Bhutan is keen to present itself as a forward-looking country that embraces modernity, while also maintaining a sense of pride in its unique cultural traditions, Bhutan held at the Dungkar Dzong in Pangbisa, Paro in early October. That was evident at the Innovation Forum.
The three-day event that featured everyone on panels ranging from economists, philosophers, architects, designers, urban planners and entrepreneurs to political leaders, teachers, scientists, filmmakers, writers and monks, was meant to share best practices in building better systems. There was an opportunity to move forward. Prosperity without compromising sustainability.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s welcome speech indicated that the purpose of the forum is “a platform for dialogue and cooperation, aiming at a sustainable, prosperous and inclusive future”. He assured attendees that Bhutan’s aspirations for economic growth by venturing into areas such as blockchain technology and artificial intelligence will remain in line with its mandate to secure gross national happiness based on prioritizing well-being, cultural values and environmental sustainability .
The event was also a showcase for the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a special administrative region being established in Bhutan to serve as an economic hub for South Asia. Led by the country’s ruler King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the project is located on the Assam border and is of strategic importance to India.
One of the most interesting presentations of the event was created by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who gave attendees a glimpse of what the GMC would look and feel like. He talked about the use of renewable energy, local building materials and indigenous design elements to ensure that development takes place in keeping with Bhutan’s emphasis on caring for the earth.
The Constitution of Bhutan states that 60 percent of the land must be kept under forest cover at all times, enabling the country to maintain its carbon negative status. Ingalls revealed that in addition to “a family of public spaces, including parks, promenades, and bridges, designed to improve community life,” the GMC will include a mindfulness trail for hiking and pilgrimage, an artificial intelligence data center running on hydropower. There will also be wildlife corridors for animals. to roam freely, a Vajrayana Buddhist center that will be “a contemporary reinterpretation of a stupa”, and health care infrastructure that offers the best of both Eastern and Western medicine.
Bhutan recognizes 13 traditional arts and crafts that are practiced to relieve the suffering of fellow sentient beings. A fascinating panel on the role of art and design in creating more conscious urban environments included British sculptor Antony Gormley, who spoke about creating inclusive spaces for contemplation in the city: “How do we allow art to become owned by everyone ? How can we allow art to be an expression of collective values, which is, in many ways, the exact opposite of a kind of Western, modern idea of the artist, who is actually the prime example of the freedom of the individual? to express themselves?”
American urban planner Jonathan Rose tackled a serious but important subject – his design of a crematorium to acknowledge death and grief in the city, creating a space for private and public reflection. American sculptor, architect and designer Maya Lin, who uses public art to draw attention to biodiversity loss, said, “We live in a world where many of us lose sight of the amazing beauty of the natural world. Don’t get the opportunity to be surrounded by. ,
This sentiment was echoed by Arun Kapoor, who started his career at The Doon School in Dehradun, served as the founding headmaster of Vasant Valley School in Delhi, and is now director at the Druk Gyalpo Institute in Bhutan and on the board of directors of GMC . , He said, “Being alive and sensitive to nature and other human beings is deeply rooted in Buddhism, and it is a remedy against the loneliness and isolation that people feel in cities.” The proposed education system of GMC will promote holistic development in five inter-related areas of development namely brain, emotional, physical, social and spiritual.
Gratitude for nature is also an important component of the work Deki Choden, founding principal of ELC High School in Thimphu, does with students. Recognized as a leader in the field of mindfulness in education, she has made Mindful Walking, Wellbeing Sessions, Emotional Check-ins and Silent Circles a part of the school curriculum. He believes that schools should focus on nurturing rather than measuring children so that they can associate happiness with satisfaction rather than the endless pursuit of money, success and achievement. “We tell (children) that all feelings are welcome but not all behaviors are welcome. We teach them how to create space between the stimulus and their response. When that space becomes broader, it increases their ability to respond thoughtfully and intelligently rather than just being reactive,” she said.
The venue featured pop-up cafes where attendees could refresh themselves with snacks and beverages and meet new people. There were open areas to go on solitary walks and enjoy the company of nature – vast open sky, lush green trees, breathtaking views of distant hills and yaks adorned with colorful paraphernalia. One can watch monks drawing mandalas, admire paintings in an art gallery, enjoy traditional songs and dances, or visit cultural exhibitions featuring thangka painting, wood carving, cloth weaving and incense making. Could.
“We wanted to highlight different aspects of our culture and traditions, especially with participants who are visiting Bhutan for the first time,” said Tshering Uden Penjor, head of the Museum Division under the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development in Bhutan’s Ministry of Home Affairs. He pointed out that arts and crafts are also a major source of income in the Himalayan nation. Keeping this in mind, the Department of Culture has already started building a workforce comprising carpenters, masons, painters, stonemasons and artists to turn the vision of GMC into reality. “The GMC will reflect Bhutanese values and our rich architectural heritage. There will be no multi-storey buildings made of steel and glass.
GMC needs to be made attractive not only to foreign investors and tourists but also to the youth of Bhutan who are currently traveling to Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, the United States and other countries to pursue education and employment opportunities. Are going in large numbers. “The Western world might want us to become Shangri-La or a museum but that is not the future we want. Fulfilling the aspirations of the younger generation is important for their well-being,” he said.
harmonic mixingA painting by Rada Gayam displayed at the event depicts Buddhist monks using smartphones instead of traditional prayer books. “I wanted to depict the integration of mindfulness with technology. Pages of old books can get torn, tangled or fall off, so it is more practical to use the phone at this time,” said the artist, who is an alumnus of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
Those concerned about the extinction of centuries-old knowledge and traditional skills will find comfort in the words of Chimi Pelmo, managing partner of Nado Poizokhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest incense sticks manufacturers. Incense is used for purification, cleansing, and as an offering in Bhutanese temples and homes. “We make incense using herbs and spices from the Himalayas, juniper and cypress wood. These remedies are several hundred years old. My father learned these from his guru,” she says. Many of these ingredients, including cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and camphor, not only have a unique fragrance but also have medicinal properties. Most of the work of pounding, dyeing, rolling and straightening is still done by hand. “But we use a dosa machine to mix the ingredients,” Pelmo says, laughing.
Another entrepreneur who made a mark was Chimi Laki Dolma, whose fashion brand, Dakini by Jane, uses natural dyes made from onion peels, madder, stick lakh and other locally available ingredients. “Handmade things may not be perfect but this is the best thing about them. They have that human touch that is missing in modern life,” he said. Since the weavers she works with are religious, she encourages them to pray while they weave so that “all the good energy goes into the fabric and whoever wears it can feel those blessings”. The fact that there was room for such heartfelt conversations amongst royalty, Nobel laureates and CEOs is what made the Bhutan Innovation Forum memorable. Clearly, Bhutan has a lot to teach the world about how to thoughtfully strike a balance between tradition and modernity.
Chintan Girish Modi is a freelance writer, journalist and book reviewer.
