Digital Diasporas and Identity in Contemporary Nepali Literature: A Bibliometric and Textual Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric and textual analysis of 268 scholarly works on Nepali literature, examining patterns of authorship, institutional collaboration, and thematic evolution. Using VOSviewer for network visualization and WordSift for textual mining, the research reveals a fragmented yet internationalized academic field, with notable imbalances in representation and disciplinary boundaries. While identifying key contributors like Michael Hutt and institutions such as Tribhuvan University, the analysis exposes significant methodological challenges - particularly the conflation of literary studies with health research due to database filtering issues. The findings highlight emerging discourses on identity and diaspora alongside persistent gaps in gender studies and regional scholarship. The study concludes by advocating for improved data standardization, more inclusive research practices, and strengthened South Asian academic networks to better capture the complexities of contemporary Nepali literature in both traditional and digital spheres. This research contributes to ongoing discussions about decolonizing literary studies and optimizing bibliometric methods for underrepresented linguistic traditions.