BBS Programme

𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬: Drukyul's Literature and Arts Festival is proud to present the inaugural JSW Prize in Literature, an initiative that aspires to grow into one of the world's most respected honours for excellence in arts and literature.
The JSW Prizes were conceived in 2025 in commemoration of the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. A tribute to His Majesty's enduring legacy, the initiative celebrates the power of creativity, culture and ideas to enrich our shared human experience.
Beginning with literature and the arts, the SW Prizes hold the potential to grow in scope and distinction, honouring exceptional individuals from around the world for a lifetime of achievement or an extraordinary body of work, while fostering cultural exchange and inspiring generations to come.
The journey begins with acclaimed author Ashwin Sanghi, the inaugural recipient of the JSW Prize in Literature. Through his remarkable body of work, Sanghi brings together history, mythology, culture and contemporary thought, making complex ideas accessible to readers around the world. His ability to bridge the ancient and the modern, and scholarship with compelling storytelling, makes him a fitting first recipient of a Prize dedicated to celebrating the enduring power and significance of literature.
With Ashwin Sanghi as its inaugural recipient, the JSW Prize in Literature begins a new tradition of celebrating exceptional literary achievement- born in Bhutan and envisioned for the world.
The inaugural JSW Prize in Literature will be conferred at the 15th edition of Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul's Literature and Arts Festival, from 1-3 August 2026, under this year's theme, The Art of Being Human.Bhutan Echoes

Introducing the Inaugural JSW Prize in Literature Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul’s Literature and Arts Festival is proud to present the inaugural JSW Prize in Literature, an initiative that aspires to grow into one of the world’s most respected honours for excellence in arts and literature. The JSW Prizes were conceived in 2025 in commemoration of the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. A tribute to His Majesty’s enduring legacy, the initiative celebrates the power of creativity, culture and ideas to enrich our shared human experience. Beginning with literature and the arts, the JSW Prizes hold the potential to grow in scope and distinction, honouring exceptional individuals from around the world for a lifetime of achievement or an extraordinary body of work, while fostering cultural exchange and inspiring generations to come. The journey begins with acclaimed author Ashwin Sanghi, the inaugural recipient of the JSW Prize in Literature. Through his remarkable body of work, Sanghi brings together history, mythology, culture and contemporary thought, making complex ideas accessible to readers around the world. His ability to bridge the ancient and the modern, and scholarship with compelling storytelling, makes him a fitting first recipient of a Prize dedicated to celebrating the enduring power and significance of literature. With Ashwin Sanghi as its inaugural recipient, the JSW Prize in Literature begins a new tradition of celebrating exceptional literary achievement- born in Bhutan and envisioned for the world. The inaugural JSW Prize in Literature will be conferred at the 15th edition of Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul’s Literature and Arts Festival, from 1–3 August 2026, under this year’s theme, The Art of Being Human.