The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Royal Visit to Australia was historic on many counts, but it also showed that the core of Bhutanese identity and the glue that binds us all is our King and the Royal Family.
The Royal Visit to Australia by no means was an easy one.
To start with, the Druk Air plane had seats designed for the short haul flights to Delhi and Bangkok and not the longer flights to Australia.
From all accounts, it was a flight full of physical discomfort and the flight occupants were very tired when they landed in Australia but the Royal Family did not complain and kept up their energy and smiles.
The visit was also not an easy one as His Majesty was seeing up close the large numbers of Bhutanese that had left for foreign shores.
Given the natural compassion and deep care that His Majesty has for his people this interaction and sight must not have been easy and this was visible in His Majesty’s deeply emotional moments with his people.
The Royal Visit also showed the extent to which and how closely Bhutanese people and their King are bounded.
It has long been known that the institution of Monarchy is a symbol of national unity, but the Australia visit showed that in Bhutan’s case the roots go much deeper.
Many Bhutanese in Australia could not help breaking down into tears at the mere sight of His Majesty as His Majesty not only represented Bhutan for them but His Majesty was also the embodiment of the culture, nature, family and the very essence of the Bhutan that they had left behind.
The sentiments were certainly not one way as His Majesty showed in his many emotional moments. It is rare for our King to show emotion in public and so what happened in Australia is not only a sign of the love and care in His Majesty’s heart but also a rare privilege.
We have all been computing or talking about the figures in terms of those who left to Australia or how much they make or send home, but His Majesty added a very human touch to the whole issue and showed the human impact of such a large migration.
It is clear once again that Bhutan and Bhutanese in any part of the world are blessed to have His Majesty as our Monarch.
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”
–John Maxwell