MYTH,LEDGEND AND HISTORY SURROUNDING PEMAGATSHEL

Earlier the entire regions which presently fall under Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar districts were popularly known as Dungsam. The term is still used both officially and locally. Two oral sources explain the meaning of Dungsam. According to one source, out of many high hills surrounding Pemagatshel, there are three conch-shaped hills. So the word Dungsam originated from the three hills. In Sharchop dialect,dungkar is a conch or simply dung, and sam means three; so Dungsam literally means three conches. The second source has it that there was a tsho, a lake, called Dungtsho Karmathang on a hill above the present day Khar.Terton Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) was known to have revealed a ter (a sacred hidden treasure) from Dungtsho Karmathang. Later when the lake dried up, humans settled there, and these settlers became ancestors of the Khoche nobility in Dungsam. Thus, they came to be called Dungtshopa – the people of Dungtsho. So Dungsampa is the corrupted form of Dungsapa; Dungsapa itself being the corruption of Dungtshopa. The word Dungsam was recorded and widely used since the time of the First Zhabdrung, Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651?), and the nearby villages happened to be called Dungsam. In western Bhutan, a Dungsampa is understood to be either from Dungsam Nganglam or Dungsam Pemagatshel. The regions was an independent political entity until they were merged with Zhongar following the surrender of the petty rulers of the regions to the Drukpa Kagyud force led by the first Chhoetse Penlop Chhogyal Minjur Tenpa and Lam Namsey who were acting under the command of the Unsurpassable Lord, the First Zhabdrung. Until 1970, Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar were known as Dungsam Khoi Dung and Dungsam Kothri respectively. It was His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche who thus christened the two districts. Dungsam comprised of prominent villages like Dungsam Dewathang, Dungsam Nganglam, Dungsam Dechheling, Dungsam Khar and Dungsam Khoi Dung. It was well-known as a trade route to India for the people of eastern Bhutan. From the time of Zhabdrung it was recognized as one of the four gateways to Bhutan: Shar Dungsamkha. The three others are Pasakha in the south, Taktserkha in the north and Dalingkha in the west. Dungtsho Karmathang was blessed with the sacred visits of Mipham Tenpai Nyima (1567-1619), the father of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. By then the Dungtsho Karmathang had dried up and a settlement had already started. Tenpai Nyima founded the Dungkar Goenpa and fathered the son from a virtuous lady. The son went to Tibet at a young age, only to return to Bhutan to play an important role in country’s history. He was Tenzin Drukdra whom most historians believe him to be a Tibetan. A mysterious epidemic struck the settlement at Dungtsho Karmathang, and the people died except for two khoche brothers who escaped to others places. The ruins of Dungtsho Karmathang can be still seen submerged beneath the earth today.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Pemagatshel is located in the south east of Bhutan with an area of 517.8 sq.km and has a total of 2,547 households. The dzongkhag is characterized by highly dissected mountain ranges, steep slopes and narrow valleys with little flat land. The elevation in the dzongkhag ranges from 1,000 meters to 3,500 meters above the sea level. The dzongkhag experiences an average annual rainfall of 1500 mm to 3000 mm. The dzongkhag is administratively divided into seven gewogs namely, Chhimung, Chongshing Borang, Dungme, Khar, Shumar, Yurung and Zobel. Rugged terrain and scattered settlements make the delivery of services in the dzongkhag both difficult as well as expensive.

VEGETATION COVER

About 53% of the total area is under forest cover, comprising mainly of coniferous and broadleaf species. With about 45% of the total land area under cultivation, the dzongkhag has a good percentage of arable land. Land holdings are, however, dominated by Tseri cultivation with only negligible wetland farming activities. Dry land cultivation is also a dominant agricultural practice with maize grown as the main cereal crop. The potential for the development of horticulture crops like cardamom, ginger and oranges exist in some gewogs like Khar, Dungme and Chongshing Borang but is constrained by the lack of access to roads and markets. Other problems faced by most farmers include the lack of water sources for irrigation and extensive wildlife crop depredation.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH

ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE

Inadequate power supply, limited road accessibility and market outlets constitute major challenges to development in the dzongkhag. Off-farm employment in gypsum mines; roads and other construction works constitute an important source of income for the people. The production of cultural and religious items such as jalings, dhungs, Thonphu poe, ngazhing jurmo tea leaves, and Yurung bura (textile) also generate cash income. The commissioning of Kurichu Power Project and the provision of adequate electricity supply can go a long way in accelerating economic and social development activities in the Dzongkhag.Traditionally, maize is the main staple crop cultivated in the dzongkhag. Tseri cultivation, which used to be practiced in the past is now decreasing as more tseri lands are converted into orchards. Orange, banana, and other fruits formed the main cash crops from these orchards. Potato is also a major cash crop.

LIVESTOCK

Cattle play an integral part in the subsistence rural farming system in the dzongkhag with the majority of the rural farmers owning cattle ranging from few numbers to large herds. Breed improvement programs have resulted in increased number of cross-bred animals.For the purpose of cross breeding with the native cattle, so as to have a high yielding animals distribution of exotic breeding studs namely, Jersey, Haflinger, Spiti, will be distributed/sold to the farmers. Mithun bulls, which are preferred by the farmers because of their high fat content, will be given priority. Artificial Insemination programs will also be continued.

FEED AND FODDER DEVELOPMENT

Although the Dzongkhag has good pastureland, it is mostly developed for sale of pasture seed, which constitute an important source of rural income. Green feed and other forms of feed such as sugarcane, plantation of arachis pintoi in orange orchard, oats cultivation, plantation of fodder trees will be promoted as an important component of breed improvement activities. The need to allocate the available forest barren land to those interested farmers to develop improved pasture will be considered as in the past. Besides, plantation of fodder trees, supply of sugarcane slips and napier slips will also be extensively promoted to combat feed shortage. Oats, as a source of winter feed, will be promoted and cultivated.

DASHO DZONGDA AND DASHO DRANGPON WHO SERVED PEMAGATSHEL

Dasho Parop Dorji - 1974-1976.

Dasho Sangay Wangchuk - 1977-1978.

Dasho Pasang Tobgay - 1979-1980.

Dasho Karma Dorji - 1981-1983.

Dasho T.Yonten - 1984-1987.

Dasho Nepal - 1988-1989.

Dasho Thinley Yoezer - 1989-1990.

Dasho Pelden Wangchuk - 1991=1996.

Dasho Tshering Dorji - 1997-2002.

Dasho Namgay - 2002-2006.

Late Dasho Karma Tashi - 2006-2007.

Dasho Gholing Tshering - 2007-

DASHO DRANGPONS

Dasho Dorji - 1977-1977.

Dasho Sanga Dorji - 1978-1981.

Dasho Tempa Gyeltshen - 1982-1986.

Dasho Pema Dorji - 1986-1988.

Dasho Dhendup Namgay - 1988-1992.

Dasho Singay Namgay - 1992-1993.

Dasho Kuenzang Tobgay - 1993-1994.

Dasho Thinley Wangdi - 1994-1995.

Dasho Tenzin Wangdi - 1996-1999.

Dasho Kuenley Dorji - 1999-2002.

Dasho Tshering Wangdi - 2002-2005.

Dasho Wangchuk Drukpa - 2005