Dr Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India, talks to Kuensel reporter Thukten Zangpo about his affinity with Bhutan, Bhutan-France partnership and area of future collaborations

Your Excellency, you co- authored the book ‘The Bodhisattva King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck’ with Bhutanese writer Tshering Tashi. What inspired you to undertake such a profound exploration?

I have been a scholar of Bhutan studies for 40 years now, specialising in the Bhutanese political system, particularly the monarchy, and its role in transformation and modernisation. With Tshering Tashi, co-author of the book, we invited various authors to contribute testimonies about the King’s achievements.

It is the monarch who truly epitomises the Bhutanese monarchy’s capacity for transformation and modernisation. This is most vividly illustrated by His Majesty The Fourth King’s bold decision to abdicate on December 15, 2006. While this move surprised everyone, for me, it was the culmination of a long process. The book chronicles his reign, highlighting reforms in all sectors, transformation and modernisation in the political, economic, diplomatic spheres.

At a recent Bhutan Echoes session, the moderator described you as “a Bhutanese reincarnate in a French body”. Could you share more about the experiences that have fostered this special bond?

Each time I come here, Bhutan fills me with a sense of home and happiness. My deep-rooted affinity for Bhutan stems from my early interest

in books about Central Asia, South Asia, and the Himalayas. I discovered that Bhutan was a unique kingdom. While pursuing my PhD, I pondered how a small nation sandwiched between two giants, India and China, could remain independent for centuries. Primarily, this was due to wise kings devising strategies to preserve the nation’s independence, identity, and culture. Secondly, Bhutan’s ability to evolve while preserving its core values has been instrumental in its enduring success.

French cinema has a rich and celebrated history. Given its significant cultural impact, is there any possibility of future collaborations in the film festival sphere?

Absolutely. A highlight of this year’s Bhutan Echoes was the very first screening of a French film ‘The Braid’, showcasing the interconnectedness of cultures with screenings in India, Italy, and Canada, too.

Next year, we plan to introduce more French films to Bhutan, focusing on themes such as environ-

mental protection, biodiversity, and spirituality.

Last year, we organised a week-long French film festival in Kolkata. We intend to invite Bhutanese cinema to participate in the Kolkata Film Festival. We are open to exploring opportunities for joint Bhutanese and French film projects.

Many French organisations support international co-productions. Would there be opportunities for French support, especially in terms of funding, to nurture the creative sector’s growth and development?

Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a dedicated fund for supporting global cinema. I am keen to explore opportunities for collaboration with Bhutanese film- makers.

Educational exchange programmes and scholarships can be instrumental in fostering cultural understanding. Are there existing programmes between France and Bhutan? How can Bhutan and France collaborate in the education sector?

Our goal is to attract more Bhutanese students in France. However, the language challenge needs to be overcome. Introducing French language courses into the Bhutanese curriculum is hence our initial focus.

Last week, the French Institute in India signed a Memorandum of Under- standing (MoU) with The Royal Academy at Pangbisa to establish a French department. The academy’s faculty will undergo online training from February next year, followed by the posting of a French teacher in October. We expect to have a full-fledged French department at the Royal Academy by early 2026, paving the way for further collaborations with French institutions.

This year, we are inviting Indian students to participate in intensive French language courses at 30 French universities for a year, followed by regular academic programmes. We aim to include Bhutanese students in these pro- grammes starting next year.

France is known for its commitment to environmental conservation while Bhutan is often referred to as the ‘climate champion’. How can both nations further collaborate to protect our shared environment?

Bhutan’s achievement in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, including its negative carbon footprint, are globally recognised. France shares a similar commitment to environmental protection and combating climate change.

France co-founded the International Solar Alliance with India in 2015, and Bhutan is also a part of the Alliance. We have provided 1 million Euros for the STARC programme for solar energy development in three countries – Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, and Senegal.

Among the three chosen countries, in Bhutan, we aim to establish a solar academy. Other collaborations could be in national park management, high- altitude agriculture, and water conservation.

Building upon the strong foundation of the Bhutan-France relation- ship, what avenues for collaboration do you en- vision in the future? France, which welcomes over 100 million tourists annually, possesses valuable expertise in sustain- able tourism development. We can support Bhutan in this sector through training and capacity building.

The recent MoU between the French Institute in India and Desuung focuses on training guides and hospitality sector staff. There is also interest in setting up or upgrading a hospitality institute.

The recent agreement between Drukair and Airbus for five new planes highlights the potential for collaboration in the aviation sector.

We are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming innovation forum in Paro to align our efforts with the vision of His Majesty The King.