Nawang P Phuntsho

Phuentsholing has a moderate weather now. And that’s why people from all parts of the country are flooding this already compact and congested city. Schools and colleges are closed for winter vacations. Businessmen are active. Some are already exporting oranges to Bangladesh. Pious pilgrims are bound to Bodh Gaya and the number of counters selling tickets to the land of thousand buddhas are increasing by the day.

Very good news indeed – a Sherubtse graduate tops CIVIL SERVICE COMMON EXAMINATION 2009 and many others have done well. Sherubtse College is truly living up to our expectation. Kudos to Sherubtse College! No wonder someone chose to call the institution the Peak of Learning. And what is more interesting this time is a woman topping the exam. And equally exciting is the fact that the all top three are all women.

As his once beloved wife drove away his most prized Land-cruiser, Karma scratched his head before he entered the empty house, once a happy home, now a deserted and cold house sans his smiling children; he asked the heaven above if all women are bestowed with such an eloquence to defend their mistakes to tag their faithful counterparts unfaithful to turn the tide around and claim their modesty.

Today is the winter solstice. This means we will have the longest night. Days will be longer and nights shorter hence. But tomorrow will herald the day when the gods in heaven decided to gift this world a very special person. And some six summers ago, He sent me that special person. Since then, my life has never been same ever again. After six years, our love has grown from strength to strength. Our faith and trust have definitely come to fruition. And as we celebrate your birthday, we have so much to be thankful for.

Yesterday (December 17, 2009) we gathered early in the morning outside our office to offer our prayers and participate in the joy-filled moments as the nation celebrates 102 years of peace and happiness under the Wangchuck dynasty. And as the national flag was hoisted and 60 mouths started singing the national anthem, we wanted to join thousands of other Bhutanese who would be singing the same tune, thinking the same patriotic thought and feeling the same numbness of happiness, as anthem echoed from the overlooking mountains and hills.

There is an old Khengkha saying which goes something like: Doth pa wa yangpa drak, yangpa wa gosa drak (It is better to get up than spend time sleeping and it is even better walking around than just being awake) But of course, it is important for us to have enough sleep for good health. I find this adage so apt especially when health is a serious concern.

Looks like Bhutan is going to make another headline in the media across the world just like it did in 2004 when initiated a ban on the sale of tobacco products. Now the National Assembly thinks that ban is ineffective as the five years’ experience tells us. So, the National Assembly is going strict – “ No Bhutanese can buy or sell tobacco.”(Kuensel dated December 4, 2009).

Wamling is a small village in Upper Kheng, about one and half day’s walk from the nearest road point. The village consists of about 70 households. The village, like any other villages in Shingkhar Gewog, prides having to celebrate local festivals and tshechus - kharpu and choedpa being the most popular. The two festivals occur consecutively on the ninth and tenth month of the Bhutanese calendar. Wamling choedpa is a five-day annual event, usually conducted after the successful harvest of rice and other major crops.