...and this is the story

. . . Oh! there once was a tree. And also there once was a huge rock. They lived for many years together. Tree believed that he was greatest because he was about to touch the sky. Rock believed that he was greatest because he had lived millions of years and was as old as the earth itself. They quarreled sometimes trying to prove themselves the greatest. Then one day in 21st century,a contractor arrives. He looks at the tree and also at the rock. Then he goes and comes back with powerchain, drilling machine and some explosives. The next day, tree is heading for sawmill and the rock is heading for crusher.

I believe in legend...

Anitha Santhi is an Ecological Scientist originally from Kerela. She is the main force behind Tamil fishermen and villagers opposing the construction of nuclear power project in  Tamil Nadu. Her book titled NO, which can be seen in her hands not only moved millions to oppose the project but also created  tides of supporters among natives and non-natives, Indians and non-Indians, writers and readers, etc.

Such is the force of dedication, selflessness  and expertise. I have all the respect for this unsung legendary lady.

I was really moved by this story

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "Tha...t laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same comments. A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: "Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? " The husband replies, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look

 

 

I have a dream too....

...I am planning to organise creative carnival where writers, crab writers, artists, copyartists and creative people can showcase their works. Since Phuentsholing will be pleasant during Winter, I wish to do it here. I chose winter because children will be on holidays and many people will be in Phuentsholing during that time. The writers and artists can also have more than enough time to prepare. This is an opportunity for Bhutanese writers and readers, artists and art enthuasts, sponsors and buffs, asses and muses, critics and media....in summary for all to come together. I will need people to help me cordinate. If possible, we will try to take in few international writers also. School text books and guidebooks will not be entertainment.

Tale of Divided Villages

On my recent travel to Agra, I was impressed beyond words to be travelling on 165 km long six lane( convertible to 8 lane) super highway. I guess that’s the only road in India which is at par with international standard highways. It surely is a pride for nation like India to boast of super highway. But there was a lesson for small nation like Bhutan to learn from that super highway. The massive 13,300 crores Rupees pumped into the highway was an initiative of Uttar Pradesh Government contracted out to Jai Prakash. Jai Prakash now owns highway for 36 years. They charge toll fees  and also make money from other facilities along the highway including the refreshment services like tea and coffee which costs about Rs. 50 per cup. Inside Indira Gandhi International Airport, tea costs Rs.30.


What surprised me more is the fact that the whole stretch of road from the first point that highway begins right till it ends is the fencing on both sides of the road which divides one villages across the road to another on the other sides of the highway. The villagers have no access to the road.  If they have to go to their neighbour on the other sides, they will have to take detour on their dust tracks. Villagers can only see the cars and buses almost flying on the road but in no way use it because their roads are not connected to it. Two worlds are created by the road: Better world is owned by a capitalist and the lesser ones by those who have lost their voice and that also in their own village. The capitalist goes to the extent of monopolizing not only the road he has been contracted out but also the essential services and other facilities and that also for 36 years. If lifelines like road are to divide society, neighbours and businesses with its long fences, super highways or any other development will have no meaning whatsoever.

It may therefore be important for us to study not only the immediate monetary benefits that some mega projects may bring but also the dividing lines that may break society, neighbours and country folks.

KNOW IT ALL

...there has been too many BBS interviews of incumbent or aspiring candidates of both NA and NC for the past few weeks. While it is understandable for BBS to ask standard questions, the candidates, I thought, should have better things to say than usual stuffs like repaying gratefulness to the King, Country and people. No one has ever said honestly that he wants to be called Dasho and enjoy the privileges and entitlements.

...the other thing.....it is about new Bhutanese paradox. Almost all candidates said that they know the problems their consituencies are facing. Hmmmmmm!! million things for all of us to grind on.

...it would be shameful for candidates to promise schools, BHUs and hospitals, clean drinking water, electricity or any other basic necessities. It should have been there even without being asked.

...finally, for the MP from my consituency...don't thank me or my people. Thank yourself that I didn't see you for so long. Were you ever there?

LIMPING THROUGH ANOTHER GENERATION

Some twelve years ago, I was escorting an economist and an Actuary working for World Bank who were assigned to carry out studies on pension scheme in Bhutan. During one of our casual discussions, they commented that Thimphu was facing “Big City” symptom where high rise buildings were built to meet immediate demand. However, in the long run, as basic economic principle suggests, supply always equal demand. When supply is more, adjustments are bound to happen. And that adjustment time seems to have come now. Today, if we look at the classified column of Kuensel, we can see that there are vacant houses only in Thimphu and nowhere else.

A drive along expressway, Hejo and Taba suggests that more than 300 buildings are nearing completion during the next few months. A simple calculation shows that an average building would have about 10 units. In total, there would be about 3000 flats (300 multiplied by 10) within a year for Thimphu residents to choose from. For a population base of little over 90,000 people in Thimphu, movement of 3000 families would be a massive shift or adjustment process. Most middle income families would prefer moving to cheaper flats and as such, market rates which at the moment are hovering around Nu. 7000-8000 may fall down or stabilize. However, for those building owners who have bought expensive cars by speculating on the price of land and building costs, the stories may come out very different. We may have to wait and watch their reactions to the market forces.

Most people I talked to think that population growth would offset the gap soon. On close scrutiny of demographic pattern, we notice that population growth actually is not happening much in Bhutan. Consider a simple example. It was normal for our parents to have eight or nine siblings. Our time, it was normal to have five or six siblings. Today, most parents opt to have either one or two children only or at the maximum of three children. If you have more than three children, then they are considered very fertile. Majority of our children may prefer not to have any children at all given the current trend. At the moment, there is a huge migration into urban areas but with mega projects coming up in other parts of the country, large chunks of population would move there for job for looking for business opportunities and thereby bringing in new adjustment problems and opportunities. However, it may be time for many policy makers to look beyond soaring land prices and defaulting bank loans. If banks fail, small economy like ours may have to limp through another generation.

Mid-Life Abyss

There are mountains and vales in life. There are youths and old people. Old people hang on to ancient wisdom. Youth dwell on latest technology. Middle aged people have nothing to claim other than daily trip to work. We can only live between sad stories and reality, in between enjoyment and memories, in that moment when life is diluted by mundane things that sometimes is devoid of any sense. We can plateau in between mountain and vales, between old age and youth but the chances are that no one will ever remember you in your struggle during mid age through life. This is what we call a mid-life abyss.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years,

MEMORIES WE CHERISHED TOGETHER… In retrospect - for Commerce Graduates of 2000


Farewell poem 2000 batch by Dr. V.K. Shortriya



Chokey got hurt but still he cleared dirt,

Dechen Pelzom kept cool

but unlike school,

Dechen Wangmo is senior

but in no way inferior,

Deepa did show but could not blow,

Jaibir changed all his gears,

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Karma Dorji is a localite but still polite,

Karma Drukpa is serious

and in no way furious,

Karma Jamyang is difficult

and only he could insult,

Karma Lhato became vocal

but still be social,

Kencho was arrogant but still had cheers,

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Kinley made new friends

and did some errands,

Kuenzang joined her but could not cover,

Melam got busy but in no way noisy,

Muneesh did prove, made lots of move,

Nawang was studious and had her peers,

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Pem Choden changed colors

and forgot others,

Pema Nawang played responsible

but sometime drill,

Phub Dorji smiled

when other could have cried,

Rinzin Dorji used left but did not try cleft,

Rinzin Wangmo as usual was near to dears.

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Sangay Choden did change

but for better exchange,

Sangay Rinzin showed that he is mature

but still he could not cure,

Sherub Dorji proved equally mature

for what he himself is not sure,

Sonam Choden looked all the same,

Cricket, TT & some for name,

Sonam Gyeltshen could speak for his peers.

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Sonam Gyeltshen spoke whenever he got chance

and on few occasions he did dance,

Sonam Zangmo was exceptionally attentive

and for that she got the incentive,

Suraj Pradhan acted outside stream,

may be he acted sometime even in the dream,

Tashi Wangyel - about him what to say,

at the moment I just can pray,

Tshering Dem kept short in the profile of dears.

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.



Tshering Dorji snapped almost each one of us

and was poetic even while making fuss,

Yeshey Lham changed her glasses

but still could not be with the masses,

Bina Rana kept low in the studies

and did not cry when left by her buddies,

Kencho Dorji was regular

and stayed singular,

Dechen Choden did everything for the cheers.

Full of fun and tint of tears.

Your life at Sherubtse just five years.

Holy Shit

A group of Bhutanese villagers on pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya left shit story this time. As usual, pilgrims dotted the holy land with bigger mounts of shits everywhere they lived. This forced Bihari locals to complain. And that complain reached one of the lamas who was a leader of bigger Bhutanese pilgrim pack. The lama agreed that Bhutanese are forced to use open area for toilet because of huge pilgrim population but he also protested that other indians also use open area for toilet. The Indian guy who was complaining said this, " Indian shits are eaten by dogs but Bhutanese shits are not eaten by dogs because Bhutanese eat too many chillies and it is too hot even for dogs."

Dying Culture of Crying…

During one of the religious gatherings of Sharchokpa women in Phuentsholing, I heard a woman say, “ When my father died, there were 18 people crying. But when her father died, there were only 4 people crying.” It would seem obvious for an outsider to say that it is only natural for people to cry when someone dies and there is nothing so fascinating about it.

However, if we had the opportunity to visit one of the grieving families at remote eastern Bhutan, we would have understood the intricacies associated with the culture of crying. When someone dies in eastern Bhutan, there would be someone or many people crying near the dead body. And the most beautiful  thing about it is that, they followed certain rhythm, rhyme and pattern. In fact, some villagers are known to have used the services of old women in the village who could create atmosphere of deep mourning. And it was perfected over long period of customary following. So it was believed that if there were more people crying, it was better for the dead person's soul . 

Associated with death again,  is the custom of  villagers and relatives bringing “Tokoray”. Tokoray is a pyramid shaped cooked dough mostly from millet. (It goes well with butter and ezay hahahahaha) . This is part of the meal for the visitors and relatives at grieving family’s house during death rituals apart from home brewed “ Ara” and coveted slice of cooked cow hide.

These customs are now finally dying. In fact many outsiders are known to ridicule the custom of crying near the dead as going against Buddhist values. And given improved economic conditions, people no longer want to take pyramid shaped “Tokoray” or serve cow hide. Even the villagers prefer beer over locally brewed ara and there we are…while we may have seen the reason to ridicule a custom of crying by the fellow villagers and community people today and make it perish. Years later, we may have to cry alone  that our own children were not there to help during our existence.

The Girl in Green Boot

Finally, I have settled for Kinzang Tshering (Delog)'s "the girl in green boot" for my book " timeless diary...". It feels nice to add my name on someone's work hahahaha. Working extra hard to get my work published this Spring. I need all the wishes and blessings that all of you out there can spare... at least for this book. I owe immense gratitude to Delog (Kinzang Tshering) for enigmatic water colour painting. The lady in the painting is the only one I have seen in "Green Boot." This makes the lady in green boot very special.

Happy Chunipa Losar to everyone out there.

From Dust Storm to Dark Future

Finally, it was decision time. As I walked into my office today, a short statured man walks in, greets me and places a letter from Head Quarter on my table. I read through and grazed my eyes on him. He was our new security guard. He would be replacing Sonam Wangda. There was this complete feeling of helplessness.

Sonam Wangda is a dead soul who has long been forsaken by friends, relatives and neighbours. I know Sonam Wangda since the time I joined my office in Phuentsholing about three years ago. In whole of my life, I have never come across another miserable man like him. Oblivious to the fact that he has six children and a wife dependent upon him, he has strayed away….strayed too far away that I fear, he would never be able to retrace his feet again.

As an immediate supervisor, I sometimes counseled him and many other times chided him but he never rose above the dust storm he created. Like a dung beetle that preferred shit over other things, he sunk into a world beyond my imagination...beyond my MBA degree.

It was usual for Sonam Wangda to take few shots of Rockbee (whiskey) when he came for work. This long period of usual-ness started to interfere with his home life and work. Over the course of time, Rockbee became his priority and rarely did he eat. As a result, he fell down one day while crossing a drain and broke his left leg. The office sent him for treatment and gave him leave over nine months. He returned to break another leg again. Even with disability, he dragged himself to the bar and got himself several shots of Rockbee on credit.

Given his long absence from work, the office was forced to replace him and there he was now, standing at turning point of gray past and blank future. I could not help feeling sorry for him and his family. There is only so much one person can do.

Every home in Bhutan today seems to be either effected in some way or the other by excessive consumption of alcohol or abuse of drugs. Alcohol and drugs cannot be an answer to weak knees and sick souls. Everyone has a problem but some people find it easier to turn to alcohol and drugs for comfort rather than learning to handle their problems in realistic and mature way. Alcohol and drugs seems to relieve the feelings, and probably for that very reason many people return to it again and again for help and thereby becoming accustomed to depending upon it. In such cases, our own inner resources and the ones offered by family, community, peers and society becomes irrelevant to such person. Alcohol and drugs are for small people …who feel small in the face of complexities of life, for people who are in search of temporary feeling of importance.

With so many cases of alcoholism and drug abuses in Bhutan today, there is a wide display of depression and agitation. This leaves the society devoid of meaningful life and communal harmony.

The Elements of Fire and Healing Souls

It is just been over five days that my staff Karma Wangmo’s family lost their youngest member Tandin Gyeltshen to a tragic motor accident that happened just outside their home.

When the Tsip (astrologer) told the family to arrange for wooden box to bury the deceased child in the water, I was angry for one moment and curious since then. Children who die below the age of eight are not cremated but buried in water. The astrologer was not sure about the reasons for water burial but I only assume that water cleansing is enough to purify children’s sin while fire is not enough to cleanse the adult. I hope the reason is justified enough for Karma’s family who will have to live with the fact that someone close to them is buried in cold water.

Even as the loved one perished within moments, another life, that of the driver who ran over the truck on the innocent unsuspecting child lay begging for forgiveness. The wife and children of the driver endured equal, if not more test of water and fire. They looked upon Karma hoping silently that she and her family would forgive the mistake worth a child’s life.

The responsibilities they faced called upon them to make decisions that demanded wisdom from all ages. And when Karma and her family uttered words of forgiveness within broken sentences punctuated by silent teardrops, I was deeply touched. No amount of punishment and hatred would bring back the dead. It would only chain those lives connected with the “hated and unforgiven” in another peg of misery.

It is these elements of Buddhist values like forgiveness, tolerance, compassion, love and hope that has made our lives lot worth living.

Elsewhere around the world, the strong forces of hatred have destroyed many lives and continue to do so. Thousands of people go through daily horrors and yet, they just become news and are quickly forgotten. It is in this context that I believe that religious belief is very vital part of family life. It provides platform for civilization to progress.

It is our homes which provide for emotional and physical security. A strong personality developed at home make men and women face the heavy responsibilities of life. And responsibility like having to cope with emotional disasters sometimes call for spiritual and emotional strength which only good religion, good home , good society and good companion can give.

FINGER POINTS AT THE SKY

Just as I was leaving my house for very long wished yearend vacation trip, I get a call from my staff. She cries on the phone saying that her son was killed in a road accident. I rushed to the accident site and see that a careless driver had run the truck over a helpless child. The family members and all people who witnessed the accident are left in trauma.

The family members of the truck driver are also caught in misfortune too. With their father and the only bread earner now muzzled up, there is a silent hoping that parents of the deceased child will show mercy and allow release with some “Negotiated Fine.”

Life is priceless. There is only one cause of life and countless causes of death. Yet, it can be negotiated and haggled like any other things. When someone dies in a family of your own people, neighbours and friends, we show solidarity. This is where community spirit helps in sharing the emotional and other burdens.

The death of four year old comes as a surprise to me because he was killed while playing in his own home courtyard. If he was killed on the highways or inside Phuentsholing city, I wouldn’t be surprised. Our children are no longer safe. In fact there is no place for children to play, so they are forced to use some part of the road to release their energy. Mammoth trucks with some 18 wheels move around with huge loads and make road even more unsafe. And worst still is the absence of safe pedestrian footpath. Whatever footpath was there earlier are now dug up and left incomplete.

The roads, water pipes and everything is dug up. Some roads, the ones leading to Kabraytar and Toorsa are worst than the riverbed. They have been there begging Phuentsholing City Corporation’s attention since Thrompon Pola’s time.

Bhutanese people are living outside Bhutan, being harassed everyday by the our so called neighbours. And yet, there is no sign of Phuentsholing coming up with enough accommodations. Millions are lost due to inefficiency of people and in red-tapeism but nothing ever comes up that would benefit people living in the society. In fact, it shocks me to see that Thromde people do not even have information about how many people are living outside. And that was confrimed during the last interview of the new Mayor of Phuentsholing by BBS.

I always thought that Mayor is responsible for city’s growth and development. It is this city that feeds other cities in Bhutan and it is this city which needs dressing up in development and not in DUST. This reason is enough reason to push for development.

Thrompon Pola belonged to another breed of bureaucrat but if we look at the new Mayor, it almost feels like he will need one time Yong-ra lay (recalling of spider) ceremony. In villages in eastern Bhutan, this BON ceremony is performed when people are left dumb due to trauma and other illness as a symbolic gesture of bringing back the conscience. It looks like Phuentsholing will have to request the Dratsang to perform one very soon or else I see little hope during this Mayor's tenure.