History of Bhutan
Bhutan was inhabited possibly as early as 2000 BC. Buddhism
was probably introduced in the 2nd Century, although traditionally its
introduction is credited with the visit of Guru Rinpoche in AD 747 who arrived
in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche is one of the most important figures in Bhutan’s
history, regarded as the second Buddha. There are different versions claiming
the origin of the name ‘Bhutan’. It is believed to have been derived from the
Sanskrit word ‘Bhotant’ which means ‘the edge of Tibet’ Or “Bhu-uttan” meaning
‘highland’. However, Bhutan is referred to as ‘Drukyul’ or Land of the Thunder
Dragon by Bhutanese. Till 16th century, numerous clans and noble families ruled
in different valleys throughout Bhutan, quarrelling among them and with Tibet. There
are lots of religious as well as civil wars. This changed in 1616 with the after
arrival of Ngawang Namgyal in 1616, a great master of the Drukpa Kagyu school
of Buddhism from Tibet. Later in the 17th century A.D, under the leadership of
a great saint, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal various religious sects were unified
under Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Mahayana Buddhism in Bhutan. Ngawang Namgyal
codified a comprehensive system of laws and built a chain of Dzongs. These
Dzongs guarded each valley during wars but now serve as religious and
administrative centre of each region.He unified Bhutan and the political system he established lasted
until the beginning of the 20th century, the announcement of the Shabdrung’s
death in 1705 was followed by 200 years of internal conflict and political
infighting.
In
19th century gave way to peace after the Trongsa Governor, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck,
won over all his rivals. Subsequently, he was elected as the 1st Hereditary
Monarch of the Wangchuk dynasty with a unanimous vote of Bhutan’s chiefs and
principal lamas, as hereditary ruler of Bhutan in 1907. Thus the first king was
crowned and the Wangchuck dynasty began. Over the following four decades, he
and his heir, King Jigme Wangchuck, brought the entire country under the
monarchy’s direct control. Upon independence in 1947, India recognized Bhutan
as a sovereign country. Until the 1960s, Bhutan was largely isolated from the
rest of the world, and its people carried on a tranquil, traditional way of
life, farming and trading, which had remained intact for centuries. After China
invaded Tibet, however, Bhutan strengthened its ties and contact with India in
an effort to avoid Tibet's fate. New roads and other connections to India began
to end its isolation. In the 1960s, Bhutan also undertook social modernization,
abolishing slavery and the caste system, emancipating women, and enacting land
reform. In 1985, Bhutan made its first diplomatic links with non-Asian
countries.
The
Wangchuk Dynasty completed 100 years of rule in 2007. The fourth King, Jigme
Singye Wangchuck, had espoused and implemented the policy of controlled
development with particular focus on the preservation of the environment and
Bhutan’s unique culture. Among his ideals is economic self-reliance and what
has now become widely known as ‘Gross National Happiness’. His coronation on 2
June 1974 was the first time the international media were allowed to enter the
Kingdom, and marked Bhutan’s debut appearance on the world stage. The first
group of paying tourists arrived later that year. In major political reform in
June 1998, the king dissolved the Council of Ministers and announced that
ministers formerly appointed by him would need to stand for open election. In
1999 television and Internet were first introduced to Bhutan. In 1998, King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who is Bhutan's fourth hereditary ruler, voluntarily
curtailed his absolute monarchy, and in March 2005 released a draft
constitution that outlined plans for the
country to shift to a two-party democracy. In Dec. 2006, he abdicated in favor
of his son, and Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchukin became 5th
king. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, took decentralization to the people,
and devolved all executive powers to a council of ministers elected by the
people in 1998, besides introducing a system of voting no confidence in the
king, which empowered the parliament to remove the monarch. The national
Constitution Committee started drafting the Constitution of the Kingdom of
Bhutan in 2001. The Draft Constitution was distributed to the people in 2005,
which was followed by public consultation initiated by the 4th and 5th Kings.
Its implementation will establish parliamentary democracy in the country.
The
people in different villages of the gewog in turn elect the chimis (people’s
repressentatives). The king is now the head of the state. The government is
elected by the parliament for a five-year term, with the head of the government
or post of prime minister rotating amongst the ministers. At the district
level, Dzongda functions as the chief executive officer and the gup (gewog head
man) elected by the people is the chief executive officer at gewog level. Under
the policy of greater decentralization and empowerment of the people, the
Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu and the Geog Yargye Tshogchung have been given full
administrative, policy making and financial powers in their respective
Dzongkhags. Therefore, the success of development programmes will now be
determined by the decisions taken by the people and the quality of their
participation in implementing them. More details visit: www.bhutantreksandtours.com
Travel to Land of Happiness, Bhutan!
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