Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

WHY STUDY THE HIMALAYAS?

This website is an ongoing project devoted to the study and teaching of the Himalayas. It reflects my learning and experiences during a five-week institute sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Himalayas is a region of the world which is often overlooked in school curriculums. It is a vast frontier of converging languages, faiths, political movements and geological patterns. Reasons to study and teach this immensely rich and important area are not limited to the following:

• The Himalyan region is the birthplace of major world religions, the core of peoples' beliefs and culture;

• Due to its latitudinal and longitudinal scope, as well as vast altitude, the Himalayas hosts many niches of biological diversity;

• The Himalayas, a relatively young mountain range, provides wonderful opportunities for geological exploration and teaching;

• Due to increased communication with both its neighbors and outsiders, this region is undergoing political changes that are increasingly affecting world politics. The relationship between China and the people of Tibet and the current Maoist rebellions in Nepal are two examples;

• Circular migration, the movement of people in search for better jobs and survival is becoming more common. Himalayan cultures are transforming and spreading to all parts of the world.