How Buddhist College was established at Simtokha Dzong?

From ‘Brilliant Moon: The Autobiography of Dilgo Khyentse‘. Translated by Ani Jinba Palmo.

Prior to Dilgo Khyentse’s arrival in Bhutan, Her Majesty  Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Kesang Chodron Wangchuk’s mother, Mayum Choying Wangmo Dorje, had always told Her Majesty to take a good care of Simtokha Dzong as it was such a beautiful and historical dzong. Due to this advice, Her Majesty suggested to His Majesty King Jigme Dorje Wangchuck to to establish Buddhist College at Simtokha Dzong. His Majesty agreed and told her to ask his mother Ashi Phunsthho Choden who would be a good teacher to appoint. Her Majesty then left for Kalimpong to birth to third daughter Ashi Pem Pem.

While in Kalimpong, Her Majesty Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck asked Ashi Phuntsho Choden which lama would be a good teacher for the new Buddhist College in Simtokha Dzong, so Ashi suggested that Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche would be the most suitable one. His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck then told his ministers that it was very important to establish a Buddhist College and to start making the necessary arrangements to accomplish it. So the ministers started organizing the college. The necessary books on various disciplines such as grammar, poetry, and spelling were printed and made ready. More than a hundred copies of root texts and commentaries of the way of the Bodhisattva were also printed.

Later, during the first month of the iron-bull year, 1961, several lamas from the central congregation of monks in Thimphu were sent to Kalimpong to invite Dilgo Khyentse to become the Principal of the Monastic College. Rinpoche accepted the post and left Kalimpong for Bhutan on the twenty-fifth of the first month. After arriving in Thimphu, while Simtokha Dzong was still being prepared, Rimpoche first started the college at Wangdutse for over a hundred intelligent young monks and laymen. Later college was moved to Simtokha Dzong.

Khyentse Rimpoche taught at the college until the winter of 1962 when he had to go to India as his brother Sangye Nyenpa had passed away in Rumtek and his younger daughter was serious ill in the hospital in Lucknow.