The Non Intervention Policy of British Indian Government towards Bhutan (1867 – 1884)
The Non Intervention Policy of British Indian Government towards Bhutan (1867 – 1884)
After the Duar War, Trongsa Penlop
Jigme Namgyal resigned from the post of Trongsa Penlop. In his place, he
appointed his elder brother Dungkar Gyaltshen. He retired to Wangdu Choling
palace in Bumthang.
As per the treaty of Sinchula
1865, Bhutan received the annual subsidy payment on 10th January 1867 at
Darjeeling.The representative of the Desi communicated to Colonel Haughton that
the major share of the annual subsidy was taken by the Trongsa Penlop. He
suggested to Colonel Haughton, if British India Government would help the Desi
to get the equal share of the annual subsidy. But Colonel Haughton informed the
Desi’s representative that British India would not interfere in the Bhutan’s
internal affairs.
In February 1868, a representative of Desi went down
to Buxa and met Major Murray, the officer in Commanding at Buxa. The Desi’s
representative suggested that the annual subsidy may be paid to Bhutan at Buxa
and not at Darjeeling. Desi’s representative further said that if Bhutan’s
request is entertained, Bhutan is ready to bear the expenditure of the travel
of Colonel and also Rs. 2000/- would be paid to Major Murray. Colonel Haughton
was also in favor of it and he further proposed that a Bhutanese agent should
stay at Buxa. Governor General Sir John Lawrence approved the proposal. British
India was successful in opening the communication channel to Bhutan. In 1868,
Colonel Haughton proposed to the Government of Bengal that British India should
encourage the Government of Bhutan to send its young men to the British
territories to learn English. The Govement of British India, on the
recommendation of the Lieutenant Governor approved the proposal for educating a
few Bhutanese children at the Government school at Darjeeling on a monthly
subsistence allowance of Rs. 6. But the Bhutanese Government did not show any
interest.[1] Bhutan
asked permission from the British Government to purchase arms and ammunitions
from India. Later on, when the representative of Desi again asked the
permission to recruit the Nepalese at Buxa into the army of Bhutan, he was
immediately told to leave the Buxa.
The
Civil War in the Central Governemnt
Meanwhile, there was a civil war broke out in the
central Government. In 1869, there was a conflict between Wangdue Phodrang
Dzonpon and Punakha Dzongpon. Darlung Tobgye had resigned and appointed his
nephew as new Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpon. Now Darlung Tobgye, his nephew and
Kawang Mangkhel were against the Punakha Dzongpon Drang Tashi. The Wangdu Dzongpon and Thimphu Dzonpon
approached the British India for help which was declined. It is said that Wangdu
and Thimphu Dzongpons asked help from the Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara.[2]
. But Punakha
Dzongpon Drang Trashi asked help from Gongsa Jigme Namgyal. Jigme Namgyal came
with large force to western Bhutan.
The joint forces of Wangdu Dzongpon and Thimphu proved
very strong to defeat. To make the combined force weak, Gongsa Jigme Nmagyal
set the Thimphu Dzong on fire. So, the Thimphu Dzongpon Kawang Mangkhel and his
force needed to go to Thimphu. Back at Wangdu Phodrang, When Darlung Tobgye and
his nephew approached Jigme Namgyal for the peace settlement; Jigme Namgyal
assassinated both Darlung Tobgye and his nephew.
At the end of the civil war mentioned above, Jigme
Namgyal was invited by the central Government and Zhung Dratshang to be the
next Desi of Bhutan. Desi Jigme Namgyal sent a letter to Colonel Haughton
informing him that he was elected as new Desi.
The
Appointment of the Bhutanese Agent at Buxa
Phento was a Sikkimese national. He served as the
interpreter of Colonel Haughton. Desi Jigme Namgyal also appointed Phento as
the Bhutanese agent at Buxa, although British wanted a Bhutanese national. A
Bhutanese national was appointed as an agent at Buxa in 1876. This system was
continued even during the reigns of the first and second Druk Gyalpo. Ugyen
Dorje who was residing at Kalimpong was appointed as the Bhutanese agent in
1897 but he was also appointed as the Bhutan Agent at Buxa by the first Druk
Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck in 1900. Ugyen Dorji was followed by Pema Dorji
(1910-1918), Sonam Tshering (1920-1924) and Ugyen Tshering (1924-1954).[3]
The boundary demarcation on the Bengal Duars was
carried out in 1867-68. In 1872, When Bhutan Government requested the boundary
demarcation on the eastern frontiers, Colonel Graham, the Commissioner of the
Darrang division said that the boundary demarcation was done earlier. He said
further that Bhutanese accepted that Dewangiri belonged to British India.
In October 1873, Desi Jigme Namgyal retired to
Simtokha Dzong. It seemed that British India was concerned about the changes
that took place inside Bhutan. There was an exchange of communication between
the Commissioner of Cooch Behar and the Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling.
There was a mention in the letter that who should succeed the retired Desi
Jigme Namgyal.
“Every letter I get from the Sikkim Durbar contains some mention of the
uneasiness felt about the intentions of the Bhuteahs. The Rajah says in one
letter that saltpetre is being collected in large quantities in Bhutan, but he does
not know for what purpose it is meant. In another he states that the rumours of
the intended resignation of the Deb gain strength, but that nothing is known about
his probable successor. The Rajah thinks that there is no one in Bhutan upon
Whom the slightest dependence can be placed, and he thinks there are signs of internal dissensions”.[4]
Kitshelp
Dorje Namgyal became the next Desi of Bhutan. Relations with British India
improved further. Desi Dorje Namgyal visited Buxa and met the Lieutenant Governor
of Bengal, Sir Richard Temple. Desi allowed British India to construct a road
from Bhutan to Tibet. An incident took place where Bhutanese committed a
decoity in Kamrup in Assam in 1874. When the matter was reported to the Desi,
he ordered an enquiry to the incident. However, British Government deducted the
amount from the the annual subsidy payment. Desi kept two guards on the border
of Dewangiri to prevent future incident. Desi’s action was very much
appreciated by the British India. Sir Richard Temple promised some helps for
Bhutan in case there is rebellion against the Desi.[5]
Meanwhile,
there was rebellion by Paro Penlop, Punakha Dzongpon and Wangdu Dzongpon
against the Desi in 1877. When they were defeated by the central Government,
they fled to Buxa. They were given shelter in the British territory of India. Desi
of Bhutan approached the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, this time, Ashley Eden
to surrender the Bhutanese rebels to Bhutan, Eden insisted on the British
policy of Non-interference to Bhutanese affairs. Eden further informed the Desi
of Bhutan that the Bhutanese rebels were political offenders and would not
surrender to Bhutan and said that the Bhutanese rebels were disarmed on arrival
at Buxa. Eden gave assurances that Indian soil would not be allowed to use
against Bhutan by the Bhutanese rebels. The British India Government did not
keep the Bhutanese rebels at Buxa. They were taken to Kalimpong and given land
where they can cultivate. The Bhutanese rebels returned to Bhutan later on as
the political situations changed in the country.[6]
In 1879, When Desi Kitshelp Dorje Namgyal passed
away; Chogyal Zangpo was enthroned as the next Desi. Sir Rivers Thompson, the
Lieutenant Governor of Bengal offered a telescope to Desi as a present.[7]
Chogyal Zangpo ruled the country till1882. During his reign, a border incident
took place at Buxa in 1880. However, the disputes were resolved amicably. When
Viceroy Lord Rinpo threatened to withhold the annual subsidy payment, Bhutan
surrendered the culprits to Brtish India. The culprits were taken to Darjeeling
to be trialed by British India Government. The culprits were convicted and
imprisoned. Then only the annual subsidy was paid to Bhutan. British even made
a promise to return small tract of land at Buxa. Later, in 1884, British India
ceded the tract of land to Bhutan.[8] But the tract of land at Buxa was granted to
the Desi of Bhutan in March 1894.[9]
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