SOAS University of London

South Asia Department

Michael J Hutt

BA, PhD (London)
  • Overview
  • Teaching
  • Expertise
  • Publications

Overview

Michael Hutt
Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia

Professor of Nepali and Himalayan Studies

SOAS South Asia Institute

Director, SOAS South Asia Institute

Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies (CCLPS)

Member

Centre for the Study of Pakistan

Academic Staff, Centre for the Study of Pakistan​

Academic Board

Member

Name:
Professor Michael J Hutt
Email address:
Telephone:
020 7898 4286
Address:
SOAS University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
Building:
Brunei Gallery
Office No:
B400
Office Hours:
Email for an appointment

Biography

Michael Hutt completed a BA in South Asian Studies, majoring in Hindi literature, in 1980 and a Ph.D. on the history of the Nepali language and its literature in 1984, both at SOAS.  In 1987 he returned to SOAS as a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, and has been engaged in teaching and research relating to Nepal and the Himalaya here ever since. He was Head of the South Asia Department from 1995-9, and has served as both Associate Dean (2002-4) and Dean (2004-10) of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Britain-Nepal Academic Council ever since its foundation in 2000, and its chairman since 2010; he has also served two terms as editor of the European Bulletin of Himalayan Research. 

Michael Hutt was appointed as the chair of the British Academy's South Asia area panel in 2014.

The study of modern and contemporary Nepali literature is Hutt's home ground, and he is well known as a translator. He has also published on Nepali and Bhutanese politics, the Nepali diaspora in India, Nepali art and architecture, and the Bhutanese refugee issue. Between 2010 and 2013 Hutt was the co-director of a British Academy-funded International Partnership project on the construction of public meaning in contemporary Nepal, working with colleagues at Martin Chautari in Kathmandu.  In 2011 he was awarded the Nai-Derukha International Prize ‘for his continuous dedication to promoting the study of Nepali literature in the international arena’ (see here).

Teaching

Programmes Convened
Courses Taught
PhD Students supervised
  • Bryony Whitmarsh, 'The Narayanhiti Palace Museum: Memory, Power and National Identity'
  • Katia Tzarkova, "I am Tibetan." Constructing transnational and polyvocal identity through the literary imagination.
  • Krishna Prasad Upadhyaya, ‘Vulnerability and International Humanitarian Law: The Tharu Experience of Nepal’s Internal Armed Conflict (1996-2006)’
  • Michele Serafini, Playing at Football: Time, Pleasure and Identity Politics in Transnational Nepal.
  • Thomas van der Molen, Affecting the Wheel of Time: Tibetan Migrant Engagements with Time and Documentation

Professor Hutt's podcast exploring the links between teaching and research.

Expertise

For help in contacting SOAS academics and advice on services to business and the community, please contact SOAS Enterprise on +44(0)20 7898 4837 or email enterprise@soas.ac.uk.
For all press and media enquiries please call +44 (0)20 7898 4135 or email comms@soas.ac.uk

Available for
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Press
  • Briefings
  • Special Study Programmes
  • Short Term Consultancy
  • Long Term Consultancy
Regional Expertise
  • South Asia
Country Expertise
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Nepal
Languages
  • Hindi
  • Nepali

Publications

Jump to: Authored Books | Edited Books or Journal Volumes | Book Chapters | Journal Articles | Working Papers / Reports | Other

Authored Books

Hutt, Michael (2012) Eloquent Hills: Essays on Nepali Literature. Kathmandu: Martin Chautari.

Hutt, Michael (2010) The Life of Bhupi Sherchan: Poetry and Politics in Post-Rana Nepal. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Hutt, Michael and Chettri, Lil Bahadur (2008) Mountains Painted with Turmeric. New York: Columbia University Press.

Hutt, Michael (2003) Unbecoming Citizens: Culture, Nationhood, and the Flight of Refugees from Bhutan. Oxford University Press.

Hutt, Michael and Subedi, Abhi (1999) Teach Yourself Nepali. A complete course in understanding, speaking and writing Nepali. London: Hodder Headline.

Hutt, Michael (1997) Modern Literary Nepali: an Introductory Reader. Oxford University Press (New Delhi).

Hutt, Michael (1996) Devkota’s Muna-Madan: Translation and Analysis. Kathmandu: Sajha Publishers.

Hutt, Michael (1994) Nepal: a Guide to the Art and Architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. Gartmore: Kiscadale Publications.

Hutt, Michael (1991) Himalayan Voices: An Introduction to Modern Nepali Literature. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Voices from Asia)

Hutt, Michael (1988) Nepali: A National Language and its Literature. New Delhi and London: Sterling Publishers and School of Oriental and African Studies.

Edited Books or Journal Volumes

Hutt, Michael, ed. (2004) Himalayan ‘People’s War’: Nepal’s Maoist Rebellion. London: C. Hurst and Co..

Hutt, Michael, ed. (1994) Bhutan: Perspectives on Conflict and Dissent. Gartmore: Kiscadale Publications.

Hutt, Michael, ed. (1994) Nepal in the Nineties: Versions of the Past, Visions of the Future. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. (SOAS studies on South Asia)

Book Chapters

Hutt, Michael (2014) 'The Last Himalayan Monarchies.' In: Toffin, Gérard and Pfaff-Czarnecka, Joanna, (eds.), Facing Globalization in the Himalayas: Belonging and the politics of the self. New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 419-443. (Governance, Conflict and Civic Action: Volume 5)

Hutt, Michael (2009) 'Where is home for an Indian Nepali writer?' In: Subba, T.B. and Sinha, A.C. and Nepal, G.S. and Nepali, D.R., (eds.), Indian Nepalis: Issues and Perspectives. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, pp. 28-48.

Hutt, Michael (2004) 'Introduction: Monarchy, Democracy and Maoism in Nepal.' In: Hutt, M., (ed.), Himalayan 'People's War': Nepal's Maoist Rebellion. Bloomington : Indiana University Press: Hurst & Company, pp. 1-20.

Hutt, Michael (2003) 'Reading Sumnima.' In: Lecomte-Tilouine, M. and Dolfus, P., (eds.), Ethnic Revival and Religious Turmoil. Identities and Representation in the Himalayas. Oxford University Press, pp. 23-43.

Hutt, Michael (2001) 'Rup Chand Bista.' In: Jones, D, (ed.), Censorship: a World Encyclopedia. Fitzroy Dearborn (UK & USA), pp. 1689-1690.

Hutt, Michael (2001) '�Bhutan�.' In: Jones, D, (ed.), Censorship: a World Encyclopedia. Fitzroy Dearborn (London and Chicago), pp. 225-226.

Hutt, Michael (2001) 'Nepal.' In: Jones, D, (ed.), Censorship: a World Encyclopedia. Fitzroy Dearborn (UK & USA), pp. 246-247.

Hutt, Michael (1997) 'Being Nepali without Nepal: reflections on a South Asian diaspora.' In: D, eds and Pfaff-Czarnecka, J and Whelpton, J, (eds.), Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom. The Politics of Culture in Contemporary Nepal. Harwood Academic Publishers (Amsterdam), pp. 101-144.

Hutt, Michael (1996) 'Looking for Shangri-la, from Hilton to Lamicchane''.' In: T, ed, (ed.), The Tourist Image: Myths and Myth-Making in Tourism. John Wiley & Sons (Chichester), pp. 49-60.

Journal Articles

Hutt, Michael (2016) 'Ganga Bahadur’s books: landmark proletarian novels and the Nepali communist movement.' Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 17 (3). pp. 357-374.

Hutt, Michael (2015) 'Heritage, continuity, and nostalgia.' Cultural Anthropology - Hot Spots [website].

Hutt, Michael (2014) 'Writers, Readers, and the Sharing of Consciousness: Five Nepali Novels.' Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, 34 (2). pp. 18-30.

Hutt, Michael (2013) 'The disappearance and reappearance of Yogmaya: recovering a Nepali revolutionary icon.' Contemporary South Asia, 21 (4). pp. 382-397.

Hutt, Michael (2012) 'Reading Nepali Maoist Memoirs.' Studies in Nepali History and Society, 17 (1). pp. 107-142.

Hutt, Michael (2012) 'Singing the New Nepal.' Nations and Nationalism, 18 (2). pp. 306-325.

Hutt, Michael and Whelpton, John (2011) 'The Catalogue of the Hodgson Collection in the British Library.' European Bulletin of Himalayan research, 39. pp. 128-143.

Hutt, Michael (2007) 'Bhupi Sherchan: from schoolboy to Sarvahara.' Studies in Nepali History and Society, 12 (1). pp. 1-24.

Hutt, Michael (2007) 'A Nepalese Triangle: Monarchy, Maoists and Political Parties.' Asian Affairs, 38 (1). pp. 12-22.

Hutt, Michael (2006) 'Things That Should Not Be Said: Censorship and Self-Censorship in the Nepali Press Media, 2001-02.' The Journal of Asian Studies, 65 (2). pp. 361-392.

Hutt, Michael (2006) 'Nepal and Bhutan in 2005. Monarchy and Democracy: Can They Co-exist?' Asian Survey, 46 (1). pp. 120-124.

Hutt, Michael (2005) 'Nepal and Bhutan in 2004: Two Kings, Two Futures�.' Asian Survey, 45 (1). pp. 83-87.

Hutt, Michael (2005) 'The Bhutanese refugees: between verification, repatriation and royal realpolitik.' Journal of Peace and Democracy in South Asia, vol.1 . pp. 44-55.

Hutt, Michael (2005) 'King Gyanendra�s coup and its implications for Nepal�s future�.' The Brown Journal of World Affairs, vol. 1. pp. 111-123.

Hutt, Michael (2001) 'Monarchy, Maoism and democracy in Nepal.' Journal of Conflict, Security & Development, vol. 1. pp. 93-101.

Hutt, Michael (2000) 'Unadmitted Histories: the lives of Dalchan and Garjaman Gurun.' European Bulletin of Himalayan Research, 19. pp. 101-115.

Hutt, Michael (1998) 'Going to Mugalan: Nepali literary representations of migration to India and Bhutan.' South Asia Research, 18 (2). pp. 195-214.

Hutt, Michael (1997) 'Bhutan in 1996: Continuing Stress.' Asian Survey, 37 (2). pp. 155-159.

Hutt, Michael (1996) 'Bhutan in 1995: Weathering the Storm.' Asian Survey, 36 (2). pp. 204-208.

Hutt, Michael (1996) 'Ethnic Nationalism, refugees and Bhutan.' Journal of Refugee Studies, 9 No.4. pp. 397-420.

Hutt, Michael (1994) 'The Poetry of Mohan Koirala.' Journal of South Asian Literature, 29 (1). pp. 155-174.

Hutt, Michael (1993) 'Bhutan: Refugees from Shangri-la.' Index on Censorship, 22 (4). pp. 9-14.

Hutt, Michael (1991) 'Drafting the Nepal Constitution, 1990.' Asian Survey, 31 (11). pp. 1020-1039.

Hutt, Michael (1991) 'Nepal: the Pale Dawn of Democracy.' Index on Censorship, 20 (7). pp. 18-26.

Hutt, Michael (1990) 'The Blowing of the April Wind: Writers and democracy in Nepal.' Index on Censorship, 19 (8). pp. 5-9.

Hutt, Michael (1989) 'A hero or a traitor? The Gurkha soldier in Nepali literature.' South Asia Research, 9 (1). pp. 21-32.

Hutt, Michael (1989) 'Reflections of Political Change in Modern Nepali Literature.' Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studes, 15 (3-4). pp. 135-156.

Hutt, Michael (1984) 'Neon Lights and Vedic caves: European influences on the Nepali writer.' South Asia Research, 4 (2). pp. 124-138.

Working Papers / Reports

Hutt, Michael (1988) Nepali: A National Language and its Literature. New Delhi and London: Sterling Publishers and School of Oriental and African Studies.

Other

Hutt, Michael (2014) 'Nepal's Internal Conversation.' La.Lit, 3 . pp. 179-191.

Hutt, Michael (2014) 'Nepal's Internal Conversation [Interview].' La.Lit: A Literary Magazine, 3 .

This list was generated on Tue Nov 22 00:33:36 2016 GMT.