Bhutan and Northeast

India and Bhutan share unique and exemplary bilateral relations, which are based on mutual trust, goodwill, and understanding. While formal diplomatic relationships between New Delhi and Thimphu were established in 1968, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which is considered the basic framework of India-Bhutan relations, was signed in 1949 and subsequently renewed in February 2007. The friendship between India and Bhutan is particularly significant for the Northeastern Region, and more so for Assam, because the tiny Himalayan kingdom shares a sizable portion of its international boundary with India’s Northeast. Moreover, the people-to-people relationship between Bhutan and Assam, as well as Arunachal Pradesh, dates back to time immemorial. It has been said that deep in history, portions of present-day Bhutan were also ruled by some of the great monarchs like Kumar Bhaskarvarman, Prithu, and Naranarayan. Historians also point out that armed contingents were also drawn from Bhutan by Lachit Barphukan for participation in the great Battle of Saraighat against the Mughals. Maharaja Prithu, aka Viswasundaradeva, a king of Kamarupa, had defeated the Muslim invader Bakhtiar Khilji, who was on an expedition to Bhutan after having occupied most parts of the Gangetic Valley and destroying Nalanda University in 1206. Given the geographical contiguity between Northeastern India and Bhutan, anything and everything that happens on one side of the boundary is bound to create an impact on the other side. Thus, whenever something good happens on one side, it also overflows to the other. The return of peace in the Bodoland districts of Assam (which share most of Assam’s boundary with Bhutan) has already triggered positive socio-economic activities inside that country. Imagine what kind of positive vibrations will occur in Assam after the establishment of the Mindfulness City at Gelephu, which is just 64 km from Kokrajhar, 46 km from Bongaigaon, 40 km from Kajalgaon, 95 km from Gossaigaon, and 129 km from Dhubri. Once the Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway line and the Jogighopa Multi-Modal Logistics Park are completed, things will be even more exciting.