Nawang P Phuntsho

I was about to fall asleep when I heard some noises from below my apartment. I thought it was a gang fight. But soon the scene from my corridor gave me a sensation of being in a football stadium. I thought students in Bhutan are busy these days, preparing for exams. But I was wrong. Look at the video and see what are our youth up to at this time of the year at night.

The other day I was having lunch with my wife. And seated next to our table was a group of five women.   Sitting near them was an experience of a lifetime. Generally, I have a lot of patience. But I was kind of impatient the other day. It was terrible nightmare. For the first time I felt like I was in a fish market. These women could really talk and talk loud, so loud that if they are at Sangaygang, people in Semtokha would hear what they were talking.  They won’t care even if the Prime Minister of Bhutan was in the same room having lunch, forget us. We even didn’t exist in the room. I felt like a ghost. They would laugh as if their armpits were being tickled by thousand fingers at once. Don’t get me wrong here – I am not a misogynist, have never been one and never will be in future. Like all men I like women. But everything about these ladies was irritating. They ignored the fact that they might be disturbing other people for there were so many customers. They behaved as...

I am totally against violence in any form and especially men’s brutality to their counterparts. I believe as human beings we deserve respect, both men and women included. And I don’t believe in the fact that just because someone is a woman she should be sidelined and denied the opportunities. Both men and women are entitled to equal rights and freedom.

Who says cooking is difficult? In Bhutan we eat same dishes breakfast, lunch and dinner. How delicious the meal entirely depends on what you add. More items you add to the dish, tastier it is expected to become. May be not for health-freaks though!  

I thought I would start a magazine. I talked with an uncle of mine, who was all 'yes, yes' with my idea. We have prepared a business plan and thought of the editorial board. We sought business ideas and suggestions from across the border. We have contacted publishers as far as Kolkata and Delhi. Days have gone into naming the magazine.  And Druk Outlook was born.

The second issue is already on the way, but people in my organization seemed to be pleased with the amount of work I have put into making of this newsletter. Nothing satisfies me more than receiving constructive comments and criticisms from the fellow employees. And I tried to incorporate most of the comments in the second upcoming issue.  However, I wish I could distribute this newsletter everywhere in Bhutan for all the clients and all the customers who are interested but it seems it is supposed to be for in-house distribution only. For now it is a quarterly newsletter. But we want to make it monthly. It will take some time I know. If it is possible I am ready. More than that, I am quite happy with the level of support I am getting from the management. and my colleagues. We could only print 100 copies of the first issue, but this time management willingly approved 5 times the number. I am glad this is going to reach people working for ...

Bhutanese are by and large a big showoff. Yes, you heard me right, a big showoff! And if you watch some Bhutanese movies or visit some bars, you would believe me. But yes we show off all the time - starting from what we have to what we know to how much power we possess and what not. Before someone visits a school, students are to paint the walls, clean the drains, whitewash the fences, and cut the green grasses. Just to please and impress the guest? Are school walls, fences and drains built for the guest? (Photo Courtesy:http://www.smalldynasty.com/blog/?cat=1) I understand it is important to stay clean, but why don't we do it for ourselves? Why do we need a minister to visit a school to be served better food? Only if the minister visits schools every day! But what is interesting is, I was thoroughly shocked when our computer lab was full of new and working computers when Vice Chancellor of RUB visited the college a few years ago. Are we not showing off  what is not there? A few ...

Education Ministry's exemplary move to transfer Thimphu's senior most teachers to dzonkhags other than Paro and Phuentsholing, is disturbing piece of news. Maybe the ministry is fully awake now. And maybe the ministry is sending message of equity and justice here. But what will be the effect on  those 34 listed teachers' morale and dedication? What will happen to their teaching enthusiasm?  Most of these senior teachers have served in remote places prior to their posting in Thimphu. And if that is the case, then their justification to continue to teach in schools in Thimphu hold water. After all, isn't it the government's policy for teachers to be posted to remote areas prior to their posting in urban areas?  Hopefully, these teachers may not take to resignation. If they do, it is a great loss to the country. I personally didn't like some teachers from remote areas saying that  there are thousands willing to teach even if these 34 teachers resign. I a...

Last night, I was so busy calling my friends who are sitting down today to write the last exam of their life - CSCE, the mother of all exams - one that would either build or destroy their future. I wished all my friends best of luck - they're critically in need of all the luck in the world. Most of them sounded scared and terrified with the thought of it. But I am sure they would do well.   I envy their opportunity to appear this exam. As a small boy, I would dangle wooden swords around my waist and fancy walking majestically through the courtyard of a dzong but dreams change. Maybe I was not born to wear all those patangs and buramarp. But I am contend with my share of luck.  Life is full of surprises.  So, to all my friends once again - even if you don't make it, don't worry, but give all your best. That's what counts. If it is not written for us in the first place, no amount of effort can bring us that kind of life. I wish you all the best. All my Prayers!...

Introduction There are a group of people who contend that the qualification is more important than the experience only to be disagreed by another section of the society. The former believes that the qualification provides understanding of a particular job and its nature and that for an organization’s success, qualified people are assets. But the latter believes qualification is important only at the entry level, but experience makes one carry out his job with greater efficiency and increased productivity. Fore A man is not judged by his experience but by what he has achieved in life. If qualification is unimportant, why so many parents send their children to study in India and good universities abroad? Qualification is like a badge that allows you to enter into good jobs and a key to bright career opportunities. A qualified man is highly respected. Against Well, a man maybe highly qualified but what is the point if he has no experience? Qual...

When MoIC and RSTA first proposed a raise in vehicle tax, we thought it was a dictatorial move. But we are happy that they have reconsidered their decisions now. Kudos to Lyonpo Nandalal and his gang! It seems so many Bhutanese can dream again.   And Lyonpo was quoted as saying: “... a policy where ‘I have bought my car but you should not buy one since it will lead to pollution’ will not work since people should have an opportunity to upgrade the status of their life.”  (Kunesel) Thanks Lyonpo for speaking on our behalf. Taxing a family buying more than one car makes sense too - some extra revenue for the government and hopefully, lessen traffic congestion.

I was shocked literally when I heard that he has burned his certificates and mark sheets. I mean why would a man destroy his academic credentials? Today, everywhere people strive hard to strengthen their qualification and improve their market-worth. You see, many Bhutanese are committed to Continuing Education (CE). But here is a man who chooses to differ slightly. In fact greatly! Recently, he came to a conclusion that there is no meaning in keeping all those certificates and mark sheets in his cupboard. He says at the most it occupies space.  My friend Karma is a policeman who studied up to class 10. He was an excellent athlete and a great footballer. He had more than 45 certificates awarded in sports and football. But now he finds it useless keeping them. This man who is in his early twenties claims to be in his late thirties to his friends. And one thing I am impressed is the fact that his friends never know he even went to school, forget having appeared class ten exams....

 This was the house she lived in.   This was the house we built for her.  Sherubtse College’s Social Service Unit members and some volunteers rescued her collapsing hut. Abi Tashi lives a lonely life in a village called Pangthang, in Kanglung, Trashigang. In the event of damages caused by recent earth quake in the east, I wonder the state of Abi Tashi’s house! Hopefully she is still in there, in her house. I wonder whether the mud stove, which I personally constructed, is still cooking her food and warming her home.