Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Jigme Singye Wangchuck
4th King of Bhutan
Reign	21/24 July 1972 - 14 December 2006
Coronation	2 June 1974
Born	11 November 1955 (1955-11-11) (age 52)
	Dechenchholing Palace, Thimphu, Bhutan
Predecessor	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Successor	Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck
Consort	Ashi Dorji Wangmo, Ashi Tshering Yangdon, Ashi Tshering Pem, Ashi Sangay Choden
Father	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck

Jigme Singye Wangchuck (born November 11, 1955) was the fourth Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan from 1972-2006. He acceded to the throne at the age of 16, 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 and the coronation was noted for inviting 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. Singye continued his father's policies of slow modernization 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. 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 also coined the term Gross National Happiness, a concept which is used to help guide the economic and development plans of Bhutan. Singye 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. On December 17, 2005 he announced his intention to abdicate in 2008, leaving the throne to his son [2]. 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. On April 22, 2007, noting the centenary of the monarchy as an auspicious time to do so, he ordered parliamentary elections to be held the following year^[1]. Singye was named as one of Time magazine's 100 People Who Shape Our World in 2006. [3]. He appeared in the May 8, 2006 issue of Time.

References

1. ^ Sengupta, Somini. "Line Up and Pick a Dragon: Bhutan Learns to Vote." New York Times. 24 April 2007. (Accessed 24 April 2007)[1]

See also

• Champions of the Earth, 2005 award from United Nations Environment Programme
• Gross national happiness

External links

• The Royal Family of Bhutan
• Time Magazine's 100 People Who Shape Our World 2006: King Jigme Singye Wangchuk
• More about His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk
• A Tribute to His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk