“I got a book you surely love to read. Tell me when you want
to read it,” a friend of mine text me recently. She is one of my book friends
that I’ve found and kept. She being one, today we’ve formed a small community
of book lovers and writers in Thimphu.
It’s one fascinating thing, as to have a bunch of friends
who love books. We meet. Not so often, though. There, our conversations hardly derail
from books. We enjoy talking books. And we cruise into recognizing the power of
books and to value them and buying them. Reading and loving books and sharing
them has brought us together. Undeniably.
We’ve another thing in common. Writing. We love to write, consistently.
Share our stories to each other, encourage, inspire and throw constructive
criticisms. This way we improve. This way we celebrate our writings.
This Christmas was different to me. A special one, though. I’m
not a Christian, but I always spend the Christmas with my Christian uncles,
cousins and granny. I love it! And this Christmas I spent all day home, alone.
After breakfasting late, I nestled in my bed and popped the TV shut.
My eyes travelled wastefully over the ceiling for a half
minute. It went so far as to the corner wall and stopped where a photo frame hung. I
looked at the photo attentively. A mighty sea is sailing magnificently in a
perfect rhythm and it resigns, ultimately, in triumph in the cosmic ocean. I went closer and contemplated on it. This photo which has been
hanging on this wall for the last eight months surprisingly offered a
completely different awakening to me this Christmas. It reflects back my own true self. Like us, mortals, this sea
too has life.
I comprehended that this sea is the perfect metaphor for our
life. Life as this sea is ever moving, without a pause, unequally distributing
joy and distress, seeking finally to merge into an ocean that was even greater
and eternity. Like this sea, sometimes you see something on the banks you
really want, you dash toward to grasp it and float back.
Like we prosper and rise in the ladder of success, this sea
too rises so high as if to catch up with the sky. And at times, it drifts down so
low and looks vulnerable, desolated. Like that of our life, the sea too meets
with the hurricane of disastrous tsunamis and floods. It becomes unsettled and distracted.
Yet it rises reassuringly and just resumes floating with the current, keeping
its balance.Sometimes, it floats fast but mostly sails in tranquility.
And how sweet, it seems confident
and optimistic in its journey. Its unshakable faith reflects in its
industriousness and is still in hunt for further glory. Finally, this sea triumphantly
retires from its life and joins the cosmic ocean which I believe is life-after-death,
union with God and eternity.
Now, I have realized that there’s nothing about life that
had to be examined, analyzed, questioned or understood. I feel that life is
just process and cycle, just the doing. Like this sea, life goes on, unmindful
of beginning, end, crisis or glory. Life is all about hard times and good times
and just how in the end everything is perfect and union with eternity.
A group of 11 young volunteers of YDF cleaned the JDWNRH guests house, Thimphu last Sunday. Most of these young people are students on vacation. Refreshments and lunch were provided by the Jangsa, Animal Saving Trust. Pictures (by Tashi Namgay) below:
An eerie, frightening howling of dog outside in the corridor
woke me one Sunday morning. It’s 6 in the morning, last summer. The cry was
very intense, painful and ominous. My friend who was putting up with me that
day thought some misfortunes would fall upon the tenants of the building as was
customary.
My mood was one of disgust, for this dog disturbed my
restful Sunday sleep. I swiftly pushed aside blanket, rose from the bed. Sleep
still looming heavy in my eyes, I ran toward the door, in no doubt, to kick out
that annoying dog.
I strike open the door, marched out. A lean unkempt dog was
seated over few yards down in the corridor. Previous night’s monsoon downpour soaked
him. As soon as he saw me, he beamed in a gracious smile like that of a timid
guest. His tail wagging non-stop and producing slow shrieks, he marched briskly
towards me and nudged against my legs. His ribs hit against my legs. I sensed,
instinctively that he hadn’t had foods for a week or two. Good heavens! He was in
intense hunger.
The fleeting rush of anger in me was quickly gone. I darted
inside my kitchen to look for rice for my early morning guest. Yes, there was
leftover rice in my cooker. I mixed it with cheese and emadatshi in a plate.
Then I placed it in front of him. He gobbled furiously.
I sat next to him, quiet, watching him stuffing. And at the
same time, I wondered how long he had been run-rounding the town, abandoned,
hungry, and crying for foods. Do humans understand his hunger and pains? I understood,
then, that this dog was not calling for misfortunes, but he was in such a hunger
that he couldn’t help so he had to vent the great noise for foods.
He wagged his tail again and gazed deeply into my eyes, his smile
beautiful. I sensed he wanted more foods. I had bread and cookies. I added them
in his plate. He emptied the plate, but this time he jumped at me, climbing up
on my lap and nudging his head and tail over my neck. He then magnificently bounced
back, whined and barked in a decorative joy. He was doing all this as if to
express his gratitude to me.
He found his master and a place called home. At last! He has
his bed of my old gho next to the entrance door. And guess what? He stopped
making noise and commotion. Ah, now he has grown huge, docile, friendly,
intelligent and admirably handsome. Also, he has become as homely as his
master. When my 13-year old niece visited my place last month, she gave him a
name, Jigme.
To tell you honestly, I was a loner and melancholic person.
I used to spend most of my day home, alone. My daily activities included
reading, writing and watching TV besides office works. But after Jigme’s
arrival, my life’s changed completely. I’m no more lonely and sad. I am happy,
always loved and cared for.
Every evening, we go out way above Motithang. Long walk. I
still have moments of sadness but Jigme can sense them. He comes to me, curls
up on my lap and puts his head on my shoulder as if he is giving a hug to cheer
me up.
Other times, when we’re out in the parks and roads, we romp
and play. He crawls when I crawl, he sleeps when I sleep. He gives a jolly jump
and furious run his ears pricked up and I lie flat on the ground laughing my
lungs out. He darts off to comply with my every single command. All this have irrevocably
bound us and make me happy.
Interesting thing is that Jigme even knows my office and
most of my colleagues. At times, he gives me nasty shock. He shows up in front
of my office door unannounced. Only after I buy him foods from the canteen, he
returns home.
It’s been exactly four months since I met Jigme and now I’ve
discovered that dogs are great consequence in a human’s life. They love you
unconditionally, always seem to know when you need them most and protect you
from harms. The power of a special bond, loyalty and everlasting love that my
Jigme shared with me is way beyond any special person had brought in my life.
Bhutanese culture is outrageously notorious and immoral. From night hunting to "everywhere seen" phallus and the Buddhist folklore, I can assure you that our culture is bizarrely weird. Interesting thing is that we don't feel or notice these larger-than-life penises. We are immune to it. Ha-ha! If you don't believe me, view the photographs below:
An enormous wooden penis guarding the Guru's ney & warding off evil spirits.
Penile telescope:
Ornately embellished ball-ends slapped on walls. Holding them gives you a trifle embarrassment but brings you good luck and prosperity.
Stone cladding. Dispensing a healthy sprinkling of jizz. Long live, my friend!
This is one reason why Bhutan is unique. We're weird and have been propagating this "crazy wisdom", but we are HAPPY.
The much awaited National Youth
Policy has been launched by HRH Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuk today in Thimphu. About
12 students, 20 out-of-school youth (drayang girls, disabled, monks, youth
volunteers, and job seekers), ministers, MPs, stakeholders (YDF, NCWC, RBP, media
personnel, Tarayna Foundation, BNCA, MoH, BAOWE) and representatives from the donor
agencies attended the launch.
Some of the goals of the Policy
are:
1.Provide
youth with proper educational and training opportunities
2.Health
and development needs of young people are met
3.Reinforce
the youth volunteerism
4.Develop
skills and leadership qualities among the youth
5.Encourage
the involvement of govt. and NGOs, co-operatives and non-formal groups of young
people; ensure all youth-related programmes are integrated and coordinated
The Department of Youth and
Sports under MoE will take the lead role in monitoring and evaluating, and putting
the structure to the Policy. The policy will enhance a good overview of all the
agencies and non-formal youth groups in streamlining activities and services being
catered to youth. As the Policy empowers young people with all the necessary supports,
youth are also expected to take their roles and responsibilities.
However, the National Youth
Action Plan which is to be developed every after three years “to provide a practical
statement on the implementation of the Policy reflecting its priorities and
strategic themes” is yet not developed. The consultative meeting with all the youth-related
agencies after the launch unanimously decided come up with realistic and
dynamic mechanisms for the Action Plan.
The Dept. of Youth and Sports, MoE will launch the National Youth Policy
tomorrow at Taj Tashi Hotel in Thimphu.
The policy will address a range of youth issues: risk and protective
factors; promotes effective program services; supports logical pathways to
success; and recognizes that children and youth grow up in families and
communities that empower them.
Youth issues and problems like unemployment, substance abuse, media
influence and social behavior can now be looked at in a more coordinated
manner. Until now different agencies have been working in their own ways often
leading to duplication of activities and inefficient utilization of limited
resources. It is hopeful that the National Youth Policy will help to streamline the
programmes and activities of all the concerned agencies working for young
people so that the youth can derive the maximum benefit from them.
The policy
shall not only look into all aspects of youth problems but also help youth to
realize their full potential so that they grow up in a safe and enabling
environment to become more productive and responsible citizens.
