Bhutan - Language of the country

Two most spoken languages of Bhutan are Dzongkha and Nepali. Dzongkha, which is the national language of Bhutan, is spoken in most parts of Bhutan, while Nepal is mainly used by the people of southern region, for most of them have their roots Nepal. However, as there are different valleys in Bhutan that are isolated from each other by torrential rivers and deep gorges, many of these valleys developed their own dialect. Some examples of these dialects and or languages spoken are Assamese, Limbu, Santali, Sherpa, Assamese, Gurung, Western Gurung and Eastern Magar.

The national language ( Dzongkhan), which is spoken by about 130,000 people in Bhutan, is a Sino-Tibetan language which is quite closely related to Tibetan and distantly related to Chinese. To give an example of how the Dzongkhan looks like in writing, the diagram below showcases consonants that are used to write most of the common words in Dzongkha :

In addition to the writing, I feel that to gain further insight into Bhutan’s culture, it is important to learn some of the simple sentences in their national language and the way to pronounce it. Hence, listed below are sentences spoken in Dzongkha which I feel are important when travelling to Bhutan :

1) Hello (or greetings). Kuzu Zangpo.

2) How are you? Ga de bay ye?

3) Where is the toilet? Chhabsang ga ti mo?

4) How much is the cost of this item? Di gi gong ga dem chi mo?

However, as globalization continues to spread rapidly around the world, the use of the English language is now more important than ever. According to research, more than 20% of the world’s population speak the English language. Hence, in order to cope with globalization, more emphasis is being place on the English language in Bhutan as well. In Bhutan, most people that are related to the tourism industry can understand and speak English. In schools too, English is used to teach subjects such as mathematics, science and geography. Because of this, I am of the opinion that English has taken precedence over Dzongkha in terms of students' interest and their literacy. With that said, it is important to note that the study of Dzongkha is still compulsory in all schools of Bhutan. This, in my opinion, is done in order to maintain the culture of the country from being “over-diluted” by globalization. In addition, I feel that it is also interesting to know that many sounds in Dzongkha language do not have a match in the English language. Hence, it is difficult to write the exact pronunciation in English.

Bhutan - Mode of Education

Prior to the 1960s, education was provided only by monasteries and religious leaders. Due to the impacts of globalisation, a modern, or ‘westernised’ style, of educational system was introduced in Bhutan after 1960. In the interim, more than 340 schools and institutions of higher education have been established, including over 150 community schools to serve remote rural areas. However, many of these schools have no sanitation facilities, electricity, or drinking water, and students may have to walk several hours a day to get to them. A growing number of children in Bhutan are attending school, but over 50% still do not attend. This is because unlike Singapore, education is not compulsory in Bhutan.

The educational system of Bhutan consists of seven years of primary schooling followed by four years of secondary school. The objective of the primary education in Bhutan is not only to equip the students with basic literacy and numeracy skills but also to impart knowledge of the country's history, geography and traditions. In addition, the functional skills such as fundamentals of agriculture, health and hygiene and population education have also been incorporated in the primary school curriculum. As mentioned, the language used to teach these subject is English.

The minimum official entry age into the formal education system is 6 at the Pre-Primary (PP) class. Primary schooling (PP-VI) is provided in the community primary, primary, lower secondary and in some of the middle secondary schools. At the end of Primary education, students appear for the national level All Bhutan Class Six Examinations conducted by the individual schools. The question papers are still prepared by the Bhutan Board of Examinations. Similar to Singapore, a Ministry of Education take charges of all education matters within Bhutan.

To sum up, I would like to give my two cents worth on the education system of Bhutan. I feel that although Bhutan is a ‘victim’ of globalization in terms of education-wise, they are still doing their best to preserve their nation’s culture by providing traditional monastic education to the public. Also, it is my opinion that there is a low percentage of children attending school because most of their parents are also not educated. Unlike Singapore and other first world countries, it is not Bhutan’s culture whereby a high education means good job prospect. Hence, most parents would rather keep their children at home and save on school fees and miscellaneous school-related fees.

Bhutan - Festivals & Sports

Tshechu

One of the most celebrated festivals in the Bhutanese calendar is the Tshechu which takes place on auspicious days all year-round. Tshechu is a mask dance festival to commemorate the events in the life of Guru Rinpochoe, who is revered as the second Buddha in Bhutan. The main highlight of the Tshechu is the performance of the masked dances by the monks. It is performed in all the Dzongs and in many monasteries and temples spread throughout Bhutan. During the event, there is also a display of Thongdrol; which are large scroll paintings of deities and saints which the people believes have powers to liberate them from sins that they had committed, just by looking at it.

The Tshechu is considered to be Bhutan’s most common traditional event and draws people from all walks of life to participate and witness. It is extremely popular with western tourists as it gives an authentic and flavourful insight into Bhutan’s cultural and religious extravaganza. Not only that, this festival also serves as a platform for social get-together and the locals will wear their finest clothes and jewelleries when attending. Again, I feel that the Tshechu highlights the importance on religious influence over the culture of Bhutan as it showcases their Buddhism faith during the festival.

Archery

Archery in Bhutan is considered by the Bhutanese as their national sport. However, if you ask any locals, they would have the opinion that archery is more than a sport to them. To them, it is a living example and a dynamic manifestation of the unique culture and traditions of Bhutan. Each village has its own archery range and hence, it is easy to imagine how well-liked the game is to the Bhutanese. Once a week, village teams will compete against each other in rowdy, elaborate, multi-day tournaments that are as much about spectacle as they are about hitting a target. Archers can use almost any means at their disposal to distract or demoralize their opponents, including dancing in front of the targets. Hence, I feel that a major part of this game goes on behind the scenes, as teams conspire to throw off their opponents’ game. It is this, rather than what I typically think of as team interaction, that gives Bhutanese archery such popularity.

As Bhutan is a country deep in religious beliefs, the bow and arrow can only be used for play. In fact, when making arrows, one can use only feathers that were found on the ground; to kill a bird to obtain its feathers would be considered wrong. Also, sticking very closely to their culture, they have forgo the use of modernised bow but instead rely on the traditional hand-carved bamboo bows.

Bhutan - What is it known for?

First and foremost, Bhutan is known for its sovereignty . Although the country adopt a constitutional monarchy system, its head of state is addressed as the King of Bhutan or in Bhutanese term, Druk Gyaplo which translates to Dragon King in English. Although this sovereignty could be passed down among family members of the royal blood, the King’s position could be removed by a two-thirds majority vote from the parliament. Also, as Bhutan is a very religious country, they have a religious officer called Je Khenpo that is typically viewed as the closest and most powerful advisor to the King of Bhutan. Currently, the Je Khenpo is Trulku Jigme Chhoeda.

King of Bhutan :

Je Khenpo :

Secondly, Bhutan is also known for having the smallest economy in the world. It is heavily based on agriculture and forestry and is responsible for the livelihood of more than 60% of the population. However, thanks to globalisation and its impact on technology, Bhutan is now able to communicate with the rest of the world. Although the economy is small, the people take their happiness level seriously. On the “World Map of Happiness”, Bhutan came in 8^th position.

Thirdly, Bhutan is also known for its exceptional natural beauty and unique, fascinating culture. The people of Bhutan are known for their vibrant and lively lifestyle and warm hospitality. Often referred to as "the living museum" of the world, Bhutan is famous for its well-preserved historical cities and ruins, Dzongs (Fortress) with their remarkable architectural style, Buddhist monasteries and temples etc. They are one of the rare countries that emphasis a lot on the preservation of their natural culture and tradition and at the same welcoming tourist arrival. Hence, many western tourists love to visit Bhutan to gain an insight into their exciting culture.

Last but not least, Bhutanese people are known for their extraordinary weaving and crafting skills. With a rich legacy of weaving handed down from one generation to the other, Bhutanese weavers have been able to preserve the centuries old craft in its traditional form. Bhutanese women are also expected to know how to weave and this chore is often interwined with raising a family and farming. Not only that, what is unique in my opinion is that again, the Bhutanese has not choose to ‘surrender’ to globalization and adopt the modernised way of weaving. Instead, they opt to use their traditional methods as they feel it is one of the country’s most important heritage.

Bhutan - Changes in the country brought by tourism

As estimated by the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ), tourism generates nearly 12% of the world’s total GNP. It is, therefore, no surprise that every country wants a “cut” in this lucrative market. Bhutan is no different. However, one must understand that in the process of receiving this economic boost, impacts brought about would also be proportionate in comparison.

In the case of Bhutan, they have so far minimized the amount of negative impact tourism can bring such as loss of culture due to the way they have ‘manipulated’ the tourist arrival. It recognizes that a small country emerging from centuries of isolation must accept tourism in its own time and at its own pace. Hence, changes brought about by the growth of tourism in Bhutan can be referred to as existent, but minimal.

The first change that I felt was the most significant is that every tourism provider in Bhutan are expected to know basic English. Tour guides play the most important role in Bhutan’s ‘controlled-tourism’ economy. They are required to be with the tourist once the tourist arrives and act as an ambassador of sustainable tourism in Bhutan. At the same time, they also act as the interpreter of Bhutan’s culture to the tourist. Hence, these tour guides would have to know basic English in order to communicate with the visitors.

Example of tour Guide in Bhutan :

The second change is the change of landscape. As part of the tourism plan issued by the Government in 2009, more than 100 acres of land across Bhutan has been segregated for the creation of tourism infrastructure like quality hotels, spas, wellness centers. In total the government would acquire 500 acres with 180 acres in the centre, 120 acres in the south, 110 acres in the west and 60 acres in the east. This, again, showcases the country’s desire to take part in the booming tourism market.

By recognizing the potential of their country’s attraction, Bhutan is undergoing a series of plans to ensure that they are able to cater to mass tourism in the future. Furthermore, with the growth of tourism in Bhutan, the Government also sees the need to ‘accept’ globalization into their country by introducing more technological advancements such as online credit card system and online visa processes. This will help reduce the hassle of tourists when they want to visit Bhutan.

Bhutan - Has tourism commodify culture & traditions?

As tourism continues to become a dominant force in today’s economy, it can hardly be seen as a surprise when countries go to extreme measures to market themselves as a “touristy” destination. They will tend to select their nation’s most ‘unique factor’ and promote it extensively; such that when a foreigner think of that particular country, it will naturally associate the country with the ‘unique factor’. An extremely good example in my opinion is the city of Paris. When people think of Paris, the first thing that comes into their mind is the Eiffel Tower. Such a trend is what we term as commodification.

Eiffel Tower :

In the case of Bhutan, their unique culture and tradition is the country’s proudest heritage. Hence, is it safe to say that in the process of tapping into the tourist market, Bhutan has allowed itself to fall into the “tourism-trap”, choosing to market their culture and tradition like other commodities?

Till date, my answer is no. Through research, I have discovered that Bhutan is a country buried deep in religious belief. Every aspect of their life revolves around the Buddhism faith. An example would be the way they celebrate their festival, the Tshechu. Although they are willing to showcase this traditional religious celebration to foreign visitors, they would not resort to staging a performance just to allow their country be known for this particular event. However, as mentioned, the key word here is till date. I believe that by allowing tourists to participate in certain rituals will have a negative long-term effect. This is because I feel rituals serve a certain traditional purpose; they were not devised to function as a spectacle for tourists. In the long-run, I have the tentative opinion that once more tourists are participating in the ritual, the Tsechun will become tourist entertainment and the objects associated with this festival such as the masks seen below will turn into souvenirs. Hence, they lose their cultural value and become mere capital goods.

Moving on, another evidence to prove that Bhutan is not commodifying their culture and tradition currently is that they view it as their most proud of and valuable asset. Tourism has been an important mechanism for publicizing the country’s culture and traditions to the outside world, and interactions with tourists have contributed to a sense of national identity, making Bhutanese proud of their country’s unique culture and environment. Hence, to ask them to commodify and market their culture and environment extensively as a simple commodity would be akin to commodification of the Bhutanese way of life. In my opinion, I believe that this will not go down well with the people and they will never accept this even if it means better economic growth through tourism.

As a conclusion, I feel that no country can escape the fate of commodification if they want to venture into tourist market. It is a strong and inevitable marketing tool that will eventually consume Bhutan’s culture and tradition. Although the Government and people are taking a strong stand towards preservation instead of commodification currently, they will eventually succumb to the power of globalisation and realise the need to improve in order to sustain their economy. Hence, they will come to a point in time whereby they start to open their doors to the high demand for heritage tourism and in the process, commodifying their once rich and unique culture.

Bhutan - Disneyfied!

First of all, I would like to share my view on Disneyfication as a whole. In my opinion, Disneyfication leads to the inevitable loss of culture. As the process of Disneyfication brings about the growing influence of themed environments, many natural heritage present in the country would have to make way. With the immense success of Disneyland, it is extremely difficult for a country’s economy to resist such a lucrative force of development and progression. Yes, Disneyfication will severely dilute a country’s culture and tradition; but on the hindsight, many 3^rd world country especially in the Asia region has to adopt it in order to compete for a share of the massive tourism market. Hence, I feel that instead of repressing Disneyfication in a society, people should accept the fact that the continuous effects of globalization in a country will eventually bring about Disneyfication.

In the case of Bhutan, the country can be considered as an emerging nation after centuries of isolation. The Government and people realise that globalization within the country has to take place now in order for them to be placed on the world map and eventually lead them out of poverty. En route their road-map towards global recognition, they have to tap into many different diversity of industries to support their economy, and the tourism industry plays a massive role. Although the country still pursues tourism without having to dilute their natural culture and heritage, signs of Disneyfication is beginning to creep in.

Firstly, while most of the resort and hotels in Bhutan still subscribe to the unique Bhutanese architectural aesthetic, an emerging concern to conservationists is the loss of traditional building technologies and that of mass scale concrete ‘replication’ of traditional architectural forms paying somewhat of a ‘lip service’ to the original architecture of the region. This means that while the new buildings appear to be traditional, they are becoming mere concrete replicas of traditional stone and wooden architecture, resulting in a gradual loss of material authenticity as part of ‘Disneyfication’ of historic settlements. An example would be in mid-town Thimphu, where in the downtown market area, concrete columns are painted over in traditional imagery to imitate old timber architecture.

Library of Bhutan in Thimphu :

Secondly, a classic display of Disneyfication is on one of the communication methods of Bhutan - postage stamps. Pictures of Disney characters are plastered on Bhutan postage stamps shown below. This is an example of how Bhutan is theming its stamps in a narrative (Disney characters) that is largely unrelated to the country’s culture and beliefs. Merchandising is prominent here as well because it is selling goods that bear that copyright images of Walt Disney.