Aku Tongmi
Aku Tongmi (1913 - 2007) Even after his demise, the entire nation pays reverence to his tunes, for it was Aku Tongmi who first composed the tunes for Bhutan’s National Anthem (Druk Tshenden Koepai Gyelkhab Na).
Chimi Dorji, popularly known to us as Aku Tongmi, was born in the year 1913 at Digala, Chikhor (Upper Kheng) in Zhemgang. As a kid he would regularly accompany his uncle to keep watch over the crops. As the story goes, during one such day, when they were watching over the maize fields, he came upon his uncle being mauled by a bear.
Desperate to save his uncle, he swung his sword at the bear but then fate dealt him with a cruel blow at the very moment. Though it was the bear that he was swinging his sword at, it was his uncle that the sword landed upon. His uncle succumbed and ever since the incident he came to be known as Aku Tongmi.
A painful reminder of the unfortunate turn of event that day. The name stuck and remained as an integral part of his identity right upto the moment of his death. Aku Tongmi’s service to the nation was the exact opposite to the notorious undertone of the name that he came to be known by. He began serving the nation at the very tender age of twelve, where he was personally picked to join the Armed Force by Dasho Dorji, the then brother to the second King, His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck.
In due recognition of his determination and the fact that he always went beyond his best in serving the nation, he was the first Bhutanese army personnel to be awarded the rank of a colonel by His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. He was also responsible for establishing the Military Training Centers in Tencholing, Wangduephodrang and the Royal Bhutan Army Headquarters in Lungtenphu, Thimphu as well as being involved in the demarcation of Bhutan-China border.
It was in 1953, when he was 40 years old, that Aku Tongmi went to Shillong and Panchgari to study the army band instruments for a year and upon return, introduced the brass band and the bag pipe thus becoming the first Band Master of Bhutan aswell.
Aku Tongmi was not just a determined military personnel, but also a prolific dancer with a natural flair for composing beautiful music introducing ‘Tashi Nencha,’ Bhutan’s first private music troupe which works towards specializing in traditional Bhutanese songs and choreography.
He composed the National Anthem based on a choreographed folk song ‘Druk Tshenden,’ which was performed for the very first time during Nehru’s visit. For his lifetime of dedicated service to the nation and his invaluable contributions to the music and entertainment industry, Aku Tongmi was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Motion Picture Association of Bhutan in 2005. In latter part of his life after he retired from the army at 67, he dedicated himself to religion and built the Dungkhor Lhakhang in 1965.
Twenty years later, he started the construction of the famous Zangdopelri Lhakhang in Thimphu. Besides, he also built several ‘Dungkors’ all over the country. It may be due to the merit that he accumulated from such deeds that he is amongst the few who have had the honor and privilege of serving all Five Monarchs. He was 93 years old when he breathed his last in the year 2007.
Source : 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑻𝑴𝑿 𝑻𝑴𝑻 [facebook]
Photo Courtesy: Family
Desperate to save his uncle, he swung his sword at the bear but then fate dealt him with a cruel blow at the very moment. Though it was the bear that he was swinging his sword at, it was his uncle that the sword landed upon. His uncle succumbed and ever since the incident he came to be known as Aku Tongmi.
A painful reminder of the unfortunate turn of event that day. The name stuck and remained as an integral part of his identity right upto the moment of his death. Aku Tongmi’s service to the nation was the exact opposite to the notorious undertone of the name that he came to be known by. He began serving the nation at the very tender age of twelve, where he was personally picked to join the Armed Force by Dasho Dorji, the then brother to the second King, His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck.
In due recognition of his determination and the fact that he always went beyond his best in serving the nation, he was the first Bhutanese army personnel to be awarded the rank of a colonel by His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. He was also responsible for establishing the Military Training Centers in Tencholing, Wangduephodrang and the Royal Bhutan Army Headquarters in Lungtenphu, Thimphu as well as being involved in the demarcation of Bhutan-China border.
It was in 1953, when he was 40 years old, that Aku Tongmi went to Shillong and Panchgari to study the army band instruments for a year and upon return, introduced the brass band and the bag pipe thus becoming the first Band Master of Bhutan aswell.
Aku Tongmi was not just a determined military personnel, but also a prolific dancer with a natural flair for composing beautiful music introducing ‘Tashi Nencha,’ Bhutan’s first private music troupe which works towards specializing in traditional Bhutanese songs and choreography.
He composed the National Anthem based on a choreographed folk song ‘Druk Tshenden,’ which was performed for the very first time during Nehru’s visit. For his lifetime of dedicated service to the nation and his invaluable contributions to the music and entertainment industry, Aku Tongmi was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Motion Picture Association of Bhutan in 2005. In latter part of his life after he retired from the army at 67, he dedicated himself to religion and built the Dungkhor Lhakhang in 1965.
Twenty years later, he started the construction of the famous Zangdopelri Lhakhang in Thimphu. Besides, he also built several ‘Dungkors’ all over the country. It may be due to the merit that he accumulated from such deeds that he is amongst the few who have had the honor and privilege of serving all Five Monarchs. He was 93 years old when he breathed his last in the year 2007.
Source : 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑻𝑴𝑿 𝑻𝑴𝑻 [facebook]
Photo Courtesy: Family
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