Rambles of Thought

When ever the theme of possibility or impossible comes to my mind, I remember the scene from the movie- 3 Idiots where Faran (R Madhavan) is made to shove back the tooth paste poured on his palm by Raju (Sharman Joshi) when the former says, "nothing is impossible". Well the reality of  life for most of us seems to be in the same line with that of Faran's state (that moment). Yes, Napoleon Bonaparte of France might have told the world that the word impossible is found only in the dictionary of fools, yet i am never convinced and will never be convinced.

This makes me a loser and hope less right? So be it.  Because i strongly believe that there are certain things which are never under our control or are beyond our reach and i am gonna abide by that. I don't dream too big in my life because deep in the corner of my heart, i know it will remain just a dream, so why torture unnecessarily? I wouldn't expect much from others too, because unfulfilled expectations seems to breed hatred which right now  i have no place, for its filled with the hatred i have for myself. The unfulfilled expectations also depreciate and maligns one's own image of independence. After all at the end, the fact that still remains is that we are on our own voyage, carrying our own load and fighting our own battle.

Lately, i have been trying to evaluate and make pose of myself. Sadness often accompanied by embarrassment and frustration have been constant companion. And i never knew the reasons behind. This reminds me of  my best friend-Ugyen during my school days who often used to tell me that i was like Morem, a widow, confused, unable to make any concrete decisions. And sometimes i feel he wasn't wrong at all.

There are times when the very need of one becomes the burden of another, when the embarrassment of one becomes the fun of another and when the sadness of one becomes the joy of another. Everyone of us experience all these somehow, in the days of our life, only differences being that some notices while others are least bothered.

How can you think of the whole page, when you cannot keep even a line of promise you once made? How can a shopkeeper expect his customers to visit again if he let them with a bunch of cheat and lies?  Instead of absence making the heart more fonder, i feel absence only makes us realize its very value and worth, otherwise we are too much consumed and until it is lost or we don't have it, we fail to understand its worthiness.

Guilt is yet another that seems to degrade and kill me slowly. From as simple as starting a chat in Facebook or giving a call to someone i relies on, even if it is just to greet and nothing more makes me feel guilty. I see my self as a large boulder, a big burden in the path of theirs having tough time to make a side myself, yet still  lacking parts like limb. Poor me!

However, I have been trying hard to make pace myself.  On the other hand i am still watering and caring my own  tree. It might take some some to bear me fruits, but it definitely will some day. I would like to see it bloom to a beautiful flower, spread its fragrance around and ultimately taste the long wait fruit. Until then i can never say who all gets to taste or who will be shadowed instead.

His Majesty’s speech at the state banquet hosted by India’s President

Your Excellency, President of India,
Your Excellency, Prime Minister,
Respected Dignitaries,

It is with immense joy that I stand here today among great friends in a nation that we all love – and with pride and honor, that I represent Bhutan at the Republic Day of India. On this most auspicious occasion, I bring with me the good wishes and prayers of my father, the Government and People of Bhutan.

Your Excellencies, Bhutan has been on an extraordinary journey. For one hundred years of monarchy we nurtured the dream of democracy. And today, after such sacrifice and dedication – upon the culmination of so many achievements, I am proud to be King of a young, democratic Bhutan that is on the cusp of even greater success and accomplishment. Your Excellencies, this journey of modern Bhutan was not travelled alone. From the moment of immense joy that was India’s Independence Day of 1947, it has been a journey travelled by India and Bhutan, together.

Bhutan’s success is founded upon the sound socio-economic development over the last six decades, for which India’s steadfast support has been invaluable. The confidence and stature we enjoy as a unique nation today were born from the hard work of generations of Bhutanese, complemented by the extraordinary friendship we have with India. India will always hold a special place in our hearts.

My grandfather said, “The destiny of Bhutan is intimately bound with that of India and it is in our mutual interests to further the bonds of friendship and understanding.” And, many decades later, in a modernizing Bhutan, my father declared, “India is the cornerstone of our foreign policy”. To these profound assertions of intimate bonds I would like to state, “Indo-Bhutan Friendship is indispensable for the future success of Bhutan.”

Today, as we look ahead, we see a long journey – not without its challenges – but nevertheless, a journey whose road will be paved with geopolitical and historical foundations; borne on the spirit of trust, interdependence and constancy, but above all, a journey defined by India and Bhutan, together.

India is truly a great nation. As a historian and philosopher once said, “India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe’s languages: she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, … of much of our mathematics; … mother, through the village community, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all.”

Your Excellencies – India is the reservoir of the world’s greatest religions; the cradle of great thinkers and leaders; the home of almost 20% of humanity; the guardian of more than half a billion citizens under 20 and the fertile ground for great young talent and discovery – all flourishing under the world’s largest democracy. Your Excellencies, Bhutan is proud to be your neighbour and closest friend.

I thank you, Your Excellency, for the great honor to my People and Nation, of being invited to the 64^th Republic Day. In this moment of great happiness – I offer to you my deepest, most profound affection and goodwill. My bond with India is for life – for it arises from two loves – my love for India and, my love for Bhutan and my People.

It is, therefore, with immense joy that Jetsun and I, raise a toast on this momentous occasion – to the good health and happiness of Your Excellency the President of India; to the steadfast loyalty, trust and faith that define Indo-Bhutan Friendship and to the great nation of India!

Source: BBS

Weird Night(s)

A huge number of people were gathered, busy in their own world, in some kind of bazaar. There was also a river that was flowing somewhere, its sound was so loud, louder than the cacophony of the bazaar. The weather was foggy and scary. I could feel my goosebumps. I never exactly knew what I was doing in the middle of that. The people around seemed familiar yet was unrecognizable. Suddenly the whole area turns into huge commotion. Without even knowing what was happening,I ran as if someone has been chasing me, until i was stopped by a large boulder and suddenly i was brought into the sense. It was just a weird dream! I checked the mobile and it was  2:42 AM in the morning.

It becomes more weirder. The next day again happens the same thing..The dreams are not exactly same, yet same pattern where I am in the middle of some fights or quarrels. And when I am brought back to sense from the dreams it is again exactly the same time; 2:42 AM.

This  happened consecutively for last three nights, where I wake up to find my self in the middle of night (2:42 AM). Outside in the real wold, everything seems fine, the surroundings are calm, i could hear distant musics played by hostel mates.

But that incidence for three consecutive nights have instilled in  me so many weird and gruesome thoughts.

Is it just a dream or is it something more?

Well, today is the fourth night let's see what happens?

How Dirty the Politics Can Be?

With all the liberty and Pride
As if the earth and sky are under his hand
As if the surroundings are all by his side
As if he has all the rights under him
He walks the streets with head held high
Alleviates the pain and heals the wounded
With Reverberating voice and  little sigh
A roaring rains of rekindled hopes instills the crowd


The hero comes with such wit and wag
Everyone around is thrilled and awed
By his charisma and the efficacious promise tag
A second thought is far from their cerebrum

Successful now; a chair he get of his own
He forgets the smiles and the hope he imparted
As some people change with chair, so is he
He becomes greedy and self-centered instead

As the hand of clock clicks near
He suddenly wakes from his slumber
Get into the playing filed of blame game
And into the jungles of lame excuses
He is hardly wrong or ashamed

Like the oxen that looks back to how much is plowed
He rewinds every bit of change to his credit
For another term, he demands or even beg
And now power, perks and purse is the sole weapon
In luring to his another sophisticated chair
A chair, that will comfort only him self
And rot the floor that supports and suffer.

A Food for Thought

Everything is fine, yes for now. Of course Sometimes in the midst of all these, we do encounter a time when we are forced to look back, wait for a moment and think if we are stranded instead and that the road we walked was really meant for us or if we made mistake? We doubt our own guts then and lose the very confidence and credibility of our own self. I don't know if it is of the same case with others as well. So many questions arise along the way and we are just left in the midst of all these, puzzled, trying to find the answers or even doubting the answers we have.

Sometimes I feel crazy my self and like to do crazy things. I like to laugh and cry. I am frustrated  and I feel defeated. I am deeply saddened and at times find difficult to control the emotions, and that's when I think if humans are but a bunch of mere emotions and nothing else. And the simple answer to is: it seems right though.

Why is it so difficult for the Lips just to say what is intended without fear or predicament? Why the smallest things are but the hardest thing to let it go off the lips? Why is it most difficult for the limbs to walk the shortest distance at most critical times? Why does the brain functions just the opposite and lead us to the wrong direction, when it requires the best of its credibility? Why all these at the very same time?

 I feel our goals are just like an elusive balloon, floating in the midst of cloud and wind, wanting and waiting for us to grab it, but playing with us all the time. Every time we think it is near, it is blown away by the strong currents of playful wind or is clouded letting us down. And if all the terms and conditions aren't considered well, it rather goes high, becomes invisible and impossible to catch it. It is absurd, right?

I inquired a friend of mine if he has some thing to take away all those unwanted and unhealthy sickness and leisure time this weekend. He handed me a book of Sidney Sheldon, indeed an Autobiography of himself titled "The other side of me" I am almost to end now and in fact it is very inspiring and encouraging. The book reveals the struggles and the success of his life to get by when the country (USA) was experiencing the greatest depression (1930s) and how he rose against all odds (working as bus-boy, a clerk, and so many others) to become one of the most successful writer and the master of his game.

And interestingly the book has cleared some of the clouds and kept away, in a way the waves of the wind that has been disturbing and for now it seems my instinct is pretty clear about where I am standing, where I am going and ultimately where I need to go.

A food for the troubled thought in fact!..

Homeland

Homeland is a psychological thriller, an American Television series which is aired in showtime Channel, premiered on October 2 2011. It is developed and created based on the original Israeli series the Prisoners of the wars.

From Google

Two seasons are finished as of now and a third season is also renewed which will be aired on September 20 2013.(source: Wikipedia) . Each season is of twelve episode of duration ranging from 45 to 60 minutes.

Last Thursday I was watching the 70th Golden globe Awards (2013) and the winners of most of the categories for the television series were from this political drama, and that was when I decided to watch and yeah as a matter of fact, I even bunked some of my classes and sacrificed even my sleeps to watch. It is so entertaining.


It is a series that makes you more intrigued and glued with lot of suspense,once you start. I particularly enjoyed (and even cried once...:P) watching it and I can't wait to watch the third season.

I particularly liked the character of Saul Berenson who is the CIA's (Central Intelligence Agency) Middle-East division chief and of course the protagonist, Carrie Mathison played by Clair Danes an Intelligence Officer, who after conducting the unauthorized operation in Iraq against al-Qaeda, is put on probation and reassigned to a a counter-terrorism center at Langley, Virginia.

The Internet says that this series the Homeland is also the favorite of USA's president Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton.

ThE ChUnYi Pa LoSaR

Frankly, I never knew until this year that the first day of the 12th month of Bhutanese calender (the chunyi pa losar)is also The traditional Day of offering. From what I read in papers and blogs, it is also a day when the representatives from all over Bhutan offered buelwa (offerings) to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the Punakha Dzong, and hence also the Traditional day of offering.

The day is celebrated with all the vigor and interest, especially in the Eastern part of the country.I still remember when I used to wear the best clothes, taste delicious food starting with the morning Thukpa ( porridge) and the hard brewed Araa with family and friends.

The day is special as it signifies the end of a year of their work and hardship, yet the start of another. It is a day when the family ties are further strengthened and sense of belong further developed. The young boys joins the elders to play various Bhutanese traditional games like Archery, Khuru or Doegor, while young girls cheers and entertains those game with their vocal chords on the verge of damaging with all kind of songs and the elder brings their best brewed Arra and Bangchang.

For me, even though far from family and relatives, for last three years, any days that we consider special, be it losars or thrue or other celebrations, it was all the more same as at home. We Bhutanese MNNITIANS  have came together no matter what and it is one thing I am proud of for being one.. Time is passing swiftly and I don't really know where I will be the same time next year, my days at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) will be always remembered.There is strong cooperation and we have created memories that will be cherished in the days to come.

Like the past three years we tried our best to keep everything Bhutanese, starting from the morning Thukpa. Varieties of Bhutanese dishes were also prepared for the lunch and dinner.If there is one thing I have learnt from such important days, Boys never are bad at cooking, if not best!...:P

Eventually to me, more than the delicious and number of varieties of food items that we prepare, Losars are but the best time for re-union and further strengthen the existing bond of friendship and cooperation.

Thanks Bhutanese MNNITIANS for the wonderful time together! and happy days ahead.

Short but memorable

As I peep through the small window of my hostel room outside from the coiled cozy blankets, I am taken back to the days I spent at Gedu. it is exactly the same foggy and cold, except one thing which is missing for sure- the laughter and the noisy and jolly conversations. Although the outside temperature was freaking cold, the small packed room was so warm and lively. I was just introduced to the bunch of friends for the first time by karma (her best friends of school days) and it just took a couple of minutes to get familiar with.  And before I could realize, I was, with them having fun. I am not that easy to befriend with anyone I meet for the first time, but that day was different and that left me thinking that first impression really is the last impression!.

We hardly realize that life is a blessing, while we easily catch the phrase:"life is a curse" so often like when we we fail to succeed or even when a little thing is not well. Most of the time we fail to appreciate and acknowledge the goodness and blessings of this life. However this break has taken me to a new dimension! The moment with beloved parents and a bunch of new friends instilled in me a kind of new hope and encouragement and that everyday is a blessing in disguise.

This winter's break, although was too short (just twenty days) , it was but a productive and most memorable vacation. It was the time when I cherished the most exciting moments of happiness with the people I have always wanted to share time with. It was a time when I had to rewind back to the previous years and look forward into the coming years as to how I am going to present and prepare my self. It was also a time when I realized the very value of thickness of wallet. Yes the thickness of wallet does define who we are in today's world.

Most of my days were finished travelling. I spent just three days with brother at paro,two days with friends at Gedu and just five days with my beloved parents and relatives at home. Rest of the vacation were either on vehicle or hotels.

After almost three long years, I met my parents and relatives back at home. A lot has changed within  three years and it has only made me happy and hopeful. The DPT government is busy trying to meet their promise of connecting all the 205 geog with farm road. I doubt if they will be able to meet before they dissolve. Electric poles are erected at some point of the roads and villages and I was just wondering when will the darkness of Shingkhar Lauri be lighted with modern stars? My geog as a matter of fact  is still cut off from rest of the world. But things are slowly changing, people are realizing their roles and responsibilities and are taking seriously.  It was a good feeling with excited people to travel on the back of  Bolero Mahindra vehicle commonly called as eastern taxi in Bhutan on the newly constructed road. Of course a lot is needed to be done both by the government and the people themselves.

There was annual Drubchen being conducted in my village  which was preponed because of the notice by the Election Commission of Bhutan some time ago about not allowing any Goendays to conduct rituals during election. I was fortunate enough to attend a day of my break at the Drubchen.

As I look back to last twenty days, I forget all the external cold of Allahabad and for the rest of colds it will be my solace and salvation!!..:)..:)

what is the sole purpose of Marriage?

Marriage is one of the most important ingredients of our life. It defines the union of two souls in all  times no matter what. It is very much more than the mere minutes of enjoyments on the bed. It is the joining of two people in a bond that putatively last till death. Of course over the time,  personalities change, bodies age and romantic love waxes and wanes. As a matter of fact no marriage is free of conflict. But at the same time what enables the couples to endure all these hardship is how they handle and mange those problems. Life is so short to brood and play blame game over the spilled milk.

Courtesy: Google

On 19th December 2012 evening, on the day of the Meeting of nine evils (ངན་པ་དགུ་འཛོམས), I was returning from Thimphu to Paro with my cousin brother in white Toyota Hilux. I accompanied my brother who works under the Ministry of Agriculture in paro to Thimphu for some public works. The driver of the Hilux was a comfortable and cordial guy in his late 20s or earlier 30s by his looks. He was from Punakha, but he spoke fluently the Tshangla kha as well.

The time was almost 7:30 PM, when we crossed the Thimphu city gate. The ringtone of driver's mobile rang. It was his wife. All of a sudden I heard the change of his voice in conversation. After a hush of rough and unpleasing conversation he hanged off the call. Again the mobile rang and this time he was explaining in detail. I could hear him say: "I am not hanging out, I came to Thimphu with one sir for some public work, If you aren't believing talk with him....." . He handed over the mobile to my brother  and the moment my brother was trying to explain, she called off the call. The mobile rang once again after about five minutes. This time the driver didn't answer and started narrating the whole stories of his success and failures of his marriage so far.

Before he met his present wife, he was once happily married to another with two children but unfortunately it took a twist and they had to divorce. He says the divorce was because of extra-marital affairs by his wife then. The wife took both kids with her with another man. He was left only with a Maruti car and three bags that contain his basic necessities.

After that fiasco, he hoped against hope and remarried with another woman, the present wife. The interesting side of the story is the present wife is also a divorcee with two children who lives with her and the best friend of his previous wife. She is from Tashi gang Dzongkhag. The driver says she is a good and caring woman. She wakes early, prepares him breakfast and does all the household chores. But there seems to be so many mysteries behind all these goodness, which surprises him too often. What kind of a marriage is it if a bride hides her better half any time her parents inquires of seeing him by stating some silly excuses?

The driver cites one instant where I even felt pity and disgusted at the same time. A brother of his wife is a police constable at one of the police training center. Once the driver was told if he could manage a spare wheel for his vehicle (through phone). He managed to arrange that and told his wife that her brother can take when ever time permits. To his utter surprise, what she told her brother instead was: "keep aside doing your work, he spend all of his leisure time loitering and drinking with friends every day after the office hours." "And now her brother despise me, the spare wheel is still in my house" says the driver. At another time the brother (police constable) came to their house at paro just to meet their son in-law. Guess what? The wife made him to hide immediately from her brother. He had to leave his house to another from meeting his brother in-law. He says he never met her parents and siblings. The ugly part of this is even if her parents and relatives come to meet them, she lies to them saying he is on tour these days.

Once he took his wife to his home at Punakha to familiarize with his parents. They were offered dinner prepared by his own mother. Surprisingly he says his wife didn't eat dinner saying the food isn't tasty. She even refused to take a seat and stay there complaining that the home is so dirty. He had to return with her immediately heavyhearted to paro. Since then he is not in good terms even with his own parents.

The driver has tried several time to convince her that they are not made for each other as a couple, that they needed to sort the  hiccups and differences, but she always denies with silly reasons, which has only made him confused and stressed. As a result, his only resort is now to the near by bars.

By the time we reached paro Bongo he was almost wordless. He seemed helpless. He is now very much convinced that he is never meant to lead a very happy married life. He is mentally prepared for the second time failure of his marriage.

I felt helpless too and there was only one thing in my mind: "What is the sole purpose of so-called marriage?"

My New year Resolution

New Year is all about starting fresh, celebrate the past year, and more importantly continue to celebrate the friends, family and people that have made our life vibrant and colorful. It is also about acknowledging and weighing the good and bad of the past year and do necessary amendments for the better coming year.
But for most of the students and particularly the engineering students studying in India, the new year is always encountered on their way to the college for the start of fresh semester, after a short break of about twenty days.

For me particularly, it has been four years now since the first day of the new year was encountered on the train. This has at times instilled in me some kind of envy, but then it is inevitable and it definitely will be not forever. This has only been consolation. And as a matter of fact,till now I have never kept any new year resolutions and it has been pretty OK. But this year, after series of thinking  I have decided to start at least one resolution for the coming year. My resolution of the year 2013 is 'Not to Drink'.  For now I am neither an addict to alcohol nor am I phobic to it, but I have thought that there is only goodness in refraining before it becomes too late.

The last time I drank heavily was on 31st December in Phuntsholing on my way back to the college, when I met my senior Tashi who works in Punatsangchu Project That will be either the last time I drink for a year or for the rest of my life.