As our 50^th year of publishing research on Nepal and the Himalayas draws to a close, we are proud to bring issue 41.2 to our readers across the globe. In this issue we feature a special section edited by former HIMALAYA editor Arjun Guneratne featuring three articles on Tharu Identity. And we follow these with four omnibus articles touching on themes of caste, Tibetan pilgrimage, kinship, and identity. We have a perspective piece by long-term contributor Geoff Childs, a wonderful photo essay by Paola Tiné, and a rich selection of seven book reviews. Finally, we are also very excited to include a conference report summarizing the recent Himalaya Studies Conference, organized by the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS), and held at the University of Toronto from October 13-16. Thank you for reading HIMALAYA!