Bhutan stands out as one of the few developing countries that has never been colonized, maintaining its undisrupted cultural and political traditions. Since its founding in the seventeenth century, the country has united state officials and ordinary citizens through a shared narrative of national identity.
Within an egalitarian political structure, common codes like Driglam Namzha, state rituals like Zhugdrel Phuensum Tshogpa, and insignias like designated Kabney and Patang have historically galvanized both officials and citizens. These shared traditions have fostered national unity while inspiring individuals of all backgrounds to excel in serving the Tsa wa Sum.
Who is a hero and what does a hero do?
As an anthropologist who has lived in and studied diverse societies and polities around the world, I have observed how cultural traditions and symbols serve as powerful tools for political cohesion, uniting communities and individuals within a nation. Inspired by His Majesty’s visionary celebration of national heroes during the recent 117th National Day, this article is a humble reflection on how His Majesty has fostered a spirit of dedicated citizenship and heroic service in our country.
In his seminal work National Identity (1991), Anthony D. Smith highlights the unifying power of symbols, myths, and traditions in nation-building. More recently, scholars have examined the role of heroism as a cornerstone in constructing political communities, especially during the times of major socio-economic reforms.
Political institutions employ ‘heroification discourses,’ using narratives and imagery of heroic individuals, groups, and practices to foster a ‘heroic imagination’—the capacity to envision oneself taking morally and politically conscientious and heroic actions. Heroification is fostered through commemorative events and national honours systems. Countries like the UK have expanded such systems to include everyday heroes, making them relatable role models for the broader public.
Social science studies underscore the importance of heroes in all societies. Heroes are viewed as providing three important psychological, social, and physical functions: enhancing and uplifting others; modeling morals, values, and ethics; and protecting the welfare of others.
Studies across multiple countries, involving national surveys and in-depth interviews, have explored how people perceive heroism and how these perceptions inspire collective action. This growing academic interest has spawned dedicated organizations, conferences, and training events promoting heroism as attainable for anyone with the right mindset and tools to act pro-socially in challenging situations.
Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) conceptualizes the archetypal hero as someone who transcends ordinary life to undertake epic journeys and inspire others. In contrast, recent works advocate for a more inclusive, democratic understanding of heroism that encompasses everyday acts. For instance, a single mother heroically raising her children, a stranger returning lost valuables, or a diligent bureaucrat enhancing public service delivery, are all heroes contributing to nation-building.
The question then arises: how do we celebrate the traditional heroism of extraordinary individuals while also recognizing the equally valuable contributions of emerging, everyday heroes?
His Majesty’s enlightened use of honours and recognitions
The recent awarding of national honours to individuals and institutions — from extraordinary figures to essential service providers — demonstrates how national leaders can highlight and promote the best qualities of their nations. His Majesty’s enlightened and progressive approach to national honours has achieved two key outcomes: fostering meritocracy, and promoting equality and inclusivity.
Meritocracy
Certain individuals, due to exceptional intellect, strength, or social circumstances, are capable of rendering extraordinary services. These individuals may come from both privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds but rise above the ordinary to serve the nation in distinguished capacities. National honours play a crucial role in adequately recognizing and encouraging such excellence.
Since the beginning of His Majesty’s reign, traditional honours like designated Kabneys have been reformed and extended to a broader group of recipients. Educationists, private citizens, and even foreigners have been acknowledged for their varied and distinguished contributions alongside traditional civil service recipients.
Masterstrokes such as creation of the Gyentag insignia addressed biases in traditional honours, ensuring inclusivity and gender equity. His Majesty has also introduced and systematized various Classes of the National Order of Merit and revitalized older honours such as the Druk Thuksey, aligning Bhutan with other modern nation-states.
Equality and inclusivity
The globally respected policies and practices of our Monarchy have prioritised the interests of the most vulnerable and celebrated their achievements. For instance, Bhutan’s 117th National Day featured the historic Civil Parade celebrating unsung heroes such as roadside workers, firefighters, and social workers — people whose invaluable contributions are often taken for granted around the world.
Individual acts of heroism were also recognized. For example, a civil servant dedicated to tackling waste management and spreading civil awareness of the issue, or a businessman investing his time and resources to promoting the country’s standing in the global sporting arena, were honoured for their actions. These and other worthy recipients of national honours demonstrate how national recognition can inspire every citizen to make positive social contributions.
Conclusion: A call to service for all
This humble reflection on His Majesty’s enlightened leadership and genuine compassion has sought to examine what constitutes heroic actions in the service of our nation. While it is all too easy to think that heroic actions are innate and limited to a select few, existing studies and His Majesty’s enlightened leadership point to the fact that such collective actions can be systematically promoted in our nation through policy and personal actions of our national leaders. This article argues that just as there can be many forms of heroic social actions, there can also be different ways to honour and promote them.
His Majesty’s Royal Master Class in generatively using national honours to create and recognize national heroes demonstrates that it is possible to meet diverse needs through enlightened leadership and actions. During the National Day celebration, the nation admired the honour of red scarves being conferred on three distinguished servants of the Royal Court and the Royal Government. At the same time, the historic Civil Parade celebrated roadside workers and firefighters, among others, thus valuing and celebrating their contribution to our nation building. Diverse honours thus created cohesion and harmony between our different heroes.
New institutions like De-suung and Gyalsung draw on our country’s traditions of noble heroes (Pazaps) while preparing citizens for future challenges. These initiatives systematically cultivate a heroic mindset, enabling individuals to prioritise public good over narrow personal gain in critical moments. His Majesty’s progressive and inclusive leadership ensures that heroism—both traditional and everyday—is recognized and celebrated, fostering unity and a shared sense of purpose in nation-building. His Majesty’s affirmative Royal actions also preserve time honoured traditions while fostering dynamism and innovation, both critical aspects of nation building.
Contributed by Dendup Chophel
University of Copenhagen