In 1968, the National Museum of Bhutan was established in the renovated Paro Ta-dzong (lookout fortress) following the Royal command of the third King His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The National Museum was opened to public with modest collection, most of which were donated by the Royal family. Over time, the collection expanded and today the museum has close to 3000 artifacts of cultural and historical significance. The core objective of the museum is to collect, document, conserve, showcase and interpret artifacts. The museum carries out exhaustive research on these artifacts as historical evidence to substantiate tales. It holds colloquiums, symposiums and special exhibitions to make learning more interactive particularly to attract school going children and youth in general. The museum also takes exhibition abroad in collaboration with the host countries. Interested individual can either donate or sell their heirloom to the museum to be preserved for posterity.
Sonam Tenzin, a Deputy Chief Archivist for the NLAB has served in varying capacities under the Royal Government of Bhutan for 16 years. He was the cultural officer, archeology technical in the archaeology section, Division for Conservation of Heritage Sites, and program officer at the Department of Culture. He is currently the focal of the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) and the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) of the Department. He is the recipient of Royal Civil Service Bronze medal from His Majesty the King of the Bhutan for 10 years of service as a civil servant. He was also a coordinator of the cultural program from the Dzongkhag during the Coronation and cuisine coordinator from the Dzongkhag during Royal wedding of His Majesty the King.
Email id: stenzin@moha.gov.bt
Having joined civil service in 2002 as a trainee teacher, Mr. Rinzin Namgyel started his career as a science teacher in Pemagatshel Middle Secondary school and later as Lecturer in Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan. He moved to National Museum of Bhutan as Chemist in 2011. Attached to a senior and experienced professional, he learned about practical aspect of conservation science in his initial years in the museum. Over the years, he has attended conservation courses under ICCROM and NRICH, Korea. He firmly believes that Prevention is better than cure, and is a strong proponent of preventive conservation that is being practiced in the museum. He researches on the various deteriorating agents that affects the artefacts in the museum and strives to find solutions. He has Masters Degree in Chemistry(Inorganic) from Department of Chemistry, Pune University, Maharashtra, India.
Email id: rinzin75nam@gmail.com
Began his career as a cataloguing officer, Kinley Gyeltshen is now the curator at the National Museum of Bhutan. He did his Bachelor of degree in economics from Sherubtse College, Kanglung. A man with artistic bent of mind he is creative and innovative; the skill at times has been useful at the workplace like museum. He is the educator in the museum and carries out research particularly related to museum exhibitions and is involved in translation works as well. He partook in developing the catalogue entitled ‘Artful Contemplation’ published by the National Museum and colloquium proceedings.
Email id: kingyeltz@yahoo.com
Having joined as Assistant Conservator at National Museum in 2002, Mr. Kamal Pokwal has worked in various fields of Conservation Science. Although, he is a general conservator, he has special interest in wood conservation. He attended intensive training on wood conservation in NRICH, Daejeon, South Korea. Further he received 6 months training on conservation science in National Research Laboratory for Conservation (NRLC), Lucknow, India. His most notable one is the restoration of famous wall paintings of Trongsa Dzong. With his expertise and nineteen years of experience, he strives to improve the existing conservation methodologies to next horizon through continued intensive research in conservation science. He balances his time between his professional and personal life. He is a loving husband and affectionate father of three sons.
Email id: kpokwal@gmail.com
After graduating from the then Royal Technical Institute in 1989, Dorji Wangchuk joined the National Museum of Bhutan as a laboratory assistant in 1990. Since then he worked in various positions at the museum from laboratory assistant to conservator and then as museum assistant. He played an important role in setting up the first conservation laboratory at the museum and initiating conservation measures. Instrumental in supporting the administration of the museum in construction of new office building, visitors’ car parking, and above all in the renovation of the Ta Dzong as the focal person from the museum administration.
Email id: ongchuk71@gmail.com
Lobzang Norbu joined the National Museum as a photographer on November 2003 and since then has been working to maintain photography record of artifacts and significant events happening in the museum. He is a trained photographer and had received his training in art and commercial photography from the then National Technical Training Authority in 2000. He played an important role in bringing out the museum’s first ever catalogue in terms of taking photos of museum artifacts and other photos.
Email id:lnorbu.nmb@gmail.com
After graduating twelve grade from Kelki High School she joined the civil service as an administrative assistant at the National Museum on January 2007. She now maintains the personal file and does other administrative related job. Besides, she also helps in manning the gallery in the museum. She is temperamentally very sober and cool and can work in any environments.
Email id: nikeychoden@yahoo.com
Yonten Zangmo is the electrician at the National museum and due to her past 16 years work experience serving at the same organization, she is well acquainted with museum lightings and maintenance of lightings in and around the museum campus. She has taken part in all significant museum events in setting up audiovisual equipment, maintaining lightings and helping administration in procurement of electrical items. She holds a certificate in electrician, a course offered by Rangjung Vocational Training Institute.
Email id: sangyey@yahoo.com
After graduating from Tenzin Higher Secondary School (2010), Karma Dema joined the Paro Ta-dzong as a museum assistant in 2012. She has worked on the first inventory of the museum with specific target on iconography of Thangka and statues. At present she is actively involved in researching the iconography. She is proficient in dzongkha language both in written and spoken. She is outspoken and audacious.
Email id: kardemgyel4eva@gmail.com
Chimmi Wangmo joined as a museum assistant at the National Museum, Paro in 2014. She graduated from Desi Higher Secondary School, Thimphu. She is engaged in inventorying of the national museum’s collection and took part in setting up the exhibition after the last renovation of Paro Ta-dzong.
Email id: chimmiw15ongmo@gmail.com
Dorji Zangmo has more than 13 years working experience as a museum assistant. She has substantial knowledge in conservation and curatorial works such as in conservation, documentation and in setting up exhibitions. Besides she can handle the Revenue Administration Management information System (RAMIS). Her career began at the Royal Heritage museum in 2008, the same year it was established and opened to public.
Email id: dorjizamo@gmail.com
Phurpa Zangmo started her career as an administrative assistant at the Deothang Hospital, Samdrupjongkhar in March 2014. There, she handled procurement, personal file management and other related administrative works. She is now a museum assistant and has been working in the museum for the last two and half years. Her current responsibility is updating database file of the museum artifacts besides manning gallery and providing gallery talks to visitors.
Email id: phurpa414@gmail.com
Zangmo has worked at the museum for the last 13 years and has good grounding in conservation, documentation, interpretation and exhibiting artifacts. She is supportive, diligent and adaptive to any work environment. She assisted the management in organizing many museum events of which main ones are colloquium conduction and setting up especial exhibitions. After completing class twelve from Nyima Higher Secondary School, she joined the National Museum of Bhutan as a museum assistant.
Email id: zymk82@gmail.com
Tshomo has completed class 12 from Kelki Higher Secondary School, Thimphu. She began her career in 2005 as a Store Assistant at Ugyen Dorji Higher Secondary School, Haa, under Ministry of Education and has gained experience in procurement and inventory of stationaries. In 2011 she was transferred to the Royal Heritage Museum, Trongsa as Museum Assistant. In 2022 she was transferred to National Museum, Paro. She was trained in conservation field from National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH), Republic of South Korea. She has a knowledge in conservation techniques and documentation of museum artifacts. She is also trained in operating the ‘Revenue Administration Management Information System’ (RAMIS). She is a volunteer member of Community Based Support System, under RENEW and trained in Child Safeguarding, Gender Based Violence and Trafficking in Persons.
Phuntsho Choden joined the civil service as a receptionist at Punakha dzongkhag administration in 2007 and worked there for eight years. She was then transferred to Dzongkhag Administration in Wangduephodrang and worked there till 2018. Her final transfer was to the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro and is working as a ticketing in-charge. She is very adaptive and can work in various fields suiting her qualification.
Email id: phytshok@gmail.com
After completing class X from Motithang High School, she joined the Textile Museum, as a receptionist in July 2014 until she was transferred to the National Museum, Paro in September 2014. She worked as souvenir shop in-charge before the current position as ticketing in-charge.
Email id: kunzangwangmo134@gmail.com
Lhakpa Tshering Tamang has joined the National Museum in 2013. He has experience in repairing and maintenance works. His additional skill are in masonry and concreting works.
Email id:lhakpatshering89@gmail.com
Dorji Bidha joined as a janitor at the National Museum of Bhutan in 2008. She has knowledge of flower gardening and has significantly contributed in improving the outlook of the premise of Paro Ta-dzong.
Kezang Dema joined the national Museum of Bhutan as a janitor in 1st august 2016. Besides, she has interest in gardening and helps the gardener in beautifying the museum campus.
Sangay Pelmo has joined the museum as a gardener from July 2021. She is an avid gardener and loves the work of beautifying the museum campus. Besides, she also helps others in peripheral jobs.
Karma Dorji joined as security guard at the National Museum in 2021. Previously he worked as a security guard for the Bhutan Board Private Ltd., Tala for 14 years from 2008 to 2021. He has knowledge and skills in carpentry and masonry works.
Taupo served in the armed force under different service branches. He first served under the Royal Body Guard (RBG) for 31 years from 1988 to 2004 and later was transferred to the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in 2004 and served there for thirteen years. His last military rank was Peljab. He joined the museum as a security guard in 2017. Besides, he is skilled in carpentry.
Sonam Rinchen is a Security guard combined Security in-charge at the National Museum. Before joining the present organization in 2017 he has served at the Royal Insurance Corporation for three years from 2013 to 2015 after receiving a 3 months training on security aspects at the Bhutan Elite Security Services.
Tshering Samdrup has joined the museum on August 2019 as a security guard.