Dasho Arun Kapur

Dasho Arun Kapur is an Indian-born educationist whose four-decade career spans leading schools in India and the design of new educational institutions in Bhutan. He is the founder of the Druk Gyalpo's Institute (DGI) in Paro and the driving force behind the Bhutan Baccalaureate, and serves as a board member of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).^[1]

In December 2024 King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck conferred on him the honorific title of Dasho, together with the Bura Marp (Red Scarf) and a Patang (ceremonial sword) — a distinction rarely granted to a foreign national.^[2]

Education and early career

Kapur holds a Master's degree in history from St Stephen's College, Delhi.^[1] He spent the bulk of his early career in Indian school education, heading New Delhi's Vasant Valley School for close to three decades — until 2020 — and building it into one of India's leading schools. He also served as principal of The British School, New Delhi, and as executive director of Learn Today.^[3] Beyond mainstream schooling, he founded and chairs Ritinjali, a trust working with underprivileged communities, and founded Pallavan, an education-development programme emphasising diverse learning styles.^[1]

Work in Bhutan

Kapur became closely associated with educational reform in Bhutan through his role in establishing The Royal Academy and in developing the Bhutan Baccalaureate, a values-based curriculum designed as an alternative to conventional examination-driven schooling.^[4] He went on to found the Druk Gyalpo's Institute in Paro, a leadership- and talent-development institution, and has worked on training systems intended to prepare Bhutanese professionals for leadership roles. His contribution to education in Bhutan has been central to the country's efforts to align schooling with the philosophy of Gross National Happiness.^[5]

Gelephu Mindfulness City

Kapur sits on the board of Gelephu Mindfulness City, where he is associated with education and talent development — building advanced training systems to upskill Bhutanese talent for leadership roles in the city's public and private institutions.^[1]

Honours

Kapur received the Druk Thuksey medal in 2019 in recognition of his work in setting up The Royal Academy and developing the Bhutan Baccalaureate.^[2] On 17 December 2024, at the 117th National Day celebrations in Thimphu's Changlimithang stadium, he was conferred the title of Dasho and the Red Scarf (Bura Marp) — reportedly only the fourth non-Bhutanese ever to receive the honour, and the first foreign national to do so after a hiatus of some 44 years. He has also received the Royal Order of Bhutan.^[4]

References

1. "Dasho Arun Kapur – Board Member". Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (primary source).
2. "Bhutan confers royal honour on Indian educationist Arun Kapur". ThePrint, December 2024.
3. "Bhutan confers royal honour on Indian educationist Arun Kapur". The Economic Times (ET Education).
4. "Bhutan Confers Royal Honour On Indian Educationist Arun Kapur". ETV Bharat, 19 December 2024.
5. "Dedicated Educator Honoured with Prestigious Red Scarf Award". The Bhutan Live.