Pledge for Menstrual Hygiene

Menstruation is nothing more than a biological change in women’s body; nothing to be stereotyped, discriminated and looked down.

It’s everyone’s responsibility. 

My personal reasons why we tie the red ribbon on our right arm; support the right of women to be treated equally, no matter what. It also shows the right of every man to support this and pledge to be supportive irrespective of who and what you are. My perceptions may not be true to others but I would like to believe and support with my intuition and perspective.

Our strong cultural, traditional and religious belief treat it otherwise. While to some extent it is agreeable, especially on the religious ground (even though doesn’t give a strong basis), it’s time we break this silence and pledge to support Menstruation hygiene.

During my high school days, even it might have been the similar experiences that whenever a woman had a period, we would make sure that she is kept at a faraway place. Nobody would agree to sit together on the same bench, even the bench mate would deny to sit until it stops.

How would you have felt, if it was you, and I?

Unimaginable pain! It would have broken my heart beyond healing. And most of us, men, would have denied to come to school starting next day. But women, they are strong, even the strongest.

Besides excruciating pain already from the Menstrual period, she fights the discrimination, being looked down and being alienated. 

Were we not aware of supporting it? Yes! Were we not educated enough to understand the pain associated with it and not discriminate? Yes! Were there not enough awareness among the people? Yes.

But why is it still happening?

We don’t have anything that makes a strong basis. Everyone accepts that it has been the same those days that’s why it has to be the same because we are dealing with the same thing. No! I say no to this because things change, people change and our mindset must change. Change for the better and support women.

True that this discrimination to Menstruation isn’t just in Bhutan, it’s everywhere, infact the entire world, and everyone is fighting to break the silence. It’s an undeniable fact that a lot have been achieved and better changes are in the sleeves. When the rest of the world could do this, break the silence and support their women, why can’t we? Why can’t we support our own women? We can and we must, not because we pity them, and others are doing, but because Menstruation is just a biological change in their body and it doesn’t change anything.  It’s our mindset and mentality that have made all this differences and we must change our mindset.

Now how can we (especially men) pledge to support this?

It’s neither a big deal, nor a herculean task. Everyone, irrespective of age, profession, gender, ethnic group, nationality, religion, and diversity can do it. Lend and helping hand to your partner, sisters and friends, whoever is Menstruating. It can be shopping, cooking, household chores, feeding and preparing children to school, baby-sitting, laundry and many more.

And always ask, if you could do anything for her. As simple as that!

Everyone knows this but at times, we tend to forget things and give less or no consideration. No matter how intelligent and perfect a person is, constant reminder is always necessary.

I hope this simple writing will remind everyone.

P.S: I am not a health specialist, no leader, no commander, preacher and no one, but a common man, who support Menstrual Hygiene. You should too.

Khegpa, the Head Hunter

A tale of a time long gone, not even to the nearest of men's remembrance, a mother left her only daughter at home, Tshering Zangmo by the name while she went to fetch firewood in the nearest forest. As was the usual practice for a single mother to keep her daughter away from the exhaustion and weariness of climbing the mountains and valleys, she left her all by herself at their makeshift home.

And unexpectedly, she took quite a long time to return home that day. And the fact was obvious that the firewood at a nearby place was not enough for her load.

As usual, she reached home, tired and fatigued with a bunch of firewood enough for another week or so. The first thing the mother did was a motherly instinct, look for her daughter. She wanted to make sure that she had looked after herself well, while she was away.

'Tshering, Tshering,' she called out loud to her daughter. Silence prevailed at every corner of the place. She panicked and ran here and there, looking for her, but all in vain. Nobody in the village had the slightest clue about Tshering's whereabouts.

No, she never did go with any of the girls in the village anywhere because she would not return with any of the people that the mother knew in the village.

Not losing hope, the mother waits at the door of her makeshift for her daughter’s return singing the hymn of

ཤོག་ཤོག་ ཚེ་རིང་བཟང་མོ་ཤོག

ཨ་མའི་བུ་མོ་ཚེ་རིང་བཟང་མོ་ཁྱོད་ཤོག

But a heart-ripping rumor was the mother heard that Tshering was believed to be abducted by Khegpa, the Head Hunter. And the legend has it that Tshering Zangmo on the other hand could hear her mother sing from the dark cell under the bridge. Perhaps the waves of the river had flown her mother's sorrow. Imprisoned and let to be infested by the spirit and the dark force of the bridge, Tshering Zangmo is believed to be dead, whining inside the dark cell.

It’s still believed that a person abducted is kept inside the dark cell under the bridge to please the spirit and the deity of the place so that the bridge will be protected by the dark force.

My grandparents used to say that Khegpas were just like us, but wore masks featuring different faces in order to hide their identity. I still wonder if they had seen one. And every time Khegpa, the Head Hunter becomes the talk of the town, it sends the people early inside their homes. Hunters would return home early. A hunt unsuccessful won’t be a problem amidst the fear of Khegpa, herders would bring their herd early, before dusk and nobody would travel far enough. But every night, village men, strong and bravest of all would guard the village at every entry and exit of the village with poison arrows and bows, even the sword.

We would feel safer in our homes.

But it is still a matter of wonder about why would they hunt heads and what makes the human head so significant that it is being hunted down every time there's new dam construction. But we don't have any significant documentation evidence to prove that whatever people say is true. And fact if it be, there would be countless head hunts because Bhutan's geographical landscape and hydroelectric projects have immense provisions of bridge, tunnel, and dam constructions, but the fear of Khegpa or the Head Hunter is very occasional.

But the fear associated with Head Hunter and the disappearance of people mightbe related to the stories we all heard as childrens.

Some stories still make us remember the tricks played by village men to capture the Head Hunters during the olden times.  By letting the children play outside to lure the head Hunters, it is said that the Head Hunters were shot with poisoned arrows from the hideout, capturing and killing them on the spot.

Or is it on the basis of another oral story, Khegpa or the Head Hunter comes into the limelight when a few people, who ran out of provisions at home spread the fear in people so that they get enough time and place to steal. Usually, during those fearful times, people tend to assemble and be in groups at large and spacious homes. This gives Khegpas or the head Hunters the best chance to steal.

Even though the stories of child abduction by so-called Khegpa is a fear in everybody's mind, how the human head becomes necessary at the dam and bridge construction is still a mystery.

The Award

A usual evening it was, on the 3rd of May. I was attending to the needful of my little hero; an evening bath.

“Chayku, you have a call,” shouted my wife from outside. I ignored it and just carried on having some fun with my son in the bathtub.

Just as I finished with my boy, I checked my phone and there it was.  A surprise indeed.

“Congratulations. You won an award!” the message read. It was from a colleague who went to attend the Fourth Annual Journalism Award at Namgay Heritage Conference Hall.

I was speechless and said nothing. Just smiled at my boy.

‘EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM’ for the ‘TALK SHOW of the YEAR.’ 

Such an honour! 

For a person like me who isn’t so familiar with awards and trophies, it was such an overwhelming moment. For every heart and soul I put in my work for the last three years, it really honoured me that somebody out there thought that my work deserves an award like this.

It’s my dream to be a journalist; explore the world telling stories and letting people know, it was something I thought was so brave to do. Ever since I joined BBS in 2015, all my dreams appeared infront of me, just like that. But the world I was going to work for was completely a bizarre one. New people, new technologies, different platform and the most competitive environment, I felt too small. And I let the waves carry me through any course it took.

The journey so far was tough, challenging, enriching and full of memories. Felt the jerks most of the times, encountered disgruntled faces, but those faces I met which kept smiling, encouraging and inspiring were the most wonderful times and it’s those faces that kept me going and working until this respite. And the break is finally a gorgeous one.

People today, especially young into the professions like me encounter so many situations. More than the good world that encourage, most of us are encircled in the vicious self-centered world, but it feels worth it, to cross every odd and achieve the goal, despite disgruntles and bars.

Journalists don’t have weekends, public holidays, special occasions and Losars and we can't make the most out of very little off days we get, but nobody talks about it, nobody complains and nobody cries foul because work is more important than foul cries and complains. Journalists get lots of pressure at home. Having to work during weekends, holidays and Losars is obviously a pain in the ***, but can’t cry either. During Losar celebrations, a family member is missing at the lunch table. That can either be a journalist, police, army, health workers, or few (which I can’t remember exactly). A painful scene indeed. But this is how we work and how we are happy.

The endnote, an award like this just proves that every hard work invested is worth it. Even though my colleagues are equally impressive and more talented, I guess luck favoured me this time and I am all grateful for the honour.

I would like to share this award with my wife Dawa Choden and my little boy Khamsum Padma Dradroel for not complaining while coming to work on during off-days and letting me be ‘Who I am,’ and all my colleagues at the BBS.

I thank everyone who BELIEVED in Me!

TEACHER

It was in the year 2001 when I first heard the word, ‘Teacher’s Day.’ I was in fifth standard then. When the head master of the school announced that the 2^nd May will be celebrated as teacher’s day, pupil went on whispering on each other’s ears, except the ones at the front of the line. They would not stir, let alone talk and whisper as they had the attention of every teacher in the assembly.

“Besides the usual celebration of the Birth Anniversary of the Third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, it’s the day to pay tribute and gratitude to your teachers,” the headmaster continued. And silence prevailed everywhere.

None of us in the school had a bit of clue about what was the day all about. And nobody had any idea of what should have been done. So it passed like the headmaster had never announced during the assembly. And exactly the same thing happened the following year; just nothing, but a day off from the study.

It was when I reached the seventh standard that I had the slightest clue about the day. 
A little contribution from each student for a small tea party and a simple gift as a token of gratitude to the teachers. We liked the idea of decorating the classrooms with chart papers with different wordings on it. 2^nd May started to have more sense since then. And I just realized how so dumb we had been during our primary school years.

So, Teacher’s Day, slowly it began to form the shape, colour and taste in our mind and the essence of the day was slowly getting into our bone marrow. And now I believe that each and every student understands what it is all about, that the simplest of the students’ efforts to show how grateful they are can move any teacher and bring tears in their eyes.

TEACHER, for Tenderness, Empowering, Able, Changer, Hardworking, Enriching and Resourceful, this is what I look up to for a teacher. A man I know closely once told me that every person who teaches something new or who shows the right path is a teacher. He need not necessarily has to come to school and sit with bunch of kids to be qualified enough for a teacher, but teacher, they are everywhere around us.

A teacher is poor yet rich. 

Poor because teacher doesn’t earn a good money out of the heavy work they do, but rich in knowledge. Knowledge to brighten the clouded minds of others. I know this because I had been a teacher once, in a far flung land of smiles, Thailand. Even though every bit of hard work a teacher puts deserves equal incentives, they are modest enough not to ask and fight for it, because the joy and pleasure they reap in educating the dumbest of minds is enough of reward.  If a teacher is paid for every extra work, then the teachers would become the richest in the entire world. But teachers, they are kind enough to let go and be kindest human ever. 

I have realized in those two years that the moment you decides to be a teacher, you decide to be a parent, a guardian, a master, a preacher, and lot more. Name what professions you may, being a teacher is being everyone, being the Universe.
  

In Bhutan teaching profession is considered cheap. Even in the job market, if there’s nothing left, we tend to opt for teaching profession, not by passion but under serious compulsion of being jobless.  But I say this, by taking the risk of becoming a teacher, we go one step further in life and we begin to rise. That’s it, the very first step in learning and imparting what we already know. Because by becoming a teacher, willingly or unwillingly, we begin to learn the road to perfection begins just by deciding to be a teacher.

I have heard people say this over and over again that ‘Teachers live poor life but they die Rich’ and this is the truest words of the wise ever.

"May the ignorance be cleared by a wise word of a teacher. May we all rise, together with our teacher." 

Cold War!

The year 2008, it hasn't been much of a time ever since we began the newest journey in the year; Ten years since, and very glad to still feel the sense of belonging to the past good years. I don't know if this is the feeling every citizen of Bhutan gets, but I have a lot stronger attachment to the past. Time is flying so fast, without the notice of a nostrils and the clearest of the eyesight. And a lot of things have happened in those 10 years.

It's 2018, ten years after the first-ever democratic election in Bhutan. Political parties are gearing up for the elections and people are trying their best to cast a vote still contemplating if it will be worth it, after all. 

While all goes well in the beginning after the election and victory, things begin to take turns toward the end of the Govt. tenure and the next election. A  lot of things came into the limelight in 2013, which directly or indirectly interfered with the election, almost the same trend has been following this time around too. Court cases, defamation, corruption, embezzlement, and misuse are some of the issues that come into the limelight every time the election approaches. Nobody can't deduce if whatever happens is politically motivated or is just because things come up as it is, but people have been watching everything that's happening around them. 

As is the nature of ruling and opposition, a lot of digging out has been done by both parties lately. Issues as old as five to ten years have been coming into the limelight, one side trying to spoil the image of the other and the other trying to defend. 

If this blame game is not a Cold War, what do we call this?

While the opposition and ruling have been playing a lot of blame game, other political parties are gearing up and taking advantage of the situation. And everyone's lips talk of this. 

While it is the trend that every democratic country watches, the people make their own choice but then with lots of doubt 'if who they vote for is the right one?'

The massacre!

THIS IS MASSACRE, NOT WAR!

Syria, who hasn't heard of this country? Excepting the little kids who are yet to learn the alphabet in the kindergartens and those in the far-flung remotest of places where television is still a dream, Syria still is an unheard place. Excepting this very tender group of people, almost everyone knows Syria. And sadly the place is known for its wide association with WAR and conflict. 

Unlike in the past, of times we have known, the recent tragedy in Syria rips a heart away. The massacre, people call it, Syrians have been trapped in the barrage of war. More than 700 people have been reported killed and the innocent children, hundreds of them are being killed.  

Oh, how heartless! 

It looks like heaps of harvested cotton let to dry in the sun. And just a moment before they were wrapped in white, they might have been a bunch of joys to the parents. And it's very hard to understand why they must pay for whatever reasons they are massacred for. 

And what is it that they are killed for? Don't really get it! If for terrorism, they just embrace life so they don't deserve to be killed, just like that. And it's such a shame to us human race for we lack the power to contemplate, think, and analyze. Where is justice that we talk so highly of? 

Leave the dead, even the injured can't go to hospital because several hospitals had been bombed, and few suspended the operations; this is Hell on earth. The reasons and justification can't be more serious and important than hundreds of innocent lives. Humans can't be inhuman to this extent. 

What reason is greater than life? What reason makes life so mean and killing so easy? And for what reasons are these innocent lives paying for? And more questions keep triggering our minds. The whole world is shocked, except for the ones who brought this hell upon the angels. 

And yet, no answers! 

This also gives us a moment to think how lucky we are in the land where we can smell peace and happiness from every corner, from every dewdrop, and from every grain of soil. Moaning the death of hundreds of innocents, we get to think at the same time, how peaceful the country we live in is and how we should not complain about trivial matters.

We could only pray that this never happens to them again and that you be reborn in the land of bliss. 

Bhutanese reality Shows!

Reality show, I am sure that the word means different genres of staged performances; like dancing, singing, acting, talents, writing, mimicry and lot others. Countries like Australia, Great Britain, US, and the closest to Bhutan, India do really showcase varieties of reality shows.

But in Bhutan, it's just singing, singing and singing. Because throughout the year it's just singing on BBS 2 and nothing else.

Initially we had Bhutan Star which was the master piece initiative of the legendary singer, actor, lyricist and a versatile man first, Ngedrup Dorji. And ever since, it has been just the singing.

Going with the exact number, we already have three singing reality show: Druk Super Star, Druk Gi Kalapingka, and Drinchen Phamai Sunkay, going round the year, turn wise. And beginning this year, we have an additional egg in the basket, The Voice of Bhutan and God knows how many more are on the verge of inception.

Does this mean one thing? That Bhutanese is filled with singers? Or the other, that Bhutan has hell lot of copy cat. Well, if that was an offensive statement, digest it because it's what the truth holds. In the name of upholding our sacred culture, this lucrative business has been quite the golden egg for the organizers; a good way of dragging people in front of TV every Saturday and Sunday.

By the way, is our culture all about singing? I guess not.

On the other hand, shows like 'Dzongkha Reading Skills' 'Lamsoel- as in Tangible and Intangible Culture' is really a good show and we need to promote this kind of shows.

Besides singing competition, it would be really a great show to bring out the most Talented actor, writer, lyricist, Bhutan Got Talent and many more. God knows how many more genres we haven't thought of now.

It's always good to have singing show but with all we have right now, and considering the audiences, the ratio is very very very unbalanced.And Bhutanese audiences need varieties.

Now have anyone been thinking about TRP - Telivision Rating Point? This gives us an index of the choice of people and also the popularity of a particular channel or show. Well we don't think about it. Infact, we don't care about it. producing and organizing a TV show should have this very concept of TRP, and only then we will be able to judge how good or bad the show is and every aspects related to it.

May be we aren't ready for this, because we are busy bringing in the flavour and styles of Indian reality show.

And it will take lot more years that we think before Bhutan can come up with our own show.

Bhutanese Fans mourns the death of K-Pop Singer

K-Pop and Korean lifestyles, who don't know in Bhutan. Korean lifestyle has a huge influence in our Bhutanese people, especially the youth. Music, dress, food, hairstyle, almost every bit of the youths' life in Bhutan has so much similarity. Which even gives the sense of Koreans' vibrant presence among us. 

If anybody takes a casual walk around Thimphu city, it's very obvious that Koreans alike Bhutanese youth are everywhere. 

Talking of which the recent tragic death of K-Pop singer Jonghyun of Shinee at 27 brought so much sorrow and pains in the hearts of Bhutanese youth. 

They even took it to the street, an open space to mourn the death of an accomplished singer, songwriter, and dancer, Jonghyun. 

In June this year, the first-ever KPop concert at the Changlingmethang National Stadium also gathered a large crowd, the highest gathering so far for a concert in Bhutan. In a concert, where the highlights were performance by world-renowned artist Park Jae-Sang, popularly known as PSY, and other K-Pop artists, Badkiz, Boys Republic, Girlfriend, Hwang Chi-Yuel; and Lovelyz, youth and old, child and mothers had a feast for their eyes. 

Rumour also had it that a few girls even fainted at the sight of their favorite K-Pop stars on stage in person. 

While Bhutanese youth have so much madness and likeness for K-Pop and their lifestyles and have influenced our youth at such a level, a question always arises, "How many more years before Bhutan becomes the next Korea? When they have taken to the open space to mourn the death of a K-Pop star, do we have to understand something from this?"

But I am sure, as Bhutanese first, one will also be greatly influenced by our bloodline, instincts, and consciousness, to be a citizen of Bhutan at the end of the day. 

Bhutan has more jobs than job seekers?

"Bhutan has more job vacancies than the job seekers registered with the Labour Ministry."

-Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay

Now this is something to think and talk about. The very first thing that comes into our mind is 'job.' What kind of thing or work is called 'job?' And the next instant people think like 'are the youths laying back, not registering with MoLHR? 

But an unemployed youth will always take a bigger consideration for the job, whether registered or not, because in one or the other the small population of our country is all connected  and all come to know about the jobs available in the market. Because it isn't really necessary if one is registered with the MoLHR or not. Or is anybody trying to defend the position here? 

Considering the ratio of the jobs available and the job seekers do we really have more jobs? Are we considering the kind of jobs available and the qualification of the job seekers. 

While it's true that Bhutan has jobs available but not many for the qualified people; especially the university graduates. It's through the experiences, through people whom I know and have good relations with that university graduates don't get jobs for their qualification. Seriously we can't expect a university graduate to work on the road as laborers, neither in the constructions sectors because these are skilled jobs. On contrary, if the skilled graduates from TTI (technical training institutes) talk about not having jobs, then it's something to talk about because Bhutan is undergoing vigorous development phase and jobs in these sectors are plenty i guess. But expecting a graduate to earn just three meals a day is not done and we just can't go on bragging we have enough jobs.

 Because the jobs we do compromise other necessary things, it is for this reason that youths always opt for high end jobs and remain jobless. Taking a consideration of the high inflation in the market, difficulty in getting comfortable accommodation, especially in the urban areas and other risk factors, the unemployment figure is always on the rise. Because we have countless youth unemployed, it's still not understood why nobody is doing anything on the most crucial thing; accommodation and the house rent in the urban areas. house owners keeps increasing the house rent every two years; that's what the law says while the salary and the remunerations remains stagnant. Youth don't want to do small jobs because they can't afford to live in such places where house rent and inflation is sky rocketing. 

And therefore we can't just simply study the figure and brag we have more jobs than the jobs seekers. 

If I have diverged from what i intended to write it's because lots of others things that matters are left unnoticed while we keep on defending our own right. 

SO WE ASK AGAIN, 'DO WE HAVE ENOUGH JOBS?'

O, Life

Thoughts never cease to flow
Of how beautiful you are.
Dear Life, with you, everything is heaven,
And every moment is a blessing, a joy.
How blessed I am that you are every breath I take.

You have me, and for that I am grateful.
I possess something beyond all worldly riches,
Something almost divine in its preciousness.
Perhaps I am one of the fortunate few,
For nothing is as beautiful as you, O Life.

Yet how strange that you chose someone like me,
One who could never have afforded your gift.
But you never chose between the rich and the poor;
You simply came, and for that I count myself blessed,
Though I may be small in this vast world.

You were harsh when I was still tender.
I grew like a wild cub, with little to wear,
And often I hated you for what you gave me.
Yet even then, beneath the hardship,
You remained that same beautiful Life.

You tested me in countless ways,
And I failed more times than I can remember.
Yet through every failure,
You taught me who I could become.
For nothing truly beautiful is born
Without first enduring a fall.

Do you still remember those nights
Of shivering cold and gnawing hunger?
When even a loaf of bread
Was a luxury beyond my reach,
And I was too poor to dream of such abundance.
Even then, you whispered your lessons
Through every empty stomach and sleepless night.

You watched me grow,
To wander, to dare, and to become wiser.
Whenever I broke apart,
You quietly showed me another path.
Each dawn carried the promise of better days,
And for a while, my heart knew only smiles.

But now your tests seem endless,
As though there is still something within me
You are determined to draw out.
I am weary of carrying these sorrows.
Why won't you show me the path
You once revealed so clearly?

Can you still see me now?
My cries grow fainter with each passing day,
And these sharp pangs of pain
Tear at the heart within my chest.
Why do I see only sorrow,
With hardly a moment of peace?

Or is this all my own doing?
Am I the architect of my suffering?
Still, I hold to one belief—
That your existence itself is a blessing.
If you have chosen to keep me,
Surely you have not forgotten me.
Surely there is still a better plan.

Why can I not bring contentment
To those who walk beside me?
Why does everything I touch
Seem destined to fade into disappointment?
Each day I grow weaker,
And I wonder how much more I can bear.
You are the Maker of this journey—
Will you not show me the way again?

Or perhaps, whisper to those who despise me
That life was never meant
For hatred, jealousy, or pride.
Teach them that we are all travellers,
Walking the same uncertain road,
And that the greatest farewell
Is one without regret.

No, I will not bring an end to you,
As some have done in despair.
For despite everything,
I still know how beautiful you are.

So I shall gather what little patience remains,
Stand quietly in the silence,
And wait for the day
When you once again reveal your light.

GIRL ON FIRE

WHY? 
Why on the earth she had to be set on fire? What kind of crime and sin deserves such a treatment? What could have provoked the man, the Ex, to set her on fire? 

These are some of the questions that trigger in people's mind when they heard the sad news of the 'Woman who was set on fire' by his ex-husband. The bitter pain is in imagining the excruciating pain from the burn. It's heart-wrecking. Whoever has been on the scene must have felt the cold stab in their heart to see a woman running in flames. T

he most horrible of the scenes mankind would ever watch! 

What kind of monster is he? The man who was nobody for her, for it was already a month since they separated had to be his Death. The strength of the issue might have been so serious that it triggered the man to burn his ex alive. Or was it not the issue and his uncontrolled mind that went haywire? Or did he intend to by any means burn her alive because the coronation park doesn't have kerosene outlet and the man had it already with him. 

The question here is why it happened and how it happened, but its about the incident that happened. It was such a disturbing incident. It could stay in the minds of people for days, weeks or even for years.   

And for the child, it might be what the fate has for her that she had to witness the most tragic incident in such a tender age. Without any crime, without any wrongdoings, she has to bear the pain and loss for the rest of her life. We could only pray that things go well for her. 

The incident would have shocked the world that things like this has become so rampant in a country where PEACE & HAPPINESS are the way of life. It also happened that a tourist was also on the scene and posted on social media about the incident. 

It was such a tragic incident that people of Bhutan get exposed to, and more intriguingly the child of the deceased. The only thing we could do for now is that such incidents never happen in Bhutan in future and that we be careful with people around, because anywhere, anything can possibly happen.

MAY YOUR SOUL RESTS IN PEACE!

Pay Revision - a nightmare call for the rest

Since the institution of Democracy in 2008 in Bhutan, we have had many chances to witness lots of interesting changes. While some were for the good and betterment of our country and countrymen, some were, as we can't expect everything to be so perfect, pretty unsatisfactory. 

Things come and pass, but some seem to have unending ripples in people's lives. And the daily basic happenings are the foremost thing that people consider, like inflation, salary, and generally the common and most important things that affect us. Salary, as bluntly as I can say, is the first thing for most of us and is an undeniable fact. 

The recent pay hike of 40% for all the local government leaders, except Thrompons proposed by the government is something to think about. Now another blunt statement from a commoner like me is, that this is a 'HUGE'  proportion. It's almost half of their monthly share. 

Because I say this on many grounds. I ain't an economist or budget professional, but whatever I write here is a very basic concern that can arise from this. A lot of public outcries have already been flooded on social media about it. People are crying foul over it and a large proportion of people are being disturbed. Many prefer to stay quiet, as our larger society is because they think that it isn't going to be any good. And here I gather my courage to say it all. 

And I am very sure that having said about the public outcry, I am not alone with this opinion. 

During the time of the pay revision for civil servants and corporate employees, thorough discussions were done in the parliament. It dragged through quite some time, not being able to come to a common consensus regarding the precise percentage the pay should be revised. And somehow, when it came through, many cried foul about it. Not all were satisfied with it though it had some additional value. And I guess it is because the pay revision was kept very minimal. 

People respected that many ground realities had to be considered - the debt, borrowings, budget outlay, and much more. 

But don't we see the same ground realities that should be considered here as well? 

The National Budget Report 2017 - 2018 which was released on Monday stated that Bhutan's public debt had hit 160.5 billion Ngultrum by June 30 last year, which is an increase of 39 billion Ngultrum from the 2015 figure. How did we forget this, when so much consideration in the pay revision, as high as 40% was done? 

Besides, this is going to affect the mentality of civil servants and corporate employees. And not beating around the bush, this is going to hurt them to a new high level. I am sure that the same is being thought by all. 

I am also sure that everyone understands how important LG leaders and their responsibilities are. This is very well taken care of, but this should not demean the job responsibilities of other employees in the civil service and other sectors with such a differentiating difference when it comes to salary revision. Expenses in the urban areas are skyrocketing - house owners keep increasing the rents yearly and nothing is being done, vegetables are being sold at the prices wished by the vendors and very little is being taken care of, transportation is becoming more expensive, but incentives have the pace that of a tortoise. 

After all, it's quite the contradiction that our system delivers. 

The Last Snow Fall

The last snow fall, I don’t remember when it was

Might be around last December, when we rejoiced

I see rain and cold still lingers, but no snow fall

The ground is wet, yet it’s just the hard rock and soil

The last snow fall, I don’t remember when it was

For now, the season has come and the sky still clear

I look up every moment, there isn’t sign of one

Peeping out of the window every morning is a disgrace

The last snow fall, I don’t remember when it was

Buds from the trees are sprouting, and seeds germinating

Chirps of the birds have reigned the sky, and the crickets too

But even a crystal of snow didn’t touch my feet

If not today, frail drops shall shower on me tomorrow

And I shall find the joy I lost for a moment time

But how in this warming soil will it see a landing place

No, I am living in the phantom of dreams

If not tomorrow, whence will I get the snowfall?

The thing so dear to me and one I dreamt so long

I long to muddle with the soft end of your touch

And shall my cheeks be painted red in white

And my boots still enclosed inside my wardrobe

The fluffy coat no longer serves any purpose now

Putting on my cozy hat, I stand by the window pane

Thinking you might come with full of surprises.

Beacon of Tomorrow

 .... to our Prince on His 1st Birth Anniversary....

As though the sun has risen from afar

My home glitters with the rays of hope

Our wings, rested on the colorful joy

The beacon of legend has risen over horizon

Such greatness of the Name, has been long called

The ripples still afloat the hearts of all

Whilst the joy peek through the trunk of ecstasy

I, a humble servant, greets Thee with all the love

May I call Thee, the promise of tomorrow?

The hope, we cling close to our tender hearts

Such a name, even the Thames can’t afford to make

Let me sail, and rejoice through the vales of joy

Oh! The great one, who hath for us all come

Thou greet us with smile, such of a priceless

It gives us pleasant ride, through the meadows of love

I garland Thee with all the love and prayers

I see now, the vales have turned themselves up to Thee

And so the Rivers, the brooks, and the streams

Hum the name of a Legend, who has adorned my home

The Nile, as holy as it is, has taken thy name in its song

 

Dear Lord, the one of unfathomable touch of greatness

Thy Midas touch shall be proved the holiest of elixir

Time shall stand still, to watch Thee perform miracles

Your one touch shall have the golden goose born

Thou art one, who shall defy the law of fall

All I see is the carpet of bliss and joy

That shall meadow the land of peace

I submit to thy feet, Oh, the great one!

Fearless, as thou stand, it shield us from terror

Thy great mastery promises victory over any evils

The power in thy possession shall triumphant us all

The dynasty shall ride further, high with pride

The flag of the dragon, as it flutters in the wind

It sings the song of tranquil, passes me a great comfort

The roar of the dragon, to the far and wide heard

I held my head high, salute to the jewel of this land

  

Thy reign will be a home for countless hearts

Thou shall lead us through the path of greatness

Thy deed shall sanctify us though boundless times

Bless me more, for I can serve my duties better

My heart melts to behold Thee rise higher each day

Oh Lord! I must make pledges with delight

Come what may, but I, an honest servant to thy land

Vow to serve Thee, lead me to the perfection

 ....May you LIVE LONG my Prince....

RIPPLES of DEMONETIZATION -We, the creator of our own Mess

'Indian Rupees (INR) are once again being illegally sold across the border. Both Bhutanese and Indian nationals in need of INR are paying between Nu 108-112 for INR 100.'
                                                                                                                   Source: Kuensel (December 26,2016)

Ever since the Demonetization of INR 500 and 1000 in India on November 8, Bhutanese people have been bearing the brunt of insufficient INR all these days, and it is going to happen for quite some time. The Royal Monetary Authority receives INR 130 million every week from India, but the figure is still too less. The demand has far exceeded the supply. 

RMA says that majority of the people coming to exchange INR are those going for pilgrimage in India and Nepal. And due to insufficient INR, RMA has come up with a lucky-dip idea where only limited number of people only gets to exchange. The worst of all, people gets into the Que near RMA's office as early as 2 am. Even the children are not spared. Parents also have been bringing their children so that their chances to get the admission inside the money counter is high. 

Isn't this a big shame on our mentality? Don't we have lots to learn?

It is very much agreed that we depend a lot to INR because we import more. We depend more to India, even for as small thing as Salt. It is very much agreed that INR is must for our daily well being and even survival is very difficult without INR, as we are much dependent on imports. But we could save ourselves from running into and getting victimized by lots of un-necessary commotions. 

Yes, that's well stated. We could save ourselves.  

Since when this pilgrimage has become necessary for us? It's a thing to wonder. I don't discourage anybody in going to pilgrimage. Infact I possess no right to do so. I am neither activist nor a bargain on anything, but this very small mentality worries a lot of us. Considering these very petty things, we forget a bigger picture and a more bigger concern. Health, for instance is a pressing issue for us all. As stated earlier, we very much depend on other countries and health facilities is one of them. A friend of mine has already delayed her medical treatment (surgery) in India because she can't avail INR that easily. 

How many more such cases might be pending, because we care less about others?

Bhutanese are very passionate pilgrimages, right? The Kuensel edition on December 26, 2016 reveals a story about Ngultrum Value falling in Phuntsholing. A 100 note of INR is being sold at 120 Ngultrum in Phuntsholing. This is a disturbing news. How far are we going to go on like this? Doesn't this tell a lot of stories about our economy? Our carelessness? and our mentality? 

Bhutan is the Last Shangrilla  and The Last Buddhist kingdom.  We have heard, read, experienced and know it ourselves. Bhutan has enough sacred places, more sacred that what we think, enough to be the wonderful and satisfying site for pilgrimage. But, why it has been long forgotten? It's a big irony here that the world looks up to Bhutan for being so sacred and we,  flock down for pilgrimage. 

I fear that we are losing our own identity. 

And what good does it bring by getting INR illegally, serving black duties and going for pilgrimage? 

Chilli was the most talked matter a very few months back. People we literally crying for not getting chilli at the vegetable markets. The absence of the chilli was deeply moaned, and now it's the INR. I am wondering what surprise awaits next!!!