Kathmandu, Feb. 15 -- When Indira Dali was living in Osaka, Japan, every other evening, she would walk around town looking for dolls, miniature figurines and tiny teacup sets. The next morning, when she would excitedly show off her new dolls to her friends, they would sigh, as it meant that she had skipped dinner to make her purchases.

This was in 1983, when the 70-year-old Dali was in Osaka training as a librarian. This, however, wasn't when her fascination for miniatures began. In fact, she can't remember when the attraction started and when exactly she began her extensive doll collection. But in conversation, inklings emerge as to why she began collecting them.

When growing up, Dali was very close to her father and as an introvert, h...