Remembering Bhutan: A Conversation with Dasho Karma Ura

Date 14 July 2022
Time 5:30 - 8:30pm

About this event

The Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), within the School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, has research themes focusing on democracies, post-colonial politics, development and emerging powers. There is an explicit focus on engagement with communities and places that are relatively ignored in mainstream politics and international relations. Bhutan is one such place. Despite being a pioneer in innovative forms of governance, climate policy, sustainability, and politics, including the widely known concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH), little attention is given to Bhutan in the academic and public sphere. Dr Nitasha Kaul's work within CSD has been crucial in challenging this neglect of Bhutan with her extensive range of research, presentations and publications on the history, politics and geopolitics of Bhutan as a small Himalayan state.

This public event brings together Dasho Karma Ura, one of Bhutan's foremost intellectuals, in conversation with Dr Kaul.

Dasho Karma Ura is the President of the Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies, Bhutan. The event marks the impending release of his two-volume book, "Bhutan: The Unremembered Nation". Volume I is subtitled ‘Community and Livelihood’, and it unfolds with accounts of births and rebirths in a household, making of houses and matrimonies, rearing of children and livestock in a village, and husbandry of lands and forests. After sketching these fundamental aspects of existence, it details seasonable migration, backpack and caravan trade, and travel over different climatic and linguistic areas. Colours, sounds, and other sensory experiences of ordinary people are described before ending on the rhythm of farming of major crops such as millet, maize, rice, and wheat. Volume II is subtitled ‘Art and Ideals’ and discusses the monumental architecture of dzongs (castles), administration of the country, authority and power, cosmological concepts and rites, visual arts and meditation, folk festivals and faiths, that animate the daily life of the people.

Dasho Karma Ura will be in conversation with Dr Nitasha Kaul, Associate Professor (Reader) at CSD. A continuing strand of her research over time has been on small states and on different aspects of Bhutan's representation, political history, and international relations; she has further led research council awarded projects on Bhutan's democratisation, as well as on Bhutan as a biodemocracy that links politics and ecology.

This event will provide an excellent opportunity for students, scholars, policymakers, and other guests to learn about Bhutan and its relevance in the international system. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A and a drinks reception.

Event format

  • 5.30–6pm – On-site registration
  • 6–7.30pm – Conversation and Q&A
  • 7.30–8.30pm – Drinks reception

Registration

The event is open for all to attend, prior online registration via Eventbrite is mandatory.

Register now

Location: Fvyie Hall, 309 Regent Street

About the speakers