PM Jigmi Y. Thinley conferred Dakyen

April 10: His Majesty the King conferred Dakyen to the new Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley at the Tashichhodzong yesterday.

Born in 1952, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. Stephen’s College in India. Later he obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University, USA.

He began his career in 1974 as a trainee officer with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has served as joint secretary in the Ministry of Communications, zonal administrator of the six eastern districts, permanent representative of Bhutan to the UN in New York and to other international organization is Geneva, Secretary of the Royal Civil Service Commission and Secretary of the Home and Cultural Affairs Ministry.

He has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs. From 1998 to 1999 and 2003 to 2004, he served as Prime Minister. A recipient of several prestigious awards including the Druk Thuksey medal, he is the author of several publications. He was awarded the red scarf in 1987 and the orange scarf and the title of Lyonpo in 1998.

After receiving Dakyen from His Majesty the King, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley proceeded to the Goenkhang of the Tashichhodzong where he offered Nyendhar and prayers. He was then escorted in traditional chipdrel procession to the Prime Minister’s office at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang. Upon arrival at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang, he was received by the outgoing Prime Minister Lyonchen Kinzang Dorji and other senior government officials.

He was then presented a guard of honour by the Royal Bhutan Police in the courtyard of the Gyalyong Tshogkhang. In the Prime Minister’s office, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley was offered Ku Sung Thu Gi Mendrel.

After that well wishers offered Tashi Khadhar to the Prime Minister. Among the well wishers who had come to offer Tashi Khadhar were the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhir Vyas, the Bangladeshi ambassador to Bhutan Mr. Atiqur Rahman, diplomats, the resident representative of UNDP Nicholas Rossellini, representatives of donor agencies, senior government officials and the public.