Module Code and Title            : BHS302 Political History of Bhutan

Programme                              : BA in History and Dzongkha

Credit Value                             : 12

Module Tutor                            : Rabilal Dhakal

General Objectives

The module aims to acquaint the students with the concepts and ideas essential to understand the political structures and processes of Bhutan past and present. This module will provide students with the background of Bhutan’s state formation and will also highlight the contributions of the monarchs towards the modernization and strengthening of Bhutan as a nation state. The module will also facilitate students to identify patterns of historical development and political behavior in Bhutan.

Learning Outcomes

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

1.    explain various theories  that concerned with the nomenclature of the name ‘Bhutan’

2.    discuss the  emergence  and importance of  different ruling clans in Bhutan

3.    examine the significant roles played by Phajo and his descendants  in western Bhutan

4.    critically analyse the contributions made by Terton Pema lingpa and his descendants in the central and eastern part of Bhutan

5.    analyse the importance of George Bogle Mission in Bhutan in 1774

6.    examine the factors that led to the outbreak of the Duar War in 1865

7.    evaluate the contributions made by Desi  Jigme Namgyel

8.    analyse the significant achievement made by  the  First and the second Druk Gyalpos of Bhutan

9.    examine the reforms introduced  by  Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third king of Bhutan

10.   analyse the reforms of  Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth  Druk  Gylapo and  Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the present king of Bhutan .

Learning and teaching approach

 Assessment approach

The students will be assessed on a continuous basis as given below:

A. Assignment 1: 15% of internal assessment

The first assignment will have to be written individually consisting of 15%

B. Assignment 2 : 15% of internal assessment

The students will have to write a second assignment as group work and 5% of the 15% will be kept for Viva Voce

C. Class Test : 5 % of internal assessment

A class test will be conducted which will comprise 5% of the internal assessment

D. Presentation: 15% of internal assessment

For this module, students will have to make a presentation each on a topic assigned by the tutor.

E. Semester-end Examination: 50%

Semester end Examination will be of 50% for this module

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

Prerequisite: N/A

Subject Matter

Unit I: Historical outline

• Nomenclature – Bhutan - Bhotaanta, Bhuuttan, Bhotanam, Bhotstan & Drukyul
• Physiographic and geographic divisions and territorial extent

Unit II: The emergence of ruling clans

• Lhagon Pelchen and his descendants
• Lhasey Tsangma and his descendants
• Phajo Dugom Zhigpo and the Drukpa lineages
• Terton Pema Lingpa and his descendants

Unit III: Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and the Choesid system

• Establishment of Choesid system-The Dharma and Desids, administration and codification of laws
• Consolidation and the process of unification under the first four Desis
• Political developments under later Desis

Unit IV:  Contacts with the British

• History of the Duars, battle of Cooch Behar and the Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty of 1774
• Bilateral Missions: George Bogle, Hamilton, Samuel Turner, Kishan Kant Bose
• Pemberton mission, annexation of Assam-Bengal Duars

Unit V: The Creation of a Nation state

• Desi Jigme Namgyel as a statesman and a nation builder Importance of the institution of the Trongsa Poenlop
• Ashley Eden mission, Duar wars, Treaty of Sinchula

Unit VI: The establishment of a hereditary monarchy

• Ugyen Wangchuck and the beginning of the Wangchuck Dynasty
• Young Husband mission to Tibet
• Internal reforms and foreign policy

Unit VII: Consolidation and National Integration

• M Jigme Wangchuck- internal reforms
• Foreign relations and the Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of 1949

Unit VIII: Modernization of Bhutan

• M Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
• Bhutan and the world – internal reforms – a prelude to democracy
• Initiation of Five Year Plans and Planned economic development
• Foreign Policy

Unit XI: The GNH Nation

• M Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the GNH nation
• Internal reforms
• Acceptance of GNH principles in world forums
• Foreign relations
• Security issues
• Youth, culture and politics in Bhutan
• The changing role of Bhutanese women

Unit X: Contemporary Bhutan

• M Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck - Early life and accession to the throne

• Contributions and achievements of the Fifth Druk Gyalpo

  • Social and political development of Bhutan
  • Indo-Bhutan relations
  • Bhutan and the world - diplomatic relations and international organization

Reading List:

Essential reading:

Aris, M.(1994). The Raven Crown: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bhutan. London: Serinda Publications.

Dr. Kinga. S. (2009). Polity, Kingship and Democracy: A biography of the Bhutanese state. Bhutan: Ministry of Education, RGOB.

Hasrat, B.(1980). History of Bhutan: Land of the Peaceful Dragon.Thimphu: Department of Education

Mathou,T.(2008).How to Reform a Traditional Buddhist Monarchy:The Political Achievements of  His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck,the Fourth King of Bhutan (1972-2006). Thimphu: The Centre  for Bhutan Studies

Phuntsho, K. (2013). The history of Bhutan. Random House India

Additional reading:

Aris, M.(1982). Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom. Delhi: RoliBooks International.

Aris, M.(1982). Views of Medieval Bhutan: The diary and drawings of Smauel

Davies, 1783. Delhi: Roli Books International.

Das, B.S. (1995). Mission to Bhutan: a nation In transition. New Delhi: Vikas Publications

Eden, A.(1972) Political Mission to Bhutan. Delhi: Manjushri Publishing House

Nishimizu, M.(2008).Portrait of a Leader: Through the Looking-Glass of His Majesty’s Decrees. Thimphu: The Centre for Bhutan Studies.

Pommaret, F.(2003).Bhutan- Himalayan mountain kingdom (5^thEd.). New Delhi: Pragati Publications

Turner, S. (2005). An account of an embassy to the court of the teshoo lama in Tibet. India: Pilgrims Publishing

Rajput, M. (2011). Indo-Bhutan relations through prism of history. New Delhi: Manak Publications Pvt. Ltd

Ura, K.(1995). The Hero with a Thousand Eyes: A Historical Novel. Thimphu: Karma Ura

Date: May, 2015