PRESS RELEASE: ANNUAL LECTURE 2021 BY PROF. THAKUR S. POWDYEL

 PRESS RELEASE

 

Journal of Asian Art, Culture and Literature (JAACL) and Asian Literary Society holds the second Annual Lecture on "My Green School: A Pathway for Restorative Learning”                                                            

 

Journal of Asian Art, Culture and Literature (JAACL) in association with the Asian Literary Society organizes the second Annual Lecture by Prof. Thakur S. Powdyel on 27th December 2021.

 

Dr. Bishakha Sarma (Associate Editor JAACL and Administrator, Asia Literary Society) chairs the virtual session. She sets up the session defining Restorative Learning and Professor Powdyel’s vision on the same.

 

Professor Powdyel’s lecture essentially builds up from his book My Green School: An Outline and was inspired by Bhutan’s harmonious development vision of Gross National Happiness. He propounds his realization that the notion and practice of education around the world today trivialises this most important instrument for human and societal flourishing to respond primarily to the call of the market and leaves out other vital elements that constitute the life of the learner and which invest the process of teaching and learning with meaning, purpose, and integrity.

 

The esteemed Guest Speaker further elucidates his idea behind My Green School. He says that it presents a holistic model of education and seeks to reinstate this most vital medium of public good to its essential function as the Noble Sector. “The Sherig (meaning ‘deep learning’) Mandala that lies at the heart of My Green School represents the eight vital elements, including Mother Nature, Society, Culture, Intellect, Academics, Aesthetics, Spirituality, and Ethics, that have a compelling claim on education, education systems and practitioners of education to make the experience of learning authentic and fulfilling”, says Prof. Powdyel. He discusses each one of them in detail in his lecture.

 

Professor Powdyel uses ‘Green’ as a metaphor for anything and everything that supports and sustains life in all its infinite variety – human, animal, plant, bird, reptiles - in the sea, on land, and in the air, and everywhere in between. He suggests “we can have a green school, green organizations, green economy, green business, green administrations, green policies, green legislature, green executive, green judiciary, green diplomacy, green farming, green minds, green outlook – anything that supports life and living”.

 

Professor Powdyel’s core message of My Green School as a vital instrument for human and societal development within mutually supportive planetary boundaries is often hailed as an outstanding contribution to global education thought today.

 

As Bhutan’s Minister of Education (2008 -2013), Professor Powdyel’s sacred vision of My Green School is that “our children and youth who go through this experience while at school, college or university and join the larger society upon graduation will release to the society the values and virtues outlined in the Mandala. They will help build a more harmonious society and a wiser nation and contribute to the making of a better world”.

 

The session ends with enthusiastic interactions from the writers and educators of the Asian Literary Society. There  an overwhelming response from the global viewers. The writers of Asian Literary Society feels inspired and supports Prof. Powdyel’s approach to restorative learning through his philosophy as stated in My Green School.

Finally, Dr. Bishakha Sarma uplifts the spirits of the global viewers by singing a few lines from Michael Jackson’s Heal the World. She expresses heartfelt gratitude to Professor Powdyel on behalf of Asian Literary Society for delivering the annual lecture and appreciates the esteemed audience for their invaluable support.