My First Life

Photo courtesy : http://www.trailblazertrekking.com

I brought packed-lunch in my office. It is first time in my life after being employed. Yesterday, I browsed the website of Bhutan Broadcasting Service (http://www.bbs.com.bt/)  to check the auspiciousness and luckily it was a perfect day to shift to a new house or to shift house. So, I shifted to my rented apartment. It was also a first time in my life. It marks beginning of my new working and independent life. I have to live alone, away from love of parents, cook and sweep for myself. It is more exciting and a new experience to cherish. I am excited. I was accompanied by paternal uncles and some friends of them. The entire process, beginning from cleaning the floor, wiping off cobwebs, cleaning glasses, arranging window curtains, listing the items for shopping, packing baggage, etc., were part of new excitements I developed.

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. 

One night adds one year to my life

The 29^th day of the 10^th month in Bhutanese calendar is very special for people of Haa and Paro. It is called Lomboo (Lomba).  It is undeniably the most special occasion for us. The memories of my past celebration with family members are still very vivid through my mind. It brings all family members together. The specialty of the occasion is marked by preparing of our traditional diet called ‘Hapi Hoentey’, which is a cluster of well-prepared vegetable ingredients enclosed inside flour baked cover. If there is one thing Haaps and Parops have to gift to friends during Lomba, it must be ‘Hoentey’ only. Believe me, anyone will appreciate its indigenous taste, if you come across

This year, it is unfortunate for me, I have to celebrate the occasion away from my parents. I must mark it as usual and make the night special with special traditional dishes. But, can I feel so special as before? We are planning to make it even more special and memorable one.

Exam results : Ever Surprising

I am still in the mood of celebration, this time, for my BCSE examination result. It caught me by real surprise when my brother called me and said, ‘you topped’. I couldn’t simply believe it. I rushed to buy a kuensel from nearby Grocery Shop. It was true. My only disbelief for now is, it must be a printing mistake. That sounds foolish right? I don’t know why? My intuition was that I will not be able to make it to top 12. I did not spoil my paper so badly, but still I was not convinced. I was sure to pass (i.e. to get minimum of 50%).

I still wonder why I did not believe in myself. My intuitions were actually wrong. I am happy that I scored the highest of all in Electrical and Electronics category.  It is already 12 noon and I still didn’t take my breakfast. I am still responding to calls from friends and well-wishers, I am still replying the mails that are popping up.  This moment is wonderful and I must use it properly for ecstasy I am going through will rarely come. I am in jocund mood.

OUR VISIT TO PARO

I along with my family members went to Paro a day before. We went to there to perform offering called REWO SANGCHOE (meaning, the offering through burning incense). It gave me great gratification to be able to make offerings.

While performing REWO SANGCHOE, the incense along with all items (mostly edible) ingredients on the universe are burnt to create the fumes that is coveted to reach the entire universe. It is supposed to please all gods and goddesses, guardian deities and harmful deities or any sort of spirits in the universe. It’s a means to seek contrite apology to all displeased spirits. It is, of course, one of the greatest offerings. We halted night at SAngchen Chokhor Buddhist College, Paro. The next day we walked for around half an hour to reach Rinpung Goenpa. The REWO SANGCHOE was performed there.

Sangchen Chokhor

Bhutan know better

source: http://dnr.wi.gov/org

What is the most compelling issue for today's leaders to react? The undeniable answer, I personally feel would be to ‘save the world’ and make it livable place for existing creatures. The so called ‘developed countries’ have acquired material luxuries beyond any developing or underdeveloped countries could ever imagine of possessing. But, their greed driven irrational way of thinking somehow failed to consider the sustainability of resources and consequences left for future generations to go through. Now, the world is facing urgent situation than ever before to make optimum use of its limited available resources for our needs; and to make an effort to save every creature that are on brink of extinction. The consequences of climate change and depleting resources are now very prominent and even skeptics got to believe it empirically if not from scientific findings.

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.

The Flattened World

This book review was  done by Mr. Sangchu while in Second Year in the year 2008 at College of Science and Technology. He is currently Tariff Officer at Bhutan Electricity Authority.

THE WORLD IS FLAT  by Thomas L. Friedman

Ap Sangchu

Running with Gazelles, Eating with lions. 

Thomas L. Friedman has probably written the single most important book of this century. Globalization has/will supercede all traditional boundaries of sex, class, race and nationality. This is one of the chapters discussed by the author as the one of the ten forces that flattened the world. I too find this particular topic very important and will influence the lives of millions of people globally. And it is very important that all Bhutanese prepare themselves before this force hit our country and create a change which we are unaware of.

On December 11, 2001, China formally joined the world trade organization, which meant Beijing agreed to follow the same global rules governing imports, exports, and foreign investments that most countries in the world were following. It meant China was agreeing, in principle, to make its own playing field as level as the rest of the world.

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.

NGOP-2011 – IS IT ENGINEER’S FAULT

Nu. 400,000 budget for eating

Nearly 1700 national graduates gathered in Nazhoen Pelri for National Graduates Orientation Program (NGOP-2011). It is jointly organized by Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Ministry of Education and other relevant ministries and agencies. The main objective of bringing all national graduates together is to orient towards common national goals and policies and also to direct our future endeavors towards it.

Lomba celebration with old lads-2010

HOW I FAILED TO LIVE UP TO MY EXPECTATION

Offering Marchang, before match

It was on the 29^th day of tenth month in Bhutanese calendar that the lomba/lombo is celebrated every year. It is celebrated in western part in the places of Haa and Paro. The specialty of the occasion is the preparation of our traditional diet called ‘Hapi Hoentey’, which is a cluster of well-prepared vegetable ingredients enclosed inside flour baked cover. As far as our community is concerned, we prepare it on the day itself and consume it during the night. The people consider starting journeys, giving away belongings, dying etc. on the eve of lomba is not a good practice. A small depiction of human being (known as luee) is baked from flour and sent outside with all the ill lucks casted on it with wishes from all family members at dusk with whistles and traditional shouts. The celebration is stretched for three days. The occasion is usually marked by playing traditional games like archery, khuru and rarely other games. While men play the game, women back at home prepare traditional drinks.

This year (2010) too, the lomba was marked with an archery match amongst ourselves and few invitees. I was a bit excited even though I was at the college appearing for my semester papers. I imagined how the game could be made lively and a memorable one. The comprehensive plans were discussed days before. All the players gathered for ground preparation the day before with lots of enthusiasm. The flags were hosted, short grasses were trimmed further for the sake of pleasant view, the players were encouraged and housewives were brainwashed to prepare tea for players and other necessary arrangements.

While I was coming from college by bus, I spotted a few elderly friends including my father in the archery play ground about to shoot the first shot. Instead of going home, I got off from the bus with my luggage and joined them. Everybody laughed at me for the eccentricity I have shown under the garb of sheer love for the game. I could rarely hit the target which are placed 145 meters away. I told myself that little more practice is needed to bring out best from me. I practiced for two days before the day; my head was full of confidence as I am one of the experienced players. I started playing on compound bow since the fall of 2003 and I have been a regular player ever since.

On the D-day we gathered at 7:30am for breakfast in the playfield. The game started at 8:00 am with a traditional marching ceremony which is believed to appease so called protective deities and evade ill luck of the day. I started the day with the hope for highest hit (karey) as I have done on other occasions in previous years. The game went on smoothly with our team leading the score. The game will be over when either of the teams reaches 25 points. There were no stakes but only Nu.100 per game as bet. There was tea and refreshments served by the housewives of the players on regular intervals. I was still calculating the numerous hits from my uncle and guest player (lieutenant) and was aiming for the preset hope, i.e. highest karey. It was just before lunch that I hit a single karey but unfortunately that one was neutralized by my uncle’s karey.

The lunch break was over and we resumed the game. The few rounds were over without hitting but the preset hope sprung eternal in my mind. I thought that it was time for me to try for double hits (dobji) continuously for several rounds in order to outpace the highest hitters on the scoresheet, who already crossed dozens. I was still not convinced that I was one of the lowest hitter with only one tail (dhar) hanging. In the last few rounds, I tried shooting with different bows hoping to produce a miracle but it got worse. There was  much deviation from what I usually do and hoped for since few months back.

The time was 5:00pm, the game was over with me being the lowest hitter……..huh. I was very tired the whole day running after my team mates’ arrows, cheering up, encouraging them and singing when they hit the target. We decided that the game will be continued the next day. The quote, “Hope springs eternal in mind” touched my heart and I hoped for the same the following day with the notion that luck was not on my side and I will restore to my best form, the next day.

 We returned home and I enjoyed dinner with my family members. It was around 10:30pm, my father’s phone rang and it was my cousin informing that the match cannot be played the next day as it coincided with the annual puja in one of the households in our community. All dreams then dozed off with me. That is how I ended being one of the worst players ever since I played archery. I still have the same hope to become the highest hitter and I am sure that the purchase of a new bow will realize my dream.

TRIP TO PUNE-2008

Memoirs of team 0767
Sangchu and Tshewang Rinchen [be2e]

A Solar car racing was held on our college campus on 20th August, 2008. The winners of this competition were sent to observe ABU-Asia-Pacific Robocon 2008 at Pune, India. This is the first time our country got a chance to observe this unique contest which is being held every year since 2002. This is brief narration, how we got an opportunity to represent our college and country as well. I, Sangchu and Bajay jumped out of joy and hugged each other as our car 0767 outpaced other car and plied its wheel over the finishing line. It was an hour later Jadoo also realised that we really won the car race and he started jumping and shouting. And we reminded him that celebration is over and get ready for our trip to Pune.
We left the college on 25th of August in the afternoon to catch the train from Hashimara which leaves in the evening. It was our first long distance journey in the train. We boarded the train at 5:20 pm, headed towards Kolkata. Hashimara to Sealdah railway station by train is 703kms. During the night, fearing of our things being stolen, we all prepared to guard our belongings dearly. We tied our luggage to our seats and locked them. However we had a problem with bags. Bajay was carrying two bags and he slept with one bag as pillow and other one hugged to his heart like a lioness protecting her cubs. We took turn staying awake guarding our belongings. When Jadoo’s shift came around 2am, he landed up staying awake the whole night since Billah refused to do his turn at 4am.These precautions were taken since we heard lots of unpleasant stories about passengers being rid of their belongings in the train.
Our journey to Pune was in another train which leaves from Howrah station. Since our train leaves in night we went to visit some of the important historical sites in Kolkata. We hired an ambassador car and visited Science city, Victoria Memorial, Birla Planetarium, boarded Metro to visit nearby towns. At 10:05pm we boarded Azad Hind Express and began our 2222km journey towards Pune. We crossed the state of West Bengal and entered Orissa the following day. As the journey took us towards the south-east, we entered state of Maharasthra. I went to buy few loaves of bread for my lunch from the shop at station and Billah told me to bring few dozens of Tiger biscuit for him. I was irritated and I didn’t buy either. I fasted for one whole day. We passed Nagpur early in the morning and reached the city of Pune (Pune railway station) on 28th August at 10:30am. With our luggage and our guide Mr. M.Kano, we headed for our hotel (Sapna) in the hub of Pune city. On 29th August, we went to MIT (Maharasthra Institute of Technology) to register and see the campus. MIT in collaboration with Doordarshan (DD) is hosting this year’s ABU Asia-Pacific Robot contest. And as of 29th August most of the teams have arrived. A total of 17 teams from 16 different countries were participating including team from Egypt and Japan. The D-day was on 31st August. On that day we all went to MIT campus at 8:00am and got seated in the gallery to witness and observe the competition among motley group of audiences from participating countries. Chinese team were the champion followed by Egypt in the second place. The closing ceremony took place around 6:30 pm and we returned to our hotel with hopes sprouting, exposures gained, grit and determinations flowered in our minds. We felt ourselves blessed to be the first Bhutanese student ambassador to enter the hall of ABU-Robocon. On the contrary, it was extremely sad to see there was no participation from our country. All of us were lost in deep and murky thoughts about the extra miles our counterparts have walked ahead of us. However, we want to exhort our fellow under graduate students to grab the opportunity to compete. The organisers always welcome the new nations to join.
On 1st September we went to Yashada Hall where friendship exchange programme was held. We interacted with participants and enquired about their triumphs and efforts. We took lunch together and there was a photo session for almost an hour. After lunch we went visit Aga Khan’s palace and shopping in the M.G road. The whole programme was sponsored by ABU, DD in collaboration with MIT staffs and students. We were decorated as student ambassador of Bhutan to Robocon. There happen to be a joke shared amongst us in the train. It was on the last night of our tour and we were about to have dinner when Bajay remarked “da ven ambassador bonku theun do mae (now ambassadors are in great trouble, since all of us were running short of pocket money)”. And to add fuel to fire the cost of dinner was astronomical.
On 2nd September we started our three days journey back to our country. To us we feel that identity of Bhutan is still missing in such events. In open question-answer session, we asked a question to team China regarding their tricks of trade, revealing that we are from Royal Kingdom of Bhutan. Everybody in the hall cocked their eyebrows and ears in astonishing manner and stared at us just to wonder where we are from. It is therefore, our responsibility to show where we are and what we are for, through innovations and creations. It is not the technology which led china to retain their champion’s position. Japan, India, Thailand, and the rest have advanced technology at par with China but it was simply a unique and creative idea which made the Chinese to win.