Page 1 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 515
Indo-Bhutan Relations: A Historical Study (1949-1971)
Dr. Dilbag Singh Bisla
Center for Rajiv Gandhi Research & Study Aryan's Institute, Rati Bad, Bhopal
Abstract
Bhutan is situated in the Eastern
Himalayas, between 26°45.and 28°N lat and
between 89°45 and 92°25E long, bordered
on the North and East by Tibet and
India, on the West and South by India1
.
With land area of roughly 18000 sq mile,
Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom with
a total population of 6,95,819. Bhutan's
population can be conveniently categorized
into three groups: the Sharchops,
Lhotshampas and the Ngalungs (often
called Drukpas). While the Sharchops and
the Ngalungs live in the Eastern and
Western Bhutan respectively,
Lhotshampas reside in the Southern
region. The Ngalungs are the ruling group
who control the monarchy and the
National Assembly, with a prominent
place in the economy. The Ngalungs
migrated from Tibet and are also called
Drukpas. They follow the Drukpa Kagyu
school of Mahayana Buddhism2
.
Before 1949, Indo-Bhutan relations
were governed by the 1865 Treaty as
amended by January 1910 Treaty. Under
this Treaty, the British Government
undertook to exercise no interference in the
internal affairs of Bhutan, and the Bhutan
Government agreed to be guided by the
advice of the British Government in regard
to its external relations3
.
Legally, it was recognized as a semi- sovereign foreign state unlike that of Sikkim’s
formal “protectorate” status. Finally, it did not
fit into the mould of other Indian Princely
States which were merged with the Indian
Union. Like all the border states, however, it
occupied a vital position in India’s security
environment. The rapid Communist takeover
in China in 1949 and the likelihood of its
expansion, therefore, hastened the conclusion
of a new Treaty between India and Bhutan in
order to define, clearly, future relations.
The 1949 TREATY OBLIGATIONS:
BHUTAN’S SECURITY AND FOREIGN
RELATIONS4
It was termed the Treaty of Perpetual
Peace and Friendship and signed on 8 August
1949. Included were seven major clauses
designed “to regulate in a friendly manner,
and upon a solid and durable basis, the state
of affairs caused by the termination of British
Government authority in India, and to
promote and foster the relations of friendship
and neighbourliness.” Most important in the
Page 2 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 516
Treaty was embodied in Article II, the
provision stating that India would undertake
“to exercise no interfence in the internal
administration of Bhutan .On its part the
government of Bhutan agree to be guided by
the advice of the government of India in
regard to its external relations." 5 The other
Articles pertained to payments to be made as
a result of former treaties, territory to be
returned to Bhutan, trade and commerce and
import and export of arms. 6
India gave
annually Rs.5 lakhs as per the 1949 Treaty.
Arms could be imported into Bhutan “from or
through India"and “as long as the Government
of India is satisfied that the intentions of the
Government of Bhutan are friendly and that
there is no danger to India from such
importation.” Bhutan agreed not to export
arms either through the Government or by
private individuals. it was also agreed that
equal justice would be dispensed to nationals
of either state residing in the other’s territory
and extradition facilities accorded when
necessary.
It was only in 1958 that a breakthrough in
meaningful relations was made when Nehru
accompanied by Mrs. Gandhi, visited Bhutan
in September. Being the first leader of a
foreign country to visit Bhutan, the occasion
was as historic as it was educative7
. During
these talks, Nehru reassured Bhutan of India’s
intentions and interest in its welfare8
. A map
published in July 1958 in China Pictorial
magazine denoting large tracts of not only
Indian but Bhutanese territory as belonging to
China, involved the territorial integrity of
Bhutan as well. The events in Tibet in 1959
increased the tension . On 28 August 1959,
Nehru declared in the Lok Sabha that , ‘ The
Government of India is responsible for the
protection of the borders of Sikkim and
Bhutan and of the territorial integrity of these
two States and any aggression against Bhutan
and Sikkim will be considered as aggression
against India9
.
The Tibetan revolt and its aftermath in
March 1959 had brought home to Bhutan the
realization of its insecure situation. That it had
shown a not-too—sympathetic attitude
towards the Tibetan refugees” may have been
a small attempt to appease China. The overall
effect of this threat, however, was that Bhutan
had made a number of appeals to this threat,
however was that Bhutan grew closser to
India10.However, in the mid-60‘s. the progress
of these developmental plans suffered as a
set-back as a period of internal instability
ensued, first following the assassination of
Prime Minister Dorji on 5 April 1964-
Reports alleged Chinese backing, involving
top army officers. Later in the year, a group of
civilian and army officers fled to Nepal
Where they indulged in anti-Indian
propaganda,
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Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 517
In January in 1965, therefore, Prime
Minister Shastri met the King in Calcutta for a
two-day meeting where both leaders reviewed
recent events and discussed Bhutan‘s
economic development. Regarding the anti- Indian propaganda, Shastri had told newsmen
on 12 January that the King himself had been
embarrassed about these statements and
added,
Bhutan is an independent country and we
have always accepted it. The King himself
agrees that there has been no pressure in any
matter on the part of the Government of
India.11
31 July 1965, an assassination attempt was
made on the King‘s life. Soon after, the
Bhutanese exiles in Nepal alleged India’s
hand in the plot to kill the King which was
refuted by both the Indian Ministry of
External Affairs and the King. A new
alertness was called for by Bhutan and India
as a result of these events, drawing them to a
closer understanding. The Spurt of visits
exchanged in 1966. apart from the events,
were thus regarded as significant. Special
significance was attached to King
Wangchuk’s State visit to Delhi from 27 April
to 1 May 1966 as revealed in Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi’s‘ speech at a State dinner on
27 April, In the world of today, it is necessary
that we should all develop a sort of
understanding which helps different cultures
to enrich each other. instead of destroying
each other12.”
She assured King Wangchuk that India
looked upon Bhutan’s plans and its attempt to
bring a better life to its people with the
greatest sympathy and would give Bhutan all
help and co-operation .Regarding Bhutan's
defence, both Mrs.Indira Gandhi and Defence
Minister Chavan reiterated that India
considered Bhutan's defence as part of its own
defence13. It seems, the King had raised the
question of Bhutan’s membership of the
United Nations, but he appreciated the fact
that the time was not opportune as yet. At the
end of the visit, the King issued a Press
statement appreciating India‘s help and advice
and its technical and financial assistance for
“Bhutan’s economic and social progress.
Between April and September 1966, there
had been three incursions in the Doklan
'pasture area“ by Chinese troops and
nationals. On 30 September, the Indian
Government had sent a note of protest to the
Chinese Government, on behalf of Bhutan" in
which, it said in View of the persistence of
these intrusions, the Government of Bhutan
could no longer dismiss the incidents as
accidental transgression of the frontier.”14
In April 1967, India sponsored Bhutan’s
application to the Universal Postal Union
