The hundred years of reign by the successive monarchs tells the story of a fairytale kingdom’s dramatic move towards prosperity and happiness. The reign of all the kings bear the mark of selfless endeavour and farsighted wisdom.

The first Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, destiny’s own son, brought the rival factions together and consolidated power, ensuring stability and peace.

While consciously safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the country, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck forged better relations with the neighbouring countries, particularly British India.

The Treaty of 1910 is a landmark in Bhutan’s foreign relations. Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck also made concerted efforts to introduce modern education and health system in the country.

The second Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck further strengthened the position of the country by streamlining the system of governance. In view of the burden of taxation on common people, he initiated tax reforms.

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck started the first modern Hindi medium schools in the country to help young Bhutanese acquire modern knowledge and skills to man the upcoming modern system.

On the regional front, His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck signed Indo-Bhutan Treaty of 1949, which strengthened Bhutan’s relations with India.

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is fondly remembered as the father of modern Bhutan, steered the country out of centuries-old self-imposed isolation in the knowledge that a country like Bhutan stood to gain enormously from joining the global surge for socio-economic development.

Bhutan joined many international bodies under the guidance of Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, most notably the United Nations Organisation in 1972. He instituted the National Assembly, Lodroe Tshongde, Bhutan’s standing army, and abolished serfdom.

The fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck has led the kingdom to unprecedented level of socio-economic development, ushering in peace, prosperity and well-being for the people of Bhutan.

Putting the interest of the people above everything, His Majesty the King propounded the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which emphasises the spiritual, cultural, emotional and psychological well-being of the people while pursuing economic development.

Under His Majesty’s leadership, Bhutan has joined many more international and regional bodies and established diplomatic relations with many countries. Health and education have seen phenomenal growth in the last four decades.

His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo started the decentralization process to empower the people to take charge of their own needs and priorities. That marked the country’s gradual move towards parliamentary democracy.

The greatest gift of His Majesty to the people of Bhutan is democracy, which put the destiny of the country in the hands of the people themselves.

Bhutan is fortunate to be moving towards democracy under the leadership of a dynamic king in the person of the fifth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar. Some of the recent developments like the nationalization of sand and stone, revision of the Indo-Bhutan treaty and establishment of Druk Holdings and Investment are some of the testimonies to His Majesty’s vision.

If there is so much that His Majesty has achieved within this short period, Bhutan can count on him as a king par excellence. We salute the Wangchuck dynasty, our dynasty. Source: Bhutan Observer