Thimphu is
a beautiful city to live in, it is clean and peaceful. Foreigners called it a
“very beautiful village” just because it is a small town despite being the
capital city of tiny country. It has evolved from once a thick forest with lush
forest into a so-called modern city with concrete buildings all over. The usual
chirping of bird is replaced by noisy and busy honks of cars. The serene light
of moon at night is replaced by various patterns of modern electric lights. All
in all, Thimphu really has changed and it has rather become and expensive one
to live.
And to
dwell in it and make living isn’t an easy loaf of bread! It may be a small
village to foreigners or big-wigs, yet to a common men surviving at Thimphu is
hard and difficult. The so-called development has brought in with it so many
challenges and hardships. As much as one would love to stay and work at here,
for all the facilities, be it health, social or a sense of emotional comfort or
business, there is an equal if not more burdens as to how one is able to survive
and avail those services. Mind it every blessing comes at price which is often
expensive. Perhaps that’s why there are all sorts of juvenile crimes on the rise
like theft, robbery and murder. Because when the society and the circumstances demands
beyond one’s ability, beyond one can afford, people resort into all kind of crazy
acts. And the sad thing is that it’s only going to get worse. The only viable
solution is to get used to it.
It hardly
matters if you are but a graduate, having a decent job and earning a good income
at the end of the month or not, because those services and the landlords doesn’t
see if you are earning less or more. They don’t see if you have large number of
siblings to look after and take care or not. They don’t see if you are from
poor back ground or not. When half of
your pay goes to landlords as a rent; the other ten percent to bills which are
countless; what are you gonna to do with the remaining? To feed yourself and
family or support your siblings and parents who think you are an officer and
that you are earning so much? That is why surviving in Thimphu is tough. That is
why it is a make or break situation to live in Thimphu.
I wonder
how people manages to smile at the end of day despite all the challenges and
hardships they face every day and I realize that perhaps that’s what we Bhutanese
really are in general in the core. Despite all the complains and criticisms we
still remember the triple gem and pay homage, we still manage to pray and thank
; perhaps that’s the ultimate purpose of life to go on with the flow least
bothered by the swaying winds of greed, agony and fear? I finally realize that you
don’t need number of buildings and acres of land to thrive. Well then am I content?
Have I enough? Perhaps! Because I am surviving!
Until next
time, Thank you.
