People – Page 2 – Tshering Tobgay

Guests

August 14, 2009People

Several people have suggested that I invite writers to contribute articles for this site. I’ve debated this suggestion. On the one hand, featuring guests could risk inadvertently transforming a unique web log into a common social site. But on the other hand, guests would bring a wealth of new ideas and perspectives to “life and politics in democratic Bhutan”. And they would most probably contribute articles that make much better reading than what I offer. So, I’ve decided to welcome guest writers. I will not invite any one in particular. But, I will welcome every one of you who…

Politicians

August 5, 2009People

My friend, an Australian, sent me this joke. It’s about how politicians are inherently different from other citizens. I hope our politicians are still different. Different from the stereotype, that is. One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at…

Lobxang’s anger

July 31, 2009People

The following letter, from Lobxang, deserves attention. Lobxang works in New York. He keeps a blog. And is on Facebook. Dear OL, I was much pained to read in the news the tragic loss of seven promising kids in the Wangchuck River. My deepest respect and prayers goes to the lost souls and the bereaved family. I read again and over again every piece of information that I could find on the net. I am deeply pained at first, and now I am angry, very angry. Seven lives are lost. This is a national loss. His Majesty the fourth…

Solidarity

July 30, 2009Democracy, People

At about 3:30 AM last Monday, seven boys, all of them students of Tshimasham lower secondary school, lost their lives in the Wangchu. Tomorrow, a group of concerned citizens will participate in a solidarity walk to demonstrate their support to the families of the seven boys. They will also petition the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic incident that claimed the young lives. I join the nation in mourning the loss of the innocent lives, and offer my condolences to the grieving families and friends.

Lakshuman Chhetri

June 24, 2009People

Yesterday, Lakshuman Chhetri, a senior officer in the National Assembly Secretariat, left his office for the last time. After serving the National Assembly for 22 continuous years, Mr Chhetri left to take up his new assignment as head of BICMA’s media division. Mr Chhetri, who I met in Sherubtse College (he was an outstanding athlete then), was the first graduate to join the National Assembly. He did so, as a trainee officer, in September 1987. And during the last 22 years, he’s seen the National Assembly Secretariat grow from a small office with only six staff to today’s efficient…

IAMDRUKPA

June 23, 2009People

The Bhutanse blogging community is growing faster than most of us realize. The latest blogger I stumbled upon is Jurmi Chhowing, now with K4 Media, previously with Bhutan Observer and before that Bhutan Times. In his blog, IAMDRUKPA, Jurmi seems to offer his random thoughts on a range of topics from life to love, and from politics to the Purple Lounge. His latest entry, I Wanna Watch my Parliamentarian, is about the importance live TV coverage of the National Assembly deliberations.

Blooming dogwood

June 12, 2009People7 Comments

If you go to Thimphu's Clock Tower Square these days, you'll find the dogwood (phetse shing in Dzongkha) there in full bloom. In the midst of what is fast becoming a concrete jungle, the dogwood trees, though there are only three left, provide refreshing refuge. The Clock Tower Square, before it was extensively renovated in 2004, used to have many more trees. Maple and dogwood were some of the trees that Friends of the Square, a group of volunteers, planted along with bamboo, azalea and marigold to convert an unkempt, dirty square to a well organized garden with proper…

Gifted Kunzang

June 8, 2009People

Here's a gift from Talo, Punakha: Kunzang Lhaden, aged 12, singing a soulful rendition of "Mitse Dina", a soundtrack by Namgay Jigs from the movie "Jigthar". Kunzang learnt this song, and others, by listening to BBS Radio. Enjoy...

Artist Rajesh

May 22, 2009People

The talk of cartoons yesterday has got me thinking of my favorite caricature. It’s done by Rajesh. And, guess what? Rajesh is Wangchuk’s younger brother. Yes, that Wangchuck…the one we were talking about yesterday. So what do you think of this rendition of your OL? I’d used it as my avatar some time ago. And posted it on an earlier entry (What’s in a name?) Anyway, Rajesh, who sports Bhutan’s best ponytail, sketched this drawing while he was relaxing at Benez, reading a book and enjoying a cold Carlsberg. Pretty good, mo? By the way Rajesh is a freelance…

Impressive healthcare professionals

May 19, 2009Health, People3 Comments

I had a toothache last week. So on Friday, I went to the JDWNR hospital where Dr Kuenga Penjor, a young dentist, showed me that one of my molars had developed a big cavity beneath an old filling. He quickly removed the old filling, cleaned the cavity, and applied a new filling. My aches gave gone, and my tooth now feels as good as new. Dr Kuenga studied dentistry for six years at the Patna Dental College under a GOI scholarship. He is only 26 years old and has already decided to become an orthodontist. I'm impressed. I'm also…

Photographing Bhutan

May 17, 2009People

Here's a secret: Yeshey Dorji, one of Bhutan's best photographers, has a website. He started posting some of his photos online to satisfy friends, fans really, who keep bothering him to see his pictures. So if you go to his website, "Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon", you can treat yourself to some breath-taking pictures of our beautiful country. Yeshey is 54 years old. And he's been taking pictures for more than 30 of those years. Initially he limited his interest to just a hobby, as analogue photography was expensive. It was much later, only after the advent of…

Carving slate

May 11, 2009People

This week’s photo panel features a slate carving by Thinley Dorji. The artist, an instructor at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, composed the two dragons facing the wheel of dharma to commemorate 100 years of our monarchy. Look at the dragon on the right and see if can decipher the message “Bhutan 100”. Thinley Dorji joined the NIZC in 2000 after completing Class X from Ugen Dorji HS in Haa. He was one of the two students who chose to study slate carving in the institute’s new programme under Agay Khandu, who was, at that time, Bhutan’s last…

Featured photos

May 6, 2009People

This website now offers a panel, located immediately above my latest entry, that will feature one photograph every week. I encourage readers to share your photographs, particularly those that tell a story which may be relevant to a particular week. This week’s picture, of the Druk Wangyal Chortens in Dochu-la, was taken by Lhendup, a photographer with Bhutan Observer. The 108 chortens were commissioned by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate His Majesty the Fouth Druk Gyalpo’s service to the people of Bhutan. In the background, is the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Range.

Happy Teachers’ Day

May 2, 2009Education, People

Gakiling has only one school, a community primary school. It is in Rangtse, a small, impoverished village located four walking days from the nearest motor road in Haa. Tshering Dorji is its principal.In 2006, after teaching for about three years in remote schools in Samtse, Lopen Tshering volunteered to go to Rangtse to establish a community primary school. There he met enough children to start the school. And he saw a community eager to build their school. So together, they – farmers, children, and teacher – erected a two-room hut that would become Rangtse’s first classrooms.Early the following year,…

Good karma

April 9, 2009Economy, People

Coffee, many say, is the most popular beverage on earth after water. Yet good coffee is hard to come by in most places. But it is available in Thimphu, at Karma’s Coffee, located in the Zhamling Building somewhere above Hotel Phuntsho Pelri.Karma’s is owned and run by Karma Tenzin, Bhutan’s first barista, who spent about two years in Australia training to make good coffee. And he made a lot of it: about four to five hundred cups a day!Back home the pace is much slower. He makes only 40 to 50 cups of coffee a day. This, he claims,…