2025 Annual Indu Bhatt Memorial Lecture - What's in the Name 'South Asia?' by Kanak Mani Dixit
To address the reality and challenges of a region containing a quarter of humanity, there must first be an agreed name for it. The historical term 'India' ceased to serve this purpose when it got taken in the mid-20th century by the nation-state of that name, extending from the peninsula to the Himalaya. There has always been an argument for loosening the boundaries of the region in the interests of economic growth, social justice, and cultural continuity, and the urgency of collaborative existence has only increased due to accelerating public health, climatological, geopolitical, and other challenges. Contending terms could have been 'Indian Subcontinent,' 'Hindustan,' 'Bharat,' 'Gondwana,' or 'Jambudweep,' but it is 'South Asia' that is becoming increasingly common, including in translations in various South Asian languages. It is a neutral, geographical term that serves the purpose, even though it has not historically evolved. In some parts of academia, there is stiff resistance to using 'South Asia,' but that seems to be a lost battle. I will argue for 'South Asia.'
Speakers
Kanak Mani Dixit, 68, is a writer and journalist as well as a civil rights and democracy activist. He is the Founding Editor of ‘Himal Southasian’ magazine and an active campaigner for subcontinental regionalism. He is active in the conservation of built heritage and open spaces. As heading Nepal’s only public bus transport company, Dixit is involved in developing a public transportation system for the Valley. A long-time trekker, Dixit also writes on themes related to travel, culture and environment. Having suffered from a fall while trekking in 2001, Dixit helped start the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre. He heads the main archives of the Nepali language, the Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya. Believing in the power of non-fiction film, he helped start and chairs the Film Southasia Festival of Documentaries started in 1997. Dixit is also a translator, an author of political and geopolitical commentary, and a popular author of books for children. His writings are archived at www.kanakmanidixit.com.
- Humanity