More than 800 historical Nepali manuscripts and documents dating from the 13th to the 20th century have been formally handed over to the National Archives of Nepal.

The collection, known as the Josef Peter Rindfleisch Collection, was handed over to Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal by Prof. Dr Axel Michaels of Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities at a ceremony held in Kathmandu.

Speaking at the event, Minister Khanal described the return of the documents as an important step toward preserving and protecting Nepal’s written cultural heritage. He also acknowledged the contribution of scholars, researchers, institutions and the Embassy of Nepal in Berlin to the repatriation process.

Khanal said the government would continue efforts to repatriate historical antiquities from different parts of the world.

The ceremony was also addressed by Ram Bahadur Kunwar, Director General of the National Archives; Prof. Dr Axel Michaels; and German Ambassador to Nepal Udo Eugen Volz.

Senior government officials, scholars, researchers, cultural experts and media representatives attended the event.

The handover ceremony was jointly organized by the National Archives of Nepal, Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and Saraf Foundation.