Why Tilaurakot could not Become a ‘World Heritage’: Reflections on the Politics of Heritage

Details

31 August 2025/१५ भदौ २०८२ (आइतबार, दिउँसो ३ बजे)
Research Seminar Series
Why Tilaurakot could not Become a ‘World Heritage’: Reflections on the Politics of Heritage
Neel Kamal Chapagain, Professor of Architecture, Kathmandu University

Abstract
Using the recent outcome of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris, that did not approve Nepal’s bid to inscribe the archaeological site of Tilaurakot – the childhood home of Siddhartha Gautam – as the prop for discussing larger politics of heritage, this conversation will delve into broader critical aspects of the discourses and practices of heritage.

About the Speaker
Neel Kamal Chapagain has just joined Kathmandu University as a professor of Architecture, after serving as a professor and earlier director of Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University. At Ahmedabad, he was instrumental in setting up a graduate program in heritage management and a Journal of Heritage Management. Prior to Ahmedabad, he was a faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (USA). His most recent global engagements (in 2025) have been in Mongolia – as an international facilitator for the pilot phase of Mongolia Heritage Program, Philippines – as a tutor of a short course and a seminar speaker, South Korea – as a lecturer in a workshop, and Japan – as a mentor to early career researchers. He has a few published works and many unfinished works that he hopes to complete in the coming months. He is looking forward to a few meaningful collaborations with researchers, journalists or media houses and students from a range of disciplines to engage with critical issues related to heritage in Nepal – particularly in the Himalayan region.