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The Kingdom at the Centre of the World: Journeys into Bhutan Hardcover – January 1, 2019

by Omair Ahmad (Author), Aleph Books (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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A small, sparsely populated kingdom at the eastern end of the Himalayas, Bhutan is often described as one of the most isolated countries on earth. In this unprecedented portrait an informed and insightful mix of political history and travel writing Omair Ahmad shows that the opposite, in fact, is true. Located at the intersection of several political, cultural and religious currents, Bhutan has been a part of, and been shaped by, some of the most transformative events in Asian and world history. Beginning with Padmasambhavas epic work to establish Buddhism in the Himalayas, The Kingdom at the Centre of the World tells the story of Bhutans emergence as an independent Buddhist nation in the seventeenth century under the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who turned his back on Tibet; the exploits of Jigme Namgyal the Black Regent who united Bhutan and fought the armies of British India to a standstill; and the remarkable Wangchuk monarchs, who have ruled Bhutan since the beginning of the twentieth century. Alongside, the book also examines events around Bhutan that have affected it profoundly: the rise and fall of Tibet and the Mongol and British empires; the spread of Nepali-origin people across South Asia; Sikkims dramatic loss of sovereignty; and the conflicting territorial ambitions of India and China. Most fascinating of all, the book argues that it is in Bhutan more, perhaps, than in any other nation that alternative modes of governance and progress are being tested in an increasingly homogenized world. As it chooses Gross National Happiness (GNH) over Gross National Product (GNP), grapples with a complicated refugee crisis, experiments with a guided democracy and tries to retain its cultural heritage while it opens up to the world, Bhutan could have important lessons for us all
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Rupa Publications
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    8.5 x 5.51 x 0.59 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9789382277019
  7. ISBN-13
    978-9382277019
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 9382277013
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rupa Publications (January 1, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9789382277019
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9382277019
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 5.51 x 0.59 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

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Omair Ahmad

Omair Ahmad

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

kesang
3.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to Bhutan
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
A good book all in all, Ahmad ties up Bhutan's history in a neat little package of biteable sizes for a modern audience. However, there are some glaring errors in the earlier history of Bhutan that could've done well with a little more research and digging. Also, would've liked to see a more in depth account into India-Bhutan relations which he tends to gloss over the complicated parts with assumptions. Nonetheless, I would say that it is a good read and introduction for those who are interested in Bhutan and what it is all about.
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Rajiv Chopra
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Information On Bhutan
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2013
I like the book, as it is a relatively easy read. I have long wanted to travel to Bhutan, and this book does a lot to give me a first understanding of the events that have shaped Bhutan. It emerges from the mysteries, thanks to the deft handling by Omair Ahmad. What you get is a sort of condensed history of the country.
What the book does not do, and this would have been really nice, is to have added the author's personal experiences while traveling in Bhutan, and to have woven his commentary around these experiences. To me, this would have brought the book to life.

While the book may read as a summary of events, and in some way it does, it does a great service to us, who know very little about this country, and the pressures it has faced, especially in recent times, sandwiched as it is between India and China.

A good read, a good first read into the shaping of Bhutan.
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