The Constitution of Bhutan says: "for the political system in Bhutan to be secular where religion was
elevated to the higher pedestal through the declaration, ‘religion shall
remain above politics"
Well, Religion ought to be above the politics not only in Bhutan, but any where in the world.
However looking into the scenario of Bhutanese political system specially in rural Bhutan, I don't really feel there is a distinction between the two. A religious community comprises not only of monks but also the Gomchens, Tshampas, and Nuns. And most of the educated ones in the rural areas, who are a little better than the mass (so called labshay ngenshay people), are but Gomchens and Tshampas and they are also the only ones who participate in the electoral process. For this they have to give away their religious identity by cutting their hairs short ( for the tshampas) to availing the voter cards by changing their occupation in their citizen identity card. This was what I noticed in the first ever democratic election process in Bhutan 2008. And that I think it is out of religious ethics and codes. But still that is how it worked in rural Bhutan and will do the same in the future too. Without this there can't be good people in decision making process, and so is the question: Is Religion entirely above politics in Bhutan?
Well, Religion ought to be above the politics not only in Bhutan, but any where in the world.
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| Source: Google |
- Religion is a spiritual thing and must maintain its sanctity.
- Politics is hurly-burly thing that happens on the ground with all kind of both truth and lies and deceptions to fill the vote bank, all the promises that may be both false and true, both good and bad.
- There can't be a good harmony, effective system and a just society without certain distinction between them,as their main motto is entirely different.
- Both must be allowed to operate independently for the betterment of men and society.
However looking into the scenario of Bhutanese political system specially in rural Bhutan, I don't really feel there is a distinction between the two. A religious community comprises not only of monks but also the Gomchens, Tshampas, and Nuns. And most of the educated ones in the rural areas, who are a little better than the mass (so called labshay ngenshay people), are but Gomchens and Tshampas and they are also the only ones who participate in the electoral process. For this they have to give away their religious identity by cutting their hairs short ( for the tshampas) to availing the voter cards by changing their occupation in their citizen identity card. This was what I noticed in the first ever democratic election process in Bhutan 2008. And that I think it is out of religious ethics and codes. But still that is how it worked in rural Bhutan and will do the same in the future too. Without this there can't be good people in decision making process, and so is the question: Is Religion entirely above politics in Bhutan?
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