Mr. Mehta is from Rajasthan, India, and has an MA in Economics from Rajasthan University. He is a NET (National Eligibility Test) qualified lecturer under the UGC and has taught undergraduate courses in Economics, mostly at Sherubtse College, Kanglung. Prior to joining RTC, he was the Head of the Economics Department at Sherubtse College. He has been a member of the academic board and developed the curriculum for BA (Hon) course in Economics. Professor Mehta has also worked as a UNDP lead consultant to develop the Economic Development Policy of Bhutan 2010, MDG sub-national repot 2013, MAF on youth unemployment in Bhutan, and capacity assessment of UN one programme 2014-18. He was also involved in developing textbooks of Economics for classes X, XI, and XII for the Ministry of Education, Bhutan. He has carried out research on poverty, inequality, local government, and FDI and his areas of interest include development economics, macroeconomics, globalization, and research. He has also published a book titled “Nature and Structure of Bhutanese Economy”.
Dolma Choden Roder has family roots in both Bhutan (Bumthang) and Switzerland but grew up in Thimphu. She earned an MA and Ph.D. in Socio-cultural Anthropology from Arizona State University, USA. She also has a BA (honors) in Anthropology from the University of Melbourne, Australia. For over five years she worked in the Anthropology Collections at Arizona State University where she had the pleasure of training a number of undergraduate student workers and interns in collections management and material culture research. She has also taught at Sherubtse College and the School for Field Studies. Her current research and teaching interests are gender, education, family, material culture, and youth cultures. She is an enthusiastic advocate of Bhutanese literature and arts and currently serves as one of the directors for Drukyul's Literature Festival: Bhutan Echoes.
Mr. Kinley Dorji is from Pemagatshel, eastern Bhutan. He has a Master of Science in Environment Management from Forest Research Institute (DEEMED) University in Dehradun, India. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Development from the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan. Besides teaching, his interest lies in reading, traveling, sports, and community services.
Dr. Leishipem Khamrang is from Manipur, India. He holds a Master's Degree in Geography from the University of Mumbai and Population Studies (MPS) from the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. He has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Mumbai. He qualified for NET/Lectureship in Geography and NET/JRF in Population Studies, conducted by University Grants Commission (UGC), India. Before joining RTC, he taught Environmental Studies at Chetana College, Bandra East, Mumbai for two years. He also worked at International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai as an Assistant Research Officer (ARO) for two years. His last position was Research Officer at the Centre for Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. His areas of research interest are regional development, quality of life, urban development, development, regional conflict, etc.
Mr. Rabi is from Dorokha, Bhutan. He completed his Master’s Degree in South Asian Studies from Pondicherry University, India, and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Environmental Studies from Sherubtse College, Kanglung, Bhutan. During his post-graduation, he successfully completed his research thesis on “Monarchy and Democracy in Bhutan, a comparative study”. He also worked in Rinchen Higher Secondary School as a History Teacher before joining RTC. His interest includes the study of contemporary international relations, traveling, sports, and music.
Dr. Richard Kamei is a Rongmei Naga (Kabui) from Manipur. He recently completed his Ph.D. from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and his research looked at the diverse pathways of Naga Nationalism rooted around the First World War. He holds an MPhil degree from TISS where his dissertation was ethnographic research on indigenous women and brewing of traditional liquor for commercial purposes. Before his research endeavors, he worked as a research officer and community organizer at Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a community resource center. He also worked with an NGO in Delhi, India800 Foundation, as a researcher. He graduated from Ramjas College, the University of Delhi with a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology, and subsequently an MA degree in Globalisation and Labour from TISS. His current research interests include political anthropology, labor studies, indigenous peoples, northeast of India, and colonial studies. His writings have appeared in academic journals, books, and media.
Dr. Jelle J.P. Wouters holds an MPhil (Distinction) in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, where he was also a Wenner-Gren grantee. Prior to joining Royal Thimphu College in 2015, he taught at Sikkim Central University (India) and was a visiting faculty at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen (Germany) as part of the Teaching for Excellence, an initiative by the German Research Foundation. He is the author and editor of four books including ‘In the Shadows of Naga Insurgency’ (OUP 2018) and published over two dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Dr. Shawn C. Rowlands is a British-Australian anthropologist and historian whose work has focused on the relationship between heritage, material culture, collection, and the production of knowledge concerning native identity and practices. With a background in history, archaeology, and anthropology, and a strong focus on the practical and theoretical analysis of material culture, Dr. Rowlands is a particular specialist in Oceania and colonialism. His work has had a broad, multi-disciplinary scope that has explored the exercise of power and agency through the production of thought and the taxonomy of cultures and lived experiences. Beginning his career by studying popular protest movements, especially in pre-industrial Europe and Japan, he later shifted to museum anthropology. Dr. Rowlands has taught at Harvard University, the Bard Graduate Center, and the University of Queensland. In the museum world, he has worked at and researched multiple international institutions, such as the American Museum of Natural History, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Queensland Museum. Currently, his research focuses on the material culture of murder, Imperial Japan’s collection practices, and artistic entanglements with modernization in Bhutan.
Tshering Lhamo Dukpa is from Tsirang Dzongkhag. She holds MA in Economics from Madras Christian College in Chennai, India, and BA (honors) in Economics from St. Edmund's college under North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, India. She did her schooling in Dehradun, India. She has been teaching modules in Economics at Royal Thimphu College since August 2014.
Ms. Kinley Choden graduated from Sherubtse College with a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences in 2012 and pursued Masters in Environmental Management from Forest Research Institute, India. She started her career as an associate lecturer (part-time) at Royal Thimphu College and worked at Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment Research as a faculty and researcher.
Mr. Tshewang Dorji graduated from Sherubtse College with a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences. He has a Masters in Sustainable Development Practice (MDP) from the College of Natural Resources. He brings adequate field experience and theoretical knowledge to better understand, develop, and implement integrated approaches to sustainable development challenges. Before joining RTC, he worked in the Research and Hansard Division in the National Assembly. He was mainly engaged in conducting research and analysis works on legislation and policy issues related to the whole gamut of parliamentary functions. His research interest includes environmental humanities, climate change, wildlife conservation, and community-based disaster risk reduction and management. Besides teaching, Mr. Tshewang also enjoys traveling, reading, and bird watching.
Dr. Supong completed her Master’s degree in Women’s Studies and M.Phil- Ph.D in Inclusive Development and Social Justice from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. she was selected as an Erasmus Mundus exchange student for the Spring semester at the University of Tampere, Finland. Thereafter, she was engaged as a student coordinator for the Customized Programme between Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and the University of Chicago, the United States of America in 2017. Between the years 2018 and 2019, she taught Sociology to undergraduate students at Tetso College in her home state, Nagaland. Her personal trajectory as a researcher continues to be informed by the complexities of gender, tribe, and class which are deeply rooted in her identity and experience. Her research interests include social movements, women and conflict, memory studies, and gendered dynamics of violence. She likes to travel and loves visiting museums, art galleries, and botanical gardens.
Ms. Zajano Z. Yanthan completed her M.Phil in Planning and Development from IITB (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay). Currently, enrolled as a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai. Her Thesis is titled “Music, Identity and Naga Society’. She did her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Nagaland University and her Master’s in Labor and Development at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. Ms. Zajano is a Lotha Naga tribe from Nagaland, Northeast India.
Mr. Rudrarup Mukherjee originates from West Bengal, India. He completed his M.A and M.Phil with a specialization in International Economics from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. He was awarded UGC NET for Lectureship and West Bengal SET for Assistant Professor in Economics. Prior to joining RTC, he had been working in THK Jain College, Kolkata as a Faculty Member for eight years. Along with teaching and evaluation, he had performed as Coordinator and Nodal Officer of Internal Quality Assurance Cell and Joint Coordinator of NAAC Steering Committee in the same. Presently he is pursuing a Ph.D. from West Bengal State University. His area of research is “Impact of FDI on Developing Nations in a Neoclassical General Equilibrium Framework”. Besides Economics, he is interested in reading, traveling and nature, and wildlife photography.
Ms. Pheiga Amanda Giangthandunliu is a research scholar from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, her broad area of research includes Natural resource governance, Institutions, Tribes, and Common pool resources. She is qualified for lectureship (NET) in Social Work and is a JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) holder under the University Grants Commission (UGC), India. She completed her BA (Anthropology) from Women’s College Shillong, under the North-Eastern Hill University, and her MSW (Masters in Social Work) from Kodaikanal Christian College which is affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University in Tamil Nadu. She also holds an M.Phil degree in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai. She belongs to the Rongmei Tribe from Manipur.
Ms. Thinley Dema graduated from Royal Thimphu College with a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies in 2018 as a recipient of the DAHE Scholarship. She received the prestigious “Indian Ambassadors’ scholarship award” in the year 2019 to pursue her MSc. in Ecology and Environmental Studies at Nalanda University, India. She has been part of four research projects to date. She has co-authored three research papers and single-authored one book chapter.
Ms. Pratika Pradhan is a passionate educator who also received her Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from Samtse College of Education. She has completed her MA in Development Studies from Brac Institute of Governance and Development under Brac University and her BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Asian University for Women both in Bangladesh on full scholarship from the universities.
Dr. Tiatemsu Longkumer is an Ao Naga from Nagaland. His educational background includes a B.Sc. in Botany, Zoology, and Anthropology, an M.Sc. in Cultural anthropology, and an MA in Philosophy. He previously served as a research assistant in a project funded by the NEC at the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Shillong. Dr. Longkumer earned his Ph.D. from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, with his research focusing on the syncretic relationship between Indigenous religion and Christianity in Nagaland. He is the recipient of the ‘Indian Knowledge System’ grant. Dr. Longkumer’s scholarly pursuits primarily revolve around delving into the intricate relationship of religion with economic and socio-political dimensions. In addition to his research, he actively engages with authors and scholars on various topics through podcasts as a host at “New Books Network.” Beyond his academic interests, he also shares his expertise by providing training in public speaking, communication skills, and writing.
Dr. Kevingu Khate is an Angami Naga from the state of Nagaland, India. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Anthropology from Nagaland University and later completed his M.Sc. degree in Anthropology from the University of Delhi, India. Dr. Khate earned his Ph.D. from the University of Delhi, India specializing in Biological Anthropology. His interests lie in studying non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, Metabolic disorders, micronutrient deficiencies, cognitive impairment, and the genetics and epigenetics of complex lifestyle disorders. He has worked on projects funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt. of India and was a recipient of the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) grant from ICMR. He has published several scientific research papers in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored one book chapter. Besides academics, he's also deeply passionate about sports and community service.
Dr Tshering Dolkar is a Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences. She obtained her Doctoral degree in Education from Queensland University of Technology, Australia and her Masters degree in Education from University of New Brunswick, Canada. Her experience has been in school and tertiary education, including curriculum development, planning and policy development, teacher education, and management of education research and reform projects. Additionally, she has provided consultancy services as a lead trainer and a local capacity builder in leadership and results-based program/project planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Her current interest is in active student-centred teaching in higher education.
Ms. Singye Lhamo holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from Royal Thimphu College and MSc in Natural Resource Management by research from the College of Natural Resources, Bhutan. As a faculty member, Singye's approach to environmental education integrates theoretical knowledge with practical insights gained from research and community engagement. She is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, fostering a sense of responsibility and passion for conservation among her students and the broader community.
Ms. Deki Yangzom holds an MA (Distinction) in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India. She was the recipient of the prestigious Indian Ambassador’s Scholarship, and Bhutanese Knowledge for Indigenous Development (B-KIND) Scholarship, 2022. After earning a BA (Distinction) in Anthropology from Royal Thimphu College (RTC) under DAHE scholarship, she was engaged as a researcher at Tarayana Centre for Research and Development, a think-tank and a research arm of theTarayana Foundation. She is interested in the anthropology of the Himalayas as an ethnographic field, and the themes of climate change and ecology, religion and ritual, livelihood and vulnerabilities in the Bhutan highlands. Her current research engagement has been in the emergent fields of Environmental Humanities and Multispecies Studies in Bhutan’s climate change context. Drawing on her research work, she is also engaged as a Climate Advocate, working closely with various youth organisations in Bhutan. For the love of reading, she manages a small online library called Circulating Library.
Dr Purna Chhetri is a renowned expert in natural resources management and biodiversity conservation with over 20 years of experience. Holding a PhD from the University of Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, he has significantly contributed to understanding and mitigating human impacts on ecosystems in Bhutan. His extensive research includes climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, notably through innovative electric fencing systems. Dr Chhetri has also excelled in academia as a Resident Lecturer at the School for Field Studies, mentoring over 100 students. His international roles include participation in Bhutan’s REDD-plus and PES programmes and representation at global forums like IPBES. His consultancy work with organisations such as the UNDP and FAO further underscores his influence in conservation and sustainable resource management.
Mr. Kevi Christopher Paphino, hailing from Nagaland, India, is a skilled physical education professional with a robust academic and practical background. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and further advanced his expertise with a Master’s degree in Physical Education from LNIPE in Guwahati, India. Specialising in basketball and physical education pedagogy, Mr. Paphino has accumulated three years of valuable experience as a Physical Education Instructor at St. Joseph College (A) in Jakhama, Kohima, Nagaland. His expertise in teaching and coaching, combined with his academic credentials, underscores his commitment to fostering athletic and educational development in the field of physical education.
Mr. Chencho Dorji is from Pemagatshel, Bhutan. He completed his Master’s Degree in Historical Studies from Nalanda University, India, and BA Honors in Bhutanese and Himalayan Studies from the College of Language and Culture Studies. During his postgraduate programme, he successfully completed his thesis on, ‘Cultural History of Mandala: Understanding a Sacred and Secular in Bhutan’s Buddhist Art.’ As an enthusiastic researcher, especially in the field of the indigenous cultural heritage of Bhutan, he has successfully presented two research papers during the Honors programme, titled, ‘Chungkhar Nagtsang: The Rise and Fall of Nobilities,’ and ‘Tsatsi Buram: The Traditional Way of Manufacturing Brown Sugar in Dagor Community.’ His interest includes research, and reading books, particularly on Buddhist philosophy and history. Aside from that, he is also a contemporary artist (beginner), sportsman, musician, song composer, and documentary filmmaker.
Mrs. Sonal Mehta comes from a hill station situated at Rajasthan- Gujarat border in India and did her schooling from a highly reputed MGD school, Jaipur. She was awarded a gold medal in MSc Human Development from the Rajasthan University. Her post-graduate dissertation focused on the issues pertaining to street children. She traversed a long distance from a family-owned jewelry business to a career in academics. She taught mathematics for about a decade at a middle secondary school in Kanglung, Bhutan. In 2009, she joined the Royal Thimphu College as an Administrative officer for about four months and later as a faculty member. She teaches Statistics and Research Methodology. She has also undertaken some consultancy with the Bhutan Postal Corporation and the Department of Local Government.