The Enlightened Reign: 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck - King of Bhutan
- Saidpiece
- Nov 11, 2023
- 8 min read
Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Dzongkha: འཇིགས་མེད་སེང་གེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་, Wylie: jigs med seng ge dbang phyug; born 11 November 1955) is a member of the House of Wangchuck and served as the king of Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo) from 1972 until his voluntary abdication in 2006.
Throughout his reign, he championed the adoption of a Gross National Happiness index as a measure of the well-being of citizens, prioritizing it over the conventional Gross Domestic Product.
Early Life:
Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born on 11 November 1955, at Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. Following his birth, the political officer of India stationed in Sikkim and the representative of the Sikkimese government visited to offer felicitations to the royal parents and pay their respects to the newborn prince. At the age of four, around 1959, the young Crown Prince experienced the first offerings of good wishes and respects from the public, monks, and officials at Tashichho Dzong.
Wangchuck's education encompassed both Western and traditional learning, spanning various institutions. He commenced his studies at Dechencholing Palace at the age of six in 1961. Subsequently, he attended St. Joseph's School in Darjeeling, India. In 1964, he pursued education at Heatherdown School in England, completing his studies in 1969. The next phase of formal education occurred at Namselling Palace in 1969. Finally, he enrolled at Ugyen Wangchuck Academy at Satsham Choten in Paro, established in 1970, where he joined a class of selected students from across Bhutan.
Crown Prince:
In 1971, Jigme Singye Wangchuck's father appointed him as the Chairman of the National Planning Commission, entrusting him with the responsibility of planning and coordinating the five-year development plan. A significant step in his journey came on 16 June 1972 when he was conferred the title of Trongsa Penlop, accompanied by the direct bestowal of the saffron scarf or namza.
At the time of his father's passing, Wangchuck, aged 16, was actively involved in the ongoing implementation of the 3rd Five-Year Plan (FYP) spanning 1971–77. The years 1972 to 1976 marked the period of the 3rd FYP, followed by the 4th FYP from 1976 to 1981. Holding dual roles as both the King and the Chairman of the National Planning Commission, which served as the clearing house for programs and projects, Wangchuck provided guidance for planned activities, initially in broad terms and gradually in more intricate detail.
Rural Development:
In his Coronation Address on 2 June 1974, Jigme Singye Wangchuck emphasized the imperative "to attain self-reliance and preserve Bhutan’s sovereignty and independence." He underscored the importance of genuine collaboration between the people and the government in any development endeavor. Throughout the 1970s, immediate objectives for rural households unfolded through intensive valley projects, the cultivation of cash crops, particularly potatoes with a focus on irrigation, and resettlement. The principal emphasis of the 3rd and 4th Five-Year Plans (FYPs) was on enhancing the income and livelihood of rural communities.
Shortly after ascending to the throne, Jigme Singye launched the Trashigang and Tsirang Intensive Valley Development Projects in 1972, as part of a broader vision for achieving food self-sufficiency and generating income. Encouraged by the success of these projects, similar initiatives were replicated in Mongar and the newly established Shumar (Pemagatshel) districts, fostering experimental and participatory decision-making processes. This led to the formation of Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchungs (DYTs), where chimis, gups, and officials collaborated to formulate plans. By 1981, Trashigang and Tsirang had fully functional DYTs.
In higher altitude areas, a new initiative in the early 1970s involved promoting potatoes as cash crops, initially tested in the royal pasturelands of Longtoed and Longmed, later converted to potato farms. Starting with large-scale production in Khaling and Chapcha, potatoes became a significant export crop, reaching 60,000 tonnes, cultivated by over 10,725 households by 2006.
In southern Bhutan, the focus shifted to the cultivation of citrus fruits. For instance, in 1977, the King encouraged the people of Dagana to initiate cardamom and orange plantations. These cash crops, initiated in the 1970s, have become major sources of rural income, with 3,400 tonnes of cardamom, 55,558 tonnes of oranges, and 7,400 tonnes of apples produced in 2006.
Socio-economic Development:
In 1986, King Jigme Singye issued a Kasho (royal decree) directing the Planning Commission to prioritize the evaluation of the achievements of the Sixth Plan based on whether "the people enjoy happiness and comfort." This marked a shift in focus from conventional social and economic indicators to subordinate goals, emphasizing the need to measure progress from a holistic perspective, specifically in terms of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Happiness and contentment were established as the ultimate yardsticks for assessing development and well-being.
The available data, enabling a comparison of achievements over time starting from 1985 onwards, reveals a transformative period of development in Bhutan, commencing approximately 14 years after King Jigme Singye's ascension to the throne.
In the 1970s, there was a lack of systematic quantitative information about Bhutan's social and economic situation. The baseline data for historical comparison was first collected in 1985. Information from 1974 indicates a limited infrastructure, with 11 ill-equipped hospitals and 45 basic health units. The road network extended to 1,332 km, compared to 4,544 km by the end of King Jigme Singye's reign in 2006. Telecommunication infrastructure also saw substantial growth, with telephone connections increasing from 480 in 1974 to 31,526 in 2006.
The education landscape witnessed significant improvements, with 13,410 students enrolled in schools in 1974 compared to around 151,260 in 2006. School enrollment reached 90%, and literacy rates achieved 60%, primarily attributed to a free education policy. Health services, safe drinking water, and better nutrition contributed to a life expectancy of 66 years and lower morbidity. The establishment of the Royal Institute of Health Sciences in 1976 addressed the shortage of qualified personnel in health and education. The number of health establishments increased from 56 in 1974 to 715 in 2006, providing 90% free primary health coverage.
Material prosperity increased significantly during this period. The introduction of air services, motor roads, and connectivity to the globalized world through the internet transformed Bhutan's accessibility. The generation of electricity rose from four million units in 1974 to 3.357 billion units by 2006. Bhutan's national income, measured by GDP, increased from Nu 2.4 billion in 1985 to Nu 36.9 billion in 2006, with a per capita income of US$1,500.
King Jigme Singye's unconventional tourism policy of "high-value, low-volume" led to the entry of the first group of tourists in 1974. By 2006, the number of tourists paying royalty reached 17,344.
The signing of the Chukha Hydropower Project in March 1974 marked a significant development, with construction starting in 1983 and inauguration in 1988. This project improved the country's revenue and financial capacity. Another landmark project, the Penden Cement Factory, began construction in 1979 and was in production by 1983, contributing to the growth of manufacturing and mining in southern towns.
Culture:
During King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's reign, Bhutan focused on preserving its rich cultural heritage, encompassing local languages, knowledge, beliefs, customs, skills, trades, institutions, and even specific species of crops and plants. The promotion of cultural identities remained a central theme, contributing to the cohesion of Bhutanese society.
King Wangchuck emphasized the distinctive characters of Bhutanese cultures, highlighting that the "distinct identity of our country," rather than material wealth or military strength, is vital for securing the nation's sovereignty. Over the 34 years of his reign, the ten traditional cultural sciences (rignas) received significant priority, emphasizing both the intangible and tangible aspects of Bhutanese culture.
As a testament to King Wangchuck's commitment to classical Bhutanese culture, the Tango Shedra was built. Tango Shedra became the pinnacle of education in the classical system of cultural sciences, Rignas, where academic monks completed their extensive studies, earning bachelor's and master's degrees. In 2008, 163 candidates graduated from Tango Shedra and Sangngag Chokhor Shedra in Paro.
Wangchuck's support for traditional arts was evident in the establishment of the Kawajangsa Institution of Zorig (now known as the National Institute for Zorig Chusum) in 1971, focusing initially on traditional fine arts. Other institutions, such as the Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum, were inaugurated to showcase the heritage of lay people's sustainable products and weaving skills.
Under Wangchuck's reign, indigenous medicine gained prominence with the support of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, expanding as a parallel health service.
The number of monks and nuns increased substantially during King Wangchuck's reign, from about 2,000 monks in state-supported monasteries in 1972 to over 6,000 by 2006. Monastic infrastructure, including tutors, lamas, temples, gomdeys (meditation centers), and shedras (Buddhist colleges), expanded. New monastic bodies were established in district headquarters, and affiliate monasteries were opened throughout the country, contributing to the flourishing of Bhutan's spiritual and cultural heritage.
By 2006, Bhutan had established 13 shedras (Buddhist colleges) located in Tango, Dodeydrag, Khothokha, Sanga Choekhor, Gontey, Tshangkha, Tharpaling, Nimalung, Talo Nalanda, Sewla, Ngatsang, Drametse, and Bartsham. These shedras had a total enrollment of approximately 700 monks. Additionally, there were over 24 drubdeys, or meditation places, spread from Singye dzong in the east to Tagchu goenpa in Haa, involving 300 individuals officially supported for long-term meditation practices in 2006. As old meditation practices concluded, new ones were initiated to maintain these numbers.
Furthermore, there were more than 45 monastic lobdras, where teachers received official stipends, and gomchens (young lay priests) studied. By 2006, Bhutan also had 10 nunneries, organized and established, located from Jashar goenpa in Pema Gatshel in the east to Kila Goenpa in Paro in the west. This extensive network of shedras, meditation places, monastic lobdras, and nunneries reflected the flourishing spiritual and educational landscape under King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's reign.
Environmental Preservation:
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental preservation and the protection of natural resources, recognizing the potential adverse impacts of increased economic activity and population growth on the fragile mountain ecosystem. His efforts to prioritize environmental conservation are evident in various events and initiatives during his reign:
1974: Declaration of Jigme Dorji National Park, Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, dedicating vast areas of the country to parks and sanctuaries.
1985: Introduction of environmental studies in schools, emphasizing the importance of environmental education.
1988: Bhutan identified as a global hotspot for biodiversity, drawing attention to the country's rich ecological significance.
1990: Establishment of the National Environment Commission to oversee and coordinate environmental policies and initiatives.
1992: Creation of the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment, providing financial support for conservation projects and sustainable development.
1993: Establishment of Toorsa Nature Reserve, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Thrumsengla National Park, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, further expanding the protected areas.
1995: Signing of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, showcasing Bhutan's commitment to international environmental cooperation.
2000: Introduction of the Environment Assessment Act, emphasizing the need for systematic assessment of the environmental impact of development projects.
2003: Implementation of the Biodiversity Act of Bhutan, further strengthening legal frameworks for the protection of biodiversity.
2005: Recognition of King Wangchuck and the people of Bhutan with the "Champions of the Earth" Award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), acknowledging their outstanding contributions to environmental conservation.
These initiatives collectively reflect King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's dedication to promoting sustainable practices and preserving Bhutan's unique and biodiverse environment.
Decentralization:
At the conclusion of the 4th Five-Year Plan (1976-1981), King Jigme Singye Wangchuck conducted an extensive review of the successes and challenges experienced during the preceding four years of development, which included physical inspections of field projects. Recognizing the need for a different planning approach in the 5th Five-Year Plan (1981–86), Wangchuck championed decentralization as a key principle.
As part of this decentralization initiative, new dzongdags were appointed in all 18 districts. These dzongdags were entrusted with the responsibilities of managing public finances and coordinating district development plans, serving as chairmen of Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT). Dzongdags were granted significant decision-making powers at the local level, working collaboratively with gups and chimis. This move by Wangchuck aimed to strengthen both the central government and local bodies.
In 1981, King Wangchuck founded the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT), and in 1991, he established the Gewog Yargye Tshogchung (GYT). These local bodies played a crucial role in the decentralization process, with increasing devolution of authority to them. The decentralization efforts under Wangchuck's leadership were pivotal in empowering local governance structures and fostering more effective and responsive decision-making at the grassroots level.
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