In his political testament, *Divyopadeśa* (c. 1774), King Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa Śāha poignantly likened Nepal’s geopolitical position, wedged between China and India, to that of a “yam between two rocks” (duī ḍhuṅgāko tarula). This metaphor underscores the intrinsic link between Nepal’s political destiny and its neighbors—a sentiment echoed by political analysts and decision-makers to this day. However, within the same text appears another famous phrase—that of Nepal as the “true Hindustan” (asala hindustāna). In contrast to colonized India, this self-representation upholds Hinduism’s central role in the polity, adheres to the Brahmanical caste system, and zealously restricts foreign influence.

It is this notion of Nepal as the “true Hindustan” that has shaped the country’s image as a “fossil” (Mary Des Chene), offering tourists an authentic glimpse into Indian culture and researchers an opportunity to study an India in the making (“Le Népal, c’est l’Inde qui se fait,” Sylvain Lévi). The conference takes these tensions as a starting point to explore the historical, political, cultural, and intellectual connections between Nepal and the world, particularly India, China, and Tibet. Furthermore, it seeks to examine moments of conflict, isolation, and the restriction of exchange resulting from complex entanglements. By investigating the potential of transculturality in understanding specific aspects of Nepal’s non-colonized history, the conference simultaneously honors Professor Axel Michaels on the occasion of his 75th birthday. It critically engages with a key term in his scholarly oeuvre, inviting reflection on Nepal’s dynamic relationships with neighboring regions in the past and present.