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Wise King Jigme Wangchuk

It rarely happens that the ruler of a country decides to give up office when no constituency of importance demands this. But King Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhutan has repeatedly shown he is no ordinary ruler. His concern for ecology and the environment and his commitment to sustainable development set him apart from others. Earlier this year, he proposed a new Constitution that vests sovereignty in the people and assigns the monarchy only a constitutional role. This framework, if approved by a national referendum, will transform the Himalayan kingdom into a parliamentary democracy by 2008. Over the past few weeks, the King has travelled across the country, explaining the impending political changes to the people of Bhutan. What is remarkable is the way he has initiated and speeded up progressive political change that will take away much of his power. Just across the border in Nepal, King Gyanendra has worked with equally remarkable swiftness to achieve the opposite. King Jigme's latest decision, to abdicate the throne in 2008 in favour of his eldest son, is surprising, if exemplary. Going by the draft Constitution that stipulates a retirement age for the monarch, 50-year-old King Jigme could have gone on for 15 years more. Once he opted to do away with the monarchy's absolute powers, everything else followed naturally.

India might have been expected to be concerned over these fast-paced developments in a country with which it has a special relationship. It has certainly struck the right note by congratulating King Jigme on his "statesmanship and wisdom." It is impossible not to see in this refreshing posture a political message for King Gyanendra. India plays a big role in the affairs of little Bhutan. In addition to being the biggest trade partner, it is the largest donor, funding numerous development projects. It also provides training to the Royal Bhutan Army. But despite its strategic clout, New Delhi has been wise enough to keep Bhutan's sovereignty in view at all times. Faced with the problem of United Liberation Front of Asom militants finding safe haven in Bhutanese territory, New Delhi, to its credit, used diplomacy to persuade Thimpu to take effective action. The effort took nearly a decade. But it paid off in 2003 when the Bhutanese army cracked down on the militant camps on its side of the border. India has played an advisory role in the making of the draft Constitution. It is difficult to foresee all the consequences of Bhutan's democratic transformation over the next decade. But what New Delhi must do is clear. While scrupulously respecting Bhutan's sovereignty in all respects, it must reshape its role as a quiet promoter of its democratic experiment.

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