Desperate Cries.

google images

Fall for the snows of majestic mountains,
But so soon, it is liable to melt.
Trust on the mist of hilly terrains,
But they too disappear before the pleasure is felt.

Mistake me not, for its not a pain of love,
But it is the agony of lust, for need of knowledge,
With no push from back and pull from above,
Sinking into wrong place is my fateful privilege.

Being an exotic on the soil of tribal sphere

The quest for knowledge confronts with aching strain.

When jackal like howls are heard from everywhere,

My mental peace lost, and my purpose goes in vain

Retrospection, reminiscence and remorseful thought

Of the phenomenon of pain, pleasure and prejudices.

They conquer my spirits, and reckless nerves I sought

As neither cries nor tears, could help me seek secure auspices.

Social Service as a Career.

“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” – Buddha

  

The Social Service as my mind conceives is an act of ours, directed towards the wellbeing and betterment of those living in poor condition in the society. The work fully dedicated by heart and soul towards improving the lives of indigent and needy ones are not only a service towards humanity to be praised but also a virtuous deed of enlightening nature. Such act may include helping the poor, the needy, and the crippled and handicapped people living in our society. Man is a social animal and born for a society. So while enjoying the glimmer of sunshine ourselves, we cannot leave behind our fellow mates into darkness. As said by Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” we have to avoid the selfish acts of benefitting ourselves but try to discover our inner self by dedicating a service to others

source: google images

A man devoting his life in cleaning a public place may not receive due recognition from the remaining society. As such social services are field of work with fewer financial rewards, high stress and low job security besides the work being difficult and challenging. Such nature of social works leaves many of us least bothered about the problems our society face. We are rather careless of how others live. We dump our household garbage at our neighbour's door and such act of irresponsibility is seen in many other cases, which is unfortunate.

   Career as defined in the Oxford dictionary is an occupation that a person undertakes for substantial period of their life. Since our elementary grades, we are asked many a times, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" and the answer, which we give for such question is generally an ambitious one. Many of us might have dreamt of becoming a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer etc.., and none would ever dreamt of becoming a social worker. So from such an attitude it is clear that we are simply looking for a brighter side of entitlements, prestige, respect, easy work, rewards and promotions rather than just thinking about our society. Such a self-centred attitude of ours not only hinders our dedicated service to the society but also inflict a sense of negativity towards those who are suffering and those who are helping the unfortunate ones.

   Now we have to ask ourselves what is a career in the first place? Is career only about holding a superior position in the hierarchical system of bureaucracy? Or it is something to be done out of our passion and interest for the benefit of others?  Now if we broaden our mind and think deeper, social service are the best career ever in our life. There is a need for us to know our duties and responsibilities for our nation. When many of our fellow citizens are deprived of basic needs of clean drinking water, elementary education, primary health care etc.., why every one of us who are fortunate enough having availed such facilities go beyond the expectations of our society of minorities and aim for becoming a selfish officer of first class. Its better we grasp the opportunity of helping the poor and needy ones by adopting social service as our career when we are potential and energetic. 

source: google images

   If we can serve the society to our hearts content, then this is the biggest achievement of our life. This is the best way we make our life meaningful and worth living. The acts of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation is the greatest epitome of humankind with such a soul, fully dedicated towards the service of society. Its only under his leadership and selflessness that India got her independence from the British rule. Now we can sense the light of social service as a career. We should believe in ourselves and work hard towards upliftment of minorities. By doing so, one is not only respected in the society where we live but is remembered throughout the world for all the times to come. This is what we called enlightenment of soul.

   One such peculiar example is mother Teresa. She was a catholic nun of Albanian origin but after her settlement and obtaining the citizenship in India, she completely devoted her life towards helping the poor, sick and the homeless in the slums of Kolkata. She established "The Missionaries of Charity", with the primary task to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. Such an influence of hers spread across the globe like the wind.  Many Active and Contemplative branches of Sisters and Brothers were established in many countries to provide effective help to the poorest of the poor and to undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes such as floods, epidemics, and famine, and for refugees. Such humble deeds of Mother Teresa was supported by many International agencies so devoting our life to social service does not mean we are one person fighting for a cause. Many others will definitely follow us. Such social service rendered by mother Teresa as her career with utmost love and care not only made her famous but she also won numerous awards including the Noble Peace Prize in 1979.

   With such eminent figures in front of our eye, we should develop the spirit and charisma of taking social service as our career.  With such humble deeds, we develop within ourselves the love and generosity to other sentient beings and we strive for the happiness of others. It is when our society becomes peaceful and happy, that we feel contended and happy so unlike the happiness through money and power obtained by being a corrupt bureaucrat in present scenario, it is all the better to seek a career with pure heart and soul. As said by mother Teresa “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work” .  There is no other means through which we can serve our society, nation and the world at large than by being a devoted social servant.

   Therefore, social service is no doubt the best service we give. It is the social service that one do, which makes him/her remembered as nobility. Social service can be a means of achieving emotional integration in the country. Therefore we have to act humane and inculcate the habit of using the common sense in using the public facilities judiciously, keeping the public places clean, educating the people about the basic needs of life, making farmers understand the importance of natural resources, et al. The well-being of the society means well being of its members and we are one of the members. Social service is a virtue, a good quality and a socially useful activity so it’s never too late to take up Social Service as our Career.


P.S I wrote this article in wake of the Essay Competition organized in the University. I wasn't expecting any award for its recognition as the only motive of mine was participation, but some how it was appreciated by the editorial board. 

Peace in the Darkness.

For my readers who missed it on WAB. First shared on Writers Association of Bhutan on 6th December 2010.

     

google images

Settled in the nest are the chirping birds,
Having toured the length of day by endless flight.
Secured from inflictive forces by leafy guards,
So peacefully they rest, with soul full of delight.

The honking vehicles diminishes its noise to halt,
And the empty road swiftly swept by the gusty wind.
In harmony, the peasants leave their farm belt,
To supper and then a cosy nap, with free mind.

Amidst the cumulus clouds it paved its way,
The sun shifts to the other world, its luminous light,
Falling beyond the crimson horizon of heavenly bay,
Leaving in limelight, the twinkling stars so bright.

Calm is the environment with whispers of gentle breeze.
In deep silence, I listen to my rhythmic heart,
Which calls to follow the dreams of ecstasy in ease,
Without shattering the focus of mind apart.

Though the glows of light cease,
It is a beauteous moment, with mind free of tension.
Deep into the darkness, we rest in peace,
Oh night! you value a great deal of pension.

Local Government Election-2011

Yesterday, viz 27.06.2011, Bhutan saw yet another historic moment when the Election Commission of Bhutan successfully conducted the first ever Local Government Elections after the Bhutan transforming into a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy in 2008. The general election for the Parliamentarians were conducted in December 2007- March 2008, but somehow the Local Government Election got delayed by almost three years and in the final stage too, it was further delayed by another one month due to the issue of former political party members being present in the contest without completing their one year cooling period. However, we are lucky to have our benevolent monarch to guide us and divert us towards the right path by compromising all odds into goodness for the general benefit. So finally, an important milestone was crossed in the transition to democratic Bhutan yesterday when all the 205 Gewog's elected their Gup's, Magni's, Tshogpas, and Thromde Thuemi's for the urban centers.

I have heard and read in newspapers that many urbanites are not aware of who their village representatives are and who would best benefit their village since most of them resided away from home for the service of nation or for making their own lifestyles better. Still then, they exercised their duties of voting either by traveling home with the purpose of voting or voted through postal ballots for the benefit of their relatives, friends and acquaintances. 

But sadly I could not take part in this Local Government Election in neither ways, though I know my village representatives in person. When I went for pressing the Electronic Voting Machine during the election of National Council candidates and National Assembly candidates, back in December 2007 and March 2008 respectively, I felt a sense of pride and euphoria for having participated in such a great event. Every single vote counts and as such having participated in electing our representatives for the parliament is an embodiment of true citizen.

The whole day I was thinking who could be my Gup, and Magmi. At around 9:00 PM I was checking into Kuensel online and found a tag “LG Election results for Gup and Mangmi June 27, 2011”. But despondently I could see the name of elected representatives of my gewog. Today morning somehow I managed to learn that Rinchen Penjor is the new Gup, Gyem Tshering the new Mangmi for my Gewog, viz. Sephu, Wangdue Phodrang. CONGRATULATIONS to them.

Rinchen Penjor the former Gup has already served the Gewog for almost nine years and this is his third consecutive win. It’s an indication that he is the best and he serves his best. I have never heard anybody speaking against him regarding his shortcomings while in village as well. Being a seasoned Gup the people would be now anticipating new changes and developments under his leadership.  Its an opportunity for him to complete the developmental activities that were initiated during his previous term as well.

As a son of the villager myself, one thing I would expect for my village, Darilog, is a good cantilever bridge to link my isolated village from rest. Nikkachu is the only barrier for my village in particular. However, our representatives would best understand the needs of our people so as the developmental works commences, I am sure that our people at grass root level would reap the best fruit of their votes.   

There were 194,357 voters turnout from the 347,938 registered voters (56%) for the local government election, as per news reports. Having elected all the Local government post the government structure under the Constitution is complete.

May peace prevail forever on the soil of Drukyul forever.

Change - Fates Cruel Game.

Change is something that is inevitable. As the sun begins its journey from east to west, the clear dawn would slowly get replaced by a day bright or gloomy and finally comes the dusk, leaving the world in darkness, as such the day’s changes. 

The beautiful spring days of hopefulness with myriad of new beginnings, the natures greenness, the blossom of flowers, the chirping of birds and hatching of young ones, never remain same. Soon it will be replaced by the lengthy days of roasting sun and beats of torrential rain. The summer will not leave us idle but we have to gear ourselves to make the best use of the growing season. The farmers would sweat in field, in schools the children thrive to get the best result. The bankers will not let the heat dry their ponds of money and the businesspersons would swim with the swelled tides of ocean to expand their business. As such, summer of busy-ness would replace the pleasant springs. Soon summer would give its way to the season of bountiful and every one would reap the fruits of their toil. Just like the colourful autumn, it is season of merrymaking and celebration. The days would soon give way to aridness, the parchedness, and emptiness. The winter would come without delaying for an hour. This is the punctuality of natural changes, from which we need to learn a lesson.  

The metamorphosis would occur everywhere like a tiny egg turning into a greedy caterpillar, then into a sluggish pupa, before finally turning into a beautiful butterfly. However, unlike the cycle of life the butterflies enjoy, changes in our life are not always positive and warm. In times, a quirk of luck and swing of fate would replace our days of cheerfulness with unexpected misfortunes. And such changes I call it fates cruel game. 

The lives of innocent family would get shattered when unexpected death knock the door and drag away their sole bread earner, leaving behind the family members helpless and in state of temporal damnation. Neither does God hear their prayers, nor fate diverts their path but leave them without mercy, making them rejuvenate their own strength to make their living. 

An enthusiastic and innovative child with an ambition of pursuing and achieving a different field of study of his interest would land up jobless and unsuccessful when his dream tarnishes as the parents and relatives consider it silly and unreliable, without giving him a try to prove his worth. Simply fate didn’t favour the child in pursuing his dream.

A laborious and intellectual student goes abroad with the purpose of getting the best education but lands up in a wrong place, acquainted by wrong people and thus his acts would tilt towards the edge of negativity finally plunging into the blood of pain and agony, without much hope to regain the inherent strengths and talents.

With the first felt genuine love rejected, terming it a teenage infatuation from the other end without giving a due respect, it would leave the lover doomed into the dreariness, losing the faith to the rhythmic beats of one’s own heart. ‘Sorry, we can be good friends as before,’ indeed becomes the aching sentence to hear to the eardrum. The perception of love changes, attitude and sensation towards love changes, a cruel game of fate. 

But this does not mean fate always plays a cruel game but fate does favor us in with positive changes as well.

see more....

Season of Varied Sentiments.

Source: google images

Far gone is the season of hopefulness,

With the blazing sun replacing spring warmth.

With seeds sprouting into luxuriant greenness.

And rivers turning brown with increased depth.

The rains fill the air misty and paths muddy,

The water floods drains and erode roads off.

Helpless and vulnerable, the travelers lie handy

Only with prayers and hopes, to reach their home safe.

Yet on the hills cast the multihued rainbow,

As through the window, I gaze and gazed

With blossom waving and dancing with its shadow,

Ah! What a pleasure of summer I have sensed.

The clouds drift from vales to beat the sun,

The breeze swirls in air and rustle the leaves,

Thus relishing the sweats and moans of man

Who toiled day and night, for the life they lives.

Like the infinite radiance of summer days so long

It’s season of endless fun, watching the ants march.

And mosquito enticing our ears with sweet song

Only to get killed the tiny creature, as palms clash.

Descends the cool night with shining moon,

Its’ silver beams reflecting from infinite star,

So peaceful and blissful, with hectic day gone.

Yet too short as the night itself, permanence seems far.

Caressed ardently, our face with chilly morning airs,

With kids swimming and merrymaking summer camp,

In times with unrequited love and wetted tears,

It is a season of Varied Sentiments, under heavens Lamp. 

Similar Posts:  Season of Hopefulness,   Season of Emptiness.

Forests Keep Drylands Working.

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17, “The World Day to Combat Desertification” to promote public awareness of the issue, to sensitize the public and policy makers about the dangers of desertification, land degradation and drought,  and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 

logo 2011: UNCCD

This year’s theme for the day is “Forests Keep Drylands Growing” to specifically focus on the importance of forests in drylands areas. 

Land degradation and desertification are generally caused by direct factors such as overgrazing, poor drainage, poor water management, and deforestation.  These factors if not prevented or controlled, may lead to loss of our pristine natural forests, turning our land barren, deserted and degraded. Such situations threaten the security of decent livelihood of our people. Drylands are generally rainfed areas, so when the forest areas nearby are disturbed and land turns deserted, the seasonal stream flow is disturbed, and the area becomes drought hit. This undercuts food production and access to clean water and air. Without water, the land sinks into aridness and famine hits the locality leading to poverty, followed by epidemics, as stated both in science and religion.

“Forests are the first step towards healing the drylands and protecting them from desertification and drought.” Stressed Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN convention to Combat Desertification. So dry forests are imperative in maintaining the sustainability of drylands. Besides trees always play a multiple roles for the communities. So filling our drylands with trees meant not only protecting the land resources from desertification and degradation but also deriving food and medicines for people and animals and many other multifarious uses. Dry forests and scrubland provide the backbone of arid ecosystems says UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon on the World Day to Combat Desertification. In the long run we are also combating the impacts of escalating climate change. 

The kingdom of Bhutan, under the guidance of our visionary monarchs, have never gone to the extent of exploiting our rich natural heritage in name of development. Therefore within a small geographical area of 38,394 sq.km we are proud to say we have 70.4% forest coverage. Such forest areas spread over nine major watersheds in wide range of ecological zones (100msl-7500msl) formed by four major river systems and its tributaries, played a vital role in protecting our land resources. As such Bhutan has never faced serious consequences of land degradation. Rather Bhutan always derived enormous benefits from our forest and it serve as an invaluable natural asset.

Bhutan has less than 8% of the total area arable and more than 70% of the arable land is under dryland farming system. This limited arable land should have the potential of feeding the population of nearly seven lakh people of the country so in order to keep the land productive with its natural fertility, conservation of forest becomes imperative. Trees with its deep root system hold the moisture and nutrients intact. The tree canopies reduce the force of precipitation hitting the ground thus preventing erosion. Trees serve as wind break and reduce the intensity of wind erosion. Thus it prevents the limited land resources from degradation.

Realizing such importance of the forests and keeping in mind the consequences of land degradation, its vital that before the problem becomes pressing, we inculcate the habit of working together through our combined participatory efforts to mitigate the drylands from becoming unproductive. Every year if every one of us plant a single tree and take care of it for a year, then we are not only combating the land against degradation and desertification but also sustaining our resources for our future generations.

For Now I will take my own Pace.

It’s already mid June and by now, our schools in Bhutan might be on their way to do the midterm examinations.  Soon the torrential rains of southwest monsoon will hit our Himalayan kingdom and the best way for the children to enjoy the pitter-patter is peeping through the windows during their midterm vacation.

Whenever I come across friends on social networks, they say it is time for the semester exams and soon they would be enjoying with their parents and loved ones during their semester break. The trend is same whether the colleges are in Bhutan, India or some other places but not in my case. While chatting they ask me when my exam will be starting and look for some good times of congregation during the vacation but my answer remains negative. 

intentionalworkplace.com

It has been a couple of years now that I last saw my classmates and whenever I go for vacation they are in colleges and our time for break never concurred together. Anyway due to the access to internet and mobile phones we can always chit chat and share information about each other but it does not satiate the joy of being together physically. That is why we tend to miss our parents, relatives and friends more than we usually do when we hear about them or think of them. The state of being together is always more joyful than hanging on phone or net for hours.

It is at this time of the year most of our friends complete their Bachelors degree. After a few months, they would be gearing their life towards the real destiny of works. Complains and excuses won’t work anymore in the case we fail to perform our duties, as one will be attaining adulthood and no more a student.  Parents will be now expecting something from their children instead of paying them. Indeed by the time we complete our studies, our parents would have served us and nursed us no less than twenty five years so obviously they would expect something from us. And it’s at this time of the year the graduates prepares themselves for the upcoming BCSE to get a secure job in government service. 

My session being late comparing to other colleges makes me worry a bit. Regarding the vacations, it is not a problem because they enjoy the monsoon rains with roads blocked and the Losars but I enjoy the spring blossoms and the Thruebab and Thimphu Tsechhu. But coming to the final year degree, if I fail to produce my degree before August, there are chances that I might have to wait for another year, which is going to be a big loss. Am I placed in a wrong college? Or is it a blessing in disguise? Is my fate not favoring me? Or its just a way of life? Many such questions arise in my mind, not only because the session is late comparing to other colleges but due to many more reasons. Still then for now I am done with the midterm exams, when everyone are done with their end terms. Well I will take my own pace for now and wait until the next dawn cracks. Go ahead with your tempo friends. :)

Lunar Eclipse Coinciding with the Night of Lord Buddha's Parinirvana.

I heard that the there will be a lunar eclipse at around 1.00am on 16^th June, and it would last around 1oo minutes,  the longest and darkest total lunar eclipse of the century in the morning. Therefore, I was eagerly waiting to see it and waited enthusiastically for the day to end though the fantastic show is to take place only at mid night. By that time when everyone would be snoring in fact.  The day was not so bright yesterday. It was cloudy most of the time and there was a little drizzle towards the evening, bringing down the heat of soaring temperature to the minimum. At around 11.00pm the sky was clear and moon was shining brightly but soon clouds rolled in and I could not wait further to see the incident in the heaven.

Lunar eclipse: googles

Lunar eclipse though, it’s a phenomenon involving the sun, earth and moon where the three lies on the same horizontal plane with earth in between sun and moon and Earth casting its shadow over the Moon, our ancestors never knew the cause of it and remained in the realm of superstition. Though most of us are aware of the facts of the such incidents like the earthquake (caused due to the collision of plates under the earth), the solar and lunar eclipse, the rotation and revolution of the earth causing the day & night and seasons respectively, many of our parents who are uneducated and illiterate would still remain in the realm of superstition.

When I was a child, I saw one such incident. It was a solar eclipse day. As the eclipse grow stronger, the sun was slowly getting dimmer. Then I saw people climbing on their roofs and shouting and whistling saying that free the sun. From the temples, they beat drums, blow the trumpets, and prayed for the freedom of sun. It was believed in my locality that a monster known as “Zaa” is eating the sun (solar eclipse) and moon (lunar eclipse) to satiate its hunger and if not requested by the people from earth, it may end up eating the entire sun, leaving the earth in total darkness. As such, there are many myths in different religion worldwide. One such myth states as follows:

“Hupa Indians of northern California

The Moon is a man who has twenty wives and a house full of pets consisting of mountain lions, bears and snakes. To feed his pets, the man goes out to hunt. After the hunt he carries all the game back to his house for his pets, but they are not satisfied with what he has brought them. In anger, the pets attack the man, who begins to bleed. This is represented by the Moon turning a reddish colour during a lunar eclipse. One of the Moon's wives is Frog and when she sees the predicament her husband is in, she rushes to help him. Frog beats away the pets. Then she and the other wives collect up the Moon's blood and he can then recover.”   

 Source: http://starryskies.com/

Unfortunately, for those who believe in such myths and superstitions, the lunar eclipse this year coincided with the Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana, which is a bad omen.  Their minds would be filled with apprehensions that the world might end up very soon, (in 2012 as heard in rumours) or they might consider it as an inauspicious year prone to face lots of calamities and natural catastrophes, as happened in Chamkhar or Japan in the case of world. Some might have even thought that the spread of Buddhism will be confronted with devilish acts with man afflicted with tobacco, alcohol and drugs and land sinking into poverty with excessive drought and famine. Some might have gone to the extent of thinking that the moon is going to be finished yesterday night when the duration was too long. 

lunar eclipse 15/06/2011: linbropark.blogspot.com

Today morning when I woke up, the sky was overcastted with clouds and day seems so gloomy. The lawn was filled with mist and soon there was a downpour. Is God weeping and earth sinking into his tears due to prolonged lunar eclipse? Or is it a good omen that the monsoon will be timely and the yields will be bounty?

For now forget all such superstitions and myths and wait another such lunar eclipse later this year in December. The next such eclipse (Long duration) will occur 130 years later – only in 2141, according to planetary scientists.

Melancholic Reminiscence to my Distant Angel.

newopticalillusions.com

Far beyond the rolling hills and lofty peaks,

At the blissful home, lay the princess of my dream.

And here in the foreign soil, amid strangers do I dwell,

My body though free of ailment, my soul twinges for want of you

In the glorious garden of limitless gleam,
Glitters the petals of beauteous gladiolus,
When the humming bee sinks into the fragrance,
I am overwhelmed by memories of our togetherness.

The crescent moon gazing from the azure sky,

The golden fish swimming with tides of flowing rivers,

The rhododendrons growing on the lushly hills,
Glimpse of all of which rings the bell of you.

Beneath loftiest snow mountains of whitish nature,
Amidst the woods, from branches of holy juniper,
When the cuckoos sing dulcet songs with haunting tune,
I am sunken in the reminiscences of your presence.

The dazzling peacock from the tropical plains,
Angelic fowl of heavenly abode, the alpine crane,
The melancholic songs of the temperate dove,
Such forces of nature when sensed,
      my heart aches for want of you.

The chromatic combinations in rainbow on eastern hills,
The monumental paradise of the western regent,
An exceedingly enamored earthly materials of colossal value,
Such elements when beheld, when brought to mind,
     our moments of togetherness are flashed back.

For meeting cause departure, and birth cause death,
Thus impermanence is the only uncertain certainty,
Yet before the impoverishing earth sinks into doomsday,
I pray to almighty, that sooner than later, we be brought together.

P.S. This art of work, I do not claim the originality in my name as it is a translation of the Bhutanese song "Choe Cheri Tang Mey Mo,"  from the feature film "Sem Gawai Tasha."   I would give my full credit to the composer of original Dzongkha lyric. I have the lyric in Dzongkha posted in my previous post.  The song is one of my favourite Bhutanese romantic music, so I and my friend Namgay, in exchange of our words could produce this version in the form of poem. The first and the last stanza, I have added as a prologue and conclusion to the original content.