The National Flag of Bhutan

                                                             

The national flag of Bhutan came into being only in 1947. It was flown for

the first time in New Delhi on March 23 that year, when the late prime

minister Jigme Palden Dorji and his mother Rani Choying Wangmo Dorji

represented Bhutan in the first Asian Conference.

conference required all 28 countries to provide their national flag. Bhutan did

not have a flag then, so Rani Choying had designed one for the occasion. The

flag was sewn in the arts and craft section of Dr Graham’s school in

Kalimpong, India.

The first recorded evidence mentioning the Bhutan’s flag is in a letter dated

December 21, 1922. Mr (Sd.) Fraser Tytler, assistant secretary to the

government of India, wrote the letter from New Delhi to the secretary,

political department, India office, London, describing the flag. The letter is

currently in the India office library in London.

“With reference to your letter No. P.4339, dated the 2nd November, 1922, I

am directed to forward herewith two coloured designs of the flags of Nepal

and Bhutan.”

Since Bhutan did not have a national flag, Mr Tytler sent illustrations of eight

flags (see photo). “With regard to the flags of Bhutan, I am to explain that

flag No.1 is hoisted permanently near a Jong [Dzong] or fort. It is a very high

and large flag and is dedicated to the tutelary deity of the Jong [Dzong] as

well as to the gods of the elements. The picture on the flag represents the

“Irresistible Sword of Wisdom.” On the empty space, a mantra or charm

called Arya Dhwaja, which is believed to confer victory and prosperity, is

printed. Flags Nos.2 (a), 2(b), 2 (c), 2 (d) and 2 (e) are of five different

colours.”

All the eight flags carry a label in Dzongkha and are numbered in English.

The letter also describes the functions of these flags. “These are carried in

front of an army when going out to fight. The five different colours represent

the five different elements. The blue stands for heaven, yellow for earth,

green for air, white for clouds or water, and red for fire. These flags indicate

that the army is invoking the elements to befriend it. Flag No, 3 is called a

Ru-dar or regimental colours. Flag No. 4 is called Tsan-dar. This is dedicated

to a fierce spirit called Tsan, and is also carried before an army, thus

invoking the help of this spirit also.”

The national flag of Bhutan was first mentioned in print in 1927 when it

featured in the Japanese home encyclopedia, “Nippon Katei Dai Hyakka”.

Here too, a prayer flag was depicted as the national flag.

In 1936, the India office in London received another letter, requesting for

information about the flag of Bhutan from a Greek scholar, Engel Doublis,

from Athens. The letter was written on May 16. Doublis, who was researching

the flags of the world for his book, had already studied and collected lot of

data on the history of the ensigns and flags of many countries and was keen

to obtain information on the Bhutan flag. He assumed Bhutan was a state of

India.

The librarian of the white hall, of the India office, Mr JC Walton could not

provide specific information to the scholar. Walton replied stating that the

country did not have a national flag. “Regarding the National Flags of Nepal

and Bhutan, I am directed to inform you that Bhutan does not appear to

possess a National Flag.”(India Office Library, British Library, London)

Instead Walton showed a set of illustrations of the various flags used in

Bhutan, most likely that the illustrations were the one mentioned earlier. The

children’s encyclopedia had it in their book. (Published by Fleetway House,

Farringdon Street, London)

Walton wrote to the foreign office in Simla in India seeking clarification on

the political status and confirming if the country had a national flag. A month

later, on 19 June 1936, the office clarified that Bhutan was not an Indian

state. The letter stated that Indian states did not have national flags.

Although, Bhutan was an independent country, it did not have a national

flag. “I am to explain that Nepal and Bhutan are not Indian states.” The

letter confirmed that Bhutan did not have a flag until 1947. “Bhutan does not

appear to possess a national flag.” (India Office Library, British Library,

London)