Lhendup Dorji

For the Bhutanese footballer, see Lhendup Dorji (footballer).

Dasho Lhendup Dorji (Dzongkha: ལྷུན་གྲུབ་རྡོ་རྗེ, 6 October 1935 – 15 April 2007) was a member of the Dorji family of Bhutan. He was also the brother of the Queen of Bhutan, Ashi Kesang choden and uncle to the fourth king of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He served as acting Lyonchen (Prime Minister) following the assassination of his brother, Lyonchen Jigme Palden Dorji, on April 5, 1964.

Lhendup Dorji
Prime Minister of Bhutan Acting
In office 25 July 1964 – 27 November 1964
Monarch	Jigme Dorji
Preceded by	Jigme Palden Dorji
Succeeded by	Jigme Thinley
Personal details
Born	6 October 1935 Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India
Died	15 April 2007(2007-04-15) (aged 71) Lungtenphu, Thimphu
Spouse	Glenda Anne Dorji
Children	4
Parent(s)	Sonam Topgay Dorji Chuni Wangmo
Alma mater	Cornell University

Early life and education

Lhendup Dorji was born to Gongzim Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji and Princess Rani Chuni Wangmo of Sikkim on October 6, 1935, at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India. He studied at the St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, at the Choate Preparatory School and then went to the United States attending Cornell University, which he graduated from in 1959. He was the first Bhutanese to study in America. Dorji was an avid hunter and excelled in athletics, such as boxing, golf, and tennis.

Career

Dorji returned to Bhutan from the United States and his first assignment was to measure the length and breadth of the country; He spent months traveling around Bhutan calculating the terrain by hand using the most readily available measuring systems. He later served as Postmaster General, Paro Thrimpon, Deputy and later Secretary General of the country's Development Wing. He was conferred The Red Scarf by the Third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1958. An avid sports man Dorji was the first Bhutanese to win various golf and tennis tournaments in Nepal and in India. In 1965, with the approval of the National Assembly, Lhendup Dorji and several members of his family were exiled. Political tensions remained high, and in July of the same year an assassination attempt was made on King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Following the King's death, Lhendup was permitted to return to Bhutan in 1974 with the support of his sister, Queen Kesang Choden.

Popularity and death

He was a popular personality in the Calcutta racing circuit as well as in the United Kingdom.

He is referenced by Shirley MacLaine in her book, "Don't Fall Off the Mountain", which documents a visit she made to Bhutan during which she met him. Lhendup also sometimes made his own approximation of Bhutanese curry.

Dorji's nephew, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, went on to become the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan. On April 15, 2007, he died of cancer in Lungtenphu, Thimphu.

Honours

• Bhutan :
  • The Royal Red Scarf (1958).
  • King Jigme Singye Investiture Medal (2 June 1974).
  • Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Jigme Singye (2 June 1999).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Lhendup Dorji

16. Pala Gyeltshen 8. Sherpa Puchung, Dzongpon 17. a Lady from Tsento, Paro 4. Raja Ugyen Dorji 9. Tsherim, a Lady from Tsento, Paro 2. Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji 1. Lhendup Dorji 24. Tenzing Namgyal, 6th Maharaja of Sikkim 12. Tsugphud Namgyal, 7th Maharaja of Sikkim 25. Anyo Karwang 6. Sir Thutob Namgyal, 9th Maharaja of Sikkim 13. Maharani Menchi 3. Rani Mayum Chonying Wangmo Dorji 14. Shiafe Uthok, of the Lhading House of Lhasa 7. Yeshay Dolma

See also

• List of prime ministers of Bhutan
• House of Wangchuck

External links

• Bhutan Political System
• The Royal Family of Bhutan