Alas! I knew that the shadow belonged to me…

One usual morning,

When the birds were chirping away their morning songs,

When the sunrays kissed the yonder mountains,

When the clouds cleared away for a vast space of blue,

When the milk man was on his daily venture,

When the warm homes were filled with incense smoke,

When the kitchen and bathrooms became eventful,

When the old man was about to complete his prayers,

When the little boy geared up for school,

When the shops started opening for the day,

When the traffic increased,

When the streets breathed, once more to live a new day,

When the diurnal became lively and nocturnal rested,

I began to see the times of yore.

 And perceived scores of vivid moments,

memorable moments from the past.

The primary school,

flashed before my sight.

I saw a small boy- running and laughing,

filled with natural bliss.

Then, I saw my friends,

the smiling faces- clear and lively,

the trusted and innocent visage.

The games we played- marbles and stones.

The joys we shared,

the bond we held,

the nuisance we possessed,

all clear and vibrant

Art: Sir Karma Wangchuk, PCE.

My old brain accelerated,

flew towards my high school days.

The way I transformed,

from a boy to a man.

I felt the air in me,

The air of courage as a teenager.

I heard voices,

Those of my friends.

The noisy times we had,

The hairstyle, the jeans we wore,

And the ignorant life we shared too.

I saw- saw my teachers,

Their images were alive,

The names we called them,

The lectures they gave,

And the knowledge bestowed, the values we gained too.

The stern faces made me shiver

Evenmore…I saw myself,

So bright and energetic.

Involved in good,

And bad too.

I saw my youthful figure,

The days I was free,

Free as the wild wind.

The juvenile deeds I did,

All vivid and tempting. 

Further, I stretched,

And saw my college days.

My moments were dominant,

But of one image- my wife.

I sighted her beautiful face,

The face I loved to see.

I felt the love we shared,

The trust we had,

 The places we went,

The close whispers,

The smile on her face- it is so enticing.

The room we lived,

our first days as a couple.

All the secrets we revealed,

these memories- they made me live again.

Later, I strolled,

Strolled towards my family life.

A different life that I lived,

My lovely daughter smiled,

My dearest son laughed,

the fatherly care and love,

the way they grew,

all unforgettable and sparkling.

Then, I felt a crowd around me.

My students came with a loud thud,

Their innocent faces were lucid,

The classrooms I taught,

The morning assembly,

The cultural shows,

The sports meet too,

The exam halls,

And the answer scripts too,

The mischief they were fond of,

The morning wishes,

The blank faces when stuck with a doubt,

All memorable.

I saw the school I went,

As a teacher and developed myself,

From an  ignorant man to a sensible one.

Now…I felt a chill in my spine,

A pain on my weary legs.

I saw a painted lady- a butterfly,

Hovering over  a fresh Iris.

I saw dewdrops, dropping from the leaves above me,

The tree covered with veins of ivy,

And a cuckoo found its home on the tall oak.

Fresh grasses lay before me,

The sun was warm and bright.

I could feel a light breeze,

The soft breeze on a sagged face.

Then I saw a shadow,

Of an old man- a staff in hand,

A frail figure,

The legs bent and weak.

I went to view closer,

The shadow came closer,

Alas! I knew that the shadow belonged to me…

Students Brawling: Today’s Disappointing Scene

Students look alike...when they forget their values

I was going to class after the assembly but a scene of great pandemonium distracted me. Some girls were shouting from the class 7B windows and informing me about a violent fight in their class.  Immediately I rushed to the scene and to my irritating surprise, 2 boys were fighting like violent UFC fighters. I asked them to stop but they continued exhibiting their animal instincts.  The scene has transformed the educational room into a battlefield.  The 2 boys boxing each other like arch enemies and the others screaming. Some even climbed on the Windows as tables and chairs were falling all over and the boys were literally chasing, grappling and hitting each other mercilessly.

I don't know how you'll react but I lost my cool. I punished them and gave them a ten minute standing counseling.The reason was so stupid. It was about a book. I told them to differentiate between animals and humans.  I even asked whether fight skills were taught in any of their subjects.

I felt awful.... for punishing them and moreover, to see our students give in to their worst instincts juxtaposed to GNH values taught and learnt every day. 

Weird (Bhutanese) Food Beliefs Exposed

Endangering the Endangered!

Bjing ngom (Hornet)- a delicacy among many Bhutanese

In a world facing constant global threats, consumption of rare animals and plants in the name of personal benefits should be strongly discouraged.  

Various beliefs on eating animals and plants for their supposed healing powers have been prominent since dateless period in history. People indulge in eating rare birds, animals, insects, reptiles and plants for multifarious results. Very less scientific answers support these 101 bizarre habits. Some eat to gain strength while few believe in hair growth or better eyesight etc. More, we promote these unusual recipes for healing different ailments. For many of us, eating a snake is a creepy affair but few enjoy the dish with heightened faith.

Whenever I see these unique beliefs in action, one question runs through: How far is it true that the formula will help? In the name of uncanny faith, rare birds like blood and Monal pheasants are hunted down. It is even saddening to see number of rarities like beautiful orchids, hornets, the Himalayan Tahr etc.  find forceful, silent, entrances into the kitchens. I am a non-vegetarian yet I strongly oppose the eating of atypical recipes.

The most famous list of weird food beliefs that exist in the so called Happy Buddhist country (as far as I know) may get you off your normal stance or make you lose your appetite or have no effect. In the biodiversity rich nation, few people secretly enjoy odd food items of rare flora and fauna based on culturally passed down beliefs and assumptions. I strongly belief in preservation and promotion of our culture and traditions but I will support the termination/degeneration of such bizarre customs that have more negative impacts compared to the assumed positive factors.

My List of Top 10 Weird Food Beliefs Existing in the Last Shangri-La

1.        Hornet and few other wasps and bees ( It is believed that it will give one strength  and growth)

2.         Orchid (believed to have incomprehensible benefits.)

3.         Blood and Monal Pheasants

4.         Tragopan

5.         Kalij Pheasant

6.         Himalayan Tahr

7.         Wolves (Believed to cure Diabetics and few other diseases)

8.         Snake (Strength and hair growth)

9.      Bear and Bile (Strength and believed to cure many illnesses)

10.  Musk Deer 

*The list is not at all  comprehensive in terms of number or beliefs regarding the recipes.

An interestingly funny reality: We are proudly writing slogans on protection of animals, preservation of our environment; we promote eco-tourism; the country formulates strict environmental acts; Participate actively in global environmental campaigns to create awareness… all juxtaposed to indulgence in consuming our endangered lists for fulfillment of ambiguous faith. We know that some plants are used in medicine generation but how far are we using it in a sustainable way. The concerned authorities possess strict laws but the laws should be applied firmly like the Tobacco act or even Pedestrian Day.

There is a need to revisit our beliefs. The World Environment Day 2013 came with an interesting theme- Think.Eat.Save. The world is going hungry and our small planet is consumed at an ever increasing rate. Food waste is an issue to fight at par with starvation. But for Bhutan, it would be a wise pledge to stop promoting the weird food beliefs before talking about other food related promises and acts. Endangering the endangered is what we do in the name of personal advantage.

Animal protein and plant nutrients do great help to our health and there are numerous alternatives to obtain these necessities through positive means. It is mere idiocy to belief that rare items possess super muscles and to deciding to devouring weird food items, which directly as well as indirectly have various unconstructive environmental impacts. After all, there is very less proofing and discovered facts on these strange food beliefs, leave alone the threat on the environment.

Let us Stop Indulging in Weird Food Habits!

THINK before you EAT… to SAVE and Be Guilt Free.

The LESS in us...

Beauty Impermanence

Fly and hover,

t'wards the beautiful flower. 

Land and nourish, 

sweet nectar of the colourful petals. 

One leaves happy,

Yet petals droop and fall.

Impermanence staged,

Beauty doth give in,

Nourishing others.

Beauty lies fallen,

Impermanence wins,

wonder in wonderful stupor!