CST Kuenphen Tshogpa

It is nice to see the activities of CST-Kuenphen Tshogpa (CKT) catching the attention of Kuensel (Sept. 25, 2013 edition)  It is the first time since its inception in 2009. I am privileged to be  amongst the founding members in 2009 and we have put in every effort to make our Tshogpa as an ideal platform to serve less fortunate souls. So, I just wanted to share some of my experiences and satisfactions we were able to reap out of it. 

We consisted of 25 members initially as Rover Scouting . We carried out small activities within the college campus but soon the members with strong commitment felt that we should work for change. We were able to offer few decent services in and around the college campus and from there on picked up the momentum. As we seemed to be governed by our own values and activities planned originally, most people suggested us to create our own identity and also being Rovers seems too mainstream for few. So, finally the name CST-Kuenphen Tshogpa is born.

Chumuna School, Chukha, May 2,2011

Our values were simple as simple as, "Providing selfless service to others without expecting anything in return.Instead, find pleasure in what you do."  

I felt fortunate for Tshogpa to have all sorts of supports from the members and in fact, the entire CST family members. It made my stay in CST.
As our activities kicked off, the supports and morale were getting higher than expected. This drove us further and created necessary motivational lift to work more sincerely and which in turn helped us to garner even more supporters and well-wishers. This is how we initially rose through chain of support and action.  I still clearly remember the dedication and  degree of cohesion we had while travelling towards common goal. It is beyond words to describe.

I am not from Sombaykha

Sangbaykha used to be the name of just our Geog until the establishment of Dungkhag. Our community had

Our School sign board..... 

been  kept away from much of the 'romance of modern development' mainly because of its geographical location or may be sparse population. The people thrived on with our field harvests and very recently few into business ventures. Ever since I remember, we had been to proud to pronounce the name of our village (Sangbaykha). It literally means, the Hidden Land of Guru Rinpoche. We have sacred Pilgrim of Guru Rinpoche (at Lowhena-the land of Doyabs), which in reality is not close to our village as most of the fellow countrymen suppose. It will still take almost a day for some people or three-quarter of a day for others to reach the Pilgrimage.

As mentioned, the name Sangbaykha explicitly means, the hidden land of Guru Rinpoche. One teacher from our village pointed out to me the the transformation of the name SANGBAYKHA to Sombaykha. I just realized that he was correct. 

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has recorded it as 'Sombaykha' since the first parliamentary election in 2008.  I just wondered how they got it. Who misspelled it? Whoever did that, if he/she paid some attention to reflect accuracy of phonetic transliteration, it could have easily been avoided. Election ads made it worse. People throughout the country see us as Sombebs rather than Sangbebs. It is even escalated by our honorable ex-Opposition Leader through social media considering his popularity (where he writes, .... MP from Sombaykha Constituency). 

All the things including language itself changes with time. But ours is of difference. They did it before time and I am little upset. It is not only our Geog that is being misspelled but many other smaller villages within.  I see the negligence and failure from administrative officials to uphold the importance of local inhabitants. May be our people don't take it consciously at the moment and they took it for granted. But for individual like me it is of paramount importance to have right village name. For example, in India there were renaming (which has to be approved by central Government) of major cities like Culcutta-Kolkata, Madra-Tamil Nadu, etc. after independence (1947) to make it more consistent and accurately reflect their local names. 

I am trying to literally convince you all that Sombaykha does not contain any meaning reference to our village per se, but  is just a random name.In close lookout, Sombaykha, when translated into Dzongkha, is not even the nearby word with actual name of our village.  

It is definitely a not major issue to be addressed urgently, but still, this trivial thing makes sense for some of us. Should we feel we are Sombeb or Sangbeb? 

I am happy that the sign boards on the way to our village has got all right, "Sangbaykha Dungkhag". Kudos to Dungkhag administration. 

The content of my post may not be agreeable to all of you but I leave it for my fellow Sanbgebs and concerned people to digest. 

I am from Sangbaykha but not from Sombaykha. 

One year at Drukair

It was exactly 12 months ago I choose to join Drukair. December 27, 2012 completes my one year of working life with Drukair. It was really a swift journey for me. I enjoyed working for last one year. I experienced good starting. The memories reflecting back the same day of last year are still vivid and it brings back the feelings of different emotions. It was surprise to everyone, my parents, relatives, friends and comrades alike to see me opting for Drukair. It was even shocking decision for myself. Earlier, I was too much interested to serve as civil servant. The principles, motto and core activities of civil servants lured me to be the one. My decision caught myself in  controversial manner. 

My choices  of places to work for are Paro and Phuntsholing. So it was immense pleasure and glory to choose the place I long yearned for. But, still, it takes me to the state of nostalgia to relive the days where I was caught in the state of quandary. I had tough time a year earlier.

Drayang –whose dream land

This article was written several months back. I visited Drayang accompanying other friends. The ambiance at Drayang really made me to re-think and introspect about the life at Drayang and about other lives as well.    

I have read an article on Indian dance bars in http://en.wikipedia.org, it says; “The bar girls are, in many cases, sole support their families through their earnings.” the bar girls could easily  earn quite substantial amount of money and this high earning attracted women from all over India and even as far away as Nepal and Bangladesh. One Indian scammer is said to have spent Rs.one crore on a single dancer overnight. When Indian government officially banned dance bars in Maharastra State in the year 2005, in Mumbai alone 1.5 lakh people, including 75,000 bar girls went out-of-work. due a lack of a rehabilitation program some committed suicide, some outrightly became prostitutes, some illegally trafficked to gulf countries or pimps sold them, some became waitress in hotels earning much lesser income and some opened up their own shops.

We are unique with unique culture. We don’t call it ‘dance-bar’ but ‘Drayang’. It is where patrons are entertained by dancers seeking so called ‘request’.

Tuesday : Early Drivers' day

The recent initiative of 'Pedestrian Day' on Tuesdays has generated mixed reactions. Some like it, while others  with or without any substantial reasons blame the move. It is natural to revolve our chats around most recent happenings. As a human, it is inherently habituated to resist the change. For instance, quite often, I am very uncomfortable with new features in my facebook page. I know, I must make myself adaptable with those changes and take positve advantages of the new change and after all be the change itself. Nothing is constant in this world. The only constant is, the constant change. 

Cycling for fun

The chit-chat may be indulged to disgrace the intent behind the initiative but in my opinion, anyone with common sense should think twice before doing so. What can we really contribute by doing so? What are we going to loose by doing so? Even if we can't appreciate its noble intentions, at least, lets stop others from doing it. Let's stop contravening the positively framed action that will benefit ourselves in long run. I don't see any problem in walking even in scorching sunny days or raining 'cats and dogs'. Infact, it is inconvinient and I too, notwithstanding being the ardent supporter of the intiative, sometimes feel ill-at-ease for the change. But, I must have passion and patience to let the walking be part of my travel agenda. I got too conditioned travelling in car, no matter how short the destination is. No one can deny the fact that modern technology breeds laziness as a part of inherent character.

English Speaking Bhutanese

I went to have a lunch in a restaurant (I will not disclose the name and place of restaurant), I ordered and was waiting while sipping coffee. A middle aged, fair lady accompanied by a kid sat on the table beside mine. Again, after few minutes a well dressed, a stout-looking man joined her. They greeted each other by saying, "Hi" and "Hello". The lady introduced her child to the man. Instantly, the kid said, "HAPPY NEW YEAR." Then they started their conversation (just a normal conversation) in English. The Dzongkha words, like, 'laa', 'apa', etc., have been frequently used throughout their conversation. I just enjoyed listening to them and involuntarily my ears cocked in a comical manner to absorb more from their conversations. To my surprise, I was not happy; bit dejected and felt ill-at-ease.

I AM ENJOYING

I joined Drukair Corporation (DAC) with great reluctance. I preferred joining civil service over Drukair until an hour before I joined DAC. I have just begun attending the office although heavy duties are not assigned yet. I am really enjoying the work environment and the place. Everyday I meet with different people and each one has something more informative and interesting to share with me. I am really happy with that. I hope these happy environment will always remain with me.

I am very optismistic that I will be able to contribute towards company's growth and concatimantly reap my personal career growth. I have no regret and no looking back over my decision. I will strive to be the most efficient and most reliable engineer that DCA ever had. I am sure with this working attitude I will be able to provide solutions to many complex engineering problems in long run. 

Misguided by MoLHR for second time

www.molhr.gov.bt

The Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) have recently updated its website with available vacancies in Punatsangchhu-II Hydro Electric Project (PHPA-II), with reference numbers from 2009000715 to 2009000720. In total, it listed 33 slots for electrical engineers alone requiring no experience to few years of experience. I was already under the warmth of my blanket when some of my friends informed me about the update. I simply could not believe it. I did not believe it anyhow and even if it is true, it will be quite implausible considering the present scenario.

This ‘good news’ must have taken anyone to extreme ecstasy; it gives them one more additional path in their career to choose. I was indifferent towards the news for few minutes, considering my strong passion for civil service. But, as I told, I too was excited; who will join there, what if I join there, why they need so much of electrical engineers before plant is being commissioned or is it really true. So, I woke up at midnight and logged on to www.molhr.gov.bt to check it. To my pleasant surprise it was true.
I tried to be more analytical and put my thinking cap to make logical judgments. I had a slight inkling that something is wrong; either their information or my conscience. I quickly remembered PHPA-II’s vacancy announced in Kuensel dated November 8, 2011. I then visited www.kuenseladsonline.com to juxtapose them. I was again caught by surprise when the difference was observed. I observed that the experience requirement, number of available slots and salary packages were exactly same. The only difference was in title of the post. The ads in kuensel printed them as either civil or mechanical whereas ministry’s website listed it all as an electrical. It becomes a major difference.

It made me to ponder, either Kuensel printed it incorrectly or ministry’s website uploaded it incorrectly. Or my eyesight is not working properly? Whoever has committed a blunder, it must be their negligence. The MoLHR, which is supposed to facilitate job seekers with right information can’t simply be irresponsible that way. Finally, i had an intuition that MoLHR’s web-update is incorrect. I am sure it must be a careless error of one person, but the website represents the face of entire ministry. Whoever has done it, as a human, everyone is susceptible commit errors. On the contrary, shouldn’t she or he understand the present employment scenario, or their job is to just upload whatever comes on their table. Even if PHPA authorities themselves have misinformed ministry, as an employee of Labour ministry aren’t they not responsible to logically analyze and question them back before the information is disseminated. Aren’t they not simply analyzing, why hydro-electric project need so much of electrical engineer before it is commissioned. I feel they should be through with knowledge of which sector seeks what type of graduates.  

It is definitely a minor blunder at large but a major when taken at an individual. For government it is about how many can be employed to reduce overall unemployment percentage but for individual it is about deciding their career-which once chosen is irreversible. The ministry has taken noble initiative to publish ‘Labour Market Information Guide’, volume-I to help job seekers. It was highly lauded by general public and job seekers when it listed promising jobs for all graduates. But, the harsh reality here is only around 700 graduates were absorbed out of 2,432 announced vacancies. The job seekers and public lost their faith in ministry’s promises. And to add fuel to razing fire, how can we rely on ministry’s information when its updates are done in erroneous way.

The vacancies are not for electrical engineers as I understand. I am an electrical graduate. I am sad not because I am deprived of that but something about their responsibility. It is definitely not the first time they posted  the contents incorrectly.
 In writing so, I am not trying to unnecessarily magnify small issue into great issue, but it is left to the individuals to digest. What if one person has taravelled from Tashigang to Thimphu to apply for the post? What if someone left his present job?  Can we fully trust Ministry without any doubt hereafter? As saying goes, ‘burnt child dreads the fire’.

Why I am not employed : My Ideal Job description

Photo courtesy: www.diegohodge.com

I am fresh graduate looking for job. I am not sure where I will be employed sooner or later. Only god knows! My priority is to get into civil service or in a private firm even though with strong objections and dejections in later from all mentors and relatives alike. Truthfully speaking, my passion is to become an entrepreneur. I won’t mind even if I earn lesser by many folds than my counterparts. I relish doing things on my own and to me this is necessary tool to boom individual’s abilities and also to identify the true aptitude. On many occasions, I tried to do what pleases me, and to some extent I must boldly mention that I know where my interest lies partially if not fully.

Why do people dream?

Lhendup (Jadoo), my roomate and I

What is a dream? I try to ask myself whenever I dream a good or a bad dream. Spiritually, we believe that the dreams are means of forecasting the future or signaling us of what has happened somewhere beyond our sight. On the other hand, the scientific rationale is that it is simply a dream and does not have any significance on our daily life. It is dependent on a type of posture while sleeping or just a recollection of what we did during day.

As I heard from the veterans, some of the dreams manifesting bad and good omens are as follows;

Good:

1.      Crossing river –believed to fulfill our wishes or reach or destiny.

2.      Walking uphill or in upward direction – considered to be symbolizing of prosperity.

3.      Blazing fire – our lucks are believed to be increasing like the razing fire.

4.      Bear – it is believed to signify triple gem or protective deities.

5.      Wining of games or property.

Sangbaykha- modernized but still indigenous

I am from Sangbaykha.

Sangbaykha, the place well known as the hidden land of Guru Rinpoche has got its little share of modern cake. Its population is very less, rather scattered and separated by unbalanced landscapes. There is no road connectivity and electricity yet. People are solely dependent on animals (like horses and mules) and their own stoutness for transportations.

The solar power supplied by Government has served the purposes of saving kerosene fuels and the kids no more have to inhale injurious burning fumes from kerosene lamps while studying. It was only two years back when the place was blessed with cellular network coverage. It is interesting to see even the illiterate folks back at village greet caller with the word ‘hello’ or ‘haalo’ or ‘heloooo’, regardless of what it means to them. I am very much pleased to see the positive changes and benefits reaped owing to its versatility compared to erstwhile wireless communication line used by our people. On the contrary, there are also negative impacts already felt and some still impending.

It is sacred place as far as I am concerned. Sangbaykha is still very unique from rest of the country with lots of notable positive local culture which are also integral part of national culture. Our accent of speaking slightly varies from so called ‘pure Dzongkha or zhungkha’ even though we speak ‘Dzongkha’ at home. Interestingly, there is also slight variation in accent amongst our own communities. Is our language dialect? I as a school boy often get scorned by friends from other parts of the country for variation in my accent. The societal pressure made me to feel that  speaking in Sangbeb's accent will defame me and simply not acceptable. Now, after pondering for so many years, I strongly feel that I should be proud to speak in our own way as it is unique and is our indigenous identity. No other people can speak in our accent and also whenever two Sangbebs  communicate in front of other people in our accent; it seems they are not able to capture our conversation. Isn’t it great?

We perform puja (rimdro) for well-being of all sentient beings bi-annually. The people are so good at heart that they strive to make offerings with whatever they have and sometimes even with limited availed loans. The most special occasion as far as individual house is concerned is their annual rimdro (termed as ‘lochoe’). The well prepared occasion will see guests from different communities adorned with colorful national dresses. One reason why I feel blessed to be Sangbeb is, we still, preserve national dress unlike in many other communities where we can see lots of guests and hosts alike in foreign dresses even on the rimdro day. Seriously speaking, I won’t dare to attend anybody’s rimdro without proper national dress even in most unfavorable situation. I salute my community and elders for instilling me with this value and I intend to impart same to younger generations.
Doesn’t this allow us to rate sangbebs above others in scale of culture preservance. Nonetheless, I have started seeing some gentlemen and ladies showcasing their branded pants and shirts during rimdro (lochoe) and few other traditional occasions. This worries me a lot, even though, I might appear bit nosy to point out this and actually have no intention to jibe anyone.

My dear youngsters please pay attention to this!!!

There is a bit of discrepancy serving meals during Lochoes. High ranked people and men are given special preference with most delicious curries. And also while distributing meats (mostly pork) male gets bigger share than children and woman. Traditionally zows (fried rice, beaten maize and rice, flour,etc) were distributed depending upon number of heads where each family will come with either plastic bag or piece of cloth to receive their share. This culture is by degrees getting substituted with modern way of keeping plateful of variety of zows in between for people around to eat. Isn’t this not killing our indigenious culture of taking our share of zow back at home and save some of the summer ordeals? This transition will also disallow housewives to analyse the palm-size of the person who serves (as one head will get a palm full of zow while serving one variety) which conventionally used to be good pastime for them to gossip at their field work.

Winter months will see busy schedule for all with lochoes sequentially performed. I see it serves many purposes; for well-being of all, relief farmers from their works, peaceful gathering, heartfelt offerings and consolidation of community-relations.

Now we see no meat served during lochoes. Bingo! Saving life is true Buddhist practice  This is yet another milestone. I have deep admiration for all our parents for paying heed to this initiative.

In a nutshell, the reasons for me to raise my head above others when I say, I am from Sangbaykha are the age old national dress is worn in all functional gatherings, rimdros and even when people go for work in the field. Our accent of speaking reserve some variance from others. We attend rimdro with much excitement in and the norm is very strong at base. We can still perform our traditional dances during occasions. Our people still have faith in each other.

Our family is still very cohesive. My friends who are privilidged to serve Government and other sectors are setting right precedence for all younsters. They are still active member of extended family and are serving parents and our community with great loyalty. Kudos to all Sombebs........

LETS ALL JOIN OUR HAND AND SET GOOD PRECEDENCE FOR YOUNSTERS AND AT THE SAME TIME EDUCATE AND NURTURE OUR PEOPLE FOR BETTER BHUTAN.

NB: These are my personal views. The culture I described in the text might vary slightly from that of other parts of Sombaykha as the text revolves around my own community.