King’s private dinner honors highest civilian award, Bhutan’s special gesture to PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan in Thimphu

Thimphu:

From a private dinner for the King to being conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, three special gestures from Bhutan emerged as highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the Himalayan nation.

One of the initiatives is that the Prime Minister of India stayed at K5 Residence Lingkana Palace for the first time.

In addition, no Indian Prime Minister has ever received a private dinner from the King of Bhutan before, but Prime Minister Modi has been granted this privilege.

This is also the first time that an Indian prime minister has received the highest civilian award from Bhutan. In fact, Prime Minister Modi is the first foreigner to receive this award from Bhutan.

Based on the determined ranking and order of priority, the “Order of Drum Gyalpo” was established as a lifetime achievement medal and is the pinnacle of the Bhutanese honor system, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals. Since its inception, the award has only been awarded to four outstanding individuals.

Previous recipients of the award include Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in 2008; Jay Thrisul Tenzin Theindup (Bhutan’s 68th) in 2008 Khenpo Rengye) and Khenpo Khenpo Chukku Ngawang Jigme Chodela in 2018. Je Khenpo is the chief abbot of the central monastery in Bhutan.

Bhutan’s highest civilian honor was awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his “outstanding display of national, regional and global leadership” and how India has become the world’s fastest-growing economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked King Jigme Kesar Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan for bestowing upon him the Himalayan country’s highest honor, the Order of the Dragon Gyalpo. He is the first foreign head of government to receive this honor.

In his speech at the Tendrelthang Festival Ground in Thimphu, he said: “Today is an important day in my life as an Indian. You have awarded me the highest national award in Bhutan. Every award is special in itself, but when the award comes from another country , it increases confidence that our two countries are moving in the right direction.”

“This honor is not my personal achievement. It is the honor of India and 1.4 billion Indians. I humbly accept this honor on behalf of all Indians in the great land of Bhutan and express my sincere gratitude to all of you for receiving this honor Kudos,” he added.

In an unprecedented welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan, people lined up in long queues along the 45-km-long street from Paro to Thimphu. Hundreds of locals awaited Prime Minister Modi’s arrival at the palace.

Prime Minister Modi also interacted with Indian expatriates and locals from Bhutan who gathered outside a hotel in Thimphu to welcome him. People in Indian society expressed happiness at meeting Prime Minister Modi.

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