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Bhutan House

Coordinates:27°04′41″N88°29′18″E/ 27.078184°N 88.488377°E/27.078184; 88.488377
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Bhutan House
Bhutan House is located in West Bengal
Bhutan House
Location withinWest Bengal,India
General information
TypeDzong/Palace
LocationKalimpong,West Bengal,India
Coordinates27°04′41″N88°29′18″E/ 27.078184°N 88.488377°E/27.078184; 88.488377
Current tenantsQueen MotherAshiKesang Choden Wangchuck
Completedca. 1912
OwnerDorji family
Technical details
Floor count2
Other information
Number of rooms12+
References
[1][2][3]

Bhutan Houseis an estate located inKalimpong,West Bengal,India,owned by theDorji familyofBhutan.The site is the traditional administrativeDzongfor southern Bhutan, and also functioned as the administrative center for the whole of western Bhutan during the modern kingdom's early years of consolidation.[2][4]It represented the relationship between Bhutan andBritish India,and is a modern symbol ofBhutan–India relations.[2]

It is the home of Queen GrandmotherAshiKesang Choden Wangchuck,the grandmother of the current Bhutanese king,Druk GyalpoJigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck.[2][3][5]

Building and grounds[edit]

Located inKalimpong,the estate is on Rishi Road, leaving town, between the 10th and 12th miles, just before its fork.[1]The property has fencing and a driveway toward the stone double-storied Victorian-style complex. The landscaped lawns feature a smallstupacontaining the ashes ofAyiThubten Wongmo and a whitechortencommemorating the late Rani Chuni.[2]Bhutan House overlooks theRelli Riverbelow a deep valley.[6]

The interior is of dark wood. The first floor contains a sitting room for guests and the dining room. Upstairs are the bedrooms and family altar room. The room of the late Rani Chuni is kept as originally furnished with Bhutanesechodems(carved tables), woven materials, books, and other artifacts.[2]

In total, the main house contains over a dozen rooms, including a long hall on each floor. The detached kitchen is also two-storied, connected to the main structure by a small bridge.[6]Alhakhang(Buddhist temple) is also located on the premises.[3]

History[edit]

The land that was to become Bhutan House was ceded fromBhutantoBritish Indiain 1865 at the conclusion theBhutan Warand as a condition of theTreaty of Sinchula.The land became a subdivision ofDarjeelingin 1916, and became part of a hill station.[6][7]

In 1910, Sikkim Political Officer andTibetologistSirCharles Alfred Bellengaged Bhutan and signed theTreaty of Punakhaand other agreements that had the effect of assigning land inMotithang(Thimphu) and a hill station betweenChukhaandThimphuto the British, assigning a portion ofKalimpongto Bhutan, and doubling theper annumsubsidy from Britain to Bhutan.[8]Bhutan House itself was reportedly constructed by the Dorjis especially to host theThirteenth Dalai Lama.[9]The grounds were consecrated by Chogley Yeshey Ngodrup on his return from a pilgrimage toBodh Gaya.[10]

The Dorji family[edit]

Further information:Dorji familyandHistory of Bhutan

The powerfulDorji familybecame prominent through their ties to the Wangchuck family and to the British.[11]Kazi Dorji had advised the future First King to mediate between theBritishandTibet,[12]: 35 and it wasKaziDorji who was later responsible for the large-scaleinduction of Nepalis into Bhutan.[11]During the early years of the Dorji family's prominence, members of the family served asgongzim(chief chamberlain, the top government post),[13]and their official residence was at the palatial Bhutan House.

KaziUgyen Dorjisettled the land and took advantage of the lucrative trade routes throughKalimpong,and by 1898 assumed the roles of Trade Agent and mediator between theBritish EmpireandTibet.The estate, which contained notable stables, contributed significantly to the development of the community and commerce in Kalimpong.[2]

From Bhutan House,RajaSonam Topgay Dorji( "Topgay Raja" ) held the post of Trade Agent to the Government of Bhutan, however he functioned to a large extent as prime minister, foreign minister, and ambassador toIndia.Through this position as a trade intermediary, the Dorji family amassed wealth reputedly greater than that of the royal family.[14]Topgay Raja himself married aSikkimeseprincess,[14][15]fatheringJigme Palden Dorji,futurePrime Minister.Another of Topgay Dorji's sons, Ugyen, was recognized as alamaat Bhutan House as a young boy.[16][17]

Bhutan House was whereRajaSonam Topgay Dorji(CIE) lived. From here, Sonam Topgay Dorji was Agent for Foreign Relations for the Royal Government, as well as Governor ofHaa(1917-1924), directly abutting the estate. It was also at Bhutan House that Sonam Topgay Dorji died suddenly in September 1953. The event seemed to symbolize a dark cloud of misfortune for the Dorji family, which they believed to be a curse.[14]

After two generations of growing influence, the sister of Prime MinisterJigme Palden Dorji– the daughter of TopgayRaja– married theThird King of Bhutan,creating a new bond so prominent as to cause some discontent among other Bhutanese families.[14][18]The public was divided between pro-modernist and pro-monarchist camps.[13]

Foreign affairs[edit]

Because of the influence of theDorji familyand its members' fluency inEnglish,Bhutan House was the sole outlet for communication between thegovernmentand the outside world.[2]Topgay's professional and personal contacts withIndiaas it gained independence from theBritish Empireproved invaluable toBhutanas it sought to modernize and develop.[2]

Bhutan House was naturally the locus of social engagement between Bhutan and itsSikkimese– and laterIndian– neighbors.[17]It hosted lavishLosarparties, including Tibetan andCham dancing.[2]

From Bhutan House, the Dorji family supported Western education of Bhutanese youths, paving the way for educational reforms under the Third King.[2]The estate also has its own radio station broadcast fromBhutan.[19]

Tibetan connection[edit]

The Thirteenth Dalai Lama stayed at Bhutan House for three months.
TheThirteenth Dalai Lamastayed at Bhutan House for three months.

Kalimponghas remained an important trade center and home for many Tibetan expatriates, and Bhutan House is notable amongTibetansbecause of its association withDalai Lamas.

In 1912, theThirteenth Dalai Lama,Thubten Gyatso, stayed at the newly built Bhutan House for three months as the guest ofRaja KaziUgyen Dorjiand his sisterAyiThubten Wangmo. The Dalai Lama dubbed the edificeMigyur Ngona Phodrang( "Palace of Unchanging Delight" or "Palace of Unchanging Supreme Joy" ) and presented the household with gifts of altars and consecrated statuettes, as well as many precious religious and secular robes. Once the Dalai Lama returned toTibet,he sent Bhutan House a large gilded bronze statue of himself for the attachedlhakhang(temple) he dubbedDechen Gatsal( "The Happy Garden of Great Bliss" ). In return, the household had offered the Dalai Lama silver to be dedicated for the production of a statue of the Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyedAvalokiteshvara(Chenrezi Chatong Chentong) inLhasa,which the Dalai Lama had made. After the death of his host, the Dalai Lama gave theDorji familyakashog(decree) written on yellow silk and sealed with hisgreat seal;thekashogexpressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received at Bhutan House, and for the efforts of theDorji familyto aid theTibetan people.[3]Because of its association with the Dalai Lama, Bhutan House is still known amongTibetansasMigyur Ngonga Phodrang.[20]

In 1957, the currentFourteenth Dalai Lamaalso stayed at Bhutan House for a week during his stay inIndiaafter meeting withPrime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru.[20]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abWoollan, David (11 December 2006)."Kalimpong".Passplanet.Retrieved12 August2011.
  2. ^abcdefghijkDorji, Khandu-Om (2002)."A Brief History of Bhutan House in Kalimpong"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 January 2012.Retrieved12 August2011.
  3. ^abcdWangchuck, Kesang Choden."Research Note: His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama and Bhutan House in Kalimpong"(PDF).Retrieved12 August2011.
  4. ^Dhakal, D. N. S.; Strawn, Christopher (1994).Bhutan: a movement in exile.Nirala. Vol. 42. Nirala Publications.ISBN81-85693-41-2.Retrieved12 August2011.
  5. ^"History of Swiss Assistance".Helvetas – Bhutan. 13 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2011.Retrieved12 August2011.
  6. ^abcHilker, Deb Shova Kansakar (2005).Syamukapu: The Lhasa Newars of Kalimpong and Kathmandu.Vajra Publications.ISBN99946-644-6-8.Retrieved12 August2011.
  7. ^Arts of Asia.Vol. 17. Arts of Asia Publications. 1987. p. 107.Retrieved12 August2011.
  8. ^Sinha, Awadhesh Coomar (2001).Himalayan kingdom Bhutan: tradition, transition, and transformation.Indus Publishing.ISBN81-7387-119-1.Retrieved12 August2011.
  9. ^Tsarong, Dundul Namgyal; Chödron, Ani K. Trinlay (2000). Ani K. Trinlay Chödron (ed.).In the service of his country: the biography of Dasang Damdul Tsarong, commander general of Tibet.Snow Lion Publications. p. 35.ISBN1-55939-151-0.Retrieved12 August2011.
  10. ^Dorji, Yab Ugyen(1999).Of rainbows and clouds: the life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as told to his daughter.Serindia Publications, Inc. p. 42.ISBN0-906026-49-0.Retrieved12 August2011.
  11. ^abDhakal, D. N. S.; Strawn, Christopher (1994).Bhutan: a movement in exile.Nirala. Vol. 42. Nirala Publications. pp. 316–18.ISBN81-85693-41-2.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^Leo E. Rose (1977).The politics of Bhutan.Cornell University Press. pp. 35–36, 85, 118.ISBN0-8014-0909-8.Retrieved8 August2011.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^abBhutan Foreign Policy and Government Guide.World Foreign Policy and Government Library. Vol. 20. Int'l Business Publications. 2000. pp. 59–61.ISBN0-7397-3719-8.Retrieved9 August2011.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^abcdSangharakshita; Sangharakshita (Bhikshu) (1996)."In the sign of the golden wheel: Indian memoirs of an English buddhist".Windhorse Publications. pp. 26–28.ISBN1-899579-14-1.Retrieved9 August2011.
  15. ^Lingwood, D. P. E. (Sangharakshita) (1991).Facing Mount Kanchenjunga: an English Buddhist in the Eastern Himalayas.Windhorse Publications. pp. 152–4.ISBN0-904766-52-7.Retrieved9 August2011.
  16. ^Vas, E. A. (1986).The dragon kingdom: journeys through Bhutan.Lancer Publishers International. p. 189.ISBN81-7062-007-4.Retrieved12 August2011.
  17. ^abRustomji, Nari (1971).Enchanted frontiers: Sikkim, Bhutan, and India's northeastern borderlands.Vol. 1.Oxford University Press.pp. 161–166.Retrieved12 August2011.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^University of Rajasthan (1978).South Asian studies, Volume 13.South Asian Studies Centre, Dept. of Political Science, University of Rajasthan. pp. 110–12.Retrieved8 August2011.
  19. ^Europa World Year, Book 1.Taylor & Francis.2004. p. 802.ISBN1-85743-254-1.Retrieved12 August2011.
  20. ^abShakabpa, W. D. (1967).Tibet: a Political History.Yale University Press.pp. 230, 313.Retrieved11 August2011.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bhutan_House&oldid=1213957526"