If one takes a broad sweep of those honored this year they fall into three categories of contributions in the civil service, education and health and the traditional arts. Bhutan has been growing tremendously in the last few years and experiencing unprecedented changes in its economy, society, governance etc. While …

For some time now, there has been a debate on liberalizing Bhutan’s tourism tariff but most have not given enough attention to the real challenge of the rise of regional tourists. Tariff paying tourists whether they potentially just pay the USD 65 dollar tariff or continue to come as part …

When His Majesty the Fourth King was there at my darkest hour Memory is what we have to re-live moments and there are those moments, which critically mould life. And as I re-live that particular moment, it is one of mixed emotions, as it always will be. 19 May 1992 …

In its seventh year Bhutan’s Parliament is undergoing important changes that have, so far, escaped most observers. This political evolution is leading to a Parliament that is growing more in confidence and strength by the day. There is a noticeable improvement in the quality of discussions, and more importantly, the …

Of course how could we help not making the celebration so grand for the King as great as His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck whose vision for the country and compassion for his people are only comparable to the God himself. But when I see so much of sound and fury …

The oldest form of toilets in Bhutan were in strange ways comparable to the most advanced toilets today because they didn’t need to be flushed, they never got blocked, and at the end human waste wasn’t a problem. The typical traditional toilet hung from the first floor with a wide …

The Royal Bhutan Police recently issued a warning in response to a rising trend of regional, communal and racist jokes on certain social media platforms. The Social Media revolution in Bhutan has empowered many and has done a lot of good, but there is an increasingly worrying tendency of attacks …

It need hardly be said it is an honour and a pleasure to have been asked to write a special tribute to his Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo of the Kingdom of Bhutan. However, I must confess that I am probably the least qualified of all the …

I was among the eighteen boys privileged to attend school with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Jigme Singye at the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy (UWA) in Paro, over thirty years ago. I would like to highlight a few of the many qualities that I recall seeing in the young Prince, which, …

On 11th November, 2015, the hearts and minds of Bhutan were focused on a ceremonial stand in Changlimithang, where His Majesty the King stood with His Majesty the Fourth King. The nation witnessed the honoring of the past 34 years of a Golden era under His Majesty the Fourth King, …