+91 (11) 35656500

SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY

A University Established by SAARC Nations

SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY

A University established by SAARC Nations

Harsha Man Maharjan

Assistant Professor (SG)
PhD - Areas Studies (Specializing Media Studies, and Science and Technology Studies), Kyoto University, Japan (2019)

Contact Details

harsha.maharjan(at)sau.int
South Asian University, Rajpur Road, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110068

Profile

Harsha Man Maharjan is an Assistant Professor (SG), Media Studies in the Faculty of Arts, Media & Design at South Asian University (SAU). Prior to SAU, he worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South at Northwestern University in Qatar from August 2023 to July 2026 as a Global Postdoctoral Scholar. There, he conducted research on biometric identification, mentored undergraduate fellows, and designed/taught courses. He held the position of the academic/research head at Polygon College in Kathmandu, which is affiliated with Purbanchal University. He was a lecturer at Madan Bhandari Memorial College in Kathmandu, which is affiliated with Tribhuvan University. From 2001 to 2023, he worked at the research institute Martin Chautari, conducting research on media policies and practices, writing and editing academic articles, books, and journals, and organizing media seminars and conferences. His scholarship lies at the intersection of media and communication studies, critical data studies, infrastructure studies, political economy, and science and technology studies.  He is currently researching national digital identification systems in Nepal, to understand their relationship with governance, the global economy, citizenship and social change. His next research project focuses on digital/data infrastructure and data centres in South Asia. His research has been published in journals such as Information Technology for Development, First Monday, Journal of Digital Media and Policy, European Bulletin of Himalayan Research, Studies in Nepali History and Society, Bodhi, Media Adhyayan, and Samaj Adhyayan. He serves on the editorial boards of journals Communication, Culture, & Critique, and Samaj Adhyayan (formerly Media Adhyayan).

Qualifications

  • PhD in Areas Studies (Specializing Media Studies, and Science and Technology Studies), Kyoto University, Japan (2019)
  • Dissertation: Digital Transitions and the Making of Online Newspapers in Nepal
  • MA in Journalism and Mass Communication, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (2007)
  • Thesis: Politics of ‘Communications for Development’: Intentions of National Communication Service Plans 1971 and Its Consequences on Three National Communication Institutions in Nepal (1971-1990)
  • BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and English, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (2005)
  • IA in Journalism and Mass Communication, English and Economics, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (2001)

Research Interests

  • Media Policy and Governance 
  • Information/ Communication Technology for Development 
  • Media/Data Infrastructure
  • Digital Transformation 
  • Digital State
  • Biometric Governance 
  • Digital Systems/Identification 
  • Datafication
  • Political Economy of Media

Recent Publications

Books

Maharjan, H.M. (2026). Nepali Media and the State. Phoenix Books.

Maharjan, H.M., Humagain, D., Onta, P., Parajuli, L., & Upreti, D. (Eds.). (2020). Civil Society in a Loktantrik Polity: Re-assessing 25 Years of Experiences. Martin Chautari.  

Panthi, A., Onta, P., & Maharjan, H.M. (Eds.). (2013). Twenty Five Years of Nepali Magazines. Martin Chautari.

Humagain, D., Parajulee, S., Maharjan, H.M., & Panthi, A. (2010). Media Training: Evaluation of Nepali Practices. Martin Chautari.

Humagain, D., Bhatta, K., & Maharjan, H.M. (2009). Radio Network: Practice, Content and Local Impacts. Martin Chautari.

Onta, P., Maharjan, H.M., Humagain, D., & Parajulee, S. (Eds.). 2008. Inclusive Media. Martin Chautari.

Selected Journal Articles

Maharjan, H.M. 2026: ID Support: Digital Capitalism and the Digital National Identification Development  Project in Nepal. Information Technology for Development 32(2), 1–18. DOI: https://10.17705/1ITD.032201

Maharjan, H.M. (2025): An InterAsian Digitalities Framework: A Proposal for Digital Identification Systems Studies. First Monday 30 (10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v30i10.14575

 Maharjan, H.M. (2022). No Policy without Us: Analysing Multistakeholderism in the Making of Media Policy Drafts in Nepal. Journal of Digital Media & Policy 13(1),  107–119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/jdmp_00093_1

 Maharjan, H.M. (2021) Opening the Black Box of Royal Planning: Intended and Unintended Consequences of National Communication Services Plan in Nepal (1970–1990). Studies in Nepali History and Society 26(2),   379–341.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2012). Vote for Prashant Tamang: Representations of an Indian Idol in the Nepali Print Media and the Retreat of Multiculturalism. European Bulletin of Himalayan Research 41,  30–57.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2011). Machinery of State Control: History of Cinema Censor Board in Nepal. Bodhi 4(1), 168–190.

Selected Book Chapters

Maharjan, H.M. (2026). “Nepal” in Chon, Kilnam, (Ed.), An Asia Internet History - Fifth Decade (2020s), pp.     93–108. Asia Internet History Project.

Maharjan, H.M. (2025) “Media Infrastructure, Natural Disaster, and the Emergence of Convergence Newsrooms in Nepal” in Mari, W.,  O’Reilly , C. and West, J. E.  (Eds) Media Building:  Architecture, Design, and the Spatial Politics of Mass Communication, pp. 217–224. Palgrave Macmillan.

Maharjan, H.M. (2025). “No Crisis but Cooperation: Construction of Online Newspapers in Nepal” in Tofalvy, T. & Vobič, I. (Eds) Histories of Digital Journalism: The Interplay of Technology, Society and Culture, pp. 167–179. Routledge.

Maharjan, H.M. (2024). “Emergence of Television Publics in Nepal: Intense Participation of Audiences as News Sources, Critics and Fans” in Reza, S M S. & Roy, R. K. (Eds.) Television Publics in South Asia: Mediated Politics and Culture, 137–158. Routledge.

Maharjan, H.M. (2022). “Hope-Driven to Uncertainty-Driven Innovation: Digital Transitions of Newspapers in Nepal” in Acharya, B.B. and Sharma, S. (Eds.)  Global Perspectives on Journalism in Nepal., pp. 229–251.  Routledge.

Maharjan, H.M. (2018). “‘We the Janajatis’: Activism of Inap Weekly for Newars and Pan-Janjati Movement in Nepal (1980-1990)” in Conference Proceedings 2012: The Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya., pp. 121–146. Social Science Baha.

Maharjan, H.M. (2017). “Vote for Prashant Tamang: Representations of an Indian Idol in the Nepali Print Media and the Retreat of Multiculturalism” in Hutt, M. and Onta, P. (Eds). Political Change and Public Culture in Post-1990 Nepal, pp. 124–144. Cambridge University Press.

Devkota, S., Maharjan, H.M., &  van Teijlingen, E.R. (2015). "Media and Health" in Wasti, S. P, Simkhada, P, and Tejlingen, E. V. (Eds) The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, pp. 169–184. Social Science Baha. 

Maharjan, H.M. (2014). “Linguistic and Cultural Activism of Inap: A Search for Cultural and Linguistic Recognition” in Tamang, D. D. and Maharjan, M. R.,(eds.) Citizen, Society & State: Crating an Inclusive Future for Nepal,  pp. 49–70. Mandala Book Point.

Maharjan, H.M. (2013). “An Attempted Assassination of a Journalist: Rethinking Periodization in Nepali Journalism Historiography” in Raj, Y. (ed.) Ruptures and Repairs in South Asia: Historical Perspectives, pp.103–12. Martin Chautari.

Selected Policy Briefs

 Maharjan, H.M. (2024). Making of a Cyber Law in Nepal: A Case of Electronic Transactions Act, 2006. Central for Himalayan Studies, University of North Bengal.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2023).The State of Data Protection in Nepal. Martin Chautari.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2022). The Process of Making of Privacy Law and Policy Choice. Martin Chautari.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2021). Background and Process of the Making of Electronic Transaction Act, 2006. Martin Chautari.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2021). Freedom of Expression in Nepal in the Digital World: A Policy Review. Martin Chautari.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2014).  Universal Connectivity in Nepal: A Policy Review. Martin Chautari.

 Maharjan, H.M. (2014). Rethinking Public Welfare Advertisement in Nepal: From Media Welfare to Public Welfare. Alliance for Social Dialogue.

Selected Media Bibliographies

Maharjan, H.M., & Moktan, S. (2023). Digital Rights Bibliography . Martin Chautari.

Maharjan, H.M., Maharjan, R., Panthi, A., Pandey, S., & KC, P. (2015). Writings on the Internet in Nepal: A Bibliography. Martin Chautari.

Maharjan, H.M. (2015). Writings on Nepali Media during Panchayat Period: A Bibliography. Martin Chautari.

Maharjan, H.M. (2013).  Bibliography of Writings on Journalism and Mass Communication/Media Education in Nepal. Martin Chautari.

Maharjan, H.M. (2012). Bibliography of Development Communication in Nepal . Martin Chautari.

Maharjan, H.M., & Maharjan, R. (2010).  Online Media in Nepal: A Bibliography. Media Adhyayan 5, 335–350.

Maharjan, H.M. (2007).  Press Freedom in Nepal: A Bibliography. Media Adhayan 2, 319–352.

Recent Conferences

2026: Biometric Cultural Citizenship: Translations of a Digital National Identification Policy in Nepal, International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference, Galway, Ireland, June 28–July 2.

2026: Digital ID Development Framework for the Global South: A Political Economic Approach, International Association for Media and Communication (IAMCR) Annual Conference, Galway, Ireland, June 28–July 2.

2025: Faith-based Activism against Biometric Identification: Resistance to Aadhaar Enrolment in Mizoram. International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference, Singapore, July 13–17.

2025: Secretive Digital State: Hidden Policy Documents and the Issues of Transparency and Accountability of the National Identification System in Nepal. International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference, Singapore, July 13–17.

2025: Between Dependency and Sovereignty: Technology Development, International Tech Companies, and Digital Identifications in South Asia. IAMCR Preconference: InterAsian Digitalities: Rethinking Theories and Methods, Singapore, July 12.

2025: Digital ID Dependency in the Global South: The Political Economy of the National Identification System in Nepal. 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Denver, U.S.A, June 12–16.

2025: An InterAsian Digitalities Framework: A Proposal for Digital Identification Systems Studies. 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Denver, U.S.A, June 12–16. 

2025: The Transnationality of Identification Systems: Mobilities, Mediations, Methods. 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Denver, U.S.A, June 12–16. 

2025: Digital ID Myth Makers: Expert Imaginaries and the National Identification System in Nepal. Association for Asian Studies (AAS-in Asia) Conference, Kathmandu, June 3.

2025: An InterAsian Digitalities Framework: A Proposal for National Digital Identification Studies. 7th Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) Conference, Beirut, Lebanon, May 15–17.

Last Updated : 03 Sep 2026