DASNR
International
Student of the Week
Home Country:
Nepal
Nepal is a landlocked nation in South Asia. It is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China to the northeast and India to the south and west; it is separated from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim and from Bangladesh by a small strip of the Indian state of West Bengal, known as the "Chicken's Neck". The Himalaya mountain range runs across Nepal's north and western parts, and eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest are situated within its territory.
The modern state was formed with the Unification of Nepal on December 21, 1768. Prior to 2006, Nepal was a kingdom and the only nation with Hinduism as its official religion. Its recent history has involved struggles for democratic government with periods of direct monarchic rule. Since 1995, Nepal has suffered from a civil war between government forces and Maoist guerrillas of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). As a part of a peace process to end civil war and restore democracy, on May 18, 2006, Nepal was declared a secular state by the Interim Parliament of Nepal. On December 28, 2007, the interim parliament passed a bill and declared Nepal to be a federal democratic republic.
For a relatively small country, Nepal has a diverse landscape, ranging from the humid Terai plains in the south to the mountainous Himalayas in the north, which make it a major tourist destination. Hinduism is the predominant religion of the Nepali people, but the country also has a strong Buddhist tradition; Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama is located in the southern part of the country bordering India. The capital Kathmandu is the largest city in the country. The official language is Nepali and the state currency is the Nepalese rupee. Nepal's flag is the only national flag that is not quadrilateral in shape; its shape is a double triangle.
Nepal 's gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2005 was estimated at just over US$39 billion (adjusted to Purchasing Power Parity), making it the 83rd-largest economy in the world. Agriculture accounts for about 40% of Nepal's GDP, services comprise 41% and industry 22%. Agriculture employs 76% of the workforce, services 18% and manufacturing/craft-based industry 6%. Agricultural produce——mostly grown in the Terai region bordering India——includes tea, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, and water buffalo meat. Industry mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce, including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Its workforce of about 10 million suffers from a severe shortage of skilled labour. The spectacular landscape and diverse, exotic cultures of Nepal represent considerable potential for tourism. (Source: Wikipedia)
Santanu Bikram Thapa
May 2008
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From the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture...
This week’s international student of the week is Santanu Bikram Thapa. He is a Masters’ student in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Santunu was born in Nepal; he speaks three languages, Nepali, English, and Hindi. Santanu is a member of the Nepalese Student Association at OSU and the OSU Turf Club. Santanu likes to play the guitar and sing. He also likes traveling, seeing new places, and meeting new people.
Santanu came to the States to pursue his graduate education. The USA is known for its very good education system, it has a lot of opportunities for students seeking a quality education, Santanu stated. He came to avail himself of the benefit from technologies used here in teaching systems and research while he completes his graduate studies. He chose OSU because of its well reputed Agricultural Programs. Santanus’ friends also encouraged him to come to OSU because of the nice environment of Stillwater. Santanu comes from a family of two children. His parents are in Nepal, they are both retired Bank employees. His elder brother works for the BBC International in Nepal as a Sound Engineer. Santanu loves his family, they have been a great support for him and he is very proud of how his parents raised him.
Santanu’s future plans are to complete his graduate degree; he will spend sometime in USA working in turfgrass industry to gain some professional experience in this field. He will go back to Nepal to share whatever he had learned here to serve his country, Nepal. At some point in life he wants to serve as a social worker and help to fight world hunger and work for the benefit of the elderly. Advisor: Dr. Dennis L. Martin Santanu’s advice to students: “This is a great opportunity to learn about so many different cultures and languages but it is important to participate. Never hesitate to represent your country. Share what you have learned. Always keep your goal in mind and focus in studies, what you learn here is your asset that you will take back home later.” Interview by: Sandra Rodríguez
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