Thread by @abytharakan

Nov 11 is Constitution Day in Bhutan, the birthday of Bhutan's 4th King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck; monarch at the age of 19, the father of Gross National Happiness, the man who scripted Bhutan's journey to democracy, lovingly called K4. Thread. #Bhutan #November11

When Jigme Singye Wangchuck was crowned
as Bhutan’s fourth hereditary monarch after his father's untimely death at 42, the prince became in 1974 the world’s youngest head of state and monarch. The oldest on throne was 82 yr old Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Times were troubled toward the year of his succession. Tibet was swallowed by Communist China. Peking was claiming Bhutan 'as lost territory.'
A plot on the Crown Prince’s life was also reported in the 70s. There were apprehensions whether he would be able to take charge.

Royal rules had provisions to appoint a
regency council till the crown prince attained the
age of 21. But, in the autumn of 1972,
before the official coronation, Bhutan’s National
Assembly decided against appointing regency
placing their faith in the young king.

Since then, from his single-room log cabin in
Thimphu, euphemistically called a Palace, K4 opened the kingdom toward modernization and democracy. When not taking rugged trails to villages to meet subjects, he took to the world to tell Bhutan's story.

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat visited Bhutan in the summer of 85, After walking with K4, their fists thrown together to the tune of a military band, he called K4 a brave king and the Bhutanese a brave people.

Thanks to his K4's friendship with leaders like Arafat and Castro, coupled with his frugal lifestyle and thrust on a welfare economy, some called him the ‘Red Monarch.’ ( I've heard unconfirmed stories of Castro sending Cuban cigars to K4)

It was on a return trip via Bombay after a NAM meet in Havana that the world first heard of GNH. "What is your Gross National Product?” asked an Indian journo. “We do not believe in Gross National Product because Gross National Happiness is more important,” replied K4.

During a visit to Delhi in the early 80s a journalist asked about "95% of Bhutan being medieval." To that K4 replied - Whether a society is modern or medieval is immaterial for us. I think that doesn't really make any difference as long as the people are united, and happy.

Announcing his decision to step down after 34 years of reign, K4 said, “Whatever we have achieved so far is due to the merit of the people of Bhutan.” Perhaps that's what Lao-Tzu meant - “When the best leader’s work is done the people say, we did it ourselves.”

K4 visited Kerala in Dec 74. Perhaps the only time he received a cardamom garland. It was offered by the then Idukki Collector and illustrious Malayalee Dr D Babu Paul. Wish I had that photo.