Budding Life
Nanda Bahadur Singh (BSc-Bio; BA-Maj. Eng; B. Ed-Eng. Ling; MSc-Zoology: ecology-gold medalist) as a full professor at the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University (T.U.), Kathmandu has been teaching for the last 25 years (since 1995 to present) and currently has been nominated as Vice-Chacellolor, Mid-Western University, Birendranagar, Surkhet, Nepal. Prof Dr. Singh is the first Nepalese researcher to be accredited with PhD under Japanese government fellowship (Monbukagakusho) in the field of ethno-genomics (human genetics/molecular anthropology/population genetics) and molecular ethnobiology from the University of Tokyo, Japan in 2002.
Dr. Singh is also the first scholar to initiate the research on ethnobiology in Nepal. Ethnobiology has been incorporated into M.Sc course of study at the Central Dept. of Environmental Science, Central Department of Zoology, T.U. as well as all B.Sc Biogroup colleges throughout Nepal.
Dr.Singh conducted his research on eight gene systems of nine genetic markers among highly isolated six Nepalese ethnic groups (Chepang, Chidimar, Gurung, Munda, Raute and Thakali). Correlation between genes and diseases (malaria, AIDS, Cancer, human skin pigmentation, and alcoholism) was one of aspects of molecular analysis for his PhD research. In addition to genomic analysis, most dreadful four viruses (HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV-1) were also serologically detected among Nepalese ethnic groups.
Dr. Singh is also the first scholar to initiate the research on ethnobiology in Nepal. Ethnobiology has been incorporated into M.Sc course of study at the Central Dept. of Environmental Science, T.U. as a new chapter for which Dr. Singh has been invited as a visiting professor since 2003 till now. In this contexts, he has already published a book entitled “The Endangered Raute Tribe: Ethnobiology and Biodiversity” in 1997.
In addition, he is also a co-author of a book on” Nepal Tomorrow: Voices and Visions” edited by D. B. Gurung (https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no36418.htm). Dr. Singh in his capacity has supervised about 60 dissertations of MSc students on ethnobiology of 45 different Nepalese ethnic groups, namely; Bote, Chepang, Dangol, Danuwar (Chitwan), Danuwar (Kavre), Gaine, Gurung, Hayu, Kumal (Gorkha), Kumal (Palpa), Lohar, Magar, Meche, Mushar, Sarki, Satar, Tamang, Tharu (Dang), Tharu (Chitwano), Bankariya (Makawanpur), Lapchas of Ilam, Limbus of Taplejung, Balami of Nuwakot, Magar (Parbat), Mirgratory Tangbeton (Mustang), Rai (Bhojpur), Newar of Khokana (Lalitpur) etc.
He is mentoring five PhD scholars as lead supervisor and one PhD Scholar from the UK as Co-supervisor. He has published numerous articles/book reviews in national as well as international journals and magazines. He is well traveled and has participated/presented papers in more than three dozens of national as well as international seminars/conferences and consultative meetings.
Dr. Singh’s abstract entitled“Ethno-molecular surgery of human resistant genes against malaria and HIV/AIDS infections among six indigenous populations in Nepal” was awarded doctoral student fellowship for the poster presentation at the 5th Human Genome Organization (HUGO) Pacific Meeting & 6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Human Genetics held in Biopolis, Singapore, Nov. 17~20, 2004. Late King Birendra Shah andformer King Gyanendra Shah of Nepal have conferred “Mahendra Vidhya Bhuvan “B” and “A” class medals on Dr. Singh for his academic excellence in 1996 and 2003, respectively. The former Crown Prince Paras Shah has handed over the “RONAST (NAST) Talent Scientist Award 2005” to Dr. Singh for his novel innovative ethno-genomic and molecular ethnobiology research among six indigenous populations in Nepal.
Dr. Singh in his capacity has already served as a visiting professor of ethnobiology at Yamagata University of Arts and Desgin, Yamagata in Japan (1997) as well as a visiting professor of medical genetics at the College of Medicine, Henan University, P.R.China under the bilateral agreement signed between Tribhuvan University, Nepal and Henan University, China to teach MBBS students in the academic year of Sep, 2005~July, 2006, and visiting professor to Kangwon National University, Samchoek city, South Korea to deliver a lectured on a topic entitled “Ethnogenetics and Ethnobiology of Six Indigenous Nationalities in Nepal” on February 20, 2008 and as international guest speaker at Nagoya university, Japan on the topic entitled “Minority Situations and the Discourse of Symbiosis in the 21th Century” from March 7-8, 2011 at the invitation by Dean, Michiko Maeno of the University. Dr. Singh was a secretary for the year of 2008~2009 and vice-president for the year of 2009-2010 at the Rotary Club of Jawalakhel, Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. Singh was given an appointment with the president of Democratic Republic of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to seek the way out of present political crisis in Nepal with his academic team in 2011.