Jigme Singye Wangchuck (born 11 November 1955) is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in 2006. He is credited with many modern reforms in the country.
Early lifeHe acceded to the throne at the age of seventeen, in 1972, after the sudden death of his father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. When he was formally crowned on 2 June 1974, he was the youngest monarch in the world at eighteen years of age, and the coronation was notable for the presence of foreign dignitaries, thus signalling the end of the long isolation of the country. He was educated in Bhutan and the United Kingdom. His reignThe fourth king continued his father's policies of slow modernization and socioeconomic 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 as well as the country's first democratic elections in 2008. His reign was 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 also improved its communications, hydro-electric power development, financial sector, environmental protection, and industrial and infrastructural development during the king's reign. In late 2003, he ordered Bhutan's first military campaign in well over a century in order to oust Assamese separatists, who were using Bhutanese territory to launch raids against targets in India.[1] He also coined the term Gross National Happiness (GNH) as an alternative development indicator to gross national product (GNP). This concept helped guide the economic and developmental plans of Bhutan.[2] Singye was named as one of TIME magazine's 100 People Who Shape Our World in 2006[3]. He appeared in the 8 May 2006 issue of Time. AbdicationOn 17 December 2005, (at the age of 50), he announced [4] his intention to abdicate in 2008, leaving the throne to his son [5]. During his last year in reign, [6] he sent every household in the land a new draft constitution that allowed for his impeachment. In a royal edict issued on 14 December 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[7]. ModernizationIt has been noted that the fourth king ruled his people with orthodox views based on the traditions of Buddhism. Even to this day, traffic lights do not exist in the country, and by law everyone must wear traditional 14th century clothing. Since the beginning of his rule, television and internet access have become available. Tourism in Bhutan, however, remains low. Joining the United Nations early in his reign was a major step in the modernization process started by his father. 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:
Styles
Honours
See also
References
External links
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