Jigme Singye Wangchuck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jigme Singye Wangchuckའཇིགས་མེད་སེང་གེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་ |
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Wangchuck in 2008
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| King of Bhutan | |
| Reign | 24 July 1972 – 9 December 2006 |
| Coronation | 2 June 1974 |
| Predecessor | Jigme Dorji Wangchuck |
| Successor | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck |
| Born | 11 November 1955 Dechencholing Palace, Thimphu, Bhutan |
| Spouse | 1st consort: Dorji Wangmo 2nd consort: Tshering Pem 3rd consort: Tshering Yangdon 4th consort: Sangay Choden |
| Issue | Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck Kesang Choden Wangchuck Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck Khamsum Singye Wangchuck Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Euphelma Choden Wangchuck Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck |
| House | Wangchuck |
| Father | Jigme Dorji Wangchuck |
| Mother | Kesang Choden |
| Religion | Tibetan Buddhism |
Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Dzongkha: འཇིགས་མེད་སེང་གེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་; born 11 November 1955) was the King of Bhutan (called the Druk Gyalpo) from 1972 until he stepped down in 2006. He is a member of the House of Wangchuck, the royal family of Bhutan.
During his time as king, he famously promoted the idea of Gross National Happiness. This idea suggests that a country's success should be measured by the well-being and happiness of its people, not just by how much money it makes (which is called Gross domestic product).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, on November 11, 1955. His parents were King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck.
He started his education at Dechencholing Palace in 1961. Later, he studied in India at St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling. He also went to schools in England, including Summerfields School and Heatherdown School, finishing his studies there in 1969. He continued his learning at Namselling Palace and then at the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro.
Becoming Crown Prince and King
In 1971, his father made him the Chairman of the National Planning Commission. This meant he was in charge of planning Bhutan's five-year development goals.
On June 16, 1972, he was given the title of Trongsa Penlop. This is an important traditional title in Bhutan. When his father passed away, Jigme Singye Wangchuck became king at just 16 years old. He continued to guide Bhutan's development plans, focusing on improving the country.
Royal Wedding
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck had a public royal wedding ceremony on October 31, 1988, in Punakha Dzong. He married four queens: Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, and Sangay Choden Wangchuck. They had actually married privately in 1979.
Developing Rural Areas
When he became king in 1974, Jigme Singye Wangchuck said that Bhutan needed to become "self-reliant." He also believed that development projects should be a team effort between the people and the government.
In the 1970s, he focused on helping people in rural areas. This included:
- Starting projects in valleys like Trashigang and Tsirang to grow more food.
- Encouraging farmers to grow cash crops like potatoes. Potatoes became a major export, helping many families earn money.
- In southern Bhutan, he encouraged growing citrus fruits like oranges and spices like cardamom. These crops also became important for rural income.
He also created local councils called Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchungs (DYTs). These councils allowed local people and officials to plan projects together, giving communities more say in their own development.
Improving Life for People
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck believed that the goal of development was to make people happy and comfortable. This idea became known as Gross National Happiness (GNH).
When he started his reign in 1974, Bhutan had very few modern facilities:
- There were only 11 hospitals and 45 basic health centers.
- Roads were limited to about 1,332 kilometers.
- Only 24 wireless stations connected the country.
- Few people had telephones.
- About 13,410 students were in schools.
By the end of his reign in 2006, things had changed a lot:
- Roads grew to 4,544 kilometers.
- Telephone connections increased to over 31,526.
- School enrollment reached 90%, with over 151,260 students, thanks to free education.
- Health services improved greatly, with 715 health centers.
- Life expectancy increased to 66 years.
- Infant deaths dropped significantly due to child immunization and clean water.
- Access to safe drinking water reached 78% of the population.
Bhutan also became more connected to the world. Air services started in 1983, linking Paro to other cities. The internet arrived in Bhutan in 1999, bringing more global connections.
The country's economy also grew. The national income (GDP) increased significantly, and the average income per person rose to US$1,500 by 2006.
The king introduced a unique tourism policy: "high-value, low-volume." This meant attracting fewer tourists who would spend more, helping to protect Bhutan's culture and environment.
A major project was the Chukha Hydropower Project, which started in 1974 and was completed in 1988. This project helped Bhutan generate a lot of electricity and earn more money. Factories, like the Penden Cement Factory, also started producing goods, boosting the country's industry.
Preserving Culture
King Wangchuck strongly believed in keeping Bhutan's unique culture alive. He said that the country's "distinct identity" was more important than its wealth or army for keeping it independent.
He supported traditional Bhutanese arts, crafts, and knowledge.
- He helped build Tango Shedra, a major center for studying classical Bhutanese culture and Buddhist sciences.
- He opened the Kawajangsa Institution of Zorig (now the National Institute for Zorig Chusum) in 1971. This school teaches traditional fine arts.
- Museums like the Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum were opened to highlight Bhutanese heritage and weaving skills.
- Traditional medicine also received more support.
The number of monks and nuns supported by the state grew from about 2,000 in 1972 to over 6,000 by 2006. Many new monasteries, meditation centers, and Buddhist colleges were built across the country.
Protecting the Environment
King Wangchuck also focused on protecting Bhutan's natural environment, including its forests and diverse wildlife. He understood that economic growth and a growing population could harm the delicate mountain ecosystem.
Under his reign, large areas of Bhutan were set aside as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Key environmental actions included:
- Creating Jigme Dorji National Park and other sanctuaries in 1974.
- Starting environmental studies in schools in 1985.
- Establishing the National Environment Commission in 1990.
- Setting up the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment in 1992.
- Creating more national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in 1993.
- Signing important international agreements on climate change and biodiversity in 1995.
- Receiving the "Champions of the Earth" Award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2005 for his efforts.
Decentralizing Power
The King wanted to give more power to local communities. In the 1980s, he started a new planning system that focused on decentralization. This meant that local leaders, like the dzongdags (district governors) and gups (village chiefs), were given more responsibility to manage money and plan development projects in their areas.
He created local councils called Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT) in 1981 and Gewog Yargye Tshogchung (GYT) in 1991. These councils helped local people make decisions about their own communities.
International Relations
Bhutan became more involved with international organizations during King Wangchuck's reign. He attended important meetings like the Non-Aligned Movement and SAARC summits.
Bhutan also expanded its diplomatic relationships with other countries. After 1974, Bhutan quickly formed ties with many nations, including Bangladesh, Kuwait, Nepal, Japan, and many European countries. This helped Bhutan get more support for its development goals.
Abdication and Legacy
In 1999, Bhutan celebrated King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years since his coronation.
In 2006, King Wangchuck made a historic decision: he stepped down from the throne. He handed over power to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. This was part of his plan to transition Bhutan from an absolute monarchy (where the king has all the power) to a semi-constitutional monarchy (where the king shares power with an elected government). He believed it was best to make this change when the country was peaceful and stable.
Wives and Children
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck married four sisters, who became his queens. Together, they have many children.
- Dorji Wangmo (first wife)
- Princess Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck
- Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck
- Tshering Pem (second wife)
- Princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck
- Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck
- Prince Dasho Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck
- Tshering Yangdon (third wife)
- King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (the current King)
- Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck
- Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
- Sangay Choden (fourth wife)
- Prince Dasho Khamsum Singye Wangchuck
- Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck
Images for kids
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Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2007 with Ellen Sauerbrey.
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Picture of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck at Paro International Airport
See also
- Druk Gyalpo
- Ngawang Namgyal
- Penlop of Trongsa
- Great Buddha Dordenma
- House of Wangchuck
- Gross National Happiness
- Tashichho Dzong
