Lhendup Dorji

Dasho Lhendup Dorji (6 October 1935 – 15 April 2007) was a member of the Dorji family of Bhutan. He was also the brother of the Queen of Bhutan, Ashi Kesang choden and uncle to the fourth king of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He served as acting Lyonchen (Prime Minister) following the assassination of his brother, Lyonchen Jigme Palden Dorji, on April 5, 1964. ^{[citation needed]}

Lhendup Dorji was born to Gongzim Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji and Princess Rani Chuni Wangmo of Sikkim on October 6, 1935 at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India.^{[citation needed]} He studied at the St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, at the Choate Prepatory School and then went to the United States attending Cornell University, which he graduated from in 1959. He was the first Bhutanese to study in America. ^[1] Dorji was an avid hunter and excelled in athletics, such as boxing, golf, and tennis.

Dorji returned to Bhutan from the United States and his first assignment was to measure the length and breadth of the country; He spent months traveling around Bhutan calculating the terrain by hand using the most readily available measuring systems. He later served as Postmaster General, Paro Thrimpon, Deputy and later Secretary General of the country's Development Wing.^[2] He was conferred The Red Scarf by the Third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1958. An avid sports man Dorji was the first Bhutanese to win various golf and tennis tournaments in Nepal and in India. He enjoyed playing sports and socializing having friends from all walks of life.^[3]

He was a popular personality in the Calcutta racing circuit as well as in the United Kingdom. ^[4]

He is referenced by Shirley MacLaine in her book, "Don't Fall Off the Mountain", which documents a visit she made to Bhutan during which she met him. Lhendup also sometimes made his own approximation of Bhutanese curry.

Dorji's nephew, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, went on to become the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan. On April 15, 2007 he died of cancer in Lungtenphu, Thimphu.^[2]

•  Bhutan :
  • The Royal Red Scarf (1958).^{[citation needed]}
  • King Jigme Singye Investiture Medal (2 June 1974).^{[citation needed]}
  • Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Jigme Singye (2 June 1999).^{[citation needed]}

• List of prime ministers of Bhutan
• House of Wangchuck

• Bhutan Political System
• The Royal Family of Bhutan

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