Many countries around the world celebrate ‘Independence Day,’ but Bhutan is one of the very few that has the fortune of not having to celebrate one.
Instead, we have our National Day where we as one country and one people celebrate our sovereignty and remember our leaders who kept us safe and secure.
In this respect, the singular and most important contribution of our Monarchy is uniting a fractured Bhutan in 1907, strengthening and securing our sovereignty in unpredictable times at best, and ensuring social and economic development at the same time.
This is no mean task in a tough neighbourhood where the bigger and even the better connected have fallen around us like a house of cards.
However, while we celebrate National Day it should not be just a celebration of the past but a reaffirmation of our commitment to preserve, protect and strengthen Bhutan’s security and sovereignty followed by our commitments to the Tsa-Wa-Sum.
As our world keeps showing how unpredictable it can get, this is not the time to let down our guard and relax.
If we are to thrive and even continue surviving as a nation to be proud of, then we cannot give up the natural instincts and good sense of our ancestors in strengthening and securing the country even during times of peace or prosperity.
Bad times or challenging times never announce when they going to come, but come they will, and given our small size and tough neighbourhood we have to double the strength and resistance.
While today’s generation make take many things for granted, it was only recently in 2003 when there was a grave threat for Bhutan that was only overcome with the heroic leadership of His Majesty The Fourth King.
This National Day let us again take stock and ensure that our national Dzongs of security and sovereignty, within each one of us, help protect and strengthen this great nation and our home.
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.”
Barack Obama