History of Amateur Radio in The Kingdom of Bhutan (Written and Compiled by Yeshey Dorji, A51AA) ‘Hello Hello….. Able Charlie Baker Calling’ Going by available records, this call was the first ever radio call sent out over the Bhutanese airwaves. The year was 1955 – QTH was Rida in Wangduephodrang, Western Bhutan. The call was made by N Chhawna (AC5PN) on the famous B2. The occasion was the Royal tours of His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to Eastern Bhutan. N Chhawna (AC5PN) was the first radio amateur to ever operate from Bhutan. Thus, credit goes to him for putting Bhutan on the world map of amateur radio. N Chhawna was an Indian national from the North-Eastern state of Mizoram. He worked in Bhutan’s Royal Bhutan Wireless as trainer and supervisor. The first western operator to operate from Bhutan was Mr. Gus Browning of USA – a legendary Dxpeditioner. It is still a mystery how Gus managed to enter Bhutan during a time when Bhutan remained almost exclusively forbidden territory to foreigners. It would seem that in return for permission to enter Bhutan and operate from this extremely rare location, Gus offered to train local personnel in the use, repair and maintenance of the B2 radio. Gus began a series of transmission from Bhutan — first in1963 and then again in1965. Gus reports, in one of his articles, that he intended to come back to Bhutan in 1975 — but there is no proof of him ever returning to Bhutan — after 1965. The last record of his relation with …

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