An interview with
Michael Vinding
Position & Affiliation: Anthropologist & retired diplomat
Date: February 22, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Interviewed by: Anna Sehnalova
Cite this archive
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Oral History of Tibetan Studies project.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:21 Where do you come from and how did you grow up?
- 4:17 University education
- 10:25 What was so interesting about the people living in Oddiyana?
- 19:34 Anthropological fieldwork
- 30:14 Marriage with Bina Vinding
- 31:45 Subsequent fieldwork in Nepal during the 1980s
- 49:25 Why did you first become interested in different cultures as a student?
- 55:53 You motioned that Professor Nicolaisen influenced the way you do fieldwork. How do you think he influenced you?
- 58:19 How do you remember Erik Haarh as a teacher?
- 1:05:34 How do you remember Tarab Tulku as a teacher?
- 1:07:31 In Kathmandu, were you in touch with Gene Smith?
- 1:10:38 How do you remember Pasang Sherpo?
- 1:15:24 How did you decide to do fieldwork on the Thakalis?
- 1:22:18 Travels to Tibet and Bhutan
- 1:41:05 What was your role with the NGOs?
- 2:09:53 Establishment of the Center for Bhutan Studies
- 2:20:55 Political challenges in Bhutan
- 2:56:54 Memories of Tibet
- 3:04:57 Travel and diplomatic work in Burma
- 3:09:33 Retirement and ongoing projects
- 3:12:08 Danish delegation in Bhutan
- 3:14:16 In Bhutan, the Danish development program was also linked to the Bhutanese National Library and Archives. Can you say something about this?
- 3:18:03 Have you worked with Hall Kuloy?
- 3:21:49 Throughout your career, do you have the feeling that you could have been an academic as well?
- 3:25:09 In your diplomatic career, do you think your anthropological lens influenced you?
- 3:28:56 You also saw Bhutan opening up, what are your reflections?
- 3:30:36 How would you remember Tibet in the 1980s?
- 3:33:34 What has your career related to the Himalayans given to you and how has it changed your life?
- 3:36:45 During your career what was the most interesting and challenging?
- 3:38:27 What do you consider your most significant contribution?
- 3:40:53 How would you liked to be remembered?
- 3:42:48 We are conducting this project for future students. Do you have a message for them?
Additional info
August 2021
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Michael Vinding
Birth
30 March 1950, Copenhagen, Denmark
Marital Status
Married (to Bina Vinding, née Lama). No children
Degrees
Doctor philosophiae, University of Aarhus, 1998
Magister scientiarum, University of Copenhagen, 1975
Examen philosophicum, University of Trondheim, 1970
Decorations
Knight of the Order of Dannebrog, Denmark, 2002
Prabal Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Chou, Nepal, 1989
Positions
Monitor
European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia,
2010–2016
Sabbatical
2006–2010
Minister Counsellor
Department for Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen
2004–2006
Head of Mission (Chargé d’affaires e.p.)
Office of the Representative of Denmark to Afghanistan
2002–2004
Resident Coordinator (Counsellor)
Liaison Office of Denmark, Thimphu
1997–2002
Head of Section
Department for Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen
1995–1997
Head of Section
NGO Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen
1993–1995
Counsellor
Royal Danish Embassy, Dhaka
1990–1993
Head of Section
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen
1988–1990
Socio-Economist
ILO, Kathmandu
1985–1986
Junior Professional Officer
UNDP, Kathmandu
1981–1984
Research Fellow
Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
University of Copenhagen
1979–1981
Research among the Thakali of Nepal
Funded by the Danish National Research Council for the Humanities
1975–1978
Boards
Editor, Journal of Bhutan Studies, 1999–2002
Publications
Books and articles on the Thakali of Nepal, including ‘The Thakali. A Himalayan Ethnography.’ London 1998: Serindia Paperback edition: New Delhi 2008: Adroit Publishers