Kikee Doma Bhutia | University of Tartu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kikee Doma Bhutia

Research paper thumbnail of Examining 'Vernacular' Symbols and Symbolic Power in Times of Crisis

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 2024

This article* examines the significance and impact of vernacular symbols with national and ritual... more This article* examines the significance and impact of vernacular symbols with national and ritualistic importance, focusing on their roles in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Tibetan crisis. The study asserts that the effectiveness of these symbols in mobilising public sentiment depends on their ability to elicit a diverse range of emotions. It analyses symbols that have garnered global attention, particularly following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and China's occupation of Tibet in 1959. The methodology combines fieldwork and interviews with Tibetan communities in Kalimpong near Darjeeling (West Bengal), Belakhuppi (South India), and Sikkim, along with Ukrainians residing in Estonia. By utilising both traditional ethnographic approaches and netnography (Kozinets 2015), the study investigates trends and emotional impacts through social media, incorporating digital tools for interviews. The research explores the transformation of religious and cultural symbols into instruments for constructing national identity amid geopolitical conflicts. It examines how these symbols validate personal and collective identities during national

Research paper thumbnail of India - Middle East - Europe economic corridor: how to use its potential for the growth of Estonia

Diplomaatia, 2024

In 2023, the G-20 summit in Delhi ratified an ambitious infrastructure initiative: the India-Midd... more In 2023, the G-20 summit in Delhi ratified an ambitious infrastructure initiative: the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (ILEK). This extensive rail and sea network aims to improve economic connectivity and transport links between Europe, the Middle East and India, for which the EU, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the US are involved in the initiative. In realizing its full potential, ILEK will usher in a significant geopolitical shift as it increases regional agency and reduces dependence on Chinese infrastructure investment.

Research paper thumbnail of Interpretive Shifts, Discourse on Possession and Reified Institutional Truths of Reincarnation Claims in Contemporary Sikkim

Kyoto Publication & TransPacific Publication, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Mapping the scope of China's soft power in Estonia

East Asian Policy, 2023

This article examines China’s soft power in Estonia since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiat... more This article examines China’s soft power in Estonia since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. Findings have suggested that while Beijing’s domestic political values do not inform its projection of soft power, the Estonian government and general public perceive China mainly through the prism of its state-centric governance model and consequently view most of China’s deployment of supposedly “soft” power as sharp.

Research paper thumbnail of Dialogue with the Shindré1: Death Rituals Among the Lhopo of Sikkim

Routledge eBooks, Jul 3, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of I Exist Therefore You Exist, We Exist Therefore They Exist": Narratives of Mutuality between Deities (Yul-Lha Gzhi Bdag) and Lhopo (Bhutia) Villagers in Sikkim

Folklore, 2019

This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective... more This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective and guardian deities) who reside with the Lhopo (Bhutia) community in Sikkim, India. Informed by fieldwork, and through narratives, observations, and experiences, I illustrate and discuss how interactions and connections between villagers and deities are shaped by principles of relationality and mutuality. After discussing the various meanings and manifestations yul lha gzhi bdag take on in diverse Himalayan contexts, I illustrate through discussions of rituals, practices, beliefs, and narratives how the 'mundane' routines and lifeworld of the Lhopo villagers variously connect with, and derive meaning from, the supernatural world that surrounds them. I argue, however, that this is not a one-way process but that deities similarly rely on villagers to derive and validate their existence in the world. This mutuality, however, increasingly finds itself under strain as a result of social processes of modernity, globalization, changing relations with land, religious conversion, and competing forms of educational and medical knowledge, on which I reflect in the conclusion.

Research paper thumbnail of EAIBB No. 1728 Chinas Soft Power in Estonia exsum

MAPPING THE SCOPE OF CHINA’S SOFT POWER IN ESTONIA, 2023

China’s soft power focus is in South and Southeast Asia. However, China’s traditional and mass cu... more China’s soft power focus is in South and Southeast Asia. However, China’s
traditional and mass culture, successful development in science and technology
(S&T), and grand foreign policy initiatives are sources of soft power that impact
how Estonia’s government and public perceive China.

Research paper thumbnail of Kikee Doma Bhutia: The confrontation between the world's two superpowers - India and China - in the Himalayan region

Diplomaatia, 2023

Constant clashes between China and India and escalating tensions in the Himalayan region are fuel... more Constant clashes between China and India and escalating tensions in the Himalayan region are fueling fears that the two superpowers could escalate the confrontation into war. Can the nuclear powers only stick to clubs and sticks in their rivalry?

Research paper thumbnail of “A World Where Many Worlds Fit”: Understanding Cosmopolitics through Narratives of Possessions and Spirit Invocation among the Lhopos (Bhutia) in Sikkim

Wayne State University Press, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Death by Poisoning: Cautionary Narratives and Inter-Ethnic Accusations in Contemporary Sikkim

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 2021

The Sikkimese are a multi-ethnic community in a Himalayan sub-region in India. Even though the ma... more The Sikkimese are a multi-ethnic community in a Himalayan sub-region in India. Even though the majority of the population is Hindu and Nepalese, the minority Buddhist and Bhutia/Lepcha communities are very strong. Death by poisoning is a common occurrence among the Sikkimese, and it is often ambiguous and subject to suspicion. Narrated initially as traditional cautionary tales, these belief narratives have been used against the multi-ethnic communities that reside in Sikkim, leading to real-world accusations. The article explores how belief in, and narratives related to, poison, poisoning, poison keepers and the poison deity are used to justify the demonisation and othering of a community.

Research paper thumbnail of "I EXIST THEREFORE YOU EXIST, WE EXIST THEREFORE THEY EXIST": NARRATIVES OF MUTUALITY BETWEEN DEITIES (YUL-LHA GZHI BDAG) AND LHOPO (BHUTIA) VILLAGERS IN SIKKIM 1

Folklore.ee, 2019

This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective... more This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective and guardian deities) who reside with the Lhopo (Bhu-tia) community in Sikkim, India. Informed by fieldwork, and through narratives, observations, and experiences, I illustrate and discuss how interactions and connections between villagers and deities are shaped by principles of relationality and mutuality. After discussing the various meanings and manifestations yul lha gzhi bdag take on in diverse Himalayan contexts, I illustrate through discussions of rituals, practices, beliefs, and narratives how the 'mundane' routines and lifeworld of the Lhopo villagers variously connect with, and derive meaning from, the supernatural world that surrounds them. I argue, however, that this is not a one-way process but that deities similarly rely on villagers to derive and validate their existence in the world. This mutuality, however, increasingly finds itself under strain as a result of social processes of modernity, globalization, changing relations with land, religious conversion, and competing forms of educational and medical knowledge, on which I reflect in the conclusion.

Book Reviews by Kikee Doma Bhutia

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review Landscape Ritual and Identity among the Hyolmo of Nepal Vitality of Indigenous Religions

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review on "Requiem for the Himalayan Kingdom - Andrew Duff"

Thesis Chapters by Kikee Doma Bhutia

Research paper thumbnail of KIKEE DOMA BHUTIA Mythic History, Belief Narratives and Vernacular Buddhism among the Lhopos of Sikkim

Thesis, 2022

Notes on documentation For non-English words in the text, I have used Denjongki Lhokay's phonetic... more Notes on documentation For non-English words in the text, I have used Denjongki Lhokay's phonetic translation instead of the Wylie transliteration to avoid Tibetanizing the meaning of terms and vernacular discourse. Where Tibetan words have come into common usage in English conversation or English-language literature (e.g., lama, rinpoche, tulku, pawo, Sowa Rigpa), I have used the common phonetic spelling and included the Wylie transliteration in the Glossary. Similarly, for Tibetan names, I have used common phonetic spellings. Some of my informants chose anonymity, whereas some were keen to be included by name in their narratives. Therefore, I chose main informants such as Ajo Namgay Bhutia, Ajo Dugyal Bhutia, Lama Zigmi Bhutia, Lama Tenpa Bhutia. Anyone mentioned in the text otherwise is a pseudonym based on their request for anonymity. Overall, this thesis follows the documentation method recommended by the MLA Handbook Ninth Edition, formerly known as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining 'Vernacular' Symbols and Symbolic Power in Times of Crisis

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 2024

This article* examines the significance and impact of vernacular symbols with national and ritual... more This article* examines the significance and impact of vernacular symbols with national and ritualistic importance, focusing on their roles in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Tibetan crisis. The study asserts that the effectiveness of these symbols in mobilising public sentiment depends on their ability to elicit a diverse range of emotions. It analyses symbols that have garnered global attention, particularly following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and China's occupation of Tibet in 1959. The methodology combines fieldwork and interviews with Tibetan communities in Kalimpong near Darjeeling (West Bengal), Belakhuppi (South India), and Sikkim, along with Ukrainians residing in Estonia. By utilising both traditional ethnographic approaches and netnography (Kozinets 2015), the study investigates trends and emotional impacts through social media, incorporating digital tools for interviews. The research explores the transformation of religious and cultural symbols into instruments for constructing national identity amid geopolitical conflicts. It examines how these symbols validate personal and collective identities during national

Research paper thumbnail of India - Middle East - Europe economic corridor: how to use its potential for the growth of Estonia

Diplomaatia, 2024

In 2023, the G-20 summit in Delhi ratified an ambitious infrastructure initiative: the India-Midd... more In 2023, the G-20 summit in Delhi ratified an ambitious infrastructure initiative: the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (ILEK). This extensive rail and sea network aims to improve economic connectivity and transport links between Europe, the Middle East and India, for which the EU, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the US are involved in the initiative. In realizing its full potential, ILEK will usher in a significant geopolitical shift as it increases regional agency and reduces dependence on Chinese infrastructure investment.

Research paper thumbnail of Interpretive Shifts, Discourse on Possession and Reified Institutional Truths of Reincarnation Claims in Contemporary Sikkim

Kyoto Publication & TransPacific Publication, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Mapping the scope of China's soft power in Estonia

East Asian Policy, 2023

This article examines China’s soft power in Estonia since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiat... more This article examines China’s soft power in Estonia since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. Findings have suggested that while Beijing’s domestic political values do not inform its projection of soft power, the Estonian government and general public perceive China mainly through the prism of its state-centric governance model and consequently view most of China’s deployment of supposedly “soft” power as sharp.

Research paper thumbnail of Dialogue with the Shindré1: Death Rituals Among the Lhopo of Sikkim

Routledge eBooks, Jul 3, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of I Exist Therefore You Exist, We Exist Therefore They Exist": Narratives of Mutuality between Deities (Yul-Lha Gzhi Bdag) and Lhopo (Bhutia) Villagers in Sikkim

Folklore, 2019

This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective... more This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective and guardian deities) who reside with the Lhopo (Bhutia) community in Sikkim, India. Informed by fieldwork, and through narratives, observations, and experiences, I illustrate and discuss how interactions and connections between villagers and deities are shaped by principles of relationality and mutuality. After discussing the various meanings and manifestations yul lha gzhi bdag take on in diverse Himalayan contexts, I illustrate through discussions of rituals, practices, beliefs, and narratives how the 'mundane' routines and lifeworld of the Lhopo villagers variously connect with, and derive meaning from, the supernatural world that surrounds them. I argue, however, that this is not a one-way process but that deities similarly rely on villagers to derive and validate their existence in the world. This mutuality, however, increasingly finds itself under strain as a result of social processes of modernity, globalization, changing relations with land, religious conversion, and competing forms of educational and medical knowledge, on which I reflect in the conclusion.

Research paper thumbnail of EAIBB No. 1728 Chinas Soft Power in Estonia exsum

MAPPING THE SCOPE OF CHINA’S SOFT POWER IN ESTONIA, 2023

China’s soft power focus is in South and Southeast Asia. However, China’s traditional and mass cu... more China’s soft power focus is in South and Southeast Asia. However, China’s
traditional and mass culture, successful development in science and technology
(S&T), and grand foreign policy initiatives are sources of soft power that impact
how Estonia’s government and public perceive China.

Research paper thumbnail of Kikee Doma Bhutia: The confrontation between the world's two superpowers - India and China - in the Himalayan region

Diplomaatia, 2023

Constant clashes between China and India and escalating tensions in the Himalayan region are fuel... more Constant clashes between China and India and escalating tensions in the Himalayan region are fueling fears that the two superpowers could escalate the confrontation into war. Can the nuclear powers only stick to clubs and sticks in their rivalry?

Research paper thumbnail of “A World Where Many Worlds Fit”: Understanding Cosmopolitics through Narratives of Possessions and Spirit Invocation among the Lhopos (Bhutia) in Sikkim

Wayne State University Press, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Death by Poisoning: Cautionary Narratives and Inter-Ethnic Accusations in Contemporary Sikkim

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 2021

The Sikkimese are a multi-ethnic community in a Himalayan sub-region in India. Even though the ma... more The Sikkimese are a multi-ethnic community in a Himalayan sub-region in India. Even though the majority of the population is Hindu and Nepalese, the minority Buddhist and Bhutia/Lepcha communities are very strong. Death by poisoning is a common occurrence among the Sikkimese, and it is often ambiguous and subject to suspicion. Narrated initially as traditional cautionary tales, these belief narratives have been used against the multi-ethnic communities that reside in Sikkim, leading to real-world accusations. The article explores how belief in, and narratives related to, poison, poisoning, poison keepers and the poison deity are used to justify the demonisation and othering of a community.

Research paper thumbnail of "I EXIST THEREFORE YOU EXIST, WE EXIST THEREFORE THEY EXIST": NARRATIVES OF MUTUALITY BETWEEN DEITIES (YUL-LHA GZHI BDAG) AND LHOPO (BHUTIA) VILLAGERS IN SIKKIM 1

Folklore.ee, 2019

This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective... more This article engages with the presence, personalities, and lives of yul lha gzhi bdag (protective and guardian deities) who reside with the Lhopo (Bhu-tia) community in Sikkim, India. Informed by fieldwork, and through narratives, observations, and experiences, I illustrate and discuss how interactions and connections between villagers and deities are shaped by principles of relationality and mutuality. After discussing the various meanings and manifestations yul lha gzhi bdag take on in diverse Himalayan contexts, I illustrate through discussions of rituals, practices, beliefs, and narratives how the 'mundane' routines and lifeworld of the Lhopo villagers variously connect with, and derive meaning from, the supernatural world that surrounds them. I argue, however, that this is not a one-way process but that deities similarly rely on villagers to derive and validate their existence in the world. This mutuality, however, increasingly finds itself under strain as a result of social processes of modernity, globalization, changing relations with land, religious conversion, and competing forms of educational and medical knowledge, on which I reflect in the conclusion.

Research paper thumbnail of KIKEE DOMA BHUTIA Mythic History, Belief Narratives and Vernacular Buddhism among the Lhopos of Sikkim

Thesis, 2022

Notes on documentation For non-English words in the text, I have used Denjongki Lhokay's phonetic... more Notes on documentation For non-English words in the text, I have used Denjongki Lhokay's phonetic translation instead of the Wylie transliteration to avoid Tibetanizing the meaning of terms and vernacular discourse. Where Tibetan words have come into common usage in English conversation or English-language literature (e.g., lama, rinpoche, tulku, pawo, Sowa Rigpa), I have used the common phonetic spelling and included the Wylie transliteration in the Glossary. Similarly, for Tibetan names, I have used common phonetic spellings. Some of my informants chose anonymity, whereas some were keen to be included by name in their narratives. Therefore, I chose main informants such as Ajo Namgay Bhutia, Ajo Dugyal Bhutia, Lama Zigmi Bhutia, Lama Tenpa Bhutia. Anyone mentioned in the text otherwise is a pseudonym based on their request for anonymity. Overall, this thesis follows the documentation method recommended by the MLA Handbook Ninth Edition, formerly known as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.