It was a special National Day for Bhutan yesterday, especially for those in attendance in Trongsa.
They were graced by the presence of His Majesty The King, His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey. To have the past, the present, and the future of Bhutan in the very place where the Wangchuck Dynasty was born, is a source of comfort for the citizens of the country because it reassures us that we have a most able leadership to guide us and future generations.
The 109th National Day also occurs in the year when HRH The Gyalsey was born, which is also the birth year of Guru Rinpoche. It is an auspicious occurrence.
It is also the year we celebrate the 400th year after Zhabdrung arrived and unified the country. We also only recently celebrated a decade of His Majesty The King’s reign.
It is indeed a year of many converging significant events. It is a most special year for the Bhutanese people to take note of the long journey that has been undertaken and of the sacrifices that have been made to get us where we stand today. And to honour our past and present by being dutiful and responsible citizens as we go forth into the future.
Bhutan has been blessed with peace, security and stability, due to the farsightedness of the Monarchs, and the blessings of the Kenchosum. However, in His address to the nation, His Majesty expressed concern about economic inequality leading to despair. While His Majesty The King has been granting Kidu, it is also our duty as citizens to not always look to the government for answers. We must become aware of how we can play a larger role and play our part in ensuring that the peace, security and stability we’ve enjoyed for so long, continues.
We also saw many individuals awarded for their exemplary services in the field of education and organisations recognised for their efforts in reaching those the government cannot.
Four individuals, one posthumously were also awarded for their sacrifices and hard work.
We often talk about the lack of role models in Bhutanese society. These individuals and organisations are role models worth emulating.
Towards the evening, His Majesty The King awarded patang to the thrizins of all 20 dzongkhag tshogdus in recognition of the important role local governments play in ensuring the success of democracy. We are reminded of the importance placed by our beloved Monarchs in ensuring the people are empowered. It is our duty going forward that we do not misuse these powers and serve the Tsawa Sum with honesty, dedication and hard work.