26/05/2021
Conception and Birth of Sherubtse
(Excerpt from The Jesuit and the Dragon, The life of Father William Mackey in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. A book by Howard Solverson)
In 1963 Prime Minister Jigmie Dorji invited Father Mackey to Bhutan to establish and run the country’s first high school. The Prime Minister had met the Canadian Jesuit before and was aware of the good work he was doing in Darjeeling.
When Father Mackey reached Paro from Darjeeling in 1963, Ashi Tashi mentioned about building a high school in Eastern Bhutan. A decade earlier Ashi had lived in Trashigang and felt that a bigger developmental activity should be initiated in the east since most of the developmental activities were concentrated in Western Bhutan.
While as a Headmaster of Trashigang School, Father Mackey had explored several sites around Trashigang for the new school. He had a clear idea of what a school should have, importantly a level ground for construction and playing field. He even trekked to distant places in Trashi Yangtse, Mongar and Lhuentse to explore a suitable site for the new school.
At Trashi Yangtse, Bumdeling presented a good location. But distance wise, it was three days from Trashigang. The motor road had reached till Rongthong village and there was then no plan to extend it further north. Although, Father Mackey liked the place, it had to be excluded from the plan.
At Mongar, Father Mackey found Lingmethang even better location for the school. Lingmethang at that time had a small army base. When he mentioned about the possible site for the new school to a Drimpoen, the response he got was “Father don’t come here. There’s malaria. The kids will get sick, you will get sick”. Father Mackey traveled till Sengor and although place was suitable for the school, he decided to leave it for farming and yaks.
Father Mackey had been to Yonphula several times. Although landscape was good, he was not in a favour of the place due to foggy and cold weather. He found two locations in Kanglung suitable for the school. First one was Thragom. But it had to be ruled out because the place had farmlands and settlement owned by some half a dozen households. The second location in Kanglung was little downhill from Thragom. The place presented a suitable site for the school but it was already designated as a new base for the Royal Bhutan Army. A place called Dewung, south of Kanglung was also seen as an option. Father Mackey did not completely rule out Yonphula incase other options were not available.
Father Mackey had submitted a report to the Prime Minister on his survey of the places. In early 1964 Prime Minister visited Trashigang by a helicopter. Accompanied by Father Mackey, Prime Minister visited Kanglung to assess the sites. As expected, Prime Minister rejected Thragom in view of several families that a school would displace. He preferred the second location in Kanglung but was aware that army was to come there. However, after a while the Prime Minister said, “Father, it’s yours. The army can find another place”. The two then sat on a big rock and worked out a tentative blueprint for the school. (The rock is behind the girls hostel – Mother Peters Hall.)
The planning and preparation for construction of a new school at Kanglung began in January 1964. While the Prime Minister sought an assistance of Dantak to build the school, the Bhutanese side went ahead with preparations, with a hope of opening the school in the following year. But the actual process became painfully slow and it took couple of years to actually start the new school.
In January 1965 when His Majesty was in Deothang he visited the Dantak headquarter and commanded the school construction. In May 1965, the chief architect of Dantak visited Kanglung and together with Father Mackey finalized the plan, which was the fifth in line and also the last. His Majesty made another visit in October. Dantak was keen on building a “showpiece institution” and the final agreement was reached in 1966. On 27 June 1966, a foundation stone for the new school was laid by HRH Ashi Chhoeki Wangmo Wangchuck (The book mentions 27 June but the date inscribed on the plaque is 26 June). His Majesty had already named the School as “Sherubtse”, translated as “peak of knowledge” or “peak of learning”. “The full name was Sherubtse Public School”.
The opening date of the school was set on 2 May 1968, coinciding with the birthday of His Majesty. In February the first batch of 100 students selected for Sherubtse were temporarily accommodated and taught in Trashigang. Because of the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Thimphu and Paro, closer to the scheduled opening date, the inauguration ceremony was rescheduled on 25 and 26 May. His Majesty officially opened the Sherubtse Public School on 26 May 1968 by cutting the ceremonial ribbon and unveiling the plaque. Other dignitaries included Tamji Jagar, Home Minister (previously Thrimpoen of Trashigang, who also functioned as a district administrator was involved in planning of the new school), Dawa Tshering, Secretary General of Development cm Director of Education and Brigadier O. P. Datta of Dantak.
Sherubtse was the first school in Bhutan with modern amenities, with electricity supplied by two generators (only place with electricity in the region), with desk and benches, windows with glasses, bathrooms and showers, and a large dinning hall. For several years Sherubtse remained as a showpiece institute for visitors from both outside and within the country. When the students from Trashigang moved to Sherubtse, in Father Mackey’s words “they jumped from Middle Ages to a modern school in one day”.
Contributed by Dr. Tenzin Wangchuk, Sherubtse College
Foundation Day, May 26 1968
After 53 years, Sherubtse is a proud Alma mater to 7,709 graduates, 2562 ISCE graduates and 87 ICSE graduates. Sherubtse has made tremendous impact to the country’s human resource and continue to excel and today offers 13 undergraduate programmes in liberal arts and sciences to 1526 students and a Master programme in English at Yonphula (to in-service school teachers) - taught by 110 faculties and supported by 90 academic support staff.
As we celebrate the 53rd Foundation Day – the Sherubtse family would like to pay tribute to our beloved third Druk Gyalpo for the vision and wisdom that shaped the journey and destiny of Sherubtse and to the many alumni, who are the ambassador and custodian of this vision.
We also remember and pay our most revered homage to those who are not amongst us today, but who will continue to rule the hearts and minds of all those who crossed the path of this Institute.
• Late Father William Mackey (Principal, May 1968 – Feb 1978)
• Late Father G.E. LeClair (Principal, April 1978 – December 1988)
Our deepest gratitude and respect to the Principals and Directors for taking Sherubtse forward and for their exemplary leadership:
• Dasho Zangley Drukpa (Principal, February 1989 – May 1997)
• Dasho Dr. Pema Thinley (Principal, June 1997 – August 1999)
• Mr. Tshewang Tandin (Principal, Aug 1999 – September 2001)
• Mr. Dorjee Tshering (Principal, Sept 2001 – February 2005)
• Dr. Jagar Dorji (Director, February 2005 – September 2007)
• Dr. Singye Namgyel (Director, Sept 2007 – February 2013)
• Mr. Tshering Wangdi (Director, May 2013 – June 2016)
Sherubtse College has grown exemplary in so many ways and continues to inspire & provide quality tertiary education - thanks to the selfless commitment and hard work of the Vice/Assistant Principals, Deans, hundreds of faculty members, and academic support staff. Without them – Sherubtseans cannot look back with measured pride on our success.
Sherubtse will always remain indebted to our beloved Monarchs for the blessings and Royal patronage to help us grow as a beacon of hope.
Visit our website and look at our Prospectus for more latest activities at Sherubtse College.
Happy 53rd Foundation Day!
