The life of Jetsun Lochen Rinpoche

Jetsun Lochen Rinpoche was presumably born in 1865 and died in 1951 and was one of the most famous female religious masters in traditional Tibet. Among her various religious roles were those of pilgrim, professional singer of manis (mani pa), healer, a messenger from the land of the dead (‘das log), yogini, nun, lineage-holder, visionary, performer of miracles (siddha), emanation, treasure-finder, religious teacher and head of a nunnery. In short, she had all the signs and charisma of a holy person. She was popularly known as Jetsun or Ani Lochen (A ne Lo chen), and among her several other names Rigdzin Chönyi Sangmo (Rig ’dzin chos nyid bzang mo) was frequently used. The main textual source regarding Jetsun Lochen Rinpoche’s life is her autobiography (271 folios). Lochen was repeatedly requested by her disciples to tell her life-story, but only in 1937, when she was requested by Drubchen Dawa Dorje Rinpoche (Grub chen Zla ba rdo rje rin po che), whom she recognized as the reincarnation of her root-lama Pema Gyatso (Padma rgya mtsho, 1829-1889/90), did she consent. Although she started telling her life-story in 1937, she abandoned the project and apparently did not take it up again until about twelve years later, in 1949, when she again was requested by Drubchen Dawa Dorje and four named diciples. Lochen told the story of her life up to the 25th day of the 11th month of 1949. The nun-teacher Thinlay (rGan ‘Phrin las) wrote the draft and it was completed by Dawa Dorje Rinpoche. ..

Tackling Household Food Insecurity: The Experience of Vietnam

This paper is a systematic review of the facts and figures related to the issues of food security in Vietnam. Based on a comprehensive definition of food security as “access by all people at all times to enough, nutritionally adequate, and safe food for an active and health life†(Kennedy 2002), it describes and analyzes food security in connection with poverty or macro policies, in order to identify and understand thoroughly the problems related to food security. It shows that poor households are, per se, food-insecure, and that policies which target rapid economic growth using a socioeconomic approach help alleviate poverty and food insecurity. Its findings mainly confirm that household food security─specifically issues concerning food safety, availability, access, adequacy, and vulnerability ─ is still a vital concern in Vietnam.

The Pilgrimage of a Tibetan Yogin in Bhutan in the Late Nineteenth Century

This article discusses the crazy yogin Thrulshig Kunsang Thongdrol Dorje’s (1862-1922) pilgrimage to the Bumthang valley in Bhutan around 1881-1882. The previous reincarnation of the crazy yogin was the late Thrulshig Ngawang Chokyi Lodro (1923-2011). Although the crazy Thrulshig became recognized as the throne-holder of a monastery near Yamdrok Lake, he spent much of his life wandering across southern and central Tibet, alone or with his disciples, several of whom were female tantric practitioners. The narrative of Thrulshig’s pilgrimage documents the close relation between southern Tibet and central Bhutan, and the article discusses not only Thrulshig’s religious activities, but also the patronage he received from Bhutan’s royal dynasty. Through Thrulshig’s spiritual guidance to members of the Wangchuk family, we get a glimpse into Bhutanese religio-political power struggles and the strategic agency of an influential Bhutanese woman, Pema Chokyi, the mother of Ugyen Wangchuk, who became Bhutan’s first king in 1907. The article is based on the life story (rnam thar) of Thrulshig, written by his disciple Ngawang Tenzin Norbu (1867-1940), the head of Dza Rongphu monastery at the foot of Mt. Everest.Cet article traite du pèlerinage effectué par le yogi fou Thrulshig Kunsang Thongdrol Dorje (1862-1922) dans la vallée de Bumthang au Bhoutan autour de 1881-1882. La réincarnation précédente du yogi fou était Thrulshig Ngawang Chokyi Lodro (1923-2011). Bien que le « fou » Thrulshig ait été reconnu comme le détenteur du trône d’un monastère près du lac Yamdrok, il a passé la plus grande partie de sa vie errant dans le Tibet central et méridional, seul ou avec ses disciples, dont plusieurs étaient des pratiquantes tantriques. Le récit de pèlerinage de Thrulshig montre la relation étroite entre le sud du Tibet et le Bhoutan central ; l’article traite non seulement des activités religieuses de Thrulshig, mais aussi du patronage qu’il a reçu de la part de la dynastie royale du Bhoutan. À travers les conseils spirituels donnés par Thrulshig aux membres de la famille Wangchuk, nous avons un aperçu sur les luttes de pouvoir politico-religieuses du Bhoutan et sur l’agentivité stratégique d’une femme bhoutanaise influente, Pema Chokyi, la mère de Ugyen Wangchuk, qui devint le premier roi du Bhoutan en 1907. L’article est fondé sur l’histoire de la vie (rnam thar) de Thrulshig, écrite par son disciple Ngawang

African engagements: on whose terms? Africa negotiating an emerging multipolar world

This collective volume explores the ways in which Africa's engagements with an increasingly multipolar world are being reshaped, and, on whose terms. Ch. 2-7 examine new trends in Africa. Ch. 8-13 address the forces, in particular interventions by China, India and the US, that are framing the new global multipolarity and the way multipolarity is being played out. Ch. 14-16 focus on the potential for Africa and Africans to fill the political and economic space that is emerging. Contributions by Ton Dietz, Kjell Havnevik, Mayke Kaag & Terje Oestigaard; Samuel Teshale Derbe;Peer Schouten; Bram Büscher; Sandra Evers, Perrine Burnod, Andrianirina Ratsialonana Rivo & Andre' Teyssier; Wiebe Nauta; Mohamed Salih; Sanne van der Lugt; Gorm Rye Olsen; Liu Haifang & Jamie Monson; Antony Otieno Ong'ayo; Simona Vittorini & David Harris; Peter J. Schraeder; Lloyd G.A. Amoah; Lawrence Ogbo Ugwuanyi; Stephen Ellis. [ASC Leiden abstract] ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

States of Power: Energy Imaginaries and Transnational Assemblages in Norway, Nepal and Tanzania

Support to energy, particularly hydropower, has formed an important element of many donor programmes. How have such interventions shaped the emergence of particular energy imaginaries in the countries engaged with? ‘Energy imaginaries’ can be understood as the set of institutions, logics, values, and visions that spur ideas around what sources of energy and forms of energy governance best foster development. Adopting a historical and comparative perspective and drawing on the notion of ‘transnational assemblages’, we explore the nature of energy aid interventions and the dynamic shifts of specific actors and discourses in bilateral relations. We focus on Norway, a leading player in energy support, and two of its long-term partner countries, Nepal and Tanzania. Through document analysis and interviews with key actors, we trace how Norwegian energy transnational assemblages have formed part of evolving energy imaginaries in Nepal and Tanzania in radically diverging ways. In Nepal, dominated by an energy imaginary of hydropower as ‘white gold’, efforts to foster a bottom-up-driven indigent energy sector were eclipsed by an emphasis on facilitating privatisation, resulting in a chaotic fragmentation of the energy landscape. In Tanzania, the donor-state energy imaginaries were centred on grandiose projects of hydropowered industrialisation bound for failure, but later revived as part of an authoritarian project. The study untangles a history of changing and partially conflicting discourses, offering a richer and more nuanced understanding than studies focused on single projects or policies. We highlight how the idea of transnational assemblages can be useful in understanding shifting imaginaries of energy development

What can Africa Learn from China's Experience in Agricultural Development?

Submitted version of Bulletin articleThere has been a growing interest in China’s rapid economic growth, particularly agriculture-led growth and poverty reduction. In fact, China and Africa have developed their agriculture under different historical conditions. China’s agriculture-led growth and poverty reduction and small holder based agricultural development policy can provide a useful model for African countries to develop their own agricultural development strategies to reduce poverty.DFID, ESR

The Politics of Seed in Africa's Green Revolution: Alternative Narratives and Competing Pathways

As calls for a ‘Uniquely African Green Revolution’ gain momentum, a focus on seeds and seed systems is rising up the agricultural policy agenda. Much of the debate stresses the technological or market dimensions, with substantial investments being made in seed improvement and the development of both public and private sector delivery systems. But this misses out the political economy of policy processes behind this agenda: who wins, who loses, and whose interests are being served? Drawing on lessons from country case studies from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe, as well as insights from a set of complementary studies of cross?cutting themes, this article assesses the evolution of seed system research and development programmes and processes across the region. By examining how the contrasting politics and different configurations of interests affect the way cereal seed systems operate, it highlights opportunities for reshaping the terms of the debate and opening up alternative pathways to more sustainable and socially just seed systems