Finally, after more than a
decade, Project DANTAK cryingly completed the construction of much hyped
Chukha-Damche bypass road. Like many other Bhutanese commuters, I am excited too
about shortened distance and prospect of cost saving on ever expensive fuel. In an opening ceremony, our Prime Minister
said, the road would remain as a symbol of Indo-Bhutan friendship. But I have
other feelings. That patch of road would remain as a symbol of Project DANTAK’s
unceasing love for constructing (so called the best) roads for us. They have
been building roads for us far too long and I think it’s about time they allow
us to do it for ourselves. We thank them for all their love and support and
they should now rest. Today we have our own national builders who are technically
more equipped. We have work force who possess skills and experience in building
our own roads and bridges, if not hydro powers. But it’s the irony of the century that we still
depend so much on some of the substandard foreign builders. Long time ago, I once
met an official from DANTAK. I asked him whether the bypass would actually see
the lights of completion days. I made a reference to India-China competition
and told him that elsewhere in China, they are building 78 km of roads per night. But
here you are taking ages to build just 29 KM road. Unable to tolerate my mild
criticism, the official got mad and left the place.
Yesterday evening, I was watching
some news on CNN and NDTV channels. Most of the contents are as disappointing
as it can get. Americans are scratching their heads while their President continue
to wreak havoc in political spectrum. Historically, it’s astonishing to see
American President honeymooning with Russian President in a closed door room
and later admitting that he fumbled with a simple word ‘Would’.
In India, mob lynching and raping it
seems have become the order of the day. On the other hand, BJP is obsessively
fearful about the dynastic Congress and Muslim vote bank. But let’s be honest, what
is not so dynastic in Indian Politics? Besides Gandhis, Look at the Lalus and
Sinhas of Bihar, the Yadavs and Yogis of
UP, The Abdullahs and Muktis of J&K, Solankis and Patels of Gujarat, Jogis and Shuklas of Chhattisgarh. The list
will go on. Now with Modi in the center, there is an emergence of strong man
politics and the world is Namo there. In brief, there is nothing great to learn
from oldest and biggest democracies of the world at the moment.
There is this jolly guy called Richard Quest who says, the racial harmony is a cord yet to be struck in America. And in the similar line, I thought religious harmony in a secular India is another cord yet to be struck.
There is this jolly guy called Richard Quest who says, the racial harmony is a cord yet to be struck in America. And in the similar line, I thought religious harmony in a secular India is another cord yet to be struck.
In my office, world cup fever
is yet to subside. Some won and many lost their bets. In between, wave of momo party and
pizza party are happening haphazardly from the winners. For the last two days, I
was busy moving between the groups, eating momo, drinking tea and munching slices
of pizza. The slim advantage of being a senior in the office is that you get
multiple invitation and in the end you risk getting stomach disorder.