Jhug dho-ma: An Indigenous Song
Jhug dho-ma is a traditional song sung at Riserboo-Kheshing Chiwog, Kheshing village under Lumang Gewog (block), Wamrong Trashigang. Lopen (Spiritual master) Dorji Wangdi and lopen Dorji Namgay first composed the song in around 1964. The song was composed during the time when people had to contribute labour contribution while constructing road from Samdrupjongkhar to Trashigang Dzongkhag (district). Because of the lack of paved roads, travel in Bhutan was by foot or on mule- or horseback until 1961; the 205-kilometre trip from the Indian border to Thimphu took six days. Road construction began in earnest during the First Development Plan (1961–66). The first 175-kilometre-long paved road was completed in 1962. About 30,000 Indian and Nepalese labourers were imported to build the road with Indian aid when India was bolstering its defense against a potential Chinese invasion. Bhutan also provided labour for the construction work. Another road was built to connect Trashigang with Samdrupjongkhar. About 1,500 kilometers of roads were built by the mid-1970s, largely with manual labour. Every household must compulsorily contribute labour for two weeks. The lyric of the song encompasses the journey from Samdrupjongkhar until Wamrong. It conveys us the settings of different villages on the way while constructing the road.
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Bhutan