Nepal govt intervention forces Tibetan seminar to go online
Kathmandu, Aug 10
The International Association for Tibetan Studies has said a planned international conference on Tibetan studies in Kathmandu will be held online following the Nepal government's instruction to Kathmandu University not to host the event.
Local media reports have linked the Nepal government's decision to concerns raised by China, although the university says it is unaware of any such pressure.
The 17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) - the premier global gathering for Tibetan scholarship - was scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from August 23 to 29, 2026.
The Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies at Kathmandu University and the Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute were preparing to host the event in collaboration with the IATS.
Following the Nepal government's instruction, the IATS Board held an emergency online meeting on August 7 to determine how to proceed. "It voted to take over as conference convenor and to now hold the 17th Seminar of the IATS as an online event," the IATS said in an announcement issued on August 8.
"The programme will remain the same, and participants will be able to attend and present online from wherever they are at the time. Unfortunately, adjustments to different time zones will not be possible," it said.
According to the announcement issued by the IATS Board, Kathmandu University was instructed on August 3 not to proceed with hosting the seminar scheduled for August 23-29.
"This instruction was given in person by the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Govinda Bahadur Karkee, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai, to the Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, Prof. Dr Rishikesh Wagle; the Registrar, Prof. Dr Rajeev Shrestha; and Prof. Dr Sagar Sharma from the Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS)," the IATS said.
The IATS said neither the conference convenors nor the association had received any formal written communication from the government regarding the decision.
"Further oral communications with representatives of the government have unfortunately confirmed these instructions," the IATS Board said.
Following the government's instruction, the KU Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies and the KU Centre for Buddhist Studies handed over further decisions and responsibilities concerning the event to the IATS Advisory Board.
The IATS Board expressed concern over what it described as "unexpected and unwarranted interference" in a purely academic event. The association said hosting the seminar at Kathmandu University had been agreed upon by all relevant parties in 2023 and that no concerns had been raised during the three-year preparation period.
The organisers had invested three years in preparing the event and incurred considerable expenses, while more than 700 participants had already purchased air tickets and booked hotels in Kathmandu, according to the IATS.
"The effective cancellation of this conference by the authorities will raise questions about holding future academic events in the country, and is likely to result in economic and reputational damage," the association said.
The IATS said it would seek to ensure that the academic programme goes ahead and continues to provide an international platform for scholarly exchange on Tibetan and Himalayan studies.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian, I understand the geopolitical sensitivities here. China is a powerful neighbour and Nepal has to balance its relationships. But academic discussions shouldn't be politicised. Online format is a fair compromise, though it's sad for those who had travel plans.
This is what happens when big powers interfere in smaller nations' affairs. Nepal is stuck between India and China. The organisers should have anticipated this. But honestly, bringing Tibetan studies to Kathmandu was always going to raise eyebrows in Beijing.
As someone who studies Himalayan culture, this is disheartening. Tibetan studies is a legitimate academic field, and scholars from India, Nepal, and around the world participate. Forcing it online during a time when people could gather in person feels like a loss for genuine scholarship.
Nepal has every right to make decisions in its national interest. China is a key ally and neighbour. Academic conferences can be held online. People need to understand that in today's world, geopolitics affects everything. At least the conference is still happening in some form.
I feel bad for the scholars who spent money on flights and hotels. But honestly, India does similar things when it comes to events that might upset our neighbours. It's realpolitik. The online format is the only sensible way forward here. Kudos to the organisers for adapting.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.