15th Anniversary Message from the Founding Chairman

Dear Esteemed Readers, Writers, and Friends of Bhutaneseliterature.com,

Today marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Bhutaneseliterature.com, a journey that began with a simple WordPress blog from a small village in Norway and has since flourished into a vibrant literary community. Our portal was born from the vision to preserve and promote the entirety of Bhutanese literature in a globalized digital era. It soon became a common platform for voices that span across borders and generations. Each year, our community has expanded, fusing a diverse range of literary expressions and discussions that reflect the resilience and creativity of the Bhutanese spirit.

As I reflect on these 15 years, I am amazed at the narratives that have shaped our collective and individual histories. This journey, though marked by accomplishments, is today tinged with sorrow due to the tragic loss of Dr. Govinda Rizal, a towering figure in our community whose contributions have left a vivid mark on our hearts and our literary fabric. Known for his wide-ranging work from the scientific to the literary, Dr. Rizal embodied the spirit of intellectual curiosity and critical thought that Bhutaneseliterature.com strives to foster. His departure is an irreparable loss, not just to our community but to the broader discourse he so passionately enriched.

In his honour, we dedicate this 15th-anniversary issue to Dr Govinda Rizal. Having known him for 17 years, I am one of the few fortunate Bhutanese individuals who developed a tight friendship with him and had intellectual collaboration in many instances. I am deeply inspired by both his intellectual and ordinary personality. His legacy will continue to inspire our writings and our lives, urging us to look beyond our immediate realities towards a future filled with hope and perseverance.

I extend my deepest gratitude to all the writers whose pens and keyboards have filled our pages with stories of life, struggle, and identity. Your contributions are the lifeblood of our portal. To the editors, your diligent efforts have shaped this anniversary issue into a repository of our collective memories and aspirations. Your dedication ensures the literary excellence that our readers expect and deserve.

We remain committed to nurturing this platform as a space for cultural, linguistic and literary conservation and intellectual discourse. We aim to embrace more voices, explore new narratives, and continue the dialogue that fosters understanding and connection among the Bhutanese diaspora and beyond.

Together, let us continue to develop a common literary platform of Bhutanese literature, honouring our past, celebrating our present, and building towards an enlightened future.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest regards,

Ramesh Gautam
Founder
Bhutaneseliterature.com