Jigme Singye Wangchuck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jigme Singye Wangchuck འཇིགས་མེད་སེང་གེ་དབང་ཕྱུག
Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2024
King of Bhutan
Reign	24 July 1972 – 9 December 2006
Coronation	2 June 1974
Predecessor	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Successor	Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Born	(1955-11-11) 11 November 1955 (age 69) 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་, Wylie: jigs med seng ge dbang phyug; born 11 November 1955) is the fourth Druk Gyalpo (which means "Dragon King") of Bhutan. He ruled from 1972 to 2006. He is the father of the current King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. He was the only son among five children born to the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Choden.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck studied in India and England. In 1971, he became the Chairman of the National Planning Commission. He was also appointed as the Trongsa Penlop (a high-ranking official) at age 16. When his father passed away on July 21, 1972, Jigme Singye Wangchuck became king at just 16 years old. This made him the youngest monarch in the world at that time. His official coronation ceremony took place on June 2, 1974, in Thimphu.

During his time as king, Bhutan changed from a country ruled by an absolute monarch to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy. This change started with giving more power to local communities. He introduced the idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in the 1970s. This idea focuses on the well-being of people, not just money. In 2003, he personally led a military operation called Operation All Clear to remove rebel groups from southern Bhutan. After ruling for 34 years, he chose to step down in 2006 at age 51. He made sure Bhutan had a peaceful change to a democracy with a new constitution.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck worked to improve life in Bhutan. He focused on developing industries, farming, and hydroelectricity. He also made sure to protect Bhutan's environment and unique culture. Because of his policies, more people could go to school and get healthcare. The country's infrastructure, like roads and buildings, also improved.

Early Life and Education

Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, on November 11, 1955. His parents were Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. When he was four years old, in 1959, he made his first public appearance.

Learning and Growing Up

Jigme Singye Wangchuck started his education in 1961 at Dechencholing Palace. He learned both traditional Buddhist teachings and modern subjects like English. Later, he studied at St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, in India. In 1965, he went to Summerfields School in St. Leonards, Sussex, England, and then to Heatherdown School until 1969. He also attended the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro, which was created in 1970 for him and other selected students.

Becoming Crown Prince

In 1971, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck made his son, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Chairman of the National Planning Commission. This role involved planning Bhutan's five-year development goals. The next year, in 1972, he became the Trongsa Penlop and received a special saffron scarf. When his father passed away in 1972, Jigme Singye Wangchuck became king at just 16. He continued to guide Bhutan's development plans as both King and Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Coronation Ceremony

Jigme Singye Wangchuck's coronation as the Fourth King of Bhutan happened in three parts. The first part was a religious ceremony in 1972. A secret ceremony followed in 1974. The public coronation was held on June 2, 1974. Important guests from other countries, like the Presidents of India and Bangladesh, attended this event in Thimphu.

Royal Wedding

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck married four sisters on October 31, 1988, in Punakha Dzong. The four queens are Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, and Sangay Choden Wangchuck. They had actually married privately in 1979.

Bhutan's Development Under the King

Under King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan made big steps forward in many areas. He introduced the idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) to guide the country's growth.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2007 with Ellen Sauerbrey.

1. Gross National Happiness (GNH)

The King believed that a country's success should be measured by the happiness and well-being of its people, not just by how much money it makes. This idea came from an old Bhutanese law from 1629, which said that a government's main purpose is to make its people happy.

GNH has four main parts:

• Sustainable and fair economic growth.
• Protecting the environment.
• Keeping and promoting Bhutan's culture.
• Good governance (how the country is run).

In 2008, GNH values were included in Bhutan's Constitution. Today, GNH helps Bhutan balance money-making with the spiritual, emotional, and cultural needs of its people.

2. Better Healthcare

Healthcare in Bhutan improved a lot during his reign.

• More Hospitals and Clinics: The number of healthcare places grew from 56 in 1974 to 715 by 2006. This made it easier for people, especially in rural areas, to get medical help.
• Healthier People: Life expectancy (how long people live) increased from about 40 years in the early 1970s to 66 years by 2006. The number of babies dying also dropped a lot.
• Free Healthcare: By the end of his rule, almost everyone in Bhutan had access to free basic healthcare.
• Focus on Prevention: The government started vaccination programs and worked to provide clean water and good food.
• More Health Workers: Institutions like the Royal Institute of Health Sciences were set up to train more doctors and nurses.

3. Education for All

Education also saw big changes. In 1974, only 14,000 students were in school, and there were no colleges.

• More Schools: Schools were built even in faraway places. The total number of schools grew from 97 in 1974 to 322 in 1998.
• Better Quality Education: The King supported efforts to make education better and more useful. Teacher training schools were created.
• Learning Abroad: Thousands of Bhutanese students received scholarships to study in other countries. This helped them gain new skills for Bhutan's development.

4. Building Infrastructure

In the early 1970s, Bhutan was mostly a farming country with few modern facilities. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck focused on building important services.

• Early Industries: Efforts were made to start local industries, like furniture making and sawmills.
• Self-Reliance: The King believed Bhutan should be able to support itself. He encouraged people and the government to work together to build a better future.
• Farming and Economy: He emphasized farming and also developed industries and hydroelectricity to improve people's lives. Farmers received modern tools to help them produce more food.

5. Tourism and Hydropower

Tourism and hydropower (electricity from water) also grew a lot.

• Hydropower's Importance: Hydropower became a key part of Bhutan's economy. It provided electricity for the country and was a major export, especially to India. The Chukha Hydel Project, started in 1987, was a big step.
• Controlled Tourism: Bhutan opened to tourists in the 1970s, but with a special "high-value, low-impact" policy. This meant they wanted fewer tourists who would spend more money, to protect Bhutan's culture and environment.
• Easier Travel: To help tourism, Druk Air, Bhutan's airline, started flights in 1983.

King's Vision and Speeches

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck often spoke about his vision for Bhutan. He wanted a good balance between economic growth, social well-being, emotions, and culture. He stressed that Bhutan should not depend on others forever and must be able to complete its own projects. He believed the government and people must work together.

Protecting Bhutan's Culture

The King worked hard to protect Bhutan's unique culture as the country modernized. He believed that Bhutan's distinct culture, not its wealth or army, was key to its independence.

• Buddhist Studies: He supported places like Tango Shedra, where monks could study Buddhist culture at a high level.
• Traditional Arts: The Zorig Chusum (National Institute for Zorig Chusum) was set up in 1971 to teach traditional fine arts. Another similar school opened in 1997.
• Museums: The Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum were opened to show Bhutan's rich heritage and weaving skills.
• Traditional Medicine: He also supported traditional Bhutanese medicine, making it available alongside modern healthcare.
• Monastic Life: The number of monks and nuns supported by the state grew significantly. Many new monasteries and meditation centers were also established across the country.

Picture of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck at Paro International Airport

Caring for the Environment

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck also focused on protecting Bhutan's natural resources, like its forests and wildlife. He understood that growth could harm the environment. He made sure large parts of the country were set aside as parks and sanctuaries.

Bhutan's Environmental Efforts

• National Parks: Several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were created or expanded in 1974 and 1993. These efforts helped protect Bhutan's amazing variety of plants and animals.
• Global Recognition: Bhutan was recognized as a global hotspot for biodiversity. The King and the people of Bhutan received awards like the "Champions of the Earth" Award from UNEP in 2005 and the J. Paul Getty Conservation Leadership Award in 2006 for their environmental work. In 2011, he was inducted into the Kyoto Earth Hall of Fame, and in 2022, he received the Blue Planet Prize.
• Environmental Policies:
  • In 1985, environmental studies became part of the school curriculum.
  • The National Environment Commission was set up in 1990 to guide environmental policies.
  • The Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment was created in 1992 to fund conservation efforts.
  • Laws like the Environment Assessment Act (2000) and the Bio-diversity Act (2003) were put in place to protect the environment and its resources.

Moving Towards Democracy

Since 2008, Bhutan has been a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy. This means the King is still the head of state, but the country also has elected political parties. This change started during King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's rule.

He believed that relying on just one person to lead the country was risky. He wanted to prepare Bhutan for a democratic future.

• Decentralizing Power: He started giving more power to local communities. In 1981, he created the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogdu (District Development Committee), and in 1991, the Gewog Yargye Tshogchung (Block Development Committee). These groups helped local people get involved in decisions.
• New Constitution: In 2001, a committee was formed to write a new Constitution for Bhutan. The King personally presented this "People's Constitution" to citizens across all 20 districts. This showed his commitment to giving power to the people.
• Reducing Royal Power: In 1998, he let the National Assembly (Bhutan's parliament) choose ministers, reducing the monarchy's power. He also set up independent groups like the Royal Civil Service Commission and the Election Commission.
• Free Press: In 1992, he gave independence to Bhutan's national newspaper, Kuensel, and the radio network, Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS). This helped promote freedom of speech.

Many Bhutanese people were sad when the King announced he would step down and hold elections. They felt the country was already peaceful and doing well under his rule. But the King explained that it was best to introduce democracy during peaceful times, rather than waiting for problems. This is why many Bhutanese call their democracy a "Gift from the Golden Throne."

Foreign Relations

Bhutan became more involved with other countries during King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's reign.

• International Meetings: The King attended many international meetings, including non-aligned and SAARC summits, until 1997.
• More Friends: He focused on strengthening ties with India and making new friends in the UN. Bhutan joined the UN in 1971.
• Growing Diplomacy: After 1974, Bhutan quickly made friends with more countries. The 1974 coronation helped Bhutan show itself to the world. Between 1980 and 1990, Bhutan established diplomatic relations with 17 new countries and joined 12 more UN organizations.
• New Diplomatic Ties: Bhutan developed relationships with many nations, including Bangladesh (1973), Japan (1986), South Korea (1987), Thailand (1991), Australia (2002), and Canada (2003).

Operation All Clear

On December 15, 2003, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck personally led a military operation called Operation All Clear. This was to remove rebel groups from India that had set up camps in southern Bhutan since 1989. The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA), led by the King and his son Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, successfully cleared these camps in just two days.

Popularity Abroad

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was admired by people in other countries.

• In 1989, at the funeral of Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo, the King showed great respect by standing in the freezing cold in his traditional Bhutanese clothes until the ceremony ended. This earned him the admiration of the Japanese people.
• After the Gulf War in 1990, when Kuwait's financial records were destroyed, Bhutan was the first country to send detailed documents, even though it had limited resources. This kind gesture touched the Emir of Kuwait.

Silver Jubilee Celebration

The 25th anniversary of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck's rule, called his Silver Jubilee, was celebrated on June 2, 1999. This was a time to remember all the great things that happened during his reign. There were cultural performances and public gatherings across the country. A special medal was made to mark the event. This celebration showed the strong connection between the King and the people of Bhutan.

Stepping Down from the Throne

In 2006, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck chose to give up his throne to his son. He did this to prepare Bhutan for its change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. He explained that the best time to change a political system is when the country is stable and peaceful. He believed it was better to make this change now rather than waiting for problems or for a new king to take over after a period of mourning. His decision was a big moment in Bhutan's history, leading to democratic reforms and a new way of governing the country.

Family Life

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck has four wives, who are sisters, and ten children.

• Dorji Wangmo (born 10 June 1955, first wife)

• Tshering Pem (born 22 December 1957, second wife)

• Tshering Yangdon (born 21 June 1959, third wife)

• Sangay Choden (born 11 May 1963, fourth wife)

Titles and Honors

• 11 November 1955 – 15 May 1972: His Royal Highness Dasho (Prince) Jigme Singye Wangchuck
• 15 May 1972 – 15 July 1972: His Royal Highness Trongsa Penlop Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck, The Crown Prince of Bhutan
• 15 July 1972 – 14 December 2006: His Majesty King Jigme Singye, The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, The King of Bhutan
• 14 December 2006 – present: His Majesty King Jigme Singye, The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, The King Father of Bhutan

Awards and Recognition

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck received many awards for his leadership and contributions:

•  Japan : Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1987).
• Nepal : Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (1988).
•  Kuwait : Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great (1990).
•  Bahrain : Order of Al Khalifa, 1st Class (1990).
•  Sweden : Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (1994).
• He was named a "Champions of the Earth" by UNEP in 2005.
• He received the WWF J Paul Getty Award in 2006 for his environmental work.
• He was recognized by TIME 100 in 2006 for his unique leadership, including the idea of Gross National Happiness and the move to democracy.
• He was inducted into the Kyoto Hall Of Fame in 2011 for his efforts to protect the global environment.
• He received the Blue Planet Prize in 2022 for his GNH philosophy, which includes environmental protection.

See also

In Spanish: Jigme Singye Wangchuck para niños

• Druk Gyalpo
• Ngawang Namgyal
• Penlop of Trongsa
• Great Buddha Dordenma
• House of Wangchuck
• Gross National Happiness
• Tashichho Dzong