By Jigmi Wangdi
The children’s book “Bumpa”, originally written in English and based on true stories from Bhutan’s blind community, has found a new home in Sri Lanka with a Sinhala-language edition. The translation follows growing interest in the book and its author, Gro Holm Rypestøl, a Norwegian humanitarian whose work in Bhutan began in the 1970s.
Illustrated by Wang Rana Gurung, Bumpa follows a 12-year-old boy from the remote village of Rizangpo in eastern Bhutan. Set against the backdrop of Bhutan’s early development, the story weaves together the struggles, dreams, and quiet victories of rural life. Bumpa hopes to become a skilled farmer and basket weaver, but a sudden tragedy changes the course of his life. As he navigates loss and recovery, he comes to understand that self-worth is not defined by misfortune.
Though the story is fictional, its emotional core draws from the real-life experiences of blind children Gro worked with during her time in Bhutan.
“Gro came to Bhutan in the 1970s after His Royal Highness Prince Namgyel Wangchuck recognised the need to support blind children,” Wang explained. “At the time, they were often kept at home, hidden. Gro went door to door, speaking with families and urging them to send their children to school.”
Trust was hard-won
“Some parents didn’t believe her at first,” Wang said. “They stayed at the school for weeks, watching. But once they saw their children being fed, clothed, and learning, they began to hope. Gro wove their stories into Bumpa—he’s fictional, but his world is very real.”
First published in Norwegian in 2019 under the title Zeiii—a nod to the Bhutanese expression “Zai”, an exclamation of wonder—the book was renamed “Bumpa” in its English version for its familiarity and cultural resonance.
The Sinhala edition came about after Jayanta, a Sri Lankan social worker engaged in the blind community, read about Gro in 108 Stories from Women of Bhutan. Moved by the narrative, he offered to translate the book and make it accessible to Sri Lankan readers.
“Our goal with this edition is to launch a fundraising campaign for the blind community in Sri Lanka,” said Wang.
Reflecting on the challenges of promoting literature and art in Bhutan, Wang said, “Books like this often depend on foreign support. There’s interest at the launch, but unless we keep promoting it online, the momentum fades. Literary fiction doesn’t always attract local readers. Still, I believe that with time and effort, we can nurture a community that values these stories.”
With its release in Sri Lanka, Bumpa extends its message of resilience and inclusion beyond Bhutan’s borders.
What began as a tribute to the strength of blind children in a Himalayan village is now part of a larger regional effort to build empathy—one story at a time.
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