Dr Rizal was the stimulator of intellectual discourse amount the Bhutanese community in exile through the establishment of The Bhutan Watch and publication of The Bhutan Journal since 2019.
Dr Govinda Rizal was born on 7 July 1972 as third son to Chandra Lal Rizal and Devi Maya Rizal in Rizal Danda, Lodrai block (now named Pelrithang). Thram number: 713, House number LR/96. Shortly after that family moved to Taruley and then to Guntey.
Education: He initially joined Jaruwa Private School in Guntay, where the monthly school fee was Nu 5. When family moved to Lodrai, he joined Lodrai Private School where his school fees dropped to Nu 1/year. It was newly established school by merging local Lodrai and Jaruwa school and taken over by the government. In 1987, he was transferred to Sibsoo Junior High School ad then to Yangchenphug High School, Thimphu in 1989. Following completion of year 10 board exam, Dr Rizal travelled to east to get admission in Sherubtse College, Kanglung in 1991. He majored in Biology from Sherubtse. Based on his memoir, the college was headed by Zanglay Drukpa (Principal) & Thakur Singh Powdyel (Vice Principal), both of whom later became ministers.
While he was still in Sherubtse, the southern Bhutan problem deteriorated and his parents left for Nepal in July 1992. After After completing his year 12, he casually travelled to Jhapa, Nepal on 23 February 1993 to join his parents where he also registered as refugee. His was registered at Beldangi II Extension, Sector E/3, Hut No. 25.
He started volunteering as teaching in Marigold Academy in Beldangi II Extension camp in 1993 as science & mathematics teacher. While working as volunteer teacher, he started Community Development Classes (for adults) and Disability program in collaboration with Chetnath Timsina and Ganesh Ghimire.
He moved to Tri Ratna Secondary School in 1994 as science and mathematics teacher.
In January 1996 – joined Appeal Movement Coordination Council peace marcher, first batch – a peace march intended to reach Thimphu and appeal the king.
In 1997 he secured DAFI scholarship to study Agriculture in Chitwan (IAAS). It is here he met his future wife Shanta Karki.
On completion of his Bachelors degree from Chitwan in 2001 he moved to teach mathematics and science in Kathmandu University High School (where where he coordinated the nationwide math quiz and edited Mathmatics Journal)
In January 2003 – Shanta and Govinda agreed to get married. Wedding finalised on 6 February 2003.
In January 2005 – he followed his wife Shanta to Japan for MSc from Kyoto University. He completed his MSc and PhD from the university, specialising in C4 Rice in 2010. Following his completion of PhD, the couple moved to International Rice Research Institute in Philippines as post doctoral researchers.
In 2015 the couple returned to Nepal. His parents and other relatives have, by now, reached United States, under resettlement programme.
In 2020 he started lecturing in Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu)
In 2019 he teamed up to establish The Bhutan Watch and led its primary publication The Bhutan Journal.
He joined US based research organisation Smithsonian Institution in 2023 as Transcriptionist
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Father: Chandra Lal rizal
Mother: Devi Maya Rizal
Grand father: Padamlal Rizal
Padamlal’s sons:
- Nandalal
- Chandra
- Krishna
- Liladhar
- Bedanidhi
Chandra Lal’s Children
