This book is an accidental product, an incidental result... Two of my other long-form pieces appear for the first time in this book ... They are, 'Other Encounters: Darjeeling' and 'Other Encounters: Kathmandu.' These twin folios mention and highlight those Nepali musicmakers – many past by now and quite a few still practicing their crafts, of two musical crucibles, one in the town of Darjeeling and the other in the capital city of Kathmandu.
This book is a collection of my personal reminiscences, and not a set of historical records in any given sense. My narratives, therefore, don't cite exact days, dates, months and years per se... However, a cursory mention of essential timelines have been made where applicable.
- Peter J. Karthak
