| People Of Bhutan |
| The country's population of 600, 000 is
composed of three main ethnic groups. The Sharchopas, who are
considered to be the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan, live mostly
in Eastern Bhutan and they are of Indo-Mongoloid origin. The
Ngalops populate mostly Western Bhutan migrated from the Tibetan
plains and are the importers of Buddhism to Bhutan. The
Lhotsampas who re of Nepalese origin settled in a the southern
foothills of the country in the early twentieth century. This
ethnic diversity of the people has resulted in numerous dialects
and languages that are spoken throughout the country. Dzongkha
is the National language. English is the medium of instruction
in schools and is widely spoken. |
| Religion In Bhutan |
Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan in the 7th
century by Guru Padma Sambhava. in the centuries that followed,
Bhutan was home to many sages and saints including the great
saints-scholars like Longchen Ramjam, also known as Kuenkhen
Longchen Raamjam, (1308 - 1363). Various schools of Buddhism in
Bhutan assimilated other earlier practices and beliefs. The
aspirations towards enlightenment and the belief in the widely
shared among Buddhists and majority of the innate goodness of
human beings are Bhutanese are Buddhists. Hinduism is another
religion, practised particularly in Southern Bhutan. The Hindu
religion as practised by Southern Bhutanese has many common
saints and divinities with Vajrayana, the school of Buddhism
prevalent in Bhutan. Buddhism has a significant influence on the
values of the Bhutanese and has shaped the institutions,
organizations, arts, drama, architecture, literature and social
structure. Bhutan's culture, as in other societies, is
continually adapting itself in the face of development.
The importance of religious institutions continues in present
day Bhutan, as signified by the strength of the monk body who
number about 5000 in Dratshangs or Rabdeys supported by the
state. This figure takes into account only those monks who are
part of the formal monastic structure supported by the state and
excludes those who are not part of the state sponsored
Dratshangs. The Rabdeys are based mainly in dzongs. Each Rabdey
is healed by a Lam Neten who is appointed by His Holiness the Je
Kherpo (Heal Abbot), the elected Head of the Central Monk Body.
The present je Kherpo is the 70th incumbent. His Holiness the Je
Kherpo is the chairman of the nine member Dratshang Lhentshog.
Monks continue to play an important role in the daily lives of
the people in performing religious ceremonies, and in promoting
and preserving traditional scholarship. They are also actively
involved in the process of development while constantly renewing
their relevance to society in times of change. |
| History of Bhutan |
Till well into the 17th Century, Bhutan was
split up into small independent principalities. After the
arrival of Buddhism, during the seventh century, the various
Buddhist schools began sharing the power in the country with the
old aristocratic families.
The cleric Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel united the independent
principalities into one state. After his death the theocracy
disintegrated and the provincial lords fought to gain control
over the central power. Only the establishment of the monarchy
in 1907 brought peace again. Today the fourth King of Bhutan is
leading his country into modern times. |
| Geography of Bhutan |
Bhutan is a landlocked country. It is about
47,000 kilometres - roughly the size of Switzerland. It is
located between Tibet in the north, Indian states of West Bengal
and Assam in the south, and Arunachal Pradesh in the east.
Bhutan has three major land regions. The Great Himalayan region
in the north rises more than 4300 m (14,000 ft) along the
Tibetan border. This area is uninhabited except for a few
scattered settlements in the high valleys. The Great Himalayas
radiate southward into central Bhutan, creating the Middle
Himalayan zone. |
