Kathmandu, May 29 — This week saw the conclusion of a two-day international conference entitled “Nepal-India Relations: Past and Future,” aimed at rejuvenating the historical ties between Nepal and India via scholarly discourse among nations in the Global South.
The seminar took place on May 20-21 at the School of Arts, Kathmandu University, gathering more than 100 experts, researchers, and academicians from Nepal and multiple areas across India. It sought to enhance ties between Nepal and India via sociological insights and common cultural traditions. An important aspect of this assembly was the involvement of over 60 delegates hailing from several Indian states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, marking an extensive broadening of Nepal’s scholarly interactions outside its typical northern Indian connections. This conference stood out due to fostering communication with South India—an infrequent yet crucial academic interchange that aided in closing the gap in culture and intellect between these zones.
During his opening speech, Kathmandu University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr. Achyut Wagle underscored the extensive cultural heritage of South Asia and critiqued historical accounts from the colonial era that belittled the intellectual and scientific advancements within the area. He stressed that South Asian nations such as Nepal and India possess deep-rooted legacies in languages, cultures, and philosophies which contradict the stereotypical view of these regions being primitive. Additionally, Professor Wagle voiced worries over how climate change affects mountainous territories like Nepal and urged for increased collaboration among neighboring states to safeguard their environment.
During his presidential speech, Dr. E James R Daniel, who serves as the director of the Centre for Contemporary Studies at Manonmaniam Sundaram University in Tamil Nadu and is also the President of ATWS-SAC, lauded Nepal as “a paradise on Earth.” He highlighted the profound cultural and historical connections that transcend mere geographical politics. Despite previous political conflicts, he stressed that the enduring cultural and traditional linkages between Nepal and India remain steadfast. Encouraging progress, he called upon both nations to proceed with compassion and comprehension.
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Organized by the Kathmandu University-Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies (KU-NCCS) in partnership with the Association of Third World Studies-South Asia Chapter (ATWS-SAC) and the Sociological Society of Nepal, this event marked the 27th annual conference of ATWS-SAC.
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The seminar featured 70 scholarly presentations organized into multiple themed panels. The discussions covered an array of subjects including environmental decline, gender relations, artificial intelligence, religious customs, indigenous concerns, and economic hurdles. Among the key points were examinations of mining activities and deforestation in India, traditional gender roles during colonial times in Kerala, how AI could revolutionize teaching methods and humanistic studies, and comparisons between various religious rituals in Nepal and Southern India. Many papers highlighted the pivotal influence of social reformers like Phule, Ambedkar, Ayyankali, and Gandhi who played crucial roles in transforming identities and advocating for fairness in South Asia. Other research explored significant aspects of folklore, legislative changes over time, and discrepancies within the education system, thereby providing deep perspectives on the socio-political environment of this area.
A significant cultural highlight at the conference was the presentation of the Mrs. Helen Azariah Memorial Excellence Award to Professor Dr. Lok Raj Baral, a distinguished political scientist and Honorary Chairman of KU-NCCS. This accolade, bestowed upon him by Prof. Dr. Wagle, acknowledged Baral’s lifelong efforts towards fostering peace, progress, and political theory.
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During the event, Professor Dr. Lokraj Baral was honored for his remarkable efforts in enhancing Nepal-India relations via South-South academic exchanges.
The seminar was brought to an end with concluding remarks from Dr. Bhola Thapa, the ex-Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University, who highlighted the necessity for continuous scholarly interaction between Nepal and India. He voiced his optimism about how these discussions could pave the way for enhanced cooperation among institutions down the line. The event concluded with final comments delivered by Dr. P. Vasumathi Devi, the Vice President of ATWS-SAC, acknowledging the importance of ongoing conversations regarding common social and cultural issues and expressing gratitude towards everyone involved in the proceedings.
Through promoting discussions on various underrepresented facets of Nepal-India relations, particularly involving South India, the seminar created fresh opportunities for academic collaboration and cultural insight. This reinforced the significance of educational forums in enhancing regional connections and tackling shared issues within the Global South.
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