Our Natural Responsibility

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy organized a photography and essay competition as part of the Democracy Day (September 15th) celebrations.

The topic was "Natural Responsibility", a concept His Majesty Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk shared with the nation in his National Day address in 2010.

"In times of such peace and prosperity, as good Bhutanese, we must reflect on our responsibilities in further strengthening our nation. We all know that we shoulder responsibilities based on our professions whether they be in the civil service, business or even as parents and teachers. We know we must excel in these duties in order to succeed as individuals and as a nation.

However, there is a higher responsibility – not written in any legal document but instead enshrined in humanity and history – a natural responsibility and duty that we all must shoulder equally, irrespective of who we are. Of paramount importance to the strength of a nation, is the ability of her people to live as one united family – a community in which interaction is marked by trust, understanding and cooperation."

My entry was the first prize-winning essay in the "Out of School" age category. This is my entry:


"Human beings have the remarkable ability to organize themselves into groups and to work collectively. This enabled early humans to build families, tribes, clans, and ultimately form countries and nation-states and become subjects and citizens of such countries.

The concept of a “nation-state” was first propounded by the ancient Greeks and Romans. This has been the single-most important development in human history which gave rise to the democratic institutions of today.

Bhutan became a nation-state after the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 17th century; he took various measures to unify the various valleys and consolidate power. He strived to give Bhutan a unique identity through customs and traditions which are alive and vibrant even to this day.

It was under Zhabdrung that the concept of “Chhoe-Syid”, the dual system of government, came into being. This was a crude form of democracy where only a select group of powerful people elected the rulers – the Desis, Penlops and Dzongpoens. The Bhutanese people, however, continued to be subjects under these rulers with very little aspirations of their individual rights.

The golden reign of the monarchy followed in 1907, thus beginning a period of peace, prosperity and development unprecedented in Bhutan’s entire history. Under the benevolent reign of our hereditary monarchs, the people, however, continued to remain faithful subjects.

All that changed in 2008, and it was a coming of age of sorts for the Bhutanese people, when parliamentary elections took place. Although the Constitution recognized the Druk Gyalpo as Head of State, most of the King’s powers were transferred to the Parliament and Cabinet of Ministers who are elected by the people.

While this was the overarching feature of the historic move, what was largely overlooked by the populace was that the Bhutanese people had now become “citizens” of Bhutan; they were no longer mere “subjects” under a ruler.

It was His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s wisdom and far-sightedness that he felt that the Bhutanese people were now mature enough to shoulder power and responsibilities on their own.

As all institutions from the Judiciary to the Constitutional Bodies to the Bureaucracy continue to redefine their roles and mandates under the new form of Government, the realization of the Bhutanese people of their new roles as citizens is slowly taking place.

The Bhutanese people have, in recent years, referred to the Constitution under Article 7 which guarantees Fundamental Rights to all Bhutanese citizens, and asserted their rights like never before. But what many Bhutanese still don’t realize is that the next article of the Constitution, Article 8, spells out certain Fundamental Responsibilities as well, to be fulfilled by all Bhutanese citizens.

With the advent of democracy we, Bhutanese, have become good at claiming our rights but we are not always so ready to recognize our responsibilities. A proper understanding of Rights and Responsibilities gives rise to a healthy “civil society” in a nation-state. Responsible and active citizens who value the system of government and work towards a shared vision thus give birth to a healthy civil life.

The key to the success of democracy in our country is an informed and engaged citizenry. We not only have a right to be informed but also a responsibility to be informed; informed about the issues on which we are asked to make decisions, for example, during elections etc.

A good citizenship means citizens have responsible values, behaviour, and attitudes. It requires knowledge of society’s major social, political and legal institutions, and citizens have to have the capacity and temperament to participate in these institutions, along with the awareness of rights and responsibilities that citizenship offers. Citizens need to participate in the civil life of the community either through formal participation, which is to stand in elections or vote in one, or through individual and collective efforts to build stronger communities.

This is part of the “natural responsibility” that His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk talked about in his National Day Address in 2010.

While it is important that everyone earns a meaningful livelihood and excels at one’s trade, a much higher responsibility must be shouldered by Bhutanese citizens to ensure that our country’s security and sovereignty as well as economic, cultural and environmental resources are firmly secured. This added responsibility is our higher calling, in fact, citizenship is every person's highest calling.

His Majesty had once said that our development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, to him, meant “Development with Values.” Similarly, for Bhutanese citizens to answer to a higher calling and shoulder responsibilities beyond one’s family and one’s job, values such as being mindful of one’s neighbours, community, society, and country as a whole, are of the essence.

This is where Fundamental Responsibilities of citizens serve an important purpose. A democratic society cannot function without guaranteeing fundamental rights of its citizens and its citizens cannot function democratically without discharging their fundamental duties in society. Citizens earn their rights from their duties discharged well. The duty of one person is the right of another person; if everyone fulfilled their respective duties, everyone’s rights would be automatically safeguarded. Consciousness of these responsibilities is as crucial as defending our inalienable rights.

His Majesty has often emphasized that as a small nation the most important resource of our country is its people. He has repeatedly expressed his faith and confidence in the Bhutanese people.

His Majesty’s words of wisdom come alive during those times when the entire nation comes together in moments of celebration or tragedy, and we’ve witnessed many such moments in the last few years.

The whole nation united as one to celebrate the glorious enthronement of His Majesty as the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, to celebrate 100 years of the Wangchuk dynasty, and the Royal Wedding of His Majesty to Gyaltsuen Jestun Pema.

On the other hand, tragedies such as earthquakes, floods, and fires brought together all Bhutanese people in solidarity. The nation wept as one as we were afflicted with one tragedy after another. Citizens contributed in cash and kind to assist relief efforts.

It is this sense of oneness that the Bhutanese people have to hold on to in all times to come if we are to thrive as a country. Furthermore, to let democracy flourish Bhutanese citizens have to exhibit good civic behaviour. It is akin to a relationship a couple shares; citizenship is basically the relationship that citizens share with the country. This relationship has to be based on mutual trust and understanding, as well as fulfilling responsibilities from either side, and safeguarding rights of the other.

The relationship between citizens and the country, and the feeling of oneness shared by the people, will strengthen with values such as kindness, care and compassion for one’s country and people; living with honesty, integrity, and respect for self and others; by being understanding and tolerant of one’s government and fellow citizens; striving for excellence and being mindful of one’s responsibilities.

Armed with such a moral compass we, Bhutanese citizens, have to boldly step into modern and exciting, albeit uncertain times. Armed with values bestowed upon us through the wisdom of our forefathers we have to face modern challenges. Armed with a firm awareness and execution of our fundamental duties we have to uphold our rights.

Speaking for myself, I clearly remember the first time I became aware of my rights and responsibilities as a Bhutanese citizen. While in school the values of “Tha-Damtshi” and “Ley-Jumdrey”, service to the “Tsa-Wa-Sum”, tenets of our etiquette code of conduct, “Driglam Namzha” etc. are ingrained in every Bhutanese child and I received my fair share of sound grounding in those values.

But it was only in high school while learning Bhutan Civics that I learnt for the first time about citizen’s rights and responsibilities. My teacher was comprehensive about the topic and stressed, with good reason, on the importance of responsibilities over rights.

It was unfortunate, though, that when all the exciting changes were taking place in the country with the enthronement of the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, signing of the Constitution and election of the First Parliament, I was away from the country for my college studies. I, therefore, never had a chance to vote in the first ever parliamentary elections of our country.

I had to watch from the sidelines at all the changes that were taking place in our country. I was a silent spectator but one with a keen interest with what all was happening. The only way of keeping myself abreast about changes back home was to read about it in the various online newspaper articles. I made sure to make time to read the news everyday despite of the burden of college studies and followed every story very closely.

It was only early this year that I got back from college, and as soon as I did, I tried to bring myself up to speed about what had been happening here at home. One of the first things I did was to reread our Constitution; the first time I had read it was when it was just a Draft Constitution while it was being taken around the country for public consultations by Their Majesties the Kings.

Armed with basic knowhow about the Supreme Law of our country, I then started taking part in forums conducted by the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) where the concepts of “Culture of Democracy”, “Civil Society”, “Open Society”, “Role of Media in a Democracy”, “Media Literacy” etc. were deliberated by an audience consisting of civil servants, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, private entrepreneurs, teachers, and students.

These concepts are inherently deep and philosophical but on an individual basis, very simple and personal. For me, it was a moment of reflection of my own duties as a citizen and in what ways I could shoulder this “natural responsibility”.

Attending these forums and listening to the views of my fellow citizens, most of them experts in these topics, and contributing whatever little I had understood on my own, was the first step I took in fulfilling my responsibility to be informed.

Soon after I got back home our nation plunged into the “Rupee Crunch”. Soon after that came reports of scams that rulers in the current government were involved in. Then came reports of new political parties and about the next parliamentary elections in 2013.

Much was written about it in the newspapers and one needed some form of censor to sift through the jargon and get an idea about what was actually happening; one had to be media-literate to be able to read between the lines and understand the fine undertones. In the face of a barrage of confusing news reports I read extensively to get the whole picture in each case and tried to develop a balanced view in each story.

Armed with some awareness I got myself into discussions with friends, colleagues, elders, civil servants, aspiring politicians, about all these issues, and I felt that such an engagement on my part is what a vibrant democracy encourages and so dearly needs – for its citizens to come together and discuss ideas and opinions, to share experiences and aspirations, and to express themselves openly.

One time I was invited by BCMD to participate in a Civic Engagement Workshop for trainee teachers. I was asked to talk to the participants about my work as a Youth Volunteer for the Youth Development Fund when I was in high school.

I seized the opportunity to impart some of my sentiments about active citizenship to the trainee teachers. I feel teachers are an influential group of people, who touch the lives of so many children and make a huge difference. Apart from urging the trainee teachers to be mindful about concepts such as active citizenship, media literacy, rights and responsibilities, I further implored them to discuss such concepts with their students as well. While we have democracy now, our citizens need education in citizenship and its tenets from a very young age.

The next opportunity that came my way was when I was attending the National Graduate Orientation Program, 2012. All Ministries and relevant agencies of the government (ACC, RAA, RCSC etc.), private (BCCI) and corporate (DHI) sector came and oriented the graduates on policy matters. Graduates had a chance ask questions regarding government policies and I grabbed the chance, many times over, to ask some of my own doubts as well.

In between the Orientation Program and RCSC Exams, I was busy organizing a Career Guidance Program for Class 12 students of Motithang Higher Secondary School, in my capacity as an Alumnus of the school. While providing them essential information about various courses that are on offer in college, to what all career opportunities these courses can offer later, I asked the students to be mindful of their responsibilities to themselves, their families, and to the country, and to make themselves capable of shouldering such responsibilities. I also urged them to get their voter identity cards processed and to vote in the upcoming Parliamentary elections in 2013.

It has been a wonderful break after college, a kind of sabbatical, before I start working. With the activities I got myself involved in over the last few months, I believe I utilized this time fruitfully in educating myself about my role as a Bhutanese citizen, a role that goes further than my family and career.

I will soon be working for the government in providing medical services to the people. It is a given that I will not be able to participate so actively in forums and discussion as I have tried to in these past few months but I am sure that my conscience will not allow me to be a silent spectator any more.

One of the first things I will be doing is getting myself registered as a voter in the upcoming parliamentary elections and casting my vote to the candidates I feel are the most capable of running our government.

I want to be an active participant in civil society and work with my fellow countrymen in addressing some of the issues we’re currently faced with. While we may feel limited in our capacity to bring about any real positive change, a small part played by each individual will go a long way than a huge effort made by our government. And change need not be on grandiose levels; I plan on starting small and then building up momentum from there.

Equipped with the wisdom of Buddhist philosophy and values passed down by my parents and elders, I would like to make small changes wherever I can, and make a difference in as many lives as I can. Even the simple act of smiling at a stranger, opening a door for someone, or offering donations to the needy, will make a difference. I would not like to wait for my leaders to come and act as saviours for the problems that we live with everyday.

I have faith in the values that I carry with me at all times and an unshakeable belief that these values will guide me in shouldering my natural responsibilities, my duties as a citizen. As I mature and start my own family, I would like to raise my children to be well-rounded individuals who respect age-old values and use them to recognize their natural responsibilities, not only in principle, but more so by practice.

Citizens have to be involved in the affairs of the state, be informed about issues, be cognizant of social and citizenship duties, and be willing to answer beyond the call of duty.

We cannot afford to be selfish and only care about our own selves, as Aristotle famously expressed: “To take no part in the running of the community's affairs is to be either a beast or a god!” We have to affirm Their Majesties faith in the Bhutanese people – that we are mature and confident enough to shoulder the natural responsibility of serving our country with all that we have."