This book is an accidental product, an incidental result... Two of my other long-form pieces appear for the first time in this book ... They are, 'Other Encounters: Darjeeling' and 'Other Encounters: Kathmandu.' These twin folios mention and highlight those Nepali music makers - many past by now and quite a few still practicing their crafts, of two musical crucibles, one in the town of Darjeeling and the other in the capital city of Kathmandu. This book is a collection of my personal reminiscences and not a set of historical records in any given sense. My narratives, therefore, don't cite exact days, dates, months and years per se ... However, a cursory mention of essential timelines has been made where applicable.- Peter J. Karthak