[4] The magazine defines Southasia as a region beyond political dictum and geography but in relation to its people and history and strives to cover stories from Afghanistan to Burma and from Tibet to the Maldives.

This region inhabited by a quarter of the world population, shares great swathes of interlocking geography, culture and history.

Yet, given the complex history of rivalries and distrust, neighbouring countries can barely talk to one another, much less speak in a common voice.

From January 2013, Himal Southasian divided its output between a thematic quarterly publication, Southasia’s first ‘bookazine’, and its website.

The magazine defined the rationale as 'as a magazine seeking to restore some of the historical unity of our common living space – without wishing any violence on the existing nation states – we believe that the aloof geographical term ‘South Asia’ needs to be injected with some feeling.'