Frederick H. Gaige papers and research on Nepal, 1953-1970.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Gaige, Frederick H., creator.

Language:

English

Nepali

Subjects (All):

Nepal--Politics and government.

Nepal.

Nepal--Social conditions.

Nepal--Social life and customs.

South Asia--History.

South Asia.

Genre:

Manuscripts, American -- 20th century.

Articles.

Research notes.

Writings (documents)

Physical Description:

1 box, (.4 linear foot)

Place of Publication:

1953-1970.

Language Note:

The bulk of this collection is in English, but there are a few publications which are in Nepali.

Biography/History:

Frederick H. Gaige, born in 1937, was an educator and expert on Nepal. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from Oberlin College; his master's degree in history from Brown University, probably in 1963; and his doctoral degree in South Asian studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970. According to an obituary, Gaige was a noted scholar in the field of South Asian studies and became an early expert on Nepal, where he did research on a Fulbright Fellowship from 1966 to 1968. His research culminated in the publication of Regionalism and national unity in Nepal, a work which is still considered a valuable resource. He returned to Nepal as a Fulbright Lecturer in 1983. Much of his career was spent as an educator. In 1969, he worked at Davidson College, in North Carolina, as director of the South Asian studies program; from 1974 to 1977, he served as vice president for professional development of the Kansas City Regional Council for Higher Education; and from 1977 to 1984, he served as dean of Fairleigh Dickinson University's College of Arts and Sciences at the Madison, New Jersey, campus. The end of his career as an educator was spent at Penn State Berks from 1984 to 2001, as dean and CEO emeritus, where he "help[ed] to transform the campus into a college with four-year academic programs and residence halls." He retired from this position on January 31, 2001 Throughout his career, his involvement and interest in Nepal continued, and he was involved in the establishment of the Nepal Studies Association (1970) and the Southern Atlantic States Association for African and Asian Studies (1971); and in 1991, he served as a consultant to the Asia Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development on the first democratic elections in Nepal. He was also continuously involved in the advocacy for educational programs and advancement, working for the establishment of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (1976); serving as a founding member of the Higher Education Council of Berks County, and serving as a member of the Reading School District. He died on August 25, 2009, at the age of 72.

Summary:

This collection consists of papers and research compiled by Frederick H. Gaige, largely during the years of his education at the University of Pennsylvania and during his Fulbright Fellowship in Nepal from 1966 to 1968. Much of this research was probably conducted for the writing of his influential book, Regionalism and national unity in Nepal, which was published in 1975. In this collection, researchers will find a few published newsletters and volumes on the census of Nepal from 1958 to 1963; but the bulk of the material is papers and articles, probably given during conferences or seminars or simply shared amongst colleagues. Topics of these papers include boundary disputes; climate and economic development; domestic and economic structures in India, generally, and Nepal specifically; Hinduism; international relations (Pakistan and United States, especially); and politics. Gaige appears to have been involved in the Peace Corps in Nepal and there are notes and reports by Gaige aimed towards volunteers as well as several publications issued by the American Peace Corps. There are several pieces of writing by Gaige, two of which were class assignments, relating to India and Nepal.

OCLC:

1090552191