Jigme Singye Wangchuck
The fourth King of Bhutan who introduced Gross National Happiness and oversaw the transition to democracy.
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He introduced the concept of Gross National Happiness in the early 1970s.[1] Born on 11 November 1955, Jigme Singye Wangchuck served as Bhutan's monarch from 1972 through 2006, when he stepped down.[2]
Life and work
He married four sisters in a ceremony at Punakha Dzong on 31 October 1988.[3] He voluntarily abdicated in 2006 to pave the way for a constitutional monarchy.[4] King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Kesang Choden had five children, of whom Jigme Singye Wangchuck was the sole male.[5] At age six, in 1961, his schooling started at Dechencholing Palace, where he studied both Buddhist and secular subjects.[6]
He studied at St. Joseph's School in Darjeeling, India, and later attended Summerfields, a prep school located in St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England.[7][6] Following his father's death, the 16-year-old was named Trongsa Penlop and became king on 21 July 1972.[8][7]
What the cited sources add
The GNH Centre Bhutan states that Jigme Singye Wangchuck promulgated Gross National Happiness in the early 1970s.[1] The same source notes that Bhutan's 1629 legal code declared that government must create happiness for its people.[1] Druk Asia reports that he was known for his humility and down-to-earth nature.[4] Druk Asia also states that he had three children: Prince Jigme Khesar, Princess Dechen Yangzom, and Princess Euphelma Choden.[4]
According to the IPCS source, the king decided to abdicate in 2008, handing power to his son.[9]
References
- "HISTORY OF GNH", GNH Centre Bhutan. facts only, no text reused. gnhcentrebhutan.org
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Early life of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck", Bhutan Department of Information Technology (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan), "Of Rainbows and Clouds, The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as told to her Daughter", Serindia Publications, 1999; Queens of Bhutan (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "7 Facts On The Legacy Jigme Singye Wangchuck: Bhutan's Fourth King", Druk Asia. facts only, no text reused. drukasia.com
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: 25 Years a King (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "25 Years A King – His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck", Uni Heidelberg, May 1999 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "25 Years A King – His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck", Uni Heidelberg, May 1999; "25 Years a King" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Jigme Singye Wangchuck" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the Fourth King of Bhutan", Blue Planet Prize Story; 25 Years a King; 25 Years a King (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Bhutan: From Monarchy to Democracy IPCS", www.ipcs.org. facts only, no text reused. ipcs.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Jigme Singye Wangchuck (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Jigme Singye Wangchuck (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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