Historical Facts of Bhutan

  A Durbar in Buxa – 1909 [1] Mr. White was replaced by Charles Bell as political officer of Sikkim and Bhutan. The subsidy for Bhutan was to be given at Buxa as per the request made by the Bhutanese earlier to the British India. Mr. Charles Bell informed the Major Gordon who was in charge of the British military camp at Buxa to arrange hundred soldiers for Guard of Honour for the ceremony. Meanwhile, a representative of Bhutan Government, the Deb Zimpon and team arrived two days earlier than the occasion of the Durbar. The Bhutanese Envoy, Deb Zimpon had earlier visited Calcutta along with Trongsa Ponlop Ugyen Wangchcuk in 1906. Mr. Gordon and Deb Zimpon became good friend. The Deb Zimpon even invited Mr. Gordon to Bhutan. Deb Zimpon promised to arrange the permission from the Druk Gyalpo for Gordon to enter Bhutan. The following day, a detachment of native police came from Alipur Duar escorting a train of coolies carrying wooden boxes which contained the fifty thousand rupees of

                                                                                       Courtesy: Private Collections   Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck (1885- 1926) and British India In 1877, Ugyen Wangchuck was appointed as Paro Penlop at the age of seventeen by Gongsa Jigme Namgyal and his elder brother Thinley Tobgye was appointed Wangdu Dzongpon.   In Trongsa, a battle was being fought between his paternal uncle Dungkar Gyaltshen and maternal uncle Pema Tenzin over the post of Trongsa Penlop. It was during this battle; Dungkar Gyaltshen Trongsa Penlop asked help from Wangdu Dzongpon. Wangdu Dzongpon sent his troops headed by Zimpon Pema Tshewang. Zimpon Pema Tshewang sang the ballad to his wife and family members as he proceeded to Trongsa. But the combined forces of Dungkar Gyaltshen and Zimpon Pema Tshewang were defeated. Dungkar Gyaltshen was given a piece of land to sustain his living. Jakar Penlop Pema Tenzin with the help of junior Dronyer Singye Namgyal won the battle and Pema Te