Bhutan has recently completed its fourth round of parliamentary election since starting the ‘controlled’ democratic exercise in 2008. Each election brings some surprises. This latest election come as less controversial compared to the previous three. The diaspora expects the new government will be more liberal in term of opening doors for family and friendly exchanges and re-unions. Reconnection will further erase such sentiments, build up relations that will produce more benefits to Bhutan – economically and socially. Read full

This issue of the Bhutan Journal has focused partly on language─ most specifically the changing needs and status of the language of the Bhutanese diaspora. When the Royal Government of Bhutan wanted to reduce its potential political opposition, one of the major criteria in its target list was Nepali language and its users. The evicted people- who were mostly of Nepalese descent- reached Nepal where they reinvigorated their skills in Nepali language and literature that had almost extinguished in Bhutan. During their migration for resettlement, for many literate people, Nepali language or literature was the only possession they carried with them.  Read in full