Jigme Wangchuck was the second King of Bhutan. He was born to the first King of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck, and his second wife, Ashi Tshundu Lhamo in 1905. His elder siblings from the first Queen had all died in childhood, and his birth was a souce of great joy to the Royal Family as well as the country, as there had been no heir to the throne.
Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Jigme Wangchuck was educated in the modern way in the first courtyard school of Bhutan, which would move along with the King’s court between Bumthang and Trongsa depending on the season.
He became king in 1927, after his father passed away. The second King’s major achievement was in keeping the country isolated and protected from the Second World War, which ravaged nations and affected neighbors like China (Tibet), India and Nepal. Bhutan also never knew the great depression, and was generally left alone while the world struggled to recover after the war.
However, he worked steadfastly to ensure that Bhutan retained its independence, electing to remain independent when offered by India to be a part of the Indian Republic after it gained independence from Britain in 1947.
He revised the Sinchula Treaty, in which the British in India recognized Bhutan as an independent nation, in 1949 with the newly independent India. The Indo- Bhutan friendship treaty was important for Bhutan in maintaining its status as an independent nation during a time when other small countries like Sikkim and Tibet became parts of larger nations.
While the Second King kept Bhutan isolated, major reforms were taking place within the country itself. Although the Kings were rulers of Bhutan, the administrative system was still the old one which the 15th century Saint and Leader, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel has established. Jigme Wangchuck reformed the administrative system and laid the groundwork for the system as it is today.
The feudal system, in which the people had to pay taxes in different forms, such as labour and produce, was also changed and minimized to benefit the people during this time.
Jigme Wangchuck also continued to improve upon the education system in the country. The first school in Bhutan was opened in Haa, and the Doji family, based in Kalimpong, helped in the education of Bhutanese youth, both in the Haa school and secondary education in India.
Jigme Wangchuck passed away in 1952.