The coins are used all over the country for the replacement
of small denomination in buying and selling. The coins play an important role
in markets for convenient usage of small denominations that are hardly exists
in paper money. In many countries, the coins are constructed starting from 10 Chetrum
to the 10th value.
The coin has been existed before 1800 in Bhutan which later replaced barter system. The creation of coin was first initiated in 1619 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel after he was offered the silver and gold coins when he preached somewhere in Cooch Behar. He was gifted with Gold coins by Raja of Cooch Behar and also presented with silver coins by local people. He got idea from Cooch Behar and started manufacturing the coins in Bhutan. Then usage of coins got popular in the country.
These days, in Bhutan, the people do not use coins in buying
and selling process. In today’s world of Bhutanese people, they hesitate to use
lesser denominations such as coins, 1 ngultrum, etc... They feel ashamed to pay
and take back lesser denominations.
I studied in India for last three years; I have noticed that
the people of India use coins for trade and marketing process. During first two
to three weeks, I didn’t notice the importance of coins and I just gave freely
and didn’t collect 1 to 5 rupees when there was no change. But later I went to
same shop to purchase grocery items along with my friends; I had to pay 173
rupees where I didn’t have three rupees. I asked shopkeeper for exemption of
Rs. 3, but he didn’t. In few weeks time I left more than Rs. 20 to 30 due to
limited change. That was the problem in India but it gave me tremendous
knowledge to use coins and small denominations.
Now, I am back to our motherland the Kingdom of Bhutan, but
I feel hesitate and ashamed to use coins and 1 Ngultrum denominations even I
lack enough money. When I went around the schools in Bhutan, I saw young
generations playing with coins rather than using for productive purposes.
I have visited numerous religious sites during auspicious
days of Bhutanese calendar. There I saw hundreds of people visiting to offer
their prayers for benefit of all sentient beings. People there offer money which
is of lesser denominations. Some threw money down the cliffs and in the rivers.
During the funeral, people burn paper money along with dead
body. That shows that we Bhutanese have not known the value of money that are
thrown down the cliffs, in the Rivers and burned along with dead bodies. Therefore,
circulating numbers our small denominations being reduced to the minimal.
Forget about usage in buying and selling process when people
engage in such practices. Thus, I feel more concerned on such practices and
therefore, encourage using such denominations far and wide henceforth.
