Jigme Dorji Wangchuck

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck signed the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Friendship with India. The treaty affirmed Bhutan's sovereignty while giving India a guiding role in its foreign policy, a relationship that continues to shape Bhutan's international relations.

King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck initiated a series of modernization reforms, including the abolition of serfdom, introduction of a modern legal code, and establishment of the National Assembly. He opened Bhutan to foreign aid and development.

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck launched Bhutan's first Five-Year Plan, focusing on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. This systematic approach to development transformed Bhutan from a feudal society into a modernizing state.