PM Modi conferred Bhutan’s highest civilian honour Order of the Druk Gyalpo.
King of Bhutan awards Modi with Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's highest civilian honor. Symbolic gesture strengthens India-Bhutan ties.
On Friday, the King of Bhutan awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi the prestigious Order of the Druk Gyalpo, marking a historic moment as Modi became the first foreign head of government to receive Bhutan’s highest civilian honour. This honour, which symbolizes a lifetime of exceptional achievements and contributions to society, holds paramount importance within Bhutan's honour system. It takes precedence over all other awards and has been bestowed upon only four distinguished individuals since its establishment.
Previous recipients of this esteemed award include Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in 2008, Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup (the 68th Je Khenpo of Bhutan) in 2008, and Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra in 2018. The Je Khenpo holds the position of chief Abbot of Bhutan's central monastic body.
Expressing his gratitude for the honour, Modi took to X to share, "I am deeply honoured to receive the 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award from Bhutan. I dedicate it to the 1.4 billion citizens of India."
The announcement of this distinction was made by the Bhutanese King during the 114th National Day celebrations on December 17, 2021. Prime Minister Modi was presented with the award during his two-day State visit, his third since assuming office in 2014. The Indian Embassy, in a statement issued in 2021 when the announcement was made, highlighted that the Order of the Druk Gyalpo is the highest honour awarded for lifetime achievements, superseding all other forms of recognition in Bhutan.
Modi's visit to Bhutan was initially postponed by a day due to adverse weather conditions at Paro International Airport. Upon arrival, he expressed gratitude to the Bhutanese people for their warm welcome and expressed his hopes for further strengthening the friendship between India and Bhutan.
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