Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia successfully defends Ph.D. thesis at Sikkim University
Currently serving as a Guest Faculty member in the Department of History at Sikkim University, Bhutia has also presented his work at numerous national and international conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals.
LOCAL
Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, a resident of Simik Lingzey, Pengyong Busty, Khamdong in East Sikkim, has successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis in History at Sikkim Central University on May 5, 2025. His doctoral research, titled “The Traditional Medicine and Spiritual Healing Practices in Sikkim During the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century: A Study of its Continuity,” delves into the evolution and endurance of indigenous healing practices in Sikkim amidst historical and colonial changes.
Supervised by Dr. Anira Phipon Lepcha, Assistant Professor at the Department of History, Bhutia’s work focused on traditional medicinal and spiritual practices among the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. The research explores how these practices have adapted and survived alongside modern biomedicine, highlighting the role of spiritual healers, monks, Amchis, and traditional medicine practitioners in contemporary community healthcare.
Bhutia’s academic journey has been distinguished by consistent excellence. He completed his early education in East and South Sikkim before earning his Bachelor’s degree in History Honours from Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College, Gangtok. His dedication to history was further recognized during his postgraduate studies at Sikkim Central University, where he earned a Silver Medal during the university's Fifth Convocation. His M.Phil dissertation, “British Influences on Folk Medicine and Healing Practices in Sikkim,” laid the groundwork for his Ph.D. thesis.
Currently serving as a Guest Faculty member in the Department of History at Sikkim University, Bhutia has also presented his work at numerous national and international conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals. He has been honored with both Junior and Senior Research Fellowships from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and was selected for the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) Junior Research Fellowship.
In his acknowledgements, Bhutia expressed heartfelt gratitude to his supervisor, Dr. Anira Phipon Lepcha, the faculty of the History Department, and the traditional healers and experts who contributed to his research. He also thanked his family—his mother, Lhanzom Bhutia, and sisters, Seden Lhamu and Kiki Lhamu Bhutia—for their unwavering support.