|
The creation of space for people-to-people interaction between two countries is
indeed a unique experiment of strengthening bilateral ties. It has been well
recognized now that cultural interaction can be a highly viable instrument of
bringing two countries closer. Therefore, cultural diplomacy is fast acquiring
prominence in the arena of international relations.
Bhutan’s Cultural Heft
Bhutan is a tiny, beautiful and landlocked mountain Kingdom known for its scenic
beauty, tranquillity and natural wealth. One of the smallest countries in South
Asia situated along the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas, it has a
multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. Bhutan has a rich authorial heritage,
which has remained largely intact due to its location, political traditions and
isolation from the rest of the world. It has a rich Buddhist religious heritage
influenced by the Tibetan Lamaist traditions. The landscape of the country has
greatly influenced the socio-economic and cultural life of the people of Bhutan.
The country’s monarchic system has been conscious about democratization of the
polity ever since 1950. However, the country, under the leadership of the
Bhutanese king, chose its own path of modernization and development. Bhutan is
known for its alternative model of development called Gross National Happiness.
In the recent years, with the initiatives of the monarchy, Bhutan has made
significant headway towards constitutionalism and parliamentary democracy.
Though democratization is at infancy in the country, the systemic reforms
introduced under the leadership of the monarchy are a welcome development. In
fact, it is only in the last one decade that a kind of process of social
transformation has taken place and modern technologies in media, cinema and
television are coming up. The educational system is gradually taking root in the
country. A small, educated middleclass is emerging, which is interested in
gaining access to modern means of knowledge and livelihood. Educational and
research institutions are coming up in Thimpu and other places. Though not many
studies have been conducted on Bhutanese issues by Bhutanese scholars;
institutions like Centre for Bhutan Studies have remained engaged in research on
indigenous issues. Some of the issues which have prominently figured in the
writings of Bhutanese scholars are Gross National Happiness, religion, culture,
traditions, art, archery and development-related issues.
India-Bhutan: Setting New Benchmarks in International Relations
India and Bhutan provide a unique example of close, friendly relations, not only
in South Asia, but elsewhere as well. These unique ties between the two
countries are strengthened further by the pursuit of issues of culture, art and
literature for closer and wider interactions. The India-Bhutan foundation, along
with a non-government organization Siyahi, organized a five-day literary
festival, Mountain Echoes, from 20-24 May 2011 in Thimpu, the capital city of
Bhutan. This was the second event since May 2010 when first India-Bhutan
cultural festival took place in Thimpu. It may be noted here that the
India-Bhutan Foundation was established by the governments of the two countries
in August 2003 with an objective to promote cultural interaction between the two
countries.
This exercise to share the rich literary traditions of a country with another
that is gradually opening up to the world, will go a long way in encouraging the
growth of literature and art in Bhutan. In fact, nobody would have thought of
such an exercise taking place in the high Himalayan ranges of Bhutan a few years
back. However, the fast-paced socio-economic and political transformations in
Bhutan during the last decade have given the Bhutanese society a renewed sense
of direction and character. It is a fact that Bhutan is slowly opening up itself
and the India-Bhutan literary festival is a milestone is that direction.
Bhutan, despite its rich heritage, has a small community of literates. Bhutanese
writers have not been known to the world. So, one would hope that the literary
festival will go a long way in highlighting the nature and trends in Bhutanese
writings. This will also help in the growth of the Bhutanese national language,
Dzongkha.
Mountain Echoes Reaching Far and Wide
The festival was inaugurated by the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Dorji Wangmo
Wangchuck, author of books, Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: a Portrait of
Bhutan and Of Rainbows and Clouds. Bhutan’s Prime Minister, His Excellency
Lyonpo Jigmi Yoezer Thinley, spoke on the concept of Gross National Happiness.
He explained the dimensions and relevance of this concept. King Jigme Khesar
Namgyal Wangchuck also had an audience with the Indian participants at the India
House in Thimpu, which is indicative of the high significance accorded to the
festival by the hosts.
The Literary Festival selected a very wide area for discussion. It included
theatre and cinema, mythology, biographies, heritage, tourism, media, poetry,
fiction, novels, blogging, women writings, nature, architecture, food, textile,
oral traditions, art, ballad, children’s writings, historiography, etc. There
were nearly 52 participants from India representing different areas and
professions. The Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Mr Pavan Varma, played a key role
in organizing this programme, while the co-organizer Siyahi, provided important
inputs to the festival. The Bhutanese participants, though it constituted a
small group, represented several fields. Their active participation ensured that
the event did not turn into a one-sided affair. Some of them included Kasang
Chhoephel, Dasho Kimley Dorji, Chang Dorji, Namgey Zam Singye Dorji, Tsheling
Togbay, Dorji Wangchuk and Sonam Kinga. The Indian participants included Gulzar,
Imtiaz Ali, Namita Gokhale, Shobhaa De, David Davidar, Namita Bhandare, Mita
Kapur, Prof. Pushpesh Pant, Prof. Shekhar Pathak, Nandini Mehta, Nilasta Kaul
and Gaurav Jain, amongst others. There were three major areas of activities in
this programme – discussion, workshop and theatrics.
The emerging dimensions of cinema and theatre were discussed at length.
Bhutanese cinema has recent origins and it is steadily gaining in popularity.
Veterans like Gulzar believed that cinema in Bhutan need not imitate Bollywood
or others; rather there needs to be emphasis on local themes and issues, thus
strengthening roots of Bhutanese cinema. Preservation of languages and oral
traditions was another important issue. Similarly, the impact of media on the
Bhutanese youth, storytelling and children’s writings were interesting areas
that gave new perspectives to the attendees. The participants expressed their
concern over the poor status of women’s writing in Bhutan. It was observed that
the low literary rate among women was the main cause behind it. There was also a
look back at history during discussions around the biography of Francis
Younghusband, who led the British Expedition to Tibet in 1904, written by
Patrick French.
Prof. Pushpesh Pant, the author of Taste of Home and Mita Kapur talked
about food and food habits. Similarly Prof. Shekhar Pathak, the founder of
Pahar, talked about issues like environment and mapping the Himalayas. The
experiences of the Indian creative writers and authors were of immense help to
their Bhutanese counterparts.
On the whole, this festival was multi-dimensional and, not only helped in
projecting the upcoming Bhutanese creative writers, artists and media persons,
but also provided them with an opportunity to get new ideas and learn from the
experiences of the Indian authors and artists.
One important dimension of this festival is that it has given a broad
perspective. Himalayas is a vast region passing through different countries but
it has a common cultural landscape and a compact socio-cultural identity.
Therefore, the experiences of Thimpu can be helpful to other areas and can
promote a pan Himalayan culture.
The importance of such activities also lies in the fact that it will be helpful
in generating popular consciousness in Bhutan about their own traditions and
heritage. The exchange of ideas and experiences will help in the promotion and
creation of a pool of knowledge.
In nutshell, such events provide a common platform for the people of two
counties. It is a welcome step towards strengthening bilateral relations. There
is an urgent need to promote such activities to other countries, particularly in
South Asia, where there is so much to share and experience.
|