From Customs Office, Paro Airport

Yesterday was a very auspicious day. After two long years in India, I am finally back to a place where I belong. I made back to my office in one good piece and it gives me immense joy and satisfaction. In the morning hours, I first went to meet my new boss. It was our first meeting and so both of us had very few words. But in between, I think our silence did the rest. Through our silence, we spoke a lot. I think we spoke  about our dream to serve our department. -To our best. before I stood up to leave his chamber, I shook his hand. I think I did thrice.

Kongfu Panda Post

Me and my group will be passing out this May. So yesterday our friends from Gandinagar were here to bid us farewell. I told them it wasn't necessary but they wouldn't listen. They took lot of trouble coming here in the unforgiving heat and dust of Ahmadabad.

I would like to thank them all for coming here and for making us happy. I had one of the most sumptuous lunch in a long long time. Chicken curry was the best. More than the lunch, I thank them for their sense of brotherhood towards us. Perhaps this is something that is holding Bhutanese together anywhere in the world. 

And today morning I got up and repaired our old and worn out rice cooker. While fixing it up, I told our  rice cooker to hang on for another month. -- just one more month and we will be gone--.

The other thing I had in my mind was to write something about Kongfu Panda. Its one of my all-time best movies. I  think I am the biggest fan of Panda so far. But few days ago, one ardent reader on my blog claims she is a lot bigger fan of Kongfu Panda than me. She even named herself as Panda in Facebook to show how much bigger fan she is than me. But I insisted I am the bigger fan than her. Now to settle the claim, she wanted me to write something about Panda movie.

I suppose there ain't many people who do not know about this famous movie. Even my three years old daughter knows about it. She have her own favorite character!. She likes the way Po says "I love Kongfu" on the chair rigged with firecrackers. She even knows to replicate Panda's mouth in that scene. My other daughter likes a scene when Po's adopted duck-father says " Po, get up".

As for me. I like all the scenes in the movie.  Let me be very brief. In part one of the movie, the scene I like most is where Master Oogway tells Panda these lines: "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present".

This movie, in fact taught me the greatest lesson of my life. It taught me to believe in myself. Through this movie, I became more determined to discover my inner strength. I became more aware of how senseless it is for us to worry about things which are history and mystery.  At one point of time, 'live your present to the fullest' was the message I took from it. It made me believe that its only me who have the potential  and will bring inner peace to my own self. 

I simply feel its too big a movie for my small vocabulary to describe it. So let me stop here for now.

Ode to Ramji, Our Gatekeeper

Here is a story of a gate keeper

Whose name I do not remember.
Too lean to be called Ram-Singh.

So I call him Ram-ji.

He works round the clock with no rest,

But still says work is worship at best.

He doesn't seem to know how

 Exploited he is for now

Five thousand rupees a month!

And he says, is a big money on earth.
 Away from his honey,
He lives thinking other than just the money.
  Says He
To me

 

 He is a proud father,

One who often gloats further,

About the big money he put together.

For a wedding of his bigger daughter.

 I call him Ram Ji 

and he says Haa Ji

I say Good morning ji

and he says Thank you ji

Gangnam Style of Doing Research ?

The mercury level in Gujarat is rising. And it is rising fast. The days are turning out to be as hot as the Gujarati days it self. Its spring and I am suppose to see lot of flowers and birds. I am suppose to feel rejuvenated. But all I am seeing here is still a dead barren ground covered with dust. Its dry everywhere. well, this is just a short update from Gujarat 

The other news, I want to share is that, I am drowning with a thing called research writing. With less than 3 months at my disposal, I have an academic requirement to submit a thesis to my university. I am worried and I am spending sleepless nights. At this hour I have no words that would convey how grateful I am to Google. Its only through Google that I am able to collect few data here and there. I am trying my best to make my paper look academic and honest. But its proving to be very difficult. 

But interestingly, I met few of my class mates the day before. Some of them are clueless and they are in much worse condition than me. Most of them haven't typed a single page till now! But I am surprised, very very very surprised indeed to hear them say that research can be done in just two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Gangnam style of doing research could be its name I suppose.

Today I checked my Diary and I found out that the due date for its submission is not that far. I am frantic. At times I am becoming clueless. In the morning hours, I went to see my guide, but he was not available. I presumed he is gone for a puja. the Holy puja. God! the puja is costing Inida millions of hours every year! and here its costing me my valuable hours too! 

As I stood under the giant fan in the corridor, I could sense so many thoughts rush my spine. In between, a flying pigeon got hit by fan and died right in front of me. No No. It flew bleeding. Must have died somewhere. I waited little longer and then met my other professor. He came as a father of good news to me. He told me not to panic.  From the conversation I had with him, I came to know that even the professors themselves are aware about the mighty task that we are made to handle. 

On my way back, I saw some kids playing Holi. I clearly sensed their interest in me. They wanted to color me pink blue and green. With white trouser and a white shirt, it didn't seem a great idea. So to keep them at bay, I gave them a frowning look.

Thank You Dear Women

There is no word appropriate enough to thank our Women. They are the formidable pillars that holds our our universe together. They are our grand mothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, nieces, aunts and nannies. They are our universal friends. Each one of them represent our joy, hope and strength. They are the source of compassion, kindness and love. Perhaps, that is why females are considered as the source of wisdom. They are people who taught us how beautiful life is and how worthwhile it is for us to live it happily. hey are fountain of strength and endurance. Therefore on this International Women's day, I would like to wish all the beautiful women around the world, a very Happy and fulfilling Women's day. From the Bottom of my heart, I would like to thank each and every women for making this world a wonderful place to live in. 

Personally, I have a big reason to cherish this day because, firstly I come from a family that has more women member in it than a man. I am a brother of seven sisters!  I have only one line to describe them. "They are all wonderful beings". I know in Bhutan, there are people who associate seven sisters to so many hilarious omens. But for me seven as always been my lucky number!

I grew up with them all through my life. -from a toddler to a lad and to my ultimate adulthood-. As a lone brother in the family, I remember how each one of them pampered me and loved me. All in all,  that was the wonderful part of my journey in life. I know might take many life time to repay their love and care but I would like to thank them all.

Secondly, Now I am a father myself. I have three daughters who are fast growing up. Some day they might grow up to be a women of their own substance.  As a father, all I want to say is that, along with them, came my joy. They have added a flavor in my life. A flavor called warmth and bliss. Thank you my sweeties.

Thirdly, I have a mother, who still loves me like a child. It difficult to describe but she still makes me fell I am protected and cared -all the time-. Love you Mom. 

And most of all, I have a loving wife. She is that much caring too. She is one good reason behind my healthy and happy life.  With her, I have found my happiness right in the corner of my humble home. Therefore i call her the nerve of my happiness. Thank you sweet heart for all your support, care, faith and love. 

Finally I have so many loving friends (women friends) around the world. I would like to take this moment to thank them all for being my wonderful friends. I woould like wish them all a very happy life hereafter.

With this, I would like to pledge my support for empowering women all over the world.

Happy Women's Day.

Finally My Hard Days are Nearing End

I am soon going to write another set of exams here. Believe it or not, I am going to write ten exams, submit five assignments and do five presentations in two months time. And let me also tell you that I have to submit a research project (of at least one hundred pages). In a mean time, I am going flat with mathematics. I am getting lost in the end less net of curves and figures.

I am going blank. At one point of time, I even could not get the law of demand right. For a person who is mastering in Economics that is pathetic and miserable. And just like me, there are my friends who are also mastering Economics, but are  not able to get the elasticity of demand right. The only consolation I have for myself is that, in learning complicated things, sometimes its (BIG NOT) OK to forget basics. Deep down I feel bitter. I feel embarrassed to the core. The guilt of missing  petty things such as these haunts me like devil with horn and fang. Such moments really make me think that whether what I have in my skull is a human brain or a piece of dung.

With this, I am now starting to believe that Economics indeed is not a subject that can not be crammed overnight. It demands lot of hard work, dedication, diligence and discipline. Some people call it 3Ds for success. My professors keep telling that Economics is  a study of rational beings. Therefore they also keep telling me that it demands lot of common sense. I think they are right. I don't know who ran this regression but there is a general belief that common sense is something which common people lack all over. For today let me not write about my common sense story here. But just know that I am just another common man.

The bottom line here is that, I will be back home soon. I will be among my loved ones, my family, and my parents. I will be home with my masters degree in Economics. It gives me an immense sense of satisfaction for having undertaken (one of) the toughest course on this earth. Finally my hard days are nearing end. Once home, I will not have to cook when I am sick. I will not go broke (hopefully)

For now, I am preparing for my final show down. My internal exams starts on 18th March 2013. My annual exam is scheduled to start on 22nd April 2013. So wish me good luck.

Me and Facebook are Like Milk and Water

Visit my Facebook Page

Few days ago when I posted my Losar resolutions on my Facebook status, someone asked me why "saying bye bye to Facebook" was not among my losar resolutions. it took me by surprise and I felt bit embarrassed. But it was all the more Interesting! I  thought for a while and finally give him my response. At the moment Facebook and I share a relationship like milk and water, so I told him its going to be difficult. 

On the other hand, I knew very well that he read my Facebook status (few months ago). I think he was right. I was fiercely angry with Facebook then and I was looking for way to deactivate my account. Although little reluctant, I was quite in the mood to stay away from it. 

You want to know the reasons?  Well, here they are. Firstly, Facebook blocked me from sending friend request for about a week. Ha ha ha. May be Facebook was right. I think I went little frenzy sending friend request in all the directions, because, I wanted to see in how many days I can have five thousand friends on Facebook.(Like our PM and Lilly Wangchuk) I wanted to test the celebrity status at least on Facebook!!! He he he (I am shy now). When that ban got lifted, my temptation ran wild again. I started looking for my old friends and again started sending them friend request. In the mean time, I think I also went lavish sending friend request to people whom I never knew. Then came my next ban. That time it was more severe. I was imposed a ban for solid one month. Further I was warned too! It said that if I repeat the offense, Facebook will permanently deactivate my account on Facebook. darrrnnnn!!!.....You see. Even Facebook doesn't like too much socializing. 

With friend request option banned, I found a place where I can be naughty again. I went rampant on chat. I probably must have had a chat with all the friends in my list. With over six hundred friends then, I was literally throwing salt everywhere. I felt life with Facebook was not that bad after all!!!  

But one fine day, I removed all the conversation details. Darrrnnn...!!! It was the biggest blunder in the history of my life with Facebook. I think Facebok sensed I was unto some mischief. Then came another package of ban. With that ban, I was denied a privilege to chat and pass comments. I was even denied an access to update my status.  Poor me. :( All I had was a privilege of clicking the "like" button only. For few days, I went crazy clicking the like button. I must have clicked 'like' even for the worst stuffs!!. That was a real sucker. But it was a matter of time anyways. One month soon passed and my privileges were once again restored. With that I now know my limit to on this social net work

Now Facebook and I are like milk and water. Over the few months I have become a very sensible person in using this site. I only use it for good purposes. I use it when I have an urgent work. Let me also tell you that its a place where in feel at home even when I am  actually separated by thousands of miles. Thanks to who ever has created Facebook, I am able to get in touch with my friends both old and new. Today I have over 777 friends and I feel blessed to have those beautiful people in my life (on Facebook)

Losar Resolutions and Others

My bank balance as on 04.02.2013

Of late, I am  little down financially. At one point of time I just had money that would buy me single meal in Ahmadabad. Forget about the Jaipur trip, I even thought of postponing my losar celebrations. Away and alone, I was at my lowest point. But Thanks to my dearest wife. She was there to enliven my life. She always did and I remain ever more grateful to her. I now understood the reason why god created women from man's ribs; to protect man's fragile heart that go lonely and down easily.

Now the Losar is over, I feel happy at the fact that I was able to have humble dinner with my friends. We had beef, chicken, pork and fish in our menu. Ohh yea, we also had basmati rice and dhai slald too. I opted to prepare fish curry. But somehow I ended up getting a fish soup in place of fish curry. Its not my fault, its the defective cooker we have.. ha ha ha!!  All in all, I had a wonderful time with my friends. After I got back from the dinner, I posted my Losar resolutions. I will try my best not to break them soon.

• 1. Bye bye to Oily foods and Junk foods
• 2. Bye bye to ice creams and Fizzy drinks
• 3. welcome to physical exercises every morning
• 4. welcome to 5 min meditation every evening before going to bed

Few days ago, I met one of my friend online. We had lot to discuss. But I was so preoccupied being broke, that I told him that 'I am broke', because RCSC still did not send me my stipend, because RCSC is broke too. Of course there was no humor in it but we both laughed. With that short laughter "ha ha" I felt a momentarily upliftment serge through my veins. Although broke, I told him that I am still healthy, handsome and strong. This is based on the popular Indian saying that Indian water can suffice food. More laughter ensued. "ha ha ha ha".  May be RCSC thought that this is the case for people studying in India (Gujarat) that they can survive on water!!! And more interestingly, when they had money they and manpower shortage. But its a different story altogether. 

In a mean time, I am now getting engrossed with my research work. Obviously I am a big zero in this field. Like it or not, I will soon have to submit a research project of at least 100 pages to my University for the award of Masers degree in Economics. Strangely there aren't many unrehearsed topics here, because thousand people like me write such research papers every year. You see, that is why I call my University as the Oxford of Gujarat.  

For now I am done with my proposal. Mind you, I took entire day just to write a brief introduction.  I am planning to write something on Foreign Direct Investment in India. If you guys have any idea, please feel free to share your thoughts.

Pani Puri Post

I had a tiresome day yesterday. After a day long sitting, reading and writing, a plate of Pani Puri, I thought would do wonder in soothing both my fatigues, both physical and mental. I was told that it brings back our vitality and strength. So in the evening  we (me and my room mate) went to a place called a Rasranjan, a world class place to eat panu puri. Clean and neat but not cheap. 

Back at Rasranjan, the queue was long. Like me, there were many people who have come to sooth their fatigue. In fact there were whole family who have come to relish and relax with pani puri!

So when my turn came, I ordered double plate.  Just for me alone. But before me, I have seen many people sharing just one plate. ha ha that's my appetite. Sometimes it horrifies myself to the bone too. Anyways I had two solid plates of pani puri and a plate of something which I cannot name it. It looked more like a milk though.

Wooww. that was was a real treat. It took me to the highest point of satisfaction. If someone was there to do some  economic analysis, they would have no doubt found me on my highest indifference curve.

Now for those people who do not know pani puri, you should perhaps travel to India to taste one. It is  available in plenty everywhere. Even in the slums. But I would always recommend you to find a nice-place-to-eat  all the time. And for the rest, I have just few words to describe it. Even a mere mention of it makes my mouth water.  So I call it a mouth watering food.

All Autowallas In Gujarat are Not Chacha Jii

Its nearing midnight here in Gujarat. Except the few honking cars, the atmosphere outside is relatively calm. Not many Auto rickshaws were seen plying today because they have called a strike. I think the city road looks much beautiful and decent without those Rickshaws. May be they should be on strike forever!!! 

Personally, I have a very bad experience with Autowalls here in Gujarat. I think 99.99% of them are nothing but a cheat.  A big cheat. They cheat foreigners and they cheat locals. That is why people bargain a lot with Autowalls. Even for a Paisa. I do the same too. I would't even spare a Paisa for a cheat. I mean who would?

Very recently, I have attended a convention where a famous Gujarati Personalities spoke including the Chief Minister. They spoke a lot about the trust worthiness of the Gujaratis. I have heard them extol Gujaratis the way I have never seen before. But the saddest irony was that, I and my friend got cheated the very moment we got out from the convention hall by none other than Autowalla! He charged us more than the double amount. [I later found out that he charged us Rs.600/- for a journey which would otherwise cost us Rs 250/- at the most]

And yea here is another interesting story about  that Autowalla. En route, we ordered some sugar cane juice. A glass each. We also ordered one for him too. But When my friend was paying the bill, I over heard the Autowalla telling the vendor to charge more from him. I think he grossly underestimated our ability to understand Gujarati.  However, I know that Gujaratis in general are business minded people but not greedy like our Autowalla. 

By the way, I will write about an Autowalla, a real Gujarati Autowalla in my coming post. Autowalla that never cheats. At least on me and my Bhutanese friends. We all lovingly call him Chacha Jii.

Post Exam Thoughts

Its January 2013 and this means I have only little over five months to complete my course. I am all excited about the fact that I will be going home with masters degree, -the most coveted thing I had in my mind for so many years! I feel proud and I feel happy, Sometimes I feel both!  But on the other side, I am already feeling nostalgic about leaving this dusty yet beautiful place. 

By the way, Ahmedabad has become so cold like Shingkhar. The cold in the early mornings and late evenings are at times unbearable. I regret a lot. few days a go, I finished my third semester exams. I think did it my Gangnam Style. Compared to the last exams, the paper patterns have been changed. 

We were asked lengthier questions. Three hours was barely enough, either to think for any logical answers or to recollect the points I have studied the other days. I had to rush in full fury. Sometimes I felt angry and I felt this exam system is totally a sucker. I did not like the idea of exams to gauge my knowledge!

Then I had the most disappointing day with my mathematics paper. Not because the questions were tough  nor lengthy. I could have easily scored 70 out of 70. I am not exaggerating! I was over joyed at first. But my joy did not last long, because I did not get the log table. -The most needed instrument in any mathematical paper. 

Upon my incessant pleas and requests, I was given a bundle of tables..... but the wrong ones!!!! The examiner tried her best but was of little help. With my limited time running like water, I became overtly frantic. I wasted a lot of time waiting for the log table and hence I had limited time to solve the other questions. In my dying hours, the examiner suggested me to go and find the table myself. It was so nice of her, but only if she knew it was exam time  and that  time is not luxury. I did not know whether I was angry or nervous  but I wished I had a robotic speed to write the remaining answers.

Coming back to the coldness in Ahmedabad, I do not know what the thermometer reads but it has become extremely cold here. I couldn't sleep at peace for three consecutive nights, -even with my jacket and socks on. At the moment I could sense very little difference between Ahmedabad and Shingkhar. 

Midnight Thoughts

Yesterday evening I saw a comment on Facebook. It immediately caught my attention. It had a reference to the Election Commission and their responsibility in monitoring social media during the upcoming elections. To be precise, the head line read something like this; ECB to strictly monitor social networking sites before election. Since I saw the head line in "Social Democracy in Bhutan" page, I somehow felt compelled to share my opinion. Following were my comments:

I think Monitoring Social networking sites wont make any difference...it would rather add extra burden to already over loaded ECB......How many people in Bhutan actually have internet access by the way? I am doubtful. I hope ECB is not doing this just to control perople like Ap Drukpa and Asha Gup.....ha ha ha ha .......All the best ECB....If that is what you call rule of Law...I think it should prevail...only time will tell..whether benefit was really worth the cost....

The came the answer from the Chief Election Commissioner himself. Following were his response to my comment:

Mr. PSN it helps sometimes to be broadminded than being synical. A journey of a thousand mile begins with a single step. Tenzing sherpa did not drop at mount everest he went up step by step. If u had anything that was ever useful u should have commented it when our draft was out in pulic for comments. Now when adopted you pretend to be the know all and care all follwing likes of wakleys. Hope ever heard la apagi bewa da jamtog tog and to aie gi zou da zhimtog tog.. Wether we can monitor or not is our responsibility. I have fairh all the sm user except may be few that by mow we have a fair idea as to who these are. Note if there is will there is way.

And with due respect, I offered my another comment to Dasho. I was of the opinion that Dasho misread my message. So here is my response to Dasho's comment:

Dasho, I appreciate your broad-mindedness and yea, I also know the long journey stuff that begins with single step.. I take it as a privilege, being able to hear it one more time from the chief EC of Bhutan.....to be very honest, I didn't even know that ECB have an act to monitor social networks.. that's because we have too many acts in Bhutan........ and well, that's what I said so..."If that is call a rule of law, it should prevail'........I know you are a man of action and I also know how dedicated u have been all these years in service of tsa wa sum. But i find u so so pathetic coming to my level and saying such a words as "Hope ever heard la apagi bewa da jamtog tog and to aie gi zou da zhimtog tog" As a citizen, I have always had high regard and respect for you. I always felt grateful for having an unwavering statesmanship like you in Bhutan's bureaucracy. But on hearing the above statement its like "Lak drin kha ge seey" 

Dahso I have just shared my opinion in a very informal way.....if u are hurt I am sorry..... If u are comparing me to Whalkey, you are wrong...we are different individuals with different perspectives altogether... Under your leadership, I have no doubt about ECB shouldering that responsibility and I wish u good luck....Just like u, i also desire to see a very smooth and hassle free election in 2013 in our beloved country.......The reason why i made a reference to AP drukpa, and asha gup are obvious. As an active fb user u must have also read their statements.....i forgot to mention you about Bhutanomics........ Dasho lastly...let me make some addition to your closing statement: where there is a will, there are even more ways.......All the best. Dasho take feedback with cool heart...if u find it stupid...just ignore....there is a saying: You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.

And before I could get a response from Dasho, It was some punk, named Ziggy Love on Facebook, who took his turn to respond to my comment. I have now idea who that "Ziggy Love" is. And to my shocking revelation, he gave me the folloing comment:

Peldhen Sonam Nima- you are but an arse to me. Arrogant m'fucker!

 Personally, calling me "asre" is ok, "arrogant" still more Ok. But some one who doesn't even have a face of his own calling me, "m'Fucker", I tell you , it is way too much. If someone call me with that name in my arms length, I wouldn't think twice to crush his skull to powder!....So Wrote my unprecedented reply:

Ziggy Love you may be a Mother fucker yourself, you monkey arse......I don't care a shit abt you ...better be cafareful with the words u use ......mother fucker! if u have a better point to say ..say it....or else shut your dirty mouth.....

But Ziggy had some more words to infuriate me.

A donkey can never sound Nightingale no matter how hard he tries. Peldhen Sonam Nima, you can't take a line of critical (Ofcourse intensed) remark critically and yet have the audacity to go on hooting what ever your immature and frail mind comes up with against the very institution that promotes freedom and liberty in Bhutan. If that's not a arse like, it's my balls sucking time for you! Cheers

From his comment, I could clearly make out that he wanted me to say something unpleasant to Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan. I could also clearly make out that faceless Ziggy have a problem understanding the concepts like rule of law, democracy and freedom. But that was ok. There are many  coward people like him.  But what got to my nerve is that his "Ball sucking time". I wrote my other unprecedented reply:

Ziggy Love, Looks like u really have issue with me. Oh yea... you Be a man and come out from the veil. show your dirty little monkey face and talk to me like a man. I hope u are not reincarnation of a ghost, I killed long time.....If need me, I don't mind having to kill the ghost in you another time.....Do u atleat have a ball.....They way you roar like a mouse from behind the veil of anonymity gives me an indication that you are nothing but a ball-less wimp, at best mother fucker, arse kisser, and ball cum dick sucker yourself........To understand a "kew lo chok , shew tonglok" creature like u, I don't need to be that critical. I can easily make out that you have nothing to prove except the ramblings that doesn't mean a shit to any one of us here.....now if u insist, bring your balls, i will grind those shrunken ball into powder and spray on your......well your pathetic looking wimpy face.......how abt that..?

After that Ziggy went dead. I waited the entire day for his reply but he never showed up. It is understandable that a wimp like him will have nothing to prove after all. In a mean time I got the reply for my comment from the chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan, which read as follows;

Thanks PSN..I had to be possessive of the institution I represent from some agendas. You and me, may be we have to on same page. 

And Finally, I closed the chapter with my following comment;

Freedom comes with duty ....my duty as a citizen is to uphold the law first and then look for my freedom......Freedom is necessary but not sufficient condition for vibrant democracy......Just my thoughts....I hope this doesn't offend faceless, voiceless, arse kissers like Ziggy Love.

I think I played enough with the pig today, And to all my friends and readers, please forgive me for being so so vulgar. Honestly, I never thought I could be that nasty and dirty, But with people like Ziggy, it made me think that, well I am just another human being.

Have a nice time and yea folks, I have exams coming Monday, so wish me good luck.

Thursday Thoughts: Five Kids on The Block and Michael

When I was young, I was naughty beyond description. Some say they lacked words to describe me! I don't know which one to believe but like any other adolescents, I was care free, green and raw, both in action and in thoughts. I did all sorts of things that I fancied most. Sadly I ended up getting most of the things wrong and thus ended up breaking the rules of the school.

I remember how my father got summoned to my headmaster's office on numerous occasions. My father answered all my mistakes and sometimes he often broke down! I also know how my mindless acts have kept my poor parents on their toes. -All the time. Honestly, no parents would have suffered verbal floggings like my father from the school headmaster and no mother would have cried a river like my mother. Its a long story of my days in Ura. Some day I would definitely like to write more about those mindless acts  in detail.

But for now I wanted to write about an incident in Jakar High School. It was the second school  that I attended.

Well, I went to that school with a hallmark of being naughty, bully and to some extent, smart and mischief. But there I soon realized that things weren't the same as it used to be in Ura. I have reached a place completely different from the one I have envisioned. I saw boys and girls far naughtier, far more bully and far mischievous than me. They were bigger than me in size and taller than me in height. So bullying any one was out of equation. Some of them were already on drugs, drinks and gang!

There, I took not less then few weeks to find a friends of my own class. I was the second youngest in the group. We were five then and we gave ourselves a name. Thus five of us came to be known as "Five kids on the block". Interestingly no one knew what it actually meant.

Overwhelmed by the authority of my three senior friends, I did not have much role to play in the group. I  became merely an additional mouth to feed on limited stocks my friends received from their parents. I was neither good in running away from my class nor good at frequenting the apple garden in the night. In short, I became a burden for my friends. Soon three of our senior friends started ignoring me and the other friend who is year younger to me.

In a mean time, I got into a problem with a senior boy in our hostel. I knew him well. Cleanliness to him meant godliness and thereby, he had the reputation of keeping his bed neat and tidy. -All the time.  Not only that, he was also known to have beaten one of our senior group member before. Therefore messing with him was the last thing on my mind.

But very unfortunately, me and my friend ran over his bed while we were playing. Sadly, were detected before we could even rearrange it. He immediately summoned two of us.

We stood right next to his out-of-order bed. He kept on shooting questions after questions for which we had no answer. I thought he was going to slap us tight but he choose to push me alone in the corner. He was targeting me specifically. I stood silent like a rock but he kept on pushing me again and again and again. He humiliated me and I felt bitterly embarrassed. He then pulled me in the middle of crowd and pushed me so hard that I fell on the ground, disclosing all my private parts!! That was the height of his mistreatment.

 I shouted on top of my voice. "Jedha" When I got up from the ground, I was completely blinded by my anger. I could hardly see any object other than the bully he pushed me on the ground. So I threw my hardest punch and it landed exactly on his nose. I felt an immense sense of satisfaction! I do not know how, but that punch brought him down on the ground. I then pinned him on the window. To my surprise he could not match me in strength. It was up to me  from that point to bash him left and right. It was very unfortunate for him because I had my mother's silver ring on my finger. It was the turquoise on the ring that did rest of the job. Had someone not pulled me back, I would have literally killed him that day. From next day, he wouldn't even look into my face directly. Oh yea, I felt proud.

When the fight was over, I saw my other friends. They looked very happy for that fact that I won the fight single handed. I don't know how far it was true but everyone in my hostel became aware of my hidden strength and that no one would mess with me thereon.  It was then my group gave me this nick -"Michael"- I felt more confused. I knew Michaels who danced, sang and wrote, But I never knew any Michael who fought and beat the big boys.

Over the years Michael over took my real name. Soon no one knew me with my real name. Even my sister, -a farmer, had to come looking for "Michael" to ultimately find me.

Coming back to our three senior friends, they ignored us further. They have even made a secret plan to go to Thimphu themselves. God only knew their plan. On a very fateful day, three of then ran away from the school. I suppose they were travelling in a truck. Then the most unforgettable thing happened. The truck they were travelling in veered off the road and killed one of our friend on the spot. The news of his death struck me like a poisoned arrow. I knew not what to do.

Day after his death, in the school auditorium, long prayers were held in his memory, I cried like a baby and looking at me, many girls also cried too. School declared mourning day. It was a very painful experience loosing a friend. His death not only marked end of his life and legacy, but it also brought a stark end of our group. So called the "Five kids on the block" died too.

Some Sign of Progress in My Garden

I am sorry for not knowing the name of the flower, but this is the only flower that has shown some genuine progress in my personal garden (that I maintain in my veranda.)

As for my money plant, I am starting to loose my hope. I think that plant is not destined to grow at all. Two months ago, I have seen a fresh leaf shoot up from its stem, but its taking forever to get that leaf open to its full glory. I will try to update about it in my coming days.

Lazy Sunday Thoughts

Courtesy: Google

Back home in Bhutan, today people must be enjoying the amended version of Pedestrian day. I don't know what good this policy will do to our environment and economy, both in short and long term, but as for now our decision makers seem to have deeply fallen in love for making laws and policies that require immediate amendments. For this matter TCA 2010 and Ped-day 2012 will go a long way in the history of Bhutanese law making.

For now, I hope our new and amended version of Ped-day have lot to benefit our economy and environment. I also hope to see fewer comments on Facebook and twitter ridiculing this policy. 

Now here is one thing that sounds frightening. I am in fact deeply worried with this news. Has China really included our lands which are currently considered as disputed areas into their new map? I am hoping that events reported in the news are not true. New map in Chinese passport has deeply affected the sentiments of many neighboring countries. This looks aggressive. Perhaps I am starting to understand this thing called "expansionist policy of communist China is". Such a policy could be detrimental to the peace and stability of the entire world. I may sound little crazy though but I am foreseeing a possible war between China and the Most of the Asian countries. (touch wood, World doesn't need any more wars)

Ok, here are some of the real lazy Sunday stuffs. I got up at half past eight. Cooked breakfast which my sleeping friends would have it as brunch sometime in the noon. As usual I tended to my flowers. Surprisingly to my delight, one plant was bearing a flower today. But to my disgust, a swarming ant colony has already started digging and building their homes in some of my flower pots.  

By the way today, I have been to Tibetan market. I met Aja Tashi Tsomo. I also bought a nice sweater from her shop. I am amazed that she recognized me at one glance. Not only that, she immediately offered welcome tea for me. This is common in Bhutanese tradition too. You see, Tibetans and Bhutanese share many such common traditions. I think this is the reason why I always enjoyed the intimate atmosphere among Tibetans. Sometimes I also get a deep conviction that I was once a Tibetan myself. Perhaps in my previous life! 

Coffee Time Post

I have just finished tending to my money plant in my room. Its been a year already, but my plant still refuses to grow.  You see, I have tried so many things that could heighten the growth of my plant. Firstly I stopped using that saline-tap water and started spraying treated water. I even manured it with banana peels and melon covers! But so far it hasn't done any good to my ever-ready-to-wilt plant. So yesterday I went out and met our flower gardener. He gave me another plant whose name neither of us knew. Nevertheless, it looks good, green and fresh. I hope it doesn't remain dwarf like my money plant.

After that, it checked my Facebook status. There I just saw two things that caught my attention. The first one that I saw was that, some twenty eight people liked my picture. (me with my wife). We took that picture on our way to Bumthang last December (2011). For my wife, it was her maiden trip to my village after we got married in 2005. By the way, I had to do lot of photo editing on my face to match my beautiful wife.!

"Another man kidnapped, wife injured" was the second thing that caught my attention. That topic honestly made me go wordless. I was saddened to my core when a taxi driver went missing few weeks ago. But at the same time, I was jubilant beyond my words to hear about his safe return. His family negotiated with the  kidnappers and paid a ransom as demanded. He was indeed rescued by his own family! and this is a big story for our security system.

Our people are being terrorized and traumatized on our own land and our leaders are busy arguing with each other on the subject of "patriotism". They are so busy fighting a war of words with each other that they are forgetting the real enemy doing harm to its ordinary citizens. Till date we have not even heard a single word being said by our leaders on this issue!

We also do not know whether it is right thing for a government to allow citizens to deal with those people who are forcefully intruding into our safety and security Common people are mostly left at their own mercy in times of desperation. To borrow a phrase  from my friend Passu, People are forced to give monkey an apple because monkeys have now overpowered our security system? And those monkeys will no doubt come back again and again looking for more apples.

Our homes are supposed to be the most safest place for us. Now that another man is being abducted forcefully right from his door step at gun point, there seem to be no safe place at all for our fellas who are especially living in the south. For how long are we going to let our fellas pay ransom for those Monkeys?

By the way do we even have a clue of who these people are? Why is our Government, Police, Army and Media so so dead on this issue? If we at all have a patriots, who have so far busked with patag and perks, then we have a situation here. Time is calling for a practical patriots! 

Saturday Noon Thoughts

Finally, the most awaited Diwali festival is over. But still I could hear occasional blasts in a distant horizon. Mountains of fire crackers and explosives have been used already. I don't know whether its right thing to pollute environment in the name of celebration, but I have seen some of the worst environment pollution case on the night of the festival. There were black smoke everywhere. Those smoke then reduced the visibility. The smell of burnt match and explosives were so intense that I had to shut my door and window to to avoid suffocation and cough. 

Anyways, now the nights have become calmer and noon, a warmer. The cool winter of Ahmadabad is once again in the air. Tibetan jacket and sweater sellers are here once again. With high spending Gujarati folks, I think they are doing good business. I have been there once looking for momo, but had to come back empty belly. (who said sweater sellers sell momo?) I also Couldn't meet Aja Tashi Tshomo, from whom I bought a sweater a year ago and to whom I promised to get some Bhutanese currency notes. I Hope to find her in my next visit and hand over the notes.

Besides these business, I was mostly in my room wanting to cover up everything for my up coming exams. I wanted everything in my syllabus to be on my finger tips! But unfortunately, I saw myself settling with my Facebook and blog for most of the time. They have been my best hangout place!  Although there weren't any interesting stuffs, I often spent hours gazing over it. 

ohh by the way, I had a very interesting chat with one of my friend who said, was undergoing a deep depression because of this thing called "love". After a good amount of analysis, I however came to know that they did not have a good, solid and credible reason other than their phone for their break up. So told told my friend to relinquish his phone to me and that never and ever use phone when he falls in love next time.

By the way, I tried my best to reunite them, but all my attempts proved futile. As my last consolation, I told him to read good books and find a companion in them. I also told him that books will never abandon and make us feel depressed. My friend, who at that moment was fully charged with emotion told me that "its painful falling in love". He also told me about a monk hood that lingered in his mind! 

I told him to forget  about his past and start a new beginning all over. I also told him that no reason on this earth (love included) is a reason enough to drag us to depression. I told him to come out from his infatuation state of mind and be a man. I also told him about number of frogs that we have to cross to finally find our deserving golden fish in the pond. But he said this: "I will never fish again in my life"......Few hours into our conversation, we then closed our session on a gaiety note. We would both become monk after our retirement and go for meditation.  I hope he is doing fine now.

Coming back to Diwali shopping, I still did not get the book that I especially ordered as a part of Diwali shopping. Homeshop18.com said, I will  have to wait for another 2 more days. Few of the light bulbs that I bought for the festival have already stopped functioning and I decided not to buy any more of such stuffs in future.

Till then, have a nice day folks. Life is beautiful. Enjoy when you are alive. Be happy and be who you are.

Amul Man Passes Away at 90

Dr. Verghese Kurien, The father of White Revolution 

Dr. Verghese Kurien, the founding father of amul passed away today (09.09.2012) at the age of 90. Through amol, Dr. Verghese had touched millions both at home and away. He added taste not only to the food but also to their lives in equal proportion. Through his selfless and dedicated statesmanship, he displayed India to the world as a land of prosperity and not a land of poor and poverty as branded quite often by outsiders. Under his farsighted vision and dynamic leadership, India went on to become the largest diary producers in the world! 

So today, I  as a Bhutanese, who wouldn't fancy curry without Amul cheese and tea without amul milk, take this opportunity to offer my prayers and condolences to his bereaved family and to the amul society of India. May his soul rest in peace and may he be reborn as human in his next life too. With this I would also like to convey my sincere gratitude to late Dr. Verghese and team for making my life utterly butterly delicious with various amol products. Thank you all for amul butter, amul cheese, amul taza,  amul shakti, amul buttermilk, amul cool, amul lassi, amul chocolates, amul ice creams, amul pizza and other amul products (the names which I cannot remember).

Amul Logo

His demise is a tragic and his absence will be felt wholeheartedly. But let us not forget the wisdom and insights he left behind to the world. In his biography, "I too had a dream", Dr Verghese tells his story with customary candour. And in a free flowing narrative, he shares with the reader, the essence of dreaming big in achieving big. 

Of Diplomatic Relations and Mercury Level(s)

I had this topic in my mind for quite sometime, -nearly a year!

You see, I had a heated argument (so to say) between me and one of my room mate whom I met last year (2011). But I don't know whether this would qualify to be called as a "debate" in the first place. Since this was the very first.....debate of its kind between us, I never felt comfortable blogging and had to forgo it for some other topics. And in course of one year, I have seen him fall into many such debates with many other friends. Now that I have already blogged about my other room mate, I don't find any reason to postpone it any further.

It was one casual evening. I remember it was after our dinner, -the time we mostly devote for casual and some senseless talks. The infamous 'diplomatic relations' was one such topic that evening.  Although I still do not remember as to how that sensitive topic came to the fore, I remember what I spoke that night with crystal clarity. I spoke about the the guiding role, yes the "guiding role", India plays in Bhutanese foreign relations. I also said that at the moment, Bhutan has diplomatic relations with over 29 or so nations and that all most all visas to Bhutanese nationals travelling to various countries in the world are being issued in India and not in Bhutan.

Strange and to my utter disappointment, my friend found my knowledge, absolutely unacceptable, grotesque and vague. He defiantly said that India plays no "guiding" role in Bhutan's foreign policy and that Bhutan has a diplomatic relation with over 169 countries already! What was more disgraceful was that, he supported his points by telling me that, he is RCSC select graduate and it was how he prepared for the RCSC examination!

Taken aback and shocked to my core, I told him that that he is mistaking diplomatic relations to international associations like friendship associations and other such organizational bodies. I also told him that he will understand more about it once he have a passport of his own and start travelling to ex-countries. I am not a foreign relation expert and hence I risk saying senseless points, but here, I was thousand percent sure about the right thing I spoke. I also told him about how I cleared the same exam some 6 years before him.

And the other thing, i.e "Mercury leve(s)" debate happened in my absence and hence I don't have a first hand information as to what actually transpired. It was all I heard from my other friends. My friend who discarded my knowledge about "diplomatic relations" also discarded the "Mercury level" knowledge of other friends too. They told me about he how he supported his view of thermometer with two mercury levels, -one showing maximum and the other showing minimum! I went wordless once again.

Confused and skeptical about my general knowledge, I latched the door from inside and started cross checking with Google and Wikipedia. But at the back of my mind, I knew he was not being silly but rather teasing our intellectual capacity.

Have a nice day folks.

Of peeing and Shitting Dogs

As I have said in my earlier post, many things have indeed transpired around me in a brief period of time. The immediate thing that comes to my mind is a (sick) buffalo that died in a swamp some hundred yards away from my room. At first glace I thought the beast was cooling off his body from the scorching heat. But Later I realized that the beast actually died. I think the beast died a very painful death though. As crows and vultures and dogs from every nook and corner gathered and devoured the corpse, I thought to myself  that the corpse would have made a fortune, if only it were in a place other than this veggie Gujarat.

And few weeks ago, I also saw a corpse of a dog. I don't know how it died but I did not regret a bit. In fact I have developed a strong sense of dislike for dogs here in Gujarat (especially in my campus) In my recent times, they have become the most annoying and disgusting creature. It might sound like an exaggeration, but these dogs in my campus have a very wired habit. Of all the places on earth, they all come to pee and shit right in front of my door!  I could sense my intense hatred for dog exceeding my hatred for mosquitos and house flies! darn!  And one fine day I was busy planning to bring those beasts to justice. But fortunately for those dogs, it coincided with the birthday of Lord Krishna and I had to call off my plan. And the shitting and peeing continues and we have a entry that stinks worse than our university toilet.

Now that we had a good rain fall here in Gujarat, the weather is lot better these days. The cools breeze in the evening and mornings just reminds me of my morning and evening walk in Paro. I often join one of my friend who frequents the terrace, especially in the evening and night to enjoy the  freshness of breeze and the beauty of the night sky. 

Since we see airplanes and stars, we often end up talking a lot about those objects. I could make out from his expression that airplanes have really fascinated him and on many occasions, I saw him go nuts with is imaginations. As for me, having worked in international airport for more than six years, it was not a topic that warranted my attention. But surprisingly his wild theory did draw my attention. You know what he said? He told me with full conviction that an airplane he was flying in actually did not fly forward and was in stationary position on two different occasion. He baffled me and I went wordless.

And the other night, we talked about the English as a language and medium of instruction. I think we also discussed about grammar too. I told him that I know not much about grammar and hence I make lot of grammatical errors. He told me that he used to be a grammar guru in his school and that many teachers would come and seek his assistance in grammar. I told him it is well and good.  And the next thing he said baffled me even  more.  He told me that he doesn't like reading and writing at all! Confused and lost, I asked him "sir, then where do u show your grammatical talents"  

He reminded me of my nephew in my village, who once talked to me a lot about flying airplane and how he wished to become Kalam Singh one day. I felt happy thinking about my innocent nephew and his blissful green days. 

Well guys, I will write about other things in my next post and its going to be about mercury levels and diplomatic relations.