Can a Customs Guy Have an Inspiring Story ?

In my life, I have watched good number of movies. I have equally read good number of books too. There are some movies and books that I didn't like. But however there are many books and movies that touched my heart.  They made a lasting difference in my life and hence I liked them more. All of them had an inspiring stories in them. 

For now lets deal with Movies here. For example, a movie called a "Freedom writers diaries" told me a heart warming story. Its about how a lone lady sacrifices everything in her life (even her marriage) for the cause of her destitute and poor students. Find out more about this movie here. Like wise "3 Idiots" is a classic move of its own kind. Read about this movie here. 

I must have probably watched those movies over hundred times already. But still, each time I watched them, I tend to get new meaning and inspiration all over again. In a normal situation, the former is a movie about how a teacher can inspire and latter is a movie that is suppose to inspire teachers!  To me, those movies also tell a lot about profession, career and life. It tells us at length about giving the best and leaving the rest and in the process making a story, unique in its kind. To summarize, they are all nothing but a stories of ordinary people who were little extraordinary than others! 

I do not intend to say that I am an extraordinary person. Not in anyway!  As has been fittingly put up by Erin Gruwell, The Author or Freedom writers diaries; -'Every person have their own stories to tell'. So do I. I do have my story! But I sometime wonder whether I can also have a space to tell my story to the world someday.

Now that I have already spent seven years in Customs, I do feel I have a lot of stories to tell too! I would't say they are all inspiring or pleasing. But nevertheless, if a movie be made or a book be written about a Customs Officer, then how would it appear?  How would people react to it? Can a Customs guy at all have an inspiring story to tell? These were the first questions that came to my mind. 

To be continued after my exams....................................(i.e after 3rd December 2012)

Strange Feelings

Of late, I have been busy both with my books and Facebook. Books, because I have exams to write starting 19th May and Facebook, because I am a very social person. I know many will join me when I say that 'exam days are never a pleasing moments.' I dislike the very idea from the core. Therefore, I often ask myself as to whether these things called 'exams' are really that necessary in ones life?

But the reality is real! Exams are like salt that adds taste to our life. Without exams, today it wouldn't have been possible for me to say that I have B.Com honors degree from Kanglung. I am not blowing my own triumphant but it was through exams that I could proclaim as an RCSC select graduate.

It is indeed through exams that I got my job. I am already making a humble living!  But the exam thing is yet to stop in my life. Like a greedy person in pursuit of knowledge, I am still drenching and slogging with books!. Some say, Economics is not a subject for average Tom and Dick, but here I am, trying to bite more than what I can actually chew.

In a years time from now, I would be finally done with my Masters programme. I would be saying good bye to the University that groomed me intellectually and would be rejoining my friends and family once again. These things gives me enough reason to smile and be happy about.

But there are other things that I worry about. I worry about my next transfer! Of late, I came to the knowledge that my Department even conducts exams to decide our next transfer place. I was told that the exams were conducted to ensure that the only brainy and browny gets a chance to serve in head office!. This is surely a work of genius mind and as a loyal service man, I cannot question the credibility of such a creative procedure. So long it is workable, i think its cool idea.

Farewell Paro Airport.

Paro International airport

Dear Friends,

It was on one cold January morning in 2006, that I first walked to my office; It was my maiden walk to my office; Regional Revenue and Customs Office, Paro. There were two of us, who in the words our ex-boss, 'came with our heads looking for ropes'. After a year long training in financial management, we joined the force of Customs in Paro International airport . 

Initially, with zero knowledge about the job, I honestly had lot of difficulties living up to the expectations of my superiors, clients and colleagues. There were times when my sincere service intentions were equated to  nothing but a harassment. But in five years time I feel I have  progressed a lot. The atmosphere in airport  have truly given me the the opportunity to not only  learn better about my job, but have also enabled me to  learn about other agencies that worked in the same place. These insights have truly made me more humble and  humane for which I wanted to convey my gratitude to all (my friends in airport)

Today, as I leave this place for a cause nobler to me, my family and my country, I would like to take a brief moment to thank all my dear friends with whom I had a very close association, both personally and officially. 

I thank my boss.  Sir Yonten Namgyel, Regional Director, RRCO, Paro for being source of inspiration. He has inspired me to become a humble person in serving our country. Not only that, he was also a motivating factor who inspired me from behind to pursue my writing habits. In him, I saw the traits of not only a leader, but an attributes of a sublime human being.  With this, I would also like to thank my colleagues of RRCO. Paro for being very affectionate and friendly all through my days in Paro.

I thank my supervisor Mrs Yeshey Seldon, for all her feminine wisdoms and intellects. I also thank her for accepting me in my own wholesomeness (blunt and rough). I think she is one person who understands me in and out.

I thank my dear friend Tashi Namgay for standing tall and firm beside me in discharge of our duty as Customs officers. His sense of unity, trust and friendship has always inspired me to work more diligently. I also thank him for being very amusing with his witty jokes.

I thank all my colleagues in airport for being such a wonderful people. They are indeed the reasons of my success. I thank each and every individual for being very open and obedient. Some of them are my very teacher who educated me in my job. Besides, I also thank our office drivers, Aue Dawa and Phuntsho for bearing with me and my way of assigning un planned works for you. You are all commendable comrades.

 I thank Sir Karma Wangchuk, The Joint Director, Civil Aviation  for his dynamic leadership in the airport. He has always been a man who accommodated my suggestions and  pleas. Till date, I may have made over thousands suggestions and recommendations, (both officially and personally) but amazingly he never said no to me on any occasions. 

 I thank Dasho Tshering Penjor, The Chief Security Officer and his team for rendering all the necessary co-operations to my office. I thank all the security officials for being pro customs in the field of enforcement and hope the good relationship will continue to grow and deepen.

I thank the Lieut. Dradul, Officer In-charge of airport Police and Captain Thuji, the former OC, for all the good and friendly relation we had. It was through them, the relationship between Customs and Police actually grew. I hope this relation will further mature and yield a positive result in enforcement field. 

 I thank Mrs. Tshering Doma, Immigration Officer, for being a very good friend all along. I thank her for being very candid and open with me. Personally, I thank her for accommodating with all my nonsense chit chats during our leisure hours too.

I thank the BAFRA team of airport for always being with Customs. We have always shared a common interest and common work place (near same x-ray machine). This apparently said that Customs and BAFRA are inseparable in the field of enforcement. I hope this will remain forever. On the lighter note, I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to BAFRA team for sticking with customs team in the football ground too. We may not have won a single trophy in history, but it was our unity that counted. So do not loose hope. Keep playing.

I thank Mr. Ugyen Namgyel, Catering supervisor and his catering team for all the regard and respect you all had towards me. I thank Mr. Thinley Dorji (captain) for his daily news papers and occasional coffee and snacks. Even though I wasn’t entitled for those facilities, it was all his good heart that counted. So thank you Aue Captain.  On a personal note, I would also like to thank Mr. Ugyen Namgyel for all his support and care during my sickness in 2006. I immensely thank his wife (my distant cousin) and family for accommodating me in their house during my crucial and lonely days.

I thank all the station managers, (Paro station), Drukair, Past and Present for all the good times and co-operation we had together. I thank Mr. Nidup and Mr. Damcho for educating me on the aspects of drukair operation. This knowledge has greatly enabled me to discharge my duty in a more professional manner. I also thank Mr. Ugyen Tashi, the Current station Manager and all his dynamic team of staff for all their co-operation.

I thank Aum Karma Choden, Bank of Bhutan, for all her humanely advices and concerns she had towards me. She was one person who wholeheartedly talked to me about my weakness and flaws. I took her words just like I take my mother’s words. Her words honestly had positive impact in my life I thank her with all my heart. I also thank her for treating me with coffee all the time with imported milk powder.

I thank senior officers like Mr. Tashi Dukpa and Mr.Tashi Penjor of Civil Aviation, for leading us in sports activities in airport. Even though there were some fellas who fancied fighting than footballing, the fact remains as the fact. Every individual enjoyed the game (including me)

I would also like to Thank my friend Mr. Surinder Singh and Mr. Ranga of Indian Air Force Elements (AFE) located in Paro International airport.  These 2 gentlemen have been like a bridge between my office and our Indian counterparts both within  and incoming. I thank the AFE for showering with many gifts on their national important days. It was not only gifting but was also equally educating abut their culture and customs. Thank  you all for your help. I also thank them for providing me a Ray ban sun glass ( which I unfortunately lost to a mechanic who stole away from my car) 

Thank you all for being such a wonderful people to work with. My six years in airport has been anything but truly the most enriching and rewarding era of my life. It is here, I became not only responsible family man, but a responsible citizen of our beautiful country too. With divine experience I gained on daily basis, I have always tried to live up to the expectations of not only my superiors, but have equally strived to also live up to the expectations of you; my dear friends too.

As a Buddhist and more as someone who practices it on daily basis, even in discharge of my duty to Tsa-wa-sum, I have always chosen to follow middle path. As I contemplate in retrospect, it brings to me, a deep sense of delight, knowing that it befitted not only me but to all whom I had an acquaintance, both officially and personally.

 But, a popular adage has it; ‘with good times comes bad times’, obviously there were some bad times in between as well.  As much as I take the pride in acknowledging my good times, I would also like to take this time to acknowledge my bad times without any hesitation too.

As human and more in the vein of unenlightened being, there must have been times where I have acted pernicious. There must have also been times, where I have spoken like serpent. As a young and juvenile officer, I must have also acted unruly, irritating and gossipy. Allow me to take them back. Because I know every human being (including the Lamas) err. Least, I am no exception to this universal law. I know I err and err more to be fittingly called and ‘kachara’ (problematic), ‘za ma tup’ (uneatable) and aggressive ‘zan dre’ (begger who has devils face).

As a man who works for Customs, (In-charge) I couldn’t have asked for a better term. At times, those labels brought me immense satisfaction too. It reminded me of my sincere service to my Country, my King and to my fellow Bhutanese people.

But on the other hand, it saddened me as well. As an enforcement officer, only discretion I had was  my obligation to Government; -to enforce law. With this, I often found myself caught up in the thought of those things that are ethically right, but morally wrong?  I have often spent sleepless nights trying to balance morality and ethicality of law enforcement. Isn’t this a strange thing that I only to arrive at a self consolatory line which says ‘Law enforcement is right on both the counts’?

So,In the light of aforementioned line, I would like to reiterate, that all I did was more  in the interest our law; -to do something right in general- and not to harass or hinder anyone in the process. Even though it’s neither great nor rare, I bear all the responsibility for my deeds. Please forgive me, for forgiveness is to divine. 

Wishing you all a success and Happiness in life. 

With warm regards and respect.

Kuenzang Thinley

Masters in Economics,

Gujrat University,

Ahmedabad, India

The Editor Of the Paper Writes to my Boss.

The Director

Regional Revenue and Customs

Thimphu

Sub: Mr Kuenzang Thinley, Customs Officer, Regional Revenue and Customs Office, Paro

Dear Sir,

First up I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Jurmi Chhowing and I work for the weekly paper The Journalist as the paper’s Chief Editor.

This letter is more of a plea to your good judgment and acumen, and the need to clarify the position in which Mr Kuenzang Thinley finds himself embroiled.

Needless to say, I was absolutely surprised, shocked, disheartened and after a long contemplation, still find myself pondering where Mr Kuenzang Thinley went wrong. First up, if you will allow me, I’d like to make the clarification that the letter, which was printed in the 21.6.’11 edition of The Journalist was done so at my personal behest and without the knowledge or permission of Mr Kuenzang. Here the norm is to inform and ask writers and authors outside the paper requesting and seeking permission for publications. In this light, I took the liberty because I had already run about seven articles of Mr Kuenzang from the writing group on Facebook called Blogyul. Any material that is published in that page is selected for eventual or instant publication in The Journalist. The page in the paper itself is called Blogyul. The idea is provide a platform for writers, and encourage people with writing aspirations to write with as much professionalism as possible.  Mr Kuenzang is an invaluable member of that movement and the goals are, to say the least, very noble. After he started posting his writings via his blog

(http://shingkhar.blogspot.com/).

I was drawn by the nature and the language of his stories: of human interest, well balanced, thoughtful, contemplative, and always with a positive bent of mind and hence, providing nurturing food for thoughts regarding the well being of our King, Country and the People.

To me, Mr Kuenzang is the kind of person that personifies everything that is good and wholesome about the Bhutanese and Bhutan as a nation. Never have I read an article of his with any vested or hidden agendas; not even a subtle reference. If anything, his writings evoke inspiration, positivity, optimism and that belief that drives us all to forget the bad and continue doing what is good. In a word, Mr Kuenzang’s writings evoke “Hope” – something we can all use in what is an increasingly cynical age driven by personal egos and public hoodwinks. The letter that caused your offices inconvenience was an invitation made by the Prime Minister himself: to write to your respective MPs was the Pam’s message. In person, and in public too, the PM agrees that the Tobacco Control Act was imbalanced, as far as crime and punishment is concerned.

In that letter written by Mr Kuenzang and published by The Journalist, the contents are anything but antagonistic. I personally see that letter as the best and most articulated point of view written thus far on that controversial tobacco act. The letter pervades and peruses the act in the finest of journalistic traditions – morality, balance, factuality, and most pertinently, the well-reasoned and eloquent points with enriching points of wisdom.

The impact the letter had was tremendous. There was not a single negative comment or feedback on that article, on the contrary, the letter inspired many to do the same. Hence more people are writing today to their representatives than before. And the credit of such a positive interaction and communication between the representatives legislating laws on our behalf and the direct participation of people via their respective constituencies cannot be overstated. It is the basis of democracy itself, engaging in fruitful dialogue and bridging the apparent gap and gulf between the citizen and his elected representative.

Besides that particularly beautiful letter, Mr Kuenzang’s writings present values and traditions that should be conserved and encouraged, specifically keeping in mind the fact that some 60% of our population fall under the age of 24. This demography will reap rich dividends from people such as Mr Kuenzang. The impact of the written word is often intangible, but in terms of its power to change attitudes, the written word is unparalled, as it stays lodged somewhere deep in our consciousness.

I’ve enjoyed and continue to enjoy his writings. But it was indeed very disheartening when he announced on that Facebook Blogyul page that he might delete his blog and stop writing altogether. This will be such a pity. His Majesty the King himself is an artist and a writer, not to mention a voracious reader. Recently His Majesty granted an audience to freelance writers – the guidance was simple, His Majesty encouraged them to keep writing. As for civil servants being disallowed from writing, may I inform your good self that one of my regular contributors, Tashi Pelyang Kasha (An Officer with the Monastic Body Who is a Regular Columnist for The Journalist), who was also at the audience, was given a handsome Soelra by His Majesty for the article To His Majesty the King: In Tribute in last Sunday’s edition of The Journalist. Needless to say, his will to write better has soared to the skies.

(http://www.thejournalist.bt/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=14)

This same message has been voiced several times by the PM too. He was surprised when we asked him about civil servants writing. “They can write” was what he said. We reminded the PM that the BCSR does not allow free expressions (although the constitution guarantees, as your good self would know, the freedom of expression and the Right to Information). The reason I’m citing the above is also simple: as long as the articles are not detrimental or compromising in any way, shape or form to the national interest, in my case I take the self-responsibility of selecting articles that do not prove sensational or with intent to cause malice, but rather in that romantic hope that people will change for the better; that more youngsters will read and write knowing the power of the pen, and do so with as much prudence, sensitivity and reasonability as possible.

The article by Kuenzang paying tribute to a teacher called Golden Moments: From the Table of a Retired Lopen was personally lauded by the Education Minister in a letter of appreciation he wrote to The Journalist, in effect to Mr Kuenzang as he was the author. Another beautiful article penned by Mr Kuenzang is Welcome to the Family: a Son’s Recollection of His Parents’ (Mis) Fortunes. It is quintessential Bhutanese tale, with sacrifice, family bonds, external and societal pressures, modernization and the pros and cons of such changes sweeping our country as we speak.

It was a beautiful account of what an average Bhutanese family faces, and universal in its theme of love, sacrifice, career, family and trying to better one’s own character; becoming a better person in the process.

I cannot stress enough how valuable a contribution Mr Kuenzang is making through his ability to express experiences into words and stories that I believe inspires and makes the reader do a retrospection of his own morals and dilemmas. If Mr Kuenzang stopped writing altogether because of this single “letter,” I cannot emphasize enough what a huge loss that would be. To himself as writing comes naturally to him and he has an innate sense of choosing the most relevant topics; for him to drop writing would be an injustice to himself and every person that could otherwise derive inspiration from his writings.

Sir, this is my personal plea to your innate goodness – please consider the many valuable contributions he ahs made, for to lose him for a single article would be tantamount to telling a student who has failed in one subject to altogether discontinue his education.

And may I also suggest, on a personal note, what a warm human being Mr Kuenang is… for it’s that inherent goodness embedded within that flows when he writes.

Here are the links to Mr Kuenzang Thinley’s published articles that have featured in The Journalist for your kind perusal.

1.      A letter to Member of Parliament, Bumthang

(News/REARVIEW)

By Kuenzang Thinley - Bumthang, Ura, Shingkhar

Of the many agencies involved in the successful implementation of the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010, my department has always been in the forefront. ...

2.    The  law making process looks less reasonable and more experimental

(News/IN SIGHT)

By Kuenzang Thinley

THE PROCESS gained its momentum when our venerated monarch, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, further went on to strengthen the political system in the country in 1980 and 1990

3.    GOLDEN MOMENTS - from the Table of a Retired Lopen 

(News/REARVIEW)

During my entire service, I have always tried to give the best I had in me to my students

 By Kuenzang Thinley

Going back to my origin, I wasn’t a person who was born with silver spoon...

4.    Welcome to the Family: A Son’s Recollection of His Parents’ (Mis) Fortunes

(News/BLOGYUL)

By Kuenzang Thinley

I have built numerous houses both in my locality and afar. Some of my finest craftsmanship is today visible in the beauty of Tango monastery in Thimphu...

5.    Letter

(News/WEEKLY TAB)

By Kuenzang Thinley

At the national level, 2011 year will be remembered more for the Tobacco Control Act 2010, sentencing a person to prison...

6.   I am Chath Dorji also known as the phallic man of Shingkhar

(News/TIDINGS)

By Kuenzang Thinley

Shingkhar is some 3800 meters above sea level. I am Chat Dorji of Shingkhar. I’m not so sure where I descended from, but my neighbors and friends consider...

Warmest Wishes

Jurmi Chhowing

Chief Editor

The Journalist

My trip to Sector 29, Faridabad, India

 

Last November, I was nominated to undergo drug law enforcement training in Delhi. It was computer based training. The duration of the training was four days and we were four from Bhutan.

 To me, India is a place where ranks mattered everything. I have even heard stories of official differentiation based in ranks and positions. To this end, I was repeatedly advised by my colleague to inflate my rank (Asst. Customs Officer) when I go there. Even though my promotion date was still more than a month away, I took his words and got my business card printed with my next higher rank (Asst. Collector of Customs)

As a normal human being and more so as a Bhutanese official, I had a very high expectation form my overseas training. Eighty percent deduction of DSA was certainly such a sad and bad news because higher DSA, cozy free rooms, comfortable economy class travel and good foods to eat were some of the things that every officials immediately start to fantasize.

We were also initially issued our travel itinerary to Delhi via Katmandu.

At home, I was busy packing my bag when my tiny purple nokia phone rang. It was from my supposedly team leader. He sounded so uncomfortable. But he had a clear message -the initial itinerary has been cancelled and that the organizers are looking for other options. He again rang me up hours later and said that I have to take a Taxi from Paro till Bhagdora. He was to me, a father of bad news. Overseas travel in Taxi was the last thing I had envisaged.  The fear of catching cough and cold from the bumpy, dusty and perilous high way was a very much foreseeable state of affairs. Being severe sinusitis patient, the fear of having to suffer a severe nasal congestion was even worse and terrifying than the word fear itself. With multitude of thoughts gushing my psyche, I finished packing my small bag.

In the evening, I went to alter alone and lit up a butter lamp; I made a sincere and ardent prayer to the almighty god. My prayers were honest and direct. I am in no mood to take a bumpy ride in a stinking taxi at an exorbitant fare and I am not willing to empty my savings account for the trip apparently sponsored by international organization. –United Nation’s Office for Drugs and Crime.

The next day, I reached Phuntsholing, the commercial hub of Bhutan. My homely colleague there welcomed me with a grand dinner.  Weakened by the bumpy ride in the back seat of the scorpion car, I fell fast asleep in a cozy bed near his newly procured alter. I slept so well that even the fierce lone female mosquito’s attack did too little to disturb my sleep.

If my previous day’s journey had weakened me, my journey next day crippled me. The food became tasteless and my nose became use less. The difficulty of having to breathe meant that I had to use lot of nasal drops which had an adverse affect on my health.

By mid day we were in Bhagdora, eager and ready to begin our travel portion by air. We all looked very pale and exhausted. The trip reminded me of the poem by Nissim Ezekiel ‘The Enterprise’ where he says “trip had darkened every face”. Surely the long distance travel has taken its toll on all of us.

We had our lunch with half cooked chicken curry in a small crowded restaurant.  We were served with water directly fetched from the tap by an under aged waiter.

Lunch served! It was time for us to head to airport to catch our flight.  In the gate, our air tickets were checked by a man who claimed to be the security official. Moments later we were inside the crowded terminal building where passengers scurried everywhere. We got our bags weighed and we checked in.

Suddenly someone announced delay of three hours for our flight. It wasn’t a pleasant thing to hear. There were passengers grumbling and sleeping. The people from the air line frequently came to update the information.

After three long hours, we finally boarded the flight only to hear that our flight being delayed again by another sixty long minutes.

Having waited for almost four long and grueling hours, the plane finally took off. The Flight was scheduled to Delhi via Gauhati. It turned out to be the longest journey for me. The half cooked chicken very well did its job of upsetting my stomach.

Never the less, at around midnight our group landed in Delhi safe and sound. A man named Om Prakash was there to receive us with his toyota indica car. He drove us through the dusty roads and bustling streets of Delhi. After taking many twists and turns, we finally reached to a place where our training was scheduled to take place -The Sector 29 in Faridabad city. The signboard at the gate read “National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics”. I saw few people waiting for us and when our car stopped, two young men came and helped us in unloading the bags from the car.

To my surprise and disbelief, an elderly man led two of us to a different room, some hundred meters away from our friends –The Manda kini apartments. The building looked very old in the midnight street light and there were visible signs of water leakage all around the lobby.

He gave us the key and disappeared instantly. As I opened the door, I found the room no better than the hostel where I stayed during my college days. There was a fourteen inch TV with no cable connection, empty but noisy old refrigerator, broken side table with no doors, wardrobe fitted in the wall with old news papers in it, small water boiler and a small quarter plate with few fresh banana and imported apples. Of all, the toilet appeared most pathetic. The lid of the pot was broken beyond repair, the dust on the window panes have become like a solid rock. With this brief inspection, I went to bed thinking that my rank inflation magic has served no purpose.

Soon I was awakened by my friend next door. He had all sort of ideas to protest. I soon followed his suit because we had all gone there in capacity of officials representing different departments and not as assistants and junior officers. This differentiation was too much to believe so we decided to immediately shift our belongings to other colleague’s room.

Next morning, two of us protested but it fell on the deaf ears. We were neither given new room nor being given the refund. It was Sherpa Dhaju’s delicious food in the mess that kept us going for the entire training session.

Back in the room, we made the best use of all the facilities available in our colleague’s room. We ate all the fresh fruits and biscuits in the quarter plate, emptied the tea stuffs, and used toothpaste and soaps to its exhaustion point. I realized that it was one good experience.

Every evening we went out either to shop or to dine. We sometimes got lost in the middle of seemingly law less city. I remember an incident where an auto operator mistakenly dropped us in sector 19 when we were supposed to go to sector 29.

I think this is how a normal Bhutanese official tells his overseas travel story.

Well, I will  tell my story about the knowledge I gained from the training at later stage, if I remember it rightly.