Mahendra P. Lama

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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]