Bhutan and British decided to finally replace/revise/amend/change the Treaty of Sinchula of 1865 by a new treaty. It was signed between king Ugyen Wangchuk and Sir Charles Bell (British Political Officer) on January 8th, 1910 at Punakha.
***Clauses/terms/provisions of the treaty:
-Annual compensation will be increased from 50,000 Rupees to 100,000 Rupees,
-Bhutan agreed to obey to the advice of the British Government,
-British will not ever interfere in the internal affairs,
-British will not station their Resident Office in Bhutan,
-Any disputes (cases) with the Rajas of Cooch Behar and Sikkim should be referred to British Government, etc
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| King Ugyen Wangchuk with Sikkim King at Delhi Coronation Durbar. |
**Significance (importance) of the treaty -Relationship between the Bhutanese and British further became strong
- Bhutan was recognized as independent and sovereign nation
- Bhutan and British would gain from free trade.
(Even Sir Ugyen Wangchuk was invited to visit India during Coronation Durbar at Delhi and met with the British Monarch King George V of England).
Internal Reforms and The Last Years of the Great Monarch
1. Modern education was initiated through establishing first modern schools at Haa (Ugyen Dorji Schoo/ Wangchuk Lhodzong) and Thinley Rabten School at Wangdue Choeling, Bumthang, in 1914 and 1915 respectively. 46 students were enrolled in the beginning. 12 Bhutanese started serving as civil servants in 1921.
2. Improved Monastic education- Invited learned teachers from Tibet and sent monks and scholars to study further in Tibet.
3. Religious contributions- Renovated (repaired) many temples and new temples were built.
4. Reduced land tax and Woola for the people.
5. Encouraged trade and commerce with India.
The Last Years of the Great Monarch
Before the death of King Ugyen Wangchuk, he donated cloths and money to the Central Monk Body and commanded his cremation to be conducted at Kuje Lhakhang.
In 1922, Azhi Tsondrue Lhamo (Lemo) passed way and after four years Ugyen Wangchuk finally breath for the last time in 1926 at the age of 64.
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