London: Heidelberg University welcomed a distinguished delegation from the Nepalese Embassy in Germany, led by Ambassador Dr. Shail Rupakheti. The event, held at the CATS Auditorium, provided a platform for fruitful academic discussions focused on cultural heritage preservation and repatriation efforts.

The meeting commenced with a warm reception by Prof. Dr. Ute Hüsken, Director of the South Asia Institute (SAI), along with Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Managing Co-Director of CATS, and other members of the directorate. The delegation included Dr. Rupakheti’s spouse, Dr. Indira Paudyal, Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Sagar Phuyal, and Mr. Subash Chandra Sapkota.

Throughout the event, several prominent scholars delivered insightful presentations, including Prof. Dr. Ute Hüsken, Prof. Dr. Christiane Brosius, Prof. Dr. Axel Michaels, Dr. Rajan Khatiwoda, and Dr. Simon Cubelic.

The primary objective of the visit was to explore the repatriation process for a textual collection currently held by FS-Nepal. The discussions centered around next steps, including engagement with relevant authorities and agencies. Ambassador Rupakheti expressed sincere gratitude to SAI and FS-Nepal for their efforts in preserving these significant materials and extended thanks for their commitment to returning the collection to Nepal.

The visit concluded with a tour of the Nepal Project Office, CATS, and the university’s library. During the visit, Prof. Brosius and Prof. Michaels took the opportunity to request that the Ambassador convey to the Nepalese government a proposal to establish a Nepal Professorship at SAI Heidelberg.

This visit underscored the ongoing collaboration between Heidelberg University and the Nepalese Embassy in strengthening academic ties and fostering cross-cultural understanding.