V is for Veteran’s Day

Just as 11^th November is special to the hearts of all the Bhutanese, so is it in the United States of America. Annually, 11^th November is declared as a national holiday to commemorate those military veterans who were involved during World War I (WWI).

To date, this day is held with high esteem and reverence, ever since U.S President Woodrow Wilson declared ‘Armistice Day’ in 1919.

Armistice Day is a hallowed anniversary observed annually to honour and applaud those heroes involved in bringing an end to WWI. Hence, this day is also revered as “the war to end all wars” or “Remembrance Day” in the United Kingdom. History has it that, the agreement was placed between Germany and all those Allied nations to dissolve the WWI hostilities and resentments 7 months prior to the Treaty of Versailles which was officially signed in France on 28^th June 1919. The Armistice was actually been operational on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918. Since then, this has been one sacred occasion in the U.S. calendar to pay homage to those military personals who, out of patriotism have sacrificed for the communal good.

Concurrently, on Friday, 11^th November 1955, when the Americans were observing their ritualistic Veteran’s Day, the Land of the Thunder Dragon (Bhutan) was gifted with an extraordinary prince. This blue blood birth not only was the cause of happiness for the Wangchuck Dynasty but was a prophesied godly gift to the nation in a form of a human prince. 

Today in order to pay my humble tribute and to commemorate the 60^th birth anniversary of His Majesty the 4^th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, I personally write these 10 REASONS why 11^th November is a VETERAN Day for Bhutan. 

The 4th Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuck

1. The Prophecy Upholder

Guru Rinpoche (the Lotus-born emanation of Buddha) who visited Bhutan in the 8^th century has prophesied to one of the Buddhist luminaries Terton (Treasure discoverer) Drukdra Dorji that, in a place called Womtrong (the original name of Dechencholing today), a boy of unparalleled character will be born to lead his country to the greatest height of success (To read the prophecy, click on the image above). 

As an answer to the prophecy, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born on 11^th November 1955 in Dechenchholing palace in Thimphu. By the age of 17, His Majesty had assumed the role of his father, the late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who has passed away unexpectedly. 

Even as the youngest monarch of the world, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was brave to lead the country through all thick and thin. And amazingly, under his magnificent rule, the nation has witnessed mammoth developments by leaps and bounds. Thus, right from a very tender age, His Majesty the King has manifested the charisma of a veteran and an unrivalled macho monarch ever evolved in the lines of our history. The prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava, a revered spiritual figure of Bhutan, was unfurled on this day. The nation basked under the sun of unwavering peace, prosperity and happiness. 

2. The Name Revealer

His Majesty the 4^th Druk Gyalpo is popularly revered with a special name ‘Jigme’, which means ‘No fear’ and ‘Singye’ which means a ‘Lion’. In brief, he is a fearless lion of the men, adorned with the immaculate qualities of the lha  ‘Wangchuk’ (chenrigzee).

3. The Contented Buddhist 

His Majesty the 4th King lives in a simple single storied cottage built with woods (The Samtenling Palace). He is the man who is not disillusioned with the materialistic attachments and believes in nothingness and impermanence, the soul of understanding Buddhism.

4. The Ultimate Father of Happiness

More than national pride, Gross National Happiness (GNH) has now been an international pursuit. The GNH is a holistic approach development philosophy that caters to both material and spiritual wellbeing.  In a layman's tongue, GNH is a durable kind of happiness that does not come at the cost of the well-being of other people. 

It was the brainchild of His Majesty the King that came into existence as early as 1972 soon after the enthronement. His Majesty the King always knew that the ultimate aim of every human being was happiness. Today after the UN’s adoption of pursuing happiness as the 9^th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which was proposed by Bhutan during the 65^th session of the UN General Assembly in 2011, GNH has been a much sought philosophical commodity.

5. The Genuine Emperor   

The visionary 4^th Druk Gyalpo has envisioned that it is the experience that gives the best practical lesson. Thus, with an intention to offer King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck an early kinghood know-hows, His Majesty has abdicated the golden throne after reigning for the last 34 years. To date, we are bestowed with a king composed of unsurpassed quality. 

  6. The Power Giver

Unlike any other nation, Democracy in Bhutan is a pure gift. The ultimate power to elect the leader of our choice was bestowed from the throne. However, the system of participation by the people in the nation’s development was already in place from the time the 5-year plan was introduced in 1981. That same year, Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu (DYT) was established while a decade later, Gewog Yargay Tshogdu (GYT) was instituted to further the people’s participation to the grassroots level. By 1998, the first set of cabinet ministers (Lengye Zhungtshog) took the role of the highest decision making.

7. The Pioneer of a Golden Constitution

The sacred mother of all laws of the nation (the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan) was brewed from more than 50 finest constitutions of the world. His Majesty has then personally visited to meet and discuss with the people. Launched in 2001, today it serves as a national roadmap for any executive and legislative proceedings.  

 

8. The Green Monarch

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan mandates to preserve 60 % of our country under forest cover, but amazingly, it maintains more than 74% in a form of sanctuary and parks. Consequently, this has made our country to be one of the hottest and rich biological corridors that absorbs the highest carbon footprints. In this recognition, in 2005, His Majesty the King has conferred the “Champions of the Earth’s Award”. The following year, the “J Paul Getty Conservation Leadership Award” swept in. And in the same year 2006, His Majesty has been conferred the Earth Hall of Fame, Kyoto Award from Japan.

9. The Brave Soldier

The thick jungles of Bhutan have been an asylum for the insurgents of India in the late 90s. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) had already established several bases in the Bhutanese soil. Many attempts were made by the Royal Government to initiate peaceful negotiations to leave the Bhutanese soil, yet it failed. In December 2003, His Majesty has personally sacrificed his life by leading in Operation Flush Out. For His Majesty the 4^th King, when it comes to serving the nation, it was more than sacrificing his own life.

10. The Farsighted King

Under the golden reign of His Majesty the 4^th King, Bhutan had experienced a quantum leap of developments. The free education and health facilities for the people of Bhutan still remain a celebrated home story. The concept of ‘One Nation, One People’ is a happy song of our country where there is no discrimination against sex, gender, race, caste or religion. 

Besides opening doors to modernization, His Majesty has always ensured that Bhutan remains sovereign and independent throughout. With the sunshine of unwavering peace and prosperity, Bhutan truly is a place where happiness matters the most. 

“Good leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand”- Colin Powell