Himal Southasian

Himal Southasian (stylized as HIMĀL Southasian) is a review magazine of politics and culture in Southasia, the first and only regional news and analysis magazine. Himal Southasian will continue to publish till November 2016 and meet all its outstanding obligations before suspension of operations.The Southasia Trust announced the suspension of publication of Himal Southasian, the pioneering magazine promoting ‘cross-border journalism’ in the region.^[1] Himal Southasian defines Southasia as a region beyond political dictum and geography but in relation to its people and history and strives to cover stories from Afghanistan to Burma and from Tibet to the Maldives. This region inhabited by a quarter of the world population, shares great swathes of interlocking geography, culture and history. Yet, given the complex history of rivalries and distrust, neighbouring countries can barely talk to one another, much less speak in a common voice. Published by The Southasia Trust, a not-for-profit organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal, Himal Southasian, has strived to define, nurture, and amplify that voice.

History and profile

Himal Southasian was initially founded as the bimonthly magazine called as Himal. In 1996 the name got changed to Himal Southasian and enlarged the area to the area of Afghanistan to Burma and from Tibet to the Maldives. Furthermore, it became a monthly magazine since then. In 2013, Himal Southasian started publishing quarterly in book form so that the magazine has longer shelf life.

Geographical Boundaries

Himal defines South Asia differently than the typical political blocking of countries. In its designation, it includes the nations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and the autonomous region of Tibet. Other distinctive choices in terminology include its favouring of 'Southasia' as one word, and its use of 'Burma' instead of Myanmar. Despite its regional focus, Himal Southasian has a global readership, distributed across South Asia, as well as Europe and the United States.

Contents

The magazine debuted in 1987 as the bimonthly 'Himal', with a focus on the Himalaya region. 'Himal' became the monthly 'Himal Southasian' in 1996, shifting its focus to include a broader definition of South Asia. The magazine publishes long-form journalism and analysis on politics, culture, history and economics. In addition, it carries reportage, reviews, photo essays and fiction. Since January 2013, Himal Southasian divides its output between a thematic quarterly publication, Southasia’s first ‘bookazine’, and its website.^[2] Past quarterlies have been on topics like Afghanistan’s past, present and future, the state of the Southasian media, militarisation of its nation states, the Southasian diaspora, and the predicament of labour in the region.^[3] The magazine posts only some of their content from the quarterlies online but publishes other articles on its website regularly.

'Southasia' as one word

Himal Southasian uses 'Southasia' as one word. The magazine has defined the rational as 'as a magazine seeking to restore some of the historical unity of our common living space – without wishing any violence on the existing nation states – we believe that the aloof geographical term ‘South Asia’ needs to be injected with some feeling.'

External links

• Himal Southasian website

References

3. http://himalmag.com/buy-online/