Topic: The relationship between the leaders of British India and Druk Desis

Desi Sonam Lhendrup (alias Desi Zhidar la) 

-Reigned as 16th Druk Desi (from 1769-1773) 

First encounters with British during the Battle of Cooch Behar (in Bengal) with the British. 

Battle of Cooch Behar (1772-1773) 

Causes:

Bhutanese had some political influence over Cooch Behar since 1730. In 1772, Bhutanese captured the rival Raja Dhirendra Narayan with his brother Diwan Dev and imprisoned them at Chapcha. Khagendra Narayan (another claimant to the throne) sought the help of British East India Company (stationed at Calcutta) to gain the throne of Cooch Behar who in return, promised to surrender half of the State revenue. British sent large force to expel Bhutanese from Cooch Behar. The intervention of British incurred a great impact on the Bhutanese. Bhutanese, on the other hand, prepared to face British forces under the commandership of the Desi (Zhidar) himself.

 

Course/Events: 

Bhutanese forces fought valiantly against the large British troops at the fort of Cooch Behar in 1772. -British forces were victorious as they took over completely the power of Cooch Behar and even installed a new king. -Desi Zhidarla once gain tried to regain the lost territories in 1773 by attacking Chichacotta. 

Result/Outcome:

Bhutanese not only lost its political influence even trespassing in Cooch Behar was prevented by the British East India Company who took over the in-charge of the State. 

-Desi Zhidar was succeeded by Kuenga Rinchen as the next Druk Desi (17th Desi) of Bhutan in 1773, who favoured for an agreement. Thus, the battle came to an end with the signing of a Treaty of Friendship in 1774. 

Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty (Treaty of Friendship)-1774

Signed between Bhutanese Government and the British Government of Bengal on 25th April,1774. 

Terms of the Treaty (Provisions):

1. Bhutan regained its lost territories in the east, the lands of Chichacotta and Palaghat. And in the west, the lands of Kyranty, Maraghat, and Luckypur; 

2. the Bhutanese were permitted to trade in Rangpur and in return, they agreed not to offer shelter to Sanyasis hostile to the British or to criminals who escaped from the British’s territory and to allow British troops to follow the criminals into Bhutanese territory when necessary. 

3. the Bhutanese agreed to free the Raja of Cooch Behar and his brother from captivity. 

4. the Bhutanese agreed to respect the territory of the British and to return run-away British subjects who had taken shelter in Bhutan territory; 

5. the British were permitted to fell timber in the hill forests and were promised that the woodcutters would be protected. 

By this treaty, the first Anglo-Bhutan war came to an end and trade and commercial relations between the two countries commenced. 

George Bogle Mission (1774). 

The mission came to Bhutan during the 17th Druk Desi Kuenga Rinchen. 

Reason for his visit to Bhutan: 

i. Collect information on the country 

ii. establish commercial links between Bhutan and Bengal 

iii. open trade route through Bhutan to Tibet. The mission was believed to have been successful in establishing cordial relations between the Bhutanese and the British. 

Courtesy: google

Desi Jigme Sengye (1767-1788) and British Missions 

1. Mission of Dr. Hamilton (1776 and 1777) 

Reasons for the mission: (in 1776)

i. Maintain and strengthen the links between Bhutanese and British 

ii. examine the Bhutanese claims to Ambari Falakata and Jalpais (Jalpaiguri). The mission fulfilled the Bhutanese claim on the two duars which was returned by Governor-General Warren Hastings. 

(in 1777) 

i. To congratulate the Desi Jigme Sengye on his accession to the throne as the 18th Druk Desi. 

2. Mission of Samuel Turner (1783) 

Reasons for the mission: 

i. Refusal to recognize the Treaty of 1774 by the new Cooch Behar rulers as they claimed the land back which was under the Bhutanese as per the treaty led to once again the re-emergence of disputes. 

Turner was accompanied by Lieut. Samuel Davis and Surgeon Robert Saunders. The mission was said to be partially successful as it could solve the dispute but could maintain the relationship between the two countries.

Desi Jigme Namgyal (1870-1873) and the Bhutanese status of relation with the British.

-He served as Trongsa preflop for 14 years (1853-1866)

-Reigned as 53^rd Druk Desi (1870-1873).

Jigme Namgyal and Duar War (1864-65)

Causes of the war:

i. Failure of the Ashley Eden mission which was said to have rejected the mission as well as the proposed treaty brought by the mission.

ii. The ill-treatment on the British mission was reacted by annexing the Bengal Duars.

Course of the war:

i. The British attack Bhutanese from four columns under General Mulcaster and General Dunsford in the South East (Assam Duars) and South West (Bengal Duars) in 1864. The Bhutanese army was led by Trongsa Jigme Namgyal. British armies completely annexed both the duars by January 1865.

ii. Bhutanese armies took a surprise counterattack against the British and captured Diwangiri (Deothang) in February 1865.

iii. British forces under the new Generals Tombs and Tytler led a counter-attack in March 1865. British recaptured all the duars once again. Jakar Poenlop Tsuendrue Gyaltshen was killed during the battle. British further planned to advance to Trongsa and Punakha.

Result:

1. Treaty of Sinchula was signed on 11 November 1865 between the Bhutanese and British.

Treaty of Sinchula (November 11, 1865. Punakha)

 

ARTICLE I -There shall henceforth be perpetual peace and friendship between the British Government and the Government of Bhutan.

ARTICLE II –Start free trade between the two countries.

ARTICLE III –Bhutan should surrender all the captive British prisoners and cannons.

ARTICLE IV- Bhutan will be compensated with an annual subsidy of Rs. 50, 000/-

Courtesy: Raoline

Fig During the siege on Diwangiri (Deothang).

Courtesy: Wikiwand

Ugyen Wangchuk and British India

British and Bhutanese relations improved after the signing of the Sinchula Treaty in 1865. Relation further improved when Bhutan stood neutral as Tibetans asked for the Bhutanese help in occupying Sikkim in 1888. Bhutan refused to join the Tibetans at which, the British appreciated her neutrality.  Bhutanese, especially Trongsa poenlop Ugyen Wangchuk were invited by the British to accompany them in their expedition to Tibet.  Bhutan mediated between the British and Tibetans during the crisis which earned lots of applause from them.

Sitting (from left) - Sir Ugyen Wang Chuk, Major Rennick, Mr Paul

The relationship between Bhutan and the British gradually improved during the Trongsa Poenlop Ugyen Wangchuck. The main incidents that helped in the improvement of the relationship with the British was due to the:

1. Bhutan's NEUTRAL stand during the Tibetan occupation of Sikkim in 1888 (Ugyen Wangchuck refused to intervene at the event despite a Tibetan invitation to help them).

2. Ugyen Wangchuck brought the Tibetan-British conflict to a peaceful negotiation with the signing of the Potala/Lhasa/Anglo-Tibetan Treaty of 1904.

 

 

Ugyen Wangchuk in Lhasa, 1903.
Image courtesy: Facebook.

Anglo-Tibetan War (1903)

Causes:

British always wanted to have a trade link opened with Tibet (although their plan was hampered after the Nepalese invasion of Tibet, in 1792). So as they felt the Russians were influencing Tibetans, the British started to be more aggressive and declared war on Tibet.

 Events: 

In 1903, the British sent an armed expedition to Lhasa via Chumbi Valley. They declared war on Tibet in 1904. Ugyen Wangchuk was invited as a mediator between the British and Tibetans. Kuenzang Thinley was sent to be received warmly by the British. Ugyen Wangchuk at the back of his mind, did not want Tibetans to be defeated as British troops were better-equipped than Tibetans. Ugyen Wangchuk later joined the expedition at request of the British although Central Monk Body and Lhengye Tshog opposed joining in expedition. This was because:

i) They were concerned for his personal safety.

 

Ugyen Wangchuk was accompanied by Ugyen Dorji and Kuenzang Thinley with British officer Colonel Francis Younghusband. British gave Tibetans crushing defeat twice. The expedition was received with a full ceremonial procession in Lhasa. Ugyen Wangchuk and Nepalese Residents were the Chief Negotiator.

 

Outcome/Result:

A treaty was signed on September 7th, 1904 at Potala Palace (also called the Potala Treaty). A peaceful settlement was brought through this treaty between the British and Tibetans.

Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (KCIE) title was conferred to Trongsa Poenlop by the British. It was presented to him by John Claude White (a Political Officer in Sikkim). This was in appreciation of his successful mediation between the British and Tibetans. The title of “Sir” was also given to Ugyen Wangchuk as a respect by the British. John Claude White even accompanied Ugyen Wangchuk to Tibet when the 9^th Peling Suntruel was abbot of Lhalung.

**Significance (importance) of the insignia

• It signifies British had trust in      Ugyen Wangchuk and the Bhutanese,
• The relationship grew stronger between the two countries,
• Bhutan was seen by the outsider as a strong nation with capable leadership under Ugyen Wangchuk.

Sir Ugyen Wangchuk adorned with the K.C.I.E. medal
Courtesy: Google.

Treaty of Punakha (1910)

Bhutan and the British decided to finally replace/revise/amend/change the Treaty of Sinchula of 1865 with a new treaty. It was signed between King Ugyen Wangchuk and Sir Charles Bell (British Political Officer) on January 8th, 1910 at Punakha.

***Clauses/terms/provisions of the treaty:

-Annual compensation will be increased from 50,000 Rupees to 100,000 Rupees,

-Bhutan agreed to obey the advice of the British Government,

-British will not ever interfere in the internal affairs,

-British will not station their Resident Office in Bhutan,

-Any disputes (cases) with the Rajas of Cooch Behar and Sikkim should be referred to British Government, etc.

 King Ugyen Wangchuk with Sikkim King at Delhi Coronation Durbar.

 **Significance (importance) of the treaty  

-The relationship between the Bhutanese and the British further became strong

- Bhutan was recognized as an independent and sovereign nation

- Bhutan and British would gain from free trade.

(Even Sir Ugyen Wangchuck was invited to visit India during the Coronation Durbar at Delhi and met with the British Monarch King George V of England).