Workshop Cooperation in Kathmandu
On October 21st, 2024, the South Asia Institute (SAI) Kathmandu Branch Office organized a half-day workshop in collaboration with the research institute Martin Chautari, and their unit “Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal” and the Nepal Heritage Documentation Project at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan. The workshop brought together scholars and researchers to discuss various aspects of Nepal’s historical and cultural preservation. The session began with a presentation by Rajan Khatiwoda, who introduced the Nepal Heritage Documentation Project. His talk focused on the digital preservation of the Kathmandu Valley’s tangible and intangible heritage, with a special emphasis on documenting ancient inscriptions that provide critical insights into the region’s religious and political history. Manik Bajracharya (Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities) introduced Documenta Nepalica, a digital platform that provides researchers access to important legal and administrative documents from pre-modern Nepal. This platform supports scholars in identifying, editing, and translating historical texts, contributing to a deeper understanding of the formation of the Himalayan state. The workshop also included presentations by Pratyoush Onta and Devendra Uprety from Martin Chautari, who shared their research on the history of public school education in Nepal during the 20th century. They highlighted the significant role of local communities and individuals in establishing schools, often overcoming political and social barriers. Their work presented a non-state-centric perspective on educational development in Nepal.
The event concluded with lively discussions among participants, who expressed strong interest in further collaboration, particularly in utilizing digital tools to enhance the preservation and study of Nepal’s cultural heritage.