Nawang P Phuntsho

Just a very short post here!  Graduates everywhere  This thing about campus recruitment in Bhutan – it is a very recent phenomenon in the country. This is where students are hand picked and companies offer jobs to them before they even graduate. The concept is fairly new in Bhutan. I think it started with BOB’s new CEO, Mr. Kinga Tshering. He is currently the CEO of DHI Infra Ltd. It was his idea (of course the idea was already there in other countries and he maybe the first to do it here) to call graduates to attend interview before they graduate. I came through a similar channel (the decision, which I often regret, but now not so much) and my opinion towards the program is mixed. It is definitely a wonderful opportunity for graduates to have jobs promised even before they finish their studies. But again, especially, at that stage, when graduates feel that they will not get anywhere – that feeling of helplessness (which is not always true) gets the be...

Today is the first Sunday of the month and we observe it as the pedestrian day after it was revised. Now the day is observed only once a month as opposed to what it was planned initially back in June 2012. Once a month is more practical I would like to think.  It was more of public outcry that resulted into this change in the game-plan.   Initially, when it was first proposed or we were made to hear about the initiative, I was seriously happy. And that was because my idea of the day was different from what the policymakers had in their minds. I thought that when it is a pedestrian day - it means no movement of vehicles at all. At all. But they allowed taxis to ply back and forth. City buses were alright to move proudly through the restricted zone. And it made it appear so foolish an idea. I didn't get this idea clear - how do taxis and buses emit less pollution? In fact they were burning more fuels and making more noises as they had to more rounds - unusually more rounds...

Finally. Yes, finally we all can smile. Riyang - the Melodies of the Mountains - how nice the name sounds! That is the name of a publishing house (Riyang Books),  which was launched the on Friday November 30, 2012 by Her Royal Highness Azhi Kesang Chhoden Wangchuck at Nehru-Wangchuck Center in Thimphu. And now we finally have a professional publishing house in the country. No doubt we have some licensed  publishers today in the country, but for us they are more of printers.  Now that we have a professional in the field,  hopefully we will have our works published and marketed abroad. And the person behind the venture is none other than our foremost writer - the most loved and read - Azhi Kunzang Choden! She has made us read and realize the importance of our folktales. She made us read stories that made us cry. She is in my opinion truly the first Bhutanese writer! Now she is coming to our rescue in publication. I would like to congratulate Azhi for the su...