Nawang P Phuntsho

  Now let’s face it. There are two sections of people who are vulnerable to these dreadful ‘modern’ diseases – informed and uninformed. The latter group consists of individuals who engage in dangerous lifestyles because they do not understand the ramifications of their actions, but the former engage in such risky activities closing their eyes and ears to the information that they have; all for a momentary pleasure completely blinded. In the end both the group (informed and uninformed) commit fatal blunders. This is how we nullify government’s steady efforts in educating us on the healthy and safe lifestyles. Does it mean that we lack information or are we just being complacent? How seriously do we take all these campaigns - we as the officials who carry out such health campaigns and those of us who afford to attend them? How meaningful are such awareness activities? If we are provided substantial information on the risks involved, why are we still jeopardizing our lives? And for ...

Photo: Royal Office of Media Here comes wonderful news from the Royal Throne. His Majesty has announced his intention to marry Ashi Jetsun Pema in October this year. We are all very moved. The way our His Majesty chose to share with us the joy and happiness, shows His intention to share them with His citizens. We wish all decisions or policies are shared with the people before they are implemented in the way and the manner His Majesty has shared his intention. This calls in for deep reverence.    For now we can hardly wait to celebrate the Royal Wedding. This is an interesting time for us all. 

And then we talk of simplifying Dzongkha language for learners to take keen interest. Come on! When we were children, our grandmother used to tell us stories of an animal called Sekpaleng . I don't know the name of the animal either in Dzongkha or English. But this animal is believed to be so caring that when the mother sekpaleng take her children for a walk, she would clear the paths through the woods for her children.  But as she clears the wood, the animal is said to be throwing everything behind her. And hardly does she know that she is hitting her little ones. In the evening she would have none of her young ones left. Similar is the case with our effort directed at the promotion of our national language. In an act to simplify, we are complicating the learning process by beautifying it. Please find out from the three following book titles what fancy names our Dzongkha publication take: A Beginners' Spelling Guide - the Rays of the Moon? An Advanced Learners...

Technically, I am just eight months old. Although I was born much earlier than that, I was born again on the morning of August 29, 2010 at around  10.05 AM with my little daughter in Phuentsholing General Hospital. And seven months later, she could utter Apa, making me the proudest father on earth. I am sure happiness is relative and all fathers feel the same way about their children. There is a proverb in our locality that says in our eyes, our children look the best while others' crops appear more productive. How true! And unless we are parents ourselves, we don't appreciate what it means being parents. Having children of our own to raise makes us appreciate our parents more and be extra grateful to them.  It makes me happy to see my daughter learn new things everyday. Every time I go to office, she has learnt to wave her hands and say "Tata...". And people say she is going to have power in her words because she has learnt to say apa first, I don't know. Well, ...

Tonight there was a very short news headline on BBS from a small village of Wamling, in Shingkhar gewog, Zhemgang. It was unfortunate that a man succumbed to death after a supposed 'lightening' struck him. And all our prayers are with the deceased's family members and relatives, who I am sure must be equally 'shocked'. But more than the shock of the man's death, it shocked the fellow villagers to painfully observe as BBS creates a new village in Zhemgang.  I wonder if the reporters confirmed it before he/she proudly declared on the national television. As far as my memory goes, there is no village in Shingkhar gewog by the name of "Peelizhog". And I am afraid ECB has not listed Peelizhog anywhere in the Dzongkhag in its delimitation exercise. I am sure this is not the way BBS feeds us news from around the country. A small error, but it matters, you see. And viewers would have appreciated if they were also enlightened how lightening can kill. 

Today a disturbing piece of news featured in Kuensel. It surely created outcry in Bhutanese residing in the Land of Gross National Happiness. With passing of the latest judgment by Paro Dzongkhag Court on tobacco-related case, wherein two army officials and a Druk Air engineer were granted one year bail. They had to pay Nu. 36,000 to excuse themselves from being locked up for a year. Well, it is an act of compassion rendered to three accused. This is what we need in a Buddhist country. And finally a different interpretation by Paro Court gives us hope of emancipation for the remaining ones painfully waiting – probably this would help us re-look at our judicial approach. But we can only wonder what Sonam Tshering in particular has done in his past lives to deserve being the first victim of the Act. But now really I am worried – extremely worried if Sonam Tshering and 20 others would forgive us all. We have bent justice like a sali  bamboo. ( Sali bamboos are used in mak...

My judgment inside The other day, the postal ballot reached my office and today I voted for my local leaders. And I suppose these people would live up to our expectations. I am extremely happy that I could at least fulfill my sacred duty in our maiden democratic process. It also makes me proud being able to take part particularly in this first LG elections and take part in creating history for Bhutan.  We all should take active part in the process. And negligence and abstinence indicate our poor response to the process. We either make it or break it. Participation is must. Are you exercising your adult franchise through postal ballot? Well, if you aren’t, it is not too late. You have a few more days. Go home, visit your relatives and cast your vote and help choose capable leaders in your  gewogs and chiwogs. I have carried out my sacred responsibility. And now I leave up to the majority to pass their judgment. May the best and deserving win. 

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is a king punished to roll a big boulder up a hill. He puts so much effort to roll the boulder up the hill, but as soon as it reaches the top, it rolls down to the bottom of the hill. And the king has to roll it up to the top of the hill only to see it rolling down to the base of the hill. The whole rolling up and rolling down process starts all over and goes on. For eternity. How monotonous can a task get! How futile an effort! What a waste of energy! And where is the charm in such an existence?    Today all of us are engaged in a Sisyphus-like task and just like him we take so much pride in doing that. Every day, we go to office. We start our computer and log on. We browse the Internet and update what’s happening at home or on the way on facebook walls. The more we update it, the more it needs to be updated. I won’t be surprised if slowly people start updating what’s going on in their bathroom onto their facebook walls. And then we all sit down...