BHUTAN

I am not a qualified Historian to do this but I will try my best to my knowledge.Bhutan is a small country sandwiched between the 2 great Nations, China to the north and India in the south. I have often wondered how a country with a population of 7 lakhs and with an area of 38,816 sq.km survived in the line of history? Every country in existence has a history of long line of bloodshed. It could be because it is a land locked country with the Himalayan Ranges protecting it in the north and a friendly neighbouring country India hugging it in the south. But the main reason which I believe is because it is a landlocked country.The civilization in Bhutan became active after the arrival of Zhabdrung Rinpoche in 1616 AD. He is considered to be Father of early civilization of Bhutan who gave a head start to Bhutan. The country during that time did not wake up from its long line/tradition of isolation from the rest of the country. History tells us that the real conflicts all over the world became prominent during that era. When the rest of the world was fighting in the name of religion and natural resources Bhutan was still in the process of development. As far as we can see that Bhutan started to crawl on the hands of Budhist religion. Buddhism has never justified war and bloodshed. It taught her to be peaceful and grow with the nature.

Zhabdrung Rinpoche was a religious leader with the mind of a true King. He established the dual system (Choesi System) of politics. He made religion officially active by appointing a leader of religion and another leader of politics. Of course there doesn’t exist anything as a perfect system. There were conflicts as religion and political leader clashed each other for selfish gains. However it can be said that these conflicts were minor like a domestic fight between the spouses.

One of the historical evidence which occurred during that era was the British Raj of Imperial British of India. The first attack of East India company of Bhutan in 1774 and later in 1864 -1865 when the final battle known as the Duar war led to the defeat of Bhutan and eventually the signing of the Treaty Of Sinchula. This defeat led to the loss of the control of Assam Duar and Bengal Duar which also included Sikkim.

Later after the independence of India from the British Raj led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1947 a treaty was signed between the new India and Bhutan government in 1949.This treaty would play a very vital role in the development of Bhutan.

The first king of Bhutan Gongsa(Title) Ugyen Wangchuk ascended the throne after unifying the feudal lords during his time in the 1907 December 17. To this day December 17 is celebrated as the National Day of Bhutan.

As each Royal successor ascended the throne the country moved towards a new era of progress. Each successor was able leaders and concluded the age old tradition of isolation by opening doors to the other Nations during the rule of the 2nd King of Bhutan Jigme Namgyel and the 3rd King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. It was during the rule of 3rd King that Bhutan became a member of the United Nations in 1971 where Bhutan was recognized as an Independent Nation.

After the death of the 3rd King then only aged 16 years King Jigme Singye Wangchuk ascended the throne as the 4th Hereditary Monarch of Bhutan in 1972. It was the vision of the 4th Druk Gyelpo(King of Bhutan in dzongkha) and his philosophy of Gross National Happiness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_national_happiness (where he mainly emphasis on the happiness of the individual) that has led to a balanced form of development. His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyelpo further established the Democracy in the year 2007 where for the first time leaders were elected by the people. It was said that it was the most peaceful political election occurred in the history of mankind. In December 6th 2008 the 5th Druk Gyelpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck ascended the throne. I along with many other graduates of my batch was blessed with his personal visit during the orientation time in October 2008. All of us heard his speech and his allegiance and oath the people of Bhutan. I was inspired to see a confident and an intelligent King who in some ways thought like us. And I believe it was just the tip of the ice berg of his intelligence.

“If ever there was a leader who has used every ounce of his mind for the welfare of his people, I say he exists in this small country called Bhutan”

PS: The dates were referred from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bhutan