Article 1

INTRODUCTION

According the fore word by king Jigme Singey Wangchuk to revised second edition, the book “ BHUTAN” 1978, written by Nagendra Singh, the constitutional advisor to Royal Government of Bhutan from 1970 to until he was elected as Judge of International Court of Justice, later was Vice-President of International Court of Justice, the king has clearly accepted what was Bhutan before 7^th Century A.D. and Country of Origin, (CO) of the present ruling elite and northern Bhutanese.

Thus, King Jigme agreed that the day’s Bhutan was a part of Kamarupa, Assam before 7^th Century A.D. and was ruled by Indian rulers. After the death of Bhaskara Varman, the ruler of the tutelage of Kamarupa, today’s Bhutan separated from Kamarupa only to expose itself Tibetan incursions which swept this tutelage of Kamarupa, today’s Bhutan about 861-900 A.D. The Tibetans who swarmed this tutelage often pillaging it, however came to like it much they refused to return Tibet and those deserters were called “Milog”. Those Tibetans found this area with better economy and fertile land to aid their economy in the days to come. In the later centuries their number continue to increase with more and more immigrants of Tibetans to this area.

BUDDHISM  IN BHUTAN:-

 In the 8^th Century  a famous monk Guru Padmashambhawa from Swat (now in Pakistan) visited Bumthang Bhutan at the request of Indian ruler, Sindhuraja also called Naguchi and introduce Nyngmapa sect of Buddhism first time in Bhutan. He also banned cannibalism practiced by the local people.

IMMIGRATION OF LAMAS TO BHUTAN:-

From 12^th century A.D. onwards many lamas from Tibet started pouring into this area, today’s Bhutan as missionary workers to preach other Sect of Buddhism but they never returned Tibet and settled down here permanently. BHUTAN by Nagendra Singh 1978 : 19  later they started ruling this areas in small territories after displacing Indian rulers. And to name some of those lamas was Gyawa Lhanangpa, Phago Drugen Zhikpo, Longchhenpa Drime Ozer, Barawa Pasang and Kunga Pajo. Modern Bhutan by Ram Rahul 1971:19

Although this part of Kamarupa, today’s Bhutan was occupied and ruled by Immigrated Tibetans and their descendants after ousted Indian rulers, the entire political arena, inspite of loose image of cultural unity that was emerging, was surcharged with multiple chiefs holding sway od their small territories vying with each other in fratricidal struggle. In such situation, in 1616 A.D. a powerful monk Ngawang Namgyel from Ralung in Tibet immigrated to this area and unified all those territories after defeating all feudal chiefs. After this he took the title of Zhabdrung. So Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal is also called as founder of modern Bhutan.

Later part of his rule in Bhutan Zhabdrung decentralized his absolute power creating Dharma Raja to look after the religious affair and Devraja to look after the general administration, finance and foreign affairs. Further he created posts of Penlops to work under Dharmaraja and Devraja. But after the death of Zhabdrung the Penlops became more powerful and started fighting for Power Supremacy. After many civil wars and much bloodshed Tongsa Penlop, Ugyen Wangchuk emerged as most powerful Penlop in 1885 and worked as Penlop from 1881 to 1907 when he became first king of Bhutan by the help of British India. While he was as penlop he, for the first time introduce the system of Kashog (edict) to the immigrants.

“The Origin of Drukyul is the Drukpa Sect. Lamaism which held sway in Bhutan from early 17^th century A.D.” BHUTAN by Nagendra Singh 1978:6.

As mentioned before, the early immigrants from Tibet and their descendants were ruling Bhutan did not bother, as there was no developed system until late 19^th century to restrict immigrants either from Tibet or from Gorkha (now in Nepal). The immigration of Gorkhas dates back as early as 16^th century or before but was never recorded in the history of Bhutan due to absence of such system. Then, people like late Kazi Dalchan Gurung whose great grandson Dasho Megraj Gurung still living in Thimpu Bhutan from Sikkim and late Dhanbir Burathoki whose great-great grandson Mr. Rituraj chettri practicing law in Thimpu Bhutan from Gorkha (now in Nepal) immigrated to Toribari (Samchi) and Bara Dzongsarpa Bhutan respectively, in later part of 19^th century, after obtaining Kashog (edict) from Tongsa penlop is not recorded anywhere in the history of Bhutan. Those two people were permitted by Penlops to settle additional Gorkhas in Bara, Samchi and Southern Bhutan.

Even Prime-Minister of Bhutan Jigme Y. Thinley did mention in his article Bhutan: A kingdom Be seized Eden Asley finding settlement Gorkhas in Southern Bhutan in 1863, David F. Rennie finds in 1864, Charles Bell finds in 1904 and John Claude finds in 1905. But, P.M. must remember that those findings of those dignitaries were only finding is their en-route to Thimpu, Paro, Tongsa, etc. on political missions and not finding of whole Southern Bhutan as Southern Bhutan was restricted then and even today for foreigners.

Later Gorkhas were not happy with oppressive ruler of Bhutan even after Ugen Wangchuk became king, the Gorkhas formed a political party “Jaigorkha” to fight back oppression and  organized a mass demonstration at Dagana Bhutan in late 40’s. This  party  was suppressed by the regime but another political party called “Bhutan State Congress” was formed under leadership of Mahasuv Chettry. Later Mahasuv Chettry was killed by the regime and his political party was brutally crush in Sharbang Bhutan. Even now it operated from outside.

Bhutanese authorities decided to grant citizenship to all domiciled in the country, (Drukpas, Sarchhupas, Khengpa, Brokpa, Doyas and Gorkhas/Nepalese) effective before 31^st Dec. 1958. In 1958, Bhutan passed its first citizenship Act and the entire  southern Bhutanese population was granted full citizenship.

National Assembly of Bhutan, Resolution No. 3, 11^th. Session, 1958

“It is resolved that henceforth Nepalese of Southern  Bhutan should abide by the rules and regulations of the Royal Government and, pledging their allegiance to the King, should conscientiously refrain from serving another authority (such as Gorkha). They should submit a signed agreement to this effect to the Government. In addition, southern Bhutanese should themselves shoulder the responsibility of protecting the southern border”.

National Assembly of Bhutan, Resolution No. 8, 11^th Session, 1958

“There were two ethnic groups in the kingdom under the rule of His Majesty the King. Since Nepalese inhabiting southern Bhutan as bonafide citizens of this country have submitted bond agreements affirming their allegiance to the King and the country, the Assembly resolved that from this date  Nepalese will enjoy equal rights in the National Assembly, and in the country, as other bon-fide citizens.”

In 1961, India started building a first road in Bhutan when all Southern Bhutanese hard to work as compulsory labour until the project finished. Besides, this the Southern Bhutanese equally if not more had contributed for infrastructure building of Nation. Even then, the rulers of Bhutan started discrimination suppressing Southern Bhutan as before. When suppression arose beyond tolerance the Southern Bhutanese organized a peaceful rally to protest oppression. But, the Government of Bhutan was looking for such excuse by which it could label its people antinational, terrorist, economic migrant, illegal immigrants even Indians. With such pretext the country Bhutan evictees more than one hundred thousand of bonafide Southern Bhutan and some eastern Bhutanese to become refugees in Nepal and elsewhere.