The Center for the Study of Knowledge, Materials and Materiality (KaMM Center) is a non-profit organization committed to academic research, public history communication, and digital humanities.
Our work is grounded in the region north of the Siwaliks, a geographically and historically rich area that includes the Himalayan foothills and uplands. This landscape is central to our research, not as a marginal space, but as a vibrant site of knowledge, practice, and cultural exchange. While our approach is informed by a broader South Asian context, our starting point lies in the particular textures and experiences of this northern terrain and the ways it has interacted with wider historical developments.
We are especially interested in how work processes, skills, and technologies are organized across different places and periods. Our research focuses on the knowledge systems and materials that shape these processes, with an emphasis on how they are embedded in everyday life, memory, and social relations.
Beyond research, we are dedicated to sharing knowledge in engaging and accessible ways. We create exhibitions, develop digital content, and publish books for readers of different ages, with the goal of making scholarship more inclusive and widely available.
Nepal, where many of us live and work, is one of our key areas of engagement but our questions and interests extend beyond national borders, following the movements of people, ideas, and materials across the region.
KAMM is fiscally hosted in Nepal by Martin Chautari and KAMM USA is fiscally hosted by Climate Justice Hive.
Meet our Team
Surabhi Pudasaini
Research Director
I’m a historian based in Kathmandu and a member of Martin Chautari. I completed my PhD in History from the University of Chicago in 2024, with a dissertation titled Making and Knowing in the 19th Century Gorkhali Polity, which examined the intersections of knowledge, labor, and governance. My current work is shaped by two interconnected projects. One is a co-authored book that explores political formations and everyday life in the regions north of the Siwaliks from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The other is a scholarly and public history initiative that traces the architecture of production within the Gorkhali polity.
Samyojeeta
Program Associate
I’m a legal advocate, researcher, and social entrepreneur with a background in law, politics, and development. I recently completed my M.A. in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, where I focused on labor migration and international policy. My work has spanned grassroots education, legal reform, and community-based initiatives, and remains grounded in a commitment to equity and inclusive governance. In my free time, I like listening to people’s stories and collecting interesting facts. If you ever see me, ask me an interesting fact about turtles.
Ramila Tamang
Research and Communications Assistant
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration at King’s College, I bring a grounded approach shaped by direct experience in sales and leadership roles across national and international initiatives, including FUN Play Learn and Mobile Arts for Peace. My work reflects a commitment to thoughtful communication, collaborative engagement, and the creative potential of community-driven projects. With a deep interest in public speaking, volunteering, and expressive practices, I seek out environments where growth is tied to impact and dialogue.