Lack of Modern Bhutanese Literature and the Emergence of New Media Writings

Szymon Żyliński

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2886-3388


Abstract

This paper focuses on the lack of modern Bhutanese literature in the Himalayan Kingdom that, for centuries, has remained in self-imposed isolation. Geographic obstacles in the form of nearly untraversable mountain passes inevitably aided in the formation of multiple languages and allowed for a lack of one specific unifying language; even though Dzongkha was declared the national language. The language dispersion, oral culture, introduction of English as a mean of instruction
at schools, lack of the concept of literature as perceived in the West, caused modern Bhutanese literature deficiency. With Bhutanese culture being predominantly oral, reading is not considered to be a form of pleasurable entertainment; it is perceived as a tedious process and most often associated with wearisome schoolwork. Among the handful of authors that managed to have their works printed and read, Kunzang Choden, playing a key role in 2008, published the first Bhutanese book written in English titled The Circle of Karma. Interestingly, most modern Bhutanese authors are women and have been known to occasionally make their writing debut at the ageof eleven.


Keywords:

Bhutan, literature, languages of Bhutan, Dzongkha, Bhutanese literature, new media


Acharya, Gopilal. 2011. Dancing to Death. Thimphu: Gopilal Acharya.
Andvik, Erik. 2010. A Grammar of Tshangla. Leiden: Brill.
Aris, Michael. 1994. Introduction. In: Aris, Michael, and Hutt, Michael (eds.). Bhutan: Aspects of Culture and Development. Gartmore: Kiscadale, pp. 7–24.
Aris, Michael. 2005. The Raven Crown: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bhutan. Chicago: Serindia Publications.
Avieson, Bunty. 2015. The Dragon’s Voice: How Modern Media Found Bhutan. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.
Bhattarai, Mahesh. 2014. Integration Challenges for Bhutanese Refugees in Norway via Third Country Resettlement. Ås: Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Bodt, Timotheus A. 2012. The New Lamp Clarifying the History, Peoples, Languages and Traditions of Eastern Bhutan and Eastern Mon. Wageningen: Monpasang Publications.
Bowen, Glenn A. 2009. Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, 2, pp. 27–40.
Cabezón, José I., and Jackson, Roger R. 1996. Editors’ Introduction. In: Cabezón, José I., and Jackson, Roger R. (eds.). Tibetan Literature: Studies in Genre. New York: Snow Lion Publications, pp. 11–37.
Chakravarty, Srinivas R. 1996. Language and Literature in Bhutan. In: Ramakant, and Misra, Ramesh C. (ed.). Bhutan Society and Polity. New Delhi: Indus Publishing, pp. 62–77.
Choden, Kunzang. 2008. Literature in Bhutan. In: Rennie, Frank, and Mason, Robin (eds.). Bhutan: Ways of Knowing. Charlotte: Information Age Publishing, pp. 237–240.
Choden, Kunzang. 2013. The Circle of Karma. New Delhi: Zubaan Books.
Dorji, Lham. 2008. The Wangchuck Dynasty: 100 Years of Enlightened Monarchy. Thimphu: Centre for Bhutan Studies.
Driem, George van. 1987. A Grammar of Limbu. Berlin – New York – Amsterdam: Mouton de Gruyter.
Driem, George van. 1993. Language Policy in Bhutan. In: Aris, Michael, and Hutt, Michael (eds.). Bhutan: Aspects of Culture and Development. Gartmore: Kiscadale Publications, pp. 87–105.
Driem, George van. 2001. Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers.
Driem, George van, and Tshering, Karma. 1998. Dzongkha. 1st edition. Leiden: CNWS Publications.
Gulati, Manas N. 2003. Rediscovering Bhutan. Delhi: Manas Publications.
Hart, Chris. 1999. Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. 1st edition. Thousand Oaks – London – New Delhi: SAGE Publications.
Jaiswal, Abhishek Kumar. 2015. The Circle of Karma: A Realistic Approach to Bhutanese Gender, Culture and Religion. Literary Quest, 4, pp. 126–132.
Khan, Nazneen. 2015. Articulating Women’s Experience: Kunzang Choden’s “The Circle of Karma”. Scholar Critic, 2 (1), pp. 36–45.
Khyentse, Dzongsar Jamyang. 2008. What Makes You Not a Buddhist. Boulder: Shambhala Publications.
Khyentse, Dzongsar Jamyang. 2012. Not for Happiness: A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices. Boulder: Shambhala Publications.
Khyentse, Dzongsar Jamyang. 2016. The Guru Drinks Bourbon? Boulder: Shambhala Publications.
Krippendorff, Klaus. 2012. Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. 3rd edition. Thousand Oaks – London – New Delhi: SAGE Publications.
Lovett, John. 2011. Social Media Metrics Secrets. 1st edition. Hoboken: Wiley and Sons.
Muppidi, Sundeep R. 2012. Bhutan. In: Muppidi, Sundeep R. (ed.). Asian Communication Handbook. 6th edition. Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, pp. 172–184.
Ong, Walter J., and Hartley, John J. 2012. Orality and Literacy. 30th Anniversary Edition. London – New York: Routledge.
Penjore, Dorji. 2009. Oral Traditions as Alternative Literature: Voices of Dissents in BhutaneseFolktales. Journal of Bhutan Studies, 20, pp. 21–36.
Phuntsho, Karma. 2013. The History of Bhutan. Nodia: Random House India.
Plaisier, Heleen. 2007. A Grammar of Lepcha. Leiden: Brill.
Shaw, Bernard. 2013. Bhutan. Physical and Social Geography. In: Higgins, Neil (ed.). South Asia 2013. 10th edition. London – New York: Routledge, pp. 201–237.
Solverson, Howard. 1996. The Jesuit and the Dragon: The Life of Father William Mackey in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Outremont: Robert Davies Publications.
Thinley, Dorji. 2008. The Power of Bhutanese Folk Literature. In: Rennie, Frank, and Mason, Robin (eds.). Bhutan: Ways of Knowing. Charlotte: Information Age Publishing, pp. 69–93.
Tshering, Chablop Passang. 2018. Interview with the author of this article conducted in Thimphu on August 27th (in the possession of the author).
Ueda, Akiko. 2003. Culture and Modernisation: From the Perspectives of Young People in Bhutan. Thimphu: The Centre for Bhutan Studies.
Ura, Karma. 1995. The Hero with a Thousand Eyes: A Historical Novel. Thimphu: Karma Ura.
Ura, Karma. 1996. The Ballad of Pemi Tshewang Tashi: A Wind Borne Feather. Thimphu: Ministry of Planning.

Ura, Karma (ed.). 2004. Gross National Happiness and Development: Proceedings of the First International Seminar on Operationalization of Gross National Happiness. Thimphu: The Centre for Bhutan Studies.
Żyliński, Szymon. 2016. Obstacles in Bhutan’s Internet Communication. Zeszyty Naukowe Ostrołęckiego Towarzystwa Naukowego [Volumes of Ostroleka Scientific Society], 30, pp. 462–476.
Żyliński, Szymon. 2017. Interplay Between Tradition and Modernity – Bhutan’s Visual Representation on Instagram. In: Kaur, Kanwaljit, and Khan, Shad A. (eds.). Development of Economies: Relations, Policies and System. Patiala: Madaan Publishing House, pp. 80–91.
Żyliński, Szymon. 2018a. Beyond the Clouds – Travel Narratives about the Kingdom of Bhutan. In: Kiklewicz, Aleksander, and Dudziak, Arkadiusz (eds.). Nomadyzm i nomadologia: rozważania i analizy [Nomadism and Nomadology: Theories and Analysis]. Olsztyn: Centrum Badań Europy Wschodniej, pp. 31–44.
Żyliński, Szymon. 2018b. Zarys edukacji medialnej dzieci i młodzieży w Bhutanie [The Shape of Media Education of Children and Youth in Bhutan]. In: Nowicka, Marzenna, and Dziekońska, Joanna (eds.). Cyfrowy tubylec w szkole – diagnozy i otwarcia. Vol. 1: Współczesny uczeń a dydaktyka 2.0 [Digital Nomad at School – Diagnosis and Openings. Vol. 1: Modern Pupil and Didactic 2.0]. Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, pp. 191–201.

Internet sources
Baruvuri, Sowmya. 2015. Interview with Kunzang Choden: First Bhutanese Woman to Publish a Novel in English [blog]. [Online]. Women’s Web: For Women Who Do. Accessed from: http://www.womensweb.in/2015/08/interview-kunzang-choden-first-bhutanese-woman-publish-novelenglish/ [20.02.2019].
Bhutanese Writers. 2018. Bhutanese Writers. [Online]. Wikipedia. Accessed from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Bhutanese_writers [20.02.2018].
Books by Bhutanese. 2020. [Online]. Booknese. Accessed from: https://booknese.com [10.09.2020].
BTO. 2019. About BTO. [Online]. Bhutan Toilet Organization. Accessed from: https://www.bhutantoilet.org/about/about-bto/ [2.06.2019].
CBB. 2019. The Community of Bhutanese Bloggers. [Online]. Fanpage of CBB on Facebook. Accessed from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1605595783044478/ [2.06.2019].
DDC. 2018. About Dzongkha Development Commission. [Online]. Dzongkha Development Commission. Accessed from: http://www.dzongkha.gov.bt/en/aboutus/about-dzongkha-development-commisiso [3.01.2018].
Delma, Tshering. 2017. Youngest Author Writing Her Next Book. [Online]. The Bhutanese. Accessed from: http://thebhutanese.bt/youngest-author-writing-her-next-book/ [11.01.2019].
Dorji, Kinley. 2015. The Story of Bhutanese Culture. The Druk Journal, 2. [Online]. Drukjournal.bt. Accessed from: http://drukjournal.bt/the-story-of-bhutanese-culture/ [2.02.2018].
Dorji, Thinley, and Maxwell, Tom. 2013. The Role of English in Culture Preservation in Bhutan. Journal of Bhutan Studies, 28. [Online]. Journal of Bhutan Studies. Accessed from: http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/publicationFiles/JBS/JBS_Vol28/JBS28.pdf [2.03.2018].
Dzongkha – Dzonglish. 2010. “Dzonglish” – Is It Making the National Language Corrupt? [Online]. Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Accessed from: http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=1136 [3.01.2017].
Euden, Pema. 2018. So… I’m Not the Youngest Author of Bhutan Anymore [blog]. [Online]. Random Rants with Pema. Accessed from: https://eudenemma.wixsite.com/randomrantswithpema/single-post/2017/09/04/So-Im-not-the-Youngest-Author-of-Bhutan-anymore [14.01.2018].
Gyeltshen, Tshewang. 2017. Bhutanese Literature Now and Before: Critical Review with Analytical Differences. [Online]. Academia. Accessed from: https://www.academia.edu/15601548/Bhutanese_literature_Now_and_Before_Critical_Review_with_Analytical_differences [27.10.2017].
Kiphu. 2018. Youngest Bhutanese Author Comes Out with Another Book. [Online]. Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Accessed from: http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=60177 [3.02.2018].
LaPrairie, Mark. 2014. A Case Study of English-Medium Education in Bhutan. [Online]. UCL Discovery. Accessed from: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10021621/ [2.03.2018].
Level of English in Bhutan. 2014. Bhutanese Students Can’t Speak English as Expected: Study Shows. [Online]. Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Accessed from: http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=40659 [1.06.2014].
Lhamo, Purpa. 2019. 30 Children’s Books by Children Released. Kuensel Online. [Online]. Accessed from: http://www.kuenselonline.com/30-childrens-books-by-children-released/ [14.06.2019].
Mountain Echoes. 2019. [Online]. Accessed from: http://www.mountainechoes.org/ [21.03.2019].
Nopkin. 2019. Nopkin.com – Make Someone’s Day! [blog]. [Online]. Nopkin.com. Accessed from: http://www.nopkin.com/ [27.06.2019].
PaSsu. 2019. The First Bhutanese Writers’ Retreat [blog]. [Online]. Passu Diary. Accessed from: http://www.passudiary.com/2016/02/the-first-bhutanese-writers-retreat.html [11.02.2019].
Phuntsho, Ngawang. 2012. Where Lovers Meet and Read. [Online]. Nawang P. Phuntsho. Accessed from: http://www.nawangpenstar.com/2012/05/meeting-place-for-book-lovers-indeed.html [23.02.2018].
Riyang Books. 2018. About Riyang Books. [Online]. Riyang Books. Accessed from: http://www.riyangbooks.com/about/ [21.01.2018].
Samal, Peky. 2019. Folded into a Paper Boat: A Review. [Online]. Business Bhutan. Accessed from: https://www.pressreader.com/bhutan/business-bhutan/20160227/281595239610476 [27.05.2019].
Samdrup. 2016. Students Can Access 2 Million Books with Launch of E-Library. [Online]. Kuensel Online. Accessed from: http://www.kuenselonline.com/students-can-access-2-million-bookswith-launch-of-e-library/ [14.04.2019].
Shilpa, Raina. 2018. Bhutanese Literature: Rich Oral Tradition, But Few Writers. [Online]. Business Standard. Accessed from: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/bhutanese-literature-rich-oral-tradition-but-few-writers-feature-114053100933_1.html [10.12.2018].
Subba, Riku D. 2015. About Me [blog]. [Online]. Riku Dhan Subba’s Blog. Accessed from: http://rikkuwrites.spot.com/p/aboutme-my-name-is-riku-dhan-subbaand-i.html [12.02.2019].
WAB. 2019a. About Writers Association of Bhutan [blog]. [Online]. Writersofbhutan.com. Accessed from: http://www.writersofbhutan.com/about [11.01.2019].
WAB. 2019b. Writers Association of Bhutan. [Online]. Fanpage of WAB on Facebook. Accessed from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WABmail/ [11.02.2019].
Wangchuk, Dorji. 2018. My Story, Our Legacy [blog]. [Online]. Dorji Wangchuk. Accessed from: https://dorji-wangchuk.com/2018/02/14/my-story-our-legacy/ [13.02.2018].
Zangmo, Thinley. 2016a. Contemporary Bhutanese Writers Look to Make a Mark [blog]. [Online].
Kuensel Online. Accessed from: http://www.kuenselonline.com/contemporary-bhutanesewriters-look-to-make-a-mark/ [28.02.2019].
Zangmo, Thinley. 2016b. When Poetry Stems from the Heart [blog]. [Online]. Kuensel Online. Accessed from: http://www.kuenselonline.com/when-poetry-stems-from-the-heart/ [21.02.2019].
Download


Published
2021-04-02

Cited by

Żyliński, S. (2021). Lack of Modern Bhutanese Literature and the Emergence of New Media Writings. Media - Culture - Social Communication, 3(16), 93–109. https://doi.org/10.31648/mkks.6613

Szymon Żyliński 
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2886-3388