Bhutan has a mysterious history, as books and papers were lost in consecutive fire at the national printing works at Punakha Dzong in 1828 and 1832, and then massive earthquake in 1896 and a fire in Paro dzong destroyed all but a few of the records that outlasted the first disaster. Despite this setback, enough reliable information has been recorded to piece together a history, which sets apart this small kingdom from others in its vicinity.
It was in 747AD that Padma Sambhava who is known as Guru Rimpoche arrived in Bhutan and brought Buddhism in the country. He is the founder of Tantric Budhism in Bhutan and his eight manifestations are worshipped in temples throughout the kingdom and wherever he visited in the kingdom is today a pilgrimage site highly revered by Bhutanese. Guru Rimpoche introduces the Nyingmapa religious school in Bhutan.
It was in the early Middle Ages that Buddhism blossomed in Bhutan. The Tibetan based Kagyupa School was established at the beginning of the 12th century and missionary were sent south to spread its teachings. The Lhapa school, a Kagyupa sect, was set up in Western Bhutan at the end of the 12th century and the Drukpa school (another subdivision of Kagupa ) in the first half of the 13th century. For the next 500 years, dispute between the two theories of Buddhist practice were common. In the end, the Drukpa School reigned supreme and was even accepted in the eastern and central areas where Nyingmapa monks had previously dominated.
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan Lama of the Drukpa School came to Bhutan in 1616 and designed the present system of intertwined religious and secular government. Before he came to Bhutan there was regional conflict in the country, he took advantage of this and he gained support of many powerful families, constructed the Dzongs (fortress monasteries), fought many battle and became the first secular and religious leader in Bhutan.
During the next two centuries civil war intermittently broke out and the regional penlops became increasingly powerful. At the end of the 19th century the Penlop of Trongsa ( who controlled Central and Eastern Bhutan) overcame his greatest rival, the Penlop of Paro ( who controlled western Bhutan), and was soon afterwards recognised as the overall leader of Bhutan. The Penlop of Trongsa, an assembly of representatives of Monastic community, civil servants and the people, elected Ugyen Wangchuck the First King of Bhutan in 1907.
This monarchy has thrived ever since and the present King his Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the first King’s great grandson, commands the overwhelming support of the people after assuming the throne in 1974, the present King continues his father’s policy of pragmatic development. He actively pursues Industrial progress, countrywide education, and medical care and ensures at the same time, Bhutan’s culture remains intact.
In1998, His Majesty empowered the National Assembly to make all legislative decisions independently of Royal decrees.
His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
The American news magazine, Time, lists His Majesty the King of Bhutan among the 100men and women in the world whose “power, talent or moral example” is transforming the world. They are called “People Who Shape Our World”.
A Time writer talks about the concept of Gross National Happiness, which his Majesty initiated three decades ago, long before “positive psychology” became a boom in the west. “if most politicians are inherently suspect because they seem so eager to grab power and so reluctant to surrender it, what does one make of a leader who voluntarily gives up his position, as if placing his people’s needs before his own?” the writer asks.
