“I will not rest till I have given you the inspiration and knowledge and the skills that will fulfill your aspirations. A strong, motivated, young Bhutan guarantees a strong bright future for the country,” he said.

Bhutanese government officials, district and zonal body functionaries say the new king has already received hands-on training from his father on the art of governance. In his interaction with the people, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has already established himself as as a king with a fresh and modern perspective on development, economic policies, education and the Bhutanese society.

Much of his modern outlook comes from his schooling abroad. He studied at schools in the United States and later attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts before studying at Oxford University’s Magdalen College.

He was groomed for the crown early and has travelled in Bhutan extensively, interacting with villagers, local village heads and regional council chiefs, acquainting himself with their problems.

Thimphu is not representative of Bhutan’s development story and Jigme Khesar knows that better than anyone else. According to the Poverty Analysis Report, 2007, in Bhutan, “Poverty is very much a rural phenomenon and living standards vary considerably across 20 districts. Improving access to credit in rural areas and assisting farmers to bring their produce to vegetable markets in the towns are some of the steps that need immediate attention.”

The report also underlined the need for private investments in basic social services, especially education in rural areas which have greater gender disparity.

... contd.