Wisdom for the Future – For a Just, Sustainable, and Peaceful Bhutan: Promoting Peace, Stability, and Environmental Conservation for a Better Future in Bhutan.
To educate our students and Bhutanese citizens at large, JSW Law in collaboration with the Office of Prime Minister and the Cabinet, launched the “WISDOM FOR THE FUTURE: JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK TALK SERIES” on 22 October 2024. As the father of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan’s Constitution, and Democracy, His Majesty is also a true and passionate environmentalist of our time. Throughout his reign, he prioritized ensuring the well-being of the Bhutanese people through free access to education and health, promoting social security, sustainable development, and enhancing citizen’s participation in decision-making. This Talk Series will bring global leaders to Bhutan to share their thoughts and experiences on these areas to amplify the contribution His Majesty made to the world as a global thinker and selfless leader.
For the Inaugural Series, JSW Law invited Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi to talk on “Right to our Education for our Children in the 21st Century.” The Series was attended by the Honourable President of the Law School, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Parliament, Justices and judges from the Judiciary, and many other participants representing different sectors.
JSW Law will host a few more series leading up to the 11th of November 2025, after that, JSW Law will host this Talk Series once every year on 11th November.
Wisdom Centre for Justice
In celebration of the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the 4th King, to support His Majesty the King’s vision of the Diamond Strategy, JSW Law in collaboration with the Justice Sector, has launched Wisdom Centre for Justice (WCJ). WCJ will not only function as the Secretariat Office of the Justice Sector but also play a leading role in facilitating research for justice sector development, and supporting in human resources capacity development of the Justice Sector to support His Majesty’s vision of strengthening democracy, creating an agile and responsive legal system, improving laws and building capable citizenry to serve the nation, its people, and the economy.
Peace and Stability Bhutan
His Majesty The Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, stands as a guardian of peace and stability in our beloved Bhutan. Through his wise and compassionate leadership, Bhutan embarked on a peaceful journey to a constitutional monarchy—an extraordinary achievement that safeguarded the unity and harmony of our nation. His Majesty’s vision ensured that despite change, the sacred bonds between communities, cultures, and the monarchy remained unbroken. Under his guidance, the land of the Thunder Dragon blossomed into a place where tranquility and order reign, allowing the people to live with confidence and hope. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep, enduring harmony nurtured by respect, kindness, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all.
Sustainability Bhutan
Long before the world turned its attention to environmental conservation, His Majesty the 4th King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, had already laid a strong foundation for protecting Bhutan’s pristine environment. With deep reverence for nature—as sacred and inseparable from our way of life—His Majesty recognized that the wellbeing of our people is closely tied to the wellbeing of our forests, rivers, and mountains.
Guided by the timeless wisdom of our spiritual and cultural traditions, His Majesty ensured that development would never come at the cost of the environment. Under His leadership, Bhutan enshrined environmental protection into its national policies, including the noble decision to maintain at least 60% of our land under forest cover for all time to come. His Majesty’s deep understanding of the interdependence between people and nature gave rise to the unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, where environmental conservation stands as one of its four main pillars.
His Majesty taught us that true progress is not measured by material wealth, but by the harmony between people, culture, and nature. Today, Bhutan’s global recognition as a model for sustainable development is a direct reflection of His Majesty’s far-sighted leadership and unwavering commitment to the values that define us as a nation.
His legacy continues to guide us, reminding every Bhutanese that caring for the environment is not just policy—it is our sacred responsibility.
LLM/MLS in Climate Change & Environmental Law
Coinciding with the launch of the Wisdom for the Future Series, JSW Law launched LLM/MLS in Climate Change and Environmental Law for students from around the world. This program will bring in international experts and scholars to teach various courses relating to international climate change and environmental law. Gross National Happiness and Law will be taught as a capstone course of the program—showcasing Bhutan’s leadership in sustainability inspired by the foresight and visionary leadership of His Majesty the Fourth King. In collaboration with our partners, JSW Law will provide a few scholarships to deserving students from South Asia (Bhutan and India). JSW Law will welcome students in August 2025.
GNH Founder
What is GNH?
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is Bhutan’s guiding philosophy for development, introduced by His Majesty the 4th King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the early 1970s. GNH emphasizes that true progress is measured not by economic indicators alone but by the holistic well-being of the people. It seeks to harmonize material development with spiritual, cultural, and environmental values, ensuring that all aspects of life contribute to the happiness and fulfillment of individuals and communities.
His Majesty The 4th King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, gifted Bhutan — and the world — with the profound philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). He believed that true prosperity is not found in the size of a nation’s economy, but in the smiles of its people and the strength of its communities. By placing happiness above GDP, His Majesty dared to dream of a world where compassion, balance, and harmony guide progress. His vision embraced not just material well-being, but also the nurturing of Bhutan’s rich culture, pristine environment, and spiritual wisdom. Through GNH, His Majesty offered a timeless reminder: that the soul of a nation is far more precious than its wealth, and that true leadership is rooted in love for one’s people and respect for the land they call home.
Environment Conservation in Bhutan
His Majesty The 4th King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck was a visionary environmentalist long before climate change became a global concern. He embedded environmental conservation into the heart of Bhutan’s national identity. Under his leadership
- Bhutan’s Constitution was shaped to mandate that at least 60% of the country remains forested at all times.
- He introduced the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which balances economic growth with environmental sustainability and cultural preservation.
- He established protected areas and national parks, linking them through biological corridors to allow wildlife to thrive freely.
- He prioritized renewable energy, especially hydropower, as a clean energy source that fuels the economy while minimizing environmental impact.
- His development philosophy emphasized harmony with nature, ensuring that infrastructure and progress never came at the cost of Bhutan’s ecological wealth.
His Majesty’s foresight laid the foundation for Bhutan to become a global beacon of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Songs of Praise for His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan
His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan is revered for his simplicity, compassion and selfless service to the nation and his people. His Majesty the Fourth King’s wisdom and foresight have not only shaped Bhutan’s unique path but also offered invaluable lessons for the international community. Therefore, the world can stand to benefit from the recognition of His Majesty as a true representation of a transformative and farsighted leader:
- The Bodhisattva King: His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan – Tshering Tashi & Thierry Mathou
- Embracing a Leader’s Majestic Legacy – Ugyen Tenzin
- Dochula–A Sacred Reflection of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s Vision and Sacrifice – Ugyen Tenzin
- Verses of Reverence for a leader who shaped a Nation’s Destiny through Wisdom, Compassion, and Courage – Compilation by Ugyen Tenzin
- A King of Destiny: Life and reign of Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- Nation’s Gem
- Drukyel’s Destiny: Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- The Dharma King: A tribute to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the Fourth King of Bhutan – H.E. Tsugla Lopen Samten Dorji
- Jewel of Men: Peoms dedicated to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck – HM Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
- A King’s Vision of development for his country and its people: A tribute to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo – Needrup Zangpo
- Images from the life of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- Moments with the Fourth Druk Gyalpo: Narratives of ordinary people’s encounters with an extraordinary King – Rinzin Wangchuk
- 11-11-11: A tribute to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck – Lobzang Dorji, Dorji Tshering, and Kelzang Dorjee
- Melodies of the Spring Queen: The wondrous deeds of the Great Fourth Druk Gyalpo – Ura Gyonpo Tshering
- Timeless Treasures: Moments in the life of a King & Nation
- The Legacy of a King: The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck – Siok Sian Pek-Dorji
- Drukgyal Zhipa: A reign of Prophecy
- Eternal Knot: A journey of two nations in time
- 25 Years a King: His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (1974-1999)
- Quotes of Praises – Compiled by Ugyen Tenzin
- GNH: The vision That Have the World Better – If Only Had Listened in Time! – Ugyen Tenzin, Business Bhutan
- Portrait of a Leader: Through the Looking-Glass of His Majesty’s Decrees-Mieko Nishimizu
- The Bodhisattva King: Reflections on the Legacy of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan – Dr. Thierry Mathou
- Reminiscences: A King and His Times 1972-2006 – Kezang Namgyel
- Immortal Lines: Speeches of the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck – Tashi Group of Companies
- Embracing a leader’s majestic legacy: Dedicated to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who ascended the Golden Throne formally on June 2, 1972 – Ugyen Tenzin
- His Majesty’s Address to the Nation on the celebration of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s 60th Birth Anniversary
- འབྲུག་བརྒྱུད་འཛིན་གྱི་རྒྱལ་མཆོག་བཞི་པ་མི་དབང་འཇིགས་མེད་སེངྒེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་མཆོག་གི་རྟོགས་བརྗོད་དེབ་ཐེར་ཆེན་མོ་བཞུགས་སོ། (The great biography of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck)
- ཆོས་རྒྱལ་བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའི་བཀའ་དྲིན་སེམས་ཀྱི་འོད་སྣང་། (The Benevolent Grace of the Dharma King: The Radiance of the Bodhisattva’s Mind) – H.E. Letshog Lopen Sangay Dorji
- སྙན་རྩོམ་པདྨའི་འཕྲེང་བ་བཞུགས་སོ། (The anthology of peoms, a garland of lotus petals)
- Leadership of the Wise Kings of Bhutan – Karma Ura
- Devotion, Culture, and Social Work: Royal Patronage in Bhutan – Françoise Pommaret
- How to Reform a Traditional Buddhist Monarchy: The Political Achievements of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan (1972-2006) – Thierry Mathou
- A special tribute from Myanmar to His Majesty the Fourth King – Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
- The Fourth Dragon King – A Tribute – Sherab Dorji
FAQs on His Majesty The Fourth King, Gross National Happiness, and Bhutan’s Peace, Stability, and Sustainability
His Majesty the 4th King prioritized environmental protection as a cornerstone of Bhutan’s development, mandating that at least 60% of the country remain forested and establishing national parks and protected areas to safeguard Bhutan’s biodiversity.
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a development philosophy introduced by His Majesty the 4th King that values the happiness and well-being of citizens over economic growth, emphasizing sustainable development, cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and good governance.
Through his wise and compassionate leadership, His Majesty the 4th King peacefully transitioned Bhutan to a constitutional monarchy, strengthened national unity, and ensured lasting political stability grounded in the values of harmony and respect.
The GNH framework promotes balanced development that nurtures both societal well-being and cultural identity, fostering a peaceful, stable society where prosperity and compassion are equally valued.
The 70th birthday celebrations honour His Majesty the 4th King’s remarkable achievements, including the introduction of Gross National Happiness, the peaceful democratization of Bhutan, and his lifelong dedication to environmental conservation and national unity.