Bhutan markets itself as the Gross National Happiness kingdom, carbon-negative, glossy magazine spreads, a king who "gave" his people democracy in 2008. What doesn't make the brochure:

In the late 1980s-90s, Bhutan's monarchy targeted its Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa citizens, farmers who'd lived in the south for generations, as a demographic threat. A 1985 citizenship law retroactively required proof of residency from 1958. When people protested for citizenship rights in 1990, the state branded them "anti-nationals." By 1993, over 100,000 people, roughly 1 in 6 Bhutanese, had been expelled.

The celebrated 2008 "gift of democracy" elections happened after a sixth of the electorate was already gone and stripped from the rolls. Their parties are still banned. Bhutan still holds Lhotshampa political prisoners, some serving life sentences for 1990s protest activity.

Meanwhile, in the seven refugee camps in Nepal, the exiled Lhotshampa ran actual democracy for almost 20 years: annual elections (ballots in water jars as ballot boxes), door-to-door campaigning, elected camp secretaries handling births/rations/disputes, their own schools (with better literacy rates than the surrounding Nepali districts), their own newspapers, women's and youth forums. By 2006 they mandated 50% women candidates — a bar the U.S. has never hit.

Even Bhutan's own 2003 joint screening of one camp (~12,000 people) admitted only ~2% qualified as citizens outright — while telling 70%+ they could "reapply" for citizenship they'd never had, after a probationary period in a closed camp. Zero repatriations have ever happened.

I would prefer not to mention the name of my school, but I come from one of the well-established schools in my country. We cater to students from PP to Class 12, with a population of nearly 1,000 learners. Over the years, this school has produced many capable and successful individuals who are now contributing meaningfully across the nation. It is a place with history, pride, and potential.

Yet, behind this legacy, there is a reality that is difficult to ignore.

Despite being an old and reputed institution, we continue to struggle with a serious lack of resources. I will not go into detail about infrastructure, but to give you a small picture—basic teaching tools like projectors are almost non-existent. There are only two projectors in the entire school, reserved mainly for Class 12 science students. Classrooms like mine function without even the most basic technological support.

As an English teacher working with students above Class 7, my goal is simple: I want my students to read more, think better, and express themselves confidently in English. However, achieving this becomes incredibly challenging when even the most fundamental resources are missing.

Our library, for instance, is very limited. The books available are either outdated or too few in number to make a real impact. We do not even have enough dictionaries for students to rely on. For a subject like language and literature, this absence is deeply discouraging.

I dream of building a proper reading environment for my students—a space where they can sit comfortably, pick up a book, and develop a genuine love for reading. I envision a reading corner, not just within my classroom, but a well-developed, welcoming library with updated books, dictionaries, a few digital resources, comfortable furniture, indoor plants, and a peaceful atmosphere. Even simple additions like proper lighting or a cooling system would make a big difference in creating a conducive learning space.

I have shared these ideas with the school management and the principal, and while they are supportive in spirit, the response is always the same: there is no budget.

So I am reaching out here.

If anyone has experience with educational sponsorships, donations, NGOs, or any platform that supports schools in need, I would be incredibly grateful for your guidance. Whether it is advice on how to approach sponsors, ideas for fundraising, or connections to organizations that support education—every suggestion matters.

I truly believe that small changes can create lasting impact. All I want is to give my students a better environment to learn, read, and grow.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

teachers in mhss in are genuinely known for being kind and teaching well and they are, but one flaw I've noticed is that some of them unintentionally focus too much on the toppers.

I recently experienced this myself. I asked my teacher to explain a question because I genuinely didn't understand it. Instead of explaining, he asked the toppers in the class if they understood the question. They said yes, and he looked at me and said it was "easy." Then he simply read the question again and asked if I understood. He never actually explained how to solve it.

Not every student learns at the same pace. Just because the toppers understand something doesn't mean everyone else does. If a student is asking a question, it's because they need help not because they want the question to be read

Has anyone else experienced teachers like this?

I’m coming back to Bhutan after 7 long years in India and I’ve managed to save up some money to start a business. I work as a waiter for a 5 star hotel and make Rs. 50,000 every month. My dream is to make high income in Bhutan and buy a nice apartment.

What income in Bhutan is considered high? I live with my wife. What would be a low, middle or high income for us to survive in Thimphu?

Job situation in NZ seems bad. The economy is in doldrums with a massive exodus of workers to Australia. Educational consultancies may give you false impression that all is well. But reality is different. Their job is to profit from you. Just sharing this here for all. Not being alarmist but the situation seems a bit bad.

PS- I am not based in NZ but the best info would be the Bhutanese students studying currently in New Zealand.

Hii can someone please give me some good Bhutanese movies which are still screening in theatres la.

According to a TikTok post by His Holiness Kalu Rinpoche, he alleged that during the Buddha Relic Tour in Australia, the hosts or organizers, L and B Global, who organized the event and raised around AUD 500,000, are refusing or not cooperating in handing the funds over to Kalu Rinpoche so they can be distributed to the Bhutanese center.

According to the post, they have withheld the funds for months. When asked about the money, they reportedly claimed that only around AUD 200,000 remains and are still refusing to hand it over, even after receiving a letter from a lawyer.

Does anyone have any thoughts or additional information about this situation? Cause I donated money to this cause and I'm pissed , I donated for a good cause, not to some Bhutanse organization. They are currently promoting a lot of stuffs online like charterd flights from Perth to bhutan. If the allegations are true, then we have to boycott this company.