People – Page 3 – Tshering Tobgay

A unique example

March 24, 2009People, Political parties

Last year, in Sherubste College, a student asked me: “We’ve been told, many times, that democracy in Bhutan is unique – please tell me how it is unique.”The fact of the matter is that all democracies are based on, more or less, the same principles, and none can claim to be really unique. But, on the other hand, no two democracies are exactly the same, making every democracy, unique in its own way. So to claim that our particular form of democracy is unique, in the way it is structured for example, would not make much sense.But in one…

The Growing Bhutanese Middle Class

March 3, 2009People

I’m reading “The Great Indian Middle Class” a bestseller written by Pavan Varma, a prominent Indian, and India’s next ambassador to Bhutan. The book traces the emergence and evolution of the Indian middle class, and examines its influence on the development of India’s society, politics and economy.The publisher calls Mr Varma’s work a “powerful and insightful critique” that shows us “how the middle class, guided by self-interest, is becoming increasingly insensitive to the plight of the underprivileged, and how economic liberalization has only heightened its tendency to withdraw from anything that does not relate directly to its material well-being.”…

Pema’s left foot

January 25, 2009People

Today I met Pema Tshering. He was born with cerebral palsy and congenital deformities in his spinal column. As a result both his arms are useless. And he has only limited use of his legs. He is 28 years old.I first met Pema, in Mongar, over four years ago, during an audience granted to him by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck. He was lively, bright and funny. And he was confident – he eagerly accepted Her Majesty’s offer to train him at the Institute of Zorig Chusum in Thimphu.Pema can’t walk. But he uses his…

Treasure hunting

January 18, 2009Nature, People, Youth

I met Tobgay today. He’s nine years old and has just completed Class II in Dechechencholing MSS. He was rummaging through my negibour’s waste. In fact, Tobgay was recycling garbage. He was collecting various tins and bottles, and plastics and metals to sell to a scrap dealer in town. His part-time work would fetch him Nu 5 per kg for iron, steel and certain plastics; Nu 1 for every beer bottle; and Nu 30 per kg for aluminum cans. That’s easy money, he confided, because there’s always plenty of recyclable garbage. Yesterday he and his friends earned Nu 130.…

Bhutanese bloggers

January 11, 2009People

Dorji Wangchuk – writer, director, producer, social worker, and owner of a Centennial Radio – has started blogging. His blogs will be good. After all, he has both insight and experience.His insight comes from the wide range of activities that he readily engages in. And his experience comes from writing columns and op-eds. A good combination to make blogs interesting and useful.Whatever Matters! – maintained by MJ and Bhutanese Blogger – is another site worth visiting. They specialize in business management and finance.Then there’s Bhutan, 2008 and Beyond, maintained by Gelay, a photojournalist, and Bhutan 360, a tourism portal.Share…

What’s in a name?

January 1, 2009People6 Comments

My friends call me Massive. And many of them still don’t know my real name. But I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, I like my nickname. It’s short. It’s unique. And it’s easy to remember.My nickname is an adjective without a noun. So it makes people think. And wonder about that always absent noun. It causes embarrassment. And disappointment. But I’ve had other embarrassing and disappointing nicknames too.My first nickname was a question. At five, before I knew a word of English, I was sent to a boarding school in India. There my teachers and fellow-students…

Lucky Sonam

December 7, 2008People

Sonam Tshering beat 135 participants to win the India House Golf Tournament on 30 November. For his efforts, he received the keys to a brand new Maruti Zen Estilo during the tournament’s prize distribution ceremony this evening.Not bad considering that Sonam, who is only 17 years and in Class VIII in Zilukha LSS, is currently doing his Common Examinations.Coach Karma Lam introduced him to golf barely four years ago. While he enjoyed playing the game, he quickly discovered that there was pocket money to be made by working as a caddy. (Incidentally, last year’s winner was Karma Wangchuk, 20…

An overqualified sweeper?

December 2, 2008Employment, People

Meet Sonam Choden. She’s 20 years old. She completed Class X from Motithang High School in 2005. A year later, she did a six month certificate course in IT at RIIT.She's employed as a sweeper in the National Assembly.Unemployment is real. It's serious. And it's growing.