[It is well known to the Bhutanese King that the Nepali speaking Bhutanese people are loyal to the Wangchuk Dynasty or in other words the Bhutanese monarchy. The fact is that Nepali speaking Bhutanese people always wanted to live in peace maintaining a good relationship with the King. The United States of America has already given Refugee Visas to 29496 Bhutanese people and other countries are also doing so. But is it a real solution of the problem? Don’t they have any other solution for the rest of the Bhutanese who are currently languishing at different camps in Nepal and also in India ? If the US Government really wants to help these people, I shall urge them to start negotiating with the Bhutanese government for a real solution. The real solution is, sending all of them back home (to Bhutan) with full honour and dignity. People are confused as to why do the American and Indian Governments never talk about democracy and human rights in Bhutan ?]
In the founding of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, major credits go to the Tibetan, Nepali speaking Bhutanese and Kuchbihari. The first Royal Dynasty of Bhutan was the Namgyal dynasty who came to Bhutan as "Auatari Lama" from Tibet and laid the foundation of a prosperous Bhutan. The Dharmaraja Namgyal introduced the law in the country ,where everyone could live happily.
In 1861 B.S. Gorkhali laws, regulations and other measures were introduced to Bhutan. At the time of Dharmaraja Namgyal, Bhutan had a good relationship with Gorkha, the Malla Kings of Kathmandu Valley and the Sen Kings of Nepal also. The Namgyal brought skilled craftsmen from Nepal to build Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries in the country; that led those people of the different ethnic identities to settle in Bhutan. This is how Nepali speaking communities got assimilated in Bhutan. The Hindu priests from Nepal were also well received and recognized during this period. The relation between Hindus and Buddhists were very harmonious since they were engaged in building the government monasteries in Bhutan. Both the Hindus and Buddhists used to celebrate their festivals together.
Nepali speaking Bhutanese like Brahmin, Kshatri, Newar, Limbu, Rai, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Kami, Damai etc. worked very hard and contributed immensely to the development of southern Bhutan. Nepali language was offered the status of a lingua-franca. Therefore, Nepali speaking Bhutanese had no difficulties in terms of language and communications. Even though the priority was placed on Buddhism, all ethnic groups were allowed to adhere either to Hinduism or any other religion they liked and were free to wear their traditional costumes.
In 1907 A.D, Devraj Pellop Wangchuk abolished the "Dharmaraja System” in Bhutan and started the Wangchuk dynasty, which actually was installed by conspiracy and fraud. No one can deny the contribution of the Nepali speaking Bhutanese in founding and developing Bhutan before the Wangchuk Dynasty and as well as helping the Wangchuk Dynasty remain in power. During this period, the East India Company was ruling India and which didn't like Bhutan to embrace a royal regime. At that time Nepal had good relation with the British India. So Nepal helped the Wangchuk Dynasty of Bhutan to establish good relationship with the East India Company also.
The Nepalese Government helped constitute a delegation including the Devraja Pellop Wangchuk to discuss with the East India Company the fate of the Royal Institution in Bhutan. Mr. Chandra Sumsher Rana, then prime minister of Nepal, had good relationship with the British India and it was him who helped the Wangchuk government of Bhutan to establish good relationship with the British India. But, it is a matter of great disappointment and regret today that such a historically important fact has been ignored and the Nepali speaking Bhutanese are being banished from Bhutan. After the Bhutanese national census of 1988 A.D, Nepali speaking southern Bhutanese were ordered to either show proof of their residence prior to 1958 A.D. or get exiled. Later on, even those who produced such documents as demanded were beaten up by government force, ousted and their documents burned down. What injustice can exceed such a brutal expulsion?
I feel sad not finding the people who much talked about human rights and social justice but did nothing about the Bhutanese refugees at that time. When Bhutan became a member of the United Nations in 1971, its population was declared as 1,000,000 but after the 1988 census, the government made it only 700,000 ousting all Nepali speaking southern Bhutanese. It was a strategy to compel the Nepali speaking Bhutanese people to abandon their homeland for ever. Should the United Nations study the history of civilization of Bhutan then these facts can emerge on the surface.
Forcefully ousting the Nepali speaking Bhutanese from the country also proved the brutal mentality of the Crown of Bhutan. Once in New Delhi, the former Bhutanese King Jigme Singhe Wangchuk told the media that not all refugees in east Nepal were Bhutanese. This is a total lie. No one can trust such a tactic to label genuine Bhutanese citizens as illegal people. Such a statement is contrary to the interest of both Nepal and Bhutan and needs reconsideration as soon as possible. The statement may set a bad image of the King and the Kingdom in the international community.
Bhutan is considered a Buddhist country but its actions against its own citizens by framing false court cases, inciting rape and expelling them out of their own homeland made it a cruel irony of the Buddhist religion and tradition. Nationalism is not just a sentiment but also the right to live as human beings. Yet, when its own citizens are deprived of their national being, how can Bhutan be regarded as a nation?
The Bhutanese refugee problem was almost on the verge of being resolved or might have been, had it not been for some of Nepal’s unwholesome diplomatic mission including the then ambassador to India and Bhutan, who secretly agreed the mandatory adoption of the Jongkha language and the Kira (Tibetan dress) dress plus the Nepali speaking Bhutanese will provide with their cheap labor.
Speaking frankly, this is not a bilateral problem between Nepal and Bhutan only. India should play a major role in resolving this problem. In order to solve this refugee problem, Nepal, Bhutan and India should make joint efforts. India cannot stand aloof from this problem. It is certain that the issue cannot be resolved without any Indian consent.
It is well known to the Bhutanese King that the Nepali speaking Bhutanese people are loyal to the Wangchuk Dynasty or in other words the Bhutanese monarchy. The fact is that Nepali speaking Bhutanese people always wanted to live in peace maintaining a good relationship with the King. The United States of America has already given Refugee Visas to 29496 Bhutanese people and other countries are also doing so. But is it a real solution of the problem ? Don’t they have any other solution for the rest of the Bhutanese who are currently languishing at different camps in Nepal and also in India ? If the US Government really wants to help these people, I shall urge them to start negotiating with the Bhutanese government for a real solution. The real solution is, sending all of them back home (to Bhutan) with full honor and dignity. People are confused as to why do the American and Indian Governments never talk about democracy and human rights in Bhutan ?
Everybody knows that it is easier to create problems than to solve them. The above discussed points are not for creating problems, rather to help solve them. So, I would like to suggest for a quadrangular talk among Bhutanese leaders in exile, the Bhutanese government representative, Indian and American representatives, with the aim of solving the problem for ever.
Comment(s):
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiv Rana
Date: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Subject: Good History
To: The Himalayan Voice
From: Shiv Rana
Date: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Subject: Good History
To: The Himalayan Voice
This is response to "Contribution of Nepali speaking Bhutanese in founding the Kingdom of Bhutan". Good history, but the author has missed out a point that the Bhutan now has a democratically elected govt in place since 2008. Elections were held in Mar 2008 and the Constitution was approved by the King in Jul of the same year.
Col Shiv Om Rana, PhD
New Delhi, India
Cell: +91 99999 07870
Shivrana[at]gmaildotcom
Cell: +91 99999 07870
Shivrana[at]gmaildotcom
