A Visionary King
Seventy-three-year-old Tulsi Ram Bhandari teaches at one of Bhutan’s two Sanskrit institutes in Sarpang Dzongkhag. He first met His Majesty the King in 1988. Over the years, the Pandit has been in the fourth Druk Gyalpo more than 15 times, mostly during the Durga Puja ceremony at the Samtenling Royal Cottage in Thimphu.
“His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo is a true incarnation of Lord Vishnu and has served the Buddha dharma and his people from a very early age,” says Pandit Tulsi Ram Bhandari. “Through His Majesty’s far-sighted vision and the blessings of the Lord Buddha, Bhutan has remained a sovereign country.”
“His Majesty provided special monetary subsidies to the two Sanskrit institutes of learning: the Pathshalas in Surey and Dobhain in Sarpang,” he says. “The people of Sarpang and Dochan, were deeply privileged when His Majesty the King put tikka on our foreheads with his own hands.”
“His Majesty has provided free education for Bhutanese children, free medical services for the people, and built roads and bridges that have helped generate rural income,” says Tulsi Ram Bhandari. “The fourth Druk Gyalpo’s emphasis on Bhutan’s environment and preservation of its tradition and culture are, today, a symbol of Bhutan’s unique identity.”
“His Majesty has been guiding people on the right path. We pray for the long life and good health of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty the King and the royal family.”
Pandit Tulsi Ram Bhandari, Teacher, Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Surey
Source: The Legacy of a King