18 July 2026, London
The Centre for Nepal Studies UK (CNSUK) organised its 2026 Annual Summer Gathering in Sutton, London.
The programme began with paying a tribute to the late Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, a prominent civil society leader, human rights activist, and development thinker, who recently passed away in Kathmandu at the age of 87.
Speaking during the discussion session, Lokendra Dhakal, Executive Director of CNSUK, informed that the Nepal Dialogue Webinar Series would continue and be strengthened, making it both more interactive and useful as much as practicable in coming days. The meeting deliberated to increase the number of public talks and reduce the number of panels talks in 2027. One issue proposed for a panel discussion was Gurkha pensions and equal rights campaign, which required revisiting, examining the progress through the latest negotiations between the governments of Nepal and the United Kingdom. The idea to include ‘Meet the Expert’ which was discussed on previous occasions, also came to fruition, decided to hold on an occasional basis under the Dialogue framework, and Naresh Khapangi-Magar has been entrusted with responsibilities to lead the initiative in 2027.
Expressing appreciation to everyone who contributed to the the Nepal Dialogue Webinar series over the past eighteen months, Dhakal expressed:
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the speakers and participants of the Nepal Dialogue. In the coming days, we will strive to make our webinars even better, encouraging greater discussion. We invite students, professionals, and members of the public to join us live via Zoom.”
Since 2025, CNSUK has been organising the Nepal Dialogue Webinar on the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. (UK time). Dr Krishna Adhikari, who coordinates the organising team of the Dialogue, thanked colleagues for their hard work.
Dr Adhikari, who also coordinates the Motilal Fellowship, established in the memory of late Motilal Singh, who is so far known to be the first Nepali to arrive in Britain, and the first Nepali to pen a substantial journal paper in English language in 1850. The fellowship is awarded annually to one Master’s student enrolled in a Nepali University.
Established in 2016, the fellowship, which is officially called CNSUK’s Master Dissertation Scholarship, is administered in partnership with the Nepal-based research NGO, Social Science Baha (SSB). This year’s recipient of the scholarship is Ms. Srijana Gautam, a psychology student at Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan University. The Fellowship includes NPR 50,000 and co-supervision from the CNSUK and SSB, currently offered by Dr Adhikari.
In his report Dr Adhikari also informed that an endowment fund has been established in Nepal to support and sustain the Motilal Fellowship. Contributions so far have been received from Lokendra Dhakal, Dr Krishna Adhikari, Professor David Gellner, Dr John Whelpton, Kalpana Laksamba, and Professor Joanna Pfaff-Czarnecka. He thanked all the contributors and added that fundraising efforts are continuing, and appealed supporters to contribute as much as possible.
The summer gathering, which also featured a mini book exhibition, was coordinated by Dr Sushma Basnet, Research Associate at CNSUK and her family. Representing the CNSUK, Dr Basnet participated as a panellist at the Nepal Studies Days (NSD), organised by the Britain-Nepal Academic Council in June this year. Dr Basnet has been representing the CNSUK, and volunteering to run the help-desk established by a consortium of organisations to offer support to Nepali students who are in need in the UK.
The meeting decided to organise activities to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, including interactive events, seminars, and publication of research-based books. CNSUK is leading the publication of a volume with SSB and a number of other academics based in universities in Canada and UK, celebrating the work of its advisor Prof. David Gellner. To date, the organisation has published more than several research books, journals, and newsletters. Among these publications, include the seminal works on the Nepalis in the UK, and Gurkha pension policies.
At the meeting CNSUK’s members shared their individual progresses and publication plans. Dr Sangita Shwechha Shrestha reported a number of literary publications she is editing.
Among those attending the summer gathering were CNSUK founders Lokendra Purush Dhakal and Dr Krishna Adhikari; founding adviser Professor David Gellner; researchers Dr Sangeeta Shrestha, Naresh Khapangi Magar, Dr Sushma Basnet and Dr Krishna Upadhyaya; fellow Dr Gangaram Dahal; Financial Adviser L. N. Pandey; Nirvick Jung Rayamajhi, who organises Book Jatra, is helping CNSUK to operate its website and to sell its publications; Journalist Bhagirath Yogi; Premila van Oomen, Secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Group in UK Parliament; and family members.
