RTC Professor of Economics, Mr. Sanjeev Mehta received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of education and three decades of service in Bhutan. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. PBSA is conferred by the Hon’ble President of India as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an organization/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

Professor Sanjeev Mehta is currently serving as the Head of Social Sciences at Royal Thimphu College. He joined RTC in February 2009 to contribute to the academic and institutional planning for starting the College. He was also instrumental in the successful management of the programme in economics, the development of the curriculum of BA in Development Economics in 2016, and its revision in 2022. In 2008, he worked as a UNDP lead consultant to draft Bhutan’s first economic development policy. Prior to this, he served at Sherubtse College since September 1993, having been head of the economics department during which he designed the BA in Economics programme under the Royal University of Bhutan.

He has also worked to create and strengthen the student-oriented academic club for economics’ students which engaged in the publication of monthly newsletters, organisation of conferences, talks by eminent persons, and other co-curricular activities. He organized RTC’s first international conference in 2012. Besides his role as an educator, he is also involved in nationally useful research, consultancy work, and training activities, and is a regular columnist in the local newspapers contributing to informed debates on relevant issues. He has authored two books on the Bhutanese Economy, including “Nature and Structure of the Bhutanese Economy”. 

He has carried out research on issues related to growth, poverty, inequality, regional integration, FDI, and local government. Professor Mehta has also been a consultant to UNDP, UNESCAP, the World Bank, WIPO, ADB, and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Moreover, he served as a guest lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences, Osnabruck (Germany), and Szent Istvan University (Hungary), and as a member of the editorial board of Bhutan Journal for Research and Development (2012-15).

Professor Sanjeev Mehta was honoured with the National Order of Merit for his dedicated service by His Majesty the King of Bhutan in 2014. He was also awarded the Hind Rattan Award 2013 by the NRI Welfare Society of India.

Professor Mehta promotes active and student-oriented teaching and learning practices and has always been rated an excellent teacher and human being who serves as a role model to his students. 

A key element of inclusive education is valuing diversity within the human community. As one of the Higher Education Institutions in Bhutan, Royal Thimphu College has been on a journey to provide and promote inclusive education since 2019 with the enrolment of the first visually impaired student on a full scholarship who successfully graduated in the summer of 2022. Recently, RTC welcomed two new students in 2022, Chimi Dema and Sapuna Subba to its newly launched Bachelor of Sports and Health Sciences programme. Chimi and Sapuna are paralympic athletes and have represented Bhutan in many international paralympic games. RTC in partnership with the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) has supported them with full scholarships to pursue their degree studies. 

Chimi started her journey as a shotput athlete at the Bhutan Paralympic Committee in 2018 and has since participated in many international paralympic games including the recent Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games. Sapuna is a para-badminton athlete and has brought home two bronze medals from the Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG). “We were very nervous when we first came to RTC and being surrounded by people we did not know was very overwhelming, but we were able to get along with our classmates and make friends within the first few days. Now we have our own group of friends that we hang out with”, said Chimi and Sapuna. 

Chimi is currently serving as a part-time gym assistant on campus which gives her the opportunity to earn some monthly allowance from the college. She also helps students using the gym facilities to execute proper form and posture while working out. Sapuna has her badminton practice session every morning at the Multi-purpose hall with other students. Chimi and Sapuna wish to work at the Bhutan Paralympic Committee after graduating from RTC. “We want to give back to the organization that gave us endless opportunities. We want to advocate for people with disabilities and inspire them to come forward and achieve their dreams.”  

Inclusive Education goes beyond simply including people with disabilities on campus, we must have a campus-wide effort to build a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment that creates a sense of belonging and respect for diversity. Royal Thimphu College reiterates its commitment to building an inclusive culture on campus and promoting access to education for everyone. 

Royal Thimphu College is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Yasuo Miyazawa, the Founder and Chairman of SEISA Group. The partnership between SEISA Japan and RTC Bhutan extends to long before RTC opened its doors. Mr. Miyazawa had been a friend of Bhutan for decades. On April 26, 2019, Bhutan held its first Paralympic Day and Miyazawa-San was appointed as Honorary Advisor to the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee by HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, the President of BOC. In 2020, Miyazawa-San was awarded the world's most prestigious awards for amateur radio when the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honored Miyazawa-san.

Miyazawa-san’s Foundation for Global Children helps fund educational and medical programmes for children around the world. FGC also works with several countries including Bhutan to help them organize and train teams for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

In the last 10 years of partnership between RTC and SEISA, more than a hundred RTC students, faculty, and staff have participated in the cultural exchange programme to Japan. Miyazawa-san will always be remembered for his immeasurable contributions to RTC and Bhutan. The RTC community offered prayers and butter lamps for Miyazawa-san on receiving the news of his passing. We remain inspired by his vision and kindness to date and the legacy shall live on for years to come. 

"Understand Each Other

Leave Nobody Out

And Make Friends"

- Miyazawa-San

When I heard about the passing away of Miyazawa-san, my heart sobbed for one of the great souls I ever crossed paths in life. While Miyazawa-san and I had a short interaction during his visit to Bhutan and Royal Thimphu College, his impact on me has been one of the greatest. I have been a part of the RTC-SIESA exchange Programme under the sponsorship of Miyazawa-san. This prestigious exchange programme to Japan has been an eye-opener for me. If I have an atom of knowledge about Japan and how the globalized world operates, I owe this in full to Miyazawa-san. While Miyazawa-san has passed away and left this world for the greater realm, you will continue to live in our hearts. My heartfelt condolences and prayers to family, friends, and all who grieve the loss of a kind Soul.

• Pema Dem, 2018 RTC Graduate                                                 

                                                                              
During our visit to Japan in 2017, we had a session with Mr. Miyazawa-san, where he talked about the importance of inclusion for our society. He said that it has been his goal to have a school that is inclusive and where friendships are cherished. He said that we need to make friends and help them to improve and grow. I think that goal must have motivated him to be a friend of Bhutan and initiate programmes like the SEISA-RTC cultural exchange programme. I hope and pray that Mr. Miyazawa's family is able to get the strength to endure the pain that is in their hearts. 

• Millan Subba, 2012 RTC Graduate 

Kyo-sei- the philosophy of leaving nobody out, was the foremost insightful life lesson Miyazawa-san taught me. During our short meeting with him, he imparted invaluable things that I still graciously carry. Despite being a successful and highly regarded individual, Miyazawa-san was very down to earth and connected with us. I owe Miayazawa-san's sense of humor and humility. Japan was my first international travel, which was made possible due to Miyazawa-san's visionary contribution to RTC. I am beyond grateful to have been a part of this noble opportunity of visiting Japan and meeting Miyazawa-san in person: it will be an experience that will forever occupy a special place in my heart. Thank you, Miyazawa-san, for making a significant positive change in my life. I shall forever preserve you in my prayers. 

• Kinzang Gyeltsho, 2021 RTC Graduate

I remember waiting for Miyazawa-san in his office conference room during my visit to Japan. When I saw him I do not remember seeing him as the chairman but as a friendly neighborhood grandfather who welcomed us into his home. His humility and humor are what I shall remember him for. For the work he has done, in and out of Japan, his legacy shall forever live within those lives he has touched.

• Singye Lekden, 2021 RTC Graduate 

The only close interaction I had with you was during the certificate awarding day and at the Farewell dinner in Japan. You looked at my name and said I did an amazing job as an exchange student and later at dinner you accidentally added too much soy sauce to my sushi for which you immediately apologized. It was a funny and memorable incident and I cherish them a lot. I felt very cared for when you were around even for a few minutes. You were a busy man but you still made time to visit us. We love you and will miss you dearly. Thank you for everything.

• Namgay Lhamo Sherpa, 2020 RTC Graduate