Book Review: Bhutan: The Kingdom at the Centre of the World by Omair Ahmad

Bhutan: The Kingdom at the Centre of the World by Omair Ahmad

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

Despite the neighboring state of India, relatively limited number of books for common readers are available on Bhutan, a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. This can be attributed to unique geography and isolation a policy of self-imposed isolation, which was successful in preserving its territorial integrity as a Himalayan kingdom. Bhutan is much less known in the U.S. and western hemisphere that too for its Buddhism and as a mystical, serene travel destination. Bhutan is slowly gaining popularity as a travel destination and the readers will know a surprising fact on reading the book connecting Bhutan with the 'Golden Gate Bridge' of San Francisco.

Omair Ahmad has written an insightful and beautiful book into the history of Bhutan, Druk Yul: Land of the Thunder Dragon. The book is beautifully researched, with the most relevant information and this book will be of particular interest to scholars, and students of the history & culture.  

The author dives into the transition of the Buddhist Kingdom from a vassal state of Tibet to a fully independent country. Bhutan's kings fought primarily against Tibetan invasions in the 17th century and later lost territory to British India in the 1864-65 Duar War. They also had border conflicts with Sikkim and internal power struggles before establishing the monarchy in 1907.

The author takes us into the intermingling journey of people living in the porous boundaries of Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim, British India, and Bhutan without getting into the complexity of the geopolitical wars.  Once the border of Bhutan was settled in the 1950s, history becomes more interesting with a variety of characters, annexation of Sikkim in India and the politics of the creation of an international profile of Bhutan monarchy. 

Since Bhutan is sandwiched between hungry empires, the country has learned to maintain a delicate balance and customers. between them. The book shows why Bhutan is so important to truly understanding the ongoing relationship between India and China that was proven in Doklam conflict in 2017.

The book doesn’t shy away from tough topics either, like the Nepali refugee crisis and Bhutan’s experiments with democracy. Through these incidents, you get a sense of how this small but significant Himalayan nation is carving out its own unique path amid big regional changes.

The books touch lightly on the effect of modern civilization on Buddhist traditions, culture & heritage. Bhutan has been doing a delicate balancing act between tradition and modernization. The book becomes more engaging with the personal travel experiences and observations of the author. Omair Ahmad has a very engaging style of writing, which helps the readers to race through the book. We should be thankful to Shetty for undertaking this rather difficult task and bringing out the output in such an easy and readable and referable format.

There’s no better way to experience the quiet paradise of Bhutan before touring than reading out this book. Read the book to know of nation with a mythic backdrop of Buddhism in which old traditional values struggle against stronger modern forces in the world.

Book Review: Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes

Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰ Worth Reading

“To see what is in front of one’s nose is a constant struggle,” George Orwell famously observed. So, what is it that American liberals and conservatives have missed?

Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy is a 2012 nonfiction book written by Christopher Hayes. The book Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher L. Hayes explores the crisis of authority in America, attributing it to the failures of the modern meritocracy. Hayes argues that since the 1960s, as more diverse groups rose to elite status through meritocratic means, a new elite emerged that is marked by increased social distance, corruption, and institutional failure. This elite, embraced inequality, leading to widespread distrust in key institutions such as government, corporate America, the media, and even sports organizations. 

Today, the children of these elites enjoy outsized returns on capital and, increasingly, the concentration of large fortunes in a few hands. With blue-collar jobs disappearing and unionization dwindling, lower rung workers’ incomes have declined. Yet, elite workers receive not just rising wages, but also hefty stock compensation. Highly paid workers tend to marry one another, closing another door to upward mobility. Those from poor neighborhoods are exceedingly unlikely to move up the income distribution ladder.

Let me delve into the process of merit, social mobilization and elite class conscription. A key question to consider when discussing class and social mobility concerns the social processes that determine how children find their places in the economic and professional hierarchy. In a purely meritocratic society, institutional mechanisms identify high achievers and reward them with desirable positions. 

In contrast, a purely plutocratic society allows the wealthy to use their resources to secure privileges for their children, ensuring that economic power remains within their families across generations. Elites have contributed to society and played by the rules. The problem is that the rules are often skewed in their favour. In other words, income inequality stems from systemic flaws produced by meritocracy. 

There's no shortage of books raising the questions when it comes to the failed meritocracy, disdain for elites, and reshaping of the social system. Christopher Hayes raises important questions: Can we ignore traits like Widom, Judgement, Empathy, and Ethical rigor in the search for merit? Why American leaders are out of touch with the masses?

Hayes introduces the concept of "fractal inequality," a pervasive insecurity among elites about their status, which fosters corrupt behavior. The book asserts that the meritocratic system, while promising opportunity, has produced leaders disconnected from the public and unable to govern effectively, culminating in a broader societal crisis. The political and corporate leaders have failed to transform the institutions looking after interest of the citizens. Now, expecting anything from them is like asking the Pope to become Protestant. 

The book covers topics like mistrust in the institutional authority, missing potential working-class leaders due to meritocratic system, and mythical level playing field. The book might have had more impact if it would have delved deep into race questions and, criminal justice policies on social mobility. The book is a must-read social commentary for those who want to understand failed relation between citizens, institutions, society, and the state.

A civilization in growth peers into the future to create institutions and framework suitable for that era, based on their present experience. Civilizations in decline, on the other hand, looks back to and derive inspiration from past glory to evade from the uncomfortable reality of the present. An entire generation of young Americans—burdened with education loans, facing stagnant or low-paying jobs, and priced out of the housing market—is beginning to realize that owning a home and raising a family may remain out of their reach. 

The young Americans have expressed this desire for social justice through the political process. This can be seen especially relevant amid Mamdani’s recent victory and social justice debates. Society is unprepared for what this disillusionment might trigger: when a generation feels it has no stake in the system, its instinct may not be to preserve it, but to watch it decline and collapse.