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Mahendra P. Lama

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Mahendra P. Lama
Born (1961-03-01) 1 March 1961 (age 63)
Darjeeling, India
NationalityIndian
Academic career
FieldDevelopment economics
InstitutionJawaharlal Nehru University,
Sikkim University
Alma materSt Joseph's College, Darjeeling,
Jawaharlal Nehru University
ContributionsEducation
AwardsAmbassador for Peace, Schokaert Gold Medal in 1979

Mahendra P. Lama is an Indian professor[1] and a political analyst who was the pro-vice chancellor of IGNOU and the founding vice chancellor of Sikkim University in India.[2] At the age of 45, he became the youngest vice chancellor of a Central University in India.[3]

Education

Prof. Lama completed his graduation from St Joseph's College, Darjeeling and did his Masters and Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.[4] Lama has worked and published on issues related to cooperation and integration in South Asia.

Career

Prof. Lama had been Chairperson, Centre for South, Central, Southeast Asia and South West Pacific Studies at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, a Ford Foundation Fellow at Notre Dame University, USA, and a Visiting Professor in Hitotsubashi University, Japan.[5] He also served as a Vice Chancellor of the Central University in Sikkim, India and also served as the chief economic adviser to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for seven years (2002-2009). Lama is a Member of the National Security Advisory Board of the Government of India, India –China Fellow at the New School University, USA. In 1997, he was nominated by the Indian government to serve in the independent expert group set up by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He was also a member of the National Committee of the Revamping of the North Eastern Council in 2004, and the national steering committee for the North East Vision document. Lama is an author.[6] He has written and edited several books[7] and scholarly articles[8] and some of this works have been translated into Japanese, French and German Language.

Recent engagements

The President of India has nominated Lama to the Executive Council of North Eastern Hill University in Shillong. In the last 6 years, the President of India has nominated Lama to eight institutions of India as her/his representative.[citation needed] Lama has also been nominated by the University Grants Commission for the Review Committee of the State Eligibility Test of Karnataka and also as a member of the prestigious Commonwealth Fellowship Selection Committee.[9] He has also been a member of the prestigious Interviews Board for the all India Civil Services Examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and also at the state level in Public Service Commission of Sikkim.

He is also a life member of a number of pioneering Nepali literary and cultural organizations in India. He has also served as the member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Hill and Mountain Development under the aegis of National Planning Commission. He has been associated as a professional with the World Bank, AsianDevelopment Bank, United Nations Development Programme, USAID,Australian Aid Agency, IDRC of Canada and ICIMOD in Kathmandu and many other international organisations. He was also assigned serious task of reviewing the entire functioning of SAARC by Asian Development Bank and SACEPS since its very inception. He also wrote 100 very popular column known as “Serophero” in Nepal's widely circulated fortnightly Himal Khabar Patrika. He wrote an exclusive column “Ghamko khojima” in Himalaya Darpan, a popular daily newspaper published from Siliguri.

He has been associated with a number of national and international organisations including New Delhi's prestigious India International Centre, University Grants Commission, Sahitya Academy, National Book Trust and Indian Council of World Affairs. He has delivered over 180 Special / Public Lectures in the institutions both in India and abroad including in premier</ref></ref> global institutions like Yale University, Oxford University, Stanford University, Notre Dame University, New School University and National Defense College (NDC), to IFS/IAS probationers and a large number of Universities and other institutions.[citation needed] He has participated in over 260 Seminars/Conferences both in India and in 30 countries abroad. He has directed/supervised over 35 students for their M PHIL Dissertations and PHD Theses and his students today hold prestigious positions as professionals both in India and abroad.

In June 2013, Lama stood as an independent candidate from the district of Darjeeling for the Lok Sabha election, 2014. He, however, lost with big margin. Currently he is again teaching in JNU, New Delhi.

Publications

Books

  • Energising Connectivity between Northeast India and its Neighbours. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, 2019, ISBN 978-602-5460-10-4.[10]
  • Globalisation and Cultural Practices in Mountain Areas: Dynamics, Dimensions, and Implications. Sikkim University Press, 2012, ISBN 8173872309, ISBN 9788173872303.[11]
  • Human Security in India: Discourse, Practices, and Policy Implications. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies. 2010, ISBN 9848815287, ISBN 9789848815281.[12]
  • Gorkhaland Movement: Quest for an Identity. Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, 1996.[13]
  • Sikkims's Achievements: Under Pawan Chamling Government. Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, 2003.
  • Sikkim Human Development Report 2001. Social Science Press, 2001, ISBN 8187358041, ISBN 9788187358046.
  • Managing Refugees in South Asia: Protection, Aid, State Behaviour, and Regional Approach. Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, University of Dhaka, 2000.
  • Integrated Programme of Action in SAARC: Genesis, Evaluation, Constraints, and Rationale for Revamping. Research and Information System for the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries, 1999, ISBN 8171220711, ISBN 9788171220717.
  • Thakur Chandan Singh: Makers of Indian Literature, Sahitya Akademi. 1997, ISBN 9788126003211.
  • Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia: A Commodity Approach. Society for Peace, Security & Development Studies, 1997.
  • Sikkim: Society, Polity, Economy, Environment. Indus Publishing Company, 1994, ISBN 8173870136.

Controversy

The tenure of Lama in Sikkim University is marred by controversy. Lama has been accused of gross financial irregularities during his stint as VC (2007–12). Recently, a division bench of Sikkim High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry against Lama and his then deputy Jyoti Prakash Tamang for alleged financial irregularities during his tenure from 2007 to 2012.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Title and profession of Mahendra P. Lama".
  2. ^ "Prof. Mahendra P Lama". Sikkim University. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Sikkim VC". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Mahendra P. Lama (Ph.D., JNU)". Jawaharlal Nehru University. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Mahendra P. Lama (Ph.D., JNU)". JNU. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Mahendra P. Lama". The India China Institute. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Mahendra P. Lama". The University Press Limited. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Mahendra P. Lama". The Indian Express ltd. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  9. ^ "President of India nominates Prof Lama to the NEHU's Executive Council". DarjeelingTimes. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Energising Connectivity between Northeast India and its Neighbours - Publications : ERIA". ERIA. February 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  11. ^ "9788173872303 Globalisation and Cultural Practices in Mountain Areas Dynamics, Dimensions and Implications : Printsasia.in". Printsasia. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Human Security in India: Discourse, Practices and Policy implications | The University Press Limited". The University Press Limited. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  13. ^ Lama, Mahendra P (1996). Gorkhaland movement: quest for an identity. Darjeeling: Published by Dept. of Information and Cultural Affairs, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. OCLC 42763207.
  14. ^ http://www.northeasttoday.in/cbi-probe-against-former-vc-of-sikkim-university/
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