We
the Bhutanese have witnessed the orange and blue glamour of politics when
Democracy was gracefully bestowed five years ago in 2008. That was the time
when I was not even eligible to vote and didn’t even know the slightest distinction
between National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC). I was not only the
one not knowing, even the majority of voters didn’t. Now after five good years
of democracy, I am proud to know the functionality of democracy. But I am still
struggling to understand the real essence of National Council. While, National
Councilor with authority of building roads, electricity and luxury which is
misconception of novice is of course not my confusion. My confusion greatly
lies in skills displayed by our democratic councilors as similar to Khadreps in these five years.
In
golden years of earliest monarchs, history testifies the existence of Khadreps who served the royal court as
advisers with little of facts and figures and more of personal opinions according
to its time. Royal Advisory Council emerged, serving the purpose of Khadreps with limited available facts
and figures as the nation evolved. Now in democratic era, National Councilors
were supposedly the new era Khadreps.
As I see it, not much have evolved in the methods of advising which is in contrast
to abundantly available facts and figures in minimum usage and more of personal
opinions still prevailing. I am not in favor of people’s opinion that NC stands for “National Chatters” nor as
“Not Clear”, but what I do know is that, NC are the councilors who use the weapons
of facts, figures, reality, actuality, evidences and more over precise analysis
to support their advices for any policies of government. I am also not arguing
that councilors are unaware of their roles, but emphasizing on the potentiality
of NC to become well researched advisers. What we need to understand is that this
modern democratic time needs more of researched analytical views rather than
skills of conversation.
Under
the reign of crane and horse, the first five years went by with much of
development in democratic attitude and experimentation in policies resulting in
gain of mature democratic society. And I believe councilors were the main
factor in the successful term. I hope and pray that in coming five years, NC will
play vital role as factual councilors and less as Khadreps.
With Best wishes to
all NC aspirants… 