Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji passed away peacefully in the early hours on May 12 at his residence in Punakha. His Holiness the Je Khenpo, who was present, conducted Phowa. His Eminence Gyalse Trulku, senior monks of the Dratshang, Yum Thuji Zam and his family members were present. He was 94 years old.
Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji, is the Maternal Grandfather of His Majesty The King. He was born to Dangla Trulku Sangay Tenzin and Ashi Dorji Om in the year 1925 at Kungacholing in Paro.
Having lived through the reigns of Four Kings of Bhutan, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji’s life reflected the growth and development of Bhutan. He was known as a pioneer among entrepreneurs, and was among the first businessmen in the country, during the time that our country was beginning to modernise.
Yab set up a store in the 1960s at House no.1, Lane 1, near Tashichhodzong, being one of the first to do so in accordance to His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo’s wish to establish a town in Thimphu.
Later as Yab settled in Nobgang in Punakha, and continued to expand his ventures, growing apples, setting up sawmills, and establishing various businesses.
In personal life, Yab was a devout Buddhist and sponsored the construction and renovation of many temples and religious structures across Bhutan. One of the most significant of his religious projects was to rebuild Sangchokhor. During the consecration ceremony in 1991, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo conferred the red scarf to Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji.
In course of time, he restored many temples such as Kungacholing, Sangchokhor, Pangkarpo, Do Jagalam, Talo, Khuruthang, Sheka Da, and built the nunnery of Wolokha.
Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji was married to Yum Thuji Zam, and was father to Their Majesties the Queen Mothers.
