Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Jigme Singye Wangchuck, འཇིགས་མེད་སེང་གེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་, (born 11 November 1955) is the former king of Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo) from 1972 until his abdication in favor of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck
King Father of Bhutan
King of Bhutan
Reign	24 July 1972 – 9 December 2006
Coronation	2 June 1974
Predecessor	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Successor	Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
King Father of Bhutan
Reign	9 December 2006 – present
Born	(1955-11-11) 11 November 1955 Dechencholing Palace, Thimpu
Spouse	Dorji Wangmo Tshering Pem Tshering Yangdon Sangay Choden
Issue	Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck Kesang Choden Wangchuck Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck Khamsum Singye Wangchuck Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Euphelma Choden Wangchuck Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck
House	Wangchuck
Father	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Mother	Kesang Choden
Religion	Vajrayana Buddhism

During his reign, he advocated the use of a Gross National Happiness index to measure the well-being of citizens rather than the Gross Domestic Product.[1]

Early life

Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 11 November 1955.[2] to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck.[3] The political officer of India stationed in Sikkim and the representative of the Sikkimese government came soon after to offer felicitations to the royal parents and to pay their respect to the newborn prince. At the age of four, sometime in 1959, the young Crown Prince received the offerings of good wishes and respects by the public, monks, and officials for the first time in Tashichho Dzong.

Wangchuck received western and traditional learning in various institutions. He began studying at Dechencholing Palace, when he was six years old, in 1961. Soon afterwards, he went to study at St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, in India. In 1964, he attended Heatherdown School in England where he completed his studies in 1969. The next phase of his formal education took place at Namselling Palace in 1969. Finally, he attended Ugyen Wangchuck Academy at Satsham Choten in Paro, which was established in 1970, along with a class of selected students from all over Bhutan.

Crown Prince

In 1971 Wangchuck's father appointed Wangchuck as the Chairman of National Planning Commission, charged with the planning and co-ordination of the five year development plan.[4] The following year, on June 16, 1972, he was made the Trongsa Penlop bestowing on him directly the saffron scarf or namza. The 3rd Five-Year Plan,[5] which spanned the period 1971–77, was in progress when his father died. Wangchuck was 16 at that time. 1972 to 1976 was the period of the 3rd FYP, and 1976 to 1981 was the period of 4th FYP.[6] As both King and the Chairman of the National Planning Commission, the clearing house for the programmes and projects, Wangchuck guided the planned activities first in broad terms and then increasingly in detail.

Royal Wedding

In a public ceremony, the Royal Wedding of Wangchuck was held in Dechog Lhakhang in Punakha Dzong on 31 October 1988, corresponding with the Descending Day of Buddha. The four queens, Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck and Sangay Choden Wangchuck are daughters of Dasho Yab Ugyen Dorji, the descendant of both the mind and speech incarnations of Ngawang Namgyal, and Yum Thuiji Zam.[7][8]

Previously, they had married privately in 1979.

Rural development

In his Coronation Address on June 2, 1974, Jigme Singye stressed the need "to attain self-reliance and preserve Bhutan’s sovereignty and independence." He also stressed that any development undertaking should be a genuine collaboration between the people and the government. During the 1970s, immediate aims for rural households unfolded in terms of intensive valley projects, cash crops cultivation, especially potatoes – irrigation, and resettlement. Enhancing the income and livelihood of the rural people were the main focus of the 3rd and 4th FYPs. Soon after he acceded to the throne, Jigme Singye launched the Trashigang and Tsirang Intensive Valley Development Projects in 1972. These projects were part of a larger vision of food self-sufficiency and income generation.

Encouraged by the achievements in the Trashigang and Tsirang Intensive Valley Projects, similar valley projects were replicated in Mongar and the newly created Shumar (Pemagatshel) districts. These projects were also sites of experimental and participatory decision making. It led to the formation of Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchungs (DYTs), which brought the chimis, gups and officials to prepare plans together. By 1981, Trashigang and Tsirang had fully functional DYTs.

In higher altitude areas a new initiative by Wangchuck in early 1970s consisted of diffusing potatoes as cash crops, first tested in royal pastureland of Longtoed and Longmed, which had been converted to potato farms. Beginning with the large-scale production in Khaling and Chapcha, potatoes become a key export crop, reaching 60,000 tonnes, grown by over 10,725 households by 2006.

In southern Bhutan, the focus was on growing citrus fruits. For example, in 1977, the King encouraged the people of Dagana to start cardamom and orange plantations. Both of these cash crops are now major sources of rural income as 3,400 tonnes of cardamom, 55,558 tonnes of oranges and 7,400 tonnes of apples were produced in 2006 due to the initiatives taken first in 1970s.

Socio-economic development

Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2007 with Ellen Sauerbrey.

A Kasho (royal decree) issued by King Jigme Singye in 1986 directed the Planning Commission[9] to ensure that "the basis for the evaluation of the achievements of the Sixth Plan is to see whether the people enjoy happiness and comfort".[10] The social and economic indicators point towards sub-ordinate goals, not ultimate goals which was to be measured from a holistic, GNH[11] point of view. Happiness and contentment became the ultimate yardstick of progress.

Data, which enables comparison of achievements over time starting from 1985 onwards, some 14 years after the king's ascension to the throne.

There is a lack of systematic quantitative information about the social and economic situation of Bhutan for the 1970s. The baselines for historical comparison available today were first collected in 1985 – the year when time series data was collected. Some information that date back to 1974 indicate the low base of infrastructure that existed at that time. There were 11 ill-equipped hospitals, manned mostly by foreign doctors, and 45 basic health units in 1974, the year Jigme Singye's coronation was held.

Sparse networks of 1,332 km of roads had been built by 1974, compared to 4,544 by the end of his reign in 2006. In 1974, 24 wireless stations linked the rest of the country. Telephone connections, mostly for officials in Thimphu, were limited to 480 in 1974 compared to 31,526 in 2006.

There were 13,410 students enrolled in schools compared to 151,260 or so in 2006. By 2006, school enrollment touched 90%, literacy 60%, and both were so mainly due to a free education policy (more information at Education in Bhutan and Ministry of Education Website).

Health services, safe drinking water and better nutrition have led to a 66-year life-span and lower morbidity during this life span. One of the constraints in education and health was the lack of qualified people. In 1976, King Jigme Singye commanded the establishment of the Royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) and the first batch of Health Assistants and Basic Health Workers passed out in 1986. There were 56 health establishments in 1974; by 2006 there were 715 resulting in 90% free primary health coverage. In 1985, there was nearly 50% health coverage. Infant mortality has fallen from 142 in 1985, to 60 in 2006. This was mainly due to the success of universal child immunisation and the supply of safe drinking water. There were 150 water supply schemes in 1985; this increased to 3,852 by 2006, giving 78% coverage of safe drinking water. Maternal mortality rate dropped from 7.7% in 1985 to 2.6% in 2006.[12]

Besides these human development indicators, material prosperity rose remarkably. The distance between Bhutan and the outside world shortened because of motor road and air services. Wangchuck visited Delhi in 1978 and during that visit he discussed the possibility of having air links with India to promote its trade and commerce. The discussion was fruitful and led to a Donier flight between Paro and Kolkata in 1983. By 2006, air services connected Bhutan to Kathmandu, Delhi, Dhaka and Bangkok.[13]

Just four million units of electricity were generated in 1974, compared to 3.357 billion units by the end of his reign in 2006. In 1985, just around 10,000 households had electricity, and the number reached over 65,000 meter-point units by 2006. The connectivity of Bhutan increased in his reign through air services, internet, and surface transport. Internet reached Bhutan in 1999. The spread of faxes, telephones, satellite TVs, computers, and the Internet brought Bhutan into a transnational or globalized world. The national income of the country, as measured by GDP, was Nu 2.4 billion in 1985. This increased to Nu 36.9 billion in 2006, which was a 15-fold increase in 21 years. Bhutan's per capita income reached US$1,500 in 2006 by the end of his reign. In purchasing power parity terms, Bhutan's per capita income in 2006 was nearly US$4,085.[14]

The king introduced an unconventional tourism policy of "high-value, low-volume".[15] Soon after the Coronation, in October 1974, the first group of 20 tourists entered the country through Phuntsholing, as there was no air service then. By 2006, the number of tourists, flown in by Druk Air and who paid royalty, reached 17,344.

One of the landmark developments, soon after his coronation, was the signing of the Chukha Hydropower Project in March 1974. Construction began in 1983 and the President of India, Ramaswamy Venkataraman and King Jigme Singye inaugurated the Chukha Hydropower Project on 21 October 1988, nearly 13 years after the first discussion on it took place, in 1974. Chukha improved the revenue situation and the financial capacity of the country.[16] In the industrial sphere, an early landmark project planned soon after his coronation was the development of a complete master plan for the construction of the Penden Cement Factory.[17] The actual construction started in 1979 and the company was in production by 1983. The Penden Cement Authority[17] produced about half a million tonnes of cement every day, for instance in 2008. Manufacturing and mining spread, mostly in the southern towns.

Culture

The country strived to preserve major local languages, knowledge, beliefs, customs, skills, trades and institutions, and even species of crops and plants. Bhutanese society also remained cohesive because of promoting cultural identities under the Fourth King's reign. Wangchuck emphasized the distinctive characters of Bhutanese cultures. Wangchuck stated that it is the "distinct identity of our county", and not the nation's "wealth, weapons and armed forces", that is the vital instrument in securing the sovereignty of the nation. In the 34 years of Wangchuck's reign, the ten traditional cultural sciences (rignas) received considerable priority. Wangchuck cherished the importance of both the intangible and tangible aspects of Bhutanese culture.

As an example of Wangchuck's support to classical Bhutanese culture he had Tango Shedra[18] built. Tango Shedra[18] became the apex of education according to classical system of cultural sciences, Rignas. Academic monks complete their long studies with bachelor's and master's degrees in Tango. In 2008, 163 candidates – with 14 master's degrees and 149 bachelor's degrees –from Tango Shedra and Sangngag Chokhor Shedra in Paro held their graduation ceremonies at Tango.

Zo rigpa was enhanced by Wangchuck when he opened the Kawajangsa Institution of Zorig (now known as National Institute for Zorig Chusum) in 1971. At first, this institute concentrated on traditional fine arts. A similar institution was opened in 1997 in Tashi Yangtse. The Folk Heritage Museum started by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in Kawajangsa, Thimphu in 2001, drew attention to the heritage of lay people's sustainable products and their lifestyle. Likewise, in 2001, the first Textile Museum opened by Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck drew attention to the weaving skills of Bhutan. Skilled artisans – painters, statue-makers, carpenters and masons proliferated in Wangchuck's reign not only because of these new institutions, but also by receiving on the job training in many new temples and dzongs constructed in the country.

The profile of indigenous medicine also became higher under Wangchuck's reign. Indigenous medicine spread as a parallel health service due to support to Institute of Indigenous Medicine.[19]

There probably were only about 2,000 monks in the state supported monasteries in 1972 when his reign started. By 2006, the number of monks subsisting on state allowances had increased to little over 6,000. In parallel to the increase in the number of monks and nuns, the monastic infrastructure that included tutors, lamas, temples, gomdeys (meditation centres), and shedras (Buddhist colleges), increased in Wangchuck's reign. Many new official dratshangs in district headquarters, which hitherto did not have any monastic body, were opened such as Tsirang, Gaylegphug, Tashi Yangtse, Samtse, Pema Gatshel, Chukha, Bumthang and Zhemgang. Numerous affiliate monasteries to each dzongkhag rabdey were also opened throughout the country.

By 2006, there were 13 shedras located in Tango, Dodeydrag, Khothokha, Sanga Choekhor, Gontey, Tshangkha, Tharpaling, Nimalung, Talo Nalanda, Sewla, Ngatsang, Drametse, and Bartsham with a total enrolment of some 700 monks. There were over 24 drubdeys or meditation places, stretching from Singye dzong in the east to Tagchu goenpa in Haa, enlisting 300 officially supported people who meditate on a long-term basis in 2006. These numbers were rolled as new meditation to succeed old ones upon their completion. There were over 45 monastic lobdras, where teachers received official stipends and where gomchens (young lay priests) studied. By 2006, there were also 10 nunneries, started on an organized basis, located in Jashar goenpa in Pema Gatshel in the east to Kila Goenpa in Paro in the west.

Environmental preservation

Wangchuck also enhanced the protection of natural resources such as forests and biodiversity. Wangchuck foresaw the potentially adverse impacts of both increased economic activity and increased population on the fragility of the mountain ecosystem. He raised the importance of preservation of environment during policy discussions, which resulted in vast areas of the country being devoted to parks and sanctuaries.

Among events of his reign:

• Jigme Dorji National Park, Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1974
• Environmental Studies started in schools, 1985
• Bhutan identified as a global hotspot, 1988
• National Environment Commission established in 1990[20]
• Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment established in 1992[21]
• Toorsa Nature Reserve, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (known earlier as Jow Durshing National Park), Thrumsengla National Park, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1993
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1995
• Environment Assessment Act, 2000[22]
• Bio-diversity Act of Bhutan, 2003[23]
• Wangchuck and the people of Bhutan received the "Champions of the Earth" Award from UNEP, 2005[24]

Decentralisation

At the end of the 4th FYP (1976-1981),[6] Wangchuck extensively reviewed the successes and challenges of the previous four years of development, which also included the physical inspection of the field projects. Wangchuck envisioned different planning system for the 5th FYP (1981–86)[25] emphasizing decentralization. New dzongdags were appointed in all the 18 districts, with responsibilities of managing public finances and co-ordinating district development plans, in their capacities as chairmen of DYTs. Dzongdags were delegated broad powers to make decisions at the local level in conjunction with gups and chimis. Wangchuck's strengthening of the governmental sectors went hand in hand with strengthening local bodies like Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT) that Wangchuck founded in 1981, and the Gewog Yargye Tshogchung (GYT) he founded in 1991. He increasingly devolved authority on them.

Wangchuck's state visits abroad

Bhutanese participation in international organisations at various levels increased. Personally, Wangchuck attended the non-aligned and SAARC summits until 1997, travelling to Colombo in 1976 for 8th Non-Aligned Summit; Havana in 1979 for 6th Non-Aligned Summit; New Delhi in 1983 for 5th SAARC Summit and 1995 for 8th SAARC Summit; Harare in 1986 for 8th Non-Aligned Summit; Kathmandu in 1987 for 3rd SAARC Summit; Islamabad in 1988 for 4th SAARC Summit; Belgrade in 1989 for 9th Non-Aligned Summit; Malé in 1990 for 5th SAARC Summit, and Dhaka in 1993 for 7th SAARC Summit.

Diplomatic expansion

Wangchuck emphasised a two-fold foreign policy for Bhutan: to deepen Bhutan's relations with India and to create new bonds of friendship with fellow members of the UN. To diversify the sources of funding, Bhutan cultivated close relationships with the UN, ever since the visit of a UN Under-Secretary General in 1974. Relationships with other nations widened rapidly after 1974. The Coronation of 1974 brought a large numbers of foreign delegates. Representatives of some 18 nations attended the Coronation. Notably, Chinese representative also attended. Bhutan had supported China's seat in the United Nations in 1971 soon after Bhutan became a member of the UN. In parallel to the increase in development assistance, the decade between 1980 and 1990 was a period of enhanced diplomacy for Bhutan. In this decade, under the guidance of Wangchuck, Bhutan established diplomatic relations with 17 out of the existing 53 countries, and became associated with 12 out of 20 organizations of the United Nations family.

In Wangchuck's reign, diplomatic links were developed with many other nations such as Bangladesh in 1973; Kuwait in 1983; Nepal in 1983; The Maldives in 1984; Denmark in 1985; Norway in 1985; Sweden in 1985; Switzerland in 1985; Netherlands in 1985; Japan in 1986; Finland in 1986; South Korea in 1987; Sri Lanka in 1987; Austria in 1989; Thailand in 1991; Bahrain in 1992; Singapore in 2002; Australia in 2002 and Canada in 2003. Wangchuck cultivated bonds of friendship with other countries and strengthened Bhutan-international relationships and diversified its sources of development assistance.

Abdication

Wangchuck said after announcing his decision to abdicate "In taking note of the progress that our nation has made over the past thirty-four years, I would like to state that whatever we have achieved so far is due to the merit of the people of Bhutan."

Wives and children

1. Dorji Wangmo (born 10 June 1955, first wife)

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
Princess Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck (Photo)	(1981-08-05) 5 August 1981	5 April 2009	Dasho Phub W. Dorji[26]	Dasho Jigje Singye Wangchuck[27] ((2009-12-11)11 December 2009) (age 10 years) Dasho Jigme Jigten Wangchuck[28] ((2013-08-23)23 August 2013) (age 6 years)
Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (Photo)	(1984-07-06) 6 July 1984

2. Tshering Pem (born 22 December 1957, second wife)

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
Princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck (Photo)	(1980-01-10) 10 January 1980	13 October 2005	Dasho Sangay Wangchuck	Dasho Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck (ca. September 2006 (age 13)) Dasho Jamyang Singye Wangchuck (2009 (age 10–11))
Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck (Photo)	(1982-01-23) 23 January 1982	11 November 2008	Dasho Palden Yoser Thinley[29]	Dasho Jamgyel Singye Wangchuck[27] Dasho Ugyen Junay Wangchuck[30] Ashi N. Wangchuck[31] (ca. January 2019 (age 1))
Prince Dasho Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck (Photo)	(1994-11-11) 11 November 1994

3. Tshering Yangdon (born 21 June 1959, third wife)

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck	(1980-02-21) 21 February 1980	13 October 2011	Ashi Jetsun Pema	Crown Prince Druk Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck[32] ((2016-02-05)5 February 2016) (age 4 years) Prince Dasho Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck ((2020-03-19)19 March 2020) (age 4 months 26 days)
Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck (Photo)	(1981-12-02) 2 December 1981	29 October 2009	Dasho Tandin Namgyel[33]	Ashi Dechen Yuidem Yangzom Wangchuck[34]
Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (Photo)	(1986-04-14) 14 April 1986	17 October 2013	Ashi Yeatso Lhamo[35]	Ashi Decho Pema Wangchuck[36]

4. Sangay Choden (born 11 May 1963, fourth wife)

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
Prince Dasho Khamsum Singye Wangchuck (Photo)	(1985-10-06) 6 October 1985
Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (Photo)	(1993-06-06) 6 June 1993

Styles

• 11 November 1955 – 15 May 1972: His Royal Highness Dasho (Prince) Jigme Singye Wangchuck
• 15 May 1972 – 15 July 1972: His Royal Highness Trongsa Penlop Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck, The Crown Prince of Bhutan
• 15 July 1972 – 14 December 2006: His Majesty King Jigme Singye, The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, The King of Bhutan
• 14 December 2006 – present: His Majesty King Jigme Singye, The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, The King Father of Bhutan

Honours

See also: List of honours of the Bhutanese Royal Family by country

National honours

•  Bhutan :
  • Grand Master of the Royal Order of Bhutan (24/07/1972).
  • Grand Master of the Order of Great Victory of the Thunder Dragon (29/09/1985).
  • King Jigme Khesar Investiture Medal (06/11/2008).

Foreign honours

•  Japan : Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (16/03/1987).[37][38]
• Nepal : Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (05/10/1988).
•  Kuwait : Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great (1990).
•  Bahrain : Order of Khalifa, 1st Class (1990).
•  Sweden : Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (1994).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Jigme Singye Wangchuck

16. Jigme Namgyal, 10th Trongsa Penlop and 48th Druk Desi 8. Ugyen Wangchuck 17. Pema Choki 4. Jigme Wangchuck 18. Kunzang Thinley, Dzongpon of Thimphu 9. Tsundue Pema Lhamo 19. Sangay Drolma 2. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck 20. Lamala 10. Jamyang, Chumed Zhalgno 21. Kunzang Lhamo 5. Phuntsho Choden 22. Chimi Dorji, Dzongpon of Thimphu 11. Decho Dorji 23. Yeshay Choden 1. Jigme Singye Wangchuck 24. Sherpa Puchung, Dzongpon 12. Raja Ugyen Dorji 25. Tsherim, a Lady from Tsento, Paro 6. Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji 3. Kesang Choden 28. Tsugphud Namgyal, 7th Maharaja of Sikkim 14. Sir Thutob Namgyal, 9th Maharaja of Sikkim 29. Maharani Menchi 7. Rani Mayum Chonying Wangmo Dorji 30. Shiafe Uthok, of the Lhading House of Lhasa 15. Yeshay Dolma

See also

• Bhutanese refugees
• Ethnic cleansing in Bhutan

References

1. Gross National Happiness
2. WANGCHUCK DYNASTY. 100 Years of Enlightened Monarchy in Bhutan. Lham Dorji
3. dpal ‘brug zhib ‘jug lte ba (2008). ‘brug brgyd ‘zin gyi rgyal mchog bzhi pa mi dbang ‘jigs med seng ge dbang pyug mchog ge rtogs rtogs brjod bzhugs so (The Biography of the Fourth King of Bhutan). Thimphu: The Centre for Bhutan Studies. ISBN 978-99936-14-57-9.
4. Gross National Happiness Commission, Thimphu, Bhutan
5. Gross National Happiness Commission. "Third Five Year Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
6. "Salient Features of 4th Plan" (PDF). Gross National Happiness Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
7. Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan) (1999). Of Rainbows and Clouds, The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as told to her Daughter. London: Serindia Publications. ISBN 978-0906026496.
8. Queens of Bhutan
9. Sonam Tobgay. "Gross National Happiness Commission". gnhc.gov.bt.
10. Gross National Happiness Commission. "6th Five Year Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
11. GNH
12. Ministry of Health. "Annual Health Bulletin 2006". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
13. Druk Air Website, Bhutan.
14. National Statistics Bureau. "National Accounts Statistics 2000-2006" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-06-12.
15. "About TCB". tourism.gov.bt.
16. Tshering Pamo. "About Chhukha Hydropower Plant". drukgreen.bt. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
17. Penden Cement Authority Ltd., Gomtu, Bhutan.
18. Tango Shedra, Bhutan.
19. National Institute of Traditional Medicine Archived 2015-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Thimphu, Bhutan.
20. Nec
21. Bhutan Trust
22. Royal Government of Bhutan. "Environmental Assessment Act 2000" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-06-20.
23. Royal Government of Bhutan. "The Biodiversity Act of Bhutan" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-06-20.
24. United Nations Environment Programme, First-Ever UNEP ‘Champions of the Earth’ Presented to Seven Environmental Leaders
25. Gross National Happiness Commission. "5th Five Year Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2015-06-20.
26. Bhutan Majestic Travel Archived 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine, Wedding news
27. First son
28. Facebook
29. Bhutan Majestic Travel Archived 2012-03-10 at the Wayback Machine, Wedding news
30. Second son
31. Bhutan's Princess Kesang Choden Wangchuck gives birth to a daughter
32. "Bhutan's Queen Jetsun Pema gives birth to crown prince". BBC. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
33. Bhutan Majestic Travel Archived 2013-05-10 at the Wayback Machine, Wedding news
34. A book by youngest author launched
35. "Royal Wedding". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
36. Their daughter
37. Japan-Bhutan Relations
38. Japan's Relations with Each Country and Region

External references

• Bhutan Times (2007). Immortal Lines: Speeches of the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Thimphu: Bhutan Times.
• Kingdom of Bhutan (1999). 25 Years a King His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck 1974-1999. Royal Government of Bhutan.
• Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley (2009). State of the Nation Report 2009 (PDF) (Report). Cabinet Secretariat. p. 92. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
• Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley (1 July 2010). The 2nd Annual Report of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to the Fifth session of the First Parliament on the State of the Nation (PDF) (Report). Cabinet Secretariat. p. 92. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
• Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley (1 July 2011). Third Annual Report of Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley to the Seventh Session of the First Parliament on the State of the Nation (PDF) (Report). Cabinet Secretariat. p. 124. Retrieved 2015-07-12.

External links

• Ethenic cleansing of Bhutan by King Jigme Singye Wangchuk's Government- Video 1, 2
• The Royal Family of Bhutan
• Time Magazine's 100 People Who Shape Our World 2006: King Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Jigme Singye Wangchuck House of Wangchuck Born: 11 November 1955
Regnal titles
Preceded by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck	King of Bhutan 1972–2006	Succeeded by Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Preceded by None	King Father of Bhutan 2006–present	Succeeded by Incumbent