Until the 1960s, Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan hamlet, was a happy kingdom with its monarchy rule dating back a thousand years; it’s mainly Buddhist population living in apparent peace and content in their bucolic lifestyle. However, things changed when one after the other its even tinier neighbours fell victim to other powerful neighbours. In the 1950’s Tibet, with its shuffling feudal lords, was invaded by China, and their head and mentor, the Dalai Lama, escaped to India. The next blow for Bhutan came in 1975, when the Buddhist kings of Sikkim, a tiny western neighbour, were betrayed by the uprising of the refugee ethnic Nepalis and the country eventually falling to India. Nepal, until recently a monarchy state is now under constant threat from Maoists.
There is another more cultural threat looming for this Buddhist country. Bhutan has been living more or less a monastic life. Industrialization has been limited; limited timber is felled to safeguards forests. Tourism is also restricted to those who can pay a minimum of $200. Foreign television programs are heavily regulated. Much of the efforts are spent in preserving the unique culture of the country. However, in this super-sonic information age, Bhutan is peeping out of its shell and slowly awakening to modern comforts and technology enjoyed by the world outside.
In such turbulent atmosphere, Bhutan with its only half a million population under constant threat of losing its precious cultural and political identity, the king of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, has bowed to the changing times and for the benefit of his people has given them a chance to accept modernity and political security by abdicating his monarchy and giving way to a democratic rule in the country.
Via: Reuters India
