Fear Death…Let’s not be insolent!

‘Who is related to whom in this world, every creature is born alone and he dies alone’ a very common Bhutanese maxim reads. Relation however intimate and close it may be, everything and everyone is leveled at the crematorium. Death may be untimely but it is ultimate. Forgetting whatever one achieved and accumulated in one’s living moments is insignificant when time for departure has come and when god’s will be done.

Now you may wonder, a supposed blogger preaching about death. As obvious as it may seem I am beginning to think about what people do one of these days, seriously on people being very insolent. I was on a weekend veggie hunting at the farmers market and after I got some, back in my small car I was waiting for the familiar parking fee collector. He is a boy with humility as I have known him for the last three years or so. Before he could collect Nu: 15/- from the car before me, I saw him ridiculed by the driver who was may be too proud to park his shiny Toyota Prado. He almost punched him on the face and later threw Nu:15/- on the road and sped off.

Walking towards me and after grabbing my charges, I asked him, “Gachi Bayee Nochu”, “Kho sir ghi hema park chapchi, ganta chi Yasi”, Teru ray meetay sa lap mey”. Shob chab mey” - (What’s wrong! He parked even before sir came and left the car for an hour. He is unwilling to pay, He’s lying). The Prado owed more than just 15 bucks. I felt sorry for the boy and handed another extra ten to my charges to which he smilingly said, “Kadrinchey”.

On my way back home, I was thinking hard to connect his Prado to a meager charge of Nu:15/-. What would have gone wrong if he paid the charges? What would he pay if his Prado succumbs to an accident? And many more questions until I realized who am I to worry so much on the cruel behavior of an ill-mannered wealthy. After all, he shall die, the parking fee boy’s time will come and my time also will be done. Considering death as an ultimate equalizer, there’s no time to be so insolent and proud of one’s machine which also comes with an expiry date. Being humane matters! Remember my tryst at the CFM[i], Thimphu. Please be humble! I know you will and yes have a nice day. A food for thought perhaps to tickle your consciousness…

“Death is not the greatest loss in life; the greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live”

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[i] Centenary Farmers Market

The Morning Sun…Some Reflections!

Thank you Monu and Sonam Yangki for having me at your lodge for the launch of The Morning Sun. It took me close to two and half hours to begin and end in one sitting.  It was a refreshing read and it was a metaphorical cruise into the life of Sonam Yangki put into words by our very own doctor.

Monu has used words and expressions to cater to all readers and I strongly recommend this book to our youth these days who with little hardships have big complaints and for whom putting in a little more effort means punishment.

Well, first things first, I am awestruck at Sonam’s endurance and her zeal to live despite the life-threatening circumstances early on in her childhood. Reading of working hard to make ends meet on a daily basis brought tears to my eyes and I will never forget the memorial Chorten incidences, Doma and Tshering later. Reading between the lines I am quite confident what Sonam underwent was 10 or so years back. I am also beginning to wonder such people like Ap Gyembo and the other uncle existed in what we call now the capital city. I also cannot forget the army officer whom I should say was a literal maniac.

Modernity has bred negativity and this fact is evident how careless and bother less were people who knew Sonam. My favorite part from the book begins after chapter 19 when Sonam’s life takes a turn for the better meeting Tshering and not forgetting Uncle Mila’s who sees the dream and desperation in Sonam when she was young. If time permits I would like to meet Sonam Yangki and Tshering in person once again not forgetting Golu. I know he will grow up be a confident bloom as he is now a timid bud. I wish him all luck and wishes. I now know its Sonam and Golu in the picture of The Morning Sun. This picture speaks. Just give it a try. I know you will!

Sonam’s love for singing and her achievements in this art is commendable considering her dedication and economic challenges she underwent in achieving the almost impossible. Sonam’s forgiveness is praiseworthy when she embraces her mother later despite all her doings and I still wonder how you cannot love your own child. The Morning Sun greets readers with a pity on the onset where one cannot help but turn the pages and read for what happens next? It is a story of survival amidst economic advances we boast of and more importantly Sonam’s struggle to find life worth living. Every plot of the story takes some obvious turns and you know how values degenerate in humans once money takes precedence over everything else in life. All in all, The Morning Sun is a story of stories but true.

Happy Reading folks and Monu! See you around buddy!

My Inspiration: A Teacher and a Journalist

On a usual morning, getting lost in my usual chores, I get a call from a colleague who was doubtful whether I will recognize him or not. He had no idea I saved his number a year ago when we met at conferences and the much celebrated Mountain Echoes 2016. We became friends by our likes and love for writing. And he is Monu Tamang, now a Physiotherapist at JDWNRH.

The Teacher

I was invited for the release of his third book, The Morning Sun. I made myself available and in the evening I was waiting for others to arrive and in the distance saw Tashi Gyem, a Horticulturalist also a blogger.  Behind us were Creative Donkey and Beenu. We were late. Calling Monu we slipped into the last row and sat diligently. Looking at the speaker I was taken aback. It was HE T.S. Powdyel. His talks and the silence the audience maintained took me back 12 years into college when I was taught literature by Mr. Powdyel.

Scanning through the heads listening to the talks were familiar faces like Chador Wangmo, Karma Choden, Passu, Nawang P and I am not sure whether you heard the name KB Lama.

My update today is about who inspired me to write in the first place. Besides Ernest Hemingway, DH Lawrence, William Wordsworth, RK Narayan and the modern Elizabeth Gilbert, I am still fascinated with words and writings of our very own TS Powdyel and KB Lama. Mr. Lama used to head one of the private newspapers and my admiration for him was his fiery editorials.

The Journalist

Monu gave me the opportunity to meet my inspirations and I try and write like my inspiration: A teacher and a journalist. Just to make this read a pensive one, listening sincerely to Mr. TS; I took to the pain of memorizing and remembering his words “We need artists to make our society fuller and much realized.”  Back in college, all presentations that we did in Sir Powdyel’s class were displayed on our classrooms walls and not realizing some of the charts were trash, sir exclaimed looking at the walls, “Oh! It’s a hanging garden ina la, Make sure you pick only the flowers mey la.”

I got this wonderful opportunity to meet my inspirations and my experience was nothing short of edifying.

Just Write!

www.blogger.com

Whether you write on experiences, observations or opinions on whatever you come across, it shouldn’t be ignored, is the first ground rule for blogging. In my years of blogging I have come to know whether you write trash or state your opinion, you must stand your ground firmly to justify your writing and in doing so I have come across so many accusing me of the writings I have published here in my blog. 

As a factual anecdote I was once asked to explain to an agency for stating my opinion on the services it rendered. These are just a blowing breeze in the quest of achieving perfection in writing or telling stories. 

So never lose hope and believe genuinely in what you write. How will readers react to your writing is solely dependent on how you want the readers to understand in the first place, Criticisms can come in various types and kinds so feel passionately about your love for words and expression.  

So dear readers, find your inspiration today and care-less about what may ensue for what you write… lastly, you will be amazed at the audience who follow your blog and much more amazed at readers from different countries. Here is mine.

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. – Vincent van Gogh