By Suraj Budathoki
I had not met or heard of Dr. Govinda Rizal while I was in a refugee camp in Nepal, possibly because I was not deeply involved in Bhutanese politics at the time. However, my interaction with him began when I resettled in the United States and needed assistance drafting a resolution for the General Court of New Hampshire.
I reached out to many educated and influential community leaders, but Dr. Rizal was the only one who immediately agreed to help. Upon my first request, he began sending me pertinent documents. After I sent him my initial draft, he meticulously edited it and continued to support me until it was successfully passed in 2016.
Our collaboration extended to a significant initiative involving a U.S. congressional resolution (HRES228 and SRES108), now under consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Peace Initiative Bhutan proposed this resolution during our visit to DC in July 2022, which was supported by various senators and representatives, including Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio—a state that is home to a large Bhutanese community. Senator Brown’s office promptly agreed to sponsor our resolution.
In preparation for drafting this resolution, I created a messenger group on July 28, following our return from Washington, D.C., and assembled all educated and politically active individuals in our community to form the drafting committee. Dr. Rizal actively contributed his thoughts and provided invaluable insights that greatly enhanced the quality of the resolution. We reviewed the final draft together before presenting it to both chambers.
Recently, we also collaborated on addressing human rights concerns in Bhutan for the UN’s Universal Periodic Review in 2024. I prepared the initial draft, and Dr. Rizal refined it to enhance its impact.
Tragically, Dr. Rizal recently passed away in a road accident. I write this in memory of his profound contributions and unwavering support, which have left an indelible mark on our community and our cause.
He consistently offered encouragement and expert advice to me and the PIB team whenever we sought his support. His demeanour was gentle and trustworthy; he never dissuaded us by casting doubt on our efforts or suggesting our actions might jeopardize our cause.
