Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Jigme Singye Wangchuck, born in 1955, king of Bhutan (1972-2006), the fourth ruler in the Wangchuck dynasty that came to power in Bhutan in 1907. Jigme Singye was born at the royal palace in Thimphu. He studied in England from 1965 to 1970, when he returned to Bhutan and attended the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro. He ascended the throne as king of Bhutan in July 1972, following the death of his father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Jigme Singye gave high priority to the economic development of Bhutan, and his government took steps to decentralize development planning and increase the role of private enterprise. Also showing an interest in the development of Bhutan’s human resources, the king initiated a program to expand and modernize the educational system.

Jigme Singye’s efforts at national integration, however, contributed to ethnic unrest among the country’s Nepalese minority, who live mostly in the south. The king took steps to promote a Bhutanese national identity, officially emphasizing Tibetan-derived culture and religion. He tightened enforcement of a government policy requiring all citizens, including those of Nepalese descent, to wear traditional Bhutanese dress in public and speak only the official language, Dzongkha. Some factions of the Nepalese minority began agitating against what they considered to be cultural oppression. Thousands of Bhutan’s southern residents fled to neighboring Nepal to escape the increasing violence, which included looting and arson as well as government reprisals. Nearly 100,000 refugees continued to live in camps in Nepal in the early 21st century, and their repatriation remained an unresolved issue.

In 1998 Jigme Singye introduced a package of reforms in an effort to modernize Bhutan’s political system. The reforms reduced the role of the monarchy in Bhutan’s government. Jigme Singye gave up absolute power, voluntarily relinquishing the role of head of government, which went to the country’s first prime minister in 2001. The king continued to act as head of state. The reforms granted power to the legislature to call for the king’s abdication in favor of his successor.

In 2001 Jigme Singye issued a decree setting up a committee to draft Bhutan’s first constitution, which would establish a democratic system of government. In 2005 the king unveiled a draft constitution for public debate. It was to be adopted by referendum in conjunction with the country’s first democratic legislative elections, scheduled for 2008.

In December 2005 Jigme Singye announced his intention to abdicate in 2008 and allow his son, Crown Prince Jigme Kesar Namgyel Wangchuck, accession to the throne. Jigme Singye stepped down earlier than expected in December 2006, and the crown prince succeeded him as king of Bhutan.