(Early Life) and Coronation
Jigme Wangchuk was born to Azhi Tsondrue Lhamo (Lemo) and King Ugyen Wangchuk in 1905 at Wangdue Choeling Palace in Bumthang. It was the same year when his father was awarded the Knight Commander of Indian Empire (K.C.I.E).
Formal Education and Childhood Upbringing
Jigme Wangchuk was schooled in Thinley Rabten School in Bumthang the school which was established by his father. From the early age he was put in the court of his father serving as normal civil servants and brought with strict precept of Driglam Namzha in his father’s court.
At the age of 14, Jigme Wangchuk served as Trongsa Dronyer in 1919 and in 1922, at the age of 17, he was appointed Trongsa Poenlop. When he was just a teenage, he coordinated the funeral rites of his mother Azhi Tsundroe Lhamo in 1922, thus, proving him to be already matured enough to enthroned as the next Druk Gyalpo.
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| Jigme Wangchuck with the Royal Courtiers at Punakha Dzong. Courtesy: google |
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| Fig. showing the uniting of three lineages of Pema Lingpa with the marriage between Jigme Wangchuk and Phuentsho Choden. |
Jigme Wangchuk married Phuentsho Choden after he assumed the post of Trongsa Poenlop around 1922-23. The marriage between them was said to have brought the three lineages (or the descendants) of Tertoen Pema Lingpa together (as can be seen in the above diagram). Such tradition of inter-marriages between the cousins were practised with the following reasons:
1. to maintain the family properties within the family circle, and
2. to preserve the family prestige (of being from the nobility family)
Coronation
While his father King Ugyen Wangchuk’s death remains still lay-in-state waiting for auspicious day for cremation, Jigme Wangchuk was crowned as the second Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan on March 14, 1927 in Punakha. The event was attended by Zhabdrung, Je Khenpo and other officials including the F. M. Bailey, a British Political Officer of Sikkim who presented the insignia of Companion of Indian Empire (C.I.E) to the King Jigme Wangchuk.
In loving memory of his father and for the country’s future he,
i) Made generous gifts to the Central Monk Body
ii) Donated gold to refurbish the statues inside Punakha Dzong,
iii) Installed new Sertog (ornamental gold pagoda) on Punakha Dzong
iv) Donated sets of Kangjur and Tenjur texts to the Dzongs and monasteries
v) Gave gerous gifts of food, clothing, livestock and money to the people, etc.
The Royal Family
Personal Interest and Hobbies of the His Majesty
Life in the Royal Family reflected the tranquility (peace) of Jigme Wangchuk’s reign. There was close affections between the two queens and children exemplified the harmony that prevailed in the Royal Household.
The King was fond of children and frequently would be seen indulge with the children in their games. He would gift the children with the gifts and even let the children from the common people free access at the palace ground.
Built several palaces including the new palace at Trongsa Kuenga Rabten which was used as Winter Residence and Wangdue Choeling Palace was used as Summer Residence. Other smaller palaces included Domkhar Palace (Tashi Choeling palace) at Bumthang and at Trongsa (Beleng and Samdrup Choeling).
The migration during summer and winter to the residences would be followed with ceremonial procession. Archery matches and many religious activities would be conducted at Kurje Lhakhang.
The Royal Families were very strict with the Driglam Namzha, which have helped maintain the tradition and attributed to the bhutan’s national identity.
Administrative Reforms and Taxation system
Second Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Wangchuk ascended the throne keeping in mind the advice of his father to create “Fair and Just Society” where, he found that in order to fulfill his father’s wishes, first thing was to reform the taxation system which was a big burden to the people. So in order to reduce the burden (i.e.tax) on the people, he started with reforming the administrative system of the country.
Administrative reforms:
Many changes were brought in regarding the administrative system. King wanted Bhutan to have “Small and Compact form of Government” in order to effectively rule the country and take care the welfare of the people.
1. Hence forth, appointment of Dzongpoens and Poenlops were taken as sole Prerogative (responsibility or power) of the King,
2. Established Nangi Lhengi Zhi (Central Cabinet).- Zhung Kalyon (Government Minister), Zhung Dronyer (Government Guestmaster), Zhung Zimpoen (Government Chamberlain) and Thimphup-Punap (Dzongpoens of Thimphu and Punakha) were the members with King as the head. They were part of the government’s bureaucracy (group of powerful civil servants). They implemented the plans and orders received from the King.
3. Reduction of the unnecessary government post. King Jigme Wangchuk abolished the Drungpa post system which was thought to have causing extra burden on the government’s expenditure,
4. Dzongtshabs were being appointed when the Dzongpoens seat remained empty because of retirement or untimely death, etc.
5. Paro Poenlop was given the usual custom of his privileges of revenue collection and Trongsa Poenlop was taken over by king himself, Daga Poenlop remain just in the status.
***With the establishment of his new administrative system, the King started 'centralizing the power' which describes the existence of absolute form of monarchy during his reign in the country.
***With the establishment of his new administrative system, the King started 'centralizing the power' which describes the existence of absolute form of monarchy during his reign in the country.
Taxation System and its Reforms:
Taxes were heavily imposed on the people unnecessarily by the regional Poenlops and Dzongpoens. It was a burden for the people. Jigme Wangchuk abolished the unnecessary taxes and few reforms on the taxation systems.
1. Henceforth the taxes should be paid directly to the government without referring to the Dzongkhag officials. This was because King found that people were imposed unnecessary and heavy taxes on the people.
2. Taxes paid in kind or unpaid labour (carrying firewood and hay in the Dzongs) were abolished.
3. Cloth tax was also immediately abolished.
4. Porterage (carrying things) of the government things for transportation were paid for their services.
Legal Reforms (Justice)
King Jigme Wangchuk reformed some of the punishments for the criminals where, the punishments used to be the traditional method such as cutting off the Achilles’ Tendon, thrown in to the river, etc were abolished and reformed with a better humanity.
Religious Reforms
1. The Central Monk Body was brought within the Central Administrative System such as appointing of Je Khenpos were to be done by the King and even the Four Lopoens should be appointed only upon the Royal Endorsement.
2. Buddhist scholars were sent to some of the famous Kadgyue centres (Mindroling and Dorjidrak) in Tibet for further Buddhist studies. Example, Je Geshey Gaduen Rinchen (69th Je Khenpo of Bhutan), Lam Nado (the author of Bhutan History Literature “Druk Karpo”) and Lopoen Pema Tshewang (founder of National Library of Bhutan) were some of the scholars who came to Bhutan after the studies and helped in the development of Dzongkha literature.
3. Reputed Tibetan Lamas and scholars were invited to Bhutan to teach the Bhutanese.
4. People were sent to Tibet to study skills of traditional medicine and astrology.
5. The King encouraged some of his own Royal Family to involve in the religious activities. Example, Azhi Wangmo (sister to the Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuk) became nun and founded the Jangchub Choeling Dratshang in Kurtoe.
6. Tharpaling monastery and Nyimalung Monastery were reinstituted by the Royal Families through their own expenses.
7. Shaydras (College of Buddhist Studies) were established in the monasteries.
8. Supported the practice of both Nyingma and Kadgyue tradition of religion in Bhutan.
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| Fig. Late Geshe Gedun Rinchen, 69th Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) |
Efforts towards modern developments
Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuk was very much interested to bring modern developments in Bhutan but could do much because of the lack of financial resources. British on the other hand, could not lend much help due to the Indian Independence Movement reached its climax where, their power in India was almost coming to an end.The only resource was from the annual British subsidy. There were in some areas where the King brought in the touch of modern developments.
1. The King continued to send Bhutanese children to Indian to study higher education helped by Gongzim Sonam Tobgay Dorji (who was residing in India).
2. Upgraded Haa School and Thinley Rabten School in Bumthang and established several primary schools.
3. Medical services were provided from his own private resources to cure the epidemic diseases in the country.
4. Druk Gyalpo started the first Standing Army with 15 young men trained at Shillong by the British. Later the armies were detached into two groups: royal bodyguard and brass band. It gave the start off to form various amries in the future.
5. He was able to collected about 2000 armoury weapons.
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| Courtesy: google |
Foreign Policy
King Jigme Wangchuk strictly followed the Policy of Isolation which helped Bhutan to remain uninfluenced from the world events such as Great Depression (1939) and World War II (1939-45). Even the country was being saved from the influence of Chinese rising power in the north. However, the King was interested in keeping an intimate relationship with the British. Some of the incidences on how he was able to maintain the relationship with the British:
1. Invited the British guest during the coronation.
F.M. Bailey, a British Political Officer based in Sikkim witnessed the coronation and also granted the title of Companionship of Indian Empire (C.I.E) in 1927.
2. Awarded the additional title of KCIE to the king.
A.J. Hopkins, the last British Political Officer to visit Bhutan conferred this title of Knight Commander of Indian Empire (K.C.I.E) to the king in 1947.
3. The King Jigme Wangchuk visited India twice: one in Guahati and another time to Calcutta in 1935 on the invitation of the Viceroy (head of the British Government in India).
4. Bhutan was invited by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to attend the Asian Relation Conference in New Delhi in 1946.
5. Bhutan and New India (after British left India on August 15th, 1947) signed a treaty which replaced the Treaty of Punakha (1910) called India-Bhutan Treaty (Indo-Bhutanese Treaty) on August 8, 1949. It is also called the Treaty of Friendship.
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| King Jigme Wangchuk with Maharaja and British in India |
India-Bhutan Treaty of 1949, August 8th.
The treaty is also known as "Treaty of Friendship" bringing two countries closer in its relationship which will have positive impact in the future.
Terms of the treaty:
Terms of the treaty:
i. There shall be permanent friendship between the two countries.
ii. India will not interfere in the internal affairs.
iii. Return 32 sq.km Diwangiri (Deothang) to Bhutan.
iii. Return 32 sq.km Diwangiri (Deothang) to Bhutan.
iii. Bhutan agreed to let India “guide” its foreign policy.
iv. There shall be free trade between the two nations.
v. Establish Extradition Protocols between the two countries., etc.
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| Fig. The Great Depression described in brief. Courtesy: google |
Bhutan's self-imposed Policy of Isolation was started from the time when Zhabdrung Rinpoche unified Bhutan under his Theocratic rule in the 15th century. During the reign of Second Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuk, he strictly followed this self-imposed policy which followed several advantages and disadvantages to the country as a whole.
Advantages:
1. Bhutan remained unaffected by the world events such as Great Depression (1939) and World War II (1939-45)
2. Bhutan was kept away from the Chinese intervention in the North (during the time when Tibet was captured by Chinese) and Indian Independence Movement in the South against British by the Indians.
3. Bhutan was able to practice and preserved the rich customs and traditions.
4. Bhutan started the slow development activities which is said to be a healthy practise of development for the country.
Disadvantages:
1. Bhutan could not bring much modern developments in terms of education, health services, communications, etc.
2. Bhutan could not have more foreign relations with various countries other than British India.
3. Bhutan's economic growth had always been slow even in the 21st century.
4. Bhutan remained unknown to the outside world until 20th century.
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| Fig. The Great Depression and the lives of the people in the West. Courtesy: google. |
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