Where are you from?

Some shots from the visit to my ancestral village - Dec 2013

Been living in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan for over twenty years now. What a time! This has been the longest that I have lived anywhere. 

I first came to Thimphu in March 1983, when the Ministry of Education sent me to Yangchenphug Central School in class IX after the completion of class VIII at Pema Gatshel Junior High School. To a small boy from remote Bhangtar, Thimphu was a big town even then. It is bigger today.

I completed my Bachelor studies in 1990 and arrived in Thimphu in July that year to attend the national graduates orientation and driglam namzha programme. I took shelter with kaka Rabilal Pokhrel, who is my ‘sadu daju’ today. As they say in Nepali, 'the wild cockroach chased away the domestic one' and soon I was the legitimate tenant at Ap Phochu house, Metog Lam, Thimphu. That was 1993. 

I left Metog Lam at the end of February 2010 and moved to DSB building. Where? Above the Call Centre, behind Hotel Holiday Home. It is where Changzamtog ends and Changbangdu begins. The immediate premise is dusty and dirty, but the apartment is likeable. 

People often ask me, 'where are you from'? ‘Neoly....Bhangtar....Samdrup Jongkhar...', I reply. But then, I have now lived longer in Thimphu than anywhere else. When I cross Semtokha or Babesa on return from my tours to other parts of Bhutan or from abroad, I feel I am home. Where I live is not my own house, it is DSB’s. But then, even in Neoly, where I have my census, I don’t have a house. Home is where the heart is, as they say. And my heart is in Thimphu. It is, after all, where I work and live, and it is where the people, who matter the most to me today, live.

Winter of 2013

During the snowfall in Feb 2013

It is winter and schools and students across Bhutan are on their winter vacation. My sons too are on vacation. The cold winter days and the fact that I don't need to be on my sons' duty mean re-scheduling of my daily life.

The days are shorter and the sleeps longer. Between the Korean kerosene heater and the chinese electric blanket one tries to find warmth in the harsh Himalyan winter. At this altitude the afternoon wind can be harsh. The sun, which geography has taught us tilts towards the Australians at this time of the year, seem artificial. It is bright and sunny...but where is the warmth??

This is also time to 'neighbour-up' ( a phrase I have designed to mean...steal into your good neighbour's place towards evening and wait until they invite you over for dinner). But then, in return your neighbours also 'neighbour-up' to you. It has to be reciprocal.

Winter also reminds you of the volume and quantum of construction activities going on around in Thimphu. When the bitterly cold and crisp air blows up into a wind and deposits some micro silica in your face and 'hemchu', you know where it came from. It is from that heap of sand and boulder on the pedestrian path.

Christmas is here or so! We have a saying in Nepali, which translates as "to a blind ox...it is neither full-moon or new moon". Yet I know the significance of this auspicious day. Some of the finest people I have met or know are from the community that celebrate yuletide. Merry x-mas folks...I mean it from the bottom of my heart!

Letter to a son...

The international students' house where I lived

Dear Prateek,

I hope all of you (you, mom, Buku, Purna dada) are fine. It was nice talking to you last week at Bada’s place. I am writing this letter to tell you about my life here and also to find out how you are doing there.

The name of this place is Groningen. It is a city in the north of the Netherlands. It is a cold place. I live in a student house. I have one room, a little smaller than our bedroom. I have a table, chair, a reading lamp, one shelf, a cupboard, one lounge chair and a bed in my room.

My school is about 15 kilometers away from my house. Every morning when I go to school I have to walk for about 15 minutes to reach the bus station. At the bus station I get into bus number 15 and go to school. The bus takes about 10 minutes to reach my school. I pay 1 € (Euro) for my bus fare. 1 Euro is equal to about Nu. 65.

I have about 20 students in my class. There are three students who are older than me, a few are of my age and the rest are younger. I have classes only upto about lunch time. I don’t have classes upto 4 pm like you do at Druk School.

I hope you don’t find it a problem walking to school everyday. When it is not raining it should not be a problem. Once in a while ask mom to take you to school by a taxi. I hope you are working hard in studies. Always check your books for any homework once you come home and eat your lunch. Ask Purna dada for help if and when you need.

How is Buku? Always be nice and friendly with bhai. Don’t tease him and make him cry. He is smaller than you. You must learn to take care of him. If you study hard and be a nice boy I will bring nice presents for you next year.

During weekends you can go to our relatives’ place once in a while. But don’t ask mom to take you to relatives’ place in the middle of the week. From Monday to Friday – you must work hard. Of course when you have holidays it can be different.

Our big festival ‘Dashai’ is coming. It is on the 9th or 10th of October. Although I will not be there, you should celebrate and enjoy. You should go to Bada, Thulabau, kaka, and other relatives. Mom will give you some money. In November there will be holidays to celebrate the coronation of our beloved king. After that will be your exams and winter holidays. So, you see there are not many days for you and Buku to go to school this year. Study hard and ask Buku to study also.

Always go to bed on time. I think you should go to bed by 8:30 pm. Once you are in bed you can read something for 10 to 15 minutes and latest by 9:00 you must put off the lights, close your eyes and sleep. Please don’t fight in bed with Bhai. Ask Buku not to fight as well.

I think your sports day is coming. Are you participating in any sport? Do participate; whether you win or not it doesn’t matter.

I hope mom is fine. Don’t bother her too much. Eat well, sleep well, study well and be good boys. Mom will be really happy with you. Convey my love and greetings to Sarada didi, Bindhya didi, Preeti didi, Rupak dada, Gaurav, Adeep and Saurav.

My love to Buku, you, Purna dada and mom.

Introduction & Welcome

Welcome to my blog!

Before anything I wish all visitors a very happy new year. I hope this one will bring loads of success and happiness to all of us. In Bhutan and beyond. In Israel and Palestine! All over the world. Everyone, everywhere needs happiness and peace. This world is too beautiful and time too precious to waste on petty squabblings and hatred.

I have been fascinated by internet blogging ever since I heard about it. More recenlty I have been inspired by the blog maintained by the leader of the opposition in our Parliament - Mr. Tshering Tobgay. I have had the pleasure of working 'quite closely' with him on a few 'projects'. And he has inspired me once more. Thank you.

What will be my areas of blogging, what interests me? I am not quite sure... For a start, I like people, I enjoy small time writing including poetry, and I would like to write on Common Civic Responsibility, humour in travel, children and nature... etc.

Please visit, read my postings, criticise, and give me your feedback. I believe in the maxim, 'feedback is the breakfast of champions', attributed to Ken Blanchard, American author and management guru.


Cheers!