for the speech incarnation. At the time the monarchy was founded in 1907, Choley Yeshe Ngodub (or Chogley Yeshey Ngodrup) was the speech incarnation and also served as the last Druk Desi. After his death in 1917, he was succeeded by Chogley Jigme Tenzin (1919–1949). The next claimant, unrecognized by the Bhutan government, lived at Tawang monastery in India and was evacuated to the western Himalayas during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Another line of claimants to be mind incarnations of Ngawang Namgyal existed in Tibet, and is now represented by Namkhai Norbu, who resides in Italy. Principal reincarnation lineages Zhabdrung Thuktrul "Mind" reincarnations of the Zhabdrung. Zhabdrung Sungtrul "Speech" reincarnations of the Zhabdrung. 7. 1986- Passang Wangdi Born Thimphu above Tashichhodzong Zhabdrung deposed and exiled In 1907, in an effort to reform the dysfunctional system, the penlops orchestrated the establishment of a Bhutanese monarchy with Ugyen Wangchuck, the penlop of Trongsa installed as hereditary king, with the support of Britain and against the wishes of Tibet. The royal family suffered from questions of legitimacy in its early years, with the reincarnations of the various Zhabdrungs posing a threat. According to one Drukpa source, the Zhabdrung's brother Chhoki Gyeltshen (who had been to India) challenged the 1926 accession of King Jigme Wangchuck. He was rumored to have met with Mahatma Gandhi to garner support for the Zhabdrung against the king. The 7th Zhabdrung, Jigme Dorji was then "retired" to Talo Monastery and died in 1931, under rumors of assassination. He was the last Zhabdrung recognized by Bhutan; subsequent claimants to the incarnation have not been recognized by the government. In 1962, Jigme Ngawang Namgyal (known as Zhabdrung Rinpoche to his followers) fled Bhutan for India where he spent the remainder of his life. Up until 2002, Bhutanese pilgrims were able to journey to Kalimpong, just south of Bhutan, to visit him. On April 5, 2003, the Zhabdrung died. Some of his followers claim he was poisoned, while the Bhutanese national newspaper, Kuensel, took pains to explain he died after an extended bout with cancer. His successor jigme jigdrel namgyel, was born in 2003. References External links State religion in Bhutan Buddhism in Bhutan Tibetan Buddhist titles Tibetan Buddhists from Bhutan Bhutanese lamas Bhutanese Buddhist monks Drukpa Kagyu lamas Bhutan history-related lists