Can We Correct This?

On August 14, 2013, I had the honour of representing His Majesty and Dasho Dzongdag in delivering the Royal Semso to the mothers of the two natives of Nyakhar village in Zhemgang who both succumbed to the injuries that they suffered while a huge boulder hit them when they were drilling at the Buli-Tshaildang road construction site in Nangkor Gewog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag.

I felt really very sad! One of the victims was a disrobed monk and another was a school dropout. Had they continued to learn in their respective institutions, they might not have met this fate at the very tender age of 19 and 21! Of the two, one was not even one day old on the job! But this is the least reason of my sorrow.

While one of them passed away at around 01:30pm, the other one died at around 04:00pm. The villagers were not allowed to take the dead bodies back home because the investigations had to be carried out at the particular place where the accident occurred, which was quite a distance from their village and amidst a dense jungle. When the police investigation team and I, accompanied by the Local Leaders reached at the site, it was already 08:00pm and by the time when everything was done (from snapping the cuts and bruises of the victims to filling up the inquest forms), it was around 10:21pm. It would have taken them another hour and a half or even more than that to reach home; it was already getting late for the rituals of the two unfortunate ones. Yet, this is also not the major reason that I was sad.

I was also not frustrated because I arrived back home in Zhemgang at 3 in the morning.

What saddened me the most was that, when all the formalities were completed and when it was time for the villagers to carry the bodies back home, everybody was rushing to carry one body and literally neglecting the other one. Gosh, I was taken aback by the weird, callous deed! Upon asking the Tshogpa about why it was happening, he told me that while one was somewhat well off, the other one was very poor. The financial status was the reason for embracing one and shunning the other. Do you believe it, it was the wealth?

Well, this is happening in a country which is renowned for practicing Buddhism and the GNH. If any misfortune happens to the wealthy and influential ones, there are hundreds of thousands who are concerned and readily render their support while the problems of the poor and the marginalized ones go unattended.

What I genuinely feel is that, the wealthier and the influential ones have got enough people to help them. Therefore, it will be apt to help the have nots rather than supporting the already stable ones. But then, can we correct this?

To All the Hardworking Health Workers

Very recently, my spouse had to be admitted to the BHU in Zhemgang. She had to spend a couple of days there. I escorted her. From our few days’ stay in the BHU, I could realize few important points which we otherwise, often overlook.

The health workers in the BHU are sometimes obliged to work during odd hours so as to attend to the ailment of the patients. There is also a worker in the BHU to whom everybody addresses as ‘Ata’. He stays in the BHU premises twenty four seven.

I wonder how they could work so well even if it meant during odd hours or for almost all the time with beautiful smiles on their faces because it was almost impossible for me to stay awake even for few days, that too when my wife was ill!

I know it is not only in Zhemgang, rather health workers everywhere, both within Bhutan and abroad, work very hard. Therefore, I offer my heartfelt appreciation to all the dedicated health workers.

I wonder if the remuneration they get at the end of the month justifies the amount of hard work they put in. But more important than the remuneration, I feel is the kind of intention that you work with. The nature of your job is unquestionably noble. As such, please continue to work selflessly and accumulate merit for your whole lifetime!

Electioneering Helps Promote our National Language

If we use the way that our MPs used to speak in the Parliament as the baseline and compare them with the status quo, I can proudly say that almost all of them have improved, both in terms of confidence and spoken Dzongkha. (We should not however forget that there are quite a handful of them who have hardly stood up to make their points in the parliament and therefore, their Dzongkha would have remained almost the same as how it was five years ago. But that is a different story, altogether).

We have always been complaining about Dzongkha not being used as widely as English. If we analyze, the candidates of the National Council and National Assembly exclusively use Dzongkha to debate and present their manifestoes; in electioneering, in a nutshell. Parliamentarians use our national language to debate, deliberate and enact laws in the parliaments. What greater platform can we expect our national language to be used in?

The effect does not stop there! The debates are aired live on BBS. Many of us have followed them, thereby improving Dzongkha vocabulary among the viewers. Moreover, there are so many aspiring MPs among us. If we are to ever think of contesting an election, Dzongkha is the most essential prerequisite. Students who aim to take up politics after their graduation might also be learning Dzongkha more seriously. It is also very important for the electorate to understand Dzongkha in order to make an informed choice of a party/candidate. 

The whole election process means learning/knowing Dzongkha! Therefore, I genuinely feel that it has immensely contributed in promoting our national language nationwide. This is a brighter side of the status of our national language that merits our appreciation, rather than lamenting about the limitations all the time. 

Showing Off My Humble Photographic Skills

These are few photos that I snapped during one of my tours to the UK in 2012 on the sidelines of looking for disadvantaged and less privileged people.

Most of the people mistake UK for United Kingdom. While UK stands for United Kingdom, the UK that I mean is Upper Kheng. Upper Kheng comprises of four gewogs, namely Bardo, Nangkor, Shingkhar and Trong in Zhemgang.

So, don't think that the people, places and the flowers in UK looks similar to that of Bhutan. These are snapped at a place in our very own Bhutan- Digala, Bardo, Zhemgang. 

Also, next time, when your friends or acquaintances tell you that they are heading to the UK, confirm whether or not they are going to Upper Kheng and save yourself from getting fooled.

To All the Four Parties and Their Associates

The voters (perhaps, the fate too) would decide which of the two parties would go to the next round- General Round and it would be decided today. 

Even as I write this article, the Returning Officer of the Bardo-Trong Demkhong is briefing the Party Representatives about the Postal Ballots and have straightaway started to count the ballots- "Mangtso, Thrung Thrung, Chirwang, Khamshing", calls out the counting supervisors. He has also repeatedly instructed them to switch their mobile phones off but, their mobile phones are ringing time and again. Similarly, all across the polling stations around the country, the voters must be going to the polls to cast their precious votes.

We can imagine the magnitude of anxiety that the party workers, candidates, presidents and well-wishers of the four parties are going through at the moment. 

My advice to the four parties and their associates is to stay calm because there is no way that all the four parties can make it to the general round, two will have to try their luck in the next elections. You have given your best. While you may hope for the best, you should still not forget that you should also prepare for the worst. Be ready to accept the choice of the people with dignity!

When you have have sweated blood for the last couple of months, it would be difficult to accept defeat. But this is not the last of elections- there are lot more to come. Your failure this time would mean you should work harder next time and prove to the enfranchised citizens that you are capable of serving them.

Also, the voters who have braved the harsh weather, rugged terrain and those who have spent so much would get disappointed if the party of their choice fails to win. But that should not matter much because you have done the best you could; this is how democracy works- majority wins.

Best Wishes, May the Best Party win!!!

*NB: I posted this article at 09:15 am on 31st May, but it seems there is a problem with the system- It shows that I have posted it yesterday!

Exercise Your Adult Franchise Consciously

With all the campaigns planned to cease at 9:00am today, the Presidents of the four Political Parties, candidates and party workers should be getting their hard earned rest after a very arduous campaign period for the last few weeks. The voters, save for those who have already voted through postal ballot, can reflect over the manifestos, leadership, ideologies and other components of the political parties before they press the button on the poll day.

All the adult Bhutanese, except for the religious community and few disabled have a very precious gem each. We get to unanimously choose a government once only in five years. This is a unique and sacred opportunity granted by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and His Majesty the King. If we remain apathetic or choose the wrong party, then it will entail untoward consequences for the next five horrible years. Therefore, all the eligible voters should try every means to go to the polls and get our votes cast. 

Above all, we have invested so much and worked so hard to prepare for this election. If anything goes wrong on the poll day, all our investment and hard work will go down the drain. It is for this reason that we ensure a poll day free of all troubles. 

Voting is one thing and voting consciously is quite another! Have a happy reflection, debate with your conscience about which party can serve you the best and press the right button on the poll day.

Happy Voting!

Druk Superstar in Retrospection

Druk Superstar is a reality show founded by Kencho Wangdi, with noble objective of preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage, the third pillar of our country’s Development Philosophy, Gross National Happiness, among others.

Out of every 5 Ngultrums or out of every vote one casts, 2 Ngultrums goes to the telecom companies (Tashi Cell and Bhutan Telecom) and Kencho Ongdi takes the rest. He also pays a lump sum of Nu. 11,50,000 to the BBS for letting him air his program live every weekends, which in other countries is otherwise.

There are various supporter beguiled by him to sponsor for his show and he shoots advertisements for various agencies, besides the share that he gets from the votes.

It is quite enriching to take part in such reality shows. I believe that I would have missed a lot of experiences had I chosen not to partake.

With his show and the likes, many aspiring Bhutanese singers have started picking interest in the traditional genre also. The show has also instilled love for the Bhutanese songs of all genre and all in all, the Bhutanese culture in many of the Bhutanese as it has incorporated Lozey and other traditional flavors into the Show.

It does not forget to entertain the youth; the show includes dance items and the contemporary Bhutanese songs known as Rigsar. So, in a nutshell, the show is a complete package, for the young and the elderly alike.

People are impatiently yearning for the next season of the show. May his show come up with more variety and amusements, this year too and save the Bhutanese, especially those devoid of recreational activities from boredom.

I am sure, Mr. Kencho Ongdi would also take various initiatives to meet global standards of such reality shows so that we gain audience both within and abroad, from both Bhutanese and others.

Momo (steam dumplings) Competition

Yesterday, my house had turned to a bee colony. Everybody was assigned certain work and were diligently carrying out their own tasks. Some were sieving flour and making dough while few others were chopping cabbage, beef and onion; some were doing the dishes and some were designing different shapes, both beautiful as well as awful...yes, we were preparing steam dumplings! 

My family was joined by my uncle's family. It started at around 4 in the evening and went up to 10 into the night. It was a very long, arduous and strenuous voyage of transforming the flour and vegetables/meat into steam dumplings for around 10 heads; it surely was a very time consuming job, which many would not even dare to prepare.

But what was happening on the sidelines of the work is worth sharing. We were asking so many riddles to which some gave very silly answers and we were switching from serious talks to funny anecdotes. We laughed our lungs out and also wrecked our brains out. 

After we were done with the preparation, we assembled to the most awaited menu. Everyone was served coffee, soup and steam dumplings. We had a competition among ourselves and there was a prize earmarked.  In the quest of making it to the top, everybody tried their utmost. Some rested for some time and ate again while some didn't pause even for a while. Later, few had to puke. A true sense of competition existed. The number of steam dumplings eaten by my cousin reached the peak of 26 and he bagged the prize! 

What happened at home last night was an event that did not occur for quite a time. Above everything else, we were exhibiting the existence of a vibrant sense of community vitality which is one of the 9 domains of our country's development paradigm, Gross National Happiness. Moreover, I was into my work for so long and did not get time to spend quality time with my family. It was an opportunity to fill that gap too.

Water Shortage in Zhemgang City!

The house that I am living in has five taps. But, I see no water flowing from even one for days on stretch. Often, either of the meals (mostly breakfast) has to be forgone unless there is leftover food that I can scavenge on.

Quite often, I need to drive towards RDTC, around little more than a kilometer uphill to fetch few jerry cans of water which would not even suffice half a day!

To pay Nu. 5,500 as house rent in a place like Zhemgang and not have enough water at home is more frustrating than a sad tale to tell. The extra fuel that is consumed while fetching water from RDTC and elsewhere is but only escalating the day-to-day expenditure.

When there is an acute shortage of water in a very small settlement like Zhemgang, I regret for blaming Thimphu City Corporation for not delivering enough water while I was in Thimphu a couple of months ago. TCC has to look after more than one lakh people living in the city and I doubt if there is a populace of even 10,000 people in Zhemgang; the ratio is 1:10, even if Zhemgang has 10,000.

Zhemgang has a very abundant forest cover and logically, a problem like water shortage is the least expected. What I cannot comprehend is whether Zhemgang does not really have enough water resources or whether it is the inefficiency on the part of the people involved in delivering water services. The technical problems in the building that I live in may be culpable, perhaps. 

This problem has been persisting for quite a time. The Prime Minister commanded to solve it during his visit, last year. I feel it is recklessly daring on the part of the authorities concerned to leave the problem still unresolved. 

Listen if You May, I am Blowing My Own Trumpet

Ask any student in any part of Bhutan about what they desire to do after graduation and the answer, without any doubt, will be to serve the tsa-wa-sum. During my school days, I would also pronounce the same answer.

Today, I have graduated (even post-graduated) and I work as a Dzongkhag Kidu Officer. I get to work closely with the people, people who are in dire need of help. 

In just seven month’s time, I could meet hundreds of people, young and old alike and could listen to their pleas. After trekking for days on stretch, I could identify around 50 vulnerable individuals in Zhemgang and propose for Kidu to His Majesty the King. Hopefully, the proposals will be approved which translates to changing the lives of 50 individuals and their family!

If this is the pace in less than 7 months I can do a lot more in the next one and half years.

I may not get foreign travels (even the ones that I win as prize), I may not get frequent training and I may not have the comfort of living in the capital. But I definitely am  serving the tsa-wa-sum by working as a bridge between His Majesty and the People.

Furthermore, the enriching joy of having been able to add value to the lives of numerous marginalized lot of people is bound to remain as a perennial source of inspiration and self-esteem for ages!

Reminiscing the Royal Audience

On 22^nd January, 2013, His Majesty the King granted an audience to the twenty Dzongkhag Kidu Officers despite his hectic schedule. HM told us that he was even counting seconds as he was preparing for his trip to New Delhi the next day for the celebration of Republic Day. But he graciously spared more than 30 minutes of his precious time for us.

His Majesty explained us the reason why he was going as the Guest of Honor to India.

His Majesty cited several examples some of which he said deserved kidu and also that few of our Bhutanese were getting spoilt by the Kidu that His Majesty has been granting.

Amongst others, His Majesty focused on the following points:

• PR: His Majesty told us that public relations was very important and to accord a high regard for that. 
• Unpopularity: His Majesty told us not to be unpopular. His Majesty did not hear anything bad about us till date but in the event he comes to know about our unpopularity, he said that he would change us. HM highlighted that the public opinion was very important.
• Information: His Majesty also told us to keep abreast of the latest happenings in the Dzongkhags and to feed him with the news.
• 2013 Elections: His Majesty advised us not to associate with any of the parties. Rather, HM advised us to be alert and know what was going around.

His Majesty told us that he was very busy for the next two months; and that he would call all of us and orient us on every aspect of Kidu after two months.

His Majesty thanked us for the timely delivery of semsos and also for identifying the new lot of vulnerable individuals. HM told us that we were an important part of his work. His Majesty granted us a jacket each.

To have the highest authority saying, “You are an important part of my job” is not only inspirational, but also the most unforgettable remark a civil servant can ever think of being granted. I mean, what can be a greater remark?

Rethinking Marriage

On 20^th March 2011, I wrote an article on marriage being a self-imprisonment. Now, on 5^th February, 2013, as my marriage turns one year old, I have new reflections.

Earlier, I wrote that offspring tend to reciprocate the sacrifices made by their parents with callousness. But it differs from individual to individual. It is up to us whether to love or hate them. For me, I love my parents and siblings as much as I love my wife and my little son.

I viewed marriage as a trap then. But now, I feel it is a boon.

We stayed for few months as a friend and around 4 years as lovers before we married last year on this day. So, we know about each other, at least up to certain extent.

At this juncture, what I feel is that, marriage will work if we do not dig out the past, be faithful to one another, and understand each other’s weaknesses and strengths.

After marriage, I have become more responsible and with responsibility, I have attained certain maturity. Marriage is beautiful as of now and I will update as it gets older.                          

Thinking of Rendering a Helping Hand to My Parents, but...

We think of helping our parents after we land a job and hence take it as a license to solely depend on them during our schooling years. When they don’t give us enough money while resuming school after a vacation, we feel very low and think that they can't even spare a little more for us.

But now that I have landed a job and that I have to take care of my own expenditures, I realize the extent of the trouble that I and my four other siblings did impose onto the sole bread-earner of the family, my beloved dad.

Keep some amount in your wallet and don't be surprised if you don't find a penny left after a few days. Because, that’s the value of few thousands and we never know when it would leave us!

The need to spend for my own family only soars with time- there is no end to it.

What should I do then? Shall I save some part of my salary and give it to my parents after few months? Or shall I avail a loan and send it to my parents? But, will I be able to survive with the outstanding amount?

Perhaps, I might become financially stable and help my parents (both mine and my spouse's) with whatever little means I can afford.