Jigme Thinley

He married Rinsy Dem and their son Palden Thinley is married to one of the princesses of the palace of Bhutan.

He was born on September 9, 1952, in Chhokhor valley in the district of Bumthang, as a descendent of an influential family of Bhutan who were closely associated with the royals and served the monarchy since its inception.

His father served the Royal Secretariat as an official and relocated to Thimphu after the third King decided to shift Bhutan’s capital from Punakha to Thimphu.

Though his primary education started in Bhutanese language, later in Dechenchholing he studied in Hindi and English.

He studied in ‘Dr Graham’s Homes’ in Kalimpong, India, after his father secured him a government scholarship. He displayed great leadership skills since his school days. In his final year in school, he emerged as School Captain and was also elected as President of Youth Club of the school, in its very first election.

He also participated in sports and other extra-curricular activities during his school days. During his final year in school, he became the leader of its athletic squad at the ‘Darjeeling District Interschool Games’ and earned the ‘All Round Best Boy Award’.

In 1976 he started his career in civil service in Bhutan and although the first few years were not so fruitful, the 1980s saw him rising up the career rung by leaps and bounds.

He was conferred the title of ‘Dasho’ and also awarded the ‘Red Scarf’ in February 1987.

He was made the Eastern Zone administrator in 1990.

In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of secretary in the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’.

Thereafter in January 1994 he was inducted as ‘Deputy Minister of Home Affairs’. The same year he received the ‘Orange Scarf’ and towards the year end he was inducted as ‘Permanent Representative’ of Bhutan to the ‘United Nations’ office and also in other international organisations in Geneva.