Drunken Boat / Fortunate Traveller Press has announced the publication of Bhutan, a multi-genre collaboration by acclaimed writers Sudeep Sen and Ravi Shankar that blends poetry, prose, and photography to explore the Himalayan kingdom beyond its popular image as the world's last Shangri-La. The book, released in June 2026, offers a critical yet wondrous examination of a country that measures prosperity through Gross National Happiness rather than GDP.
The project brings together Sen's chiseled poetry and evocative photography with Shankar's sharp, exploratory prose. Together, they create a two-voiced, multi-modal portrait of a nation at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. Bhutan is not a conventional travel book; it is described as a literary reckoning with place, beauty, and the stories nations tell about themselves.
Shankar, a Pushcart Prize winner and author of 18 books, approaches Bhutan's happiness claim with wit, analytical rigor, and genuine wonder. His prose traces the country's modernizing monarchy, its Buddhist heritage, and the complicated textures beneath the glossy surface of official narrative. Sen, an internationally acclaimed poet and photographer, provides a stunning counterpoint with spare, musical couplets and photographs of prayer flags, monasteries, and mountain light that carry the same lyric precision as his verse.
Early praise for the book highlights its unique perspective. Actress Shabana Azmi called it 'a unique and personal multi-genre book' that brings alive aspects of Bhutan 'that only true artists can excavate.' Dasho Kinley Dorji described it as 'an elegant treasure trove' capturing what is special about the country. Author Diane Mehta noted that 'Shankar's wit and his sceptical commentary is a foil for Sen's delicate musical poetry,' while poet Amit Majmudar praised the 'sheen of eudemonic delight and heightened astonished awareness' that adheres to the book.
The collaboration is particularly significant given the authors' backgrounds. Ravi Shankar, founding editor-in-chief of Drunken Boat, teaches at Tufts University and has held fellowships from Yaddo and MacDowell. Sudeep Sen, a senior fellow of the Government of India, was the first Asian to deliver the Derek Walcott Lecture and read at the Nobel Laureate Festival. Their combined expertise offers readers a layered perspective on Bhutan that goes beyond typical travel writing.
Bhutan is published by Drunken Boat / Fortunate Traveller Press (ISBN: 978-0-9882416-3-7) and is available on Amazon at this link. The trade paperback, priced at $29.95, features full-color images and spans genres including literary travel, poetry, and photography.
The book's release comes at a time when readers increasingly seek nuanced narratives about places often reduced to stereotypes. By combining critical analysis with artistic expression, Sen and Shankar provide a model for how literature can engage with complex cultural and political realities. For the publishing industry, Bhutan represents a growing trend toward hybrid works that defy easy categorization, appealing to audiences interested in both travel and literary arts.
