Thinley Namgay 

Rinchen Namgay, 26, bagged the first position in the art competition organised by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with the National Institute of Zorig Chusum (NIZC).

More than 100 participants from the country took part in the competition last month  themed “Correlation between Gandhiji’s thoughts and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The joint event is organised by Bhutan and the Indian Embassy to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi.

Rinchen Namgay, from Mongar, is a student of the NIZC.

Rinchen Namgay had made the sculpture of Gandhi working on traditional spinning wheel. “The spinning wheel symbolises the poverty alleviation and the surrounding trees represent Gandhi’s love for nature and to promote climate actions. This competition made me to explore modern arts besides my sculpture work,” said Rinchen Namgay.

Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs, Sherub Gyeltshen, graced the award ceremony at the Indian Embassy in Thimphu yesterday.

The top three winners of the competition were awarded a cash prize of Nu 30,000, Nu 25,000 and Nu 20,000, respectively.

Lyonpo Sherub Gyeltshen said that Gandhi had inspired and touched millions of lives in the world. “The legacy and impact of Mahatma Gandhi through his actions, words and indomitable spirit defined by his unclenching conviction in Ahimsa, Satyagraha and Sarvodaya was truly remarkable.”

Other collaborative activities in the last two years include installation and unveiling of the walking life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the embassy, Khadi-Thagzo Textile Presentation, Mountain Bike race, a Satya Vaarta (talk on Gandhi) by former chief justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye, tree planting at the Kuenselphodrang Park, release of commemorative postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi by Bhutan Post  and a stellar presentation of Gandhiji’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav Jan To’ by the Yangchen Drukpa.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations will host a Webinar tomorrow on Weaving Relations.

Advertisement