Serfs worked for the nobilities as well as rich families. They were like properties of the families for whom they worked. The third Druk Gyalpo, even before becoming a member of the UNO saw this element in the society as going against human decency. Thus, the King issued a royal ordinance stating that the serfs should not be referred to by the belittling terms such as khue, zaden, pongyer, jaam, jou. A new term ‘nangzen’ was coined to refer to the serfs. It was a milder term than the traditional nomenclatures. This was the first move that would lead to the ultimate freedom of serfs.

The Freedom of serfs

One year after issuing the royal declaration on the use of term nangzen, the King proclaimed the complete freedom of the serfs. They were offered the liberty to leave their masters ‘without any fear of recrimination.’ However, they were prohibited to take any of the properties and assets of their masters. They also were commanded to settle in other gewogs and not in the area where their masters lived. This move was to avoid the tension and uneasy feeling that might grow between the masters and the serfs, now at equal footing. Thus, large number of serfs migrated to other parts of Bhutan.

The serfs were also promised gifts of land to enable to begin a new life as free citizens. Thus, serfs from western regions of Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang and Paro flocked at Dechencholing to receive the land gift from the Man who had given them freedom. Many of them resettled in Thimphu since its original population had declined, most probably due to epidemic, flood or migrated to other places to escape the burden of excessive tax. Others were resettled in Punakha and other places throughout Bhutan.

Those who were resettled on land left vacant had to pay tax that was reflected in the land record register. Thus, most of the serfs preferred free land as it did not carry any tax with it. This reform offered freedom to the people who had been serving their masters for generations. They could now enjoy the rights of citizens as well as the fruits of their own toil and sweat. This milestone reform set the basis for an equal society where happiness for all became the guiding principle of development.