Public Lecture by Prof. Dr. Axel Michaels about the Sino-Nepalese War of 1791/92
On February 25th, NHDP co-director Axel Michaels gave a public talk entitled “Who won the Sino-Nepalese War of 1791/92? New insights from new sources.” The event was co-organized by NHDP, the South Asia Institute Kathmandu branch office , the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the South Asia Institute for History and Philosophy (Nepal).
The lecture was introduced by Kanak Mani Dixit. Many persons from public life and academia were in the audience, for instance, his Excellency, the Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Prinz. The event also marked the official launch of Prof. Michaels' latest book, “Nepal - A History from the Earliest Times to the Present (New York: Oxford University Press, 2024)” .
About the lecture:
It is widely believed that the Sino-Gorkha War of 1791/92 ended with a victory for the Chinese. But why did the Chinese forces retreat after advancing to Nuwakot, a mere day's march from Kathmandu? New evidence from Nepalese and Tibeto-Chinese sources sheds light on the reasons behind these diverging perspectives. The lecture explored the historical, political, environmental, and linguistic aspects of the conflict, offering fresh insights into how wars come to a resolution, often leaving behind contested narratives.