Short History of Desi Jigme Namgyel
- Desi Jigme Namgyel was the first modern hero of our country and he was also forefather of the Wangchuck Dynasty . He lived at a time when the nation was devided and people were constantly fighting with one another. He served as 48th Druk Desi (Deb Nakpo) of Bhutan.
Parental Background
- Desi Jigme Namgyel was born in 1825 in Khethangbi Naktshang in Lhuentse. His father, Pila Gonpo Wangyel, was the twelfth descendant of Terton Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) from the Dungkar Choje family. Jigme Namgyels mother was Sonam Pelzom, the daughter of one of the Pilas subjects at Jangsa in Lhuentse. Desi was having at least six names. When he was born, his parents called him as Samdrup. As he grew up, he was called Jigme Namgyel. In history, He is popularly known as Deb Nagpo. The British refferred to him as Black Regent, because he had dark complexion, he wore black gho and rode black hores. In record in Chungey Gonpa, he is referred to as Kusho Nagpo Gongsar Jigme Namgyel. His choeming (religious name) was Drime Sherab.
Early Career
- Around 1843, he joined the Trongsa administration that governed Eastern Bhutan, which consisted then of Assam Duars. He rose rapidly through the ranks to become the Trongsa Penlop in 1853.
While he was high official of Trongsa, Jigme Namgyel married Ashi Pema Choki, the daughter of the 8th Trongsa penlop (Tamzing Choji family),
Dasho Ugyen Phuntsho, by his wife, Aum Rinchen Pelmo (a daughter of Sonam Drugyel, 31st druk Desi). His marriage to Sonam Choki further enhanced Jigme Namgyels noble lieage. The ancestry of Jigme Namgyels wife also went back to Pema Lingpa as she was the daughter of Tamzhing Choji.
Death
- In 1881, Desi Jigme Namgyel died, aged 55-56, at Semtokha Dzong in the Thimphu valley (first built in 1629) from a fall from a yak. His 21-year-old son, then the Paro Penlop, Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926), conducted the grandest funeral bhutan had ever seen fir his father
- Bhutans History
