Former King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He reigned from 1972 until 2006 before handing over the kingdom to his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He is credited with significant infrastructural and developmental reforms in Bhutan, as well as his attempts to conserve the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural environment. He acquired western and traditional education in several institutions as the only son of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. He moved to Heatherdown Prep School in England after studying at St Joseph’s College in Darjeeling before continuing his education at Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Satsham Choten, Paro. In 1971, he was appointed Chairman of the Planning Commission as the Crown Prince. At the early age of 16, Jigme Singye Wangchuck became king after his father’s unexpected death in 1972. When he ascended to the throne, he followed his father’s developmental programs and earned a reputation as a forward-thinking monarch who worked relentlessly for the country’s political and economic progress. He also took a number of initiatives to ensure the country’s unique cultural history and natural resources were preserved. In 2006, he abdicated in favor of his eldest son and stood down as king.
Childhood and Adolescence
Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the royal couple’s only son, was born on November 11, 1955, at Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu to King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. He is the youngest of four sisters.
His formal education began when he was six years old. Later, he attended Darjeeling’s St. Joseph’s College before moving to England to attend Heatherdown Prep School.
He began his studies at Namselling Palace in 1969 before enrolling in the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy at Satsham Choten in Paro in 1970.
By this time, he was a teenager, and he spent a lot of time with his father, acquiring leadership qualities from the wise monarch. His father nominated him as the first Chairperson of the Planning Commission in 1971, while the Crown Prince was in his mid-teens, to prepare him for future rule. The young prince was given the symbolic title of Trongsa Penlop, or Governor of Trongsa, in 1972.
Reign & Accession
His father, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, died unexpectedly in 1972, and Jigme Singye, just 16 years old, ascended to the throne. The young monarch carried on his father’s reform and development initiatives, emphasizing infrastructure, education, and health care. He also took measures to safeguard Bhutan’s rich cultural legacy and natural environment.
Intensive valley projects, cash crop farming, and improving the poor’s economic position were the main focus of planned development in the country during the 1970s. A number of initiatives were taken in order to achieve the goal of food self-sufficiency and income production.
“Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product,” the king believed, and this became the standard by which the country’s development was measured. Bhutan has experienced tremendous growth under the king’s reign.
He put a lot of emphasis on infrastructure development. There were 1,332 km of road networks in 1974, which had increased to 4,544 km by the conclusion of his reign in 2006. Similarly, communication and technology advanced dramatically during his presidency: in 1974, the country had only 24 wireless stations and 480 telephone lines, compared to 31,526 in 2006.
The king, who was sincerely concerned about the well-being of his citizens, sponsored educational and training facilities throughout the country, benefiting thousands of young people. The total number of students enrolled in schools increased from 13,410 in 1974 to around 151,260 in 2006. He implemented a free education policy, which resulted in a 90 percent school enrolment rate by 2006.
Better health services, safe drinking water, and better diet have resulted in an average life expectancy of 66 years during his reign. Bhutan had 90 percent free primary health care coverage by 2006. As a result of enhanced medical services, the country’s baby and maternal mortality rates have dropped dramatically.
Bhutan’s national GDP increased dramatically during his 34-year reign, and the country developed friendly relations with a number of countries throughout the world. Jigme Singye Wangchuk also took steps to protect the country’s rich cultural history and natural resources. As a result of his environmental efforts, significant swaths of the country have been designated as parks and sanctuaries.
He was a popular king among his subjects and a well-respected national leader on the world stage. He began taking moves to push Bhutan towards democracy in the 1990s, which was praised around the world.
King Jigme Singye Wangchuk handed up the crown to his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006.
Major Projects of Jigme
Bhutan has experienced extraordinary socioeconomic and cultural growth throughout Jigme Singye Wangchuk’s 34-year reign. In 1985, the country’s national income, as measured by GDP, was Nu 2.4 billion. It had risen to Nu 36.9 billion in 2006, a 15-fold gain in just 21 years.
During his presidency, he worked on forging strong international ties with countries such as Bangladesh, Kuwait, Nepal, Japan, Norway, Finland, Austria, Singapore, Canada, and Thailand, to name a few. He also maintained tight ties with India, which has been Bhutan’s primary development partner for decades.
Jigme Singye Wangchuk, as monarch, began the path of democratization in Bhutan. In the late 1990s, he ceded absolute power and established the Bhutanese Constitution to establish the legal basis for a democratic political system that is best suited to the country. In 2005, the Draft Constitution was published, and the website for it was launched.
Achievements & Awards
Grand Master of the Royal Order of Bhutan (1972), Grand Master of the Order of Great Victory of the Thunder Dragon (1985), and King Jigme Khesar Investiture Medal are among Jigme Singye Wangchuk’s national accolades (2008).
Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan, 1987), Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (Nepal, 1988), and Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great are among the international honors bestowed upon him (Kuwait, 1990).
Personal History and Legacy
On the auspicious Descending Day of Lord Buddha, Jigme Singye Wangchuck wedded four wives, all sisters, at the hallowed Dechog Lhakhang in Punakha on October 31, 1979.
The queens Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, and Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck are Yab Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuji Zam’s daughters. He is the father of ten children.