Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
འཇིགས་མེད་གེ་སར་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་དབང་ཕྱུག
King of Bhutan
King of Bhutan
Reign 9 December 2006 – present
Coronation 6 November 2008
Predecessor Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Heir apparent Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck[1]
Prime Ministers
Born (1980-02-21) 21 February 1980
Kathmandu, Nepal[2][3]
Spouse
Jetsun Pema (m. 2011)
Issue Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck[4]
House Wangchuck
Father Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Mother Tshering Yangdon
Religion Vajrayana Buddhism
Signature

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (འཇིགས་མེད་གེ་སར་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་དབང་ཕྱུག་, Wylie: jigs med ge sar rnam rgyal dbang phyug[5] born 21 February 1980) is the current reigning Druk Gyalpo or "Dragon King" of the Kingdom of Bhutan.[6] After his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in his favour, he became King on 9 December 2006. A public coronation ceremony was held on 6 November 2008, an auspicious year that marked 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.[7]

Wangchuck has yet to take a humanitarian or political stand on the Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin who were banished from Bhutan by his father's government.[8][9][10][11][12] The banishment is said to be the world's biggest creator of refugees per capita in the 1990s, when his father's government ordered the expulsion of Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin in the name of preserving Bhutan's unique national identity ("One Nation, One People" policy) which it boasts today.[13] Wangchuck's government carried out this ethnic cleansing as it regarded these citizens as a cultural threat to Bhutan. About 108,000 of these stateless Bhutanese are still living in seven refugee camps in Nepal, although many have been resettled in Western nations.[14][15][16][17][18]

Early life and education

Khesar is the eldest son of the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan,[19] Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and his third wife, Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon.[20] He has a younger sister, Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom, and brother, Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji, as well as four half-sisters and three half-brothers.[21]

After completing his higher secondary studies at Yangchenphug High School, Bhutan, Khesar studied abroad at Phillips Academy Andover with the Class of 1998 then transferred to Cushing Academy where he finished high school and attended college at Wheaton College, all in the United States, before graduating from Magdalen College, University of Oxford, where he completed the Foreign Service Programme and International Relations.[22]

Crown prince

The Crown Prince, popularly known to the people of Bhutan as 'Dasho Khesar', accompanied his father in his many tours throughout the Kingdom to meet and speak to the people. He also officially represented Bhutan on several international events. On 8 May 2002, he represented Bhutan at the 27th UN General Assembly and made his first speech to the United Nations where he addressed issues related to the welfare of millions of children around the globe to world leaders.[23] He attended Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations on 12–13 June 2006 in Bangkok along with royals from 25 countries.[24] The youngest of the visiting royals, the 26-year-old prince caused a sensation, giving rise to a legion of female fans in Thailand. The Thai press dubbed him "Prince Charming," publishing his photograph and running stories about him as well as Bhutan for several weeks after the event.

On 25 June 2002, the Crown Prince was awarded the Red Scarf by his father.[25]

Trongsa Penlop

On 31 October 2004, Khesar was installed as the 16th Trongsa Penlop[26] in Trongsa Dzong. The institution of the Trongsa Penlop, started by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1647, signifies the true heritage to the Bhutanese Throne and the investiture ceremony of the Trongsa Penlop is the formal declaration of this status of the Crown Prince.[27]

Ascension to the throne

In December 2005, the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced his intention to abdicate in his son's favour in 2008, and that he would begin handing over responsibility to him immediately.[28] On 9 December 2006, the former King issued a Royal Edict announcing his abdication, and transferred the throne to Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck,[29] who was officially crowned on 6 November 2008,[30][31] in Punakha. Religious ceremonies and public celebrations were also held at Tashichho Dzong and Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu. The coronation ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual, attended by thousands of foreign dignitaries, including the then-President of India, Pratibha Patil.[32][33]

CNN reported that, to welcome Khesar as King of Bhutan, people painted street signs, hung festive banners and decorated traffic circles with fresh flowers.[34][35]

His Majesty received (like all the rulers of Bhutan had before him) the white, yellow, red, green, and blue silk scarves.[36]

Engagement, royal wedding, and the birth of the Crown Prince

As he opened the session of parliament on Friday, 20 May 2011, the King announced his engagement to Jetsun Pema, born in Thimphu on 4 June 1990. They were married on 13 October 2011 in Punakha Dzong. The royal wedding was Bhutan's largest media event in history. The royal wedding ceremony was held in Punakha followed by formal visits to different parts of the country. During the ceremony the King also received the Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen (Queen) from the most sacred Machhen temple of the Dzong and bestowed it on Jetsun Pema, formally proclaiming her as Queen of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The wedding was held in traditional style with the "blessings of the guardian deities".[37][38][39]

On 11 November 2015, it was announced that the King and Queen of Bhutan were expecting their first child, a son, early in 2016.[40][41] The king and queen announced, via their Facebook page, the arrival of their son,[42] who was born in Lingkana Palace in the capital city of Thimphu on 5 February 2016.[43]

Children and their date of birth

NameBornPlace birthAge
His Royal Highness The Gyalsey,
Crown Prince of Bhutan Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck		5 February 2016Lingkana Palace, Bhutan(2 years, 8 months and 14 days)

As king

Democratisation

The young king began his reign overseeing the democratization of his country by presiding over the last sessions of the parliament where electoral laws, land reform and other important issues were deliberated.[44] He stated that the responsibility of this generation of Bhutanese was to ensure the success of democracy. He traveled extensively to explain and discuss the Draft Constitution of Bhutan with the people, and to encourage participation in the upcoming democratic exercises. He continues such visits, speaking mainly to the youth of Bhutan on the need for Bhutanese to strive for greater standards in education, business, civil service and the need for people of a small country to work harder than those of others.[45][46]

Diplomacy

The King signed a new treaty of friendship with India in February 2007, replacing the treaty of 1949.[47] Many government initiatives were undertaken by the new King with a view to strengthen the system in preparation for the democratic changes in 2008. The Constitution of Bhutan was adopted on 18 July 2008, by the first elected parliament.

Land reform

The King's first landmark project after his formal coronation was launching the National Cadastral Resurvey in March 2009, aimed at resolving long-standing land issues of excess land that affects every Bhutanese household. A variation of land reform focuses on improving the lives of people living in remote and difficult areas, with the Rehabilitation Project. The pilot Rehabilitation Project at Khinadang in Pemagatshel was initiated in June 2011,[48] and inaugurated by Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck on 28 October 2014.[49] The Project resettled people living in the more inaccessible areas of the country to the village, and provided them with basic amenities and services, as well as support in agriculture. The project saw tremendous success, and similar projects are in the pipeline in other parts of Bhutan.[50]

Kidu

One of the most important and ongoing works of the King involves Kidu – a tradition based on the rule of a Dharma King whose sacred duty is to care for his people. The people can access Kidu in several ways – by applying to the Office of the Royal Chamberlain, which accepts applications during all working hours; by sending applications through Dzongkhag Kidu Officers in every district, whose responsibility is to collect such applications as well as identify people who need help; and by appealing to the King directly. To give the people the opportunity for direct appeal, the King on his numerous road trips across the country stops for every potential appellant along the road.[51]

There are several Kidu schemes designed to help certain groups of people, such as students unable to afford even the free education available in the country, elderly citizens, those requiring medical treatments. The King has also continued the tradition of giving state land to landless farmers around the country. The ongoing project takes the King to remote villages and communities.[52] An aspect of Kidu includes providing immediate assistance to victims of natural disasters. The King personally supervised the rebuilding efforts following major earthquakes and floods in 2009 and 2011.[53][54]

In 2012, Nu.100 million from the Armed Forces was granted by the king to the Zhung Dratshang for the Dzong Reconstruction Fund, as on 24 June, the historic Wangduephodrang Dzong was destroyed by fire. As Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the King commanded the armed forces and De-suups to the site immediately, and with help from dzongkhag officials and citizens, many things were saved from the fire. The King himself rushed to the scene within hours.[55]

DeSuung Training Programme

The King initiated a military-style training for volunteers known as the DeSuung Training Programme in 2011, on the request of the youth. The programme is aimed to equip volunteers with the skill to provide assistance during emergencies, and has been hugely successful, with over 3000 volunteers having completed their training, and volunteering for numerous public events and emergencies.[56]

Education

The King has stressed the importance of education in almost all his public addresses, and makes it a point to visit schools at every opportunity. In line with this, he grants scholarships to students from different parts of the country. The recipients of His Majesty’s Scholarship Kidu go to various colleges and schools in Bhutan, India, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Europe. Several scholarships, like the Trongsa Penlop Scholarship, have been offered by universities abroad to His Majesty as a gesture of goodwill, and appreciation of, His Majesty The King.[57]

Amnesty

The Constitution of Bhutan empowers the King to grant amnesty to prisoners. In 2014, he pardoned 45 prisoners who had been imprisoned for possessing an excessive amount of tobacco, following an amendment of the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010 by the Parliament of Bhutan, since the amended law could not be enforced retroactively, and previous offenders who would not be liable now would still be tried under previous laws. The Royal Pardon was granted to those who were not repeat offenders and who had good prison records.[58]

Public perception and popularity abroad

The "People's King", like his father, enjoys exceptionally warm relations with India.[59] He has visited India on several occasions, and was invited as the Chief Guest for India's 64th Republic Day celebrations in 2013.[60]

Following his 2006 visit to Thailand as Crown Prince, the King has been immensely popular in Thailand. The number of Thai tourists visiting Bhutan has increased steadily since the visit.[61]

In November 2011, the King with Queen Jetsun Pema made a state visit to Japan; they were the first state guests to Japan since the 2011 earthquake. The Royal Visit had a similar effect, with reports that the Japanese were infatuated with the King and country.[62][63][64]

In March 2015, the King and Queen were among the foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral of Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.[65]

Styles

Styles of
King of Bhutan
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Druk Gyalpo
  • 1980–2004: His Royal Highness Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
  • 2004–2006: His Royal Highness Chhoetse Penlop Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
  • 2006–present:

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rspnbhutan". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "I was born in Nepal: HM the King of Bhutan". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bhutanese king keen to visit Nepal". My Republica. Nepal Republic Media Pvt. Ltd. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Rspnbhutan Archived 2 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. archived at
  5. ↑ "A Legacy of Two Kings". Bhutan Department of Information Technology. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  6. ↑ Das, Biswajyoti (18 December 2006). "Bhutan's new king committed to democracy". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  7. ↑ Royal Ark
  8. ↑ Sarkar, Sudeshna. "No homecoming for Bhutan's refugees". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  9. ↑ AsiaNews.it. "Nepal, Bhutanese refugees ask new king for end of exile". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  10. ↑ Diplomat, Maximillian Mørch, The. "Bhutan's Dark Secret: The Lhotshampa Expulsion". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  11. ↑ Bird, Kai. "The Enigma of Bhutan | The Nation". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  12. ↑ "Nepal: The Unsettling Resettlement of Bhutan's Refugees". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  13. ↑ Diplomat, Maximillian Mørch, The. "Bhutan's Dark Secret: The Lhotshampa Expulsion". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  14. ↑ "Bhutan's ethnic cleansing". Human Rights Watch. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  15. ↑ Mishra, Vidhyapati. "Opinion | Bhutan Is No Shangri-La". Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  16. ↑ "Bhutanese refugee crisis: a brief history". The Seattle Times. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  17. ↑ "The ethnic cleansing hidden behind Bhutan's happy face - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  18. ↑ "Bhutan's forgotten people". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  19. ↑ WANGCHUCK DYNASTY. 100 Years of Enlightened Monarchy in Bhutan. Lham Dorji
  20. ↑ Genealogy
  21. ↑ Lawson, Alistair (4 November 2008). "Profile: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck". BBC News.
  22. ↑ "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck". RAOnline. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  23. ↑ "Crown Prince addresses the United Nations". Kuensel. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010.
  24. ↑ "Crown Prince in Thailand". Kuensel.
  25. ↑ "Crown Prince receives Red Scarf". Kuensel. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016.
  26. ↑ Kuenselonline
  27. ↑ Wangdi, Dorji. "A Historical Background of the Chhoetse Penlop" (PDF). Centre for Bhutan Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2012.
  28. ↑ "Bhutan king announces abdication". BBC. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  29. ↑ "Bhutanese king steps down early". BBC. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  30. ↑ His Majesty, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Archived 2 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine., bhutanakingdomofhappiness.com; Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  31. ↑ ‘Prince charming’ is now King of Bhutan (Profile, To go with: celebrations in Bhutan as new king is crowned – Lead), thaindian.com; accessed 21 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Lavish coronation for Bhutan king". BBC. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  33. ↑ "Coronation fever in Bhutan as people's king bonds with subjects". 18 November 2008.
  34. ↑ "Himalayan nation of Bhutan crowns new king". CNN. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  35. ↑ "Bhutan has a new crown prince, PM Modi congratulates Royal couple". 6 February 2016.
  36. ↑ Vanity Fair
  37. ↑ "Royal wedding: Bhutan king weds Jetsun Pema". NDTV. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  38. ↑ "Bhutan's 'Prince Charming' king marries student bride". The Daily Telegraph. UK. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011. Bhutan's 31-year-old king has married a student 10 years his junior in an isolated valley high in the Himalayas where thousands of nomads and villagers gathered to celebrate
  39. ↑ Plowright, Adam (20 May 2011). "Bhutan's 31-year-old king to marry". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  40. ↑ "Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan pregnant with her first child". 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  41. ↑ "Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan pregnant with her first child". Hello Magazine. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  42. ↑ Facebook
  43. ↑ "Bhutan's Queen Jetsun Pema gives birth to crown prince". BBC. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  44. ↑ "Last National Assembly session begins". Bhutan Observer. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  45. ↑ "His Majesty to attend mock election in Dungkhar". Kuensel. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  46. ↑ "His Majesty speaks on Bhutan's future". kuenselonline.com. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  47. ↑ "Bhutan and India sign new treaty". BBC News. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  48. ↑ "Farmers Build Village Called Khinadang=Bhutan Observer". 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  49. ↑ Nlcs
  50. ↑ "Rehab Village for Indigent Inaugurated=Kuensel". 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  51. ↑ "A Mobile Royal Court". Kuenselonline.com. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  52. ↑ "Taking kidu to the people". Bhutan Times. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "His Majesty visits flood-affected areas". Kuenselonline.com. 30 May 2009.
  54. ↑ "His Majesty visits Narang". Kuenselonline.com. 22 October 2009.
  55. ↑ "Official Facebook". Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  56. ↑ "125 volunteers take part in the De-Suung training programme". BBS. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  57. ↑ "Official Facebook". Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  58. ↑ "His Majesty grants pardon to 45 prisoners convicted under TCA". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  59. ↑ "As China-India feud ebbs, tiny Bhutan reexamines its place in the world". The Washington Post. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  60. ↑ "Republic Day: Bhutan King chief guest at 26th Jan parade". The Economic Times. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  61. ↑ "Bhutanese take up Thai language course". BBS. 2 June 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "Bhutan royals' visit to Japan boosts interest in travel to their country". Japan Today. 22 November 2011.
  63. ↑ Denyer, Simon (5 November 2008). "Bhutan's charming king emerges from father's shadow". Reuters. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  64. ↑ "Coronation fever in Bhutan as people's king bonds with subjects". Hello Magazine. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  65. ↑ Straitstimes
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Born: 21 February 1980
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Jigme Singye Wangchuck		 King of Bhutan
2006–present		 Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck
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