In fall of 2019, I initiated a multi-year project called the “Nation of Sanctuary.” This project  documents the histories of refugees resettled in the United States. Working on the project led me to North Carolina where I was interested in learning more about the work of refugee resettlement workers at the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (CRRA). In North Carolina I met the executive director Marsha Hirsch and one of her staff members Thakur Mishra, both of whom shared their knowledge and experience about working with refugee communities. I was especially interested in learning about new groups of refugees who have been resettled in North Carolina, such as the Bhutanese. Having learned that Mishra immigrated to the United States from Bhutan...

The Bhutanese Stambha Nirman Samiti which was announced in 2020 for the purpose of constructing a Bhutanese Memorial Tower at Kotihome, Jhapa Nepal has announced its dissolution on April 16, 2022. This committee, constituted of select members of the Bhutanese diaspora under the convenorship of Dr. Bhampa Rai was to collaborate with the local Nepalese Committee, Kankai Dharmik Vikash Sanstha, Kankaidham that was developing the Kotihome area as a religious and tourist destination. “As the Committee began deliberating on the specific details of the proposed Memorial Tower, it was deemed necessary that we would need a larger space within the proposed site to mark a proper representation and memorialization of our history. The local Nepalese Committee, Kankai Dharmik Vikash Sanstha, Kankaidham,...

Devi Bhakt, also famously known as DB Lamitare who was one of the founding members of the Bhutan State Congress, has died. He was 87. Lamitare, who claimed himself as the ‘Hidden Hero of Bhutan’ for raising voices against the Bhutanese regime since the 1950s, had been in exile in India since his youth. Unable to witness the regime’s cruelty in the brutal killing of Mahasur Chhetri, Lamitare decided to leave Bhutan in 1953 to start political advocacy for changes in Bhutan from India.  “I am notifying you all with a heavy heart that the health of Swami Ji (Lamitare) deteriorated overnight and had to be taken to a local hospital where he breathed last,” one of his caretakers, who requested...

Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) versus Non-Resident Bhutanese (NRB) status has been trending on social media recently after a group of resettled Bhutanese American entrepreneurs proposed that the Government of Nepal designate NRN status to the resettled Bhutanese diaspora. As an economist, public policy analyst, and a political leader, I have been traveling the world and working on the human rights and political issues faced by those of southern Bhutanese origin, and I have learned a few things from my experience. With respect to fellow community leaders and entrepreneur’s efforts, I take this opportunity to share some critical information. As former Bhutanese refugees, I feel we must advocate for NRB and not NRN status, and here is why. In 2009 I met Rudra Nepal,...

It has been a long time since the government of Bhutan washed its hands off the refugees it created, and their future. Most refugees who spent nearly two decades in camps in Nepal have been resettled in western countries, but there are still about 7,000 of us left in Nepal who are in limbo. The government of Nepal is renewing their refugee identity cards that are due to expire by mid-2022, and provide new IDs for 429 more refugees. This is a welcome decision, and a glimmer of hope in the camps in eastern Nepal. But many of these stateless people now lack a means of livelihood, and are in deep despair. It is not clear yet if Nepal will consider the plea of all Bhutan’s...

The Global Bhutanese Organization (GBO) has concluded its first annual convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on November 27, 2021. The event was hosted by the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg with an intention to assist GBO in its efforts to raise funds to run an education program for children living in two refugee camps in Nepal. Presenting the current activities of GBO, the president and the executive head, Mr. DB Rai projected an estimated budget to run ECDC early childhood education program in refugee camps in Nepal. A press release by the organization mentioned that GBO has facilitated and raised financial support in the amount of $43,467 to operate ECDC early childhood education program in Beldangi and Sanischare refugee camps. The financial contribution...

The Global Bhutanese Organization (GBO) is holding its first annual convention in Harrisburg, PA on November 27, 2021. The convention is being held in collaboration with the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg. Speaking to BNS virtually, the president and the executive head of the organization, DB Rai said the convention is aimed to raise awareness of the plight of children living in the two refugee camps in Nepal, as well as to raise funds to fund their primary education. According to Rai, GBO has active members in nine countries around the globe. With donations from resettled Bhutanese around the world, GBO has managed to run primary schools in the refugee camps. The organization's GoFundMe page has already collected more than...

Kamal Dhimal has been awarded a Refugee Congress Excellence Award for his outstanding and exemplary work in advocacy, community engagement, capacity building and mentorship. Dhimal was honored with the award at a virtual event celebrating Refugee Congress’ 10-year anniversary recently. “Congratulations to Kamal Dhimal for receiving the Refugee Congress Excellence Award,” said Lourena Gboeah, Chair of the Refugee Congress Board of Directors. “We appreciate the work that Kamal does for Refugee Congress and his community. This award, which is peer-nominated and selected, is a big honor.” Dhimal is a Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate. Dhimal has hosted regional conferences for Refugee Congress, connected with elected officials and community leaders to advocate for refugee and asylee communities and undertaken many initiatives in his community to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic. Refugee...

Druk International Shito Ryu Karate Do Association, Inc (DISKA) successfully organized one-day pingpong men’s double championship on November 13 at it’s Harrisburg dozo. “Pingpong provides self-space for Bhutanese youths when they come and have fun, make connections, and ultimately develop support system and leadership. Youths are taking leadership roles in planning and executing the events”, said Robin Gurung who coordinated the event. Gurung further added that they hope to create environment for community development to mental health needs no therapeutic platform. “DISKA is more than just a community-based karate initiative. Youths are welcome to use the facility for any youth sports”, Ran Rai, DISKA founder and chief coach said. Thirty-six participants played. The registration fee of $25 was collected among the participants. According to Manish...

जयगाउँ, भारत — झापा, बेलडाँगीबाट झन्डै ५० किलोमिटर दूरीमा छ, नेपाल–भारतको पूर्वी सीमा, काँकडभिट्टा नाका । नेपाली सरहद पार गरेर झन्डै १८० किमि पार गरेपछि पुगिन्छ भारत र भुटानबीचको जयगाउँ फुन्चोलिङ नाका । फुन्चोलिङबाट झन्डै १५० किलोमिटर पर छ, भुटानको राजधानी थिम्पु । थिम्पु नाघेर पुगिन्छ चेम्गाङ जेल । त्यही जेलमा वर्षौंदेखि थुनिएका छोरा भेट्न बेलडाँगीको शरणार्थी शिविरबाट धाइरहेका छन्, बाआमा । फुन्चोलिङसम्म पुग्ने दुई दर्जनभन्दा बढी आफन्तको ताँतीमा उभिएकी छन्, ६० वर्षीया डम्बरकुमारी अधिकारी । उनी फुन्चोलिङ–जयगाउँ नाकाको यही बाटो भएर ३० वर्षअघि देशनिकालामा परेकी थिइन् । डम्बरकुमारी यही बिन्दुमा चेम्गाङ जेलमा १३ वर्षदेखि रहेको एक्लो छोरो ओमनाथसँग भेट गराइपाऊँ भन्दै ‘बिन्ती’ गर्न आएकी हुन् । यसरी बिन्ती गर्दा भुटानी प्रहरी–प्रशासनले कहिले सुनुवाइ गर्छ तर धेरैजसो सुनेको नसुन्यै । ‘फुन्चोलिङ ढोकामा मात्रै उभिन पाउँदा पनि छोराको नजिकै पुगे...