A PERSONAL REFLECTION ON COVID -19 PANDEMIC

 

A PERSONAL REFLECTION ON COVID -19 PANDEMIC

 

When the first Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) case was reported from China in late 2019, nobody thought that the virus will spread this fast globally and cause health crisis of unprecedented proportion. According to WHO report, the total number of infected case worldwide stand at a staggering 19,402,112 with 722,285 deaths as of August 9. The grim reality is that, the worst is yet to come with infection rates peaking each passing day.   

One WHO official summed up this pandemic as a, “Once in a century outbreak.”

COVID-19 pandemic has exposed how ill prepared human beings really are in the face of global health crisis like this. The virus brought to the fore the naked truth of the capabilities of different global leadership in managing the crisis. Despite having tremendous resources at their disposal, some of the most advanced countries continue to have the highest rate of infections and deaths while some so called poorer countries continue to do much better solely because of the actions of their leaders.

 People of Bhutan can be truly called the most blessed ones on the face of the earth for no small reason because of the enlightened leadership of the successive kings. Each time the country is faced with some kind of crisis, it was their Majesties the kings who were at the forefront of the crisis management and thus Bhutan was able to navigate itself successfully.

On the night the first COVID-19 positive case was detected in a tourist, His Majesty the King spent the entire night with the Prime Minister, Health Minister and a team of health professionals personally overseeing contract tracing operation. Not many leaders would have done that. It showed how concerned His Majesty is for the wellbeing of its people. Thereafter, despite impending arrival of the second prince, His Majesty made repeated tours to all parts of the country to monitor our preparedness in the event of the worst case scenario.

At a time when so many people lost their livelihoods,   it was His Majesty’s welfare and Kidu schemes that have mitigated their plight. Deferment of loans repayments and waiving off of interests for six months continues to provide immense relief to thousands of Bhutanese families.

The government must also be commended for the work it is doing on a war footing in response to unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that, there is not a single community outbreak so far is because of the effective measures put in place by the government.

Despite the uncertainty posed by the virus, the positive thing is that there is a visible sign of patriotism in the country with most Bhutanese doing their part in one way or the other as COVID-19 response. From institutions to individuals, from those at the frontline treating positive cases to those braving rains heat and mosquitoes in the borders. From business houses to farmers everyone has come together collectively in an unprecedented manner.

At times like this, when science is grappling to find answers, it is prayers and blessings that are more potent than missiles with nuclear warheads. Bhutanese must feel grateful to be living in a land blessed by great saints like Guru Padmasambhava, Zhabdrung Rimpoche and countless spiritual masters for centuries. And we are fortunate to be blessed by the prayers of living Buddhas like His Holiness, the Je Khenpo, Rimpoches, Tuelkus and the entire religious institutions whose prayers continue to keep us safe.

Since very little is known about the behaviors of the virus, the best we can do isto follow directives issued from time to time. But, there are stray incidences of irresponsible people whose action could undo the efforts put in so far. Some people are caught trying to sneak in and out of the country to peddle contraband substances. Some tried to escape quarantine and greedy few were caught trying to sneak in illegal workers. These people are rightly being dealt by the law.

COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating effect but, it teaches us valuable lessons. This outbreak and many outbreaks of the recent past like SARS, MERS and Ebola have to do with the way we live. It is how nature fights back from excessive abuse by humans to gratify their insatiable greed. Some believe that the virus jumped from some animal to human. This would not have happened if humans stopped   abusing wild life to the extreme of eating them alive.

There are some who believe, that new and deadlier strains of virus are being released from thawing ice, snow and permafrost as a result of global warming.  Humans alone are to be blamed for global warming. Deforestation of precious tropical rain forest on mega scale are  reducing carbon sink area while polluting factories and industries to meet insatiable human greed are mushrooming at an unprecedented rate everywhere.

Then there are people who even believe that the corona virus is lab manufactured, this claim is refuted by most experts though. If at all this virus is lab manufactured, then, humans are facing the consequences of their own making.

The pandemic also reminds us that, the so called global military and economic powers stand no chance if we are to face the fury of the nature. Interestingly, it is those powerful and rich countries that are seeing some of the highest infections and deaths rates. The COVID-19 pandemic is a call for a more caring and compassionate human society where endless growth fuelled by our greed must end or else the actions of humans will certainly be the reason for the extinction of human race from the face of the earth as was predicted by one famous scientist.

In the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic, global community must learn a valuable lesson  and make a paradigm shift to their development philosophy from unsustainable and endless growth model of GDP to a more compassionate, holistic and  desirable GNH model which  Bhutan gifted the world.

 

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatsel

August 10, 2020

 

FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS: MY MYOPIC TAKE

picture source: google

The Indian elections are finally over and as the closest neighbor and friend; many Bhutanese may have followed it with interest. For Bhutanese though, elections in India is seen as a massive exercise that, irrespective of which party  comes to the power, the time tested friendship between the governments, leaders and people of the two countries will remain unaffected and continue to grow stronger between the two closest neighbors.

                                   

 Conducting elections in India especially the parliamentary election in the world’s largest democracy with a population of over one billion people and with almost 900 million eligible voters is by no means a mean feat for the election commission of India.  Despite coming under severe criticism over several election issues and allegations of its inaction, the commission seems to have done a great job.

The seven phase elections of 2019 in India returned Prime Minister Narenda Modi and NDA with an unprecedented 336 seats in the 545 seats. India’s grand old party the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi  won just a disappointing 52 seats and has since then asked the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to find a new leader for the party by putting in his resignation and taking solid blame of the party’s debacle upon himself.

From the debates that continue to take place on mainstream media in India analyzing the just concluded elections, one thing is clear that, electorate this time had no alternative to Mr Modi and that the elections was fought not on issues but on  personality and nationalism. But, one thing is clear, Narendra Modi led BJP and NDA decimated its opponents and pushed the rest to the fringes. Not even regional parties and alliances which were traditionally strong in their turf failed to resist the so called Modi wave in this election.

 Some political analysts say that the Congress party must die a natural death for new talents to come up and yet they see Congress as the only national party that can and must rebuild and reinvent itself as an alternative. And for Congress to survive without splintering, the experts feel that it must continue to have someone from the most powerful political family in India, the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Watching the electoral process unfold in the world’s largest democracy, it gives us an opportunity to understand the process better. One thing is certain, our constitution drafting committee has done a stellar job and we have a better electoral law than even the world’s largest democracy in ensuring free and fair elections by taking care of at least three crucial factors that may affect elections.

First and perhaps the most important element in any elections is the need for a level playing field. This cannot happen if a party and its candidates fight elections with powers still vested with them. In India, the Prime Minister and his cabinet fights the general elections without having to resign which may lead to misuse of officialdom to the incumbent’s electoral advantage. Our election law not only requires the government to resign and institute an interim government to oversee the elections but forbids anything that creates even the slightest visible inequalities between the candidates.

Secondly, there seems to be no restriction on the use of media like in our case where all parties and candidates are entitled to specific and equal media coverage with even the use of social media strictly monitored. In India, even the mainstream media are found to be giving excessive coverage to a party or an individual who makes more news with the rest having a limited coverage.

The third and the equally important element is the participation of religious personalities in the elections as candidates or as patrons. In a deeply religious society, a religious figure may have a mass following and what will happen if they are allowed to contest as candidates. In our society we deeply revere and respect religion and religious figure. They are always someone who are above the realms of ordinary life and therefore are rightly considered above politics allowing elections to be fought among the ordinary beings. Some members with religious tags are elected to the parliament for the fifth consecutive terms in India despite their dismal performance.

The recently concluded general elections in India were for the 17^th Lok Sabha while we just concluded our third general elections last year. Ours is the youngest democracy in the world but, we certainly have the best electoral laws to ensure level playing field which bigger and older democracies around the world can learn from for a free and fair elections.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatsel

May 27, 2019

A LUNCH AT BHUTAN HOUSE IN KAMAKHAYAGURI

During my recent trip for an important family prayer, I had the opportunity of meeting one of my old friend and a great, but most humble and humane former teacher at his home in Kamakhyaguri, Borabisa in West Bengal. It was short meeting over a sumptuous lunch prepared by the expert hands at culinary of his wife. Many of his friends, acquaintances and students have been the recipients of the family’s generosity over the years ever since he retired his teaching job in Bhutan to take care of his then ageing father, who had passed away since.

Many people must be aware of who I am referring to from the above introduction. Yes, I am talking about the famous and most loved Apchi Sir (Mr Santosh Chowdhury) and his wife Madame Jasoda. They were legends during their times in Pemagatshel and continues to be so even now.

“Welcome to Bhutan House,” declares Aapchi sir, beaming with serene smile. Yes, it looks like a Bhutanese house with many familiar Bhutanese items from wall hangings to books and even furnitures. And Mr and Mrs Chowdhury’s goodwill towards Bhutan and Bhutanese is well known in the local area and so they are the unofficial goodwill ambassador.

Chowdhury came to work as a teacher in Pemagatshel in the eighties as a rustic fresh college graduate. Despite tremendous challenges, he not only survived in the remote Tsebar primary school but, won the hearts of the both his students and local community.

 In his teaching career spanning to over three decades, he spent the majority of those years in Tsebar school which was followed by Nangkor; both in Pemagatshel and finally in Wangchu school in Chukha. In all these schools, he worked tirelessly for the benefits of his students.  While being strict, he always loved his students like his own children hence earned the affectionate pet name of Aapchi sir. Talk to any his former students and they all have their deepest love and gratitude for him.

My contact with him began while he taught in Nangkor School where my children studied under him. As the frequency of our contacts increased I found out that he is an exemplary teacher. He is the pillar of unquestionable integrity and a man with genuine desire to help his students become wholesome human being.

Aapchi Sir’s fondness for Bhutan is well known to those close to him, In fact, he considers it to be his second home. When I met him recently at his home, he said he received two Noble equivalent awards from Bhutan. I asked him what those awards were and he said that, the Bhutan Government’s invitation to attend felicitations ceremonies to former Indian teachers, one in Thimphu and another in Kolkata were no less significant to him than winning the Noble prizes he said. He was invited to both the events and attended them both.

After he left Bhutan, he taught in a local school back in his village. It was Mr Chowdhury who even initiated cleaning campaigns in his local area which was way before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his Swach Bharat campaign.

Mr Chowdhury  is a repository of knowledge and information and that is an indication of him being an ardent book reader. The stack of books in his room stands as a testimony of how much he reads on daily basis. Among the stacks of books are copies of Bhutan Observer newspapers which he was fond of reading right from the first publications.

 A thangka of His Majesty the king hangs in a room where he took tuitions for the local children. On the walls are the tributes of his students. He calls his room Shanti  Niketan.

 Mr chowdhury’s home has two separate sections, the one part is occupied by his younger brother and his family and the other part by Mr Chowdhury. Except for the separate fooding arrangements, the brothers live closely. Chowdhury is a strict vegetarian while his brother is a non-vegetarian. 

On the front of the house is an ample open space where two of Mr Chowdhury’s scooters stay parked. The Bajaj Chetak scooter is the one he rode on the snaking roads of Pemagatshel and Chukha and his recent acquisition is a trendier TVS scooty. The last digits of the registration numbers are a surprise too 0515 and 5016.

And finally when it’s the time to take his leave, he expressed his surprise. He wanted us to stay as his guests for a day or two but, when that wasn’t possible, he reluctantly led us till the highway where we bade good bye with madame Jasoda and my wife chanting “Palden Drukpa Gyalo,” followed by “Jai Bharat Mata.”

Mr Chowdhury will be joining a new school in Bihar as a Principal. A deserving appointment and another feather in his illustrious teaching career.

Tashi Delek la.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

March 17, 2019

A LETTER FROM AN EXEMPLARY TEACHER

CELEBRATION OF GANDHIAN VALUES

Dear Gyembo Namgyel Sir,

While reading and contemplating the Gandhian values on the eve of 2^nd October, Gandhi Jayanti, your picture is flashing upon my mind because I have found in you a man of moral beauty and lofty values. This ignited feeling motivates me to write this letter.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Alexis Carrel on page No. 129 in his book ‘MAN THE UNKNOWN’ writes: “….Moral beauty is an exceptional and very striking phenomenon. He who has contemplated it but once never forgets its aspect. This form of beauty is far more impressive than the beauty of nature and of science. It gives to those who possess its divine gifts, a strange, an inexplicable power. It increases the strength of intellect. It establishes peace among men. Much more than science, art, and religious rites, moral beauty is the basis of civilization…”

By virtue of my age and experience as I am growing richer in wisdom, your value to me rises higher, and I feel stronger to have got such a friend of high altitude in morality, simplicity and wisdom. The greatest wealth of your life is your art of ‘Simple Living and High Thinking’. I can never forget the beauty and sublimity of your Gandhian house, small and simple, clean and serene, adorned with a beautiful library and enriched with a highly civilized lavatory.

I remember more than 15 years ago one day at your home I had asked you, “Sir, when are you going to purchase a car?” You answered: “My three children are my three cars. I don’t dream of any other car than them.” I felt elated by the words of your profound wisdom. Accordingly, you have done your best and most to educate and build the children’s life which reflects your thoughts. Those words still echo in my heart and I feel energized and ignited.

Respect and devotion to one’s teacher is also a Gandhian value which is on drastic erosion in modern days. Your attitude and action of giving a lift to your teacher, Mr. Verghese, by your scooter from Pemegatshel to Shelingore is also a reflection of your high moral value.

Another occasion is unforgettable to me. On my final departure from Pemegatshel on 18 December 2007 you chased after my vehicle from Nangkor to Pemagatshel Zero point just to clear the financial transaction between us, which gives an incredible message about you. The world renowned educationist and philosopher Swami Vivekananda said: Be perfectly pure in dealing with money. I have seen that purity in you.

Sir, on the eve of the auspicious 2 October I wish and pray that your moral values contribute to the peace and well-being of the Bhutanese nation and her brothers and sisters across the globe as Gandhiji’s values did to India and the world. PALDEN DRUKPA GYALO!

With love, prayer, best wishes and gratitude,

Yours sincerely,

Santosh Chowdhury

Ex-teacher, Bhutan

THE PRIVILEGE OF WRITING LETTER TO THE STUDENTS

Last October, Nima Zangpo, a teacher from Gonpasingma Lower Secondary School in Pemagatshel, asked me to write a letter to his students. It was both humbling and a privilege for a farmer to be asked to write to the students to inspire them. More than what I have in me to be of any inspiration, I appreciated the teacher’s innovative idea to get his students motivated through means other than those available at his disposal in the school. This, to me is how a creative and resourceful teacher thinks out of box to inspire children to learn so many of life’s lessons.

So, I wrote to his students telling them to study zealously and give their best as they are in the school to learn and study. I told them that while result is important, not everybody can excel in studies because of the limitations we all have in life. I explained to them on why giving their best is more important than the result itself because that is the only thing they can possibly do.

 I also wrote to them on how competitions in life are getting stiffer by the day and how, while it is difficult, it will bring the best out of them. I urged them to recognize their inherent talents and follow them with passion in life and do things that make them happy. Success in life doesn’t necessarily mean that someone should be brilliant academically since not everyone is cut out to be brilliant. I wrote about the more important goals in life-to be good human beings and responsible citizens for a happy and meaningful life.

On February 26, 2017, the eve of Bhutanese New Year Losar, Nima visited me with a priceless present of a book and six replies his students wrote to me towards the end of last year. I am privileged to share some of what these young children wrote to me:

A class six student described about her school and the excitement of the examination that was nearing then. She apparently was well prepared to be happy about the examination unlike students elsewhere. She wants to become an engineer some day, perhaps motivated by a flyover bridge in her school, she wrote about in her letter.

A class four student wanted to do good things in life and he shared some examples of what those good things are; like sharing pen and pencils, helping those in needs and showing kindness to animals. He then shared about his favourite story. It is about monkey and crocodile and how the clever monkey avoided crocodile’s open mouth by jumping on its back.

Another class four student loves to read and write (something wonderful to hear). She says, she has become a friend of dictionary because she is able to learn many things from it. She was reading a book called, “No Fighting and No Biting.” She likes Joen and dislikes Rose and Willy in the book without saying why. She also has a bit of an advice for me, “to work hard until I succeed in life.” I honestly think I need to.

One class six student asked me why I prefer working on my farm rather than in some office. This student wants me to share stories and poems.  Her mate, a class seven student says that she has a passion for singing and dancing but, admits she is even better in reading books. She is apparently one of the most active and determined student in the school because she loves both indoor and outdoor games as well besides being a position holder in her class.

The final reply was also from a class topper. Written with a beautiful handwriting, she shared an inspiring poem titled, “Teach me.” She says she does everything on time and reads at least one page of a book before going to sleep. She says her family is poor but lives happily. Something wonderful to hear but not surprising story in rural villages as happiness is infectiously prevalent more in communities that live in the fringes of everything.

All these replies have one thing in common; children said that, they were inspired by my previous letter and want me to write again. I intend to write back as some have queries that require answering. Others want me to share articles that I wrote. Perhaps, this kind of interactions helps them learn something besides serving as a leisurely break from the never ending classroom learning.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

March 12, 2017

                                                           

Rest in peace lopen

(This is a humble tribute to a humble lay master. I know that, irrespective of what I try to write, it will always be insignificant one. Despite that, this is all I can do to thank  him.)

The ruins of Dungmanma village always used to be silent and peaceful except for the sound of prayers and recitations of mantras an old couple made all their lives. Today, it was buzzing with activities as  a steady stream of people come and go somberly, some with moist eyes and others visibly in anguish.

People from nearby and some from far off villages flocked to this solitary peaceful place to pay their last respects to one of the last known accomplished local lay master Lopen Shera Wangdi of Pemagatshel Khar Dungkhar. The popular local lopen passed away at his home following a brief illness recently. He was 77.

Late lopen Shera Wangdi was known among the local population as an accomplished practitioner who spent all his life amidst the ruins of what was probably a thriving ancient village of Dungmanma with his wife. The couple’s eleven grown up children live scattered in many dzongkhags but, the late lopen and his wife found peace away from human settlements and refused to follow their children.

Despite his popularity, he never kept any students with him nor did he preach people. He just lived a simple low profile life, dedicating his time to prayers and meditations. He only taught to few people who he thought possesses genuine qualities to uphold what he taught or instructed. Those who have been closely associated with the late lopen, today feels lucky to have met him.

The late lopen knew of his impending death. Just a week prior to his passing away, he was admitted to the local hospital and shortly afterwards decided to return back to his home where he began preparing for his final journey. When his illness relapsed shortly afterwards, he instructed his family members not to take him to hospital as his time has finally come to leave.

Later he made a briefly recovery for a day. Without further delay, he asked his wife to accompany him to visit the nearby Dungkhar Lhakhang for the last time. It took almost an entire day to reach the lhakhang which was actually a mere half an hour’s walking distance. Taking rest every few steps, he made it to the lhakhang.

Once at the lhakhang he said his prayers and met the two Khenpos who are teaching at the shedra. He told the Khenpos of his impending death and he entrusted the two khenpos with the task of performing all the weekly rituals for 21 days following his demise.

He then called all his children home for the last get-together. All his children reached home in time before his passing away. He was well aware of what was happening to him even as his bodily elements began dissolving and was able to recount them to his loved ones. His last wish was that nobody at home must mourn openly and that his body be left untouched for three days before cremation. He finally breathed his last peacefully.

The late lopen may not have lived his life surrounded by followers and patrons as he kept a low profile and chose to live almost like a hermit all his life. This is exactly, how Buddhist masters live. They only exhibit their accomplishments at the time of death. For them death is not something tragic and painful, it is a smooth transition to a higher realm.

Although it was a huge loss to the community, I have the comfort of having been in close touch with the lopen over the last few years and receive some valuable instructions.  I am indebted to him and can only pray for his soul to rest in peace in the blissful copper colored abode (zangdogpelri) among those enlightened beings for one last time.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel June 21, 2016

N.B. It has been ages since I last updated my blog. The less I write the more difficult and clumsier it is becoming to write.  Bear with me, if this bores you to sleep in the middle of your reading.

Kadrinche dear readers.

WINTER

Desolate appear the landscape,

So far as the eyes can see with ease,

Barren fields and dusty roads,

Grey mountains and naked trees.

Wintry breeze seem to have jagged edges,

 Lacerating feel follows numbness on exposed parts,

So people try shielding with armory of garments,

As the grey clouds hang menacingly, like a doomsday art.

So leaden are the skies in winter,

 Clouds look pregnant but find precipitation labourious,

As highlands wait for snow and rain in lower vales,

And pave way for sunshine to make places salubrious.

Frost in the morning carpets the grasslands in white,

Mist envelopes villages like feathery blanket in tons,

Rendering the sun too febrile even when at its zenith,

So people warm around fire, gossip-mongering in marathon.

The rich are in the cozy rooms sipping exotic whiskeys,

Some are in the bars gulping cheap rums and brandies,

Peasants in their homes down homemade barley brews,

And teetotalers drink gallons of teas and coffees with candies.

Only snotty nosed children seem immune to cold,

As they play with icicles oblivious to the wintry chill,

Even the tempers of vociferous strays seem to ebb,

As most remain coiled in the street corners, whimpering and still.

But winter is a season to relax and rejuvenate,

And be a part of the spoils of the festive season,

Tshechus, losars, New Year and the festivals anon

A season of mirth and merry making, life’s very reason.

pic; google 

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatsel

December 28, 2015

A WEAVER AND HER WEAVE

An enchantress, that you are- beautiful,

Bestowed with skills that is unrivaled,

An amalgamation of god’s bountiful,

Spellbound are the eyes for your skills unparalleled.

In frills hangs your silken raven hair,

A tuft tucked behind your shapely ear,

Rests are flying delicately on the flow of the air,

As you come walking, the yarns seem they can hear.

The wooden loom is incomplete without you,

The silk threads go around in colourful triangle,

They spread evenly in the mirage of hue,

Resembling like a rainbow from every possible angle.

So keen and fixated are your gaze,

So nimbly your graceful hands work,

Pulling strains of threads, fingers move in maze,

Dhak..Dhak the shinning beater in rhythm works.

Spectacle it is, the half woven loom revealed,

Of intricate patterns and awe inspiring designs,

And artistically you weave on with patience not trivial,

Thread by thread you will entwine them but not resign.

Occasionally, you adjust the shifting back strap,

That snugs your derriere and holds the loom tight,

Listening to melody you make loops and knots on the angled drape,

Tucking back those hairs interfering with her sight.

The patterns are beautiful even for a naïve eyes,

But special they are and hold meanings so clear,

They are the motifs of trees and delicate butterflies,

And woven patiently for days and months so dear.

One day a beautiful maiden will wear this masterpiece,

On the anointed day where thousands gather,

To watch dances and glittering spectacle of fashionable pieces

But none will be as beautiful as this art put together.

Here I am today; I watch the birth of silken butterflies,

And trees in fruition along with symbolic knot of love,

By the fingers that seem to have eyes of their own to rely,

Of a weaver more beautiful than the weave, an enchantress everyone loves.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

December 15, 2015

FLOWERS--BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS

Ah Flowers! So beautiful are all flowers,

The spectrum of their hues so dazzling.

Beautiful they are on ancient trees,

Or on shrubs by the bank of sparkling rivers.

Flowers bloom all season round,

Most in spring, some in summer, fall and winter.

Some lasts for weeks and months some just for a day,

And some bloom only in the darkness of the night.

Flowers adorn rocky cliffs and deep ravines,

They carpet moors and prairie lands,

And look good even on thorny plants,

And adorn plants growing in hostile arid lands.

Flowers are bewitching to human eyes,

Mesmerized are chirpy birds and humming bees.

Colourful petals leading to reveal exotic aromas,

Ushering to where lay the hidden seductive nectar.

Flowers are the purest offerings man can make,

On the altars of enlightened ones who sits on floral thrones.

Thus even the least bestowed can gain equal merits,

Like those overflowing with material abundance.

So wide are flowers used in human lives,

Their uses transcend all societal and cultural bounds.

And thus there is a flower for any occasion one can fathom,

From mirth and merry making to poignantly somber ones.

Floral garlands signify goodwill,

Bouquets to congratulate,

And  flowers are sent to mend broken hearts,

And wreaths are laid to mourn painful demises.

Varieties hold symbolism like Calla Lily for wedding,

Poppies for bereavement, chrysanthemum for fidelity,

Daisies for pure innocence, orchids for exotic beauty,

And tulip is to express declaration of love.

Hues and numbers have their meanings too,

Red rose is for love and passion, yellow rose for friendship,

Pink for admiration and blue rose to someone who cannot be yours,

And one rose to say I love you, 50 roses to say your love is limitless.

But flower, although enchanting is also ephemeral,

For no matter on what plant they bloom,

Or in which season, they display extravagant colours,

They also leave a poignant message of the truth of impermanence.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

December 11, 2015

LET’S MARK DRUKGYAL ZHIPA’S BIRTHDAY WITH A PLEDGE TO FULFILL HIS VISION

Today, we are in the midst of nationwide celebration to mark the auspicious birthday of our beloved and great king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. This year’s celebration is different from those of the past years as His Majesty completes a 60 year cycle in the Bhutanese calendar called Rabjung. The celebrations have begun in earnest across the country and it is heartening to see whole-hearted dedications being exhibited by people including those in the villages led by gewog officials.

Despite various programme currently underway including those that concluded days prior to November 11 to commemorate and pay our respect to His Majesty, nothing would suffice in our expression of gratitude to our beloved Drukgyal Zhipa.

Even as we celebrate his birthday with so much fervor recollecting all the great and extraordinary deeds in the past 30 years of his reign everything we do today in the name of expressing our gratitude, will fall short of how indebted we all are to everything he has done for nation’s well being. In fact, at times we Bhutanese have failed miserably to live up to the expectations of His Majesty. We must feel so lucky to have had been ruled by a selfless king like him but hang our head in shame for failing him when he needed our support the most.

It is heartbreaking today to watch clips of his speech on how when as a last resort, he had to mobilize military options to flush out foreign militants, just a handful of people, that too mostly farmers came forward to serve the country. The footage that we get to watch today makes us realize how he had to shoulder the most difficult task forsaking his own safety along with few hundred regular servicemen and he is right when he said, “If you don’t come forward and serve your nation when in need, when are you going to do that. It is a matter of utmost shame for all able bodied citizens of the country who spoke loudly of patriotism but failed when it is most needed.”

He rightly said that those few volunteers who came forward to the call of the nation are the true sons of Palden Drukpa. I can only agree that these volunteers, where they may be living today, are the true sons of Bhutan. Let’s not forget them too.

Another profound legacy of Drukgyal Zhipa is conservation of our environment. It is amazing on how he became the architect of putting environment at the centre of our development. He is truly a champion of the earth and it was befitting that he was the recipient of numerous prestigious international awards for his lifelong service to environment conservation. Today, despite our claims of enormous success in environmental conservation, it is alarming to see proliferation of mines and quarries which benefit just a few at the larger cost of the nation. We need to re-evaluate our actions and follow the lead of His Majesty in this front if we really care of His Majesty’s vision and aspirations.

I think we all need to reevaluate our priorities and actions, come to our senses and live and work to fulfill the aspirations and lead provided by His Majesty Drukgyal Zhipa for over three decades. We failed him in 2003, let’s not fail him in this more subtle but profound and enlightened vision of a happy country. Let’s celebrate his birthday the way we always do but, more than the celebration with various programme, I am sure His Majesty would be more pleased if we all work together to fulfill his aspirations and dreams for the well being of our country.

May His Majesty live forever and be a continuous source of inspiration for us all and radiate his wisdom like the rays of the sun that leaves no place in darkness.

Tashi Delek and Happy Reading.

Gyembo Namgyal

November 10, 2015

FLOWERING SPECTACLE

In whatever hues they blossom,

Flowers are beautiful universally,

Some lasts for months, some just for a day,

This one lasts for a day and completes a cycle,

Of a miraculous transformation for eyes to behold.

From lily-white in the morn, pink-white combo by noon,

And before the night falls, it transforms to pink in toto,

Providing ample introspective fodder to discern,

In the silence of night; on a miracle that just unfolded.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

October 9, 2015

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AND SHORT TERM RETREATS

source: google

While western people look for meaning and essence of life to the wisdom of eastern culture particularly Buddhism, we are increasingly trying to copy western culture. Look at the food our people eat, the clothes we wear and our desperation to look different with makeup and weird hairdos and with all these we also see violence, drugs, smugglings, thefts, robberies, frauds, corruptions and many other evil offshoots of those cultures taking roots in our society.

Just the other day, I was watching a BBS programme. It was a discussion programme with two monks, one was a Khenpo and another was a doctor-turned monk. Both were insisting on the need for lay people to take a break from their works and take vows of the sangha for a short period to get better perspectives of life. I did not realize such a provision exists and it is indeed a wonderful opportunity for lay people to take monastic vows for any period of time they wish and partake in the daily routines of a monastery or a nunnery like regular monks and nuns.

I couldn’t agree more with the doctor that this could in fact be a potent antidote for the insatiable desires of our mind that leads people to take evil paths ultimately bringing them more sufferings. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for people to get their perspectives on the right track and will contribute tremendously to the ideals of a compassionate and caring society. I don’t see why government and corporations should not allow their workers short leave from their jobs for this kind of retreat. I am sure when they rejoin their work they will become more productive and also become positive influence on their peers.

I was also struck by the truth of their assessment of how our society is increasingly transiting from traditional value based and caring society to a more self centric and artificial one trying to copy alien cultures. One basic example is the way we celebrate our children’s birthday today. It is not just in towns and cities that families  celebrate their children’s birthdays the western way, this culture is even making inroads in rural countryside where people with little education and understandings are trying to imitate birthday celebrations with cakes, candles and balloons like their cousins do in the towns, setting a less then desirable trend in the villages. If we really observe deeply, we are making the auspicious birthday of our children with everything inauspicious. We have birthday cakes with names of our children on them. When we cut the cake, we cut the name of the child which is quite inauspicious in our culture. We blow out candle and that is extremely inauspicious representing something like blowing out life and then poke balloons with needle while others clap.

I share the panelists’ view that we can celebrate birthdays in our own auspicious ways. We can have cakes adorned with Tashi Delek written on them and placing it on the altar as offerings first. It would be a good idea to invite a monk and perform a short cleansing ceremony (Lhabsang Thruesoel) and recite long life prayer (Tshedrup) for the child and do something good and wholesome in your  child’s name  like saving a life of an animal or donating something to a more needy ones around us. This way we instill values in our children right from the young age and they will grow up to be a more compassionate human being.

Like what the monks said we must encourage our children to say Apa to father and Ama or Aie to mother rather than Daddy or Mommy which are not our language in the first place and phonetically inauspicious. Daddy sounds like (Dredre) which means separation and Mommy sounds like (Ma Mey) no mother. These may sound trivial but, for Bhutanese there is nothing as important as Tendrel which is the custom of believing in the importance of auspiciousness in everything we do and it would certainly make sense to care about small things closer at home than trying to emulate things we hardly understand from far away.

Happy  reading.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

August 30, 2015

THE QUIXOTIC RAIN

There is incessant rain falling,

From pregnant dark clouds blanketing.

From puddles to rivulets they become brooks,

And gushes of white-water from collection of creeks,

Back to where it began the water keeps journeying.

There are flashes of lightening outside,

It’s the architect of darkness inside.

When the light goes out in sudden,

Darkness returns to incandescent and tungsten,

Halogen, fluorescent and iridescent on all sides.

There are people groping in the darkness,

A faint blue light from a gadget comes in fastness.

A flickering light on the matchstick follows,

And just when a candle is lit to light, though shallow,

Electricity returns all bright and glowing in vastness.

Sooner the candle is put out by someone blowing,

The wig begins emitting faint smoke flowing.

Then a flash outside brings about darkness yet again inside,

Darkness mocks at inhabitants quixotically from all sides,

And this time all stay still except for the sounds of rain on the roof; beating.

Gyembo Namgyal

Pemagatshel

June 24, 2015 02:30 PM

OF FOOTBALL AND FOOTBALLERS

(A light hearted post on football constructed with footballers’ names as building blocks)

picture source; google

 No one can deny the fact that football is a universally loved sport. The silky skills and visionary passing of midfielders, the lightening speed of wingers on the flanks, the wall like stubbornness of defense, the magnetic hands of goalkeepers and clinical finishes of strikers makes this game something that will always be watched day in and day out across the globe.

“Bend it like Beckham,” is a famous quote in foot-balling world. I would add; “Watch it until you are Bent (Darren Bent-Aston Villa) and your Back Harmed (Beckham).

Football is lucrative sport that is worth billions of Dollars, Pounds and Sterling (Raheem Sterling-Liverpool). It is a physically demanding sport that requires expending lot of energy leaving you dehydrated, so you have to Drink Water (Danny Drinkwater-Licester) a lot, during the game.

 Often players have to bear the Brunt (Chris Brunt-West Brom) of its physicality. If you are hit in the eyes, you have a likely chance of becoming Blind (Daley blind- Manchester United), because the Hunt (Jack Hunt-Crystal Palace) is on for trophies.

Many  footballers begin their career when they are Young (Ashley Young-Man U) and some are not only small but, Smalling (Chris Smalling-man U) that we can call them Nani (Manchester United) and before you graduate to become a Walker (Kyle Walker-Tottenham) you also have to Crouch (Peter Crouch-Stoke).

The walk can trigger the Heat On (Tom Heaton-Burnley) and the journey can be Long (Kevin Long-Burnley), it can take you as far as Kabul (Younas Kaboul-Tottenham) where women play football covered under burkha.

 Most players play Cleverly (Tom Clervely-Everton) in the Kompany (Vincent Kompany-Man City) where a non-Bhutanse has a Bhutanese- like name of Zeko (Eden  Dzeko-Man City). Some footballers are Bony (Wiflred Bony-Man City) and Contact with bony footballers is health Hazard (Eden Hazard-Chelsea). Few are so robust that they have earned the tag of being Villain (Willian-Chelsea). But, some footballers have cult like followers like Hindu Mata (Juan Mata-Man U).

If football stadium is a Palace (Crystal Palace FC), there would be Gunners (Arsenal) as sentries. The Kings (Ledley King, Andy King) will be in one of the Chambers (Calum Chambers-Arsenal) watching match live on television and you will be ushered in by Chamberlain (Oxlade Chamberlain-Arsenal). In the Queen’s Park, Rangers (QPR) keep their vigil from Myhill (Boaz Myhill-West Brom) huddled between stones (Huddlestone-Hull City) as the Queen (Stephen Quinn-Hull City) opens the Cork (Jack Cork-Swansea) of Champaign bottle in the palace to celebrate their team’s win.

And out in the field a Gardener (Craig Gardener-West Brom) is busy moving a Bale (Gareth Bale-Real Madrid) of grass to the Barnes (Ashley Barnes-Burnley) nearby, covered in Grimes (Matt Grimes-Swansea) before heading home to watch a cup final.

Sometimes when you are in the losing side 90 minute is too Long (Kevin Long-Burnley) especially when your strikers fail to hit Target (Matt Target). And the players asks themselves if they are playing Wright (Wright-Man City)but, deep inside they keep telling themselves; “yes we Can” (Emre Can-Liverpool) and certainly this is Wisdom (Wisdom-Liverpool).

Goal post is not mere Woodgate(Jonathan Woodgate-fmr Real Madrid) with timbers from Westwood (Westwood-Aston Villa) or constructed by Mason (Ryan Mason-Tottenham) with bricks and mortars. Nor are the posts baked from flour by Baker (Nathan Baker-Aston Villa) but, they are steel posts made by Smith (Willson Smith). Collision with the posts can break you Cheek (Cheek-Chelsea) and you not only become Brown (Wes Brown-Sunderland) but can completely turn you into a Blackman (Blackman-Chelsea). Such an injury can land you in a hospital Ward (Ward-Liverpool) for a long time.

Given (Shay Given-Aston Villa) that footballers work in teams, managers have to Herd (Chris Herd-Aston Villa) players together like a Shepherd (Liam Shepphard-Swansea).

Some footballers are loved like Rose (Danny Rose-Tottenham) flowers and others are Noble (Mark Noble-West Ham United) in their hearts. Some life stories are like a Page (Lewis Page-WHU) out of a fairy tale that you remember from Oxford (Rea Oxford-WHU) press that you read when walking along the Downing (Stuart Downing- WHU) street to meet prime minister, not in Ireland (Stephen Ireland-Stoke) but in England.

Football is loved universally and many trace the origin of the game to time of Adam (Charlie Adam-Stoke) while others believe the game started from the time of Moses (Victor Moses-Stoke). Whatever may be the truth, football is the world’s most beautiful game that even the names of players have a story to tell.

Happy Funny Reading!!!

Gyembo Namgyal

June 12, 2015

Disclaimer: This article is about the game of football written in light-hearted manner using professional footballers’ names in literal sense. This article in no way is intended to malign anyone either intentionally or otherwise. It is a creative work using names of footballers in building up sentences to tell a comical story on football.

BREAKING CLUMPS OF SOIL UNDER MOON-LIT NIGHTS

It was a full moon night. Houses in the village nearby can be seen silhouetted against the moon lit background. The village looks to have slept long time back, soon after the night has fallen. There were no electricity and people hardly stayed awake for few hours after the darkness.

But, out in the barren field someway away from the village, a group of young men and women, and few boys and girls are in the middle of a work amidst laughter, whispers and occasional bouts of singing. Bizarre it may sound but, sometimes, some households in my village hired helping hands of young men and women during the full moon nights to break clumps of dry soil in preparation for the oncoming wheat sowing.

I didn’t understand then on why people hired helping hands during nights. Now I understand how people must have had their hands full during the day, so that something less serious like breaking down clumps of soil can be done in the low visibility of the moon-lit nights. However, young men and women and even small boys and girls always looked forward excitedly to be working in barren fields during night time. In fact, all the young people (single) in the village will turn up for the task, each holding a long handled wooden mallet. The reason for excitement is all too obvious.

Winter is cold in place like Bumthang even during the day. Night is even colder with temperatures plummeting below freezing point and the gutsy wind that blows in the valley adds to the misery but, when you are young, you always have the gut to ignore the inclement weather. And the prospect of being able to flirt with the beautiful girls of the village under the cover of hazy moonlight with the opportunity provided by the night errand always makes it exciting for young men and women. It can be possible, that some of the matches must have taken shape while attending such errands.

Younger boys and girls who are too naïve to understand true romance are consigned to one side while more matured engineered their plans to be closer to each other where they can share their feelings and hatch naughty plans under whispers and flirt with each other.

Often, the talks in the night are between a pair in hushed tone and the sounds of bursting clumps under the force of mallets are all that can be heard loud and clear. But sometimes someone in the group starts talking loud so that rests of the members hears him. Even though, someone demands attention from the rest, there would be nothing serious to talk about but, share some raunchy jokes, that triggers bouts of laughter in the group. Sometimes, the young people sing in unison and sometimes, young men and women contest in the rendition of ballad (Tzangmo).

Tzangmo is sung in such a way that, after the first group or individual rendered four lines, the other group responses with another four lines that is basically a reply to what the first group implied through their rendition. On occasion like this, young men on one side will face off with women on the other. These kinds of rendition contest are known to go on till the wee hours of mornings. If the first one sings something sweet, the respondent tries to make it even sweeter and likewise, if one group sings something with unsavory connotation, the other will try to make it even nastier but, this normally ends with reconciliatory note. I admired at the reputation of some people who are known to be a great repository of Tzangmos.

It was funny too that, although blisters may begin forming in their palms, there is no lacking in will to go on hammering the last sizeable clumps.  Perhaps, the excitement of working side by side with the girls and boys of one’s liking may have enabled their hearts to pump lot of adrenalin into their muscles that, holding high, long handled wooden mallet and bringing them strongly on clumps of soil with thuds just comes spontaneously and effortlessly. As nights wear on,excitement among the young ones fade. Their eyes become bleary and they wish to run back home and snuggle under blankets but, the older ones remain oblivious to their plight blinded by their adrenalin rush.

This often goes on into the wee hours of the morning depending on the sizes of fields. In the end, all walk back to the house which hired those hands. The relative darkness offers privacy from prying eyes and most would be walking either hand in hand or side by side nudging each other’s shoulders flirtatiously. But, that is it. After a mug of steaming buttered tea and some snacks, boys will leave for their homes and girls will sleep in the host’s home until the next morning. 

That was how it used to be then. Now, wheat and potato fields are giving way to mushrooming of hotels, resorts and other commercial ventures. I am sure people no longer need to hire helping hands and young men and women also no longer need to go to break clumps for a chance to flirt any more.

Gyembo Namgyal

 May 19, 2015 11:55 PM

SLAUGHTERING THE IDEA OF SLAUGHTER HOUSES

source: google

In the last few days, there was lot of discussion in social media about the government’s decision to open slaughter houses in the country. Notwithstanding the small benefits of having slaughter houses in the country, I thought, this is a grave decision lacking wisdom and coming with utter disregard given to the concerns and sentiments of the larger population.

Arguments are being put forward justifying slaughter houses in financial and economic context. Well, how much are we really spending on import of meat that justifies setting up of slaughter houses in the country that is deeply religious? Can slaughter houses contribute to reversing the economic situation?  I have a serious doubt.

Well some argue that, since we eat lot of meat, setting up large scale meat farms and slaughter houses must be allowed amid choetens, lhakhangs and prayer flags. Certainly, there is something wrong with this kind of thinking. I think we are losing our sense of direction.

On the one hand we have the government targeting to restore thousands of hollowed-out choetens and restore their sanctity for peace, harmony and well being of all sentient beings and on the other hand the same government wants to start mega meat farms and slaughter houses for what? Other than ensuring blood smeared wealth for few promoters, the nation is bound to lose its own priceless age-old Bhutanese Buddhist values like the rest of senseless consumer driven countries of the world.

Let’s not forget that, it is Bhutan which gave the world the alternative development paradigm of Gross National Happiness (GNH) propounded by His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. GNH is a development philosophy based on Buddhist principles of moderation and compassion. Where will slaughter houses fit in? Let’s please not follow the path of illusion offered by endless consumerism and let us realize that the rest of the world is looking at us for directions as they become increasingly disillusioned by their unsustainable way of living based on insatiable consumerism.   Do we need to follow them by going the same way? Are we also seeing greener grasses on other side of the fence?

What does the mother of all our laws, the Constitution say? It says that, “Buddhism is the spiritual heritage of our country which promotes principles and values of peace, non-violence, compassion and tolerance.” Where does the slaughter house fit in?

People also argue that because we Bhutanese consume lot of meat, slaughtering takes place across the border for Bhutanese consumers. Well, we can also argue that, because meat is made available without restrictions, people tend to keep consuming. And let’s be honest here that urban dwellers with more affluence consume more meat than rural folks. While meat may be a staple for rich, it is still luxury for poor people in the villages.

Rather than allowing in slaughter houses and letting Bhutanese who can afford meat in all their meals become wholly carnivorous, an idea of meat rationing can reduce over consumption of meat. I think we can do this. Excess consumption of red meat is linked to cancer while animal fat are considered really unhealthy. We are not meant to be meat eaters. Look at our teeth, they are meant to chew and grind grains not puncture fatal wounds, tear flesh and break bones like natural carnivorous. Why isn't there institutionalized campaign against excessive meat consumption like we have for alcohol, tobacco and other substances which when consumed in excess becomes health hazards? Perhaps meat could be another root cause for rising NCDs in the country and NCDs are more common among urban dwellers than rural people.  Available records confirm the correlation.

source: google

And some may be of the view that Bhutanese Buddhist rituals are also heavily laden with non-vegetarian meals. Well, that is right. Today, even the after-death rituals take a party like atmosphere of meat laden buffets. I must confess that, this is all because of us. We can only blame ourselves for this trend. His Holiness, the Je Khenpo had issued repeated decrees on doing away with meat in rituals.  We must be ashamed of our conduct by not heeding to His Holiness’s decrees. Can we blame our religion for this?

So, before it is too late, let’s come to our senses and scrap the idea of slaughter houses.  The idea of slaughter houses should not have even taken roots in government thinking, in the first place. I am glad that petitions have come against the idea both from outside the country and also from our religious body, the Dratshang Lhentshok. I hate to use this word, but the idea of slaughter houses needs ‘SLAUGHTERING’ in the first place.

PEOPLE MAY ALSO ARGUE THAT, KILLING WILL ONLY CEASE WHEN EATING STOPS BUT, I THINK EATING WILL CERTAINLY REDUCE WHEN THE KILLING STOPS. WE DON’T EAT FIRST AND KILL LATER. WE HAVE TO KILL FIRST TO BE ABLE TO EAT.

Gyembo Namgyal

May 13, 2015 02:40 pm