Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS)
The Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS) was established on December 27, 2019 under the School of Arts by the 591st Executive Council (EC) meeting of Kathmandu University (KU). The initial days and months after the establishment of the Centre became virtually inactive due to the sudden advent of Covid-19 virus and the impact it had at the global as well as national levels. Because of national level lockdowns, travel restrictions and safety concerns, the initial months of the establishment were spent mostly by discussing future plans and crafting the directive of HiCAS. The directive of HiCAS was eventually finalized and endorsed by the EC on the 31st of August, 2021, which clearly outlines the aims, goals, structure and planned activities of HiCAS.
The founding members of HiCAS are Professor Dr Diwakar Acharya (Oxford University, UK), Mr Mukunda Upadhyaya (Nepal) and Professor Dr. Sagar Raj Sharma (Kathmandu University, Nepal). Professor Sharma is also the Founding Director of the Center. The Board of the Centre is chaired by the Dean of the School of Arts and its Advisory Body is headed by the Founding Vice Chancellor of KU consisting of prominent national and international scholars.
Fields of Study
- Asian languages. cultures, and civilizations across the Himalayas
- Histories, religions, philosophies, and knowledge systems of Asian countries
- Ayurveda and other traditional medicines
- Traditional art, architecture, city planning, and other technologies
- The Vedas, Tripitaka, and other canonical texts in Sanskrit and other ancient languages of Asia
- Classical literature of major languages of Indian Sub-continent
- Search and preservation of handwritten manuscripts and edition of ancient texts
- Theories and practices of all religious and cultural traditions of Asia
- Identification of Archaeological sites, excavation, and analysis
Methods and Plans
- Adopt traditional and modern, comparative and multidisciplinary methods of study and research as per the need
- Design and run short and long, formal and informal courses in related fields in collaboration with the concerned Schools
- Translation of canonical and classical texts in modern languages
- Develop courses on priority basis in the fields of Ethics, Yoga, Religious Studies, Eastern and Comparative Philosophy, Heritage management, Archival Studies, Cultural Tourism, etc.
- Develop appropriate means and medium for the dissemination of research findings, such as journals, book series, lectures, and workshops
Mission
- Evolve as an autonomous and non-profit world-ranking research centre for Asian Studies under the umbrella of Kathmandu University
- Facilitate connections and collaborations between the East and the West
Objectives
- To serve as a platform for global academicians for interaction and sharing of research concepts and findings
- To develop and implement research projects and collaborations at national and international levels
- To promote Nepalese and other Asian scholars to take a more prominent part in elucidating the documents and traditions of their culture
Leadership and Governance
Steering Committee
A steering committee of seven members, headed by the Dean of the School of Arts is responsible for the academic, administrative and financial management of the Centre.
Advisory Committee
A committee headed by the founder VC of KU including national and international scholars from relevant fields will acts as the advisory body of the Centre
Contact
P.B. No. 6250, School of Arts, Kathmandu University, Hattiban, Lalitpur
Phone: 0977-1-5251294, 0977-1-5251306
Email: hicas@ku.edu.np