Jigme Singye Wangchuck
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Jigme Singye Wangchuck (born November 11, 1955) is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan from 1972 to 2006. He acceded to the throne at the age of 17, in 1972, after the sudden death of his father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. When he was formally crowned on June 2, 1974 he was the youngest monarch in the world at 18 years of age and the coronation was noted by the presence of 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 United Kingdom. ModernizationIt has been noted that the fourth king ruled his people with more orthodox views based on the traditions of Buddha. Even to this day, traffic lights do not exist in his Kingdom, and by law everyone must wear traditional 14th century clothing. Since the beginning of his rule, television and the internet have arrived with the 21st century. However, tourists still remain at a low. The number of tourists allowed into the country over the past 10 years is lower than the number of fans who pile into a college football game. Joining the United Nations early in his reign was a major step in the modernization process started by his father. To keep Bhutan from being overrun by China or swallowed up by India as the country of Sikkim, or filled up with illegal immigrants has not been an easy endeavor. Modernization has been necessary, painful, and slow by design. His Majesty is the figure head that has kept the balance between economics, spiritual, cultural, and traditional values. His reignThe fourth king continued his father's policies of slow modernization and socio-economic development for the country 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 began to formally rule with the advice of his government. He is the man behind Bhutan's constitution and the country's first democratic elections in 2008. In late 2003, he ordered Bhutan's first military campaign in well over a century, to oust Assamese separatists who were using Bhutanese territory to launch raids against targets in India (see History of Bhutan). Singye rule was based on the Buddhist principles of compassion and harmony. He also coined the term Gross National Happiness, which champions individual and environmental rights over policies of greed and materialism. This concept which helped guide the economic and development plans of Bhutan.[1] AbdicationOn December 17, 2005, (at the age of 50), he announced [2] his intention to abdicate in 2008, leaving the throne to his son [3]. During his last year in reign, [4] he sent every household in the land a new draft constitution that allowed for his impeachment. Many ask the question, "what does one make of a leader who voluntarily gives up his position, as if placing his peoples needs before his own"? In a royal edict issued on December 14, 2006, the king announced that he would begin handing over power to his eldest son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck immediately. He had ordered a parliamentary election to be held in 2008[5]. King Jigme—who gave up absolute power in 1998 and last year sent every household in the land a new draft constitution that allowed for his impeachment—is setting a quietly revolutionary precedent. If most politicians are inherently suspect because they seem so eager to grab power and so reluctant to surrender it, what does one make of a leader who voluntarily gives up his position, as if placing his people's needs before his own? Singye was named as one of Time magazine's 100 People Who Shape Our World in 2006[6]. He appeared in the May 8, 2006, issue of Time. His reign is marked by phenomenal development. Roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, basic services in agriculture and livestock now reach deep into the remote corners of the country. Bhutan has also made tremendous progress in the field of communications, hydro-electric power development, financial sector, environmental protection, and industrial and infrastructural development during the king's reign. Family lifeJigme Singye Wangchuck is married to four queens (all of whom are sisters) and has five sons and five daughters. Several of his children have been educated abroad. The names of the Queens:
And of the children:
Honours
ReferencesSee also
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