Flying to Bhutan, Thursday, October 20, 2016

We left the hotel at 10:00 a.m. for our flight to Paro, Bhutan. A landslide delayed our one-hour drive to Thimphu. Laborers from India were using a backhoe to clear the rocks and dirt that blocked the road. Our local guides, Sonam and Kun, fed us a light lunch of meat pies, water and bananas. There is no shortage of food on this trip – we had also been fed a light lunch on the flight from Kathmandu to Paro.

Our only activity was an afternoon presentation by Ugyen Dorji, a former member of the Bhutan parliament. Bhutan became a democracy in 2008, after the fourth king abdicated in 2006 in favor of his son.

Bhutan has been inhabited for about 4000 years. Its written history began in the 8^th century when the Guru Rinpoche introduced Buddhism at the invitation of a sick king, who hoped that the religion would heal him. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche flew from Tibet on the back of a tigress, landing at the site of the “Tiger’s Nest” monastery, which we will visit in a few days.

Bhutan became unified nation 400 years ago in 1616, when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel arrived from Tibet and defeated the regional warlords. In 1636 he established the dual system of governance, the Choesid.

Ugyen Wangchuk became the first king of Bhutan in 1907. He introduced the western system of education in the country. He was succeeded by his son, Jigme, who signed a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship with India in 1947. That treaty was not revised until 2007.

The third king, Dorji Wangchuk, was born in 1928 and ascended to the throne in 1952. He abolished slavery and serfdom and established a National Assembly and a High Court. Under his leadership, Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971. He died on July 21, 1972.

The fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, was born in 1955. He established diplomatic relations with 21 countries. He abdicated in favor of his son in 2006 and set the stage for a transition to democracy in 2008. In Bhutan, the National Council, National Assembly and King constitute the Legislative Branch. The National Assembly has 47 democratically elected members. The National Council has 25 members, five of whom are appointed by the king. The Executive Branch of government has 10 ministers.

Bhutan has an independent media. During the cold war, it was in the coalition of non-aligned countries, which in my memory was led by India. Kerosene for cooking is subsidized. The major economic sectors are agriculture, which employs 70% of the population; hydropower, most of which (3000 MW) is sold to India; tourism; and manufacturing (in the south).