Sharchops, the indigenous people of Bhutan form a distinct community in the eastern districts of Tashigang, Mongar, Pemagatshel, Luntshi and Tashiyangtse. In the days of His Holiness Shabdrungs, eastern Bhutan was known as “Sharchok Khorlo Chip Gey”, meaning “eight spokes of the eastern Bhutan” in other words “eight eastern provinces that form a circle”. Generally the eight provinces comprises of Mangdi, Bumthang, Kheng, Kurtoe, Mongar, Tashigang, Dungsum and Yangsti. Sarchops are one of the most oppressed people in Bhutan and economically very backward. Their living condition is pathetic and for their sustenance they at times depend on edible roots from jungles. Many of them are still forest dwelling people.
The Sharchops have distinct local dialects, local customs and food habits. They are Nyingmapas whereas the royal class are of the Kargyupa order. Despite their distinctiveness, however, due to historical discrimination and lack of exposure, their region traditionally comes under the rule of present ruling elite.
Political dissatisfaction exists among educated Sharchops and those actions against occasional mini-revolts have led a number of leaders to seek shelter in Arunachal, Kalimpong and Shillong. Several Sharchop leaders were reportedly jailed for having their sympathies with the other citizens of Bhutan.
Much of Regime’s fears of the Sharchops have to do with the Shabdrung. The Wangchucks had hoped that after their 1907 ascendancy to hereditary kinship, the Shabdrung system of reincarnation which began with Ngawang Rimpoche would peter out. But incarnations do not follow imperial dictate. Most inconveniently, they continued to appear, and had to be dealt with - with poisonings, pushing off rooftops and strangulation’s. Successive kings ensured that incarnations made quick exits, which is why the Shabdrung has taken to being reincarnated further and further east, away from the power valleys of western Bhutan. The Shabdrung Jigme Ngawang Namgyel at his young age was spirited away to India during 1962 Indo-China war to save him from the fate of his predecessors and he resided at Rewalsar (Tshopema in Dzongkha) in Himachal Pradesh under India’s protection. Ever since he was living in India he was facing threat to his life from the Wangchuck Kings of Bhutan. On April 03 2003 he died a mysterious death at Vallore Hospital while undergoing treatment. The post-mortem report of Vallore Hospital revealed that he died due to food poisoning. Before he fell ill he (Shabdrung) had food at West-Bengal’s Malbazar near Bhutan’s border while he was on his religious mission. The Bhutanese power holders feel that the Shabdrung is a serious threat to them because he commands respect from all ethnicity.
The reincarnation of new Shabdrung has already taken place in Bhutan. But the present Wangchuck government has kept him under their control as soon as the message of reincarnation reached them and the new born was identified. American scholar Leo E. Rose writes that the existence of Shabdrung claimants have been "a matter of continuing concern for the Bhutanese authorities” because “the reincarnation principle is still deeply ingrained" among the public.
