Germany Returns Over 800 Historic Nepali Documents Dating Back to 13th Century
Kathmandu – More than 800 historical documents, including manuscripts dating back to the 13th century, have been returned to Nepal from Germany, marking a significant recovery of the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
The collection, which includes ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, royal decrees, court orders, legal records, Sanskrit texts and historical travel accounts, was formally handed over to the National Archives of Nepal on Friday, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The documents were previously held in the private collection of the late Joseph Peter Rindfleisch. His son, Walter Rindfleisch, transferred the collection to Professor Axel Michaels of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, who coordinated its return to Nepal.
Michaels, along with researchers Manik Bajracharya and Rajan Khatiwada, handed over the documents to Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal during a ceremony in Kathmandu.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the collection contains materials gathered from Nepal between the 1780s and the 1990s, providing valuable insights into the country’s political, legal, intellectual and cultural history.
The collection includes 465 palm-leaf manuscripts from the Malla period, including royal decrees bearing red seals, and 312 legal decrees and royal documents from the Shah and Rana periods. It also contains 18 manuscripts and travel diaries from the offices of Rana prime ministers and 11 manuscripts covering various subjects.
Some of the palm-leaf manuscripts are among Nepal’s oldest surviving historical documents.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Khanal described the return as an important step toward restoring Nepal’s cultural rights and ownership of its historical heritage.
“Our art, literature, traditions and sacred scriptures are not merely physical remnants; they are the living soul of our civilisation. They carry centuries of philosophical thought, political governance, legal knowledge and spiritual life,” he said.
Khanal also acknowledged Joseph Peter Rindfleisch’s wish to return the documents to Nepal and praised Michaels and his research team for their work in identifying, preserving and facilitating the repatriation of the materials.
Before their return, the documents were preserved and cataloged by the Heidelberg University Library and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
The repatriation was coordinated through a partnership involving Nepal’s Embassy in Germany, Heidelberg University, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Saraf Foundation and Nepal’s National Archives.
Khanal noted that Nepal and Germany are both parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which seeks to prevent the illegal import, export and transfer of cultural property.
He said the handover demonstrated the two countries’ commitment to protecting cultural heritage and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the German government, the German Embassy in Kathmandu and Heidelberg University.
“Today’s handover is an important example of our shared international commitment,” Khanal said. (Source: IANS)
