The CHOLAs Chorus – free & random thoughts!!!

“My father, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and I hereby return to our people the power that had been vested in our Kings by our forefathers one hundred years ago”, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck addressed the joint sitting of parliament on 08 May 2008. Historically reminiscent of 17 December 1907, one hundred years ago, when the people of Bhutan, our forefathers wholeheartedly and unanimously swore the oath of allegiance to Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck enthroning Him as the first hereditary King of Bhutan, it is unthinkable today, 2008, one hundred years on, that the sacred power is being handed down to the grandchildren, of Their Majesties own accord.Testament to this noble address of 08 May 2008 is the successful and peaceful transition to a parliamentary democracy, albeit against the wishes and reluctance of the people. Tautology as it is, it is the heart’s desire of every man and woman – old and young, rich and poor, able and disabled, literate and illiterate, educated and uneducated – of the Kingdom in earnest to continue to luxuriate in the aura of our bodhisattva Kings. 2008 is a watershed in the history of Bhutan and in the lifetime of all Bhutanese. Bhutan is poised on the cusp of political evolution, a critical juncture of phenomenal change. The year 2008 is a turning point in the political history of a tiny Himalayan monarchical nation.

His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo has thrust democracy – the fruit of the seed, His brainchild He farsightedly sowed and nurtured during His 34 years of glorious reign – upon the people of Bhutan. The Bhutanese people are awestruck and bewildered, understandably. Indisputably it is a gift heavier than mountain and precious than gold from the Golden Throne, the cradle of democracy. It is, in effect, the culmination of the process of decentralization He introduced.

In the light of less than encouraging political happenings in the neighbourhood and beyond, many a keen international observer have branded the unprecedented yet peaceful, smooth, successful, and dare I say, royal-coerced democracy as “an evolution rather than revolution”. While no one may reasonably be predictable about a possible revolution in the future, it is certainly not a pre-emptive evolution. It is the democracy “of the people, by the people, for the people”. It has been a unique journey, laudable and adorable, deservedly self-satisfying and praiseworthy. “The introduction of democracy is not for the benefit of a few political parties and politicians. It is for Bhutan and it must serve the nation long after we are gone,” His Majesty decreed. Bhutan’s is not a partisan democracy. It is truly people’s democracy in essence. It is bipartisan with collective national interest at the forefront of governance.

Following hard on the heels of the introduction of parliamentary democracy in March 2008, the newest fully-fledged democracy in the world officially became a democratic constitutional monarchy on 18 July 2008, when His Majesty signed the “people’s Constitution”, written in gold, and affixed on to it the “hopes and prayers” of His people. Basking in the glory of peace, progress and prosperity in a benevolent society that Bhutanese society is, sculpted and raised by the Wangchuck dynasty, Druk Yul commemorates one hundred years of benign and majestic monarchy in 2008.

The centenary celebration of the institution of monarchy is an event of extreme solemnity that the people of Bhutan will partake of in 2008. It is, in fact, a commemoration of the respectable and admirable institution that has made a tiny, insignificant dot on the global map what it is today. Wedged between the two most populous nations in the world, Bhutan, with no ‘military might and economic clout’, stands with its head held high and feet firm as a small, peaceful, sovereign and independent nation with a distinct national identity thanks to the benign monarchy.

Needless to say, the institution of the Bhutanese monarchy is a distinct monarchy not merely by reason of its ethnicity. It stands out starkly majestically. Unlike other monarchies, the Bhutanese monarchy has blessed the people of Bhutan with tireless, selfless and workaholic monarchs. It has produced monarchs who have had strengthened and sustained national unity and stability, brought about enormous social change and development, and have put service to the people and country above self. It is a monarchy as much hereditary in lineage as in munificence and benevolence in characteristic. It is the celebration of one hundred years of hard, dedicated and sacrificial work and commitment of our forefathers under the wise and visionary leadership of successive Kings. In retrospect, I for one, assert that our forefathers couldn’t have been more right and prescient on 17 December 1907. In her own right, Bhutan is a rising nation to be reckoned with.

The Bhutanese monarchy is the crucible of social conscience. His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Fourth Druk Gyalpo, did Bhutan proud as always by leaving in the wake of His untimely abdication in favour of His equally visionary and dynamic Son in the person of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck an invaluable legacy and contribution to the world of the overarching philosophy of Gross National Happiness. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo declared that Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product in the 1970s. If it had aroused the ire of many economists then, it has racked the brains of many thinkers, political as well as academic, today and is gaining currency worldwide. Gross National Happiness, notwithstanding that happiness is a state of mind and subjective, is the guiding philosophy of Bhutan’s development process.

Fed up with the unending scourge of intermittent civil strife, the people of Bhutan chose Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck as the first hereditary King and enthroned Him on 17 December 1907. Our forefathers could not have made a better choice. History is a vindication of their choice. A hereditary monarchy with an assured line of succession ensured continued peace, progress and stability. It safeguarded our independence. Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck essentially put Bhutan on the track to development for the first time by equipping it with the indispensable tool of modern education. It was the beginning of a glorious era we are all in today. The “Monarch of Destiny”, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck ensured Bhutan’s nationhood and handed over an independent and strengthened Bhutan to the “Consolidator”, His Majesty King Jigme Wangchuck.

Fair and just society were the words the Consolidator heard from the deathbed of the Monarch of Destiny. And fair and just society was what His Majesty King Jigme Wangchuck, the Second Druk Gyalpo, created and bequeathed His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in fulfillment of the dying words of the progenitor.

Not complacent about the peace, stability and independence the “Father of Modern Bhutan” was bequeathed with, His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck removed the veil of self-imposed isolation and secured a respectable foothold amongst the comity of nations. Bhutan became a distinct, independent and an inalienable sovereign member of the United Nations in 1971. With the Father of Modern Bhutan not only at the helm but behind the wheel as well, Bhutan underwent a crucial period of a cautious transition to modern development and wider international exposure. Unexpectedly death struck and snatched away the gem of the people of Bhutan. The tragic news shocked and saddened the people of Bhutan. Bhutan still mourns the sudden and untimely passing away of His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, a link of paramount importance to the royal lineage and Bhutan’s evolution. Albeit His Majesty’s departure for the heavenly abode aborted Bhutan’s modern development in its period of gestation at the given point of time, it was momentary and short-lived.

A new era dawned in 1972, when a precocious heir ascended the Golden Throne at the tender age of seventeen, hitting the headlines far and wide. The “Monarch of the People”, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck commands utmost respect, loyalty and dedication from His people. His Majesty has earned international recognition and admiration for His dynamism, sound policies and concern for the environment. His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, is suitably identified with sustainable development, the Middle Path approach to development, Gross National Happiness, decentralization and devolution, and good governance, to name a few.  If His Majesty astonished the people by setting an age in the Constitution for the reigning Monarch’s abdication in favour of the heir apparent, He left the people subdued when His Majesty abdicated more than a decade earlier than required and expected.

Thursday, 06 November 2008 corresponding to the eight day of the ninth month of the male earth rat year of the lunar calendar will remain etched in the memories of all men, women and children of the glorious Palden Drukpa. It is the date of utmost importance writ large in gold on memories, faces and history pages; the date that we will forget to forget, the date we will wake up and sleep with. It is on this day that His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will formally ascend the Golden Throne. It is His Majesty’s coronation; His people’s celebration; a monumentally historic national jubilation.  All in all, it is the coronation of the People’s King, the King who talks and walks “vibrant democracy” and “sound economy”. It is the Coronation of a constitutional monarch.

The centenary celebration is an eagerly awaited, long overdue occasion for the people of Bhutan to pay tribute to the institution that has borne successive Kings who talk less and do more, or seldom talk, always do.  It is an august occasion to rededicate unwavering faith and trust and loyalty to the monarchy. It is an august occasion to express heartfelt gratitude to the monarchy that is the symbol of unity and people of Bhutan. Most of all, it is an august occasion to offer prayers to the guardian deities for the long life and well-being of His Majesty and Their Majesties, for the peace, progress and prosperity of the people, and for the continuity of the Wangchuck dynasty, undeniably the custodian of the Glorious Palden Drukpa.

There is no denying that the Bhutanese monarchy or monarch commands so much love and respect that it caused a squabble between the two registered political parties about the use of yellow, the King’s colour, as the party logo. It is a monarchy that has passed on successively a stronger, richer and happier Druk Yul.

It is only befitting that every activity, grand or trivial, public or private, being held in the country is dedicated to these landmark events that will undoubtedly go down in the annals of Bhutanese history. With the perennial blessings of the guardian deities and Their Majesties and a government founded on the principle of equity and justice, Bhutan is bound for greater peace, progress and prosperity.

(An award-winning essay, Sept., ’08)