Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat
23-25 July, 2025
About the Conference
The Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya has been hosted by Social Science Baha since 2012 in collaboration with the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, Britain–Nepal Academic Council, Centre for South Asian and Himalayan Studies (CESAH) & Japanese Association for South Asian Studies (JASAS).
The objective of the conference is to provide a scholarly platform in Kathmandu to scholars working on various aspects of social life in Nepal and the Himalaya from the perspective of social science as well as the arts and the humanities.
Conference 2024
Panel A1 | Borders of Hopes with India and China 9:00 -11:00
Opening Remarks and Chair
Nirmal Man Tuladhar, Chair, Social Science Baha
Discussant
Sanjay Sharma, Independent Scholar
Bade Qunzhu
Lecturer, Qinghai Minzu University, China; Ph.D. Scholar, Ethnography, Qinghai Minzu University, China
Nabraj Lama
Research Scholar, Himalayan Strategic Institute
Wu Di
Postdoctoral Researcher, Assistant Researcher, School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University, China
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel A2 | Livelihood at the Bottom of the Pyramid 11:30 am–1:30 pm
Chair
Sanjaya Aryal, Lecturer, University of Essex
Discussant
Sadikshya Bhattarai, Research Coordinator, Social Science Baha
Sudhir Shrestha
Knowledge Management Officer, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication; Visiting Faculty, Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM)
Rajan Binayek Pasa
Assistant Professor, Central Department of Rural Development, Tribhuvan University
Lila Bahadur Bishwakarma
Teacher, Kallery Secondary School, Dhading, Nepal
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel A3 | Learning and Growing up Experiences of Disabled and Youth 2:30–4:30 pm
Chair
Shiva Rijal, Lecturer in English, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University
Discussant
Prem Phyak, Associate Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University
Phoenix Kenney
PhD Scholar, University of Cambridge
Anna Hata
PhD Scholar, University College London, United Kingdom
Challenges Faced by Partially Visually Impaired English Language Learners and How they Overcame them
Sujit Maharjan
Researcher, Social Science Baha
Panel B1 | Rising despite the System 9:00 -11:00
Opening Remarks
Mahendra Lawoti, Member, ANHS
Chair and Discussant
Seira Tamang, Editor-at-large, SINHAS
Prem Phyak
Associate Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA
Shak Bahadur Budhathoki
Lifelong Learning Mandala
Mahendra Lawoti
Professor, Department of Political Science, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel B2 | Negotiating Socio-Political Structures in a New Republic 11:30 am–1:30 pm
Chair
Lokranjan Parajuli, Senior Researcher, Martin Chautari
Discussant
Sabin Ninglekhu, Principal Investigator, Heritage as Placemaking, Social Science Baha
Prakash B K
PhD Scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, USA
Xing Li
PhD Scholar, Department of Anthropology, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dipak Ghising
PhD Scholar, Rural Development, Tribhuvan University
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel B3 | Refugees and the Journey of Making a Home 2:30–4:30 pm
Chair
Ramawatar Yadav, Former Vice-Chancellor, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Discussant
Ranu Sherpa, Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi
Lopita Nath
Professor and Chair of History, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
Diversity, Multi-Level and Mobility：An Ethnographic Study on Social Networks of the Tibetan in Nepal
HAI Lu
Lecturer & Research Associate, Institute of International Relations, JINAN University, Guangdong, China
Yu Yao
Lecturer, School of International Studies/Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies, JINAN University, Guangzhou, China
Smriti Shreya
PhD Scholar, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Panel A4 | Folk Music as Expression and Memories 9:00 -11:00
Chair and Discussant
Hari Sharma, Executive Director, Purak Asia
Anna Stirr
Director, Centre for South Asian Studies; Associate Professor of Asian Studies, University of Hawaii Manoa
Michael D. Smith
Researcher, Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI)
Chitra Rawat
Research and Operations Manager, India Migration Now
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel A5 | Women Stepping Out of the Shadows 11:30 am–1:30 pm
Chair
Sanjay Sharma, Independent Scholar
Discussant
Claire Willey-Sthapit, Assistant Professor, University of Kansas
Lalita Waldia
Field Researcher
Rajendra Sharma
Senior Research Associate, Social Science Baha
Amir Raja
Research Associate, Social Science Baha; Lecturer, Madan Bhandari Memorial College, Kathmandu
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel A6 | (Un)Neighbourly Influences in Nepal 2:30–3:45 pm
Chair
Jacob Rinck, Postdoctoral Fellow, Asia Research Institute, NUS, Singapore
Discussant
Pranab Kharel, Member, Martin Chautari
Niraj Lawoju
PhD Scholar, School of International Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Rajib Neupane
Research Associate, Social Science Baha
Break 3:45–4:15 pm
Panel A7 | Extremes of Digital Access 4:15–5:30 pm
Chair and Discussant
Sudeshna Thapa, Research Coordinator, Social Science Baha
Rajendra Raj Timilsina
Neo-Sanskritization Explorer
Chhatra Bahadur Limbu
Researcher, Social Science Baha
Panel B4 | Precarity and Possibility: Transnational Migrant Labour, Life-Making & Legalities in Malaya/Sia 9:00 -11:00
Chair
Hema Kiruppalini, Research Fellow, Asia Research Institute, NUS, Singapore
Discussant
Slesh Shrestha, Independent Researcher
Sampreety Gurung
PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, Cornell University
Hema Kiruppalini
Research Fellow, Asia Research Institute, NUS, Singapore
Jacob Rinck
Postdoctoral Fellow, Asia Research Institute, NUS, Singapore
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel B5 | Histories of Education in the Nepali Cultural World 11:30 am–1:30 pm
Chair and Discussant
Pramod Bhatta, Member, Martin Chautari
Rukh Gurung
Assistant Researcher, Martin Chautari
Pratyoush Onta
Research Director, Martin Chautari
Lokranjan Parajuli
Senior Researcher, Martin Chautari
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel B6 | Impacts of Constructing and Practising Beliefs
Chair
Sondra Hausner, Professor, University of Oxford
Discussant
Richard Bownas, Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Sabin Bahadur Zoowa
Lecturer, Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences
Akshay Balan
Field Representative, Worker Rights Consortium
Anisha Maini
Research Associate, StepChange
Avantika Jhunjhunwala
Researcher; MA Sociology, Delhi School of Economics
Avita Singh
Guest Faculty, University of Bhopal
Bibhuti Malla
Consulting Senior Associate, ERM India Pvt. Ltd
Srinjit Venkatesh
Research Analyst, Square Panda Education India
Break 3:45–4:15 pm
Panel B7 | Identity in Political and Literary Representations 4:15–5:30 pm
Rahul Ganguly
PhD Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Delhi, India
Ranu Sherpa
Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
Panel A8 | Gurkhas in a New Light 9:00 -11:00
Chair
Pratyoush Onta, Research Director, Martin Chautari
Discussant
Hema Kiruppalini, Research Fellow, Asia Research Institute, NUS, Singapore
Paulina Stanik
PhD Scholar, University of Warsaw, Poland
Chaaru Jain
Project Manager and Art Educator, Srijanalaya
Sanjay Sharma
Independent Scholar
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel A9 | Labour Regimes and Policy Change
Chair
Lopita Nath, Professor and Chair of History, University of the Incarnate Word
Discussant
Chaaru Jain, Project Manager and Art Educator, Srijanalaya
Tek Raj Koirala
PhD Scholar International Relation, South Asian University, New Delhi
Sanjaya Aryal
University of Essex
Josef Neubauer
PhD Scholar, Department for Migration and Globalisation, University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel A10 | Of Journeys and Worldviews: Formation of Early Modern Consciousness in Nepal 2:30–4:30 pm
Chair
Komal Phuyal, Lecturer in English, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University
Discussant
Abhi Subedi, Professor Emeritus, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University
Mahesh Paudyal
Lecturer, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu
Komal Phuyal
Lecturer in English, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Shiva Rijal
Lecturer in English, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Panel B8 | Sajag-Nepal: Preparedness and Planning for the Mountain Hazard and Risk Chain
Chair
Alex Densmore, Professor, Durham University
Discussant
Janak Rai, Professor, Anthropology, Tribhuvan University
Break 11–11:30 am
Panel B9 | Sajag-Nepal: Preparedness and Planning for the Mountain Hazard and Risk Chain
Chair
Amy Johnson, Assistant Professor, Georgia College and State University
Discussant
Katsuo Nawa, Professor of Cultural Anthropology, University of Tokyo
Lunch Break 1:30–2:30 pm
Panel B10 | Sajag-Nepal: Preparedness and Planning for the Mountain Hazard and Risk Chain 2:30–4:30 pm
Chair
Jeevan Baniya, Assistant Director, Social Science Baha
Discussant
Sumit Dugar, Resilience Adviser, UK FCDO
Selected Presentation 2025
| SN | Presenter/Affiliation | Abstract |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Xinyue Yang
PhD Student, Center for Tibetan Studies, Sichuan University
|
“福运”: The Cultural Symbols of Tibetan Collectibles of Used Items |
| 2 |
Pradip Raj Tiwari
Birendra Multiple Campus, Bharatpur
|
Social Transformation and Migration Dynamics: Intersectional Life Course Perspectives in Mid-Hill Region Nepal |
| 3 |
Sadhu Ram Tamang
Peace Advisor, GIZ Civil Peace Service
|
Dialogue in Preventing Nonviolent Conflict in Inter-Cultural Society in Siraha, Nepal |
| 4 |
Paulina Stanik
University of Warsaw
|
Gurkhas and the Great War Effort in the Suburb of Europe |
| 5 |
Rojita Sharma
Architect/ Lecturer/ Independent Researcher
Sadichchha Shrestha
Lecturer, Himalaya College of Engineering
Krija Bajracharya
Kathmandu University School of Arts
|
Documenting Traditional Games for Revitalization of Public Spaces of Bhaktapur, Nepal |
| 6 |
Anjali Sharma
Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Rajasthan
Divyanshu Mishra
PhD Scholar, Department of Education, Central University of Rajasthan
|
Indigenous Wisdom for Climate Resilience: Climate Change Adaptation in Indo-Nepal Himalayas |
| 7 |
Anjali Sharma
Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Rajasthan
Usha Chaudhary
Research Scholar
|
Role of Procedural Fluency in Community Life of Indo – Nepal Himalayan Perspective |
| 8 |
Anjali Sharma
Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Rajasthan
Megha Aggarwal
PhD Scholar, Department of Education, Central University of Rajasthan
|
Legal and Constitutional Advancements for Transgender Rights: A Comparative Study of India and Nepal |
| 9 |
Leena Sharma
Centre for Comparative Literature and Translation Studies, School for Language, Literature and Cultural Studies, Central University of Gujarat
|
Rethinking Regions: Hip-Hop Narratives of Migration and Identity in Nepal Since 1980 |
| 10 |
U.N.K. Rathnayake
PhD Candidate, Jawaharlal Nehru University
|
Exploring the Introduction and Implementation of Western Medicine in South Asian British Colonies: A Comparative Experimental Study of Nepal and Sri Lanka (19th to 20th Century) |
| 11 |
Kumud Rana
Assistant Professor, Lancaster University
|
Transitioning Into the Third Gender in Nepal: The Politics of Recognition and Redistribution Within Trans/National Human Rights Regimes |
| 12 |
Bade Qunzhu
PhD Student, Qinghai Minzu University
Nao Erjilima
Lecturer, Qinghai Minzu University
|
Social Integration of Cross-border Laborers in Sino-Nepal Border Economic Cooperation Zone |
| 13 |
Komal Phuyal
Lecturer, Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University
|
Who Writes Bhaktapur? Reading Myth and History in Contemporary Nepali Literature |
| 14 |
Mitra Pariyar
Chair, Caste Watch Network (CWN)
|
Can Untouchability Be Eradicated from Nepal? |
| 15 |
Lokranjan Parajuli
Senior Researcher, Martin Chautari
|
Electoral Process and the Activities of the First Local Government of Nepal |
| 16 |
Xuzi Pan
Yunnan University
|
Business Across the Himalayas: Traditional Trade Networks and Modern Shifts in Nepal-Tibet Commerce |
| 17 |
Gita Neupane
Assistant Professor, University of Idaho
Claire Willey-Sthapit
Assistant Professor, University of Kansas
|
The Paradox of Men’s Perceptions of Sisters and Other Women in the Context of Sexual Harassments in Public Spaces in Nepal |
| 18 |
Gita Neupane
Assistant Professor, University of Idaho
|
Gender Policing, Everyday Resistance and Women Motorcycle Riders in Kathmandu |
| 19 |
Sangeeta Mishra
Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts, Noida International University
|
(Re)-Visiting Mithila Painting of Nepal: Artistic Tradition, Cultural Identity and Historiographical Perspectives |
| 20 |
Bidhyalaxmi Maharjan
Student, The Open Institute
|
Intergenerational Tensions and Tactics of Mediation in Single, College-Educated Nepali Women’s Leisure Travel and Tourism |
| 21 |
Xing Li
Department of Anthropology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
|
The Making of an Online System: The Transition of Civil Registration Practices in Nepal |
| 22 |
Marie Lecomte-Tilouine
Director of Research, CNRS, France
|
Questions Raised by the Visual Anthropology of the Invisible |
| 23 |
Mahendra Lawoti
Professor, Western Michigan University
|
Comparing Executive Systems in Nepal, and Beyond |
| 24 |
Niraj Lawoju
PhD Student, Sichuan University
|
Study of Depiction and Understandings of Chinese Netizens About Nepal on Wechat Short Videos |
| 25 |
Anne Kukucza
Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies, University of Zurich
|
Working Towards the Dream: Hopeful Labour and Young Women’s Quest for Mobility in Urban Nepal |
| 26 |
Binita Khatiwada
Ratna Rajyalaxmi Campus
Dipak Ghising
PhD Student, Rural Development, Tribhuvan University
|
Economic Landscape and Challenges of Chhurpi Production Farmers |
| 27 |
Neha Gauchan
Project Manager, Udeshya Girls in STEM
|
Narratives from Thakali Women Living in Kathmandu: Exploring Self, Indigeneity, and Identity |
| 28 |
Gaurav C Garg
Assistant Professor, History, Ashoka University
|
Claiming Everest, Sharing Tenzing: Early Postcolonial Indians and First Successful Ascent of the World’s Highest Peak |
| 29 |
Andreas Føllesdal
Professor, Political Philosophy, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo
Kåre Vollan
Managing Director, Quality AS
|
The Nepali Federation – A Comparative Study |
| 30 |
Steve Folmar
Department of Anthropology, Wake Forest University
|
Community Directed Health Programming in Lamjung |
| 31 |
Stefania Duricova
PhD Student, University of St Andrews/ Independent Researcher and Curator
|
Curating Himalayan Art: Decolonising the Presentation of Non-western Culture in European Museums with a Focus on Musée National Des Arts Asiatiques Guimet |
| 32 |
Wu Di
Assistant Researcher/ Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University
|
The Trans-Himalayan Flow of Tibetan Salt: Salt-Grain Exchange Among Northern Tibetan Nomads from a Regional Perspective |
| 33 |
Richard Bownas
Professor, Political Science, University of Northern Colorado
|
The ‘Particization’ of Society: Nepal in Comparative Perspective |
| 34 |
Dipen Bhattarai
PhD Scholar, Department of Social Work, Tribhuvan University
|
Enhancing Youth Retention in Nepal Through Education And Employment Reforms |
| 35 |
Amar B K
Chair, Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies - Kathmandu Center
Binita Nepali
Graduate Teaching Faculty, Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University
|
Caste in Nepali Cinema: Questions of Dalit Representation, Consciousness, and Agency |
| 36 |
Prakash BK
PhD Student, Department of Anthropology, The University of Notre Dame
|
Caste and Mental Health: Navigating Dalit Suffering and Resilience in Nepal |