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.