Home > Opinion > December 17, the essence

December 17, the essence

19 December 2009

We have observed the last but indisputably the most significant national event of the year; the 102nd National Day celebrations yesterday, December 17, 2009. We do it every year, everywhere with almost every one partaking in the commemoration; in small makeshift platforms at gewog centers, school grounds and the historic Changlingmithang stadium.

What sanctifies and separates the event from others is the fact that almost everyone, including the illiterate understands the significance of the day. Ask anyone and even before you complete the question you get the answer “Because on 17th December 1907, representatives from all parts of the country gathered at Punakha and unanimously enthroned Sir Ugyen Wangchuck as the first hereditary monarch of a unified Bhutan”.

Indeed! national days, also christened Independence Day in other countries are celebrated to commemorate the birth of an independent nation.

But is that it, a dead-end or is there something more than meets the eye? What sparks within your cerebrum when you think of December 17? Why do we spend millions for what is in fact a birthday party? What does the National Day signify? The celebrations are certainly expressions of freedom, independence, identity, pride etc. We unfurl the national flag and sing the national anthem.

Cultural programmes from different parts of the country showcase our diversity. And we end with the traditional “Tashi labey”. This is just a sample of the events that unfold, but nonetheless events that signify, speak and show that we are one nation, culturally rich and descendants of “those” who never succumbed to imperialism.

Yes! We were never colonized. We did not need a “Mahatma” or a “Mandela” to struggle for something that originally belonged to them. Our forefathers used stones, thorns and everything that could be used as weapons to fight Imperial Britain, the Tibetans and the mighty Mongols.

Even during times of internal strife, our ancestors stood united against foreign invasion. Events gradually unfolded until the dawn of December 17, 1907, wherein the people of Bhutan entrusted Sir Ugyen Wangchuck and his heirs the sacred responsibility to steer the country ahead. They could not have made a better decision.

The rest is history; not something marred by blood and gore but one of unprecedented peace, progress and prosperity. Today, we are a nation envied and loved; not because we are a rich country with oil and gas reserves in abundance. But because of the path we adopted towards development and the principles and values we uphold and practice. And amongst all, because we are the fountain head of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

How did we achieve so much in a short span of time? Because of our great Kings, past and present, who have always placed the interests of the nation and its people before everything and those that served under them with upmost dedication, unwaveringly and as constant as the Northern Star.

We know this and we want to express these feelings. Observation of the National Day provides us the platform to do so. It gives us the opportunity to reflect the passion and poignancy with which our forefathers guarded our sovereignty and to pay homage to those who sacrificed everything for the nation. It is a perfect stage to ostensibly and with justifiable pride showcase the strong and undefiled sense of faith and loyalty between our Kings and the people. By participating in it, we evoke the patriot within, reaffirm our position as the true custodians of the nation and pledge to pass to our forthcoming generations a happier Bhutan.

In a nutshell, national days provide us the opportunity to remember the past, review the present and reach out to the future.

Palden Drukpa Gyalo!

By Ugyen Tenzin

Ratings: 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading ... Loading ...
Email this page Email this page     Print this page Print this page    

Posted by Bhutan Observer · Filed Under Opinion 

Comments

Leave your comment





Note: Comments are moderated by Bhutan Observer, and may not appear until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

Bhutan Observer is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache