History of Bhutan facts for kids

View of Tashichoedzong, Thimphu. This 17th-century fortress-monastery has been the home of Bhutan's government since 1952.

Bhutan is a small country with a long and interesting history. Some old buildings show that people lived here as early as 2000 BC. Legends say a king named Sangaldip ruled around 700 BC. But we know more about Bhutan after Tibetan Buddhism arrived in the 800s. Many monks came to Bhutan from Tibet because of problems there.

In the 1100s, the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism became very important. It is still the main type of Buddhism in Bhutan today. Bhutan's history is closely linked to its religious story and the relationships between different Buddhist schools.

Bhutan is special because it has almost always been independent. It was never truly taken over by other countries. Bhutan has successfully protected its freedom for a very long time.

Bhutan became a united country in 1616. This happened when Ngawang Namgyal, a spiritual leader from Tibet, arrived. He defeated three invasions from Tibet and brought different religious groups together. He also created the Tsa Yig, a detailed set of laws. He became the ruler, overseeing both religious and government leaders. After he died, there were many fights and civil wars for about 200 years.

In 1885, Ugyen Wangchuck brought peace back to Bhutan. He started to build stronger connections with the British in India.

In 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was chosen to be the first hereditary ruler of Bhutan. He was crowned on December 17, 1907, and became the Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King. In 1910, King Ugyen and the British signed the Treaty of Punakha. This agreement said that British India would not get involved in Bhutan's internal matters. In return, Bhutan would ask for British advice on its foreign relations.

When King Ugyen Wangchuck died in 1926, his son Jigme Wangchuck became the ruler. In 1947, when India became independent, the new Indian government recognized Bhutan as a free country. In 1949, India and Bhutan signed a new treaty. It said India would not interfere in Bhutan's internal affairs but would guide its foreign policy.

In 1952, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck became king. Bhutan slowly started to open up to the world. It began a plan to develop the country. The National Assembly of Bhutan, the Royal Bhutanese Army, and the Royal Court of Justice were created. New laws were also made. Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971.

In 1972, Jigme Singye Wangchuck became king at just 16 years old. He focused on modern education, giving more power to local governments, and developing electricity and tourism. He was famous for his idea of "gross national happiness." This idea means that development is not just about money. It's also about people's well-being and happiness.

He decided to step down in December 2006, even before a new constitution was ready in 2008. He wanted to make sure Bhutan's move towards democracy went smoothly. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, became the new King.

Bhutan's Early History: 600 to 1600 AD

Some historians believe that Bhutan was once called Lhomon or Monyul. These names mean "southern darkness" or "dark land." This might refer to the Monpa, who were early inhabitants. Monyul is thought to have existed between 100 AD and 600 AD.

The name Bhutan comes from Sanskrit words like "Bhota-ant" (end of Bhot) or "Bhu-uttan" (highlands). This name became common in other countries in the late 1800s. Bhutan's traditional name since the 1600s has been Drukyul. This means "country of the Drukpa" or "Land of the Thunder Dragon." This name refers to the main Buddhist group in the country.

Early people in Monyul were likely mountain tribes. They practiced a religion that worshipped nature and believed in good and evil spirits. Later, legends say a powerful king from Monyul invaded southern areas of India.

How Buddhism Came to Bhutan

Buddhism first arrived in Bhutan in the 600s. The Tibetan king Songtsän Gampo (who ruled from 627 to 649) became a Buddhist. He ordered two Buddhist temples to be built in Bhutan. One was in Bumthang and the other near Paro. Buddhism truly began to spread in 746 AD. This was under King Sindhu Rāja, an exiled Indian king.

Buddhism slowly replaced older religious practices like Bon. But it also blended with them. As Bhutan's valleys grew, Buddhism became a way to unite the country. The first written history of Bhutan comes from Buddhist writings.

Around 810 AD, a Buddhist saint named Padmasambhava came to Bhutan from India. In Bhutan, he is known as Guru Rimpoche and sometimes called the Second Buddha. He is said to have defeated demons and converted a local king. Guru Rimpoche then went to Tibet. When he returned, he helped build new monasteries in the Paro Valley. He also set up his main center in Bumthang.

He is believed to have started the Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism. This became the main religion in Bhutan for a while. Guru Rimpoche is very important in Bhutan's history and religion. He is seen as the country's special saint. He taught about tantras, which are ways to connect with natural energy. After Guru Rimpoche, Indian culture had some influence. But then, more people from Tibet moved to Bhutan, bringing new cultural and religious ideas.

During this time, Bhutan did not have one central government. Small, independent kingdoms started to form by the early 800s. Each was ruled by a "deb" (king). Tibetan Buddhist monks also made their religion and culture strong in Bhutan. By the 1000s, Tibetan-Mongol armies had settled throughout Bhutan.

Religious Rivalries in Bhutan

By the 900s, Bhutan's political growth was strongly shaped by its religious history. After a time when Buddhism was less popular in Tibet in the 1000s, different Buddhist groups started to compete. The Yuan dynasty rulers of Tibet and Bhutan supported various groups.

By the 1300s, the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat school became very powerful in Tibet. This caused many monks from other groups to flee to Bhutan. One of these monks founded the Lhapa group. This group is known for building strong forts called dzongs.

In the 1100s, another group called the Drukpa challenged the Lhapa. The Drukpa group was led by the Tibetan monk Phajo Drugom Shigpo. The Drukpa spread across Bhutan and eventually became the most important Buddhist practice. From the 1100s to the 1600s, these two groups competed from their dzongs. The older Nyingmapa Buddhism became less dominant.

Bhutan's Theocratic Government: 1616 to 1907

A 17th-century Italian map showing a large "Kingdom of Barantola or Boutan" next to Nepal and Tibet.

In the 1600s, a new type of government was set up in Bhutan. It was a theocratic government, meaning it was led by religious figures. This government was independent of Tibet. This is when modern Bhutan began to take shape.

This government was started by Ngawang Namgyal, a Drukpa monk. He came to Bhutan in 1616. He was looking for freedom from the Gelugpa group in Tibet. After winning battles against rival leaders and Tibetan invaders, Ngawang Namgyal took the title Zhabdrung. This means "At Whose Feet One Submits." He became both the spiritual and political leader of Bhutan.

Ngawang Namgyal is seen as the first great historical figure of Bhutan. He united powerful Bhutanese families. He created a set of laws and built many strong forts called dzong. These forts helped him control local leaders and protect the country from Tibetan invasions. Many of these forts were still standing in the late 1900s.

During the first war with Tibet around 1627, two Portuguese Jesuits, Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral, visited Bhutan. They were the first Europeans recorded to visit. They met Ngawang Namgyal and offered him weapons to fight Tibet. But the Zhabdrung said no. Cacella wrote a long letter about his visit from the Chagri Monastery.

Tibetan armies invaded Bhutan several times between 1629 and 1639. They wanted to stop Ngawang Namgyal's growing influence. But the invasions failed. The Drukpa group became very strong in western and central Bhutan. Ngawang Namgyal became the supreme leader. Other kingdoms like Cooch Behar, Nepal, and Ladakh sent goodwill missions to Bhutan. The ruler of Ladakh even gave some villages to Ngawang Namgyal.

Bhutan's problems were not over. In 1643, a combined Mongol-Tibetan force tried to attack Nyingmapa refugees in Bhutan. The Mongols had taken control of Tibet and made Gelugpa the state religion. Some Bhutanese rivals of Ngawang Namgyal encouraged the Mongols. But the Mongol force was easily defeated. Another Tibetan invasion in 1647 also failed.

Under Ngawang Namgyal's rule, the government had two main parts. There was a state monastic body led by the Je Khenpo (lord abbot). And there was a civil government led by the Druk Desi (regent of Bhutan). The Druk Desi was chosen for a three-year term. The Zhabdrung was the head of state and had the final say in religious and civil matters.

The government's main seat was in Thimphu for most of the year. The winter capital was at Punakha Dzong. The kingdom was divided into three regions. Each region had a governor called a ponlop. Districts were led by dzongpon, or district officers. These officials collected taxes, acted as judges, and commanded the military. They earned money from trade between Tibet and India, and from land taxes.

Ngawang Namgyal's government followed a legal code called the Tsa Yig. This code described the government's structure and laws for people's behavior. Buddhist teachings played a big role in these laws. This code stayed in use until the 1960s.

Changes and Conflicts: 1651 to 1772

To keep Bhutan united, Ngawang Namgyal's death in 1651 was kept secret for 54 years. People were told he had gone into a religious retreat. Officials were still appointed in his name.

Ngawang Namgyal's son and stepbrother took over after him. They were young and ruled under the control of religious and civil regents. To keep things going, the idea of the Zhabdrung having many reincarnations was used. The Je Khenpo and the Druk Desi wanted to keep their power.

Over time, the government became less religious. The Druk Desi, ponlop, and dzongpon became more focused on civil matters. Strong rivalries grew among the ponlops of Tongsa and Paro.

During this time, there were conflicts with Tibet and Sikkim. Some people who opposed the Druk Desi asked Tibet and Sikkim for help. In the 1680s, Bhutan invaded Sikkim. In 1700, Bhutan invaded Sikkim again. In 1714, Tibetan forces, helped by Mongolia, invaded Bhutan. But they could not take control.

Bhutan's Outposts in Western Tibet

In the 1600s, Bhutan had good relations with Ladakh. Bhutan helped Ladakh in its war with Tibet in 1684. Ladakh had given Bhutan some small areas of land near Mount Kailash in western Tibet. These were monasteries of the Drukpa sect. They were under the control of Bhutan's Je Khenpo and Zhabdrung. These areas stayed under Bhutanese control even after the rest of western Tibet came under the Dalai Lama's control. But in 1959, China took these Bhutanese areas.

Civil Unrest and British Influence: 1728 to 1907

Even though invaders couldn't take control, Bhutan's political system was not stable. Local rivalries caused Bhutan to slowly break apart. This was happening when the first British agents arrived.

In the early 1700s, Bhutan had control over the area of Cooch Behar. The ruler of Cooch Behar asked Bhutan for help against the Indian Mughals in 1730. Bhutan's influence grew there. By the 1760s, Bhutan considered Cooch Behar its territory. Bhutan even had soldiers stationed there.

When the Druk Desi invaded Sikkim in 1770, Cooch Behari forces joined them. But two years later, there was a dispute over who should rule Cooch Behar. A rival invited British troops, and Cooch Behar became part of the British East India Company.

British Involvement in Bhutan

Because of the agreement with the British, a British army drove the Bhutanese out of Cooch Behar. They then invaded Bhutan in 1772–73. The Druk Desi asked Tibet for help. But the Panchen Lama, who was ruling Tibet at the time, punished the Druk Desi instead. He also said Tibet had power over Bhutan.

Since Tibet didn't help, the Druk Desi signed a peace treaty with the British East India Company on April 25, 1774. Bhutan agreed to go back to its old borders from before 1730. It also paid a small tribute to Britain and allowed the British to cut timber in Bhutan. The British sent more missions to Bhutan in 1776, 1777, and 1783. Trade started between British India and Bhutan. In 1784, the British gave Bhutan control of some land in Bengal called Duars. The British had now replaced Tibet as the main outside threat to Bhutan.

Disputes over borders caused problems between Bhutan and Britain. Bhutan sent a representative to Calcutta in 1787. The British sent missions to Thimphu in 1815 and 1838. The 1838 mission offered a treaty. It included returning Bhutanese officials who raided Assam, free trade, and settling Bhutan's debt to the British. Bhutan refused this offer to protect its independence.

Bhutan had controlled part of the Assam Duars since the 1760s. After the British took control of Lower Assam in 1826, tensions grew. Bhutan's yearly payments to the British for the Assam Duars fell behind. British demands for payment led to military attacks on Bhutan in 1834 and 1835. Bhutan's forces were defeated and lost some land temporarily.

In 1841, the British took over the Assam Duars completely. They paid Bhutan 10,000 rupees a year as compensation. In 1842, Bhutan gave the British control of some troublesome Bengal Duars land.

Accusations of border raids and protecting criminals led to a failed Bhutanese mission to Calcutta in 1852. Bhutan wanted more money for its lost Duars lands. Instead, the British cut nearly 3,000 rupees from the yearly payment. They also demanded an apology for alleged stealing by Bhutanese officials. More incidents followed. British troops were sent to the border in the mid-1850s.

The Sepoy Rebellion in India in 1857-58 stopped immediate British action. Bhutanese armed forces raided Sikkim and Cooch Behar in 1862. They took people, property, and money. The British stopped all payments and demanded the return of captives and stolen property. The Druk Desi claimed he didn't know about his officials' actions.

Britain sent a peace mission to Bhutan in early 1864. This was after a civil war in Bhutan had just ended. The dzongpon of Punakha had won and set up a rival Druk Desi. The British mission tried to deal with different Bhutanese leaders. But Bhutan rejected the peace treaty. Britain declared war in November 1864.

Bhutan did not have a regular army. Its forces were guards armed with old weapons. Some wore chainmail armor. They fought against the well-equipped British forces.

The Duar War (1864–65) lasted only five months. Bhutanese forces won some battles, but Bhutan was defeated. It lost some of its land. Under the Treaty of Sinchula, signed on November 11, 1865, Bhutan gave up land in the Assam Duars and Bengal Duars. It also gave up the Dewangiri territory. In return, Bhutan received a yearly payment of 50,000 rupees.

In the 1870s and 1880s, there was more competition among regional leaders. The pro-British ponlop of Tongsa and the anti-British, pro-Tibetan ponlop of Paro were the main rivals. Ugyen Wangchuck, the Ponlop of Tongsa, became the most powerful. He defeated his political enemies and united the country after several civil wars from 1882 to 1885.

His victory came at a difficult time for Bhutan. British power was growing in the south. Tibet had also crossed its border with Sikkim, upsetting the British. After 1,000 years of close ties with Tibet, Bhutan faced the strong British military. Bhutan had to make important decisions about its future.

The British wanted to trade with Tibet. Ugyen Wangchuck, advised by Ugyen Dorji, saw a chance to help the British. In 1903-04, he volunteered to go with a British mission to Lhasa as a mediator. For his help in making the Anglo-Tibetan Convention of 1904, Ugyen Wangchuck was knighted. He continued to gain more power in Bhutan. Ugyen Dorji and his family kept British favor for the government from Bhutan House in India.

Bhutan's Hereditary Monarchy Begins: 1907

Ugyen Wangchuck becoming the national leader happened as people realized the old dual system of government was not working. He removed his main rival, the ponlop of Paro. He put a supporter and relative, from the pro-British Dorji family, in his place. When the last Zhabdrung died in 1903 and no new reincarnation appeared by 1906, Ugyen Wangchuck took control of the government.

Finally, in 1907, the last Druk Desi was forced to retire. Even though later reincarnations of Ngawang Namgyal were recognized, the Zhabdrung system ended.

In November 1907, a meeting of important Buddhist monks, government officials, and family heads was held. They decided to end the old 300-year-old system. They wanted to start a new absolute monarchy. Ugyen Wangchuck was chosen as the first hereditary Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King"). He ruled from 1907 to 1926. Britain's Political Officer John Claude White took pictures of the crowning ceremony. The Dorji family became the hereditary Chief Chamberlains, the top government job. The British wanted stability on their northern border, so they approved of these changes.

Britain's earlier actions in Lhasa had unexpected effects. The Chinese Qing dynasty was worried Britain would take over Tibet. So, China established direct rule in Tibet in 1910. The Dalai Lama then fled to India. China claimed not only Tibet but also Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim. Because of these events, Bhutan and Britain's interests aligned.

On January 8, 1910, Sir Charles Alfred Bell signed the Treaty of Punakha with Bhutan. This treaty changed parts of the 1865 treaty. The British agreed to double their yearly payment to 100,000 rupees. They also agreed "to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan." In return, Bhutan agreed "to be guided by the advice of the British Government in regard to its external relations." The Treaty of Punakha promised to defend Bhutan against China. China could not fight British power and accepted the end of Tibetan-Chinese influence.

Many Bhutanese historians say that the first Druk Gyalpo helped Bhutan develop a lot. He brought in Western-style schools and improved communication. He encouraged trade with India and strengthened the Buddhist monasteries. Towards the end of his life, Ugyen Wangchuck wanted to make sure his family would continue to rule. In 1924, he asked Britain for assurance that the Wangchuck family would keep its important position.

Bhutan's Centralized Government: 1926 to 1952

Ugyen Wangchuck died in 1926. His son, Jigme Wangchuck (who ruled from 1926 to 1952), took over. The second Druk Gyalpo continued his father's work to centralize the government and modernize the country. He built more schools, clinics, and roads. During his rule, monasteries and local governments came more under royal control. However, Bhutan mostly stayed isolated from world affairs.

The question of Bhutan's status with India was looked at again in London in 1932. It was decided that Bhutan would choose whether to join an Indian federation later. When British rule over India ended in 1947, Britain's connection with Bhutan also ended. India became the new protector of Bhutan. Bhutan kept control over its own government. But it took two years for a formal agreement to recognize Bhutan's independence.

Following the earlier treaty, on August 8, 1949, Bhutan signed the Treaty of Friendship with India. This treaty said that India would guide Bhutan's foreign affairs. Like Britain, India agreed not to interfere in Bhutan's internal matters. India also agreed to increase the yearly payment to 500,000 rupees. It was important for Bhutan's national pride to get Dewangiri back.

Modernizing Bhutan Under Jigme Dorji: 1952 to 1972

The third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, became king in 1952. He married a cousin of the king of Sikkim who was educated in Europe. With her help, he worked to modernize Bhutan throughout his 20-year rule. One of his first changes was creating the National Assembly, called the Tshogdu, in 1953. Even though the King could still make royal decrees and veto laws, this was a big step towards a constitutional monarchy.

When Chinese communists took over Tibet in 1951, Bhutan closed its border with Tibet. It sided with India. To prevent Chinese influence, Bhutan started a modernization program. This included land reform, ending slavery and serfdom, and separating the courts from the government. India mostly funded this program after China's actions in Tibet in 1959.

The modernization also included building roads connecting India with central Bhutan. An all-weather road was finished in 1962 between Thimphu and Phuntsholing, a town on the border with India. Dzongkha was made the national language during Jigme Dorji's rule. New institutions were also established, like a national museum in Paro and a national library. Government buildings for the National Assembly and High Court were built in Thimphu.

The position of gongzim, held by the Dorji family since 1907, was upgraded to lonchen (prime minister) in 1958. It was still held by the Dorji family. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck's changes reduced the King's absolute power. But they also strengthened the central government's role in the economy and social programs.

Modernization continued in the 1960s under the lonchen, Jigme Palden Dorji. He was the Druk Gyalpo's brother-in-law. In 1962, Dorji upset the Royal Bhutan Army over military vehicles and forcing some officers to retire. Religious leaders were also unhappy because Dorji tried to reduce the power of state-supported religious groups. In April 1964, while the Druk Gyalpo was in Switzerland for medical care, Dorji was killed in Phuntsholing. Many people arrested for the crime were military personnel. The army chief, the Druk Gyalpo's uncle, was executed for his part in the plot.

The situation remained unstable. Dorji's brother, Lhendup Dorji, became acting lonchen. For a time, the Druk Gyalpo's brother, Namgyal Wangchuck, led the army. Some say there was a power struggle between those loyal to the King and those who supported Dorji's modern ideas. The main issue was not ending the monarchy but gaining "full freedom from Indian interference."

Other people believe the 1964 crisis was more about competition for influence in the palace. This was between the Dorji family and the Druk Gyalpo's Tibetan partner, Yanki, and her father. Lhendup Dorji had threatened Yanki and ordered her arrest. She feared for her life and her young son's life, so she sought safety in India. Lhendup also upset the Druk Gyalpo by trying to become the sole regent after his brother's death.

Before returning to Bhutan, Jigme Dorji met with Indian officials. They offered Indian support, including paratroopers if needed, to help the King restore order. Lhendup could not regain the King's trust and fled to London. Other supporters in the military and government fled to Nepal and Calcutta. In 1965, Lhendup Dorji and other family members were exiled. However, the exiles continued to criticize the King and India. This made relations between India and China worse. The tense political situation continued. In July 1965, there was an attempt to kill the Druk Gyalpo. The Dorjis were not involved. The would-be assassins were pardoned by the King.

In 1966, to make the government more efficient, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck made Thimphu the capital all year round. In May 1968, new rules for the National Assembly were made. The Druk Gyalpo said that from then on, the National Assembly would have the power to remove government ministers and even the Druk Gyalpo himself. The next November, the Druk Gyalpo gave up his power to veto bills from the National Assembly. He said he would step down if two-thirds of the legislature voted no confidence in him. In 1969, the Druk Gyalpo asked for a vote of confidence every three years from the National Assembly. This was later stopped by his son.

Bhutan also started to build diplomatic ties during Jigme Dorji Wangchuck's rule. Bhutan always wanted to be neutral between China and India. But it also wanted more direct international connections. In 1962, Bhutan joined the Colombo Plan for Cooperative, Economic, and Social Development in Asia. In 1966, it told India it wanted to join the United Nations (UN). In 1971, Bhutan became a member of the UN. India continued to give a lot of development aid to keep Bhutan stable.

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck ruled until he died in July 1972. His 17-year-old son, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, became king. The new king's mother, Ashi Kesang Dorji, was the sister of the former prime minister. This showed the close ties between the Wangchuck and Dorji families. Jigme Singye Wangchuck had been educated in India and Britain. He became the Druk Gyalpo in July 1972. With his mother and two older sisters as advisors, the new King quickly took on state affairs. He was often seen among the people. His formal crowning happened in June 1974. Soon after, the tensions between the Wangchucks and Dorjis eased. The exiled members of the Dorji family returned that year.

Before the reconciliation, there were reports of a plot to kill the new Druk Gyalpo before his crowning. There were also plans to set fire to the Tashichho Dzong, the government seat in Thimphu. Yanki was said to be behind the plot. Thirty people were arrested, including high government and police officials. However, some reports suggest the plot was made up by a Chinese diplomat. The truth was that those arrested were Tibetan Khampas rebels. They were trained in India and traveling through Bhutan. Under pressure from China, the Bhutanese government demanded that the 4,000 Tibetan refugees in Bhutan either become citizens or leave. Most chose to leave.

Bhutan's International Relations: 1972 to Present

When civil war started in Pakistan in 1971, Bhutan was the first country to recognize the new government of Bangladesh. Formal diplomatic relations were set up in 1973. An event in 1975 may have pushed Bhutan to speed up its reforms. In that year, the monarchy of neighboring Sikkim was removed. Sikkim then became India's 22nd state.

To further ensure its independence, Bhutan slowly established diplomatic relations with other countries. It joined more regional and international organizations. Many countries that Bhutan connected with provided development aid. Modernization brought new challenges to Bhutan in the late 1980s. Television broadcasting officially started in Bhutan in 1999.

Dealing with Assamese Separatists

Several groups from northeast India wanted to create an independent state of Assam. They set up bases in the forests of southern Bhutan. From there, they launched attacks into Assam. The largest group was the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom). Talks to remove them peacefully failed in 2003. Bhutan faced the challenge of having to use its army to remove them.

Military Action Against Assamese Separatists: December 2003

On December 15, 2003, the Royal Bhutan Army began military operations. They attacked guerrilla camps in southern Bhutan. Indian armed forces lined the border to stop the guerrillas from escaping back into Assam. News reports said that 13 camps were controlled by ULFA, 12 by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and 5 by the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). By January, government reports said the guerrillas had been driven out of their bases.

Bhutanese Refugee Community

In 1988, Bhutan asked some Nepali-speaking residents to leave southern Bhutan. Bhutanese reports say about 5,000 people left. Refugee reports say over 100,000. This created a large refugee community. They were housed in temporary United Nations camps in Nepal and Sikkim. It was hard to know the exact numbers. Many people in the camps were said to have fake identity papers. Also, poor Nepalese citizens started moving to the Nepalese community outside the camps to find jobs. Few of them returned to the refugee camps. This caused the number of people in the camps to decrease.

After years of talks between Nepal and Bhutan, Bhutan agreed in 2000 to allow some refugees to return. Since the Bhutanese government was not willing to take them all back, many developed nations offered to resettle the refugees. These countries included the USA and Australia. As many as 20,000 Bhutanese refugees have been resettled in these countries.

Bhutan's Move Towards Democracy

Bhutan's Constitution

On March 26, 2005, a draft of Bhutan's first constitution was shared. The king and government asked every citizen to review it. A new house of parliament, the National Council, was planned. It would have 20 elected representatives from each district. The King would also select some members. This National Council would work with the existing National Assembly.

The Constitution states that the monarchy has a leadership role. The King will guide the government as long as he shows he can protect the country and its people.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

On December 15, 2006, the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, gave up all his powers as King. He gave them to his son, Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. His goal was to prepare the young King for Bhutan's change to a full democracy in 2008.

The former King had planned to step down in 2008. But he wanted the new King to have hands-on experience as the nation's leader. This was important before the country changed its government. According to the national newspaper, the Kuensel, the former King told his cabinet: "as long as he continued to be King, the Crown Prince would not gain the experience of dealing with issues and carrying out the responsibilities of a head of state. With parliamentary democracy to be established in 2008, there was much to be done; so he needed to gain this valuable experience."

The fourth Druk Gyalpo also said that Bhutan was in a good position for this change. The country had peace and stability. It was closer to being economically self-reliant. Bhutan's relationship with India was very strong. International groups and partners were ready to support Bhutan's development and political change.

See also

• History of Asia
• History of China
• History of India
• History of Nepal
• List of rulers of Bhutan
• Outline of South Asian history
• Politics of Bhutan
• Timeline of Bhutanese history