alternatehistory.com
4-Transition
In 1959 the RBA established a headquarters in Wangdue Phodrang, northeast of Thimphu. However, in 1963 it was moved into Thimphu proper bringing it closer to the royal family, who were not in a stable situation.
The Ngalop majority of Bhutan were not fans of the Lhotshama, but they still came in unchecked. The Dorji family was not doing anything to stop anything to stop migrants from entering the country via the Bhutan house. They also had historically held unparalleled access to the king, earning the jealousy of other factions.
For their part the Dorji family was in awkward position. Jigme Palden Dorji was prime minister, and the king was sympathetic to reforms being made on the urging of the family. But despite this his sister Kesang Choden Dorji was not the favorite of the king. Despite having given birth to a son named Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1955 the Prime Minister’s sister was still playing second fiddle to a woman named Yanki. Yanki was a Tibetan who was serving as a concubine. Her father had arrived with her and together they provided a counterweight to the Dorji family. The King’s uncle, Namgyal Bahadur was placed in charge of the army when it moved to Thimphu. He arrayed himself against the Dorjis as well.
So something was certainly brewing. There just needed to be a fuse to be lit.
In our timeline Jigme Dorji Wangchuck left Bhutan in 1964, heading to Switzerland for treatment of a chronic heart condition. While he was gone a corporal in the army assassinated Jigme Palden Dorji on the orders of Namgyal Bahadur, in collusion with Yangki the concubine. However, the younger Dorji brother, Lhendup, retook control with assistance from his sister the queen, forcing Yangki to flee to India and Bahadur into prison.
However, the king disapproved of Lhendup’s actions, believing them to be a power grab against the Wangchucks. With a little help from Indian military officials in Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck retuned and deposed his brother in law. He would execute his uncle for the assassination and appoint his brother in his place. However, he welcomed Yangki back with open arms and spurned Lhendup Dorji. The next year a bomb threat was discovered at the royal palace. The royal family claimed it was a “private matter” and pardoned the conspirators, however the Dorji family was simultaneously exiled, which raised questions. About their involvement.
That is, in our timeline.
In this new world the Druk Gyalpo’s heart condition is never discovered. It is a butterfly of the Bhutan State Congress surviving. Few meaningless declarations and protests that amounted to nothing from a dying organization do little, and the historians of this history have no idea they were world changing for Bhutan. But they took his attention away at the worst possible time, keeping him from a meeting with a doctor here, a test there. By 1964 the King’s inner circle is aware that something is wrong with the King’s health, and he admits that some more examinations should be done. But there is still nothing concrete, certainly not enough to send him all the way to Switzerland.
And then he drops dead.
The Bhutan State Congress surviving is this timeline’s point of divergence, yes, but nothing truly changed from our timeline afterwards. However, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck survived until 1972 in our timeline, in this alternate universe he’s dead 8 years early. He leaves behind a 9 year old son and no clear plan for who runs the country until the new King can actually rule.
This is where things really go off the rails.
The Ngalop majority of Bhutan were not fans of the Lhotshama, but they still came in unchecked. The Dorji family was not doing anything to stop anything to stop migrants from entering the country via the Bhutan house. They also had historically held unparalleled access to the king, earning the jealousy of other factions.
For their part the Dorji family was in awkward position. Jigme Palden Dorji was prime minister, and the king was sympathetic to reforms being made on the urging of the family. But despite this his sister Kesang Choden Dorji was not the favorite of the king. Despite having given birth to a son named Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1955 the Prime Minister’s sister was still playing second fiddle to a woman named Yanki. Yanki was a Tibetan who was serving as a concubine. Her father had arrived with her and together they provided a counterweight to the Dorji family. The King’s uncle, Namgyal Bahadur was placed in charge of the army when it moved to Thimphu. He arrayed himself against the Dorjis as well.
So something was certainly brewing. There just needed to be a fuse to be lit.
In our timeline Jigme Dorji Wangchuck left Bhutan in 1964, heading to Switzerland for treatment of a chronic heart condition. While he was gone a corporal in the army assassinated Jigme Palden Dorji on the orders of Namgyal Bahadur, in collusion with Yangki the concubine. However, the younger Dorji brother, Lhendup, retook control with assistance from his sister the queen, forcing Yangki to flee to India and Bahadur into prison.
However, the king disapproved of Lhendup’s actions, believing them to be a power grab against the Wangchucks. With a little help from Indian military officials in Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck retuned and deposed his brother in law. He would execute his uncle for the assassination and appoint his brother in his place. However, he welcomed Yangki back with open arms and spurned Lhendup Dorji. The next year a bomb threat was discovered at the royal palace. The royal family claimed it was a “private matter” and pardoned the conspirators, however the Dorji family was simultaneously exiled, which raised questions. About their involvement.
That is, in our timeline.
In this new world the Druk Gyalpo’s heart condition is never discovered. It is a butterfly of the Bhutan State Congress surviving. Few meaningless declarations and protests that amounted to nothing from a dying organization do little, and the historians of this history have no idea they were world changing for Bhutan. But they took his attention away at the worst possible time, keeping him from a meeting with a doctor here, a test there. By 1964 the King’s inner circle is aware that something is wrong with the King’s health, and he admits that some more examinations should be done. But there is still nothing concrete, certainly not enough to send him all the way to Switzerland.
And then he drops dead.
The Bhutan State Congress surviving is this timeline’s point of divergence, yes, but nothing truly changed from our timeline afterwards. However, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck survived until 1972 in our timeline, in this alternate universe he’s dead 8 years early. He leaves behind a 9 year old son and no clear plan for who runs the country until the new King can actually rule.
This is where things really go off the rails.
- King of the Uzbeks
- Word Count: 610