just a learner and I don’t think I am the deserving candidate for such a big award,” he said while addressing a function organised by the Nepal Magar Students Association to felicitate him. Pun said, “I got no teachers when I tried to run a higher secondary school in my village,” he said, adding that educated people hardly go to serve in remote parts of the country.

“My primary goals are to conduct vocational training throughout the nation and also improve the quality of education.” Stating that he spread wireless technology in remote districts though he had no licence to do that, he suggested the students to “dare opt for illegal’ steps if they really benefit the society.” He said he could have been arrested by the security forces along with the equipment because he didn’t have a licence. He also suggested that lasting dedication is a must for success.

“From Pun, we have learnt that dedication towards work and courage ultimately lead to success,” said NMSA president Bhoj Bikram Budha Magar.

Vice president of the Nepal Magar Association Nabin Rokka Magar compared Pun’s victory to the victory of Nepali warriors in various war theatres.

A member of parliament Fattik Bahadur Thapa said, “Education and consistency are the two things that the people should learn from Pun. As we will be in the dark without education, our primary focus should be on education.” The NMSA had also felicitated the member-secretary of the Nepal Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) Lok Bahadur Thapa and vice-chancellor of the Pokhara University Dr Keshar Jung Baral at a function organised on Thursday.