‘I Dedicate It To 140 Crore Indians’: PM Modi Becomes First Foreign Leader To Receive Bhutan’s Top Civilian Honour sattaex.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history on Friday by becoming the first foreign Head of Government to be bestowed with Bhutan’s highest civilian honour. Modi was given the award by the King of Bhutan, during his state visit to the country.

“This honour is not my personal achievement, it is the honour of India and 140 crore Indians. I humbly accept this honour on behalf of all Indians in this great land of Bhutan and thank you all from the bottom of my heart for this honour,” the Prime Minister said during the award ceremony in Thimphu.

“Today is a very big day in my life, I have been conferred with Bhutan’s highest civilian honour. Every award is special, but when you receive an award from another country, this shows that both countries are moving on the right path… I accept this honour on the basis of every Indian and thank you for this,” he said.

As per ranking and precedence established, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo was instituted as the decoration for lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the honor system in Bhutan, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

Since its institution, the award has been conferred upon only four eminent personalities. PM Modi is the first foreign Head of Government to receive Bhutan’s highest civilian honour. Previous recipients of the award include Royal Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in 2008; Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup (68th Je Khenpo of Bhutan) in 2008 and Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra in 2018. Je Khenpo is the Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan.

(With inputs from Shailendra Wangu)