Prime Minister was “deeply touched” as His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck conferred their highest civilian honour, Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo.
An elated PM of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering, tweeted: “Overjoyed to hear His Majesty pronounce Your Excellency Modiji’s @narendramodi name for the highest civilian decoration, Order of the Druk Gyalpo.”
Tshering said that through this act, His Majesty acknowledged India’s “unconditional friendship and support” throughout Bhutanese history, “particularly during the pandemic.” To this, PM Modi responded: “Thank you, Lyonchhen @PMBhutan! I am deeply touched by this warm gesture and express my grateful thanks to His Majesty the King of Bhutan.”
Thus, PM Modi became the first foreign head of government to receive the Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo. His Majesty chose Mr Modi for his services to the Bhutanese people and the nation and his outstanding contribution to improving India and Bhutan’s bilateral relations. PM of Bhutan said that he always saw Mr Modi as an excellent, spiritual human being.
“I admire Bhutan for its unique model of sustainable development and the deeply spiritual way of life. Successive Druk Gyalpos – Their Majesties the Kings – have given a unique identity to the Kingdom, and nurtured the special bond of neighbourly friendship that our nations share,” Modi tweeted.
Mr Narendra Modi said that he always admired Bhutan for its “unique model of sustainable development and the deeply spiritual way of life.”
Bhutan has always been one of India’s “closest friends and neighbours”, and India will continue to support Bhutan “in every possible way”.
Last year, Modi visited the Kingdom of Bhutan to diversify our partnership from the hydropower sector. This year, during the pandemic, Modi made it possible for Bhutan to make the Covid-19 vaccination possible. Adding to that, Modi gifted 400,000 doses of Covishield to Bhutan.
PM Modi has many such feathers to his cap. Numerous international organisations have conferred prestigious titles to our Prime Minister. Modi received the ‘Legion of Merit by the US Government’ award of the US Armed Forces- for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
” Russia, too, conferred to him the ‘Order of St. Andrew’ award- their highest civilian award in 2019. In the same year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conferred him with its highest civilian honour—‘Order of Zayed Award’.
The Maldives presented Modi the ‘Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin’the highest honour for foreign dignitaries—in 2019.
PM Modi also received ‘King Hamad Order of the Renaissance’, the top honour from Bahrain, in 2019.
Palestine awarded Modi with the ‘Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award’, Palestine’s highest prize awarded to foreign dignitaries.
Modi has also received the Seoul Peace Prize, which is granted by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation biennially to individuals who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of humankind.
