In Preparation - the 16th SAARC Summit

It was a hot sunny day, but they came marching like a swarm of bees. And they understood the reason why they were lined up - to answer the call of the city. When Phuentsholing Higher Secondary School students lined up in groups to pick up papers and plastics in and around Phuentsholing city, it was a notable noble cause. And their mission was to prepare the town for the upcoming SAARC Summit. Amidst the extreme heat the city wore a cleaner look at least for that day – April 22, 2010.

Onlookers appreciated the combined efforts of the teachers and the students. If only such initiatives are our everyday affairs.

First it was the coronation of our beloved king in 2008, which brought Bhutanese together for a common cause, ever dedicated, and the noble duty to our king, country and the people – tsa-wa-sum.

And now it is the 16^th SAARC Summit fever everywhere since Bhutan will be hosting a summit for the first time. People talk about it over a cup of coffee at a small restaurant to the football field to the government offices and agencies to corporate houses to monasteries to the villages.

So much can be achieved if we work at this rate. Then we would be breathing fresher air, drinking cleaner water and our eyes would be looking at a hygienic environment. And it just shows, given the level of commitment, it is possible and within our reach.

So much hope is pined on this summit and hopefully it benefits us, the people in the region, more than one ways. And finally here is wishing all the countries a happy SAARC Summit 2010.

Comments

When they are ready

The Ministry of Education discovered 890 'underage' children admitted in schools across the country in 2019. Thus, the ministry in May 2019 issued a notification revoking the admission for these children. Majority were in urban centres. Desperate, parents and the affected schools requested the government to intervene. They also requested the government to consider lowering the enrolment age to five years. Currently, in Bhutan a child can legally go to school only when s(he) is six years old. And that policy was strictly followed a few years ago to the extent that some schools refused to admit children even if they were short of a few weeks. So, parents, mostly in urban areas, resorted to faking their children's ages. Many parents were guilty of adding years onto their children's actual ages. However, most parents, we are told, managed to correct their 'mistakes' later. Faking a child's age was rampant...

The Vanishing Currency of a Bhutanese Village

Growing up in rural Bhutan, the richest people in the village often had very little cash. They were known as chukpo , 'the ones with cattle'. And no one asked how much money a person had in the bank. No one or only a countable few had bank accounts, anyway. Wealth was measured in fields, cattle, grains, and the ability to carry a family through the seasons. Cash existed, but it played only a small role. Most exchanges happened through barter. Rice for chillies, soya beans for Sichuan peppers, cheese for eggs. I still remember that a ball of homemade cheese was worth two fresh eggs. Nobody needed a calculator because people simply knew. The most remarkable part of the system was the exchange of labour. During sowing and planting seasons, families needed extra hands, yet labour was rarely paid in cash. If I spent three days helping on your farm, you spent three days helping on mine in return. No contract was needed to be signed. No money changed hands. Wealthier households so...

Community of Bhutanese Bloggers Conceived

And finally it happened. I must say that it was by far the most attended Bloggers Meet. In the past we had bloggers agree to attend and cancel at the very last minute. But on June 24, 2015 – almost 100% of bloggers, who confirmed came. I would like to thank everyone for keeping his/her words, especially those who had to come all the way from Wangdue or Paro. Thank you! 35 Bhutanese bloggers met in Thimphu. We were honored to have the presence of senior bloggers like Aue Yeshi Dorji and Dasho Sangay Khandu. The meeting assumed more significance because of their presence. Equally, we were happy to have many young bloggers in whom we see so much enthusiasm and potential. On top of many things that transpired during the Meet, one of the most significant outcomes was the unanimous decision reached to form a formal group of bloggers, a platform aimed at encouraging and inspiring more bloggers around the country. The members decided that we will call it Community of Bhutanese Blogger...

Ngawang Phuntsho

Search This Blog