If Mustang wa not conquered by Nepal it would have lost all its heritage and culture to the chinese communist. that is a fact: there was a documentry on PBS about saving some artwork in monastery in mustang. The Mustang king has all the privileges and nepal government doesnot interfere in their society. their religion was preserved (a form of buddhism) because nepal claimed it as a territory and china having a good relation with nepal did not interfere. i would cahnge my name to BISTA anyday if my culture and heritage is saved from an invading communist. BTW do you know that the surname KHAN comes from Gengiz Khan the famous king of Mongolia. That is as mongol as one can get. But have you seen Khans today they look anything BUTt Mongol. so should they change their last names now?