Nepa School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Arjun Bahadur B.K.
MA (English Literature), Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Tribhuwan University (TU)

 I would like to contribute to society’s wellbeing by looking into the causes of existing problems and exploring means of resolving them.

I have always been interested in finding the causes of social discrimination. How do we end the caste and gender-based discriminations prevalent in our society today?

My goal is to conduct research on Dalit issues with a focus on education, inclusion/exclusion, etc. My Master’s degree thesis at Tribuvan University was entitled “Right Issue Wrong Treatment: A Study of Anand's Untouchable.”

Bikramaditya Dahal
BBA, College of Applied Business, TU

Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel
MA (Rural Development), TU

My career goal is social science research, and my interest areas are human rights, peace and conflict, and development. I wrote my Master’s dissertation on a conflict-related topic. In addition, I have been involved in numerous research projects that have focused on socio-economic and cultural rights issues.

Before joining Nepā School, I was engaged in a grass-roots project involved in Nepal’s peace process. This was a unique experience in my life, and I have many unforgettable memories it. For example, I remember how some conflict-related issues were solved through reconciliation. Among situations that were really painful for me, one incident involved a conflict victim who did not get justice, and this made me feel helpless.

Dipti Sherchan
BSW, St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu University

I am an avid reader. I love the feeling of exploring these new worlds of imagination that someone creates for himself/herself and others. I cannot exactly say what I aspire to be but it must be related to writing and creativity. I always wanted to be a teacher. And, lately, I have begun to be interested in anthropology. Maybe I will end up teaching anthropology!

Manoj Dhakal
BPH, Nepal Institute of Health Sciences, Purbanchal University

My career goals are to become involved in academia, research or development practice. I am interested in studying the social aspects of health in general and the anthropology of health and illnesses and the relationship between the political system and modes of health care system in particular.

I had wanted to continue my study in public health, epidemiology or medical anthropology but when, after my undergraduate degree, I was working in the public health sector, I realized that I needed some solid academic preparation for my Master’s program. I found the Graduate Diploma course for this reason.

In the past, I have worked as a teacher in private schools; paramedic in the government health care system; lecturer of community health and program coordinator in technical education and vocational training schools; and finally, as a monitoring information system (MIS) consultant in a bilateral organization working in health, and in the same outfit, as an assistant data manager for a community-based newborn trial conducted in Morang district, Nepal. In the same organization, I also contributed to designing a Community Based Management of Newborn Infections Manual and trained health professionals on newborn care.

Nisha Niraula
BA (English & Journalism), Kathmandu Model College, TU

I joined the Graduate Diploma programme in order to improve my academic skills and rid myself of my inner fears.

I would like to seek a career in research. In the past, I have spent some time in a Tharu community. I want to know more about them through an ethnographic study on their society.

I also want to be proficient in English.

Prakash B. K.
BA (English and Economics), Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, TU

With my undergraduate major in economics, I want to develop myself into a social economist.

Since my childhood days, I have struggled against the system of untouchability. I want to understand the Dalit community and ensure that they continue to assert themselves in society. I want to research on Dalit issues like ‘globalization and the Dalit movement’, ‘dynamics of the caste system’ and ‘identity and inclusion of Dalits’ through a social science lens.

Pushpa Hamal
MA (Sociology), Tri Chandra Campus, TU

My real interest in life is to become an agent of change.

I have worked as a research assistant for researchers and professors on issues ranging from education and agriculture to conflict. I have enjoyed my role as research officer for the Canadian SSHRC-funded research project, ‘Landscapes of Democracy: Cultural Politics of Governance in Nepal’, during which I was given wide latitude for undertaking independent ethnographic research on local governance and political transformation in Mugu, Khotang and Morang districts. This experience contributed to my interest in exploring the relationship between formal politics and everyday governance. It also made me realise the importance of social science research and academic writing.

In addition, my work with United Mission to Nepal, Action Contre La Faim, International Center for Transitional Justice and Forum of Federations has given me a good perspective on the world of development practice. From these experiences, I am interested in seeing more effort being put into knowledge production on the real situation in underdeveloped rural areas.

Sanjay Mahato
MA (English), TU

Since high school, I have been interested in scientific research.

I have been involved in bird surveys in Chitwan National Park conducted by the Bird Education Society Nepal. However, I have not had a firm grounding in the basics of research. When I assisted Dr. Bimbika Sijapati in her study of the Rani Jamara Kuliria canal territory in Kailali district, I learnt a lot about social research and have now resolved to develop my career in it.

Sarita Kumari Lama
MA (Peace and Development), TU

My career goal is to get involved in the production and application of knowledge wherever possible. In my opinion, the production of knowledge is possible only through effective research. Therefore, I am interested in social research of any kind. I am also interested in linking social science knowledge with that of the natural sciences for a better management of natural resources. (My Intermediate and Bachelor degrees are in forestry.) In my Master's level course in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies (CPDS) , almost all of the research, field work reports and many of the assignments were related to the link between conflicts in natural resources (like land, water, forest resources and so on) and social issues.

Shanta Thapa
MA (Conflict, Peace and Development), TU

As far as my career goals are concerned, I would like to contribute to the field of social research. I am particularly interested in exploring different issues related to power, politics, conflict and peace.

Sashwat Acharya
BA (Math & Economics), Dickinson College, USA

I joined the Graduate Diploma course to learn about social theories and issues. I worked as a trainer for Bhutanese refugees for almost two years before I joined this course. While working with the refugees gave me some insights into the plights of one of the most unfortunate groups of humans and allowed me to help them in some ways, I was far from satisfied. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of social conflicts and apply my knowledge to solve real-world problems. Joining the Nepā school was a step towards fulfilment of that goal.

Sumila Subedi Pokharel
MBS, St. Xavier's College, TU

As I am from a management background, I was interested in studying social sciences, and since Nepā School is a college that gives quality education, I have enrolled in Graduate Diploma programme. I had never done any research before coming to Nepā School. Here, we have done a research assignment and I have found it to be very interesting.

Suresh Sapkota (Pranjali)
MA (English Literature), TU

I am a student of English literature and have a keen interest in academic writing and journalism. When I was doing my MA in English Literature, I got acquainted with classical and critical theory, philosophy, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. But I did not get to study social theory and other sub-fields within the social sciences. When I realized that one needs to have knowledge of the social sphere to become a proficient writer, I decided to join Nepā School with the aim of understanding the society as closely as does an ethnographer.

In the past, I have been engaged in a couple of writing projects and have done some journalistic research when doing long write-ups for journals and newspapers. I have written a couple of articles on conflict, national security, feminist and youth issues, etc. I have also reviewed more than a hundred books of all genres and have also contributed articles to national dailies since 2007. Additionally, I have written dozen of lyrics and won some national music awards for them as well.

My interest is in conflict, feminism and peace-building as well as social and gender issues. I would like to carry on with my writing career, and with the skills I have learnt at Nepā School, I would like to focus more on research-based newspaper articles, which are more analytical and look at society critically.

Sushma Adhikari
BA (English and Mass Communication), Kathmandu Model College, TU