Starting college days with Jadoo and Chang

Innocent Jadoo and I (2007)

After completing my schooling from first modern school in the country (Ugyen Dorji Higher Secondary School, Haa), I was lucky enough to get enrolled in College of Science and Technology (CST) under Royal University of Bhutan(RUB). It is only Engineering College offering undergraduate programme in the country, which now has supplied many top engineers working in various sectors. CST’s pride lie in her graduates performances in civil service examinations and superiority of competence shown in real work field.

 I did not imagine earlier that I will become an engineer one day. I had never enquired anything on engineering field till I joined the college. I entered the erstwhile Royal Bhutan Institute of Technology (RBIT) as raw 10 plus 2 graduate. I was bit anxious as I have heard many stories of failures and the value of graduates. On the way towards college many people whom I met, highly lauded and appreciated me, which was only because of positive fames of our college echoing around the nation. I must thank all CST-alumni for being so good.

Lhendup (Jadoo) and I were dropped to college by uncle. It was mid-summer. There were mud puddles and uneven land surfaces all around the campus. Our vehicle slipped into a shallow puddle. We were hapless. We then, alighted from the car, applied all sorts of forces and even applied our knowledge of lever, but all in vain. My clothes and whole body was tinted with muds and that of Jadoo’s was even worse. Many people surrounded us and “what a shame in front of those ladies”, Jadoo silently whispered to me. We were trying relentlessly to tow the vehicle but my friend Jadoo started another business, “analyzing about the ladies,” he stared at them and dropped his saliva many times.

After successfully towing vehicle mechanically we went to identify our assigned room. We then, cleaned the room thoroughly for an hour. We paused for few minutes and instantly an innocent looking guy, with spectacles was standing by our door. He constantly positioned his specs with his left forefinger and smiled in quite hesitant manner. He prompted, “…….Auuu…….ammm…amm….rooommm…….umm…” I felt sorry for this poor guy and went near him to probe his unclear words. To my surprise, he said, it was his room and mine was just next to his. What a social service? We were already exhausted in scorching summer cleaning all those dusts. That ‘poor guy’ is Mr. Nima Wangyel, the great Chang. We later became one of the closest friends.

Chang and I (in my room-HB-1-03)

After few days, Jadoo, Chang and I became closer and we named our friendship as NLT-bond, Nima-Lhendup-Tshewang-bond, something much akin to Nitrogen triple bond. We walked together and ate together. Chang was often pressurized by other gender. He could not give satisfactory answer to many of them still. Whenever Chang and I had any uncertainty on anything, Jadoo ‘bluffed like anything’ and consequently he developed good skill of it later on. You can just check it with him. Chang mostly used to be with me. He sang and I listened. I talked and he listened. He sometimes got depressed and I consoled. I was sick and he consoled me. He brought guitar, I composed and he sang. I taught him Boedra and he taught me how to feel shy and how to sing English songs. Our favorite, ‘MORE THAN WORDS’ ……………  ‘How.... u feeeeeeelllllllllll’………..that really makes me laugh still.

One evening, three of us and Mr. Rinzin Chophel went to canteen for dinner. We were returning back after the dinner and walking when Jadoo sang his maiden ‘Dzongkha Rap Song-Druk gal khab na duuu……gal sa thimphu city deeeena …………’ That was definitely his debut in the college. That was great, the debut song with three audiences, where no others can see and hear. He could not control his emotions, he waved his hands forwards as he still does, and his knees bend and jiggled his buttock as he performed while walking.  It was damn funny. We too, could not control our emotions. We laughed at the top of our voice. Jadoo got angry. He turned and said, “You guys don’t know what the Rap song is,” we were put silent but still we giggled with mouths wide-shut, fearing him. He again, restarted his song and then we were forced to appreciate him. He constantly sang that song and later on became the best ‘Dzongkha-Rapper’ of the college.

Beyond any doubt, Jadoo is the chairman of some groups and strongest (in the sense, shows his stoutness where it is not required or where other people feel, it is not necessary to show but he does and claims it). In the first evening itself he started his laughable magic show. The audiences would always fill our room, where I had to pretend to be studying, mainly to support his shams. The experience was really laughable and most funny incident to treasure in my memory. If any of you had ever been Jadoo’s audience and have seen me diligently holding book and pen, then I must confess that, I just pretended. I was actually assisting him. Half the tricks were concealed with me. Many visitors all hesitated and said sorry to me thinking that I was really studying. The most rewarding situation for him was when ladies requested for his show. He would show anything to them, as he did in many occasions (the snake-magic). He has full flair for capturing other’s attention and after all very good entertainer through many other means too.

Jadoo sketching Tseku

We used to laugh and enjoy at the end of every day.
He is a good cartoonist, good sketcher especially of girls whom he adores, analytic, dexterous to even make most observant people appear chump before him. Above all, he never loses his temper.  We never had misunderstandings so far and of course had many memorable incidences to make ourselves feel nostalgic. That describes few moments from our early days at college with Jadoo, the strongest man of CST.

He is unique guy with extraordinary intellectual capacity. He can always approach the problem from alternative angle and know how to find solution to it. He is genius.  He would turn off fan and sleep under double blanket and a Tulip made quilt during summer and opens his eyes as soon as he falls asleep. When he gets excited he would lift me up and throw down like weightless wool. I am really scared of him. Just kidding; but, Chang and Sonam Penjor (SP) were often victimized by his arm power.

This is just a story revolving around Jadoo and I only. I have many funnier memories with many other friends and I am very fond to write about them too. I have not even a bit of regrets for spending four of my formative years in CST and of course, I feel blessed to have chance to meet most wonderful friends of my life. I still miss of friends and college so much. And, I hope all my friends enjoyed their last phase of student life to the fullest. I just hope to meet my friends again and again.

I am stopping here today for want of time. Best of luck to all my friends.