WHY 'SOUTHASIA'?

Why “Southasia” as one word? Because we look at the region differently.


Himal Southasian is Southasia’s first and only regional magazine of politics and culture. Independent, non-nationalist, pan-Subcontinental – for over 35 years now, Himal has challenged orthodoxies and covered the region with imagination, rigour and irreverence, often defying national censorship regimes and taboos to tell stories that no one else can or will. In a place where nationalism, bigotry and barbed-wire borders mean many neighbours can barely talk to one another, Himal helps Southasians find common cause and voice, with essential stories about their own homes and everything and everyone around them.

We tell Afghans about Indians, Sri Lankans about Bhutanese, Nepalis about Malayalis, Bengalis about Baloch, Mizos about Mumbaikars, Tamils about Tibetans, and so on – and we tell the rest of the world about this often overlooked and misunderstood region, home to more than a quarter of humanity. Without wishing violence on any nation state, Himal injects “South Asia” with a fresh sensibility – a Southasian one, which recalls some of the historical unity of our region and imagines a democratic, equitable, sustainable and interlinked future.

That’s also why we have Himal’s iconic Right-Side Up Map (it’s not upside-down!), with a startling new perspective on Southasia to dislodge ingrained views.

Started from Kathmandu in 1987 as a cross-border magazine of the Himalaya, Himal expanded its horizons in 1996 to cover all of Southasia – from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east, from Tibet in the north to the Maldives in the south. After 15 years as a print monthly and then a few years as a quarterly, Himal was forced to suspend publication in 2016 after prolonged harassment by the Nepal government. It has since found a new base in Colombo as an online magazine, with a remote editorial team working from across the Subcontinent. Our stories, podcasts, online events and extensive archives bring some of the region’s best journalists and thinkers to audiences in Southasia and the Southasian diaspora, as well as to scholars of the region all over the world.


FOLLOW HIMAL


Follow Himal’s work on our homepage and in our archive.

Social Media

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


Newsletters

“The Himal Dispatch” is a fortnightly update on the latest stories and upcoming events from Himal.

“Southasian Review of Books” is a monthly newsletter threading together our latest reviews and literary essays, curated reading suggestions, interviews with select writers and updates on the world of Southasian publishing.

“Screen Southasia” is your invitation to online screenings of one great Southasian documentary on the first weekend of every month.

“Southasiasphere” brings you Himal’s fortnightly podcast, with a roundup of the latest news from across Southasia and essential analysis on regional affairs.

“Letter from the Editor” is a monthly, members-only update from the Editor, Roman Gautam, giving you the inside scoop on Himal and the view of Southasia from our team’s many vantage points across the region. Become a member here.



Podcasts

“Southasiasphere” is our fortnightly round-up of regional events and analysis.

Listen to Himal Southasia’s channels on YouTube, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on our website.



Events

“Southasian Conversation” is our regular webinar series, bringing you cross-border views on vital regional issues.

“Screen Southasia” is a monthly online screening of great Southasian documentaries, both established classics and exciting recent releases, run in collaboration with Film Southasia.

The “Himal Fiction Fest” is our twice-a-year showcase of short stories from emerging voices in Southasian fiction and translation.

Follow Himal on social media, sign up for our newsletters or become a member to get updates on upcoming events.


OUR TEAM


ROMAN GAUTAM
EDITOR

RAISA WICKREMATUNGE
DEPUTY EDITOR

SHWETHA SRIKANTHAN
ASSISTANT EDITOR

NAYANTARA NARAYANAN
ASSISTANT EDITOR

NEHA RAJBHANDARY
ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

RITIKA CHAUHAN
RESEARCHER AND FACT CHECKER

ANU JAKHAR
AUDIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT INTERN

SUJITH DE SILVA
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER




KANAK MANI DIXIT
FOUNDING EDITOR


AFSAN CHOWDHURY
DEEPAK THAPA
MITU VARMA
JEHAN PERERA
BEENA SARWAR
MANISHA ARYAL
RAJASHRI DASGUPTA
FOUNDING ADVISORS


HANA SHAMS AHMED
SARAH ELEAZAR
AMISH RAJ MULMI
LAXMI MURTHY
AZRA NASEEM
VIJAY PRASHAD
THOMAS RUTTIG
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS



CONTACT


48 Rosemead Place
Colombo-7
Sri Lanka

For editorial matters, write to editorial@himalmag.com

For all queries on membership, write to membership@himalmag.com

Himal Southasian is supported by the Open Society Foundations and our membership programme. Our funders have no influence over the editorial direction or output of Himal Southasian.

ISSN 10129804

Library of Congress Control Number 88 912882

Himal Southasian
www.himalmag.com