The History

Bhutan was unified by the Shabdrung, a Buddhist lama of the Drukpa Kagyu sect who fled from Tibet in 1616. From the 1600s until the early 1900s, Shabdrungs were Bhutan's spiritual and temporal rulers. During the 1800s they ruled decayed, and the Shabdrungs lost much of their temporal power to feuding district governors. In 1907, the office of the Shabdrungs was quietly abolished and Ugyen Wangchuck became the first king with the approval of the British, whom he had supported during their incursions into Tibet. Since 1907, Bhutan has been ruled by four kings of the Wangchuck line.In 1907 the hereditary monarchs of the Wangchuck dynasty established their dominance over the political structure of Bhutan. The current Druk Gyalpo, or King, is Jigme Singye Wangchuk who held power since 1972.Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971 only.

Although its early history is vague, Bhutan seems to have existed as a political entity for many centuries. At the beginning of the 16th cent. it was ruled by a dual monarchy consisting of a Dharma Raja, or spiritual ruler, and a Deb Raja, or temporal ruler. For much of its early history the Deb Raja held little real power, as the provincial governors (ponlops) became quite strong. In 1720 the Chinese invaded Tibet and established suzerainty over Bhutan. Friction between Bhutan and Indian Bengal culminated in a Bhutanese invasion of Cooch Behar in 1772, followed by a British incursion into Bhutan, but the Tibetan lama's intercession with the governor-general of British India improved relations.

In 1774 a British mission arrived in Bhutan to promote trade with India. British occupation of Assam in 1826, however, led to renewed border raids from Bhutan. In 1864 the British occupied part of S Bhutan, which was formally annexed after a war in 1865; the Treaty of Sinchula provided for an annual subsidy to Bhutan as compensation. In 1907 the most powerful of Bhutan's provincial governors, Sir Ugyen Wangchuk, supported by the British, became the monarch of Bhutan, the first of a hereditary line. A treaty signed in 1910 doubled the annual British subsidy to Bhutan in return for an agreement to let Britain direct the country's foreign affairs.

After India won independence, a treaty (1949) returned the part of Bhutan annexed by the British and allowed India to assume the former British role of subsidizing Bhutan and directing its defence and foreign relations; the Indians, like the British before them, promised not to interfere in Bhutan's internal affairs. That's why Bhutan has traditionally had closed ties with India and by a 1949 treaty agrees to be "guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations". When Chinese Communist forces occupied Tibet in 1950, Bhutan, because of its strategic location, became a point of contest between China and India. The Chinese claim to Bhutan (as part of a greater Tibet) and the persecution of Tibetan Buddhists led India to close the Bhutanese-Tibetan border and to build roads in Bhutan capable of carrying Indian military vehicles. In the 1960s, Bhutan also formed a small army, trained and equipped by India. The kingdom's admission to the United Nations in 1971 was seen as strengthening its sovereignty, and by the 1980s relations with China had improved significantly.

Bhutan's third hereditary ruler, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (reigned 1953-72), modernized Bhutanese society by abolishing slavery and the caste system, emancipating women, dividing large estates into small individual plots, and starting a secular educational system. Although Bhutan no longer has a Dharma Raja, Buddhist priests retain political influence. In 1969 the absolute monarchy gave way to a "democratic monarchy." In 1972 the crown prince, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, became the fourth hereditary king of Bhutan upon his father's death; he was crowned in June, 1974. The new king gradually democratized the Bhutanese government. By 1999 the king was no longer head of government; that position was held by head of the cabinet, which is responsible to the national assembly.

Since then the country has moved slowly toward adopting a new constitution; in 2005 a draft of the proposed constitution was released. An uprising by the Nepalese minority in 1989, a national policy of forcing non-ethnic Bhutanese to adopt Bhutanese Buddhist traditions, and the expulsion of thousand of ethnic Nepalese regarded by the government as illegals aliens were a source of tension within Bhutan, and with Nepal and India, in the 1990s. Also, Assamese and West Bengali separatist guerrillas have established bases in Bhutan, from which they make attacks into India. After attempts to negotiate the Assamese guerrillas' withdrawal failed, Bhutan mounted attacks (2003) on their bases. In 1998 the famous Taktsang Monastery in the mountains of W Bhutan, containing one of the finest collections of early Himalayan Buddhist art, was destroyed by fire.

Some Historical Event In Bhutan

9-August-2005 Bhutan Time Line AD 747: Guru Padma Sambhava, visits Bhutan and later founds Nyingmapa

1616: Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a monk arrives from Tibet, ablacknd establishes his rule in Bhutan. He establishes duel system of rule.

1625: Shabdrung signed agreement with Nepal seeking migration of people from Nepal. Thus starts the first official migration of Nepal-speaking people to Bhutan.

1629 : First European (Portuguese) Jesuits-visit Bhutan.

1651: Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal dies. During his rule he unifies Bhutan. Drukpa Krgyupa sub-sect emerges as a dominant religious force.

1728: Civil war for succession struggle to power

1772: British forces invade Bhutan.

1774: Bhutan signs peace treaty with British India

1841: British take control of Bhutanese portion of Assam Duars and begin payment of annual compensation to Bhutan.

1864: Civil war waged in Bhutan. British seek peace relationship with both sides. 1864: Duar War waged between Bhutan and British India.

1865: Treaty of Sinchula signed between Bhutan and British India. Bhutan Duars territories ceded to British India in return for annual subsidy.

1898: Southern Bhutan, the habitat of Nepali-speaking citizens, was accorded a special administrative status under the authority of Kazi from Dorji family. Southern Bhutan administered from Kalimpong, India.

1904: Ugyen Wangchuck helps secure Anglo-Tibetan Convention on behalf of Britain.

1907: Theocracy ends and hereditary monarchy established. Ugyen Wangchuck becomes the first king of Bhutan.

1910: China invades Tibet laying claims on Bhutan; Treaty of Punakha signed with British Raj giving them control over Bhutan's foreign relations.

1926: King Ugen wangchuck dies on Aug 21 and his son Jigme Wangchuck succeeds him.

1949: Treaty of Friendship signed with newly-independent India on Aug 08, with guarantee of non-interference in Bhutan's internal affairs, but allowing Indian influence over foreign relations.

1952: Reformist King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck enthroned; Bhutan State Congress (BSC), a political party formed under Nehru's patronage, was formed and subsequently banned.

1958: National Law of Bhutan- Citizenship law enacted. The Laws granted citizenship to Bhutanese of Nepali origin. Other social reforms follow in subsequent years.

1959: Several thousand Tibetan refugees given asylum after Chinese annex Tibet.

1960: The king bans Bhutan State Congress (BSC).

1962: Sino-India war. Indian troops retreat through Bhutan

1968: First cabinet established. King decrees that sovereign power resides in himself and National Assembly.

1971: Bhutan joins the United Nations.

1972: Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck succeeds his father.

1974: Chukha Hydro-electric Project Agree signed with India. New monetary system established separate from India's and first Bhutanese currency notes released. Tourism introduced. New Pema-gatshel district established.

1977: New citizenship Act enacted 1978: Bhutan joins IFAD. Royal Bhutan Embassy established in New Delhi. Partial Test Ban Treaty and Geneva Protocol of 1925 signed. Land Act and Stamp Act passed.

1980: Royal Bhutan Embassy established in Dhaka. Marriage Act, Inheritance Act, Livestock Act, Loan Act and Police Act passed. Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry established. Trade Agreement signed with Bangladesh. Penden Cement Authority Ltd. Commissioned. Postal Parcel Agreement & Universal Postal Convention signed. National Council for Social and Cultural Promotion set up to strengthen national integration, later closed down. Bhutan Standard Time introduced ( + 6.00 GMT)

1983: Diplomatic relations established with Nepal and Kuwait. Tax policy introduced. Druk Air Dornier flights started. King attends the 7th Non- Alignment Summit in New Delhi. Joined UNIDO, Asia-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), South Asian Sports Federation and Olympic Council of Asia. Royal Monetary Authority 'established. Degree courses introduced at Sherubtse College.

1984: Diplomatic relations established with Maldives. Joined World Fellowship of Buddhists Indo-Bhutan Analog Microwave link established. King visits India. Bhutan, Child hold first border talk in Beijing.

1985: King attends the 1st SAARC Summit in Dhaka. State visit by the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi and PLO Chairman, Yasser Arafat. Joined SAARC. ThePermanent Mission to the UN in Geneva established. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed. Diplomatic relations established with Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway. Statutes of the Centre for Science and Technology of the NAM countries and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology signed. New law on citizenship enacted. It superseded the earlier citizenship laws and declared invalid the citizenship cards issued since 1982.

1986: King attends 8th Non-Aligned Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe and the 2nd SAARC Summit in Bangalore, India. Royal Bhutan Embassy established in Kuwait Diplomatic relations established with Japan and Finland. Land Acquisition Act passed. Royal Institute of Management established. Civil Aviation Department established. Special Commission for Cultural Affairs established. 6th Five Year Plan launched.

1987: King attends the 3rd SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal. Visit by Prince Naruhito of Japan. 6th Five Year Plan launched. Diplomatic relations established with South Korea and Sri Lanka. Pasture Development Act passed. Druk Air BAe-146 jet services introduced. Dzongkha Development Commission opened. New Chukha District established.

1988: Royal Wedding held in Punakha. King and the Indian President R. Venkatararnan inaugurate Chukha Power Project. King attends the 4th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan. State visit by Princess Galyani Vadhana of Thailand, King and the Queen of Nepal and President Muhammad Ershad of Bangladesh. Joined ITU and Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP). Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Notification Act passed. Census is carried out. The census team unilaterally declares many Nepali-speaking citizens in southern Bhutan as non-citizens. The government introduces racial policies against Nepali-speaking citizens. Tek Nath Rizal, Royal Councillor appeals to King against the high- handedness of census team. He was arrested and later released. Underground Student Union of Bhutan was formed in Sherubtse College.

1989: Diplomatic relations established with Austria. Visit by UN Secretary General, Perez de Cuellar. King visits India. The government lifts Nepali language from school curriculum. People Forum for Human Rights, Bhutan formed. Man Bahadur Chhetri, a student human rights activist hanged by Police. Many Nepali-speaking citizens arrested. Tek Nath Rizal arrested. Government introduced Driglam Namzha and One nation One People Policy. King attends 9th Non-Aligned Summit in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Explosives Act, Company Act and the Royal Advisory Council Act passed. Joined International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

1990: King visits Bahrain, Kuwait and India. Bhutan Peoples Party formed. It organizes pro-democratic rallies in southern Bhutan, pressing for greater democracy and respect for Nepali rights, after which, the government starts forced eviction of Nepali-speaking citizens. Nepali-speaking citizens start coming to Nepal as refugees. The NOC introduced. All schools closed in southern Bhutan. The Home Minister Dago Tshering issued a forced eviction order against Nepali-speaking citizens. Mass forced eviction of Nepali-speaking citizens commences. For details please visit Bhutanese Refugees website. Prominent dissident leaders, Ronthong Kunley Dorji, Sonam Tshering and Chheku Drukpa arrested for their activities in Eastern Bhutan. King 5th SAARC Summit in Male, Maldives. Diplomatic relations established with Pakistan. New Trade Agreement signed with India. Convention on the Rights of the Child signed. Universal Child Immunization achieved. Fire Arms and Ammunition Act passed. Joined Office International des Epizooties (OIE ). International Direct Dialling services introduced. Earth Satellite station installed. Bhutan Peoples party formed on June 02. 1991: Six top-raking bureaucrats resign and defect to Nepal. The UNHCR establishes camps for Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal. Computerization of land record started. King attends the 6th SAARC Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Diplomatic relations established with Thailand. Visit by SAARC Chairman, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of Maldives. Enabling Act for Suppression of Terrorism and Extradition Act passed.

1992: Tek Nath Rizal, Chairman of People Forum for Human Rights, Bhutan sentenced to life imprisonment. Diplomatic relations established with Bahrain. 7th Five Year Plan launched. New districts of Gasa and Trashi Yangtse established. Visit by SAARC Chairman President Ranasinghe Premadasa of Sri Lanka. Financial Institutions Act and National Security Act passed. BNDP formed. Amnesty International, London published first documented report on violation of human rights in Bhutan.

1993: The Nepalese Home Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Bhutanese counterpart, Dago Tshring held the first meeting on refugees issue on July 15, 1993. On 13 September, first Bhutan-Nepal Joint Ministerial Committee (JMLC) talk was held. Refugees categorized as, Bonafide Bhutanese; Bhutanese, who emigrated; non-Bhutanese and Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts. Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan established. King visits India. King attends the 7th SAARC Summit in Dhaka. visit by Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. Sustainable Development Treaty signed with the Netherlands. Rape Act and Plant Quarantine Act passed.. Airmail, DHL and express mail services introduced. Tek Nath Rizal sentenced to life on Nov. 16 1994: The second, third and fourth JMLC Talk held in Thimphu, Kathmandu and Thimphu on February 21-24, April 4-7 and June, 1994 respectively. Visit by SAARC Chairperson, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) signed. Kurichu Power Project Agreement signed with India. Amnesty International, London published second report on forcible exile of Bhutanese refugees.

1995: Fifth and sixth JMLC talk held in Kathmandu and Thimphu on February 27-March 1 and April 20, 1995. King attends the 8th SAARC Summit in New Delhi. Mines and Minerals Act and Forest and Nature Conservation Acts passed. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity signed. Work on Kurichu Power Project started. Bhutanese Coalition for Democratic Movement (BCDM) formed.

1996: Seventh JMLC Talk held at the Foreign Ministers' level in Kathmandu on April 4-8, 1996. King visits India. Visit by Indian Foreign Minister, I.K. Gujrat. Marriage Act and Loan Act amended, and Chathrim for National Wage Rate introduced. Tala Hydro-electric Project Agreement and Dungsum Cement Project Agreement signed with India. Basochhu Power Project Agreement signed with Austria. Bhutan Postal Corporation Act Passed.. Companies Act passed. 10th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in Beijing. European Parliament passes the first resolution on Bhutanese refugees.

1997: Royal Bhutan Embassy established in Bangkok. King visits India. Bank of Bhutan management nationalized. Visit by Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer and Japanese Prince. King attends 9th SAARC Summit in Mate, Maldives. 8th Five Year Plan launched. Road Safety and Transport Act passed. Joined Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU). Convention on Chemical Weapons signed. Stare Trading Corporation of Bhutan privatized. Civil works on Basochhu and Tala Power Projects started. Signed Extradition Agreement with India. 11th Bhutan-China border talk held in Aug in Thimphu.

1998: Visit by Prince Charles of Wales and Chairman of SAARC, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of Maldives. . King visits India. King cedes some powers to national assembly, giving up role as head of government. Bhutan and China signed an Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan- China border in 1998. Bhutan and China signed an Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan-China Border in 1998.1th Bhutan-China border talk held in Dec. in Beijing. Amnesty International, London published third report Crackdown in Eastern Bhutan. Bhutan refused office building permission in New York for poor human rights.

1999: Cable television and internet services allowed. Eighth JMLC talk held in Kathmandu on September 13-16, 1999. Forty political prisoners, including Tek Nath Rizal, granted amnesty and released. Municipal Act passed. Jigmi Y. Thinley becomes the first Chairman of the Council of Ministers.13th Bhutan-China border talk held in Thimphu.

2000: First internet cafe opens in Thimphu; Ninth and tenth rounds of JMLC talk held on May 22-25 and December 25-28, 2000 in Thimphu and Kathmandu respectively.14th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in Beijing. Amnesty International, London published fourth report- Right to Nationality of Bhutanese refugees. European Parliament passes the second resolution on Bhutanese refugees.

2001: Eleventh JMLC Talk held in Thimphu on August 20-23, 2001. JVT starts verification of refugees started in Khudunabari camp on March 26 and completes on Dec. 15. Bhutan's first Constitution drafting committee formed on Nov. 30. 15th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in Thimphu. International human rights organisations like Human Rights Watch and others send memo to Bhutan and Nepal governments on refugee issue. R.K. Budathoki, President of Bhutan Peoples Party murdered.

2002: Denmark closes its Liaison office in Bhutan in March. Crown Prince addresses Un special session on children in New York in March. Ganga Adhikari a Bhutanese refugee girl also submits memorandum on the plight of Bhutanese refugees to UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and UN Human rights High Commissioner during the special session on children. Bhutan foreign Minister J.Y. Thinlay visits Canada in May. 80th session of National Assembly begins on June 25. Lyonpo Kinzang becomes new Head of Government on August 14. Indian and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister's visits in Aug. Bhutan established diplomatic relations with Australia on Sep 15 and Singapore on Sep 23. China, Bhutan Foreign Minister level 16 the border talk held in Beijing on Oct 12. Bhutan FM meets Chinese PM Oct 14. Canadian Gov. Gen. visits Bhutan on Dec 29. Amnesty International, London published fifth report on Bhutanese refugees. Visits of Nepal's opposition Communist leader, Indian foreign Minister Shinha and Indian army chief S. Padmanabhan. Constitution Drafting Committee submits draft Constitution to Kinga and King to Prime Minister.

2003: Verified Bhutanese refugees of Khudunabari camp launch indefinite. Hunger strike 0n Jan 07. Canada and Bhutan established diplomatic relations on June 25, 2003.