A Poetic Status.

This is a compilation of my facebook status updates.

image source: linked here.

The jewel of earth are the spring blossoms,

Amid thousand varieties, the marigolds dazzles.

Yet, the beauty of marigolds, they bloom on hilly cliffs,

Neither quenching the bees thirst, nor appeasing the heavenly gods.

The sun that illuminates this world has sunken in western horizon, 

And the beams of crescent moon, it drifted above the nimbus shades.

Thus the temporal world of mine, its shrouded in darkness

And this lonesome journey, its sees no destination.

Oh, the angel of my bygone childhood ages,

Thee turned to a stunning young maiden.

Throbbing my heart, the cherubic damsel.

Why gloomily you leave me now, my beguiling village.

If with the silken care, life turns debacle.

In desperation, then with wrathful dagger, pierce it hard.

Let the bloods of discontentment ooze harder.

Leaving a vacuum, where toxics can refill.

For its odds, that is paid best, and not the bests.

The Pain of Parting.

From the memoir of a song which I heard some years ago, 

the verse of which still echoes my ear.

image source: google rinpoche.

The three precious words which cradles my heart,

I longed to express to you but without a chance.

Yet between you and me, the wind of ill fate blew,

Making us part, for there wasn’t an alternative.

When in the summer’s heat, I troubled of thirst.

By fate, I encountered you, the mountain spring.

Yet I am saddened when the stream flowed away,

Leaving me in pain, like the fish on the dry shore.

The beauty of rheum, it blossoms on alpine hills,

The silver moon, please don’t wane and fade but wait

For  our parting today is a transient fate,

May the circle of karma bring us together.

P.S: Its a rough translation of a Dzongkha song.

As the Historic Wangdue Dzong Turns into Ashes.

My internet was slow. I tried to open the facebook and kuenselonline simultaneously at around 8:00 pm but facebook took longer time than usual to open. The kuenselonline kept loading and then came a heading, Wangduephodrang dzong fire!!!. I coulnot believe at first and thought it might contain a story of past incidence but when the page was fully loaded, it was appeared to me like a worst nightmare but it was fact. The historic dzong that peacefully perch on the hill resembling a sleeping elephant was engulfed by fire and was razed to ground as the day ended. It was the most tragic incident in the recent history of Bhutan, which caused the loss of a precious jewel that had been passed down to generations for the last 37o+ years.

I captured this image last year in Sept. 

Every Bhutanese know the history that Wangdue Phodrang dzong was founded in 1638 by the Zhabdrung and was Bhutan's second capital until Trongsa was founded in1644 with Wangdue Dzongpon as the head.  Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel met a young boy named Wangdi playing in the sand by the Punak Chhu and named the new dzong Wangdi Phodrang (Wangdi's Palace) which was later changed to Wangdue. The dzong is a dramatic example of Bhutanese architecture and it houses the monastic body and administrative offices of the district until the unfortunate fire incident reduced to ashes on this ill-fated day of 24.06.2012.

This is what happened today. What will we have tomorrow???

I was emotionally wrecked. My mind remained adle for long and body numb before the reminiscence of days I visited the dzong overwhelmed me. Wangdue being my district, I felt that we the people of Wangdue are really unfortunate though the loss is unbearable for the entire nation. I have been to the various temples within the dzong during my school days in Bajothang and I could clearly remember how I use to watch the historic Wangdue Tsechu in the courtyard of the magnificent dzong.  

This natural forces really creates a havoc. Some ten years ago, I witnessed three buildings being razed to ground near the Punathsangchu bridge. Last year in February, fire rumbled down the administrative block of Bajothang school, where I completed my schoolings. And today, it took away the entire dzong leaving Wangdue void and empty.

I made a call to home only to discover that they were deeply saddened. “I always offer butter lamps to pray for the good. What shall we do.” My sister was helpless. My brother who have studied near the dzong since his fourth grade till he passed class 12 long ago was equally in deep agony. The tweets and facebook status shows the sentiments of fellow Bhutanese but we are all helpless. The only hope is that let pray not such an incident happen in the future.

However I am deeply touched by the concern shown by His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Fourth Drukgyalpo. I came to learn that even before BBS could break the  news for the nation their Majesties has reached the scene to encourage the people for fighting the fire and of course consoling when it they failed.

The only good news was that the Precious nangtens are being saved.

Lets hope that the same masterpiece will soon replace the remains of the priceless asset which we lost today. There is a need for the present generation to take extra steps in preserving other such monuments.  

"As the elements of nature razed to ground my #WangdueDzong, My heart ached an unbearable pain and eyes shed voluminous tears. M so silent." - My only tweet for the day and incident. 

God Bless Bhutan.

                                                                                                              -Leythro...

Trip to Mussoorie- A Special BirthDay Treat.

Whenever I return home for the vacations from the college in India, I feel a great sense of joy once I pass by NJP and start seeing the lush forest and rolling hills to the north. The much-travelled endless Indian plains finally comes to an end as I reach the Phuntsholing gate. The next journey as the bus ascend uphill to enter the core of Bhutan not only relieves me of the stress I had in the college but also the fact that my home, the embodiment of peace is one step closer, the journey though in times is nauseating, it however remains the most cherished one. Added more the joy is by the fresh cold air that is devoid in the cities and the enthralling beauties of the mosaic of forest types that keeps changing as the elevation rises.

I am almost saturated by the same mundane for the last three and half years. I never changed my room, lectures seemed monotonous, but the final semester of my four year course of B.Sc. Forestry gave me an opportunity to visit Dehradun where all the forest based research activities are being carried out in India. Set up the Britishers in 1800’s the buildings are still at their best without much change in architectural designs and it was indeed a good experience to finally see the real forestry practices which otherwise was mostly learnt theoretically in the college.

image from google: could not capture a good photo of my own.

Ranchi has been unbearably hot without rain for overtwo months I felt it would be a good opportunity to relish some favourable weather in an exotic location, but my assumption tuned out to be wrong, as Dehradun is equally hot as Ranchi. However, our trip to Mussoorie Hill Station on 21/06/2012 was an amazing experience.

Located at an elevation of over 6000 feet, Mussoorie,popularly known as the Queen of Hills, is one of the most famous hill stations in India for both foreign tourists and Indians. The road after leaving the plains trespasses through the woods and ascends upward with numerous twists and turns, just like the Bhutanese roads. Owing to its excellent condition, I hardly felt any bump despite the vehicle travelling very fast. The route was very busy with thousand of cars moving up and down, as it is vacation season for the Indians. Though the hills are deeply encroached, natural forests are also found in abundance, which is why the air is cool and refreshing.

our own Dochula: source linked.

Reaching Mussoorie, which is perched on the top of the hill, I am reminded of our own Dochula pass. The difference is that Mussoorie tuned out to be inhabited and densely populated and often polluted by thousands of cars coming and leaving every day during the peak seasons but our Dochula is a pass which is still in its pristine state exhibiting the spiritual identity of nation. There is a stretch of shops, which sell varieties of items and numerous hotels and restaurants to cater our needs. The hill gives us a spectacular bird eye view of the Dehradun plains on one side and to the others we can see the Himalayan mountains and hills.

Besides there are many other sites to visit nearby like Kempty fall which reminded me of the landslides in Bhutan which block the roads with queue of vehicles though its due to narrow road and heavy traffic in this case. Others include the artificial Mussoorie lake, Camels back road, Municipal Garden, Gun Hills etc. As we returned back, the moment yet took me back to my village when I saw the sun about to roll behind the hills to the west. Generally, sun sinks in the plains in India.

People describe it as a natural paradise to sleep sound and peacefully and it is one indeed but its sustainability is a great threat due to reckless throwing of garbage, the ever increasing number of visitors and threats of decreasing forest coverage. Sadly, I couldnot locate a single Cedrus deodara tree which I longed to see for long as it is confined only in the western Himalayas. Yet, with nostalgic reminiscence and euphoric aches in heart, it was a pleasant birthday treat for me.  Yet I am little worried for the coming days. HOPE!!!!


                                                                                                                     -Leythro...

Summers Heat and Day Excursions, Now the End.

Today we had a longest day excursion covering more than 200 kms to and fro to the natural forest in the state. Jharkhand is known for its rich forest and natural resources if not for its unstable political scenario which saw as many as 8 chief minister within first ten years of its creation in 2000. Saranda forest is one of the famous subtropical sal (Shorea robusta) forests in Asia due to the profuse regeneration, but unfortunately most of forests of the northern states of India are infested by naxalite which pose a great threat to the commuters/government official/tourists etc and Saranda forest too has fallen prey to the maoists. I came to learn from the professors and seniors that in the past, they use to carryout hand on training and campings in the core of saranda sal forest but that was some 30 years ago, after all this college which I am studying is one of the oldest forestry college in the entire south Asia.

This entire semester, we had been visiting many forest-based institute and other forest areas to put into practice the theory we have learnt for the last three years. Although the activities and visits were in times exciting and sometimes boring, the intense heat has ruined our interest most of the time. For the first time in four years, I experienced unbearable heat in this place called Ranchi, which was considered as summer capital in the past. There has not been a single drop of rain for the last two months and mercury has risen above 40 degree Celsius. The ponds have dried, and the ground remained as barren as winter, and I have heard that in the nearby places, people have even evacuated their flats owing to scarcity of water.

However today’s excursion somehow gave me a sense of joy as this is going to be the last local excursion for us. The journey was too long and heat waves were really torturing but seeing the framers toiling in their dry field, rishaw paddlers striving so hard for earning their breeds and tribal peoples slogging in the intense heat, I reassuringly comforted myself in bearing the last heats. Of all the moments, the moment, under the shade of Eucalyptus was more nostalgic and mesmerizing.

The time has changed a lot since the starting of our semester in March. During those days, the forests were dry and brown with their leaves shed. Slowly they turned greener and later we could see beautiful pinnacles in the florescence of sal trees. Added to the greenery were the colours of Jacaranda and other wild flowers. Now the sal trees are in full ripe bearing their spectacularly winged seeds in abundance. The purples of Jacaranda has given its way to the saffrons of Delonix and Cassia.

Excitedly awaited is the exotic tour to the Doon Valley for the next couple of weeks starting 16th this month :) . By then let me hope that the monsoon has come and given a fresh look to this arid environs.

How have been your days this summer? Has monsoon reached your places or is it as hot as I described here? 

When Loss is Gain.

Without much gain for so long, rather life filled with monotonous events often causing despair and resentments, I wish some good fortunes in the days to come, so that I can proudly claim that when loss is gain, it is not loss.

Written by his Excellency the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Pavan Kumar Varma, “When Loss is Gain” is his first work of fiction, apart from the many famous book he has written. The story is set in contemporary India and Bhutan, thus linking the bond of Indo-Bhutan Friendship.

Author with the Book.

For Anand, who works as a lawyer for his best friend Advaita’s law firm in Delhi, the loss that he incurred in the beginning turns out to be a huge gain at the end. His work environment takes such a twist that his friend Advaita with whom he worked and backed like an equal shareholder tries to ignore his hard work and dedication, which causes Anand descent into drinks. This leads to alienation from his wife Tanu with whom he could not raise a child. His state of mind is further disturbed and bereaved when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that he can live only few more months. As he lost his health, fate gave him such a quirk that his wife too leaves him for Advaita, thus not only losing his wife but also his highly respected job, and very soon his battle to live.

Anand is now passing through a complicated phase of his life with a death sentence ahead him. Without anyone at his beck and call, the pain of loneliness was more excruciating that his disease. Luckily, his doctor sent a copy of his biopsy for further examination and it was found that the test for cancer was negative, and his doctor declared that Anand is not going to die and can lead normal life and this was his resurrection from the intermediate state he passed through.

Where divinity leads our way.

With the new life, Anand didn’t want to get into the old business so he rejects all the offers before proceeding to Wangsisina in Bhutan for a recreational trip where he meets Chimi, who later became his close friend. While in Bhutan, Anand was mesmerized by the serene of flowing river, the laughing cliffs, the peaceful environment and most importantly the jovial dwellers. It was during his stay in Wangsisina that he met Tara, an Indian woman who preferred to discover solace by becoming a nun after she experienced almost a same fate (with regard to relationship) as Anand.

It is intriguing to discover how the novel ends after dilemmatic incidences that both Anand and Tara undergoes in a bitter-sweet romance, before the two could finally leave Bhutan and settle in India to raise a family, thus completing the circle with a ultimate gain.

The book is richly nourished with spiritualism and culture and carries a deep message of life and death, loss and gain, happiness and fulfilment, sorrow and joy, and also animates many Hindu philosophy together with a note from the preaching of Drukpa Kuenley, the divine madman. 




                                                                                                                                            -Leythro...

Green Economy: Does it Include You?

The celebration of World Environment Day 2012 marks its 40^th anniversary since its first inception in 1972 by United Nations General Assembly. Year after year, decade after, a relentless effort have been put by the UNEP to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The day unites the much dispersed populace of the world and brings together for a similar understanding, the conflicting developmental dissent for a common environmental cause.

Despite these efforts/endeavours, world is faced with serious ailments to its pristine environment which ultimately leads to the tragedy of commons when drought hit the fields, floods sweep the homes, poverty drains the communities and famine cripples the nations. The major economic crisis for the nations and communal sufferings are but result of adopting weak developmental paradigm that involves the use of natural resources beyond its threshold limits. And when we realize the importance of healthy environment, it is like the same mundane procedure where man deteriorates his health to make money, and uses the money to restore the health back.

So far 39 slogans have been adopted by the UNEP for this important day, so considering the necessity of economic development besides the conservation of environment, the theme this year is “Green Economy:Does it Include You?” In its simplest form, UNEP defines a Green Economy as 'one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.'  After all, as Mahatma Gandhi has said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed” so equitable sharing of the limited resources for our needs includes us to be part of the Green Economy.

One of the best ways of adopting green economy is to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Today, carbon emission is posing a great threat to the world climate. Like the man trapped in the glass enclosure where temperature is high and moisture is low, where fresh air is minimal but the carbon dioxide exhaled expands, mother earth is passing through a critical stage due to global warming. As the trees get chopped for various reasons, the level of CO₂ increases, which is again enhanced by the burning of fossil fuels, automobile exhausts, industrial gases and change in farming practices and land use patterns. Addition to it the other greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide, methane, water vapour, CFCs and depletion of ozone absorb the infrared radiations thus increasing the global temperature hampering the two constituents of weather, temperature and rainfall, the most.

A great deal of effort is being put by government of Bhutan in adopting a greener economy. Constitution mandating 60% forest coverage for all time to come to committing to remain carbon neutral all the time during COP 15 meet at Copenhagen; following a Gross National Happiness paradigm for development through sustainability to phasing out Ozone depleting substances.  Besides our schools in the country are setting a good example by adopting activities like plastic ban in the school compound and replacing ball pens with fountain pen/inkpens, which are a greener move. The recent declaration of Tuesdays as Pedestrian Day encourages our city dwellers to develop the habit of walking which have many advantages like burning some calories, saving fuel expenses, enjoying the serene environment and in a greater extent, reducing carbon footprints thus going green. So many become a part of going green.

However, thousands of forest areas are also being burnt down every year, which not only threatens the lives of many wild animals, and biodiversity but also pose a deleterious impact to one’s own life. So, the big question of whether we are included in Green Economy needs a critical contemplation before we answer it yes.

Earth has been formed four and half billion years ago, and it has been dwelt by millions of creature one after another but none of the bygone/extinct creatures has caused a devastating impact on the nature of mother earth. Why on hell the so called human beings at this age are so greedy to leave nothing for the future dwellers to come.

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                        -Leythro...

Happy Birth Day, Mewang Gyaltsuen.

A Haiku..., 

From heavenly realm

Through the paths of rainbows

Goddess descended.

In her modest form

Embodies sacred wisdoms

Of great simplicity.

As kings companion

As Himalayan jewel

You are radiance.

For Wangchuck’s lineage

For subjects prosperity

You shouldered the crown.

For your mental peace,

Sound health and lengthy life 

We citizens pray.

Wishing Her Majesty, Gyaltsun Azhi Jetsun Pema a very

Happy Birthday

on this auspicious occasion.

May the triple Gems bless and assist Her Majesty in helping His Majesty the King in guiding the Nation to achieve eternal Peace and Happiness.


                                                                                                                -Leythro...

The Circle of Karma.

Do you believe in Karma? Everything that happens to us is the result of our Karma. Karma according to Buddhist philosophy is not predestination or fate, but it is the infallible law of cause and effect that governs our life and for that matter the universe. World is a physical entity formed by intricately interrelated phenomenon just like the dynamics of ecosystem. Whatever we do by our body, speech, or mind will have a corresponding effect/result. Thus, we dwell in a Circle of Karma.

Renowned writer Kunzang Choden, portraying a roller coaster of events that happens in Tsomo’s life, the protagonist of her first novel, best exemplifies this Circle of Karma.

When Tsomo was a young girl, she asks her mother, ‘Where is the furthest I can travel?’

‘Where?’ her mother responds, ‘I don’t know. Where can a girl travel to?’ but sadly she can’t survive long to see that her daughter will prove her wrong.

Tsomo as a young girl aspired to learn literature and practice religion, but then in the medieval Bhutan, girls were obligated to excel into household chores and field works. Her mother advice her to become a good woman while her father being a faithful gomchen teaches the boys and his sons, to become good gomchen. Tshomo’s childhood life passes observing the rich ritualistic life in the Bhutanese village; the gender difference between a boy and girl, the culture of teasing and night hunting, the humiliation and pain of conceiving illegitimate child, the beauty and joy of consensual courtship and marriages, to mention few. In this way, before she turned 15, she has excelled in the mundane customaries and became a good homemaker, which earned her praise from her beloved mother and neighbours.

A Typical Bhutanese Girl.

Unfortunately, her mother dies during a complicated delivery, which made her shoulder all the responsibilities of her mother in the house to cater the needs of her little siblings and their father. Sadly, her father married again before her mother’s first death anniversary, so this makes her travel to Trongsa to offer prayers for her mother’s soul, thus beginning the journey of Tshomo’s life away from home. Destiny had it that she fall in love with a fellow traveller Wangchen, who happens to be a married man already but they get married and stay together. The consequences of Karma starts in her life when she became pregnant and could not deliver a breathing baby. Besides her bosom borne a swollen illness which never subsided. It was during such times that Wangchen and her younger sister Kezang betrayed her.

 ‘Why don’t you look after your husband better?’ Kesang would yell at Tsomo when talked about the matter. This makes her think about the pains that Wangchens first wife and children would have endured when Wangchen left them and came to her home. What a Circle of Karma.

Sometimes filled with anger and resentment, sometimes with envy and vengeance, and often her mind was obsessed by malicious thoughts but she chose to move away from them, and one night she fled her home, leaving nothing but tears of empathy for her father little brothers, and taking nothing but some valuable items that her mother inherited her.

With her swollen stomach, she moves to Thimphu, works like a coolie on the sites where Phuentsholing-Thimphu highway is constructed, and through the journey up and down, finally she reaches Kalimpong in India, accompanied by a girl of similar fate Dechen Choki. The difference is that Dechen left home because she hated a man, and Tsomo left home because she loved a man and suffered because they are women.

Though Thsomo’s mind was constantly obsessed by hurtful sentiments as she reminisces the events back home, her sense of devotion towards religion pays her all the merits. Her strong faith in religion takes her pilgrimage to BodhGaya, Katmandu and then Tso Pema in Himachal. Her karma had it that she once again was entangled in the mundane of marriage with a laggard guy but with his companion and under the directive of a Tibetan Rinpoche based in Himachal, she could finally get rid of the swollen illness after visiting a hospital. They then shifted to Delhi from where her karma compels to move back to Kalimpong, only to untie her husband’s unfaithful know with her when he leaves for a younger woman.

By now, Tsomo has grown into an old lady but its better late than never. She finally fulfils her childhood wish to practice religion, though she cannot read or write when the Rinpoche ordained her to become a nun. Shaving the hairs off and wearing a maroon dress, she finally chose divinity leaving behind all remorseful mundane. Cherishing the momentary joys she experienced, remembering her karmic encounter with lamas and their blessings, she finally choose Thimphu to spent her remaining life circumambulating the National Memorial Chorten and chanting prayers to discover the eternal joy and happiness. And The Circle of Karma once again brings her to the home of her ex-husband Wangchen and sister Kesang who have now become grandparents, with a smile of unity.

Throughout, I enjoyed all the rich cultural details and many humorous incidents which I could apprehend easily and they often takes me back to the village and reminds me of the incidents that my mother use to narrate to me. For everything is due to our karma, let’s see next what it means When Loss is Gain.

When Mind Matters.

Man is a product of his thoughts.

The great Indian Master Nagarjuna, in his letter to his friend has said that it is the nature of human mind to get tempted to the materials of this world, which actually are all insignificant and mere illusions. Such a wealth if accumulated and not used for the wellbeing of all sentient beings is an accumulation of suffering and at the end, an irreversible sin that will drag our soul in the realms of hell.

At one point, his eminence Phakpa Ludrup had said that our mind should be compared to inscriptions on three elements of nature; the water, the soil and the rock. He stressed that when we are to follow a karmic virtue, we should absorb such essence like the imprints left on the rock and for the sinful deeds, we should ignore and forget it like the drawings on the water.

Such in-depth of preaching from great master made me realise that it is not at all advisable to put water on the rocks and draw images on the water when situation tends to repel from us for such a deed would benefit us in achieving nothing but it is just wastage of time and resource. Flow with the free flow of river.

Living in the society filled with socialized people, we humans should develop an instinct of understanding the needs and problems of our counterparts but then the situation seems to be just the reverse. When we look at the mirror with a smile, we never expect our image to frown at us. Though all sounds don’t echo instantly, it is a regrettable action when the expected echo is never heard. After all, everything in this world is interconnected and is a resultant of continued cause and effect.

As such, life is nothing but a complexity of intricate mazes, whose doors of happiness is difficult to trace. Yet it is advisable to climb uphill to have a clear view of the valley beneath.

“Those which originate from cause,

Without that (cause), they donot exist;

So why would you uphold

That clearly they’re just like reflections!”

-         Master Nagarjuna.

People’s Reaction to Price Hike in Petrol.

The Bhutanese economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. Therefore, every fluctuation in the Indian economy have its direct implication on the Bhutanese economy. Since 70 percent of our imports are from India, the rise and fall of price for the goods first begins in India, then the news shifts to Bhutan before the facing the proportionate consequences.

The recent price hike in Petrol is one such example and people in the two countries react differently. 

While Inidans were busy protesting against the hike,

Our Bhutanese were trying to save some by refilling the tank before hike.

More disgusting when, effigy of the Head of Govt is burnt...,

But Indian Govt resists petrol price rollback, for now.

Radio Shangri-la.

Which is your favourite radio station in Bhutan? Well, my village being located in a far flung corner, the transmission of many newly stationed radios in the capital is not reached, so as long as I can remember, I was grown up tuning to the national radio station, the BBS. But few years ago, when Kuzoo FM was established, wherever I go, I found people tuning to kuzoo (Dzongkha most of the time) and I came to learn that a network of relationship was also formed known as Kuzoo Family with many people dedicating songs and well wishes to those unseen, mysterious family members.

So this radio station according to Lisa Napoli is “Radio Shangri-La”. Until reading this book, I didn’t knew that Kuzoo FM is project initiated by His Majesty the King, (then Crown Prince) Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. It was established on 1st September, 2006 and was officially launched on 28th September, 2006.

Lisa Napoli, a radio journalist based in America was in the grip of crisis and was unsatisfied with her life which is why she started attending a workshop positive psychology. Strangely, she met with a man named Sebastian for merely twenty minutes during a party and that was enough to divert her towards Bhutan, often described by her as “the Happiest Kingdom on Earth” in January 2007.

Her purpose of visit was not as tourist but as a volunteer at the then juvenile Kuzoo Fm that aired its transmission from an old kitchen. Kuzoo is the country’s first radio station for the youth of Bhutan. Her visit was just a year prior to historic transition where a constitutional monarchy was set up and new king was crowned. As she narrates her stay with the kuzoo family, she digs into the history and culture of Bhutan and presents to the readers a vivid fact about the country; the history, dress code, the Bhutanese cuisine, the games, Bhutan being a poor country coping up with rest of the world very lately, and of course the Bhutan’s developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness.  Most importantly, she also observed the dawn of democracy in Bhutan.

Taktsang Monastry- Priceless Asset of Bhutan.

As she enjoys the carefree lifestyle in Bhutan and observes among Bhutanese, the intimate connections with peers and relatives, she was reminded of her life in America; where she was to stay all alone her family being miles away from her busy with their own schedule, she being raped at a tender age, her divorce with her husband, and other midlife crisis which has shaken her mental peace.

Her first arrival in Bhutan has  altered her attitude towards her life. She finds that the world is a beautiful and complicated place, and comes to appreciate her life for the adventure it is. She became more attached to kuzoo family and this compels her to visit Bhutan twice later. Intriguingly, she helps one of the radio jockey in Kuzoo to fulfill her dream of visiting America, not knowing the fact that Bhutanese aspires to adventure to America for a job to earn dollars.

For me, the book helped me recapitulate the history of Bhutan and of course taught me the lesson that life has deeper meaning, as we faces The Circle of Karma-coming up next.

Growing into Cricket Fan.

I hardly get a good time to watching favorite sport channels though I love watching football matches, only because I am living in a hostel where there is only a single TV in a common room shared many students of diverse interest. India is a cricket crazy country. Wherever we go, we can spot children and boys playing cricket in open grounds. In the university where I am studying also, I could see many boys playing bat and ball in an excessive sun, when I cant bear walking to my classes. So by virtue of the fact that majority of the students love watching cricket, I too join them and watch the game, therefore I don’t know what is happening in the world of football.

This time it is the Indian Premiere League season five which attract the fellow localites to the TV screen every evening. Cheering for their favourite team and praising their favourite cricketers, they often raise a hot debate filling the room with hot buzz.

Since the inaugural session on 4^th April, I too have been following Kolkata Knight Riders and have been cheering for them whenever they played. Owned by Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood king, my inclination towards the team was more of the owners influence than the players. My team started with three consecutive losses but they proved their best when they won all the consecutive matches until recently they lost to Mumbai Indians and Team Chennai.  As the season is near ending, they were at the edge of falling but their last victory over Mumbai brought them back to track, so I am relieved.

Throughout the season, there is one man in the series a Caribbean giant known by name Christopher Henry Gayle. During the first three seasons, he played from Team Kolkata but due to his unsatisfactory performance, the team did not retain him during the last auction, which is why he landed in Team Bangalore. This season he is the only man, who played the most entertaining cricket by hitting massive sixes. The entire crowd everywhere enjoys his shorts and it seems the whole India has become his fan. Neither the strength of Dada, nor the fame of master blaster can suppress this huge man.

Of all the matches he played, his spectacular performance today against Delhi Daredevils was an amazing one. With 13 massive sixes and couple of boundaries, his unbeatable 128 of just 62 balls have won the admiration of cricket lovers and I am not an exception. Now they are defending their brilliant total of 215.

Like the Transient Clouds

Call it a journey or an adventure, 

But, often confronted with bitterness is our life.

So transient, as the flash of spring lightning,

Euphoric moments are too ephemeral,

Though people often says

Happiness and sadness are but a state of mind.

Mind like the untamed pet as it wanders; 

It ascends the crest and falls to trough.

Often through chaos and confusions

Inner strength is ragged with devastating blows,

When so ignorant and apathetic the environ seems,

Shattering the hopes of survival as the fittest.

Worldly phenomenon is a real roller-coaster,

Each changing with fleeting moments.

Words of past though it reverberates now,

It just remains like the echo from distant rocks

Without a genuine tone and liveliness. 

As mood swings, traversing a life is exhausting. 

Home, the embodiment of bliss is away

And to reach there, I lack a pony to ride.

The gracious parents are beyond hills

And here, I lack an affectionate host.

My mind, it longs for the temperate breeze,

Yet, into scorching sun of tropical plains, I drench.