Born November 11, 1955 in the Dechenchholing palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck became the "Druk Gyalpo" (Dragon King) of Bhutan in 1974 and is the world's youngest reigning monarchs now at 41 years of age. The king is married to four queens, drives a Toyota, loves American Basketball, and rules over the world's last Himalayan Buddhist kingdom.

He has been called a King of the people by those that watch Bhutan. Ruling over the national assemblies he encourages the people's participation and has decentralized much of the government while keeping his royal control. His Majesty has never been known to refuse a citizen's request for an audience. Few leaders in this modern world are accessible to their people he.

Son of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the king is fourth in the line of the Wangchuck dynasty. When his Majesty was crown prince he toured extensively with his father to the remote areas of the hidden kingdom to keep in tune with the people. This is something that he still does to keep a pulse of the nation. As his father started Bhutan's process of modernization the King is also continuing at a cautious pace.

Believed to be the real Shangri-La of legend, Bhutan is a preserve of Himalayan cultural and an ecological paradise. Bhutan or "Druk Yul" (Land of the Thunder Dragon) is one of the world's smallest countries with an area that is about the size of Switzerland. The King along with his cabinet have committed to keep 60% of the country forested forever and hunting is prohibited. Cultural preservation of language, dress and architecture are required by law and satellite dishes are banned. Tourism is controlled by a strict quota to keep out the cultural litter that has infiltrated other Himalayan areas.

Bringing a kingdom into the modern world from years of self imposed isolation is not an easy task. Bringing Bhutan into the modern world while preserving its unique culture and pristine environment is a daunting task even for a monarch. Tucked away between some of the world's most over crowded, impoverished, and ecologically decimated countries in Asia, Bhutan is increasingly being encroached on by the outside. Bhutan is battling for its very existence.

Joining the United Nations early in his reign was a major step in the modernization process started by his father. To keep Bhutan from being overrun by China or swallowed up by India as the country of Sikkim, or filled up with illegal immigrants has not been an easy endeavor. Modernization has been necessary, painful, and slow by design. His Majesty is the figure head that has kept the balance between economics, spiritual, cultural, and traditional values.

He was quoted by "Tashi Delek," Druk Air's in-flight magazine as saying, "It is the system, not the throne, which is important. A monarchy is not the best form government because a King is chosen by birth and not by merit. The people of Bhutan must be able to establish a system which works for them." This is why he works so hard at serving his people. "GNP" as he says, "Gross National Happiness is his yardstick of success." He is the symbol of Bhutan which inspires and leads the people.

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