The Tragedy of the Commons

The recurring reports of the most insidious man-made virus, widely known as Corruption, across mainstream and social media remind one of Garrett Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons. 

No matter how moral and respectable a nation may be, how spiritual and holy its people claim to be, and how generous and philanthropic the rich and powerful are, I believe, there exists no place on Earth that has escaped the clutch of this artificial virus. The most common symptoms of this viral infection include bribery, nepotism, favouritism, misuse of power, embezzlement of public funds, rigged contracts, political patronage, and exploitation of public office for private gain. 

When its infection spreads silently and relentlessly, it weakens the health of our institutions, erodes the fabric of public trust, and leaves societies exposed to inequality, inefficiency, and decay.

 

Tragedy of the Commons

The Tragedy of the Commons refers to a situation where something that is shared by everyone (e.g., land, water, or public fund) is overused or exhausted because individuals act in self-interest for a short-term gain. 

The key message of this phenomenon is that when individual selfishness rules over collective good, it is everyone that eventually suffers (hence tragedy). It is a moral and social issue that reflects how human greed, corruption, and neglect can destroy what we all depend on together. 

In today’s world, this analogy can be used to understand the health of our public systems, institutions, and national wealth. For example, when individuals or groups take more than their fair share or use what belongs to everyone for their own gain, it is the society that suffers at the end. 

Modern Examples 

Misuse of public funds. 

When officials or influential individuals (e.g., politicians) use public money and natural resources for personal enrichment through corrupt practices, they shrink or deplete the nation’s shared wealth and resources. While the powerful grow richer through such practices, it is only the poor and innocent who suffer, losing access to basic services such as health care, education, and infrastructure. 

Exploitation of public institutions. 

Another example is when people in authority use their connections to secure jobs, contracts, or privileges for friends and relatives. When a few individuals engage in such self-centred practices, it is the public trust and merit-based systems that are victimised and eventually forced to collapse. When such practices keep happening, institutions lose their credibility and efficiency.

Consequences 

The scar left by this viral infection can be deep and long-lasting. The shared resources that should serve everyone will become exhausted. 

The gap (inequality) between haves and have-nots will widen. This means, while a small number of people gain wealth and power, it will be the majority that would be left with fewer opportunities and weaker systems of support.

Public trust and confidence will collapse and decay, and people will start losing faith in anything that requires collective action. By then, institution of any kind will lose their purpose and efficiency. 

If left unchecked, the most non-curable consequence in the society would be its long-term instability. As inequality and mistrust grow, societies face protests, unrest, and even violence, social phenomena that are not very new to every nation these days. 

As Hardin cautioned, when the commons are left unguarded against human greed, collective ruin becomes inevitable. Unless societies develop moral antibodies through integrity, transparency, or shared responsibility, the tragedy of the commons will continue to unfold as everyday drama within our society.

 

Power Rules But Wisdom Leads

 

I have always been consumed by the thought that the temporary seats of war and famine had been permanently removed from the table of human decision-making. But I was mistaken. 

With daily news of explosions, detonations, and killings, it is suffocating to see that this world is still contaminated by those who believe that leadership is demonstrated through visibility, control, and influence. 

Leaders of this kind make decisions not necessarily for peace, but to parade their ego and manifest hubristic pride. In the name of defence, they launch missiles which, in reality is to flaunt their illusion of supremacy. Sanctions are brutally imposed as tools of control and not with conscience. Flags, which was long used as emblems of shared identity has lost its soul, because it is increasingly used as markers of claimed territory drawn against perceived enemies. 

These self-styled leaders hardly embody the spirit of their nations. They treat their countries as personal trophies or weapons, using them to compete for dominance, rather than to serve or safeguard their people. Under the banner of sovereignty, they send thousands to the frontlines, to kill and to be killed, often at the expense of the innocents in the process. Under the guise of service to the nation, they exercise control.

And the cost is immense not just in terms of losing hundreds of thousands of guiltless lives, but in damaging trust, shattering futures, and suffocating the planet.

This often makes me think, what makes a good leader? 

Is it the one shaped by dominance and driven by the hunger for legacy? Or is it the one who rises not from ego or conquest but through empathy and conscience?

 

The Myths of Modern Leadership

We have read the histories of world wars and the leaders whose egos and lust for dominance unleashed unimaginable destruction. Yet rather than learning from these devastating errors that wars are curse upon humanity because it is largely ignited by the self-serving ambitions of the few, we appear to have learned very little. 

In fact, some leaders of today’s world continue to mistake leadership for dominance and control. The myth of their leadership is based on their ability to start wars, impose sanctions, sway opinions, and command global attention. Such heartless leaders often forget that this kind of power, though loud and forceful, often lacks depth and conscience because they prioritise strategy over sincerity and ambition over empathy. 

Perhaps these leaders are consciously ignorant about the consequences their leadership brings. For example, the protests in the streets, the shedding of innocent blood, and the rising cries of the harmless people are largely the outcomes of bad leadership. 

They know that power, when built on fear and control, is fleeting. Look at some countries, where leaders are even hunted once their terms (political/official) end, and they are no longer protected by the illusion of their office and titles. For those who are still alive, they live in isolation behind layers of security,  imprisoned by the very fear they once imposed on others. 

And yet, they persist, not out of ignorance, but out of the refusal to wound their pride. They protect their ego at all costs, even as nations crumble beneath them. They do not lead, but still they rule. And still not with wisdom, but with the brittle armour of dominance.

At a time when the world is obsessed with Leadership of Dominance, I am always reminded of and feel blessed of our Bhutanese leadership, particularly the role of our Kings for its distinct charisma. Rooted in Buddhist philosophy and guided by a unique approach to modernisation that balances tradition with the well-being of its people at its core, it stands in stark contrast to global models. What our leaders may lack in global clout or strategic dominance, they make up with the Leadership of Conscience.

 

Leadership of Conscience

By Leadership of Conscience, I refer to a form of leadership guided not by personal ambition, force, or manipulation, but by an inner moral compass that possess a deep sense of right and wrong. It is a form of leadership that emerges from integrity, empathy, compassion, and a commitment to serve others, even when it is inconvenient, unpopular, or costly. 

A Leadership of Conscience prioritises service over status, wisdom over wealth, people over power, and peace over pride. Consequently, a leader of conscience upholds these principles and serve accordingly to achieve their outcomes. 

Since its establishment in 1907, the Monarchs of Bhutan have consistently exemplified the Leadership of Conscience. Their style of leadership has always been steered with compassion, humility, and long-term vision centred on the wellbeing of the people. 

As a Bhutanese citizen, I feel privileged to have been blessed with such leadership of conscience which is insanely rare and vital these days. Although such leaderships do not always make headlines, but it changes lives in quiet, lasting ways. Perhaps this is one reason why Bhutan continues to thrive under a monarchy system, much like a handful of other Asian nations in the likes of Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Having born and grown up during the times of His Majesty the 4^th King’s reign (June 2, 1972 – December 6, 2006), I can elaboratively express how such leaderships are cherished and eternal in the memories of their citizens. 

In 2008, the Great Fourth, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, took the unprecedented step of abdicating the golden throne to usher democracy in Bhutan. People across the nation raised their concerns that the Kingdom’s continued stability, peace, and economic progress nurtured under the monarchy system might get weakened or eroded with the arrival of democratic ideals. Yet, the Great Fourth introduced a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy as a precious gift from the throne to the people. 

I fondly recall the Great Fourth addressing students during his school visits, emphasising that the future of our nation lies in the hands of the younger generations, while consistently imparting the timeless values of service, wisdom, loyalty, humility, and sacred responsibility.

While at the same time, he portrayed leadership not as a personal privilege but as a sacred responsibility. His visions for the country, embodied in the profound idea of Gross National Happiness, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of distinct age-old culture, are still celebrated, locally and globally. Such is the legacy that leadership of conscience creates. Bhutan may be small, but through leaders like the Great Fourth, it reminds the world of a timeless truth that leadership is not what one takes, but what one gives.

 

Talking about his selflessness and visionary leadership, the Great Fourth, reminded that a nation’s strength must not rest solely on the shoulders of one leader (referring to a King). He called upon the people to take charge of their destiny, to lead, and to shape their future based on their unique potential and aspirations. He cautioned the people that while it may feel reassuring to live under a wise and benevolent monarch, the real test of a leadership lies in the risk that power may one day be inherited by someone who does not serve in the interest of the people. Therefore, not speaking as a father, the Great Fourth affirmed with conviction that the present King (erstwhile a crown prince) embodies the ideals of farsighted vision wisdom, and humility and that he will serve for the welfare of the nation even if he steps down from the golden throne. 

 

Continuing the Legacy 

It did not take long for the citizens to trust the words of the Great Fourth, for we experienced the same radiance of compassion and care when the present King ascended the golden throne. In fact, the transition of monarchical power was so seamless that it passed almost unnoticed. What we had been blessed with under our benevolent monarchs continued, perhaps even stronger, under His Majesty’s vibrant and visionary rule.

 

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) that recently became the global phenomenon, serves as a fitting example of how the legacy of Leadership of Conscience is being carried forward. This royal vision as announced during the National Day celebration on December 17, 2023, is a bold undertaking towards building Bhutan as a dynamic economic hub. Considering the rapid economic transformation of South Asia, His Majesty said that the GMC will serve as a Special Administrative Region (SAR), creating a flexible, autonomous zone to attract foreign investments aligned with national values. In doing so, it is expected to enhance opportunities at home by fostering investment, job creation, and infrastructure development. 

Recognising the GMC as a noble and long-term royal vision to build a prosperous and sustainable Bhutan, Bhutanese people from all corners of the world have responded to His Majesty’s call on National Day with wholehearted support. This overwhelming response is hardly surprising, given Bhutan’s enduring tradition of Tha-Damtshig between the leader and the people and the Kingdom’s deeply rooted culture of voluntary service. Tha-damtshig is an indigenous Bhutanese concept that embodies a profound sense of affection, kinship, duty, and reciprocal responsibility in human relationships.

Take, for instance, the construction of the international airport at the GMC, which is being funded entirely by the Bhutanese people through bond subscriptions. True to His Majesty’s words during the National Day address, His Majesty has personally led the initiative, setting an example by involving the princes, despite their tender age, in contributing their labour. This act not only demonstrates the importance of national service but also instils a deep understanding of the responsibilities that come with such a noble undertaking. His Majesty’s direct involvement reflects a leadership of conscience, one that leads not by command, but by conviction, empathy, and moral example. It is a leadership rooted in service, integrity, and a deep sense of national duty.

 

My Impressions 

I believe that the world today is not short of leaders. We have no scarcity of individuals who are capable, articulate, and well-educated. Yet, what the world deeply lacks is wisdom in those who lead.

Despite the remarkable progress in science and technology, advancements that are deemed make humanity connected and the world more liveable,  we find ourselves more fragmented than ever. Boundaries have grown sharper, and divisions based on religion or regionalism have deepened. This is not because we lack intelligence, but because power, greed, and the thirst for dominance have outpaced our moral growth.

What we often fail to understand is that leadership, like all worldly positions, is temporary. No matter how powerful, no matter how enduring it may seem in the present, the authority to rule is always bound by time. However, what truly endures is not how long one holds power, but how one uses it. The nature of one’s leadership which includes one’s character, intent, and consequence, leaves an imprint that history does not erase.

To quote an example, I have never lived during the lifetimes of Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, or Benito Mussolini. And yet, I hear of them not out of fondness, but the history refuses to erase what has been written. They may not still hold the power, but their actions have shaped the world in irreversible ways. Their leaderships were temporary, but the impacts of their leadership are permanent. 

His Majesty the King with the Prime Minister behind at GMC airport construction

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen at the GMC airport site

Their Royal Highnesses Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel and Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck at the GIA site

Empowerment + Entitlement = Enrichment

“It is only through the Empowerment that grassroots democracy will secure their Entitlement to grassroots development and together lead to Enrichment of all”, said the former Diplomat turned Politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar, who addressed on Friday Forum Lecture yesterday at the bravura hall of Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) in Phuentsholing.

Envisioned by His Majesty the King, who is also the Patron of this autonomous body, RIGSS is a premier institute for the promotion of excellence in governance, leadership and strategic studies. As a leading leadership establishment, it offers an avenue to coach and educates both incumbent and potential future leaders of Bhutan on governance, leadership and policies that can comfortably move Bhutan into the 21^st century and beyond. So far, it has trained a huge number of legislators, executives and bureaucrats that forms the top helms of the varied organizations and has a decision making influence.

Besides, various enriching activities for the participants, the final day of the training program is graced by the keynote delivery of eminent personalities from both home and abroad.

As such, I was fortunate to have the privilege of attending the 12^th Friday Forum Lecture by His Excellency Mani Shankar (although I was not a participant who had an official passport of eligibility). The grandiose hall was pregnant with the presence of some Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, bureaucrats and largely by the civil servants from different sectors. And more blessedly, the grandeur of that magnificent and enchanting talk was further venerated by the Royal glamour due to the presence of His Majesty the King. So, basically that evening, my heart sang a song of double happiness: seeing His Majesty the King and listening to a prolific public orator.

His Excellency Mani Shankar, who has served from the time of Rajiv Gandhi, the 6^th Indian Prime Minister, narrated a talk titled, “Democracy – From Parliament to the Grassroots” largely based on his experiences of being a politician from the world’s largest democracy.

Photo courtesy: Click LINK

Rajiv Gandhi used to say, Mr Shankar told the floor, “India is the world’s largest democracy but it is also the world’s least representative democracy”. The crowd roared into insoluble laughter. He referred to this statement based on the current Indian population which is a staggering 1.2 billion being represented by just only 5000 elected people’s representatives.

In the course of narrating the birth of Indian democracy, the former Union Minister of Panchayati Raj boasted that “Indian democracy is unique in a sense that the country adopted democracy as soon as it’s independence from the British colonization in 1947 and democracy is still surviving”. So, he shared the floor about the secrets of Rajiv Gandhi’s bold initiatives (despite many failures and condemnation) to sustain democracy in grassroots development through grassroots democracy by introducing Panchayati Raj. Because of this unique local government proposal, His Excellency shared this success story of stabilizing democracy in large India by having established close to 2.5 lakh elected institutions of local government with 30 lakh representatives of which an impressive 10 lakh are women.

“This exercise of gender empowerment which in scale is without precedent in history or parallel in the world,” he said. And more interestingly, the Panchayati Raj groups are largely composed of deprived sections of Indian society, particularly the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes.

“But unfortunately, this silent revolution in empowerment is being virtually blacked out in the media”. 

He stated that for economic progress to translate into equitable progress, democracy was to be taken to the grassroots level by giving local community Empowerment. When they are empowered, they can voice for their right to Entitlement for the basic infrastructures like health, education, water and sanitation. Consequently, when all the sections of the society have secured entitlements, this is where the road to Enrichment begins.

“Now, the Panchayat Raj has a constitutional sanction that makes it irreversible, irremovable and ineluctable because it gives the local community to determine the fate of its local destiny while at the same time remaining part of the larger destiny of the State”.

While as much as I was engaged in his capturing talk pondering about the evolutionary stages of democracy in India and its struggles and survival despite being populous, I couldn’t fathom how insightful and farsighted our Kings were, particularly the fourth Druk Gyalpo, who ushered in the democracy as the Royal gift to the people of Bhutan with all these settings in place inside a unique development model, the Gross National Happiness.

I humbly acknowledge Mr Shankar for the lecture which not only Encapsulated with wisdom and political acumen but also Engaged, Excited, Energized and Educated me beyond compare.

Thank you Mr Chewang Rinzin, the RIGSS coordinator and the current Member Secretary, for floating an invitation to all the non-participants of the RIGSS program.

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not” – Thomas Jefferson   

V is for Veteran’s Day

Just as 11^th November is special to the hearts of all the Bhutanese, so is it in the United States of America. Annually, 11^th November is declared as a national holiday to commemorate those military veterans who were involved during World War I (WWI).

To date, this day is held with high esteem and reverence, ever since U.S President Woodrow Wilson declared ‘Armistice Day’ in 1919.

Armistice Day is a hallowed anniversary observed annually to honour and applaud those heroes involved in bringing an end to WWI. Hence, this day is also revered as “the war to end all wars” or “Remembrance Day” in the United Kingdom. History has it that, the agreement was placed between Germany and all those Allied nations to dissolve the WWI hostilities and resentments 7 months prior to the Treaty of Versailles which was officially signed in France on 28^th June 1919. The Armistice was actually been operational on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918. Since then, this has been one sacred occasion in the U.S. calendar to pay homage to those military personals who, out of patriotism have sacrificed for the communal good.

Concurrently, on Friday, 11^th November 1955, when the Americans were observing their ritualistic Veteran’s Day, the Land of the Thunder Dragon (Bhutan) was gifted with an extraordinary prince. This blue blood birth not only was the cause of happiness for the Wangchuck Dynasty but was a prophesied godly gift to the nation in a form of a human prince. 

Today in order to pay my humble tribute and to commemorate the 60^th birth anniversary of His Majesty the 4^th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, I personally write these 10 REASONS why 11^th November is a VETERAN Day for Bhutan. 

The 4th Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuck

1. The Prophecy Upholder

Guru Rinpoche (the Lotus-born emanation of Buddha) who visited Bhutan in the 8^th century has prophesied to one of the Buddhist luminaries Terton (Treasure discoverer) Drukdra Dorji that, in a place called Womtrong (the original name of Dechencholing today), a boy of unparalleled character will be born to lead his country to the greatest height of success (To read the prophecy, click on the image above). 

As an answer to the prophecy, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born on 11^th November 1955 in Dechenchholing palace in Thimphu. By the age of 17, His Majesty had assumed the role of his father, the late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who has passed away unexpectedly. 

Even as the youngest monarch of the world, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was brave to lead the country through all thick and thin. And amazingly, under his magnificent rule, the nation has witnessed mammoth developments by leaps and bounds. Thus, right from a very tender age, His Majesty the King has manifested the charisma of a veteran and an unrivalled macho monarch ever evolved in the lines of our history. The prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava, a revered spiritual figure of Bhutan, was unfurled on this day. The nation basked under the sun of unwavering peace, prosperity and happiness. 

2. The Name Revealer

His Majesty the 4^th Druk Gyalpo is popularly revered with a special name ‘Jigme’, which means ‘No fear’ and ‘Singye’ which means a ‘Lion’. In brief, he is a fearless lion of the men, adorned with the immaculate qualities of the lha  ‘Wangchuk’ (chenrigzee).

3. The Contented Buddhist 

His Majesty the 4th King lives in a simple single storied cottage built with woods (The Samtenling Palace). He is the man who is not disillusioned with the materialistic attachments and believes in nothingness and impermanence, the soul of understanding Buddhism.

4. The Ultimate Father of Happiness

More than national pride, Gross National Happiness (GNH) has now been an international pursuit. The GNH is a holistic approach development philosophy that caters to both material and spiritual wellbeing.  In a layman's tongue, GNH is a durable kind of happiness that does not come at the cost of the well-being of other people. 

It was the brainchild of His Majesty the King that came into existence as early as 1972 soon after the enthronement. His Majesty the King always knew that the ultimate aim of every human being was happiness. Today after the UN’s adoption of pursuing happiness as the 9^th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which was proposed by Bhutan during the 65^th session of the UN General Assembly in 2011, GNH has been a much sought philosophical commodity.

5. The Genuine Emperor   

The visionary 4^th Druk Gyalpo has envisioned that it is the experience that gives the best practical lesson. Thus, with an intention to offer King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck an early kinghood know-hows, His Majesty has abdicated the golden throne after reigning for the last 34 years. To date, we are bestowed with a king composed of unsurpassed quality. 

  6. The Power Giver

Unlike any other nation, Democracy in Bhutan is a pure gift. The ultimate power to elect the leader of our choice was bestowed from the throne. However, the system of participation by the people in the nation’s development was already in place from the time the 5-year plan was introduced in 1981. That same year, Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu (DYT) was established while a decade later, Gewog Yargay Tshogdu (GYT) was instituted to further the people’s participation to the grassroots level. By 1998, the first set of cabinet ministers (Lengye Zhungtshog) took the role of the highest decision making.

7. The Pioneer of a Golden Constitution

The sacred mother of all laws of the nation (the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan) was brewed from more than 50 finest constitutions of the world. His Majesty has then personally visited to meet and discuss with the people. Launched in 2001, today it serves as a national roadmap for any executive and legislative proceedings.  

 

8. The Green Monarch

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan mandates to preserve 60 % of our country under forest cover, but amazingly, it maintains more than 74% in a form of sanctuary and parks. Consequently, this has made our country to be one of the hottest and rich biological corridors that absorbs the highest carbon footprints. In this recognition, in 2005, His Majesty the King has conferred the “Champions of the Earth’s Award”. The following year, the “J Paul Getty Conservation Leadership Award” swept in. And in the same year 2006, His Majesty has been conferred the Earth Hall of Fame, Kyoto Award from Japan.

9. The Brave Soldier

The thick jungles of Bhutan have been an asylum for the insurgents of India in the late 90s. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) had already established several bases in the Bhutanese soil. Many attempts were made by the Royal Government to initiate peaceful negotiations to leave the Bhutanese soil, yet it failed. In December 2003, His Majesty has personally sacrificed his life by leading in Operation Flush Out. For His Majesty the 4^th King, when it comes to serving the nation, it was more than sacrificing his own life.

10. The Farsighted King

Under the golden reign of His Majesty the 4^th King, Bhutan had experienced a quantum leap of developments. The free education and health facilities for the people of Bhutan still remain a celebrated home story. The concept of ‘One Nation, One People’ is a happy song of our country where there is no discrimination against sex, gender, race, caste or religion. 

Besides opening doors to modernization, His Majesty has always ensured that Bhutan remains sovereign and independent throughout. With the sunshine of unwavering peace and prosperity, Bhutan truly is a place where happiness matters the most. 

“Good leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand”- Colin Powell