KATHMANDU, AUGUST 6
The International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) seminar, scheduled to take place in Nepal from August 23 to 29, has been indefinitely cancelled following what organisers say was a direct request from the Nepali government.
First announced four years ago as a major academic gathering hosted in Nepal, all operational preparations for the event had been finalised. The conference had been due to open in Dhulikhel before moving to the Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu for its remaining sessions. Several international scholars, academics and invited guests were already preparing for travel or en route to Kathmandu when the government intervened to halt the proceedings proceed with convening the 17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS), which had been scheduled for August 23-29 in Kathmandu.” at the final moment.
The IATS conference serves as one of the world’s primary academic forums for Tibetan language, culture, history and religious studies, drawing hundreds of global researchers and experts. While official reasons for the government’s last-minute request have not been detailed, hosting gatherings related to Tibetan studies remains a delicate diplomatic issue in Nepal due to geopolitical sensitivities regarding regional stability and bilateral relations.
Speaking to The Himalayan Times, Professor Sagar R Sharma, PhD, of the Department of Development Studies at the Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS), Kathmandu University, and one of the conference’s conveners, said, “Kathmandu University (KU) has been instructed by the Government of Nepal not to proceed with convening the 17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS), which had been scheduled for August 23-29 in Kathmandu.”
He added, “Following this instruction, the KU Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies (KU HiCAS) and the KU Centre for Buddhist Studies (KU-CBS) are no longer convening the academic seminar.”
Expressing regret at the cancellation of the programme, he said, “We regret the disruption and uncertainty that this development is causing for all participants and concerned stakeholders.”
All preparations for the event had been completed for what organisers emphasised was an entirely academic gathering focused on Tibetan and Buddhist studies, where scholars from around the world were due to present research papers. The organisers had already received and vetted all academic submissions prior to the cancellation.
Another Kathmandu University academic, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the decision, saying the cancellation, based on mere suspicion, sent a damaging signal about Nepal to the global academic community. The conference was set to bring together scholars from 40 countries, including India, China and the United States, many of whom had already paid substantial registration fees and travel costs to attend.
According to Professor Sharma, the responsibility now falls on the International Association for Tibetan Studies to determine a new venue for the gathering. “Responsibility for all further decisions concerning the event will be handed over to the Board of the International Association for Tibetan Studies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government has denied claims that it instructed the cancellation of the IATS conference, maintaining that no official directives were issued to the event’s organisers.
Addressing media reports suggesting the flagship academic seminar was called off following high-level state intervention, Hemraj Aryal, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), stated that the government had played no role in the decision.
“As per my information, there has been no official directive or decision issued by the government regarding this matter,” Aryal said, adding that the event had been managed entirely by its organisers.
Responding to reports naming the Chief Secretary in connection with the cancellation order, Aryal confirmed he had personally consulted the top bureaucrat. “I asked the Chief Secretary about this following reports citing his name. From what I understand, no directive was issued, nor did the government instruct anyone to proceed with or pull the plug on the event,” he clarified.
When asked whether the organisers had made the decision independently, Aryal affirmed, “Yes, that appears to be the case.”
Addressing speculation about potential security concerns surrounding the conference, he noted that he had received no information or briefing indicating that security issues had contributed to the outcome.