Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck (1927 – 1952) and British India

 

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck (1927 – 1952) and British India

 


  Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck passed away in 1926. Trongsa Penlop Jigme Wangchuck informed to the British India about the passing away of his father Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck. In the following year, Trongsa Penlop Jigme Wangchuck was enthroned as the second Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan. The British India Government was represented by the political officer of Sikkim, Mr. F.M. Bailey.

Dr. Graham visited Bhutan on the occasion of the coronation of the second Druk Gyalpo in 1927. Dr. Graham was one of the invittees on the occasion of the coronation of the second Druk Gyalpo. The following is the invitation letter to the Dr. Graham from the Druk Gyalpo:

“You were my friend in the time of my father; now also my full hope is in you. The Viceroy has

sent a letter in which he has ordered me that I should at once take the position of Maharajah and accordingly on the 5th day of the 9th month of our Bhutanese year I assumed the office of Maharajah. In the second month of the Bhutanese year my Durbar will be held at Punakha. On that occasion. my dear friend, at all costs you must be present, whatever happens”.

 

In 1935, when the Druk Gyalpo and Queen of Bhutan visited Kalimpong, Dr Graham played a prominent part in the official welcome to the royal couple. Dr Graham wrote on 5th November 1938 to the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India, mentioning Bhutan’s urgent need of help from British India for Bhutan’s development:

 “The country is at present a poor one. It could be made a rich one if there was money to develop it”. He requested the British India Government for a sum of 13 lakhs of rupees over a ten-year period, to bring development in Bhutan.

In 1931, Lt. Colonel J.L.R. Weir came to Bhutan to invest the Druk Gyalpo with the insignia of K.C.I.E. The awarding ceremony was done at Kurje Lhakhang in Bumthang. Weir returned to India from Dewangiri. He observed Bhutan needs roads for the transportation of goods from Assam. Weir recommended the British India Governemnt to increase the financial assistance to Bhutan. Williamson became the next political officer of Sikkim. He came to Bhutan in June 1933. He was accompanied by Rai Bahadur Norbu Dhondup and captain D. Tennant. Williamson discussed with the Druk Gyalpo about Bhutan’s financial needs. Captain Tennant also treated Bhutanese people. In the same year, Major C.J. Morris also came to Bhutan to look into the possibility of recruiting the Bhutanese to the reserve force of the Britsh India as the Second World War was about to take place. However, not a single Bhutanese was recruited.[1]

Williamson again came to Bhutan as the Druk Gyalpo’s guest. In return, Williamson welcomed Druk Gyalpo and Queen to Calcutta. At Calcutta, Druk Gyalpo called on Lt. Governor and Viceroy. Druk Gyalpo and his team visited paper mills and ammunitions factories among others.

 Mr. Gould was the political officer of Sikkim.  He visited Bhutan in 1935. In the following year, Druk Gyalpo asked more money from the British India. In 1938, Gould visited Bhutan again. He was accompanied by Captain Morgan and Gonzim Sonam Tobgye Dorje.  Mr. Gould suggested to the Druk Gyalpo that Bhutan needs to conserve forest, bring improvement in communication, removal of extravagant type of feudalism and adoption of taxation system that would generate revenue for the country.

In 1942, Sir Basil Gould was successful in increasing another hundred thousand to be added in subsidy. During the meeting between the Druk Gyalpo and Gould in 1943, Druk Gyalpo made a generous contribution of about Rs. 60,000/ to the Viceroy’s war fund and another 10,000/ to Viceroy’s Red Cross Appeal.

In1943, Gould went to Paro with lady Linlithgow, the Vicereine, prince Thondup of Sikkim. Gould also made a request to the British Inda Government to return Dewangiri to Bhutan. The same issue was already raised by the Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck earlier to British India. But Briitsh India declined the request.

In 1944, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck was awarded the K.C.S.I, while Gongzim Sonam Tobgye was conferred the C.I.E. In 1946, Druk Gyalpo asked to have a meeting with the British Cabinet delegation then visiting India but told that they had no time. Then delegation from Bhutan and Sikkim approached External Affairs Department in Delhi. Druk Gyalpo was very much concerned about the status of the country as British was preparing to leave India. The political officer A.J. Hopkinson was instructed to produce a memorandum on this matter.

 The Last British India Mission to Bhutan 1947

 In 1947, A.J. Hopkinson visited Bhutan to invest the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Star of India. The investiture ceremony was taken place at Haa. The Political officer and his wife were accompanied by Princes Palden Thondup and Jigdal Tsewang Namgyal of Sikkim,

Rai Bahadur TD Densapa, Rai Bahadur Sonam Topden, Yap Tempo Namgyal Barfungpa and Rai Sahib Tseten Wangdi of the Political Office.[2]

 British India left India on 15 August 1947 thereby giving independent to India. Bhutan still worrying about its status approached the then Prime Minister Jawahalal Nehru. Prime Minister Nehru told Bhutan that Bhutan is a special case and will talk its status later. Prime Minister Nehru was clear that Bhutan would not merge with the union of the Indian States. Therefore, after consultations and deliberations between the two governments in 1949, a treaty was signed whereby Bhutan agreed to consult the Indian Government in her external affairs, while Indian Governemnt returned 32 square miles land known as Dewangiri which was taken by British Indian in 1865.

                                                Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck and his entourage at Calcutta in 1935

                                                 Source:  Williamson, M.D. (1987)


                                                       Druk Gyalpo with Viceroy at Calcutta in 1935

                                                        Source: William, M.D. (1987)

 


[1]Morris (1935)

[2] Croston (2006)

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