DashoLhendup Dorji (Dzongkha:ལྷུན་གྲུབ་རྡོ་རྗེ, 6 October 1935 – 15 April 2007) was a member of theDorji family ofBhutan. He was also the brother of the Queen of Bhutan,Ashi Kesang choden and uncle to the fourth king of Bhutan, KingJigme Singye Wangchuck. He served as acting Lyonchen (Prime Minister) following theassassination of his brother,LyonchenJigme Palden Dorji, on April 5, 1964.^{[citation needed]}

Lhendup Dorji was born to Gongzim RajaSonam Topgay Dorji and Princess RaniChuni Wangmo ofSikkim on October 6, 1935, atBhutan House,Kalimpong,India.^{[citation needed]} He studied at theSt. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, at the Choate Preparatory School and then went to theUnited States attendingCornell University, which he graduated from in 1959. He was the first Bhutanese to study in America.^[1] Dorji was an avid hunter and excelled in athletics, such as boxing, golf, and tennis.

Dorji returned to Bhutan from the United States and his first assignment was to measure the length and breadth of the country; He spent months traveling around Bhutan calculating the terrain by hand using the most readily available measuring systems. He later served asPostmaster General, Paro Thrimpon, Deputy and later Secretary General of the country's Development Wing.^[2] He was conferred The Red Scarf by the Third Druk GyalpoJigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1958. An avid sports man Dorji was the first Bhutanese to win various golf and tennis tournaments in Nepal and in India. He enjoyed playing sports and socializing having friends from all walks of life.^[3]

He was a popular personality in the Calcutta racing circuit as well as in the United Kingdom.^[4]

He is referenced byShirley MacLaine in her book, "Don't Fall Off the Mountain", which documents a visit she made to Bhutan during which she met him. Lhendup also sometimes made his own approximation of Bhutanese curry.

Dorji's nephew,Jigme Singye Wangchuck, went on to become the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan. On April 15, 2007, he died ofcancer in Lungtenphu,Thimphu.^[2]

•  Bhutan :
  • The Royal Red Scarf (1958).^{[citation needed]}
  • King Jigme Singye Investiture Medal (2 June 1974).^{[citation needed]}
  • Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Jigme Singye (2 June 1999).^{[citation needed]}

• List of prime ministers of Bhutan
• House of Wangchuck

• Bhutan Political System
• The Royal Family of Bhutan

• 1935 births
• 2007 deaths
• Cornell University alumni
• Prime ministers of Bhutan
• Dorji family

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