Nawang P Phuntsho

A family is a small representation of a society. Love, care and responsibility build a happy family. A man sans a family is devoid of these human qualities. I think women are somehow exceptions to this hypothesis. Generally, all girls love children a lot that the moment they see babies, they go crazy. My hypothesis is built on the premise that the adoration is free from pretension. Some childless men are frustrated men. They are often heartless and have no stint of love or care for others’ children. Because they have no children of their own, they cannot get into a parent’s shoe. This does not allow them to feel how the parents of the children would feel. One of our former teachers happened to be a childless man. And the fact that he mercilessly thrashed students seemed like he was taking revenge on his sterility. Apparently, he was not getting along with his wife for obvious reason. This in turn increased his mood to cane his students. At one point a boy was bleeding so heavily that ...

“Are you married?” I asked her. “Come on, it is too early.” You would have sensed no hesitation in Sonam Saday’s response. It has been quite a while since we walked away from each other’s lives. But when our fate threw us together once again last month at one of the street corners in Thimphu, we tried to pretend as if nothing had ever happened between us. The acting was perfect I thought, even Tshering Wangyel would have said ‘yes, yes’. But no one would have realized there were thousands of thoughts crossing our minds that moment. “But what about the future plan?” a bold question indeed, but why do I have to worry about her future? It was none of my business. And I didn’t want to appear as if I was hinting at something. I just asked her to keep conversation flowing. Did she know that? “You see, once you marry, you have no freedom. So, it is important that I enjoy,” she justified being single. “At least two or three years’ time is must before you marry.” And this was the same girl who ...

I just wanted to see how it looks on the blog. The idea of publishing that book sure sounds exciting, but the God of Publisher has not come to me yet. But when He comes, it is just there, even before you know it. In that sense I am an optimist by nature. And some days in future, I imagine myself looking face-to-face with Then I Saw Her Face. But for now, I keep my fingers crossed to let publishers find a perfect timing for my book to come out.

The room is fully packed. Sweaty and stinking smell fills the surrounding air. A fan, which takes ages to make a revolution, does more nuisance than good. But no one seems to care about heat. In deed an experience of an evening hell! All eyes are glued to a small screen on which their raw desires are being acted out live – their hidden desires and long held longings. Language is not a barrier. Nor is caste or creed! All men, more than fifty all communicate in one language - the language called carnal desire, the language of raw human beings. Understanding is writ large on every face. No questions, no answers. After much hesitation, I sit next to a man. He avoids looking directly at me and I don’t want to be seen either. Soon another man joins us and sits to my right. Something is weird about this man, but I can’t say what. I take him for a gay. Does a gay watch this stuff also? I wonder. Then this happens. He starts to reach me. I shrug him off and push his hands. But he is undeterred....

Last week as I was feverishly trying my hands at cooking in the kitchen, I was reminded of Tshering Gyeltshen’s Hingtam that opens with a debate, which touches a pertinent issue. The women’s place is best in the kitchen? I don’t exactly remember the topic, but it went something like that. But do all men make worst cooks? Why is the food that women cook taste thousand times better than mine? Or are some people born with that skill? “Akhai, you don’t know how to cook sii ya?” a lady friend of mine remarks when I tell her how worried I was the moment I was alone at home.“Well, I will have to learn,” I tell her, but when I tell the same to my friend in Thimphu, he is not on my side. “Wai, don’t tell your girl friend or wife that you know how to cook,” he warns he. “If you do, then you will end up cooking rest of your life.” I laugh at him, but he is serious. “After all, it is women’s job." Well, is cooking women’s domain? Or is it because men fake not knowing how to cook? Some of my...

Mathematics is a subject that demands constant practice unless we claim Einstein’s brain. And once we lose track, it is very difficult to find our way back. I always felt that everything becomes new and unfamiliar to me during the exams. Maybe that was because I wasn’t in constant dialogues with my texts. And that’s a problem. Human relationship is no different. Relationship is a fragile ‘thing’ that disintegrates anytime if not nurtured constantly. TashiCell has sent a right message to its customers when it chose (out of so many) Keep in Touch as the company’s slogan. In human relationships, keeping in touch is the right key and its absence invites real problems. Other than love – however true it may be – simple acts like calling her to tell her how much you miss her makes so much difference especially when you live far from her. Distance makes hearts grow fonder, does not really work in relationships, well in most cases – I never deny exceptions. Rather distance makes our hearts gro...

On the Centenary walk from Kanglung in the east to Thimphu in the west, five of us were on a mission to inform the villager along traditional footpath about the health and hygiene, and how we are indebted to our beloved monarchs past and present. The walk was a real test of endurance, patience, and friendship. But more than that we like to believe that we were lucky to be able to retrace the route our forefathers had undertaken and take part in the centenary celebrations. In a village we asked a gathering what they know about GNH. Almost instantaneously a lady stood up from the crowd. I was truly moved by her courage and bravery. In her dialect, she responded: “ Gyel Yong Ga Kyi Pelzom da khan khai, thrung thrung karmo gyi la, la. ” (Rough trans. GNH is the black-necked crane?) We tried not to laugh. It is not a laughing matter, but sheer innocence. It wasn’t innocence alone. She was merely misinformed. There were traces of DPT campaigns in the locality. This is how well informed our v...

A lion once fell madly in love with a rich man’s beautiful daughter. So the beast went to the rich man’s residence. “Contractor,” began the lion. “I’m in love with your daughter. Please allow me to marry her.” “For you, my daughter? Why would you even dream I would give her to you?” replied the Rich man. “If you don’t,” growled the lion. “I will kill you.” “Ok… but you should agree to my proposals.” The lion readily accepted the offer. Nothing mattered to him if he could marry the Rich man’s beautiful daughter. “Ok then …, when you come the next day, I want you to come with your claws removed,” said the Rich man. “… My daughter may find you unattractive with your sharp claws sticking out.” “Definitely, I will do that if that’s what my would-be-wife wants me to do.” So the next day, the beast went to the Rich man’s house like a faithful lover with all his sharp claws removed. When he was shown the clean paws, the Contractor was pleased. “Ok good. Now you like a real lover,” complimente...

She started following me during my final and vulnerable year at the college. And she was so brave that she would sneak out to my dorm while I lay sleeping lazily. If you want to talk about never giving up, then she is a perfect example. I am worried now that there is but a little chance of escaping from her clutches however hard I may try. She will savor my body and make me look miserable. When she first saw me with a girl ever fit and healthy, she immediately became envious of my growing happiness. I didn’t know the consequences until she grabbed me unaware. No doubt she is a good lover, who follows her mate whenever wherever, but she keeps on playing with my emotions. My only hope and wish is to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life with a woman I dream of spending my life with, but now I doubt whether I am heading any closer towards that goal. She is every man’s nightmare. She keeps on following me twenty-four hours a day making me nervous and uncomfortable during the day when a...

Different people try saying I love you differently, but in the end they all mean the same. At some point it loses the meaning while at others it is distinct and clear. However you say it and whenever you say it, the result is quite magical and you feel you are on the top of the world; the one who says it and the one who’s said to. Some people are eloquent and have a world of words at their disposal while others dread what should be the next syllable to be said. But in the end everything is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece fits perfectly well onto the bigger whole. Therefore, these are some ways to tell your beloved ones I love you, You truly this is to tell you that I love You that I love truly you this is to tell You love I that you tell to is this truly Truly you love I that you tell to is this Truly this is to tell you that I love you To tell you this truly is I that love you To tell you that I love you truly is this This is to tell you that I love you truly That this to tell you is...

Dzongkha or Tibetan word for animals is Semchen, which is roughly translated as one that possesses mind. This in turn implies that one has feelings and emotions, assuming one that has mind can ‘feel’ also. So, I am wondering … do animals have the feelings? I always ask this silly question. But if you look at the Dzongkha word for animals one more time, everything is clear. Of course animals can feel! Now if some scientists can prove that even plants have feelings; then surely one that has a mind has to feel. Although they may not enjoy the power of speech like the wise humans, they can at least feel. It was in late 1990s I was in Phuentsholing for the first time. Everything was new to me … sheer number of people, cars and traffic…everything amused me. So, I accompanied my uncle to a market in Jaigaon. And as we rounded a corner, a horrible sight stuck me. Even now when I think about that, I get choked up. A group of vendors were selling meat. And right beside him a man was holding down...

I have married the woman whose heart you played with and whom you kept in constant darkness whose tears defeated summer shower Forgive me she is great so sweet so innocent

You taught us words and now we remember you in verse You taught us phrases and now we remember you in prose You taught us compassion and now we remember you in kindness you taught us laughter and now we remember you in smiles You taught us humility and now we remember you in reverence you taught us generosity and now we remember you in charity Time brought us together Yet it took us far apart Distance divided us wide Now fate took you far And into that place which we call heaven let your soul rest forever in peace (Dedicated to dear Late OPA)