The origin of the name Bhutan is somewhat vague, and there
are many theories as to its origin. The traditional etymology is stemmed from
the Sanskrit word “Bhota-anta” which means “end of Tibet.” Many of the European
explorers had their own names for the area as well.
Profoundly guided by Buddhist traditions and ideologies,
Bhutan boasts strong sentiments towards preserving ecology and environmental
issues. In fact, it has even limited the number of tourists that come into the
country by imposing a fee equal to US $250 per day. For that reason alone, I’m
not sure if it’s a place I’d be able to afford to go. Bhutan has many protected
areas that are known for its forest cover and its rare and exotic animals. It’s
actually established a decree that demands at least 60% of the country remain
forest-covered. An animal called the takin – something new to me – is Bhutan’s
national animal. It’s considered a goat-antelope, a type of animal that
comparative to the muskox and is part of the same family that includes sheep
and goats.
Bhutan, landlocked right between China and India, became the
location where many Tibetans fled from religious persecution. Bhutan came in
contact with the British Empire after the controlled India, and after a few
skirmishes that led to a war and a treaty, it pretty much ended all
ill-feelings between the two. Even after India’s independence from the British
Empire, Bhutan and India have remained on “friendly country” status with each
other. In fact, Indian rupees are considered legal tender in Bhutan as well as
their own currency. Indians (as well as
Bangladeshis) can enter the country freely.
Their government is a constitutional monarchy, which
basically means that while it is ruled officially by a king (King Wangchuck),
there is also a council of ministers put in place to make other policy and
administrational
decisions. They’ve even put in place the ability to impeach
the king, but no one feels it necessary to do so.
The official language of Bhutan is called Dzongkha, part of
the Tibetan language family. The writing script is the same as classical
Tibetan. (I actually found a place here in Indianapolis at a Buddhist center where
I could take Tibetan language classes on Saturdays.) However, English is the
language that is used in education while Dzongkha is listed as the
official/national language. There are many other minor languages spoken in
Bhutan that include Nepali, Tshangla, Kheng, and Dzala.
The capital city is Thimphu, the country’s largest city with
a population (metro area) of around 98,000. The entire country has about as
many people as in the city of Detroit, Michigan. While in the past 50 years,
Thimphu and Bhutan has been making efforts in expansion, but it has come
somewhat slowly. They tried installing traffic lights, but the people requested
that it be taken down, saying that it seemed unsightly and marred the
landscape. They opted for the traffic cop instead. (It’s only one of two
capital cities in the world without a traffic light: Pyongyang, North Korea
being the other one.) It’s hard to believe that in a national capital, the
drivers also share the road with people moving their cattle without much sign
of roadrage at all. Perhaps there may be something to that Buddhist patience
and happiness factors. Archery is the national sport and the city of Thimphu is
the headquarters of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, headed by the king himself.
Bhutan has sent several archers to the Olympics, but no medals have been won.
Yet.
Even though Bhutan is the only country in the world to
measure happiness, there’s a sad part there as well. Homosexuality is
punishable by prison. Those who leave the country without express written
permission of the government hold their citizenship at stake, and many who do
become stateless refugees. The Lhotshampas (meaning “southerners” in Dzongkha)
are those of Nepali ethnicity and suffer governmental discrimination when it
comes to education, employment, and the ability to own land. It’s even been
said that the government has forced all the people to wear the traditional
dress of the majority while out in public. They’ve also imposed that
Buddhist-only buildings are allowed to be erected. Only 47% of the total
population is literate. Clean water and sanitation aren’t available in many
areas, especially in the rural areas. There aren’t enough doctors, and there is
a surprisingly high number of maternal deaths. The life expectancy at birth is
only about 67 years old. And yet, despite all of this, they’re still happy.
Much of Bhutan remains untouched and unseen by outsiders.
Called the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan is subject to many storms that
pop up out of the mountains. It’s the only country in the world that has banned
tobacco. (However, marijuana grows freely. The thing is, is that no one smokes
it. Rather, it’s fed to the pigs. But before you start planning your trip to
“trip,” not all weed is smokable.) The purity, isolation, and mystique of this
practically unknown country keeps many people vaguely even aware of its
existence. Bhutan itself may be shrouded with mist from the mountains, but
hopefully we can unveil its culture and cuisine this week.
Up next: Holidays and Celebrations
No comments:
Post a Comment