National Council Poll day

On 20^th April 2018 coinciding with the 5^th day of third Bhutanese Lunar month, the nation will go to third NC Poll day. It is 10 years of Bhutan’s transitions to Democracy from absolute monarchy.  Democracy was not a people's choice of Government that Bhutanese wanted.  It is the gift of Golden Throne gifted by His Majesty the king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the great fourth. Bhutan is only the nation in this modern era where king vested the power to his citizens without the demand of people. Bhutanese are truly blessed. It is now the citizens to handle and uphold this gift with trust, loyalty and dedication. As nation goes to 3^rd Democratic poll day for NC election, the citizens should take in mind the trust and confident that our monarchs have on their people.  As true citizens of the country ensure we select the right leaders to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of our kings. When we go for our representatives, I think we need to consider following things:

·         Our representative should be loyal and dedicated to serve the tsa-wa-sum at any cost.

• ·         S/he should be the pillar to uphold in preserving and promoting of country's rich culture and tradition.
• ·         S/he who protect national identity and sovereignty.
• ·         S/he who respect and believe in state religion.
• ·         S/he safeguards national interest and is free of corruption.
• ·         S/he whose conducts are principled with thadhamtsi and lejumdrey.
• ·         S/he should be the true son of Palden Drukpa.

S   We have successfully completed the 2^nd tenure of Constitutional Democratic Government. At this juncture, people should be very much aware of people's roles in democratic election processes. People's rights to vote and right to choose their own representative should not be limited to electing the leaders who is acquainted with you but privilege should be cherished by  right to vote good and competent leaders.

 Make a right choice!! Vote for the BEST!!

Nailed slippers

A couple of days ago, as I was walking towards my home after another exhausted day. I was informed that one of the students is being hurt by piercing of nail. At first, I thought it might be a minor injury occurred while playing around. But I found it really gone deep in the tender feet. Luckily one of the teachers spotted at the right moment to take her to BHU for treatment. She was advised with tetanus vaccine and other antibiotics for prevention and healing the infection.

Upon close inquiry about the immediate cause of it. It was the nail that was used to mend her torn slipper caused the injury while walking. After close observation of the slipper, it was found that the slipper was torn and her parents used nails to mend the torn parts. I was surprised. Shocked. Could not believe it. How careless were her parents? How brave is the parents to send a young child to the school with nailed slippers?

This incident drove me back to my young age memories - when I was a young boy, while transporting the oranges from village to Samtse. I have seen Haaps (people from Haa) and other people, nailing the horse-shoe on the hooves of the horse using hammer and nails. The horse shoe is fixed under the hooves of horse so that their hooves are not hurt while carrying the loads. It seems her parents applied that idea in mending her slippers. But the impact was otherwise. This shows how irresponsible the parents. Sometimes we need to realize that such a small carelessness create a disaster and cause pain to others.

My son's first day to school

He is proudly walking to his school

Though you are only thirty-nine months old, you are already prepared to go to school (ECCD centre). Your excitement and readiness, to go to school everyday shows your craziness and zeal for learning.  Today, 5^th March 2018, is your most important day in your life history. You, escorted by your mom made your debut journey to the school. But I missed that day, as you know I have to go to school early in the morning (usually 7 am everyday), at the time you are still in sweet and cozy bed. Your mom and dad are proud of you! I was always wondering how you will manage to be in the school away from the home, since this is the first day you are away from home and you have never been away from the home. I was doubtful of how you will mingle and adjust with other children since you are always afraid of crowd. You are always Moody and wilder with me, I was worried about your temperament with other children in the school and your miss too. You are too pampered by me and your grandma, so you hardly listens to our advise and cautions so I was wondering how you will listen to your miss in the school. You have always communicated with us in our local dialect, I am skeptical how you will understand the instructions given by your miss in the school (in dzongkha dialect). More than your learning in the class, I am more concerned about your conduct and well being during the class. When you're hurt physically, my heartbeat soar rapidly and hurt me within more than your pain. Your self destruction due to your childishness is worrisome for me. But deep within me I always hope you are strong and ready to face the outside world.

Starting his day with praying homage to god

I have always requested your mom to be with you everyday, guiding and helping you learn. I told her that since you are always attached to us mentally, physically and emotionally, you will have tough time being away from us. One of us being around you all times is my master ideas and requested your mom and grandma to be with you. Since your dad has to go to  duty everyday, I am always away from you during your class session. I always wish I could be around you observing your world of learning. That could be my happiest moment. But seems I won't get that moment –during your school time I am on my duty, and when I am free you too is on weekend. Your dad is always going to miss that moment. But I will aspire to see that moment.

Being present in the class

Adding fun to his life

Your dad, mom and grandmas are very sorry for sending you away from the home at this very tender age. It really painful to send you away. But you should know that you are born in different scenario and advanced era. You are born in era of technology (even they say touchnology – as all the electronic gadgets are screen touch) and knowledge. Going to school and getting education is the essential life component for you to navigate through your life. In your generation, one without education can be excluded from human species. So we want you to prepare from this very young age.

Above all, I am very happy to learn from your mom that you're doing extremely excellent. I miss you everyday and your moment in the class. So that’s why I always request your mom to let me sleep near you so that I will hold you close to me throughout the night. Life is a journey. All the best son! 

(Actually this article is written on 05/03/2018, I thank Miss Rinchen Zangmo for making his debut journey to the school wonderful and enjoyable)

Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 "A beautiful book about magic, dreams and the treasures we seek elsewhere and then find on our doorstep" - Madonna

Brief summary

The book’s main character is a poor shepherd boy, called Santiago from Andalusia of Spain. In most parts of the book, we will be hearing or reading his point of views. As a shepherd boy, he had a repeated dream. In his dream, “he was in a field with his  sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals. ……….. And suddenly, the child hold him by both hands and transported him to the Egyptian Pyramids. Then, at Egyptian Pyramids, the child said to him that if he come here he will find a hidden treasure. And just as she was about to show him the exact location, he woke up. Both times.” He does not really know it meaning, the message being conveyed by dream. But his thought ends up in longing for going to Egypt and find the Pyramids. This intuitively repeated dreams really disturbed his thought and life as a shepherd boy. Then, he decided to go to Egypt to find his buried treasure that he saw in his dream.

Along his journey to Egypt, he meets many different subsequent characters – which steers him in different directions or tell him different meaning or different things about his dream. The first character that he met was Gypsy (a woman) who tells him about his dream and how he needs to fulfill it. A old Gypsy woman said a boy that his dream is prophetic and he must follow it. Then, he meet a mysterious old man who seems to read his mind. He introduced himself as Melchizedek, the king of salem. He helped the boy to understand whatever happens he should be guided by the right things, follow the omens and paths made by the God.

Upon the guidiance and instructions received from old woman and a king, he proceeded toward Egypt. On the way he encountered the thieves and robbed his belongings. He lost all his coins which he earned through selling his flock. There he was in the empty market place, without a cent to his name and with not a sheep to guard through the right. But only thing he had is two stones – Urim and Thummin in his pouch given by  a old king for six sheep. He remembered the old king’s advise – “Learn to recognize omens, and follow them against all adversities.” Then, he promised himself to make own decision and not to flee from one’s own dream and destiny.

He, then meet with the crystal merchant. He worked with merchant for year or two. He was the omen to a merchant where he helped the merchant from ordinary glassware shop to cafe with glassware shop. The merchant’s business become prosperous, and a boy could make enough money to sail through desert to Pyramids of Egypt. Then, he set towards Pyramids of Egypt along with other caravans.

As he was traveling to Egypt along with other Caravan. Santiago meets an Englishman. He was looking for alchemist who lives at oasis on the way to Pyramids to learn the secret of alchemy. An alchemy are the one who turns any metal into gold through their secret magic. At oasis, Santiago meets a desert girl, Fatima, and got loved at her first sight near the well. Her love touched his heart, and it become the strength for him to further pursue for his dream. He also met the alchemist who helped the boy to reminds of the old king and his instruction to helps continue his journey to his dreamed treasure across the desert. Despite the bloody tribal war at oasis, he continued his journey to Pyramids. Along the way many thing around like vast desert, sandy winds, whining of camel, dunes, moon, stars, hawks taught him vital life lesson and further boosted his determination to reached his destiny and fulfill his dream. And he discovered the soul of the world – the spirituality of linkage between all that exist on the earth. When he was three hours away from the Pyramids, the Alchemist returned to his oasis, letting Santiago to proceed on his own.

His heart got exploded with joy and happiness when he reached to Pyramids. He then started digging hole beneath his feet to dig out his dreamed treasure. To his surprise, he couldn’t find any treasure in the sand. Instead, a groups of thieves approached him and beaten him to blood and sand. They robbed the gold coin given to him by the Alchemist. But more surprisingly, one of the thieves recounts his own dream of pursuing treasure like Santiago which is hidden beneath a Sycamore tree in the sacristy of an abandoned church on which he once spent his night. Then,the boy stood up shakily, and looked once more at the Pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him, and he laughed back, bursting with joy. Because now ultimately he know where his treasure was.

He returned to Andalusia and then to the church. He digs the treasure beneath a Sycamore tree. Overjoyed, destiny at hand, dream in reality, treasure at his luck and finally he got his treasure that he was dreaming for many years.

Golden points

The book that should be on our book shelve or reading list is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It is a pretty god book for those who thrive after their dream. This book really teach us the  importance of listening to our dream.

Though the book is only a fable about following our dream, the power of pages in the book really push us within to understand our own dream and destiny. This book is very special as it has great meaning and, if you read and extract the essence hidden by the content it will be our special life companion. The book teach us the trial and tribulations that we come across while pursuing our dream, which adds the sense of magic and joy rising within us. This trial and tribulation actually helps us to realize our personal legend. The book also talks about the roles of god, religion and god within us in reaching out for our dreams. It says, when we want something, all universe conspires to help us achieve it. The book vividly includes the different elements of space, other people helping not only to see but helping us to achieve our dreams. But ultimately understanding that it falls back to us and we are the sole responsible to believe in our dream and work forward to excavate the dream.

Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him/her. It touches us at time, we need to realize that gentle touch and pursue for it. The book assure us that, every one has a talent and intuitive dream to become a alchemist. Every body is alchemist in their own way, but we need to realize our potential to unveil that secret magic spell. Life adversities are the rolling stones to step forward and strengthened our perseverance and test our passion. For sure, this book make a greater impact in our life.

Crawl through School Library

A minute ago, I'd finished reading the book "Switched Off" written by Bhutanese author. Fully, mesmerized by the fictitious content of the book.  I longed for such book again. I crawled through every inches of School library room to look unto such an interesting book. No book was left without flipping through the title and brief content. Almost 30 minutes of search, was in vain. Suddenly, I spotted book titled "Bill Gates", the richest man on the Earth. Before I realized, the book was already penned against my name. This book reminiscence my early wild thought of being a rich man.
How people become rich? How does people earned to become rich? What magic spell should we need to become rich? Such a wild feelings sprouted through my untamed mind while I was in the youthful age. Once I even picked the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, to attain this wealthy-hood. After a decade of such incidences, I still remain at same scale of wealth. Only thinking has grown rich. Had there be no such as money or wealth exist in the dictionary, my wild feeling would have been never sprouted.
But, having gone through the biography of world richest man. I realize the sacrifices needed to be that status. Being wealthy or rich is not a quick fix. It is hard-earned sacrifices. Rome was not built in a day, so is becoming the rich.
Having flipped the last page of this book, I realized that my crawling in the library for better book was never was in vain. This book added the values and ideas i needed to overcome those wild feelings. Sometime it is worth crawling through the Library than idly being free. 

Life is beautiful

Life is beautiful

When the buzzing bees visits blossom spring

Hovering here and there with music buzz

Sorrow and pain of life is numbed by the sweet nectar

Life is beautiful

When clear winter adorned with mighty moon

Dispatching the rays of hope and beauty

To dispel the darkness  with glistering stars shone

Life is beautiful

When the magic of love crown the soul

Hatred and anger nipped before bud

Sweetness and smile attired the feeling.

Life is beautiful

When toothless toddler smile of life

Uncertainty of life is unexplored

With cuteness of eye shows of no fear.

Life is beautiful

When goodness rule the world

Evilness and devilish are enslaved

Music of virtues flourishes undisturbed

Life is beautiful

When relationship is knotted with trust

With respect and honesty guard the bond

Jealousy and desire has no space to stand.

Life is beautiful

When the superior bless the inferior

Younger respect and vow to the elders

Esteem and deference prevail within

Dasain Festival

Dasain or Vijay Dasami is a festival to symbolize the victory of good over evils. It is usually celebrated in the month of Kartik (basically falls in September- October). It is the longest festival in the Hindu culture, which is 15 days celebration. The first, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth day holds most important.

Goddess Durga

As per the Hindu mythology, there are two stories over which the Vijay Dasami or Dasain is being celebrated. One story says that, there was a demon named Mahisasura who was very powerful and attempt to rule heaven of gods. He had such a strength that even gods seems powerless in front of him, hence the Goddess Durga (a manifestation of Parvati) fight against the terror of demons and killed him. It is believed that the war went for nine days “Navaratri” and finally Durga defeated the demon and achieved victory on the tenth day, and is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil.

Another story says that, this festival symbolises the victory of Lord Ram (seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu) over Ravan (the King of Lanka). The war started when Ravan kidnapped Sita, wife of Lord Ram using his magical tricks and took her to Lanka. The tenth day is symbolised as the victorious day of good over evil. Whatsoever it may be, it is the celebration of victory.

Ghatasthapana is the first day of Dasain or Vijay Dasami and also the first day of Navaratri. Ghatasthapana literally means “pot establishing”. On this day Kalash (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga is placed in the prayer room. It is filled with holywater and covered with cowdung on to which seeds of barley are sown. Then Kalash is put in the centre of rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains (The germinated shoot, Jamara, from these seeds are used on the tenth day). The Ghatasthapana ritual is performed till the seventh day. This ceremony is to worship goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.

The seventh day is called “Fulpati”. It literally means day of “flowers, leaves and plants”. On this day, houses are cleaned and decorated them with colours and flowers. As per earlier culture, nine types of flowers and plants (known as Navapatriva) are brought in to the worship altar. These nine items of Navapatriva represnts manifestations of nine Hindu Gods and Goddess.

Then, the eighth day of Dasain is called Ashtami. On this day, offering and sacrifices of animals are done to please Goddess Mahakali (a form of Goddess parvati). And the people who do not sacrifice animals offer fruits instead of blood to deities.

The ninth day and also the last day of “Navaratri” is called Mahanavami, “the great ninth day”. This day was the last day of the battle. All the ceremonies and rituals reach to the end on this day. This day is also known as demon-hunting day as defeated demons tries to save themselves hiding under the skin of animals.

Vijay Dasami is the tenth day of the festival and also the most important day of the festival. It is the day of victory of good over evil and gods over demons. As per two different stories, it is the day when demon Mahisasura was killed by goddess Durga and Ravan (the demon king of Lanka) was killed by Lord Ram to rescue his wife. On this day, tikka ceremony is started. The Tikka is an offereing made to goddess Durga for peace, prosperity and happiness. All elders and parents place Tikka on the foreheads of their childrens and younger members along with Jamara, as a tradition to impart blessing and protection to their family. The Tikka is made by a mixture of red vermillion powder, rice grains and yogurt (curd). They also offer gifts of money (known as Dakshina in Nepali language) along with blessing and Tikka. This is the day on which families and relatives shares laughters and delicious food. The people visit their relatives and neighbours receiving blesssing and sometimes exchanging gift. This continues for next five days till full moon. On full moon day, known as Purnima, the festival ends.