Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji

Ashi Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji was the mother of Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden of Bhutan.[1] She was also known as Rani Choying Wangmo Dorji by her marriage. She is best known for designing the Flag of Bhutan. When she died in 1994, she was cremated.

Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji
Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji and the king Jigme Singye Wangchuck (her grandson)
Born	Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji 1897 Gangtok, Sikkim India
Died	May 26, 1994 (aged 97) Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India
Spouse(s)	Gonzim Sonam Topgay Dorji (m. 1918–1953; his death)
Children	5
Parent(s)	Chogyal Thutob Namgyal (father) Yeshay Dolma (mother)

Work

Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji designed the flag at her daughter's request: Bhutan had been invited to attend the first Asian conference in New Delhi on March 23, 1947, and a flag representing Bhutan was necessitated for the occasion. Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji and Bhutan's late prime minister, Lyonchen Jigme Palden Dorji (her son), represented Bhutan at the conference.[2]

Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji chose the Dragon as the symbol of the Kingdom of Druk (Bhutan is sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of the Dragon) and the colours yellow and orange for the colours of the flag as the colours of Buddhist religion.[2]

She was deeply religious and would donate large amounts of money to build temples and monasteries.[3]

She was educated privately and her wedding took place at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, on 5 April 1918.

Patronages

• President of the Sikkim Education Board.
• Vice-President of Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology General Council [SRIT] (1964–1965).

Titles and styles

In Sikkim

• Princess (Semla) Choying Wangmo Dorji (1897–1918).

In Bhutan

• Her Highness Rani Choying Wangmo Dorji (1918–1972).

Although she was never a blood relative of the Wangchuck dynasty, she was granted a royal title for being the King's grandmother.

• Her Royal Highness[3] Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji, The Royal Grandmother (1972–1994).

Honours

•  Sikkim :
  • Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal Investiture Medal (4 April 1965).
•  Bhutan :
  • King Jigme Singye Investiture Medal (2 June 1974).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji
16. Phuntsog Namgyal, 5th Maharaja of Sikkim 8. Tenzing Namgyal, 6th Maharaja of Sikkim 17. a daughter of Deba Shamsher Khiti Phukpa 4. Tsugphud Namgyal, 7th Maharaja of Sikkim 18. Chandzod Karwang 9. Anyo Karwang 2. Sir Thutob Namgyal, 9th Maharaja of Sikkim 5. Maharani Menchi 1. Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji 6. Shiafe Uthok, of the Lhading House of Lhasa 3. Yeshay Dolma

References

1. Genealogy
2. "Bhutans national flag". Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
3. "Mayum Chonying Wangmo Dorji (obituary)" (PDF). Retrieved 30 August 2019 – via cam.ac.uk.