Obituary: This voice carried an unusually gentle and endearing tone for the times…

It wasn’t normal for an inconsequential vice principal who played the second fiddle in a consequential institution to receive a call from high-ups in the government in Thimphu. If an unlikely phone-signal came from the capital, the usual reaction of the recipient would be one of consternation and shudder. I was used to going about my life’s passion and guiding my students who congregated at Sherubtse from across Bhutan to pursue their dreams.

“I am Yeshey. My daughter is in your college. I want to know how she is doing”. It took an agonising entreaty to know who the caller was. The owner of the distant call turned out to be the powerful Finance Secretary for whom position was far less important than the person. Dasho Yeshey Zimba immediately made me feel at ease and inquired more after my well-being than his daughter’s in a fairly long conversation touching upon several aspects of the college and students’ studies.

I was surprised to discover that this important government secretary knew quite a bit about me and my work at the college. Perhaps, my student had spoken kindly about her English teacher to her father who had a passionate interest in education! I was also to learn later that Dasho Yeshey Zimba had prevailed upon the British Council to dispense with the need for an IELTS assessment score for me to be admitted to the Institute of Education, University of London, to pursue my Postgraduate Certificate of Education course, arguing “He is an English teacher. He doesn’t need an IELTS pass certificate”. There was a reason why the institute made an exception and enrolled me with the native English speakers preparing to teach in British schools!

As time went by, I came to know Loynpo Yeshey Zimba at close quarters and was always struck by his mindful demeanour, exceptional intelligence and rare elegance in communication both in Dzongkha and in English in formal as well as in informal settings. It was joy and privilege to listen to Loynpo Zimba during his official tours to the East during which he would make it a point to visit Sherubtse and address the students and while he was part of His Majesty Drukgyal Zhipa’s royal entourage during five year plan talks that were often held at the college premises.

I was often reminded of Loynpo’s profoundly insightful talks to the university graduates during their national orientation programmes. He was an inspiration and a role model to a new generation of Bhutanese youth and civil servants.

When His Majesty The Great Fourth ushered in the biggest national project and introduced an unprecedented new democratic system of governance in 2008, I had the rare opportunity of understanding Loynpo Yeshey Zimba as a deeply introspective person, a highly conscientious public servant, and an uncompromising patriot with a proven track-record of distinguished service to the Tsawa-Sum throughout his career that spanned the glorious reigns of three of Bhutan’s most illustrious monarchs.

The late minister began his early education in the country’s first seat of secular learning in Haa while his father served in the office of the late Prime Minister Jigme Palden Dorji. He then studied at St Joseph’s College in Darjeeling, India, and moved to pursue his higher studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, from where he obtained his coveted Masters in Economics degree in 1976.

Loynpo Yeshey Zimba started serving in Drukgyal Zhipa’s Royal Court in 1973, and joined the erstwhile Planning Commission, moving on to become the Finance Secretary in 1992, and then the Minister of Trade and Industry in 1998. Loynpo also served variously as the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Works and Human Settlement, retiring as a Member of Parliament in 2018. Loynpo Zimba’s life and career beautifully straddled the finest elements of the old and the new that make Bhutan truly unique.

Loynpodrep Yeshey Zimba was instrumental in setting up the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan as commanded by His Majesty Drukgyal Zhipa and served as its first Managing Director. Bhutan’s pre-eminent economist responsible for formulating most of the major economic policies of the country, Loynpo was a member of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. He was the Chief Negotiator for Bhutan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation.

In all these critical roles, the late minister brought to bear his exceptional intelligence, deep insights into complex issues, and rare commitment to the sovereign interests of the country on the intricate web of international financial issues and their potential implications on Bhutan.

Bhutan’s King of Destiny saw the abilities of an exceptional servant of the Tsawa-Sum and granted due recognitions with regular promotions to ever higher roles and responsibilities. Loynpo Yeshey Zimba was awarded the Red Scarf by Drukgyal Zhipa in 1991, promoted to the rank of Deputy Minister in 1997, and conferred the Orange Scarf in 1998. The late Minister was a recipient of the Coronation Gold Medal, and the Grand Order of Druk Thuksey in 2008.

As a witness to some of the most epochal moments in the history of Bhutan, late Loynpo Yeshey Zimba followed the evolution of the country under the visionary leadership of our great Monarchs and through direct experience and personal involvement in a long and significant period of over four decades. He knew from deep engagement with the life of the nation the paramount importance of the sacred institution of enlightened Monarchy in ensuring the blessings of continued peace, sovereignty, and well-being of the country and her people.

Of the historic moment of royal succession, Loynpo Yeshey Zimba had thus observed: 

“Having accomplished His life’s mission of strengthening the security of the nation and in having set the nation on the course of sustainable and equitable development, His Majesty Drukgyal Zhipa passed on the Golden Throne to His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, a most worthy successor to a great King. His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck has displayed wisdom beyond His age and proven Himself to be a committed and caring King who is always at the forefront to ensure the well-being and happiness of his people”.

Ever humble and self-effacing, late Loynpo Yeshey Zimba kept the larger interests of the country above everything else and served the King, Country, and People with exemplary honour, integrity and pride. Two-term Prime Minister Loynpo Yeshey Zimba verily belonged to a time that is reminiscent of legendry King Arthur’s Round Table:

“…When every morn brought forth a noble chance

And every chance brought forth a noble knight…”

It has been a privilege and joy for me to know and work with this precious son of Druk Yul and benefit from his rare wisdom and mentorship at a truly historic moment in the life of our great country illumined and led forward by our extraordinary Monarchs.

In the passing away of this illustrious servant of our precious Tsawa-Sum, Bhutan is the poorer for the absence of a presence at once heart-warming and edifying, remembered with great fondness by his friends and peers as having a heart of gold, a voice of sanity, fount of wisdom. Thank you for the life and the legacy this nation will always treasure, beloved Loynpo!

May you ascend to the sacred realm of Zhingkham and return to this beloved nation that you served with rare honour and great pride…

Thakur S Powdyel
Former Minister of
Education
Author: As I Am, So Is  My Nation