Growing up in an era of turmoil

Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck who was destined to

play a significant role in shaping the political
destiny of Bhutan was born to Trongsa Penlop
Jigme Namgyal and Ashi Pema Choki in 1862 at
Wangduecholing Palace in Bumthang. His father
came from the noble family of Dungkar Chojie,
descendent of Terton Pema Lingpa. His mother
belonged to Tamshing Chojie, descendent of
Lhalung Pelgi Dorji. Thus, he belonged to two
of the most respected families in Bhutan.
He did not enjoy the best of his childhood.
Bhutan and British Indian relations were not at
its best. The aftermath of the disastrous Duar
war of 1864 and the signing of the Treaty of
Sinchula in 1865 where Bhutan ceded 18 Duars
in Assam and Bengal still loomed at large.
Though, the son of the most powerful man in
Bhutan, his early life was an ordinary one
having had to serve amongst the lowest menials
of the court and line up with them to get his
meal. He had to prove his worth climbing up the
ladder of responsibility rung by rung starting
from the lowest rank. Besides studying basic
reading and writing under his maternal uncle,
the 8th Pema Lingpa incarnation of Lhalung,
from the age of eight he also attended to his
father everyday.
His first taste of the intrigues and internal
conflict came at the tender age of 16 in 1878
where he took part in his father’s campaign to
recapture the fortress of Paro. Though the
fortress was successfully captured, Ugyen
Wangchuck along with Phuntsho Dorji was
captured and imprisoned in Paro Ta Dzong by
the disgruntled Damchoe Rinchen, ex-Dzongpon
of Punakha. Nevertheless, Jigme Namgyal took
the whole family of his rival as hostage for the
life of his son that ultimately led to his release.
In the following year, he was promoted to the
post of Paro Penlop.
In 1882, a year after the demise of his father,
Ugyen Wangchuck then serving as the Paro
Penlop faced the first test of his ability to deal
with revolts and intrigues on his own when his
maternal uncle Trongsa Penlop Pema Tenzin
was assassinated by Senge Namgyal, the
Trongsa Dronyer. Ugyen Wangchuck displayed
his bravery and dexterity and quelled the trouble
supported mainly by his mother. He then took
over the post of Trongsa Penlop and appointed
his elder brother Trinley Tobgye as the Paro
Penlop.
The other challenge came from his adopted
brothers Puntsho Dorji, the Punakha Dzongpon
and Alu Dorji, Thimphu Dzongpon in 1884. A
plot to assassinate Ugyen Wangchuck was
hatched and letters and bribes sent to the senior
officers of Ugyen Wangchuck. However, the
plot was revealed and the Trongsa Penlop
immediately called them for mediation at Shar.
The two Dzongpons did not turn up for the
meeting and Ugyen Wangchuck with his troops
marched west. A negotiation was called upon at
Changlimithang in 1885. Ugyen Wangchuck
was represented by Dawa Penjor while Puntsho
Dorji stood for the rebels. In the encounter
Puntsho Dorji was killed in Changlimithang
while Alu Dorji fled to Tibet. What historians
attribute as the last Civil War in Bhutan finally
led Ugyen Wangchuck dedicate his time in
restoring peace and order in Bhutan. He was also
able to revamp the damaged relations between
Bhutan and British India by accompanying
Younghusband to Tibet in 1904.