Cost of Urbanisation

Had there been water scarcity several decades ago, Mongar-pas won’t have settled in middle of inclined mountain. Sharchokpa, the indigenous inhabitants of eastern Bhutan who are generally considered to be naïve and innocent by virtue were deprived of modern facilities until the inception of mega projects like Kurichu Hydro-power Project Cooperation (KHPC) and majestic Mongar Regional Referral Hospital.

Urbanisation is marked by the construction of several storeyed concrete buildings which overshadowed colourful conventional architectures that once dominated the hamlet town. With the booming business people from different parts of the country tend to encroach the town that was once hardly known to business tycoons.

Unlike, rest of the urban areas, residents of the Mongar town tend to speak versatile sharchopkha (local eastern dialect) despite one’s cultural background. Its unavoidable fact that Mongar is comparatively fastest growing town among rest of the Eastern districts with variety of people from every nook and corner of the nation residing either as employee or businessmen but there seems to be little impact of urbanisation in terms of culture. For a first time visitors, seldom it’s surprising to witness an expatriate fluently conversing in local dialect.

Energy which is literally said that it can be neither created nor destroyed but can be changed from one form to another is the core driver of an urbanisation or a human civilization. It is dependent on the availability of resources, which seems to be unsustainable in the face of rapid urbanisation.  People tend to consume more resources with change in life style along with increase in population concentrated in a pocket of the urban area. Attracted by better opportunities, increased in the number of rural people moving towards the urban area seems to be unavoidable fueling most discussed issue of rural urban migration. So does Monggar town is not exempted from such fate.  

Yakpogang stream

Not more than a decade ago, Yakpogang stream was known for its ferocity during the monsoon and a cascade flow during the winter. Huge area of terrace located near the enclave of Research Centre Wengkhar, presently left fallow due to the shortage of irrigation water was considered to be once a fertile land irrigated by then a furious stream. The same stream is also being used as a source of drinking water by the residents of the town. At current scenario, whenever there is a heavy downpour, stream tends to swell creating hope in the people but lasting not more than an hour or two.  Looking back to the situation, not more than a decade ago a local resident of Yakpogang has a different story to be unfolded. Primarily, they attribute the shrinkage of water volume discharge from the same Yakpogang stream to massive timber extraction from the catchment area to meet the demand of developmental activities in Monggar town.    

Easygoing nature of Bhutanese with narrow vision, when it comes to usage of natural resources tend to possess major threat leading to sustainability in question. With the very late exposure to modern civilization, Bhutanese people never had to face the problem of natural resource crisis as it has been very little explored by our forefathers. But scenario is changing with accessibility of Bhutanese to very high tech sophisticated way of exploring the resources to bridge the gap of rapid developmental activities.

Stone chips crushing plant

Similarly, Construction and Development Co-operation limited  (CDCL) came up with the stone chips crushing plant at Kilikhar to serve the immediate need of stone chips for developmental activities like a road, without which developmental works will be stagnant.  Although such plants are unavoidable, they have to go through certain set of bureaucratic approval for its establishment to minimize its negative impact to both social and environment. Being a young responsible citizen and an environmentalist, it’s little bit surprising to see that the aforementioned plant is established with destruction of potential drinking water sources from where  people still tend to harness water that is being polluted by the plant due to acute water shortage in the town.

As said “better late than never”, with the outcry of the town residents over acute drinking water shortage, policy maker has come up with the idea of first ever  Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme by declaring once overexploited forest of Yakpogang as a Community Forest (CF) to address the issue. Hopefully scheme is working successfully with visible improvement in forest condition. 

But the issue doesn’t subside here; there is a need to explore more reliable and immediate solutions to the problem.

Trying my skill in arts to portray my thoughts.

Stormy night 

Imaginary beach  

Late night watering  by Mr. Moon  

Future of our Earth. 

Capturing the memories of lovely autumn

Harmonious  nature 

 Concise   Eco-tourism

Book that helped me to broaden my understanding about Buddhism

Journey to Liberation:

A life story of the Buddha according to the Mahayana Tradition

Different culture has a different version of story about a lone Buddha, right from its birth till enlightenment. But this book authored by Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi concisely talks from Mahayana perspective. Content of the book superficially touches every aspect of the Buddha’s life and its preaching. Written in simple language with best interpretation, this book can serve as the guiding principle for the youth who has a little knowledge about the life of enlightened Buddha with enthusiasm to become decent Buddhist practitioner. Khenpo not only tries to enlighten reader with the well heard life story of the Buddha but also make reader informed about the interpretation behind Buddhist paintings and posture of the statues that are seen in every holy places right from the majestic temples to the small altar rooms in every individual apartment. Elaborated with sketch at the end of every chapter makes it much easier to understand the content of the book without much difficulty.

Story initially begins with the birth and a confined life of by then a prince who is prophesied to be either a powerful ruler of the universe, if not an enlightened Buddha. Few chapter emphases on early life of the Buddha as a prince who use to be undefeatable in every discipline honoured with every worldly pleasure within a confined walls of the palace with thousand wives.

Touched and realised by the incidences encountered during his first royal entourage outside the luxuries palace, prince renounces his princely life in search of simple truth that governs human life. Struggling for six long years leading the life of austerity in the forest, he finally attains the enlightenment sitting under Bodhi tree cushioned by Tsa-Kusha (broom grass). Most of the statues that are erected in every worshiping places at present generation with right hand pointing downward depicts the particular moment of his life when Buddha touched the land beneath him as a witness of his enlightenment to prove against the false allegation made by the demon.  

Later portion of the book deals with the preaching of Buddha’s finding about the truth initially starting from the Deer park in Sarnath, in the region of Varanasi followed by different places including the abode of the God, where his late mother is known to be reincarnated.

With successful preaching for several decades, at the age of eighty Buddha attained Mahaparinvana “the great entry into the non-suffering state” (literally it means death) at place named Kushinagar. 

Letter to my best friend

Dear DRUK 11,000,

Good people say that you are the root of evil deeds, I did believe on that statement when I use to be among one of them. Even the ardent Buddhist practitioner has a superstitious belief that drinking alcohol is against the standard norms of Buddhism despite the fact every ritual is incomplete without usage of an alcohol as a DUETSE (blessed holy liquid) but it does have a logic as drunkard people hardly have a good judgmental capacity.

Back at college life, when I use to be among one of the social drinkers I had a good experience of how alcohol alter the character of decent people. As a seldom drinker I use to observe how people act after drinking and found that there are three stages of alcohol intoxication.  Till 35% intoxication of alcohol people enjoy the company of drinkers, they share views on intellectual talks which I find is bit encouraging. When they reach 75% of intoxication level, people start to develop an extra sense about their behaviors and feel themselves insecure about the situation and simply worry about what people around them might think about their drinking characters and finally when people cross 75% of intoxication level they  forget about themselves and tend to act senselessly.  Reviewing the story behind why Buddhist followers are against the consumption of alcohol, I should quote that the pious monk must have reached beyond 75% of intoxication when he slaughtered a goat and slept a night with a young lady, which are against the practice of Buddhist philosophy.          

Clinically it has been proved that consumption of alcohol is injurious to the health and it’s a sort of poison that instantly kills a thousand of consumers around the globe. Despite the tendency of the liver to grow after certain level of damage, chronic alcoholism results in liver cirrhosis which is the cause of ultimate death. 

Down the line few months after getting employed as civil servant, although I was aware of above beliefs and the proven scientific facts, I did drink lot of alcohol. Brand didn't make much difference, as my sole objective of drinking was to have intoxication to get rid of mental disturbances that I was suffering from.  Druk 11000, the only beer brand available in Bhutan after the ban imposed over import of externally manufactured alcohol products dominated my preference followed by the highlander whiskey. 

Though drinking habit was in my hereditary line, I could experience that once you are into alcoholism, the hardly developed good habits easily get wiped away. Prior to drinking habits of mine, I use to have meals in time regularly in spite of my marital status as bachelor and everything use to be with routine. The word called “mess” wasn't in my dictionary until I adopted the habit of drinking.

Druk 11000, I am thankful to you for accompanying me during both the happiest and bad times of me, which I won’t be able to forget you in my life ahead. Being able to hold you was the pride of me. To be with you was the happiest moment of my life. But going away from you will be the deadliest nightmare I will ever have which will haunt me down. Even than I ‘m left with no choices than to go away from you because of my medical condition.

BYE! BYE!   DRUK 11000, hope to be with you in future if my health condition improves and I will miss you.

Yours faithful consumer 

Eye-catching scene from my recent tour

Direct translation - Jamkhar : name of the village , Thuu :  lower part of the female reproductive tract in local dialect. This structure is considered as a sacred place (shrine) and its located facing Jamkhar village on the way to Trashiyangtse. Its  legend is associated with the practice of night hunting  at Jamkhar village and  says that whenever this hole is watery, its confirmed that one's night hunting will be successful. 

Single flag pole with five straight  leading shoot that serves the purpose of hoisting five different color flags which are considered as auspicious in Buddhism ( Tangma chu village, Lhuentse)

Stone that resembles like a giant frog. Except  artificial painting, rest of the structure is natural. (Above Sheree chu, Mongar) 

Trying to know about myself

Scientifically it’s proven that female reach to menopause at the age of 45 which literally means that there will be no birth after 45 years old. But exceptionally I came to this materialistic world when my mother was one year behind to attend golden jubilee in her age. Though I broke one of the universally accepted scientific laws but was not fortunate enough as I was deprived of breast feeding right after few months of my birth. Twenty five years ago, being born to humble family in one of the remotest village of GNH country, currently abundantly seen formula milk and bottle feeding must have been  hardly available to use, so in substitute of breast feeding I was brought up by feeding  with locally brewed alcohol until I got admitted to Pre primary. Sonam Tobgay (Bhutanese translation- Sonam: luck, Tobgay: prosperous) is a name given to me by my grandfather who was by then an abbot of local monastery of our village. Logic behind why I got this particular name was that my grandfather had a perception that I must be a child with lots of luck, since I was delivered when my mother has practically crossed menopause phase of her life and it’s rare to see women giving birth at such age.

Regardless of grandfather’s perception, in reality I was never blessed with so called lady luck. Proper breastfeeding is clinically advised for a child to have sound mentality and physique development but pathetically every day I was fed with more than a litre of alcohol in place of breastfeeding despite my tender age and it was a daily part of my diet until I started my schooling. If I am to go with the approved theory of science lesson which explains the impact of alcohol in tender age children, by now I should say that I am an exceptional scientific specimen surviving against the approved theory without any visible abnormalities. 

When I was approximately three years old, my dear father by then who must have been in mid fifties passed away untimely. Being located in one of the remotest part of the country without accessibility to modern amenities and exposure, villagers lived with full of superstitious beliefs. People believed that my father died due to black magic but in reality recently after consulting with my mother I believe he must have been infected with malarial disease as he was sick right after returning trip  from malaria infested area. Untimely death of him deprived me from experiencing fatherly love and care. In spite of my mother’s agony over losing her dear partner, she had a hard time consolingly me about the death of my father as I always demanded him to be present with me during several occasions. These days, my heartache and cheeks get drenched with rolling  tears when my mother shares me about incidences like sleeping with my father’s Gho (Bhutanese traditional dress for  male) during bed time and demanding to eat in his Bang-chung (container made from woven bamboo used as plate) while serving meals.

Every legal document interprets that I was born in month of December, 1988, a Dragon year which contradicts with my current Bhutanese calendar’s zodiac sign. According to my parents, I was born at the end of Hare (rabbit) year of Bhutanese calendar and I belong to Hare not Dragon. So after doing little home work about my date of birth, according to Bhutanese calendar I came to know that its technically right that I belong to Hare(rabbit) year in 1987 although I was biologically given birth somewhere in the mid of February 1988.  The simple reason behind the confusion is that Bhutanese calendar is always lacking behind by two to three months comparing to widely used Christian calendar.  

History and future of serial abduction at southern foothill settlements of GNH country

1. 5 kidnap cases within one year duration.
2. 3 victims kidnapped from within the Bhutanese jurisdiction and rest 2 from Indian jurisdiction.
3. All kidnapping occurred during day time.
4.  Ransom was paid without much investigation during first kidnap case.
5. Police couldn't do much to solve first kidnapping case. 
6. Kidnappers confident must have boosted since there was no concrete case investigation as it was a cross border problem involving two different jurisdictions.
7.   2^nd kidnapping occurred and ransom was paid.
8.  But at least up to certain extend police could confirm the suspects but nothing major could be done.
9. Kidnappers must have got morally motivated as they could earn easy money through the huge sum of ransom paid by the family of the victims without much intervention from the law enforcer of two jurisdictions. 
10. Goons must have started targeting Bhutanese as a easy prey for easy money making business as our government couldn't do much in earlier kidnapping case rather than compromising in paying ransom demanded.
11. All formal 4 kidnap cases landed up paying ransom and same might happen with the fifth which is in demand of Rs.2.5M as a ransom if government of two jurisdictions doesn't take it seriously.
12. If such problems are not tackled seriously at present juncture then definitely kidnappers will continue targeting Bhutanese as an easy prey and it will flourish henceforth. 

Tricky business behind the highly priced fungus

Locally known as Yartsa Gonbub (direct translation: Yartsa- grass in summer and Gonbob- worm during winter) has been known to the highlander since their childhood is how a 65 year old Yak herder responses if someone happens to ask him about the fungus. By then it was just a fungus with not much economical value, hardly fetching ngultrum ten per piece and was abundantly found. But the present generation highlander has a different story to be unfolded. At present, after the legalization of fungus collection from year 2004 with the Royal Kasho, every succeeding year, people are hardly able to find few numbers of fungus per day which was once known to be collected in a bucket.

After the legalization, marketing of Ophiocordcep sinensis (Fungus) has been done through open auctioning process with technical guidance from department of agricultural marketing and cooperatives.  Every succeeding year, price of the fungus started shooting up from few hundred thousand to a million ngultrum attracting eye of every collectors.

Being one of the highly priced non wood forest produce (Fungus), during its auctioning process despite the strict regulation by the law enforcer to overcome any illegal means of selling, both buyer and sellers resort in disposing their 50% of the collected fungus though means of illegal channel. Seller opt for illegal selling as they are offered better price by the buyer who has an advantage of getting better quality fungus without going via hassle bidding process.

Laws cannot be broken but twisted is vividly witnessed during the cordycep business. Some bidders buy fungus from particular auctioning yard at low price and then when it comes to next auctioning yard, with the help of some collectors they re-auction their fungus. In re-auction the same bidder keeps on bidding higher price on their fungus, so that at the end he/she simply earns more than what they have actually paid in initial buying from the previous auction yard.  On other hand, bidders buy low quality fungus from auction yard to get export permit from the concerned agencies but in reality they export better quality fungus bought illegally from the buyer without any royalty to government with the export permit obtained for low quality fungus during the auction.

Most of the Cordycep collectors are illiterate  who are herders and a farmers but when it comes to trade, they are much more smarter than what law enforcer usually anticipate. Collectors hardly produce half of their collection in front of the recording officials since its mandatory to legally register the amount of fungus they have collected during a month long collection period. Rest are disposed through illegal trade either within the country or across the northern border. 

Story about why dog lift their legs while peeing

Once upon a time, there lived a community comprising of different animals both wild and domesticated. Other than Sunday, every animal use to be busy working to make their decent living. During non working days there use to be a games competition among different races of animal. Every animal had their own expertise when it was about games; Kangaroo always stood first in sac race since they are good at hopping and Dog in running.  On fine summer morning, Mr. Dog went on for jogging towards other nearby settlement and he did not miss to see whatever that comes by on his way.  While he was resting on the huge stone on way back to home he saw a gigantic Hare walking near the ruin of unstable wall ready to fall at any time. Suddenly from nowhere, gust of wind struck and the wall was falling in direction of the Hare. Mr. Dog was watching helplessly thinking that the falling wall will crash the Hare but something unexpected occurred. Hare immediately lifted one of his hind legs against the falling wall and stopped the wall from crashing over him.

After witnessing the incident, Mr. Dog got inspired and motivated by what Hare has done. From that day onward  whenever dog pees, be it against wall or any other object, he started lifting his leg like that of Hare in hope of blocking the wall if it happen to fall over him.  Prior to this incident dogs use to pee like any other animal without lifting one of their hind legs. 

2008 (HISTORY) Vs 2013 (FUTURE)

 

2008 - History

“POLITICS is no less than salty water that can never quench one’s thirst; the more you drink the more you get thirsty” is how I would prefer to define if some happen to ask me about my view on politics. No more than five years ago, politics has gained its momentum in our small agrarian society with emergence of two political parties to take forward a gift of constitutional democracy. Despite farsighted visionary of our monarch, public where never confident enough to accept new changes in our system because of the visible corrupted environs of our immediate neighbor which has been and being ruled by the political parties for several decades.

By virtue of our governmental system since its initiation from 17^th century, Bhutanese people have been environmentally and psychologically trained to serve without much right to question the government on its accountability and transparency. Lack of right to information and limited freedom of speech made public to be susceptible and drifted to illusion of what by then two political parties has campaigned.

Illusion like fear of getting every public property privatized had PDP won the election and DPT convincing public through their party’s basis on equity and justice to all have resulted to landslide victory by taking over 45 seats out of 47 by DPT in 2008 general election.

Gaining political ticket to rule the country for past 5 years must have been a surprise to most of the MP’s who have never dream of wearing an orange and blue colored scarf with patangs (Honorary sword) dangling from their waist, at least when they were as a school going children or a decent civil servant.

Regardless of politically immature scenario, people who have cast their votes to form Government had a higher expectation from their representatives (MP’s) to at least fulfill what they have uttered during their campaign. But sadly some of the promises went on as lip services which were just mentioned to pursue a precious vote from innocent public.

Parliament entirely outnumbered by the member of ruling party for past five years, it didn’t seem much of like a Constitutional Democracy rather than that of same old system of Government ran by bunch of high ranked officials, who has been running the government for more than decades prior to formation of Constitutional Democracy. 

2013 - Future

Although literally I am not at all interested in politics, hearing on talks about current political scenario is unavoidable.  Age, occupation and gender status have no bar over discussing about politics, a game of power that can be enjoyed for five year, provided the ticket.

Despite their endeavor none of the three aspiring new political parties could make through ever held primary round election to gain a ticket for general round. More or less particular incident reflects that Bhutanese society is still not in position to accept the changes, in spite of the fact that we live in 21^st century, an era of Democracy.

Constitutionally in our political system, the coalition of parties are not entertained formally but the visible truth is that parties does practice the act of coalition with justification to make good foundation of democracy in the interest of our future generation. Hope justification are validated.

Topographically our country has been fragmented in to different scattered regions and localities due to the rugged mountainous areas. But surprisingly our country seems to be getting politically fragmented into Western and Eastern region concurred by PDP and PDT respectively, after looking at the pattern of the vote cast during primary round of election. 

With due general round election on 13^th July, 2013, logically, DPT started its campaign from Western region unlike of his initial practice of campaigning from Sharchog Khorlo Sebgey(Eight eastern region), to convince the people of west emphasizing on towards self reliance with equity and justice as their party manifesto.

Meanwhile, PDP welcomed and invited some of the prominent figures of the parties which could not make through primary round of election but who have won the maximum votes from their respective constituencies from Eastern region, so as to give neck to neck competition with DPT dominated region or constituencies.

13^th July, 2013 – Future to decide history

What is yet to come is a future and it’s just a matter of time that decides the history. With no more than fortnight to cast our gifted vote for general election, it’s entirely dependent on us to make our future to whether or not to have a worthy history to be recited by younger generation through electing people "who can serve us and not the one whom we have to serve."

So, think twice before you cast your vote, EVM button is no less than like a nuclear power plants, provided if you use cautiously it ‘ll serve as good source of clean energy, if not it ‘ll destroy the mankind for generation to generation.