The Saga of Life Part II: Career

Career in one’s life is an important milestone and specially in Bhutanese context, we hardly choose a career that we love or are passionate about. That’s because even after choosing a subject and course that we like and are interested, we often end up doing another work completely off the course. That’s why I often say that in Bhutan often an opportunity dictates what kind of career one chooses. But that’s just one sided story. What is more relevant and important is how we choose to be contented with  the grabbed opportunity as your career, how we adjust, how we find ways to like and love for it’s gonna stay with us for sometime, until at least some thirty years down the line.

In Bhutan most of our young people choose career based on what kind of opportunity and scope a course has in store, not necessarily based on what interests them and perhaps that’s why we have business students taking administration works while engineers end up taking human  resource works. There is huge mismatch of knowledge and skills with the actual job. I did B- Tech electronics and communication engineering and ended up pursuing an aviation engineering. As young class XII graduate deciding what course to take was the hardest. And I have had no one who would give me some tips about what course is better at least in Bhutanese context. I actually liked some course in hotel management but that had hardly a place in government job which is everybody’s top priority. So After  vigorous thinking I decided to take Electronics and Communication engineering with the hope that I would land up in the government job. Also to me the course was new in Bhutan (no course was started at CST) which means less competition. But you know what after four years, it was devastating when the Royal Civil Service announced just one slot. Frankly speaking I almost ended up getting depression. Being from humble and hand-to-mouth family and being the eldest sibling, I really needed to get job so that I have something in return after about seventeen years of study. My parents have suffered and sacrificed so much for the sake of my education although the royal government of Bhutan is  gracious enough to provide free education. . So that’s when I decided to apply which ever the company floated vacancy announcements that fulfilled my qualification. It didn’t matter if I was interested or not. And that’s how Drukair Corporation Ltd came into rescue. People discouraged me saying like Drukair corporation is full of corruption and commoners have little or no chance. Fortunately of unfortunately, I got selected five years ago and here I am. Thank you Drukair corporation. 

Having to learn all new, almost a complete deviation from what you learnt is an interesting and challenging one. But knowing the basics is all that is required. Aviation is a vast but beautiful and interesting subject. Every time a plane takes off and lands, see different people admiring our beautiful landscapes, you have that special feeling of pride and satisfaction for you are part of it as well. You feel motivated to work even harder. 

However just like all that glitters aren’t gold, not all of your choices are satisfying. Despite being part of an organization that values safety, security and service the top notch priority, there are also circumstances where you are being drag down, moments that often pose questions to yourself like if the choice you made isn’t wrong? When the path you have taken suddenly gets obstructed and become stagnant, you have no other option but to tread back and ask yourself if the decision you made was wise enough? How do you mend? How do you revive all that zeal and urges you had on the very first day? It’s hard when the source of motivation becomes instead a hurdle, when the clear judgment of yours suddenly gets clouded by doubt and suspicions; when destination once you saw near suddenly gets distanced and much further to reach; when the persons you have had so much respect suddenly changes and you have little or no faith; when the conducive environment suddenly changes to one with chaos and disruptions. Right it’s hard!

While life may not be  about how fast you reach the destination but how you journey in between, but then we just have one aim right? To get to that destination and it ought to be reasonable enough, otherwise the very purpose of race and competition is defeated I guess. So please don’t ever tell me about the journey. Life is both about the journey and destination.  

So guys make wise choices when it comes to your career. A monthly credit to your account is important, but more than this how you live this life- a happy and satisfying one full of zeal, a contended one is all you gotta consider and your career plays almost 90% of the part I tell you. 

2018 Primary Round Election

I have never written or critiqued about politics, about election but this time I do wanna write about the primary round of third parliamentary election held on 15th September 2018; because I feel it’s an important part of Bhutanese history.

Four political parties- People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Druk Phunsum Tshogpa (DPT), Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) and Bhutan Kyenyam Party (BKP) contested in the primary round of election whereby the two highest votes secured go into general round of election to vie for Ruling and Opposition in the parliament for next five years. The people chose DNT and DPT in the primary round for general round bowing out PDP and BKP. 

From pledges to debates, to the party candidates and  presidents, I have closedly watched a  month long campaign of all the four parties and following are some of my observations: : 

1. Democracy in Bhutan is still young and unpredictable. 

Even after two times parliamentary elections and 10 years of experience with Democracy, Bhutanese in general are still that typical and stubborn when it comes voting  especially the commoners. Several people I know and contacted says like they will stick with a party they supported since the beginning even after trying to convince that such notions are wrong and that one needs to study and analyse. 

2. Bhutanese aren’t yet ready for a woman leader: 

This is the third time a woman had lead a political party only to succumb to disastrous defeat. Perhaps the patriarchal system of society is still strong in Bhutanese mindset even though we don’t have such thing as gender bias. 

3. Just because you are of same sex doesn’t mean you support the same: 

2018  primary round saw more women voters trunout than the male, yet when it came to exercising the franchise, they chose otherwise. So one can conclude that Bhutanese women do want so-called Gender equality, woman empowerment blah blah,yet they aren’t ready to support the who come in front to lead and represent. How ironic!!

4. Experience and strong candidates matters little: 

PDP have had five years of governing experience during which time they selected went for the best of best candidates even replacing most of the incumbents. Did that affect the result? Perhaps! 

5. Postal Ballot’s importance: 

Election commission’s introduction of facilitation booths across the country for postal ballot voters have had huge impact on the results of primary round election. The election commission of Bhutan should also consider the private individuals and their families to avail such services on the future.

6. Use of national language in common forums:  

Dzongkha is our national language and yes it’s is very important, but looking at instances where the constituency debates have become the source of various memes and jokes, I feel it would be of huge help for the party candidates to convince and campaign during the common forums in local languages understood by a particular community. This is a win-win situation where bu the illiterate people at villages understands the pledges and for candidates, such forums doesn’t become source of mockery and mimics. Since Bhutan has around thirteen different native languages, I feel it isn’t time yet for such a system where national language is must in common forums. 

The saga of life Part I - The struggles and Confusion

Life is hard to comprehend; even harder is when life treats and tears you in some mysterious ways. Even though this so-called life is but a short one, it’s full of complex thing to understand and fathom. Some treats this life seriously; some casually; some takes it with ease, some wastes it with all the ill and wrong doings; some takes it for granted but the crux and cusp of all these is that we all are part of it and we can’t avoid taking its toll.

At this juncture, when you almost cross twenties and embark into the 30’s zone, when you are just finding root for your career; when you are just beginning to start so-called family; when you are beginning to sort out what makes you happy and what is best for another half of your life; when you actually get the taste of everything; in short when everything happens at a time is but the most critical phase of life I think.  If you are not careful, you risk that exposure and the experiences to a chance of getting hay wired.

People that I know well and even remotely often ask me what am I up to, how my life is going and where friends of my caliber are and all. Well, as a matter of fact some have become business tycoon, some industrious engineers and doctors, some promising journalists, some aspiring politicians, most of them happy parents and most of us doing JUST fine and surviving. If we are doing just fine, then it’s all well and good because at the end this is what matters right? They are often shocked you know because to some, money and materialistic world is all they care. They eat, pray, live and shit with this mantra. That’s why we even see people trying so hard to stick to their job even at the cost of cheating their ages. Age and our body just can’t lie you know.

Five years of my career life has taught and opened my eyes to so many sad realities and bitter truths. The corporate world that we often say isn’t always as we thought or expects it to be.  Yes life is hard when you have to depend entirely on dry salary at the end of month and half of that goes to the house owner as rent. Yes it is hard when you have to bear the responsibilities of whole family including distant relatives; yes life is difficult and saddening when you can’t fulfil the dreams of not just yourself but your parents as well, yes it is frustrating when things don’t come along nice and smooth; yes we f**king like to commit some grave crimes when you feel cheated and the bosses around bothers you, but, but at the end of day you know what the beauty is? Satisfaction! The fact that you end up being sublime; bearing with few slanting rays of hope despite all the odds and you manage to overcome in it-self is but huge achievement and a satisfaction. Yes nobody is going to give shit about this entirety but it’s all worth for you; through these hurdles do we know the value of hard earned fruit. The fruit tasted out of much sweat and perspiration is way too sweeter!

But then of course the saga of so-called struggles and strivings continue for this is what life is after all.

Courage

When life pulls down yet you don’t give up

When life’s cruel and you don’t give shit

When love betrays to take  its toil 

But you fight back brave and not spoil 

When your boss is wrong and you give voice 

When the crowd scares and yet you face

When the doubts cloud your judgement

Yet you embrace until you are triumphant 

When the fire of rage inside goes savage

Yet you calms down with water of patience 

When the fear engulfs and you step back

Only to return stronger and composed 

Courage is not being rude or arrogant 

Courage is simplicity with persistence 

Letter to my wife

My dear Wife,

I don’t know if you remember or not that today is but a special day for us. It may be almost the end of this very day. I have intentionally waited this long hours just to see if you also remember and remind me which you didn’t and maybe that’s because you thought the same as me- waiting for me to remind you first. But if there is one thing that I have learnt through the years with you, it’s that you don’t always show first, instead you wait for me to see first, do first or remind first for this matter. Well, then I just want to say, HAPPY SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY MY DEAR.

Days and years may go and another come by, yet the memories we created for ourself, the best times we have had through the college days and after will only remind us that life as ‘US’ has been abut a beautiful and wonderful journey.. It only means we are here for real. Yes, the boat that we sailed hasn’t been that smooth, but then whose life is perfect anyway? It’s through the storms of struggle and fights that we get rain of  happiness and satisfaction. Aren’t you happy that it’s been seven long years now and that we have somehow managed well. With age of bond that we share for each other, it will only get Better for sure. It will only be exciting you know dear. I LOVE YOU MY DEAR. 

One of the greatest gift you have provided for us is our little champ. I feel so blessed to be part of this wonderful thing called Family. Ever since he joined our circle, the bond, I must be frank and I tell you  life has been pretty tough and challenging, but, but that  doesn’t mean I have not enjoyed every bit of moment.  It has taught me so many life long lessons that has made me only a better father, good husband and perhaps a matured lover in my own way although bit forgetful. But again, this to my defense only means that life isn’t perfect after all and so are we you know. 

So on this memorable day, I just wanna remind you that inspite of the life being pretty harsh on us, inspite of the family and other’s presssure, inspite of life taking us down I will still hang by your side and remain at your back and walk with you no matter what. I will support you through thick and thin. I will laugh and smile with you and cry with you if that’s what’s required. And The most important I  will never forget to love you. 

With lots of Love

 (Hubby)

Spring

Spring is a beautiful season of the year. It’s time when all the crushed and ruined  hopes are renewed with lush orchestra of joy, happiness and newness. It is the time for one to leave behind all the cold, harsh and miseries that the dreadful and cruel winter had brought in; set aside the past, prepare and ponder for the future with all the prayers and blessings collected over, forgive and forget once and for all.

Spring brings in with it an ample of time to rejoice and rejuvenate. It is the culmination of a new beginning. With beautiful and bountiful blossoms all around with pleasant scent and calm weather, what can we expect more than this to start a new go?What do we need more then these to dream big and plan big? 

Spring is season of love and happiness, although for farmers it’s busy one with all the works. It’s a season to sow new hope and aspirations. So leave behind all the unwanted baggage, start fresh, keep dreaming for the better,  never rule out and give up. Life  is of course always a matter of how we choose to see act. 

Good day folks....! 

Happiness

Where the mountains are capped by snow

Where Serene and chilling streams flow 

Where the kings with golden heart serves

Where the subjects soothes in chants 

Dances on the rolling suite with pure joy 

Basks under the sublime sun with toy 

Of eternal bliss, peace and comfort 

Where the one’s loyalty can’t be measured 

Where untarnished culture echos far and wide

Where age old traditions are the biggest aide

A real heaven on earth indeed

Happiness beyond one’s greed 

When is life fair anyway?

I was wandering and wondering along the woods

Suddenly My mind crosses through the days of childhood 

When each girls dreams one day of being princess

When her mom is the epitome of All she wishes 

And her dad the hero, the knight in shining armour

When each boy dreams of that charming prince 

When his mom portrays all qualities he would one day browse

When his dad is but a friend, a guide  by his side

When little siblings are but their goal 

And the reflection of their soul 

When every little hope is watered by all kinds of effort and bite 

And when all the tyrannies are overcame with triumph 

When finally a day comes to reckon 

When the princess meets his Prince Charming 

Life has cruel and disheartening plans 

The boat they boarded capsizes 

On their maiden journey through ups and down   

Through the rugged terrains of high and low 

Dreams shatters to nightmares and begins to haunt 

Hopes turn sour and belittles their hunt 

In anguish and agony they stare above 

And utters Why us, why us?