Sonam Topgay Dorji

Sonam Topgay Dorji played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Punakha between Bhutan and British India. The treaty revised earlier agreements, granting Bhutan increased autonomy in internal affairs while Britain retained control over foreign relations.

Sonam Topgay Dorji was appointed as Gongzim, the chief minister of Bhutan, under King Ugyen Wangchuck. This position made him the de facto first Prime Minister of Bhutan, centralizing administrative power and initiating modernization efforts.

Sonam Topgay Dorji established the first secular schools in Bhutan, moving beyond monastic education. He sent Bhutanese students to study in India, laying the foundation for a modern civil service and introducing Western-style education.

Sonam Topgay Dorji oversaw Bhutan's accession to the Colombo Plan, a regional organization for economic development. This move secured foreign aid and technical assistance, integrating Bhutan into post-colonial Asian cooperation frameworks.