Bhutan: The Wangchuks and the future
Written byNeha Viswanathan
For A Democracy on why the Wangchuks will find the future harder than they imagined. “In the sponsorship of wangchuks, a survey had said Bhutanese are the happiest of all Asians and now the survey by government body itself, created by inventor of GNH for Jigme’s sake, has revealed that only 60 people out of 100 are happy. Ironically, the mock survey asked 350 people in mass of 700,000.”
Written byNeha Viswanathan
27 comments
Neha has comment quite correct but need to elaborate. Wangchuks in Thimpu are just instegating for their own future very dificult. They are involved in high conspiracy against own people who demands real democracy and humanrights in the country.You may take example of 100thousand+ Bhutanese citizens who are made refugees, now in Nepal.
Again let me reiterate – when I link to a post by a Bhutanese blogger – I do not claim his opinion to be right or wrong. All opinions deserve to be heard. My knowledge of Bhutan may be limited – I haven’t gone there ever, nor have I grown up in that country – however the blog that I link to appears to be by a person living in Bhutan.
I link to both positive and negative opinions – and I am hoping my own bias does not affect my editorial judgment. The blogger I linked to relies on the survey to make a point.
The freedom to choose, and most importantly the freedom to practice what you choose is a gift. However, I am not sure Bhutanese people have that feedom. I know it because I am from Bhutan. We love and respect our king, and no doubt there will be someone who deosn’t feel this way about the king, but royalty is still much revered in Bhutan. On that note, I welcome democracy. Bhutan is still ruled much like a dictatorship – you can say anything you like, but the fact won’t change. Am I blaming the king(s)? Absolutely not! That is what Bhutanese people want. As long as there is this want, the county will be run much the same way, monarchy or democracy. Like someone mentioned, the elected first leader will probably be one of the relatives of the monarch anyways. Bhutanese people will still remain screwed, or be saved, you figure.
Academicians have made a big deal about happinesss,GNH, they want to keep the topic alive as they want to make money by conducting workshops and research, actually it is all crap. Can a person be happy if he/she don’t have enough to eat at the end of the day even after working all day in the field. At the end economic condition matters the most.
The Wangchuck’s will now just sit back and relax because they have done their job, fulfilled the aspirations for the people of Bhutan. I hope His Majesty the fourth king is sitting on his comfortable chaise lounge with his legs crossed out in front of him and his arms around the back of his head, enjoying and relishing every moment of how Bhutan is being praised around the world as the last Shangri-la, piquing the interest of world travelers.
It is like the “Tale of Two Cities” (while here two countries) Bhutan and Nepal one with a tragic ending (the entire royal family wiped out) while the other ends in happiness.
Whatever happens to Bhutan from now on will not be the Wangchuck’s fault. If anything goes wrong it will be the fault of the people themselves.
The present Wangchuck is young and as dynamic as his father and he has the support of all the people.
Regarding happiness. Its funny how the Nepalese have to take an interest in everything that goes on in Bhutan while they continue to ignore their own mess in their backyard. Clean up your mess and then lets talk about our happiness and how many people have been asked.
Kencho, I agree with you. We Bhutanese are used to feudal system. When we were growing up we saw our parents and elderly from our villages bow down to the Government officials or anybody connected to the High office in Thimphu. Then came Dzongda , everybody in the village bow down to him, waiting for his visit with the heads down for hours in Dzongda office.We continue the trend. I don’t think feudal system in Bhutan is going to end any time soon.
Pem pem,
Are you wearing blinkers or what. The feudal system was well on its way out a long time back. We are in transition. Ever heard the saying ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN DAY? For a turtle who knows no other world than his little pond let me tell you that if you look at the history of all countries they have had more miserable pasts than us.
For many countries it has taken hundreds of years to reach their systems of democracy that too with bloodshed. We have arrived at it in such a short time and handed out in a gold platter.
Thanks to the third and fourth king who placed so much priority on education even before electricity and roads came into the country (You may not know but children were plucked from ordinary families to go and study in the hill stations of India. They trekked for days to get there) Today the Wangchucks can reap the benefits of what they have sown.
We have a highly educated Bhutanese population who understands the need to move with the times, who know WHAT they want for their country without being confused.
Yes Bhutan is not perfect and WE THE PEOPLE have to work towards that. WE have now been given that power and authority to do that.
Hppiness lies purely in your heart or mind. Even the poor farmer in the country side maybe happy in his own way of life. I doubt even the richest man in the world is happy.
In my own opinion, the more wealth you have, the more worries will you have. No peace in mind, no happiness in you.
The Monarks in Bhutan are well respected and it will continue everafter despite false allegations made aginst the Monarks. King, country and the people deliberately known as Tsa-Wa-Sum is very much alive in Bhutan. The guardian diety, Military,Religious body and the political will of the people will protectect the Tsa-Wa- -Sum against all short comings.
Belive it or not!
we have our unstinting loyalty and support to our beloved kings because we are what we are because of our kings. u disgruntled and infidel people of nepalese origin can say anything you like. but please be informed that you cannot do anything. all of us in bhutan support our kings and will stand by them through thick and thin. we will fight and crush whoever dares to impinge on the peace and prosperity we bhutanese enjoy.