Ancient and Modern Knowledge at National Library
26.07.2009
I have begun my research on tobacco control policy and administration in Bhutan. First hand sources in scholarly research, of course, are important in the data collection process. One source of priceless books and scrolls mostly (but not entirely) in the Dzongkha language just west of Bhutan's only golf course in Thimphu is in the National Library. This structure is a striking example of colorful and intricate Bhutanese architecture.
One source of national pride at the National Library on the first floor is the world's largest book entitled Bhutan that due to its huge size would defy being placed on and probably overwhelm almost all normal bookshelves. This picture of Noah who is about 4 ft. 6 inches tall in front of the book shows the immense size of this tome.
The library building also contains a vast collection of ancient Buddhist religious texts situated on four floors. While we visited, some devotees were carefully examining and absorbing the ancient wisdom of some of these texts. Reaching the higher floors of this library building requires climbing steep steps but not as steep as any of the Buddhist monastery steps to higher floors that I have climbed in Bhutan. In a separate building of the National Library are a diverse and unusual collection of mostly reference books on Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Himalayan region in general and archived Bhutanese newspaper articles. Here is where I will find sources on tobacco control policy and administration in Bhutan. As a scholar, researcher, and professor I have researched a lot of first hand documents and data sources from a number of sources and places in my time. Nothing though compares to the ambience and uniqueness of these library buildings.
Wow, that certainly is a large book
by Peter