History that I'll Remember - I

Bhutan, the land of thunder Dragon, is best described and also known as the land of happiness where development strategy is driven with Gross National Happiness (GNH). The story I am going to narrate has happened when I was kid and when the philosophy of GNH was not into action. 

I enjoyed the unique preparation and honor for the first time in my life for the Rinpochhe, Chabjay Drodrup Rinpochhe who is currently at Gantey Goenpa, Sikkim. His eminence, Rinpochhe visited Yarphu community. As a kid, it was bother less for me to know about religion and politics but I was there with my parents to receive blessings from the Rinpochhe. The celebration and blessing were immense and all the people were incalculably happy. I, as a little naughty boy just enjoyed the beautiful preparation and honor for the Rinpochhe. 

Since then due to the initiative of the community and the Rinpochhe’s compassion, the monasteries of Yarphu and Shugung were constituted as the Buddhist College, Sheadra. The left out children of the community as cow boys and helpers at homes were admitted as monk. 

The year was 1993 or 1994 when I was in class two. I can’t clearly state reasons why and how it happened? But it happened! It may be because our main state religion is Drukpa Kajue. We consider it as our main or state Buddhist religion in our country which has loads of historic significance and validity to live it as our religion specifically. But the particular year brought tears to the devotee and the monks of the community. 

I was not definite when it first begun, but I clearly remember when it ended. It was misery for the already admitted monks and to the locality as a whole. When I knew, already big building for monks were constructed and used as an accommodation in Yarphu Shaedra. A new building which was twenty to thirty meter long was under construction at Shugung Shaedra. With full support and hard work of the villagers it was successfully accomplished and ready to use as an accommodation for monks.

Dodrup Rinpochhe is Ngyingma master. When every masters/Rinpochhe in religious discourse admit - it doesn’t subject what religion you follow but the master of our body – mind matters irrespective of Ngingma, Kajue, Tersar you follow etc...  But why this big discrimination? May be it was national issue, but I am still waiting for the right answer for otherwise in their wish of irrespective religion. Yes the history told me the civil war in the country was mainly due to different religions and due to the fact of every master’s wish to flourish their own religion in the region. 

Dodrup Rinpochhe

The day was fine and one afternoon, when I saw a bald man with three policemen. From my grandmother I knew that he was Dzongrab (Asst Deputy Administrator). I didn’t know the reason for his sudden visit! We need to prepare a lot for officials’ visit otherwise. After an hour I saw few monks loitering around Yarphu primary School with their robe tight around waist nonsensically. And I saw few policemen walking to and fro in front of the monastery. Still the reason wasn’t clear for me as a little kid who doesn’t know to intone numerical from 1 to 100. 

Both Sheadras were closed forever. Days passed with all monks were left in respective home as farmer. The new buildings built were left in vain. All most everything seemed blank for them and villagers too. They could not go against the will of government but left only option to follow their great master to Gantey Goenpa, Sikkim. Many of them went there to pursue and fulfill their dreams to cram religion in life.

From then what followed beyond my village and school were not known until yet Rinpochhe left permanently to Sikkim.

Lhakhangs were taken care by the local with directive from the government but not the buildings that was built for the monks. It was sad to see the building collapse bit by bit. And elders used to shed tears looking at the collapsing and uncared building. The very atypical observation was the building collapsed bit by bit only on the auspicious occasions. It was a wonder for the entire locality. It is the power of religion, they use to say. And a statue in Shugung Lhakhang still changes its position, as said and observed by few. 

Statue of Guru that turn it's position

From then Bhutanese followed Rinpochhe and every year thousands of Bhutanese visit Gangtey Goenpa. 

Still the stigma of forbidden and derelict building is in the mind of old people in the village of Yarphu and Pangthang. 

Serga Mathang

An attempt to translate the song Lay la dey khan Mathang by Ata Yeshi. Hope I haven’t diverted from the real meaning of the song. 

Walking mildly away from the distant place

Is the beautiful Serga Mathang of mine?

Turn one time to have a glance.

The destined loving khodkin of yours’

Don’t let him feel poignant.

Galloping like the mild horse in best of your walking style,

Is my beloved Serga Mathang.

Better than the precious gem of the earth,

Think and reorganize the stature of me.

Slim is thy precious body like that of model,

Eyes like that of an angel of heaven,

Adorn with such beauty and novelty;

You walk like a mild gorgeous angel.

Image source: https://goldentimelover.wordpress.com/

Walking mildly away from the distant place

Is the beautiful Serga Mathang of mine?

Turn one time to have a glance.

The destined loving khodkin of yours’

Don’t let him feel poignant.

You are my Serga Mathang,

Do you have the intellect to think?

Think beyond the limitation of asset and ethnics.

When faith destine to merge us together,

That is why I love you further.

Give the best to think over the matter,

And talk with best to handle with me.

Don’t stay at a far flung place,

Think over and come nearer to my place,

Better than the thoughts of our parents

Let us merge to form unity.

Walking mildly away from the distant place

Is the beautiful Serga Mathang of mine?

Turn one time to have a glance.

The destined loving khodkin of yours’

Don’t let him feel poignant.

Heaven of Happiness

From the heaven of thy presence I can hear the shower of blessings coming in. I am not your fan. I am not your brain. I am not your enemy. I am the one that’ll stand all alone for the defense of your state. 

No one will try to destroy your stature. No one will say untrue about you. No one will be allowed to murmur nonsense about you. 

In the aroma of your walk to and fro, I see the little flowers happy and adorn with morning dews and freshness of morning scent. The roses say hi. The daffodils say hello. The sunflowers say, this way. And I say; you may. Thus your journey to your destiny – office is wonderful. 

I am not a banana. I am not apple. I am not peach. I am not chili. I will not be victim of monkey. I will not be victim of Einstein. I will not be victim of Bhutanese Ama datse lovers. I am just the seed inside that wherever it is thrown away; I will try for to erupt from somewhere again and show my budding talent to the world. 

I am not Gasa Lamai Singye. You are not Changyuel Bumo Galam. We are not who they were. You won’t die for me. I won’t die for you. If you die I won’t jump in the fire of your funeral. I will try to endure the pain in silence. 

You won’t deny me. I won’t be alone. You won’t reject me. I won’t be sad. You will not say bye. I will not say take care instead I will utter, see you soon. Feelings will be high. I won’t sigh. You won’t bias our feelings for you are angel on earth. 

I don’t have Mercedes. I don’t have big bungalows. I don’t have bullock carts. I don’t have horse too. I have an old honest elephant. We will go for slow and steady ride in the middle of the thick jungle of loneliness. You will not lead. You will not be afraid. I will not lead the way either. I will let to lead the way. He is an honest brother for me. Trust me that we are cared by him in this thick jungle. 

You say I am selfish. You say I don’t know the tactic to bait fish. You were afraid when I show you the long big fish hooked and you screamed and hugged me for help. How lucky you are for you didn’t slip away from the slippery sea stones. You are so cute in your smile. You struggled to fight my strength like a fish but you failed and I can’t forget your angst still. 

My arms aren’t warm. My bed isn’t comfy. My home isn’t well furnished. I am not well-off. You aren’t choosy. You aren’t moody. I am happy with you. You are happy with me. We are happy together. Look their! Our kids are happily playing in the sand. 

“Come in lets have dinner. It is getting late”, I said. You came with little son like me in your right hand and little daughter like you in your left hand. You are a good mother. And we are happy family together.

The Hospital Drama

For about two days I was having an intermittent abdominal pain. At first I made up my mind to neglect the pain. But the preconditioned of my friends suffering made me to hurry to the hospital. I doubted appendixes or intestine blockage.  

At around 10 am I reached the hospital. The line was not so long and I thought many people today are lucky that they are fine and safe.  After few minutes in the queue I got my OPD card and I was asked to go to chamber number 5.  Thinking of my busy schedule with project and seminar I rushed to the chamber. 

I was puzzled at first sight. Next to chamber number 6 was chamber number 5. There was long queue, some leaning their shoulder on the wall, babes crying hard with excuse to take him out from the hot surrounding, elderly supporting on the walking stick and few over makeup ladies making their post on the chair. Everything was zigzag.  I was in dilemma over where to stand to be in queue. 

After many minutes of waiting and extended to an hour, people started rushing. There was no doctor in chamber number 6 and that’s why the zigzag line was formed. We were just having patience of long wait in the hot with nuisance of crying kid and scolding of few rowdy parents.  

One after another the line was shortening and one by one with less frequent, the line was trying to elongate. 

After a while of bearing me among the mothers, two ladies with same complexion joined the line. Within few seconds they couldn’t bear the patience to be in queue. They were raising their heads as if a cow is looking for a lost calf hidden in the bush. 

We were standing for our turn to come. Nobody was enjoying the luxury of being in line but it is the truth in action that one needs to follow. It was silly on her confident to drive a wedge between us. Almost everyone was murmuring and the total silence broke out. She just broke the line and went to get her part done fast. 

Everyone was not happy. I was not happy. Mothers with sick babies were not happy. Elderly men with walking stick were not happy. But my values pressurized me to control myself. 

I am not same like other. We aren’t alike in personality and appearance. Immediately a young man raised his voice to complain the grudge in him to the lady. He was nice. He requested her not to break the line and instead wait in patience to her turn though his face shows his anger. It was unexpected for such dirty and heartless answer from the lady. She shouted to shut him up. And she even went to the extent of pointing finger to the man. They argued and quarrel for awhile and in between I was losing my temper. It was an astonishing bitchy character. 

I thought legally I will be definitely wrong to slap such callous bitch. Ethically, certainly I will be right to knock her down. But I controlled myself. 

Congratulation to the New Cabinet Ministers

It is indeed great and jovial for Bhutanese to see the second batch of elected competent cabinet ministers after so many allegations between two parties.  I, with immense appreciation congratulate the ten ministers and wish loads of luck in their future seem challenging endeavor.  Now people are taking turn to allege the new Prime minister for failing what he promised during campaign. Mr. Leki Dorji didn't make to be minister of Information and Communication. May be it is for the change and cause. 

I can’t think what is happening with the society and sometimes I doubt myself, do I live in Bhutanese society? Every topic that pertains to politics in social media is chased with grievances and allegations. People forget everything if given a chance and choice of anonymous identity. The chaos and riots on social Medias has disturbed the peaceful mind of people and what next is the biggest question mark.

 Is this the outcome of democracy? Is this the way people act in democracy? Do our ethical values vanish in democracy? Is politics really dirty? I am vexed after reading the editorial article ‘Crossing the Red Line” in The Bhutanese news paper. It is really disturbing to read such article. The aroma of politics is not really sweet. 

Being engineering student, it is great and inspiring to see first Bhutanese woman engineer stepping on the seat of minister as first woman minister. It is yet another history in her life and Bhutan. 

As per the promises, it is one now delivered and one broken that the five member representatives from eastern Bhutan got to be minister and one from central didn’t make up to the list. And among, it is in fact great that my constituency, Deothang-Gomdar, got education minister. 

I once more congratulate all the cabinet ministers and hope every promised made will be fulfilled as a team,  party and moreover as a government.