Society News
A section of articles, news and other events that will be of interest to members of the Society.
The Bhutan Innovation Forum
Report from Andrew Sutton about Bhutan Innovation Forum – 1st to 3rd October 2024
At the start of October I was most fortunate to be granted a place at the Bhutan Innovation Forum (BIF) held at the recently completed Dungkhar Dzong at about 2,800 metres elevation in Pangbisa high above Paro - a magnificent facility, spacious and flexible enough to host such an event.
Some eighty speakers, including Nobel Prize winners, leaders from industry and academia and experts in a wide variety of fields accepted invitations to inform, share and discuss on themes relevant to the development of Bhutan and the growth and success of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) - a recently defined special administrative region (SAR), mostly within Sarpang Dzongkhag near the centre of Bhutan’s southern border. The purpose of the SAR is to create a vibrant economic hub linking countries in South Asia. It will have the autonomy to develop its laws and policies anchored on the vision and values of Gross National Happiness and will look to host sustainable businesses and provide employment opportunities for Bhutanese citizens.
Around 700 International participants paid to attend and over 600 Bhutanese were chosen from the much larger pool of local applicants. The whole Forum was broadcast/ streamed and caught the attention and imagination of the Bhutanese at large. I cannot attempt to report on the many presentations and discussions on stages at the Forum. Recordings of the proceedings are available on YouTube, search Bhutan Innovation Forum, (and possibly elsewhere). Further details of BIF are at www.bhutan-innovation-forum.org. The attached paper provides a sample of the commentaries in the Bhutanese press during and immediately after BIF.
GMC is the inspiration of His Majesty the King. His Majesty was present at BIF attending, with Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal family, formal Chibdrel and Marchang ceremonies and the opening and closing sessions of the Forum in the main hall.Preparations for this event involving over one thousand participants in a somewhat remote location requiring coordination, communication, catering and transportation over three days were long and detailed and the production - to the eyes of the participant - was smooth, professional and most satisfying.
BIF allowed Bhutan to show the world that a big idea of a small country warrants attention and can encourage the sharing of ideas and developments. Doubtless much lasting value will have been gained by the planned as well as the impromptu meetings around Pangbisa during the three days.
GMC is at an early stage and it will take time and much hard work to bring the interests of foreign investors and supporters together with the talents of the Bhutanese - particularly those of the younger generation. The focus will be for the long term.
An Interview with Farmer Sangay Rinchen
Earlier in 2023, several members of the Bhutan Society Committee had the pleasure to meet with Farmer Sangay Rinchen. He gave a charismatic and fascinating account of his experiences and motives in Farming from a uniquely Bhutanese perspective.
A short Clip from the video is embedded. The entire video is available to members on request.
Bhutan's Parliamentary Elections
Bhutan's fourth round of parliamentary elections are due this year. The first element - elections of most of the members of the National Council, the upper house - is due in April.//
The elections for the National Assembly should begin towards the end of 2023 and complete early in 2024.
We are grateful to Dechen Rabgyal for a short introduction to the election process; you can access this by clicking here. Dechen was with us in the UK in 2020/21 as a Chevening Scholar. He studied then for an MSc in International Relations at the London School of Economics; currently he is teaching at the Sherubtse College in Bhutan.
Dechen has offered to give us further guidance later in the year when the contest for the National Assembly gets under way.
Drukair Flights booking
Drukair - Royal Bhutan Airlines - has appointed one of the UK's leading airline general sales agents, Flight Directors, to be its representative in the United Kingdom. Flight-only bookings on the network of scheduled services operated by Drukair can now be made by calling the UK-based reservations at 01293 874912 or by email
Flight Directors will be working closely with UK-based tour operators and travel agencies to assist passengers. In addition, Flight Directors can offer help with international flights which connect with Drukair services..
Under Bhutan's new tourism policy, UK tourists can apply for entry permits directly on the online portal of the Tourism Council of Bhutan at https://visit.doi.gov.bt/
Chidrel Tawaa
The third edition of Chidrel Tawaa, an annual publication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has just been launched. The main theme this year is “50 years of Bhutan’s membership to the United Nations”. The electronic version for the publication can be found by clicking here
Tourism in Bhutan
With the many changes to the rules governing tourism in Bhutan, the Tourism Council of Bhutan has compiled a very comprehensive Q+A Document that covers all aspects of visiting Bhutan from Visa and permit requirements, how the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) works to options on how to plan, pay and travel within Bhutan. This document can be found by clicking here:
Bhutanese Royal Family lead a day of national mourning
Led by His Majesty’s Secretariat, Bhutan will observe a day of national mourning to honour the late Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Prayers and 1000 butter lamps were offered in Dzongs across the country, and the national flag was flown at half mast throughout the country and at the Royal Bhutanese Embassies, Missions and Consulates General abroad.
The butter lamp ceremony in Tashichhodzong was graced by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, members of the Royal Family, Ministers, senior government officials and the international community in Thimphu. The butter lamp ceremonies in the Simtokha Dzong and Changangkha Lhakhang were attended by Ministers and government officials.
Bhutan National Day 2021
His Majesty The King gave a speech on Friday 17 December as part of the celebrations of National Day. A translation of his speech can be found here.
His Majesty the King offers prayers for Anthony Smith
His Majesty the King offered prayers and Karmey Tongchey at the Simtokha Dzong on 7 December for Anthony Smith CBE who passed away in London on 28 November 2021.
Anthony Smith was President of Magdalen College, Oxford from 1988 to 2005, a period which included the time that His Majesty The King was studying there.
He was a member of the Bhutan Society and a great friend of Bhutan. He helped to strengthen Bhutan's relations with the United Kingdom and personally mentored many Bhutanese students at Oxford University.
His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck with other Oxford alumni and others who knew Anthony Smith joined the ceremony to offer prayers and a thousand butter lamps.
HE Tshering Gyaltshen Penjor
New Ambassador in Brussels
We welcome HE Tshering Gyaltshen Penjor to Europe. He has recently arrived in Brussels and succeeds HE Aum Pema Choden as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to Belgium and the European Union.
He has recently served as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the State of Kuwait with concurrent accreditation to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Before that posting he was in New York as Deputy Permanent Representative in Bhutan's Mission to the United Nations. His wife and their two daughters are now with him in Brussels.
We look forward to opportunities to meet and work with him and further develop the relations between our countries.
House Blessing Ceremony
The Society's summer newsletter contains an article by Michael Rutland describing a house blessing in Bhutan, including what happens and why some of the rituals take place. Michael has an accompanying film which offers the viewer many interests. It is a personal documentary showing all the ceremonies involved in blessing a new house. It includes trumpet blowing, cymbals and drums, dancing, people offering khadars, a young boy Reincarnation, and colourful monks' costumes. The film condenses the actual ceremony which lasted two days.
Please click here to view the film (link to our Youtube channel. Running time: 57 minutes)
Interview with Dechen Wangmo, Health Minister of Bhutan
We're delighted to share with you an interview with Dechen Wangmo, Health Minister of Bhutan, recently recorded especially for members of the Bhutan Society.
Her Excellency Lyonpo Dasho Dechen Wangmo is a member of the Cabinet of Bhutan, and took charge of the Ministry of Health in November 2018.
This is an interview with Michael Rutland. Running time: 39 minutes. With thanks to Ju-Nor Studios for production.
It is great news that the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Bhutan starts on 27th March.
Dasho Benji: Protecting the Black-necked Crane and other recollections
We are honoured to present a short talk by Dasho Paljor Jigme Dorji, also known as Dasho Benji.
Diplomat, judge, minister and environmentalist, Dasho Benji established Bhutan's Royal Society for the Protection of Nature.
You can watch the talk, from Ludrong Memorial Garden, Thimphu, by clicking here(links to Youtube).
Running time: 20 minutes. With thanks to Kesang Wangchuck, Royal Tutorial Project, for production.
Video messages from two recent Bhutanese Students
Two recent 'alumni' have recorded messages for members:
Dr Gaki Nima, who recently studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is now working in Thimphu and is closely involved with coronavirus-related work. The message can be found here.
Pema Wangchug, a Chevening scholar in the UK 2019/20, has now returned to Bhutan to work at Druk Holding and Investments Ltd. The message can be found here.
Interview with Gordon Temple
This interview brings some wonderful insight about Bhutan mid-20th Century. Gordon Temple (1927-2004) had a long association with Bhutan and these recordings are presented in a short (20min) interview with Christine Lees. He passed out as a Gurkha officer in Bangalore and served in the Black Watch and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He then set up the Nepalese Tea Corporation in Kathmandu, worked for Unicef and converted to Buddhism. He was granted the rare honour of Bhutanese citizenship and also granted a traditional Bhutanese Buddhist funeral by HM The King of Bhutan.
You can download the interview here: Interview with Gordon Temple (1986) (110 MB)
The newborn prince of Bhutan has been named Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, the palace announced Tuesday, June 30th 2020. His Royal Highness will be referred to as Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck.
The royal newborn arrived in March to King Jigme, 40, and Queen Jetsun Pema, 29, also known as the Dragon King and Dragon Queen. As is custom in Bhutan, his name was not revealed until after a special Buddhist naming ceremony.
Gyalsey joins big brother, 4-year-old Prince Jigme Namgyel, who is also known as the Dragon Prince as heir to the throne.
His Majesty the King honours Michael Rutland
His Majesty The King honoured Michael Rutland, Vice President of the Society, at the National Day celebrations in Haa on 17 December 2017. Michael Rutland was granted the highest level (Gold) of the National Order of Merit in recognition of distinguished and meritorious services to Bhutan. Read the full article on KUENSEL.
PM honours British woman supporting children in Bhutan
Prime Minister Theresa May has named a British Buddhist nun a Point of Light for working to improve the lives of children in rural Bhutan.
Emma Slade is the founder of 'Opening Your Heart to Bhutan', a charity dedicated to supporting children in the country. Emma spent seven years working in the city of London before travelling for a number of years and eventually being ordained as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan. She combines her business background and her in-depth knowledge of Bhutan to serve as Chief Executive of the charity in an entirely voluntary capacity.
See also www.pointsoflight.gov.uk
Dr Harry Staunton: Cine from the 1940s
Dr Harry Staunton, born in Durban in 1908, joined the Indian Medical Service in 1934. He accompanied Sir Basil Gould to Lhasa in 1940 to attend the Installation of the 14th Dalai Lama and, during his time as Civil Surgeon for Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan between 1940 and 1942, he travelled to Bhutan, where he treated the Queen Mother.
Tragically he died in a plane crash in 1945 whilst returning from England for the birth in Bombay of his second child, his daughter, Diana.
Dr Staunton shot four reels of film which spent forty years in a safe in South Africa and, when retrieved, were put together as a video by the BBC. There was no soundtrack, so his daughter travelled in 1998 to St Andrews, where Hugh Richardson, "the Grand Old Man of Tibetan Studies", kindly provided a commentary, putting names to people and places. Film and soundtrack were finally put together in April 2015.
Diana Hughes would like to extend her warmest thanks to Roger Croston for making this film possible and to Tim Huckvale of Siberris.co.uk for his video editing, audio synchronisation and DVD production.