Gorkha Community Honors IIT-Guwahati Scientist Dr. Sagar Bhattarai for Exceptional Achievement

Nanda Kirati Dewan, KalimNews, 28 September 2024, Guwahati, Assam – The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, a national social organization representing Gorkhas in India, celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of Dr. Sagar Bhattarai, a postdoctoral researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, on Wednesday. Dr. Bhattarai has gained international acclaim by ranking among the top 2% of scientists worldwide, as identified by Stanford University, USA.

A delegation from the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, led by Assam State Committee President Amar Adhikari, along with National President Nityananda Upadhyay, National Joint Secretary General Prakash Dahal, and other prominent members, visited Dr. Bhattarai’s residence in TK Grant Sipajhar, Darrang district, to present him with a 'Citation of Appreciation,' traditional Assamese Phoolam Gamusa, a Gorkha cap, and publications from the organization.

“This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to your dedication, hard work, and significant contributions to the field of physics and material science,” congratulated Amar Adhikari during the ceremony.

Dr. Bhattarai recently gained recognition for developing a solar device using bio-synthesized zinc oxide derived from "Gundruk," a traditional Gorkha food. This innovative project not only showcases the potential of sustainable technologies but also highlights the intersection of cultural heritage and modern science.

“Dr. Sagar Bhattarai's work has brought international recognition to both the scientific community in India and the traditional knowledge of the Gorkha community. His contributions set an inspiring example of how cultural heritage can address global challenges,” added Adhikari.

The ranking by Stanford University is a prestigious honor, assessing scientists based on bibliometric impact, citations, and overall research contributions. Dr. Bhattarai’s achievement reflects the significant impact of his work on the global scientific community.

Dr. Bhattarai, son of Hindi teacher Tanka Prasad Bhattarai and homemaker Jharna Bhattarai, began his education in a vernacular medium. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Gauhati University and a Master’s degree from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Arunachal Pradesh, before completing his PhD. Currently, he serves as a postdoctoral fellow at IIT-Guwahati and is an Adjunct Faculty member at Chitkara University, Punjab.

The recognition by Stanford University’s top 2% scientist ranking highlights Dr. Bhattarai’s influence, as it includes only the most impactful researchers from a pool of over 180,000 active scientists worldwide, evaluated through metrics such as citations and h-index across various scientific fields.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh continues to spearhead initiatives to recognize and celebrate talents within the Gorkha community, fostering connections and building a national network of Indian Gorkhas across all sectors.