Bhutan, 2008 and beyond

I enjoy photography, so I am going to wish all of you a very Happy New Year with the following pictures.

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I started this blog on 19th September, 2007. Since then I have managed to post (mostly copy and paste) 25 stories. As of today, 1694 of you from 52 countries have visited me according to Google Analytics. I thank you all for visiting my blog, and I promise to do better in 2008.

Here is a list of posts that generated quite a lot of buzz:

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Kuensel editorial from the 19 December issue titled “From vision to reality” sums up what all of us felt about the 2007 National Day:

It was a moment that carried the weight of Bhutanese history. On the morning of December 17, 2007, exactly 100 years after Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck began the reign of the Wangchuck dynasty, the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and His Majesty the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, bowed to each other, their Royal Scarves lowered in the traditional gesture of respect.

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On this historic day, when the nation is gathered as one, I offer, on behalf of the People and King, our love and gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, whose 34 years of service have brought about a strong, prosperous nation on the cusp of an even brighter future as a democracy.

With our heartfelt gratitude, I also offer our pledge to fulfill His Majesty’s vision for a nation founded on the philosophy of Gross National Happiness and the principles and ideals of Democracy.

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Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck’s (1862-1926) reputation as statesman swelled amongst the people of Bhutan when he took over the helm of affairs of eastern Bhutan as Trongsa Penlop in 1882. This, however, injected fear into his adopted brothers Thimphu Dzongpon Alo Dorji and Punakha Dzongpon Phuntsho Dorji. The assassination plan that they conspired led to the Battle of Changlimithang of 1885. This event, often described as Bhutan’s “last civil war”, consolidated Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck’s authority as the undisputed leader of Bhutan. A man of vision and a seasoned diplomat, he successfully restored the prolonged strained relations between British-India and Bhutan by accompanying Younghusband to Tibet in 1904 as a mediator. As a mark of appreciation for successful mediation in 1904 between Tibet and the British he was accorded with the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in Punakha Dzong in 1905.

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This years National Day was a very special day. How many times in the history of the mankind can you see 2 kings at the same time? I am posting some pictures to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be able to witness such an occasion.

17th December, 2007 - a glorious day for a great occasion. The soldiers entering the celebration ground to offer the Guard of Honour.

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Tomorrow is a very special day for the Bhutanese. Tomorrow, the 17th of December, 2007 we celebrate 100 years of Monarchy in Bhutan. It was on the 17th of December in 1907 that Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned as the first king of Bhutan.

In celebration of this important occasion my art club (VAST Bhutan) is organizing an exhibition titled “Bhutan through 100 years”. The following pictures are my contribution to the exhibition - digital mosaics of the 5th and the 4th Druk Gyalpos.

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His Majesty had the following words to say after announcing his decision to step down from the throne. “In taking note of the progress that our nation has made over the past thirty four years, I would like to state that whatever we have achieved so far is due to the merit of the people of Bhutan.” His Majesty has also repeatedly reminded that “the future of the nation lies in the hands of the people.”

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The geographical location of Bhutan provided a safe haven for the militants from across the border. The country had been a hideout to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO). These insurgents who were up in arms against the Indian government had established several bases in the Bhutanese forests.

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“Bhutan must move with the time to ensure that the nation not only overcomes all internal and external threats, but continues to prosper in an atmosphere of peace and stability.” These were the words of Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck on November 30, 2001, during the launching ceremony of the drafting of the Constitution.

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