Bhutan Queen Mother conferred ‘Soldier of Humanity’ award in Assam

Gyalyum Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, was conferred the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award, 2025, at a special ceremony held at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, western Assam, on Tuesday (February 3, 2026).

The award was presented by the Upendra Nath Brahma Trust (UNBT) in recognition of the Queen Mother’s “lifelong and exceptional contributions to humanitarian service, social development, and inclusive growth”.

Respected globally for her leadership in social welfare, the Queen Mother is the founder-president of the Tarayana Foundation, through which she has led comprehensive rural development initiatives across remote regions of Bhutan. The foundation’s work focuses on poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, education, healthcare and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The award carries a citation, a statuette of Upendra Nath Brahma, revered as Bodofa, meaning guardian of the Bodo ethnic community, traditional Bodo artefacts including sereja, a musical instrument, aronai, a decorative scarf, and dokhona, women’s attire, and a cash prize of ₹2 lakh.

“The award ceremony is a powerful reaffirmation of the collective commitment to human dignity, compassion, moral values, and social justice… The presentation of this award to Her Majesty is a perfect tribute to the personality who has been steadfast in her mission of humanitarian service and championing the cause of human dignity,” Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who attended the event as the chief guest, said.

Dignitaries who attended the programme included Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary, Bhutan’s Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs Lyonpo Tshering, Assam Minister U.G. Brahma, Governor of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority Lotay Tshering, MP Rangwra Narzary, former BTC chief Pramod Boro, All Bodo Students’ Union president Dipen Boro, and UNBT president Dimasa Dwibrang Musahary.