Nepal’s Cultural Heritage Goes Digital: The Importance of Digital Anthropology

 In Mugu’s Gamgadhi, a shopkeeper sets his phone against a jar of biscuits, streaming the village dance festival live to family in Kathmandu. Ten years ago, such a connection would have been impossible. Today, it’s a part of everyday life for many Nepalis, showing how digital technology is reaching even the most remote areas.

For a country rich in culture like Nepal, this raises an important question: how do we study culture when so much of it now happens online—in chat groups, on social media, and across virtual platforms? The answer lies in digital anthropology, which explores how technology, from smartphones to AI, is reshaping human life.

Beyond Traditional Anthropology

Anthropology has long focused on understanding human societies, cultures, and development, often documenting rituals, kinship systems, oral histories, and archaeology. These remain important, but today’s culture also exists online. Facebook organizes religious events, TikTok showcases folk dances, and mobile apps support rural businesses. Ignoring the digital dimension misses a major part of cultural change.

At the recent International Conference on Anthropology of Nepal and the Himalayas at Tribhuvan University, digital anthropology took center stage. Panels on topics like “Digital Space” and “Digital Divide” explored how AI and mobile technology are influencing Nepali identity.

“People often think anthropology focuses only on the past or remote societies,” said Prof. Dr. Binod Pokharel, Head of the Anthropology Department. “But modern anthropology must study social media, AI, and mobile technology because they are reshaping our lives.”

Opportunities and Challenges

Digital anthropology offers new ways to understand Nepal’s social changes: how migrant families maintain ties online, how political movements spread through social media, or how indigenous knowledge is preserved digitally. These insights can guide policy, education, and cultural preservation.

However, Nepal currently lacks specialized courses or experts in digital anthropology. Prof. Pokharel noted the need for a new generation of scholars to fill this gap. Limited internet access and equipment also hinder international collaboration, as seen when several global experts could not present virtually at the conference.

Expanding Research Tools

Traditional anthropology relies on long-term fieldwork. Digital anthropology adds virtual interviews, social media analysis, translation tools, and satellite imagery. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Nepali institutions were evaluated entirely through video conferencing—a practice unthinkable a decade ago. Globally, AI tools, mapping apps, and online forums are now part of ethnographic research.

The Digital Wave in Nepal

Internet access is spreading even to remote Karnali and Far West regions, though consistent connectivity remains limited. Mobile banking, messaging apps, and solar-powered devices are beginning to transform daily life, but broader infrastructure and skills development are needed.

International examples show the value of digital anthropology: in India, rural women use WhatsApp for microfinance; in the Pacific, Facebook groups help preserve endangered languages; in Africa, mobile payments like M-Pesa have been studied for their social as well as economic effects. Scholars like Daniel Miller (UCL) and Heather Horst (Caribbean) demonstrate how technology can be combined with deep cultural analysis—a model Nepal could follow.

Why It Matters for Nepal

Developing digital anthropology formally could expand Nepal’s research capabilities, combining online and offline ethnography while keeping traditional fieldwork relevant. It could also foster collaboration with technology, policy, and education sectors, ensuring anthropology remains meaningful in a digital age.

Looking Ahead

Nepal’s culture has always evolved—through trade, migration, and politics—and now through digital technology. Prof. Pokharel emphasizes: “People’s lives are now tied to digital technologies. Digital anthropology is not just an international trend; it is essential and urgent for Nepal.”

If embraced, Nepal could become a regional hub for digital anthropology research and training, documenting how technology is transforming society while safeguarding its rich cultural heritage and guiding an inclusive digital future.