Lhotshampa - Nepali in Bhutan

Bhutanese people of Nepali ethnic origin are known as Lhotshampa (southerners) in Bhutan as majority of them lived in southern parts of Bhutan. Nepalese people are said to be immigrated to Bhutan as early as 1620 AD. First King of Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo) Ugyen Wangchuck ruled from 1907-1926.

Huge number of ethnic Nepali people immigrated to Bhutan in late 18th and early 19th century from Nepal and India. By 1930 much of the southern Bhutan was cultivated and flourished by ethnic Nepalese that amounted to some 60,000 people. By the late 1980s, the Bhutanese government estimated 28 percent of the Bhutanese population were of Nepalese origin but unofficial estimates ran as high as 40 percent. 

But throughout 1980s and 1990s Bhutanese government expelled Nepali ethnic minorities out of the country using military seizing their land and properties, raping and torturing them. They were forced to go to Nepal as refugee. Started since 2008 many of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal are now being resettled in different parts of the world (mainly in the USA). As of 2015 August 83,053 Bhutanese refugees have been re-settled in USA already.

Still there are estimated 200,000 Lhotshampas living in Bhutan.

Council of ministers, total 11 including the PM, Lhotshampa ministers (Lyonpo) 1

* D.N. Dhungyel, Minister, Information & Communication

National Council (upper house) : total members 25, Lhotshampa 2

* Kamal Bahadur Gurung, Member of Parliament, National Council 

* Dhan Bdr. Monger, Member of Parliament, National Council

National Assembly (lower house) : total members 47, Lhotshampas 7

* Dina Nath Dhungyel, People's Democratic Party (PDP)

* Tek Bahadur Subba, PDP

* Ritu Raj Chhetri, PDP

* Madan Kumar Chhetri, PDP

* Gopal Gurung, PDP

* Yogesh Tamang, PDP

* Novin Darlami, PDP

Supreme Court, total justices 3 incl chief justice, Lhotshampas 0

High court, total justices 8, Lhotshampas 2

* Justice, Dasho Karma Dorji Sherpa

* Justice, Dasho K.B. Ghalley

District court (Dzongkhag): total district courts: 24

Sub-district court (Dungkhag): total dungkhag courts: 3

List of Nepalese ethnic people (Lhotshampa) in Other Bhutanese Organizations

Bhutan National Football Team
* Hari Gurung (21 - Goalkeeper)
* Dhan Bahadur Biswa (3 - Defender)
* Man Bahadur Gurung (5 - defender)
* Karan Gurung (23- defender)
* Biren Basnet (17 - midfilder)
* Diwas Subba (10- Strikker)

Bhutan National Cricket Team
Coach: Damber Singh Gurung
* Manoj Adhikari (Batsman)
* Suprit Pradhan (Batsman)
* Dilip Subba (bowler)
* Sanjeevan Gurung
* Sanjog Chhetri
* Suman Pradhan

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Links

Nepali Bhutanese in USA (onlinekhabar.com)

Bhutanese student blog: why bhutanese refugees are from Nepal ?

Tags: Tek Nath Rijal, Gross National Happiness (GNH), GDP/GNP vs GNH