Mistaken for TAXI Day?

With the improved and advanced health facility, the growth rate of world population is on hike even though the means to educating people about the benefits of having smaller family is given equal and due importance. Such rise is definitely leading to rise in ravenous greed of every individual for feeding or presentation of oneself. It is us – the human being – that is disturbing the Mother Nature and inviting all sorts of calamities – big or small. While some remain negligent about their naivety, there are others who are worrisome and already back on their horses educating their kind on the impacts from smokes or any other elements (contributing to natural hazard) to the environment and people, eventually. Countries across the globe are exploring the urgency and need in paying a serious heed to such threats and most have already placed proper precaution or generated awareness for the well being of people and conservation of clean environment that needed to be handed down the coming generations.

Bhutan has also been doing the same, if not similar. First came the banning of smoking and chewing tobaccos. Then, of recent, observing every Tuesday as the Pedestrian Day. It is always a thrill to invoke and truly analyze for yourself whenever an ‘alien’ is born in human town. There were voices of likes and dislikes of observing Pedestrian Day to which I remained a complete negligent. However, an hr ago, I ran into a random conversation with two of my friends that somehow led to and ignited about the Pedestrian Day. 

After breaking up with our conversation, we headed our own ways. I made my way to home but the words we shared about the Pedestrian Day kept ringing back as though someone inside my head kept replaying that very conversation. Now, that I am sitting on this not-so-comfy-chair and trying to scribble down something I should let it out, I am beginning to mull over and question if Tuesdays are merely Pedestrian Day for I see lots of yellow-painted-roof with four wheelers “TAXI” making rounds everywhere I land my eyes on? May be “Taxi Day” might be a better substitute and best -nym given for Tuesday. And one more thing, if almost equal or equivalent numbers of vehicles move around as much as pedestrians, then I am afraid yet compelled to confront that this is NOT a Pedestrian Day. In fact, we are observing taxis’ everywhere. Hence, and for logical reasoning and in my opinion this day better be observed as TAXI Day. 

Pedestrian Day is becoming hassle and causing perplexity among the private wheel runners and police personnel who always seem on uneasy-feeling-duty whenever the former try trespassing via restricted routes, the latter objects and make the wheel turn around and head the direction it came from. From my observation, irrespective of what mood the private wheel runners wear initially, the objection and NO ENTRY signal by police personnel into restricted routes compels those behind the wheel to take up the look of and throw few words of dissatisfaction that can be only lip read and not heard. 

As much as I am commendable about the Government ushering and introducing such brilliant contribution towards the conservation of environment and reduction of fuel expenses during such crucial hr of crisis – the rupee crisis, I am of equivalent stand that the synonym given to Tuesday is less pragmatic and mere delusion.   

If we are to truly observe the Pedestrian Day, then all wheels, exceptional being ambulances and fire brigades that too under emergency act, should be free of its wheelers and ONLY PEDESTRIANS should be on move – either for the entire day or specified length of hr in a day. Then, hands in air, hats off, we are indeed observing the Pedestrian Day.  

p.s This article was written on Tuesday at 12:30ish in the afternoon. Due to some technical error, the uploading and publishing was deferred.

Fish Bone Stuck In My Throat

Source: Google Image

Not so amusing but a fish bone got stuck in my throat while having lunch yesterday. I tried reaching it with my fingers - index and thumb, but was to no avail. I went to hospital 'Emergency Department' and told a doctor but apparently he was frigging busy 'mostly chit chatting' and I was asked to wait outside. I waited for an hr with much optimism that as long as that fish bone is pulled out I should walk out of that door - happy with an easy feeling. However, the doctor either forgot or has ignored me. When I showed up to him again, he had that look as if I was consulting him for the first time and asked, "Yes, what is it?" So, guess what? I had to repeat all over again…the fish bone getting stuck in my throat... Surprisingly, he still seemed least worrisome about my situation and to which he asked a ‘brother’ to take a look at it. I followed brother to ‘dressing room’, where I was offered a stool to sit on and a lamp was pulled closed to my wide opened mouth. He tried pulling out the fish bone but was barely able to see where it was stuck in the first hand. Finding no help, I had to return home. The night was sleepless with the bone constantly poking. Drinking water was just another pain to add.

Not long enough, the sudden pain in my throat from the bone again disturbed my sleep. And I woke up to find the sun was already up. The pain was no better yet I continued with my morning ‘wash up’. By then, my mom had the breakfast ready to be served, which was always the case. So, I grabbed a mug and plate, filled both with ‘suja’ and rice. Even while I was eating, I could still feel the bone poking. And you may call this magic but when I was done with my breakfast I found out that the bone that has been poking overnight and morning finally disappeared. It was as though a prank was pulled onto me by one of my ‘never-nice-friend’.

So, I am not sure if I should be worrying in consulting a doctor to make sure the bone is not there for once and all?   

The Naked Dzongkhag

Sunday is an extended day for a family or friends in planning to get together and do something exciting/relaxing. Usually, it is occupied with picnics, offering of prayers, 'karmey' and 'nyenda' in lhakhang, or simply making a round in town for shopping purpose or just to hang out. However, the Sunday of June 24, 2012, for the residents of Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag was no 'extended day'. Rather it brought a dismay from witnessing a tragic strike hard leaving their Dzongkhag naked.  

Source: PaSsu
(According to some sources, the fire
broke out from the entrace door)

It was the Sunday when the third oldest and historic monument/fortress called Wangdu Phodrang Dzong , which once stood tall on the ridge where Phochu-Mochu and Dangchu rivers meet and flows as one happily united river, was gutted to ground with an unstoppable blaze that started around 4 p.m. (BST) and raged onto midnight or even later without any sign of mercy. Today, June 25, 2012, the nation mourns for its great loss. Well, on the contrary, the nation is also happy to learn that all sacred relics have been successfully rescued and is in safe hand/place. This is yet another history in making.

This is not the first tragedy of its kind we are witnessing. There were many and to name one, Taktshang (Tiger's nest), believed to be one of the most saved and sacred treasure, was razed to ground. However, not long enough, the monastry was rebuilt while still retaining its original architecture. Even so, watching Wangdue Phodrang Dzong engulfed in blaze - helpless - and as I blog this simply gives me goose bumps and chill yet dead feeling at heart.

Building of Wangduephodrang Dzong by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel on the ridge that assimilates like the trunk of a sleeping elephant, as the tale goes, started in 1638 and after a year long, in 1639, the construction completed. Going by the history, the Dzong was caught in fire once in 1837 causing a major damage and later in 1897, an earthquake added another damage. Of late, in 2011, there were minor damages by yet another earthquake. All the damages caused were renovated to its original structure within the quickest possible time span. However, the damage we are witnessing this time will not only cost the nation a huge expense but also a lasting disheartening moment in addition to good amount of time in successfully re-erecting the Dzong back to its originality that rested 'on the trunk of a sleeping elephant'. 

Source: Facebook (After approx an hr or two of fire breakout in evening)

Source: BBS (The fire still eating the Dzong late late night)

The very cause of  the fire breakout is still a mystery, although some say it started from a short circuit, a nearby saw mill, or someone might have set on fire deliberately. Whatever the cause was, the treasure either "flew into sky or  is drawned under soil", as Mr. Karma Dorji, reporter of BBS, reports LIVE with a deep saddened tone. "It was as if the sleeping elephant that carried the fortress was standing up and shaking off the dzong it carried for centuries." (Kuensel, June 24, 2012.) 

Today, Monday, June 25, 2012, I join the nation in mourning for the great loss of our almost 400 years old monument, the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.  

Before razing to ground by the unstoppable blaze

Source: Yeshey Dorji (Photographer and blogger. Photo taken 7 months ago)

Source: Google Image

Reminded & Disturbed

Introduction of Tobacco Control Act has been a long time controversial amongst the Bhutanese and quite an awestruck for the first time foreign hearers, rising of tax on alcohol beverages was another hit. Although, most voices are disappearing now in contrast to few months ago, I am still bogged and often ponder if the legislation passed was satisfying enough to replenish the greed of every individual in considering it as equitable. Anyway, below are some of my lingering thoughts and one shall not take into a matter of serious concern as to if I am right or wrong. This is my lone opinion and does not in any manner provoke in defying any individual, organization, or nation at large.   

Source: Google Image

The Government of Bhutan has taken a very huge leap in introducing the Tobacco Control Act and may be the first nation to ban smoking in public areas. The smokers with valid licenses are restricted to smoking in permissible areas like ‘smoking room’. While the majors (rich or high ranked) are less affected, the minors (residing in remote areas or who are backed by poor financial) are striped off their long time availed luxury of buying from nearby shop and smoking anywhere and anytime they whim for. The locals seldom produce any tobacco substances on their own and needs to be constantly dependent on imports by the shoppers, who on varying intervals make a visit to India or Bangkok staking their life at risk for the prize of reaping some profits. According to the Tobacco Control Act, 2010, no individual is allowed to buy tobacco or tobacco products for selling purposes. A person is entitled to importing “200 sticks of cigarette/bidi or 30 pieces of cigar or 150 grams of other tobacco and tobacco products” per month for self-consumption only (Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations, 2011). However, with building pressure from the people the Tobacco Act has been amended once. Although majority of the rules still remain intact to the original, individuals can now consume almost the double in retaliation to its initial permissible quantity. In addition, importer shall pay '100% Sales Tax if imported from India' and '100% Sales Tax and 100% Customs Duty if imported from countries other than India' and that again for self-consumption only (Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations, 2011). Due to all such restrictions and impositions, the businesses of shoppers are becoming hideous. While some find secretly burying in rice is helpful, there are others who consider hiding below car seat cushion is smarter way to cheat law. Because of all such hardships and risks a shopper has to endure, the prices have hiked double the initial when smoking was permissible and no such law was passed.

Source: Google Image

Nonetheless, it’s quite another story to see people still smoking in areas that are considered forbidden and threatened if caught red handed. There are many incidences where I spotted people with varying ages smoking in snooker rooms, hotels, and in the middle of town. It is also fascinating to see people ‘possibly big shots’ driving big loaned cars, smoking freely in the middle of town as they pass by policemen without the slightest of hinge that they are breaching the very young law that is in action. Alas! Policemen seem least, if not at all bothered by such situation either. So, the question is, whom the law is actually bended to?       

It would always come as astonishment if I ever come across someone who just quit smoking because a law has come into action and he/she is strictly obliged to being patriotic. I still see people in possession of smoking about the same, if not more numbers of sticks of cigarette every day. So, I am not really sure how effective the ban on tobacco or tobacco products is momentarily or long down the road.

Of late, I have been reminded and disturbed by the “Under Age” restriction policy for smoking and drinking as well. If government is willing to expend tens and thousands of money in formulating and implementing new laws of a kind that has similar consequence of the ones already existing in a nut shell, then why is under age smoking/drinking not looked into as a serious matter? This law or rather policy has been passed for years yet at the moment it simply seems undermined. Involvement of youths in battering, smuggling, robbing, intruding, murdering, and etc. are at serious hike and the very prominent factor/stimulus being the consumption of alcohol and tobacco substances. Yes! The government is also trying to minimize the consumption of alcohol by raising its import tax. However, the consumers seem to be again least, if not at all bothered. I am starting to draw the conclusion that whatever the law or imposition government is trying to intervene with for the interest and well being of every individual and preservation of environment, the heed and appreciation from general public is minimum. The only hope I can cling onto is foster the under age restriction of consumption of alcohol/smoking and not add unnecessary laws that would intrigue individuals in improvising towards performing actions that would bring direct/indirect impact to the society as a whole.    

The Absolute Refine Key

Perfection is the ultimate goal that all, if not most, human beings would aspire to attend. But what is the key to perfection? The key that would unlock many locks of perfections. These locks are not the ordinary ones that we find in hardware stores. Not even the local made ones. Despite the complexities, mazes, and varying differences in locks, it requires one ‘absolute refine’ key to unlock all – the key that would unlock the locked worlds of wisdom, intelligence, literature, science and arts, humanity, and what not. But who is this absolute refine key?

After much awaiting, commitment, and enhancement, Ministry of Education will be fitting in this day (May 2, 2012) as the last piece to the puzzle ‘Sherig Century – hundred years of modern education in Bhutan and its contribution to nation’ (Bhutan Observer). Teachers are the nation builders. I hear this phrase every often that at times I pay no heed or is forgotten. May be this is the very reason why today is observed as “TEACHERS DAY”, which also marks as one fundamental accomplishment in the history of modern education since its introduction in 1913 by Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck. Today is the day where I am bestowed with an ample opportunity in reflecting upon the bygone school/college days and show my appreciation by rejoicing or sharing of gifts. The days of toiling during the last few days prior to sitting for exams, the days of finding myself in cold feet for loosing textbooks, the days of anticipating for better academic results, and most important of all the days my teachers (irrespective of what culture background they hail from) taught me; how to read and write, numbers are distinct from alphabets, Dzongkha and English are two important subjects, engaging in outdoor/indoor activities are equally important as studying. These are few among many others that I am happy to name.

Image Source: Google Image

Teachers are believed to be always on their toes making sure they have right and saturating answer to every possible question the students might raise. Teachers also have the ability in understanding a language that requires an eye to see beyond what was seen, an ear to listen beyond what was heard, a heart to endure beyond what was endured, and a soul to feel beyond what was felt when placed in predicament. If none of these are accentuated then the probability of misjudgment should not summon as surprise. Even if it did, then the only hope left is, as many say, whatever happens it happens for good.

I am a dreamer. I say so because I dream of becoming one of the best teachers in Bhutan. I know and already foresee the path to becoming the best teacher is not so welcoming and hindrances from every nook and corner are very expected. I want to bring the change by filling up the loopholes our modern education still lacks. But one should not mistake me for I am not trying to stand my ground by demeaning or discrediting the Ministry of Education/Royal University of Bhutan/teachers/lecturers for all the best they are contributing and hours they are toiling in bringing us to this far. Now, it is my solemn duty in taking the modern education at least a step higher. This might sound little alarming or early or not so feasible but introducing of varieties of chronological small-scale research activities in schools would prepare them towards independent learning/college. From my own experience, independent learning plays a vital role than dependent learning (teacher-dependent) for one minor search/study links to exploration of other major areas of study. It might be little/more time consuming but we should not be ignorant of adage that journey to success is never smooth. There are many other alluring activities that are still lingering in the back of my head. When the time is right and I am in the right place, I shall bring it to life.

Change could be misleading if not examined and executed smartly. Change is what teachers bring in their students. Thank you to the teachers that have brought changes in me viz. academically, sociologically, psychologically, cognitively, and physically. Today, with all my heart, hands in the air, smile across my face, I can proudly say “TEACHERS” are the absolute refine key that unlocked many perfect doors and shaped me into what I am now. Happy Teachers Day.