Module:                                  PS102 - Political History of Bhutan

Credit value:                         12

Programme:                          B.A. PS        General objective:

This  module  aims  to  provide  students  with  an  overview  of  Bhutan’s  history,  with  an emphasis on political evolution. The first part examines Bhutanese history until the 17th century. Students will learn about their country’s ancient culture and the original political system founded on clan-based rule, before the Tibetan invasions and the founding of Bhutan as a nation-state under Zhabdrung.

The second part of the course explores Bhutanese history, starting with the founding of the nation in the 17th century and continuing until the present. It will discuss Bhutan’s relations with British India and the Duar wars and how this eventually led to the creation of the nation state under Jigme Namgyel.

The  establishment  of  monarchy  under  Ugyen  Wangchuck  and  the  internal  reforms  and foreign policy of the first four kings will form an important part of the course, with special emphasis on modernisation. The last part of the course deals about Bhutan and its regional integration through Indo-Bhutan treaties, membership of UN and SAARC.

Learning outcomes:

On the successful completion of the module the students will be able to:

•     State the (political) history of Bhutan and the region

•     Demonstrate an understanding of the political relationship between Bhutan and the

United Kingdom

•     Demonstrate knowledge on the founding of Monarchy and Bhutan’s status as an independent kingdom

•     Relate the present position of Bhutan with regional organisations.

•     Have an understanding about the development of Bhutan as a modern nation state.

•     Have the knowledge about the evolution of democracy in Bhutan.

•     Have a basic understanding of the ethnic origins of Bhutanese people.

•     Gain a sense of nationalism through the study of the making of Bhutanese nation state.

Learning and teaching approach:

Lectures (60 hours) Tutorials (20 hours) Assignments (40 hours)

This module counts for 12 credits and is divided over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8 hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week. There will be a one-hour tutorial, once a week, and three hours are being allotted for self-study and research.

Assessment:

End Semester Examination (40%) Mid Semester Examination (20%) Written assignment (25%) Assignment presentation (10%) Class participation (05%)

Subject matter:

Part 1: Ancient and Médiéval Bhutan

1. Ancient inhabitants of Bhutan

2. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and the Tibetan invasions

3. Establishment of Dual system-The Dharma and Desids, administration and codification of laws.

4. Political developments under Desis- the first four desis and their political contributions

5. The establishment of a nation-state

6. British-Bhutanese relations and the Duar Wars

Part 2: Modern History of Bhutan

1. British-Bhutanese relations and the Duar Wars

2. Establishment of the monarchy

3. Internal reforms in the 20th century

4. Foreign policy in the 20th century

Part 3: Bhutan at Present Time

1. Indo-Bhutan relations

2. Regional and international integration

3. Establishment of Democracy and the Implications of democracy: Social, economic, cultural and political implications

4. Hundred Years of Monarchy and the Coronation of the new King.

Reading list:

Text Books

Aris, M.(1979) Bhutan, the Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom, Aris & Phillips.

Aris, M.(2005) The Raven Crown: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bhutan, Serindia

Publications, Delhi.

Kharat, R.S.(2000) Bhutan in SAARC: Role of a Small State in a Regional Alliance. Intl

Academic Pub., New Delhi.

Reference Books and Articles

Allan Isaacs, (2003) A Dictionary of World History, Tandem Library, New York. Chhibber, B.(2004) Regional Security and Regional Cooperation: A Comparative Study of Asean and Saarc. New Century Publications, New Delhi.

Dorji, C.T.(1994) History of Bhutan based on Buddhism , Sangay Xam & Prominent

Publishers.

Kohli, M.(1995) India and Bhutan. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, Delhi.

Marshall, J.,(2005) Britain and Tibet 1765-1947: A select annotated bibliography of British relations with Tibet and the Himalayan States including Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan,  Rout ledge Curzon, New Delhi.

Misra, H.N.(1988) Bhutan: Problems & Policies. South Asia Books, New Delhi