Fourth King of Bhutan: Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk
“THE MAN OF VISION”
(November 11, 1955)

The fourth King of Bhutan. He was born November 11, 1955 and succeeded to the throne at the age of 17, in 1972, after the death of his father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. He was formally crowned on June 2, 1974 in a coronation noted for inviting foreign dignitaries, thus signalling the end of the long isolation of the country. He is also called “Druk Gyalpo”, meaning “Dragon King”. He was educated in Bhutan and the UK. He has continued his father’s policies of slow modernisation while still trying to preserve Bhutanese culture. In 1988 he instituted the policy of Driglam Namzha (Etiquette and Manners) which required all citizens to wear traditional clothing while in public, and established the requirement of teaching Dzongkha (the national language) in schools. In 1998 he voluntarily reduced the scope of his absolute powers, and now formally rules with the advice of his government. In late 2003, he ordered Bhutan’s first military campaign in well over a century, to roust Assamese separatists who were using Bhutanese territory to launch raids against targets in India (see History of Bhutan). Campaigns have also been launched against Nepali separatists in the south of the country. By all accounts he maintains a simple lifestyle— preferring to work in a small log cabin above the capital, Thimphu, rather than in the fortress-like palace used by his four queens (all of whom are sisters) and the National Assembly. In the West he has become noted for his stated goal of seeking to maximize “Gross National Happiness” for his country rather than “Gross National Product”.

The fourth hereditary and the current King Jime Singye Wangchuck ( 1972 -) was born on 11 November 1955. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan is the reigning monarch and head of Bhutanese Royal Family. He received modern education. He briefly studied in India and the United Kingdom. He returned to the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro, Bhutan in 1970. However, he could not complete his school education due to the sudden death of his father. He became king on 23 July 1972 at the age of 17. His official coronation was held on June 02, 1974.

In 1979 His Majesty King Jime Singye Wangchuck married four sisters - Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck and Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck as queens. An official royal wedding and a public ceremony was held on 31 October 1988. They five princes and five princesses. HRH Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck is the Crown Prince.

His Majesty King Jime Singye Wangchuck also carried forward the socio-economic progress of the country initiated by his father. Bhutan has made tremendous progress in the filed of communications, hydro-electric power development, education, health, financial sector, environmental protection, and industrial and infrastructural development during his reign. The per capita GDP stood at its highest of US$ 712.8 (Nu 32,006) in 2000.
Bhutan became the member of. ESCAP in 1972, NAM in 1973, IFAD, IMF, IBRD, IDA and FAO in 1981, WHO, UNESCO and ADB in 1982, UNIDO in 1983, ITU in 1988, ICAO in 1989, ECOSOC in 1992.

Under his reign, Bhutan established diplomatic relations with Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, EEC, Norway and Netherlands Kuwait, Japan, Finland, South Korea, Austria, Thailand, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macaw, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan , Bangladesh, India and Nepal.