First King of Bhutan: Sir Ugyen Wangchuck

Sir Ugyen Wangchuck “THE FOUNDER” (1861–1926)

Ugyen Wangchuck, The First King of Bhutan (1907-1926 AD) was the son of Jigme Namgyel . He was born in 1862. He was an able administrator and a wise diplomat. He took several reforms and introduced the system of western education. He opened many schools. He signed a new Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty with British India in 1910. He was the penlop (governor) of Tongsa. From his power base in central Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck had defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions in 1882-1885. In what was an epochal year for the country, in 1907 Ugyen Wangchuck was unanimously chosen as the heredity king of the country by the people. For his services to the Francis Younghusband expedition to Lhasa, Tibet, he was knighted by the British in 1904. He ruled for 19 years. He died in August 21, 1926. He was married to Queen Ashi Tsendue Lhamo. His son Jigme Wangchuck became the second King of Bhutan after his death.

Jigme Namgyel “The Black Regent”

Bhutan History remembers this man as a stubborn, sure-fire and insolent warrior who left no stones unturned to consolidate the warring factions in the country. Bhutanese remember him, for one, as the man who in February 1865 compelled the British forces to retreat to Dewangiri, infliction heavy losses and capturing two cannons which he took back to Trongsa.

Born to Pila Gonpo Wangyel and Sonam Pedzom in 1825, he was the Third of the five children who set off seeking his fortunes after a dream foretold his foray to Bumthang and then to Mangdelung. He reached Trongsa to become Trongsa Penlop. After Ugyen Phuentsho’s death Jigme Namgyel rose from several low ranks to become the Zimpon (Chief Chamberlain) of his new master Tsokhyil Dorji in 1848. Soon afterwards, the Black Regent, (nicknamed so for his dark face, the black robes he wore and the black horse he rode), had his first test of battle in his own home district of Kurtoe where he defeated the Lhuentse Dzongpon.

In 1980, the Jigme Namgyel finally assumed formal power as the 51st regent. He retired in 1873 passing the throne to his cousin Dorje Namgyel and took seat in Simtokha where he died in 1881 after having installed his son Ugyen Wangchuck as the Paro Penlop.

Gross National Happiness

5th King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Three factors have exerted great influence on the course of Bhutan development. The first being the culture. As Bhutan was never conquered or colonized, the country developed a culture relatively free from outside influence, the institution of monarchy, and a deep sense of nationhood. The second factor is the environment, which is protected by mountainous, often difficult terrain. Thirdly, Vajrayana Buddhism has given the country a view of the world on which the 3rd and 4th Kings based their policies of developing of Bhutan’s potential in every field. This continuing development of Bhutan has been crystallized in a philosophy crafted by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, known as Gross National Happiness (GNH) in the late 1980s. The concept of the GNH defines Bhutan’s development objective as improvement in the happiness and satisfaction of the people rather than growth of Gross National Product (GNP). GNH has been the over reaching development philosophy of Bhutan as the concept has guided the country’s development policies and programmes. GNH suggests that happiness is the ultimate objective of development. It recognizes that there are many dimensions to development other than those associated with Gross National Product (GNP), and that development needs to be understood as a process that seeks to maximize happiness rather than purely economic growth.

The country believes that for a holistic development of the individual and society, it is essential that development achieve a sustainable balance between the economic, social, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs of the people. This has led to the declared objective of viewing development as a continuous process towards achieving a balance between the material and intangible needs of individuals and society.

The concept reminds the country that the means must always be considered in terms of the end and, therefore, every step in material development and change must be measured and evaluated to ensure that it will lead to happiness, not just more development. Having accepted that the maximization of Gross National Happiness is a philosophy and objective of the country’s development, it was felt necessary to more clearly identify the main areas, and create the condition to enable the people to attain greater happiness. Recognizing that the large range of factors contributes to human well-being and happiness and that it may not be possible to exhaustively define or list everything for the purpose of its development planning, Bhutan has identified four major areas as the main pillars of GNH. These are
• Economic growth and development: If everybody contributed with Jimba (volunteer) actions, working sincerely as a public servant or offering some form of public service, all would reap the benefit of economic progress. Not only would the poor be better off but the lonely would have company.

• Preservation and promotion of culture heritage: Doing jimba (volunteer) is an integral part of Buddhist philosophy. Since the Bhutanese culture is essentially Buddhist, many customs are based on Buddhist ideals. Practicing jimba helps promote Buddhist values, therefore promoting national culture and traditions.

• Preservation and sustainable use of the environment: Performing jimba/public service means taking a holistic view of things, which is thinking beyond ourselves and our time. It is thinking about future generations, about the animals, about the plants, and the environment they live in, or in other words, Mother Nature. Through this mind-set of jimba, we conserve our natural environment.

• And good governance: People who think about doing jimba/public service are guided by sound ethical principles and values like social responsibility. Those doing jimba/public service incorporate and support values and ethical principles by demonstrating accountability, honoring their commitments, and acting in the public interest. This value-oriented and conscious action helps prevent corruption and brings about good governance as they work for the benefit of the country and not for themselves.

Guided by the ideas of Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan has been making steady progress in every sector towards the goal of modernization. Hydroelectric power, economically the most signification sector for Bhutan’s goal of self-sustaining development, has grown impressively. The education, social services and health sector have made great strides forward and continue to be the most important social components of the country’s development programme. The government’s fiscal situation has been improving steadily. Progress has been made in the development of human resource and the legal infrastructure.

Shazam Chham

Shazam Chham

The dance is performed by four dancers wearing knee length silk skirts and stag masks. Guru Rinpochhe subdued the Lung Lha (God of Wind) who was the causing suffering to the people of the world. He rode on the Lung Lha’s stag and restored peace and happiness in the world.

News: Bhutan Police-youth partnership program

Heavy rains did not dampen the spirits of the community policing 50 students in the 15-day police-youth partnership program (PYPP) at Phuentsholing on July 1.

The students, all police officer aspirants, said that they had been eagerly waiting for the programme to come to Phuentsholing after they saw it happen in Thimphu last winter.

An impressive 250 students applied for the programme.

Kickstarting the programme, Chukha dzongda Tshewang Rinzin said that the partnership programme was an ideal plan to occupy youth and let them learn values during breaks. “Youth are the best people to understand their issues and problems related to them,” he said. “Through this partnership, police and youth can help each other best.”

The partnership aims to build a relationship between the public through youth, while it focuses on sensitising young people on relevant legal provisions, and builds trust and confidence in each other to create a forum for an exchange of ideas.

It was also a programme in response to the national challenge of increased youth crimes and to reduce the number of children in conflict with the law, according to police spokesperson, Lt Col Dorji Wangchuk.

Meanwhile, the programme also supplements an initiative of the government to engage youth meaningfully during the summer break.

Participants said they were looking forward to the programme. “It’s interesting that we’ll be visiting the detention centre and prison,” said Ugyen, a participant. “I can see police work and learn what facilities they use or difficulties they face,” said another.

The students will police selected areas, together with policemen, and be given orientation on youth as part of community police, drug eradication, fire and traffic safety programmes.

“Through this programme, we expect youth to be law abiding citizens, we see youth as agents of change and we reduce youth and juvenile crimes,” said Lt Col Dorji Wangchuk.

PYPP was first initiated in 2008, with support from Save the Children US Bhutan program, by the chief of police in Thimphu.

Source: Kuenselonline