What does the word citizen mean? The dictionary meaning of the
word citizen is ‘a person who has the legal right to belong to a
particular country.’ If we go by the above statement we are undoubtedly the bona
fide citizens of the kingdom
of Bhutan. Yes, we are
all citizens of Bhutan because we are born here and we live here in this
country. This single fact makes us true Bhutanese. Our citizenship identity
cards authenticate our citizenship.
On the contrary, hardly anybody knows or care to know what a true citizen
means and what it takes to be one. As a matter of fact, it is a silently
overstated cliché to us, the Bhutanese. Almost everybody takes it for granted. It
is thought to be everybody’s birthright and enjoys it to the fullest but with
little or no realization and obviously without gratitude. Of course, it is a
birthright in a way but the birthright owes its existence to our past leaders
and forefathers. It is a pity that we cannot feel its everyday essence. To add
to that, it does not have a tangible face value for all of us, that is, to see,
touch and to feel it. We get it for free – not having to pay a *chetrum. And we
are used to not valuing things that come easily to us. That is why, we do not
give due importance to our own citizenship. Besides, it is our forerunners who
paid the price with their dear lives which is why we do not know its price. Even
if we do, we do not care. They experienced the pain first and then the pleasure
of citizenship but we experience only the pleasure. That makes it our greatest
boon and the rarest legacy of our forefathers. So, it surely comes with a price
meaning it is not free and is intangible. It has value but cannot be measured.
It is indefinitely infinite. It is priceless. Its value is like that of the sun
that brightens our land everyday. Its value is like the earth that causes all
lives, air that keeps our lungs pumping, water that runs in our blood veins, and
fire that warms our very being. Its value is our very existence as Bhutanese
and as human beings.
Further, it does not mean that being a citizen is enough to be a
citizen. A citizen has sacred duties to perform, roles and responsibilities to
shoulder. Citizenship does not mean just being born and living in a particular country.
It is more than being born and living in a country. It is more than possessing
a citizenship identity card. It is much more than being a civil servant working
eight hours a day and drawing salaries at the end of the month. Perhaps the changing times have altered the mindset of
the people. The modernization has made our minds forget our values. We seem to have forgotten the principle
saying “having drunk the water of the country one must abide by the laws of the
country.” It seems to become more difficult every passing year to adhere to our
old beliefs and old ways. It seems a lot easier to jump to new beliefs and
adopt new ways. Unlike the past, it is easier for us to speak in outright
manner but very reluctant to perform it. Unlike our ancestors, it is easier for
us to make promises but difficult to keep it. Today, almost anybody and
everybody says, ‘I love my motherland and I can die for my fatherland’ but
nobody (but just a handful) loves ones motherland quite as much and is ready to
die for ones fatherland. Everyone is a brave patriot in times of peace but
everybody is a selfish coward in times of war (except a handful). If anyone thinks
this wrong or offensive, just recall the December 2003 national operation
against the Indian insurgents. Our brave king fought the world’s deadliest militants
with just a handful of soldiers. Fortunately for Bhutan, the militants were
thrashed out and our national sovereignty and identity was reinstated. Indeed,
we are living today as proud Bhutanese because of our beloved king and our
brothers who stood up against terrorism and defended our country. They were the
real sons of soil, the true citizens of Bhutan - Drukpas through and
through. I am certain that we have not forgotten it because it is too fresh an incident
to be forgotten easily by our minds. Besides, it was the most modern and a
historical war of all wars ever fought by Bhutanese for Bhutanese.
In fact, it was the greatest call of duty in the 21st
century after many decades of peace and prosperity but only one percent of the
so-called citizens stood up by the king and 99 percent did not stir from their peaceful
dreams. This in my opinion is not a true citizen’s character rather it is a
character no less than that of a traitor. In all clear conscience, a true
citizen will not sit and watch nor stand silently still nor still hide behind
closed doors when called for national emergency and let its country fall in
front of ones eyes. Instead, a true citizen will not even think twice to attend
to the national duty such as that and shall fight till death to defend her/his
fatherland. We as Bhutanese citizens have failed in our duties - we failed to
serve the *Tsa-wa-sum. We (many of us) failed to serve our king, we failed to
serve our country and we failed to serve our fellow countrymen. We failed in
2003.
Some might argue that they also served their country by way of praying,
reciting mantras and burning butter lamps to the Gods and the Guardian Deities.
It does help and might have helped a lot during the operation but I must say
that the country needed more people in the battlefield than in temples or
homes. The country had enough monks, nuns, senior citizens and young students
to pray and make offerings.
We must remember with our hearts that our beloved Drukgyal Zhipa has never
failed us, not even once. He was there for us since 1972 and he has been there
for us till now and certainly he will be there for us hereafter. He was there
for us everyday, in good times and bad. He never turned his back on us, never.
He did not fail us as a king. He did not fail us as a citizen. He performed his
duties as a king well. He performed his duties as a citizen well. He has been
the first and the foremost to stand up for his country whenever his country and
his people needed. He has always been our loving father, our caring brother and
a true friend, and more so as our supreme protector.
I for one know this much and can say this much that he is the greatest
leader, the best teacher and the truest citizen of Bhutan. He is the greatest
leader because he rules his country and his people with absolute goodness that
the country is continuously developing and the people are happier everyday. He
works hard everyday to ensure continuity of peace, prosperity and sovereignty
for his people. He carefully studies the needs of the country and makes sure
that every need whether big or small is answered. He ensures the overall wellbeing
of his subjects with his noble set up of good governance system. Most of all,
he has led us on the road to democracy which no monarch has ever done in the
history of the world. Besides, he has opened a door to greater peace and happiness
for the Bhutanese people with his unique concept of Gross National Happiness
(GNH) which not even the wisest man in the history of mankind might not have
thought of.
He is the best teacher because he teaches us and shows us the good ways
to bettering the nation and the lives of his subjects. Like Buddha, he teaches
us to follow middle path in all things that we do. He teaches us to be good citizens
and shows us how to serve the nation with honesty and dedication. He teaches us
to be patriots and shows us how to answer the call of duty. He teaches us to
not to be corrupt and shows us how to volunteer for good movements. He teaches
us to be good human beings and shows us real examples.
He is the most ideal citizen because he has never asked his country for
anything but instead he has always done everything he could and given
everything he has to his country and people. He attends to all his duties, big
or small, and most willingly. Indeed, he lives his life absolutely for his
people and his country. Nothing in the whole of the universe can come between
him and his duty. His duty comes before his life. That, he believes and says is
the substance of his life. He said once, “What is the use of a king if it is
not for his people.” Thus, he is aptly comparable to God and his creations: God
who loves his creation dearly.
I, as a citizen of Bhutan wish to confess to my fellow citizens that I
had once failed in my duty just as many others have. Like others, I was too
busy relishing peace and prosperity at home while duty called. I had turned my
back on my country when needed the most. Honestly, I did wake up to the call of
the duty but it was too late. Perhaps, this might seem like an excuse and it
may be a lame excuse with most of us. What I mean is that we have failed once. We
failed to attend to the most important duty as a citizen to the *Tsa-wa-sum. We
may never get an opportunity to redeem ourselves because it is already a
history. Nonetheless and more importantly, we have other equally significant duties
to perform, now and in future. So let us rededicate ourselves for our future duties
and not fail again as Bhutanese. It only takes an inner urge to do it. It is
time that we ask ourselves whether we are failing in our duties or living up to
it as a citizen of Bhutan.
With the historical transition of monarchy to democracy in 2008, we the Bhutanese
have a moral responsibility to make it successful. Since it is aspired and
articulated by our most beloved Drukgyal Zhipa for the best interest of the
people of Bhutan, we cannot afford to let his noble vision in vain. We as the
citizens of Bhutan have a sacred duty of exercising the voting right given to
us and choose the right leader or party. Choosing the right leader or party
means choosing the right government for (we) the people of Bhutan. Casting vote
is our individual duty. Fighting corruption is our individual duty. Serving *Tsa-wa-sum
is our individual duty. So let us think as citizens, act as citizens and be real
citizens. If we are true citizens, we should, would and could vote for the
right leader or party. Let us just ask ourselves, ‘are we true citizens?’
Karma D.
Gyeltshen @2008
DYS,
THIMPHU
17619322/
325084
