Slavery in Bhutan

Slavery in Bhutan was a common[1][2] legal, economic, and social institution until its abolition in 1958. In historical records, unfree labourers in Bhutan were referred to as slaves, coolies, and serfs. These labourers originated mostly in and around Bhutan, Assam, and Sikkim, and were the backbone of Bhutan's pre-money feudal economy.[2][3]

Bhutan abolished slavery as part of modernization reforms at the behest of the Third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who ascended to the throne in 1952 at the age of 25. In breaking with slavery and feudalism, King Jigme Dorji enacted legal reforms, awarding citizenship and outright ownership of land to former slaves.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Risley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference White was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Worden, Robert L. (1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. Social System.
  4. ^ "Timeline: Bhutan". BBC News online. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-10-01.