What Matters in Bhutan: Siok Sian Pek-Dorji at TEDxThimphu

Siok Sian Pek-Dorji is a firm believer that Bhutan must continue to tell its own stories to hold and preserve its rich culture and identity through its stories.
She has been telling those stories through her documentaries and articles in her career as a journalist. She has also written on Bhutan's vision of Gross National Happiness and media.

One of her recent documentary productions, "Born Again Buddhists", won the award for best cinematography and best direction in the Asian TV awards.

She is founder and director of the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, a civil society organization dedicated to creating a culture for democracy in Bhutan. One of the Centre's activities is to give voice to youth and citizens to enable them to tell stories about the changes taking place in the small landlocked kingdom of Bhutan, which is also the world's youngest democracy.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@sonamongmo8829]

Very insightful talk by Aum Pek. She very eloquently discusses the challenges that modern Bhutanese society faces today. Fully agree with her that we need to work on developing our own stories for our survival.

[@vikaspowar7310]

Best Wishes to Bhutan. 👍

[@dsethi05]

Thank you . Informative . Have been to Bhutan and there is so much one can learn from the country , culture and it's people , That is my experience . . A small nation which can teach a lot to the world .

[@phubdorji8176]

Very insightful....

[@drubichho]

How about we have a documentary competition about Bhutan?

[@nguyenhiep8951]

I know Thimphu capital

[@anniemux]

Amazing !

[@fake1370]

Hi nuitxx, I C wat u r saying. Bt is that really shameful? Is that really bad? Every act has its explanation n reason. In fact, we allow marriage, it's just that getting the citizenship is a long process, n we have reason for this. u may want to ask yourself, How did Bhutan survive? wat is it that makes Bhutan unique? wat helps Bhutan to maintain its sovereignty? What is the difference between western countries and Bhutan? If Bhutan do the same like western countries ,what would happen?

[@sitherwangdi6324]

sangay tempa m

[@balbahadurgurung1984]

Bhutanese law doesn't give citizenship to foreigners married to Bhutanese unless this lady with chinese sounding name's husband is close to the Royalty or high officials in the Palace or government service. There are many Indian women married to Bhutanese who along with their children are deprived of the citizenship, I know some families whose children are teenagers and couldn't be educated in Bhutan cause you need to have citizenship to get enrolled in Schools in Bhutan. Dad being a bhutanese can do private business as he has a business license. His wife and children are non bhutanese and they need to get special permit to travel to Thimphu every time. This is the law of Gross National Happiness country.

[@alitskyCAr1104]

bal bahadur gurung .. i am curious, so is that law an advantage or disadvantage for Bhutanese families? I have been hearing about the GNH of Bhutan, however, basing on what you wrote, should Bhutan make considerable adjustments for intermarriages and for the children they eventually have.? .. because it is sad to hear that these children, just bec they have a parent who is not Bhutanese are not be able to avail any education.

[@multifandom-er1785]

Alits Mac what this guy said is not true at all, if you’re a foreigner and want to get Bhutanese citizenship you would have to take an exam on Bhutanese history and should know the language just like we do in America. The kids that are born there are automatically Registered on the census as Bhutanese

[@indragurung9946]

Then how come there are children of such couple appealing to be Bhutanese if they automatically get citizenship. Once in a while there is news in Kuensel about the King granting citizenship and most of the are the children of such couple who have to wait years and years before they get their citizenship. There is no rule about citizenship for such children, it is upto the King who he wants to grant citizenship. They are at his mercy.

[@ingloongyang4026]

She is a Singapore trying to pass off as Bhutanese by using "us" and "we.

[@tshomeddem6969]

Small country comes with big insecurities so his majesty don't give citizen easily to protect the country sovereignty

[@Vlog_sc]

Reading

[@ingloongyang4026]

Such a sub-par speaker from Singapore trying to talk about a country that she doesn't know about. Fancy her referring to herself as "us" among Bhutanese. How absurd.

[@yontenjamtsho3365]

We are proud to have her as one of us. Whats absurd is i am sure you wouldnt say that if you have accomplished even a tenth of what she has. She helped us slowly transition from an agregrain economy to a flourishing one. Rest it speaks for itself..haters gonna alys hate no matter what one does...

[@tenyangtenzin5965]

@ Spini You should think where your husband came. How rude to say that such a Beautiful Bhutan disgrace u that way. May be u are!

[@dhurbaacharya5261]

Established name for Business -Bhu-Utam --Meaning bhutan From india policy. people are Refugee from the crime.

[@Vlog_sc]

Vry bad

[@dhurbaacharya5261]

Established name for Business--Bhu--Utam ,meaning bhutan, from the illegal. not people identity, not international Border, it is diplomatic policy, it is not Bhutan. orginal 1624 AD Himalayan GorkhaDesh..migration tibetan made from india wrong. India Army in bhutan, where are Became name Country, people are made in the leather bag then stone and Feldown in sunkos Rriver in Chirang name of Village lobsibotey. His flag is thunder of Dragon Druk---model china, not bhutan Flag. and Drinking people, Anti--peole. must be bhutan cancel Reject, it is Himalayan Gorkhali.meaning and proof has land tax Receipt has Nepali. not bhutani. All of people denied tibetan Dress in bhutan . Bhutan Became Criminal ,and Illegal. proof has Refugee has international Global. All of statement no Declared crime area has and india Army has and noo international Border, and people are Refugee, then it voice not True. must be bhutan cancel Reject, for people progress.

[@tshomeddem6969]

Don't speak rubbish without knowing the truth...u don't know how king had to sacrifice for the people even it mns to prevent refugees from coming inside..if he didn't do this the country would hv been invaded...but still we accepted some nepalis n r living in harmony

[@yeshitshering5598]

Ohhh ahahah wht type of history are u talking.... U know when India is under the control of British only Bhutan s the...