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Bhutan
  Statistically and when compared to other nations, Bhutan is one of the world's poorest nations. Yet its warm, hospitable people—nearly all of them farmers—never go hungry. In fact, they produce so much food they have plenty left over to sell to hungrier nations, such as neighboring India. Bhutan's monarchy is eager to provide all Bhutanese with the benefits of the developed world—education, health care, improved housing. Yet at the same time, it is careful to isolate the Bhutanese from any threat to their traditional ways, and to maintain the landscape's natural beauty. Bhutan occupies a key position between India's northern plains and Tibet, now a region of China, because it controls several mountain passes in the Himalayas. Barely 100 mi. (161 km.) wide and 200 mi. (322 km.) long, it has three main geographic areas. Northern Bhutan lies within the Great Himalayas, where the mountains reach a height of more than 24,000 ft. (7,300 m.). The 300-mi. (483-km.) boundary with Tibet stretches along snowcapped peaks, some of which have never been scaled. The Middle Himalayan region of central Bhutan contains several fertile valleys. These valleys are the most densely populated in the country, and they range in elevation from 5,000 to 9,000 ft. (1,524 to 2,743 m.). Along the southern border of Bhutan lies the Duars plain, which extends into India. This is a hot, humid, and rainy area. It is inhabited by deer, tigers, elephants, and other exotic wildlife, including golden lan-gurs, which rank among the world's rarest primates. Bhutan's climate varies with altitude. The valleys in central Bhutan are temperate, while those in the south are subtropical. Violent thunderstorms and rain are common. Annual rainfall averages 40 in. (100 cm.) in the central valleys and 197 in. (500 cm.) in the south. Violent storms that rumble down from the Himalayas prompted the Bhutanese to call their country Druk Yul, "Land of the Thunder Dragon." What impresses most outsiders about the Bhutanese is how conscious they are of the need to protect their environment. The nation is comparatively free of problems such as deforestation, soil erosion, and threats to wildlife that plague other nations. Some decades ago, the Bhutanese set up 10 protected areas that cover 20 percent of the land. In 1986, the government rejected a much-needed dam because it would have flooded a section of one of these areas, the Royal Manas National Park. Environmental education is taught in every school. Because of the harsh physical conditions in the northern mountains and in the southern Duars, most of the people live in the valleys of central Bhutan. About 50 percent of the Bhutanese are Bhotia, a people of Tibetan origin, whose forebears came to Bhutan during the 700s, bringing their culture and Buddhist religion with them. Bhutan's official language is Dzongkha, which is related to classical Tibetan. Nepali is spoken in southern Bhutan, and Bhutanese speak at least 11 other languages. English, the language of instruction in the schools and colleges, is widely spoken. Unfortunately, Bhutan's schools are as widely scattered as its villages, and only 26 percent of the school-aged children attend them. Only one in five adults can read and write. A typical Bhutanese house is a two-story building constructed of stone or mud brick. The family occupies the upper floor, while the lower is used as a barn. Beds are made of straw and yak-wool blankets. In an effort to preserve traditional ways, the wearing of Bhutanese national dress is compulsory at all times. Men and boys wear the boku, a knee-length, white-cuffed kimono. Women and girls wear the kira, an ankle-length, embroidered wrap; and the tyogo, a small jacket. Women command a good deal of respect in Bhutan. Family property passes to them, and they usually have sole authority over decisions that involve children. History Bhutan became a separate political state some 300 years ago, when a Tibetan lama (priest) named Ngawang Namgyal proclaimed himself king. Subsequently, Bhutan was ruled by two leaders, a je khemko, or head abbot, for spiritual matters, and a druk desi for political and administrative affairs. In 1907, aided by the British, the penlop (governor) of Tongsa in eastern Bhutan established a hereditary line of kings. The present king, jigme Singye Wangchuk, came to the throne in 1972. He is assisted by an advisory council of civil servants and Buddhist leaders. The legislature is the 148-member Tsongdu, or National Assembly. Every three years, the people elect 105 members of the Tsongdu, with every family having one vote. Buddhist monastic orders appoint 10 members, and the king appoints 33. Bhutan is guided in its foreign affairs by India. | |
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Article Contributors Anonymous user updated 1 year ago |
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