It is believed that Bhutan was inhabited as early
as 2000 B.C. due to the presence of early stone implements discovered in the
region.The country was originally known by many names including Lho Jong, ‘The Valleys of
the South’, Lho Mon Kha Shi, ‘The
Southern Mon Country of Four Approaches’, Lho Jong MenJong, ‘The Southern Valleys of Medicinal
Herbs and Lho Mon Tsenden
Jong, ‘The Southern Mon Valleys where Sandlewood Grows’. Mon was a term used by the
Tibetans to refer to Mongoloid, non-Buddhist peoples that populated the
Southern Himalayas. The
country came to be known as Druk
Yul or The Land of the Drukpas sometime in the 17th century.
The name refers to the Drukpa sect of Buddhism that has been the dominant
religion in the region since that period. Initially Bonism was the dominant
religion in the region that would come to be known as Bhutan. Buddhism was
introduced in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen
Gampo and further strengthened by the arrival of Guru Rimpoche, a Buddhist
Master that is widely considered to be the Second Buddha.The country was first unified in 17th century
by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. After arriving in Bhutan from Tibet he
consolidated his power, defeated three Tibetan invasions and established a
comprehensive system of law and governance. His system of rule eroded after his
death and the country fell into in-fighting and civil war between the various
local rulers. This continued until the Trongsa Poenlop Ugyen Wangchuck was able
to gain control and with the support of the people establish himself as
Bhutan’s first hereditary King in 1907. His Majesty the king Ugyen Wangchuck
became the first Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) and set up the Wangchuck Dynasty
that still rules today.In 2008 Bhutan enacted its Constitution and converted to
a democracy in order to better safeguard the rights of its citizens. Later in
November of the same year, the currently reigning 5th Druk
Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned.
PEOPLE
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| King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck interacting with the people |
LANGUAGE
Bhutan is linguistically rich with over nineteen
dialects spoken in the country. The richness of the linguistic diversity can be
attributed to the geographical location of the country with its high mountain
passes and deep valleys. These geographical features forced the inhabitants of
the country to live in isolation but also contributed to their survival.
The
national language is Dzongkha, the native language of the Ngalops of western
Bhutan. Dzongkha literally means the language spoken in the Dzongs, massive
fortresses that serve as the administrative centres and monasteries. Two other
major languages are the Tshanglakha and the Lhotshamkha. Tshanglakha is the
native language of the Tshanglas of eastern Bhutan while Lhotshamkha is spoken
by the southern Bhutanese of Nepali origin.
Other
dialects spoken are Khengkha and Bumthapkha by the Khengpas and Bumthap people
of Central Bhutan. Mangdepkah, which is spoken by the inhabitants of Trongsa
and the Cho Cha Nga Chang Kha which is spoken by the Kurtoeps. The Sherpas,
Lepchas and the Tamangs in southern Bhutan also have their own dialects.
Unfortunately two dialects that are on the verge of becoming extinct are the
Monkha and the Gongduepkha.
EATING HABITS
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Traditional Bhutanese eating habits are simple and
in general, food is eaten with hands. Family members eat while sitting cross
legged on the wooden floor with food first being served to the head of the
household first.
It
is usually women who serve the food and in most cases, the mother. Before
eating, a short prayer is offered and a small morsel placed on the floor as an
offering to the local spirits and deities. With modernization, eating habits
have changed and in urban areas, people usually eat with cutlery whilst seated
at a regular dining table.
Traditionally
dishes were cooked in earthenware, but with the easy availability of modern
goods, pots and pans have largely replaced their use.
BHUTANESE DRESS
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Women wear the Kira, a long, ankle-length dress
accompanied by a light outer jacket known as a Tego with an inner layer known
as a Wonju.Bhutanese still wear long scarves when visiting Dzongs and other
administrative centres. The scarves worn vary in colour, signifying the
wearer’s status or rank. The scarf worn by men is known as Kabney while
those worn by women are known as Rachus. Below is a brief breakdown of the
different kabneys and their associated rank. The Rachu is hung over a
woman’s shoulder and unlike the scarves worn by men, does not have any specific
rank associated with its colour. Rachus are usually woven out of raw silk and
embroidered with beautiful rich patterns.
Rank
|
Kabney/Scarf
|
The
King
|
Yellow
|
Je
Khenpo (Head Abbot)
|
Yellow
|
Minister
|
Orange
|
Judge
|
Green
|
District
Administrator
|
Red
with a small white stripe
|
Commoner
|
White
|
FESTIVALS
Bhutan is rich in cultural diversity and this
richness is further enhanced by the wide variety of elaborate and colourful
religious festivals that are celebrated throughout the country. Every village
is known for their unique festival though the most widely known is the annual
Tshechu, meaning a religious festival.
As
the Tshechu begins, the villagers and the general populace dress in their
finest clothes and congregate at their local temples and monasteries were these
festivals take place. Tshechus are usually occasions to mark important events
in the life of the second Buddha, the Indian/Pakistani Tantric master known as
Guru Rinpoche or the Precious Gem. Various mask dances are performed together
with songs and dances for three days.
These
religious celebrations are lively, high-spirited affairs during which people
share meals of red rice, spicy pork, Ema Datshi and Momos (pork dumplings)
whilst drinking the heady traditional rice wine known as Ara. These occasions
provide the villagers with a respite from the hard labour of their day to day
lives and gives the community an opportunity to catch up with family and
friends.
RELIGION
Approximately 70% percent of the population practice Drukpa Kagyupa or
Ningmapa Buddhism, both of which are
disciplines of Mahayana Buddhism. The remaining 30 percent
practice Hinduism as well as Buddhism. The law provides for
freedom of religion; the religious institutions and personalities have a duty
"to promote the spiritual heritage of the country while also ensuring that
religion remains separate from politics" and that religious institutions
and personalities remain "above politics."
NATIONAL FLAG
The National flag is divided diagonally into two equal halves. The upper yellow half that touches the base symbolizes the secular tradition. It personifies His Majesty the King, whose noble actions enhance the Kingdom. Hence, it symbolizes that His Majesty is the upholder of the spiritual and secular foundations of the Kingdom. The lower orange half that extends to the top symbolizes the spiritual tradition. It also symbolizes the flourishing of the Buddhist teachings in general and that of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions in particular. The dragon that fully presses down the fimbriation symbolizes the name of the Kingdom, which is endowed with the spiritual and secular traditions... The white dragon symbolizes the undefiled thoughts of the people that express their loyalty, patriotism and great sense of belonging to the Kingdom although they have different ethnic and linguistic origins. The jewels in dragon’s claws stand for the wealth and perfection of the country.
NATIONAL SPORT
The national sport is the Archery. The bow and
arrow play a significant role in many Bhutanese myths and legends; images of
the gods holding a bow and arrows are considered especially favourable.
Archery
was declared the national sport in 1971 when Bhutan became a member of the
United Nations. Bhutan also maintains an Olympic archery team. Archery
tournaments and competitions are held throughout the country. Archery is played
during religious and secular public holidays in Bhutan, local festivals
(tsechu), between public ministries and departments, and between the dzonkhag
and the regional teams.
NATIONAL BIRD
NATIONAL EMBLEM
There is a jewel on all sides with two dragons on
the vertical sides. The thunderbolts represent the harmony between secular and
religious power while the lotus symbolizes purity. The jewel signifies the
sovereign power while the dragons (male and female) represent the name of the
country DrukYul or the Land of the Dragon.
NATIONAL FLOWER
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The national flower of
Bhutan is the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsishorridula). It is a delicate blue or purple tinged blossom with
a white filament. It grows to a height of 1 meter, and is found above the tree
line (3500-4500 meters) on rocky mountain terrain. It was discovered in 1933 by
a British Botanist, George Sherriff in a remote part of Sakteng in eastern
Bhutan.
NATIONAL
ANIMAL
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It is a very rare
mammal with a thick neck and short muscular legs. It lives in groups and is
found above 4000 meters on the north-western and far north eastern parts of the
country. They feed on bamboo.
CLIMATIC
The climate in Bhutan is extremely varied. This
variation in the climatic conditions and average
temperature can be attributed to two main factors,
the vast differences in altitude present in the country and the influence of
the north Indian monsoons.Southern Bhutan has a hot, humid sub-tropical climate
that is fairly unchanging throughout the year. Temperatures can vary between
15-30 degrees Celsius. In the Central parts of the
e country the climate cools a bit, changing to temperate and deciduous forests
with warm summers and cool, dry winters. In the far Northern reaches of the
kingdom the weather is cold during winter. Mountain peaks are perpetually
covered in snow and lower parts are still cool in summer owing to the high
altitude terrain.
The
Indian summer monsoon lasts from late-June through late-September and is mostly
confined to the southern border region of Bhutan. It brings heavy rain and high
humidity, to the southern region. These rains bring between 60 and 90
percent of the western region's rainfall.
Annual precipitation ranges widely in various parts of the country. In the northern border region to Tibet gets about forty millimetres of precipitation a year which is primarily snow. In the temperate central regions, a yearly average of around 1,000 millimetres is more common, and 7,800 millimetres per year has been registered at some locations in the humid, subtropical south, ensuring the thick tropical forest.
Annual precipitation ranges widely in various parts of the country. In the northern border region to Tibet gets about forty millimetres of precipitation a year which is primarily snow. In the temperate central regions, a yearly average of around 1,000 millimetres is more common, and 7,800 millimetres per year has been registered at some locations in the humid, subtropical south, ensuring the thick tropical forest.
Thimphu
experiences dry winter months (December through February) and almost no
precipitation until March, when rainfall averages 20 millimetres a month and
increases steadily thereafter to a high of 220 millimetres in August for a
total annual rainfall of nearly 650 millimetres.
Bhutan's generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June. The heavier summer rains last from late June through late September which are more monsoonal in south.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations.
From late November until March, winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 meters. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan its name – Druk Yul, which in the Dzongkha language mean Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Bhutan's generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June. The heavier summer rains last from late June through late September which are more monsoonal in south.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations.
From late November until March, winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 meters. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan its name – Druk Yul, which in the Dzongkha language mean Land of the Thunder Dragon.
GROSS NATIONAL
HAPPINESS
Gross National Happiness: Development Philosophy of
BhutanEconomists the world over have argued that the key to happiness is
obtaining and enjoying material development. Bhutan however, adheres to a very
different belief and advocates that amassing material wealth does not
necessarily lead to happiness. Bhutan is now trying to measure progress not by
the popular idea of Gross Domestic Product but by through Gross National
Happiness.
His
Majesty the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck expressed his view on the
goals of development as making “the people prosperous and happy.” With this
strong view in mind, the importance of “prosperity and happiness,” was
highlighted in the King’s address on the occasion of Bhutan’s admission to the
United Nations in 1971.
While
the emphasis is placed on both, prosperity and happiness, the latter is
considered to be more significant. The fourth Druk Gyalpo emphasized that for
Bhutan “Gross National Happiness,” is more important than “Gross National
Product.” Thus, Gross National Happiness is now being fleshed out by a wide
range of professionals, scholars and agencies across the world.
Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck said that the rich are not always happy while the happy generally considered themselves rich. While conventional development models stressed on economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of Gross National Happiness is based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
The philosophy of Gross National Happiness has recently received international recognition and the UN has implemented a resolution “…recognizing that the gross domestic product [...] does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of people,” and that “…the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal”.
Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck said that the rich are not always happy while the happy generally considered themselves rich. While conventional development models stressed on economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of Gross National Happiness is based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
The philosophy of Gross National Happiness has recently received international recognition and the UN has implemented a resolution “…recognizing that the gross domestic product [...] does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of people,” and that “…the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal”.
Economy
Despite Bhutan’ small population there has been
much economic development in recent years and the economy is growing rapidly.
While
a large part of the Bhutanese population is still illiterate and reside in
rural areas with approximately 1in 5 still living under the poverty line, the
majority of all Bhutanese have shelter and are self-sufficient. Rapid
modernization has brought about vast improvements in the living standard of the
Bhutanese people. All villages now have access to basic amenities such as
education, running water, basic healthcare and are connected by roads and
electricity. Even the most remote villages have connection to the
telecommunication network including mobile phone service.
The
Bhutanese economy is predominantly agricultural. Farmers supplement their
income through the sale of animal products such as cheese, butter and milk.
Farmers’ markets are common throughout the country, supplying the people with
fresh, organic, local produce.
The
main staple crops are rice, maize, wheat and buckwheat while cash crops are
predominantly potatoes, apples, oranges, cardamom, ginger, and chilies. A fruit
based industry has been established in the capital allowing farmers from the
nearby areas to sell their produce and thereby earn additional revenue.
COTTAGE INDUSTRIES
Bhutan’s
rich biodiversity provides the country with ample forest resources and this has
brought about the development of a thriving cane and bamboo handicraft
industry. Craftsmen weave a number of beautiful and intricate items out of
bamboo and cane including hats, backpacks, floor mats and traditional bowls.
These items are then sold to tourists or Bhutanese, supplying a secondary
income source.
TOURISM
The
Bhutanese Tourism Industry was first opened in 1974. Since then it has grown to
become, a major contributing factor to the Bhutanese economy creating countless
employment opportunities and generating additional revenue for the government.
The
government is committed to building a sustainable tourism industry that is not
only financially viable but also limits the negative cultural and environmental
impacts commonly associated with the culture of mass tourism. By establishing a
policy of “High Value, Low Impact’ tourism, the kingdom of Bhutan seeks to
ensure that it attracts only the most discerning visitors with a deep respect
for cultural values, traditions and the natural environment.
To
this end efforts have been made to ensure that even remote areas are publicized
and able to reap the benefits of tourism while still respecting their
traditions, culture and natural environment.
HYDROELECTRICITY
Due
to its fast flowing, glacier-fed rivers, Bhutan has enormous potential to
produce hydroelectricity. With the construction of several major dams, the
power sector has undeniably been the biggest contributor to the Bhutanese
exchequer. The Chukha Hydro Power Corporation, the Tala Hydro Power
Corporation, the Baso Chu Hydro Power Corporation and the Kurichu Hydro Power
Corporation, under the umbrella of Druk Green Power Corporation, are some of
the existing mega projects in the country. The 1500 MW of power they generate,
most of which is exported to our neighbouring country India, barely scratches
the surface of Bhutan’s untapped hydroelectric potential. With its abundant
water resources, Bhutan still has the capacity to generate another 30,000 MW of
electricity. However, the government is proceeding cautiously with new
construction projects in order to minimize the impact upon the surrounding
areas.
MANUFACTURING
The
Manufacturing sector is another major contributor to national revenue. With the
industrial sector established in Pasakha, small scale industries such as cement
plants, calcium and carbide, steel and Ferro silicon, Coca Cola and also wood
based industries have started developing.
As a
result of the recent economic development, Bhutan has one of the highest per
capita incomes in South Asia at US$1,321. However despite this high level of
growth and development, efforts stringent regulations have been enacted in
order to protect Bhutan’s natural environment.
POLITICAL
SYSTEM OF BHUTAN
The political system of Bhutan has evolved over
time together with its tradition and culture. It has developed from a
fragmented and a disoriented rule of the different regions by local chieftains,
lords and clans into the parliamentary democracy we have in place today.
The
first move towards a systematic scheme of governance came in 1616 with the
arrival of Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal from Tibet. He introduced the dual system
of governance with the Je Khenpo as the spiritual head of the nation and the
Desis, as the head of the temporal aspects.
But
a major breakthrough came about in 1907 when the people unanimously enthroned
Ugyen Wangchuck as the first hereditary King of Bhutan. He was the man who had
proven his mettle by banding together the different Dzongpons and Penlops
(governors of fortress), ending centuries of strife and bringing much needed
stability and peace to the country. Since then, the country has been ruled by
successive monarchs of the Wangchuck dynasty.
In a
move to ensure a more democratic governance of the country, the Third King
Jigme Dorji Wangchuck instituted the National Assembly (Tshogdu) in 1953. Every
gewog has an elected member representing it in the National assembly. It became
a platform where the people’s representatives enacted laws and discussed issues
of national importance.
The
establishment of the Royal Advisory Council (Lodoe Tshogde) in 1963 as a link
between the king, council of ministers and the people was another move towards
democratization. It also advised the king and the council of ministers on
important issues and ensured that projects were implemented successfully.
The
institution of Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu (District Development Assembly) in 1981
and Gewog Yargay Tshogchung (County Development Assembly) in 1991 by the Fourth
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was another move towards decentralization.
But
the devolution of the power of the King in 1998 to the cabinet ministers was
the highest form of decentralization. The King, thereafter, began to serve as
the Head of the State while the government was managed by the Prime Minister.
In
November 2001, on the advice of the Fourth king, a committee chaired by the
Chief Justice of Bhutan, was formed to draft the constitution of Bhutan. The
constitution was launched in 2008 and with it a parliamentary democracy
introduced. The progression from Hereditary Monarchy to that of a Parliamentary
Democracy has been a carefully managed process that culminated in 2008 when
Bhutan held its first elections country wide. The Druk Phunsum Tshogpa was
mandated by the people to head the new government with a major victory. Today
with 45 elected members, Lyonchen Jigme Y Thinley steers the government with
just two opposition members from the People’s Democratic Party.
The
organs of the Bhutanese government comprise of the Legislature, Judiciary and
the Executive. The ruling political party, the opposition and the National
Council now forms the legislative body. The second election was held on 13th
July 2013. The People’s Democratic Party (Former opposition party) is now the
ruling party with 32 elected members and Druk Phunsum Tshogpa (now opposition
party) with 15 members.
ENVIRONMENT
Due to Bhutan’s location and unique geographical
and climatic variations, it is one of the world’s last remaining biodiversity
hotspots.
Bhutan
pristine environment, with high rugged mountains and deep valleys, offers
ecosystems that are both rich and diverse. Recognizing the importance of
the environment, conservation of its rich biodiversity is one of the government’s
development paradigms.
The
government has enacted a law that shall maintain at least 60% of its forest
cover for all time. Today, approximately 72% of the total land area of
Bhutan is under forest cover and approximately 60% of the land area falls under
protected areas comprising of 10 national parks and sanctuaries.
CONCLUSION
The
Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked state in South Asialocated at the eastern end
of the Himalayas. It is bordered to the
north by China and to the south, east
and west by the Republic
of India. In the early 20th century, Bhutan came into contact
with the British Empire and retained strong
bilateral relations with India upon its independence. In 2006, based on a
global survey,Business Week rated
Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the
eighth-happiest in the world.Bhutan's
landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayan heights in the north, where some
peaks exceed 7, 000 metres (23,000 ft.). Its total area was reported as
approximately 46,500 km2 (18,000 sq. mi) in
1997 and 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq. mi) in
2002. Bhutan's state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism and the population, now (as of 2012/2013)
estimated to be nearly three-quarters of a million, and is predominantly Buddhist. Hinduism is the second-largest religion.
In 2008, Bhutan made the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy and held its first general election. As well
as being a member of the United
Nations, Bhutan is a
member of the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and hosted SAARC's sixteenth summit in April 2010.
Bhutanese society is free of class or a caste
system. Slavery was abolished by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the
early 1950s through a royal edict. Though, a few organizations to empower women
were established in the past Bhutanese society has always maintained relative
gender equality. In general our nation is an open and a good-spirited society.
Living in Bhutanese society generally means
understanding some accepted norms such as Driglam Namzha, the traditional code
of etiquette. Driglam Namzha teaches people a code of conduct to adhere to as
members of a respectful society. Examples of Driglam Namzha include wearing a
traditional scarf (kabney) when visiting a Dzong or an office, letting the
elders and the monks serve themselves first during meals, offering felicitation
scarves during ceremonies such as marriages and promotions and politely greeting
elders or seniors.
Normally,
greetings are limited to saying “Kuzuzangpo” (hello) amongst equals. For
seniors and elders, the Bhutanese bow their head a bit and say “kuzuzangpo la”
(a more respectful greeting). Recently, shaking hands has become an accepted
norm.
The Bhutanese are a fun-loving people fond of
song and dance, friendly contests of archery, stone pitching, traditional
darts, basketball and football. We are a social people that enjoy weddings,
religious holidays and other events as the perfect opportunities to gather with
friends and family.
The openness of Bhutanese society is
exemplified in the way our people often visit their friends and relatives at
any hour of the day without any advance notice or appointment and still receive
a warm welcome and hospitality.
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