From Maidhar to Galion: The Bhutanese Journey Beyond Forceful Eviction Toward Justice, Healing, and Unity

By Ram Karki

Though thousands of miles separate me from Galion, Ohio, my heart is there—beating in time with the sacred flames soon to be kindled.

From July 16 to 23, 2025, the Vishwa Shanti Gyan Mahayagya, organized by the Global Bhutanese Hindu Organisation (GBHO), will unfold at the Om Centre Divya Dham—a new sanctuary consecrated with love, hope, and resilience. This will be the largest gathering our community has ever witnessed, a beacon of worship, healing, remembrance, and unity.

I will not be there in body. But in spirit, this Mahayagya burns within me, fueled by memory, devotion, and an unwavering call to honor what remains unfinished.

From the Riverbank to the World: My Journey Began in Maidhar

In early 1991, I stood on the soaked earth of Maidhar, Jhapa, Nepal, among our people who had fled persecution and heartbreak. We had no shelter, no supplies—only sorrow, faith, and one another.

I saw children slip away quietly in their mothers’ arms.
I watched elders close their eyes forever, the weight of suffering too heavy to bear.

Some were cremated on the river bank; others were laid to rest in the shadowed Sisaw forest, their graves marked only by memory and tears.

In those moments of despair, I made a solemn vow—to spend my life ensuring the world would never forget our pain, our courage, our humanity and continue advocating against the injustice meted to us.

For Those Still Imprisoned, Still Missing

Today, the echoes of our struggle still haunt Bhutan’s dark prisons—Chamgang, Rabuna, and beyond. Peaceful voices silenced by torture, defenders of human rights crushed by cruelty.

For years, I have carried their stories across the world, fighting tirelessly for their freedom and dignity. I will not rest until justice shines upon them.

Men like Bom Bahadur Tiwari and Lok Nath Acharya remain missing—taken, disappeared, erased. This Mahayagya is for them. For the prisoners unjustly caged. For the martyrs who gave all. For the innocent children, the sick, the elderly, the violated—those who died fleeing, or from hunger, illness, and neglect in Maidhar and other refugee camps.

For every silent voice crushed by the hands of oppression.

To Our Leaders and Fighters: We Remember You

We honor the brave souls who stood tall when fear was their only companion. Some gave their lives. Others carry scars that time cannot heal. Their courage lit a path for our community’s awakening—a flame that still burns in exile, in diaspora, and in hearts longing for justice. May this Mahayagya rekindle their memory, their spirit, their sacrifice.

A Mahayagya for All Faiths, All People

This sacred gathering belongs to everyone—Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Kirat, and all who call Bhutan home.

It is a celebration of our diversity, a testament to peace, remembrance, and unity beyond faith and tradition.

This fire is lit for all who have suffered.
A prayer whispered for all who still hope.

A Moment of Revelation: Connecting Across the Seas

In May 2025, watching the GBHO’s virtual presentation to the Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands, I was overwhelmed. 108 recitations of the Srimad Bhagavat Mahapurana. Panchakundiya Havan, Chaturveda chanting, Rudrabhishek. 108 conch soundings each day.And the lighting of 10 million oil lamps—each a light for a lost soul, a reclaimed story. From my quiet home in The Hague, surrounded by memories and the weight of history, the Mahayagya came alive—not as mere ritual, but as resurrection. A collective heartbeat of memory and hope.

The Temple We Built from Suffering

The Om Centre Divya Dham is more than a holy land. It is a monument carved from pain, faith, and unbreakable spirit.

The Om Centre Divya Dham, situated on 150 acres of American soil, serves as a centre for Bhutanese who have survived exile and hardship, standing as a living testament to our resilience and vision. It is more than a building; it is a monument carved from pain, faith, and unbreakable spirit. From bamboo huts to sacred mandaps—from anguish to prayer—this is our story. Our holy fire, burning across oceans. This Mahayagya is a reminder that even in exile, our flame endures. Our memories will not fade. Our hope will never be extinguished. And though I am far, my heart stands with all of you—in Galion, and everywhere our people call home.

Finally, I extend my deepest respect to the grand vision of GBHO leadership, and let us continue to support them in their outstanding work in the days to come. I wish this historic event great success.