Bhutan's ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project aims to create a sustainable urban center reflecting the nation's Gross National Happiness philosophy. However, recent reports highlight concerns regarding the project's impact on displaced communities, particularly the Lhotshampa people, an ethnic Nepali group expelled from Bhutan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
An article from Scroll.in discusses the emotional toll on former residents like Hari Adhikari, who was displaced from Gelephu and now resides in the United States. The report suggests that the GMC project could be seen as a "violent appropriation" of the homeland and memories of the displaced Lhotshampa people. The article also notes that many Nepali-speakers still living in Bhutan remain stateless, with the Nepali language no longer taught in schools since 1989.Bhutan's ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project aims to create a sustainable urban center reflecting the nation's Gross National Happiness philosophy. However, recent reports highlight concerns regarding the project's impact on displaced communities, particularly the Lhotshampa people, an ethnic Nepali group expelled from Bhutan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
An article from Scroll.in discusses the emotional toll on former residents like Hari Adhikari, who was displaced from Gelephu and now resides in the United States. The report suggests that the GMC project could be seen as a "violent appropriation" of the homeland and memories of the displaced Lhotshampa people. The article also notes that many Nepali-speakers still living in Bhutan remain stateless, with the Nepali language no longer taught in schools since 1989.
These reports underscore the complex socio-political issues surrounding the GMC project, particularly concerning historical injustices and the rights of displaced communities.
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