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.

Happy Mother's Day!

Second Sunday in May is always observed as the "Mother's Day" in the United States of America. In order to mark this special day, mothers are gifted with varsities of gifts (cards), chocolates, flowers, and many more by their respective children. Even better, as the sun perishes beyond the horizon and the light starts drowning in the the floods of darkness, members of the family slowly gather together and start preparing for a delicious dinner to end the day.

"The first attempts to establish a "Mother's Day" in the U.S. were mostly marked by women's peace groups. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War. There were several limited observances in the 1870s and the 1880s but none achieved resonance beyond the local level.

In 1868 Ann Jarvis created a committee to establish a "Mother's Friendship Day" whose purpose was "to reunite families that had been divided during the Civil War", and she wanted to expand it into an annual memorial for mothers, but she died in 1905 before the celebration became popular. Her daughter Anna Jarvis would continue her mother's efforts.

In New York City, Julia Ward Howe led a "Mother's Day" anti-war observance on June 2, 1872, which was accompanied by a Mother's Day Proclamation. The observance continued in Boston for about 10 years under Howe's personal sponsorship, then died out.

Several years later a Mother's Day observance on May 13, 1877 was held in Albion, Michigan over a dispute related to the temperature movement. According to local legend, Albion pioneer Juliet Calhoun Blakeley stepped up to complete the sermon of the Rev. Myron Daughterty who was distraught because an anti-temperance group had forced his son and two other temperance advocates to spend the night in a saloon and become publicly drunk. From the pulpit Blakeley called on other mothers to join her. Blakeley's two sons, both traveling salesmen, were so moved that they vowed to return each year to pay tribute to her and embarked on a campaign to urge their business contacts to do likewise. At their urging, in the early 1880s, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

Frank E. Hering, President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, made the first known public plea for "a national day to honor our mothers" in 1904." (Source: Wikipedia)

Today is May 8, 2011 (the second Sunday in May of 2011) and here I am sitting in my room, alone. No plan. No chocolates. No flowers. No nothing. But this is not the first time I am missing my mother. I have been away from her for approximately four successive years now. My mother means everything to me. Since the passing of my father, she has undertaken the dual role of parenting, both as a mother and father. 

In my little world of education, she, although illiterate, has earned the doctorate in loving, caring, feeding, sheltering, and guiding me. If it was not for her continuos dedicated pursuit in providing me with hopes to aspire, goals to accomplish, tasks to challenge, pains to endure, memories to cherish, and many other, then I honestly doubt if I would have ever made this far on my own. For that, even if I thank her for gazillion times, it would still lack the rich nutrients of gratitude and payback. 

Until I return home sweet home, I pray to Aeolus to fly across the vast ocean, down the valley, up the mountains, through the fogs, by the rivers, and yet successfully deliver my words of "I love you" and "Thank you for everything" to my beloved mother. 

Happy Mother's Day ma! (Aie Ge Nyim Lu Tashi Delek Yoed)          

To read an interesting article of Mothers' Day by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Nicholas D. Kristof (journalist/Op-Ed columnist for The Times since 2001), visit    >>> Beyond Flowers for Mom <<<