Seven Life Imprints ( published by Business Bhutan in their popular column ‘Seven’ – Vol 1,  Isuue 32, May 01, 2010)

1.     My first world

My early childhood memory in Dorokha is limited to a primary school of barefoot students with two teachers doing multi-grade teaching. The summers were marked with melodious rice plantation-rhymes sung by brightly dressed women folk; autumn with deusis ‘played’ with young village boys during Tiwar (a Hindu festival of light); winter with sound of horses’ bells of visiting Haaps; few exciting days of marriages of teenage couples glorified with deafening blank gunfire by the most ‘dashing’ man of the village, the juicy golden oranges, people returning home from market - smelling of kerosene, spilled over their backs from the porous bamboo baskets. At all seasons, there stood an unfaltering temple next to the house where occasional gatherings occurred for religious discourses. There was a shaman, regarded as next to God, who treated all the diseases and kept so many super natural beings in good humour. Completing the cycle were the corpses, being whisked towards the river Amochu, for cremation. This was the entire world I thought!

2.     A new world discovered

At the age of 12 in 1974, my father along with few hundred villagers escorted me  across Amochhu, Sanguri and after two days of bare feet walk, to a completely new world of paved roads, electricity, and automobiles.That evening I got the first haircut by a barber, got first pair of slippers (chappals), and a trouser – only to be complimented by a new piece of terry- cotton shirt that was to come next day as a Soelra, from none other than the fourth Druk Gyelpo. Yes! the crowd from all over the places gathered on the ground, the first ever big crowd I saw in life, to hear the remarkable voice of young monarch through a miraculous voice amplifier (mike) and to get a glimpse of the most handsome leader of the world.

3.     Gold Medal

This was the second convocation at the peak of learning- Sherubtse. I was honored with the Jigme Wangchuck Gold Medal for Excellence in character and studies. During the recess that day in April 2008, my mentor, Father Leclaire put his arm across my shoulder and said that it was the decision of the entire faculty and I should live up to their expectations. I was overwhelmed and equally felt the weight of the responsibility I was to shoulder now.

4.     In Japan

On one of the few foreign visits, I, one day in March 2003, landed in Osaka. Overwhelmed by the opportunity, I spent almost 10 sleepless nights trying to get best out of the experience of travelling by remarkably punctual trains, the unbelievably clean streets, extremely disciplined and hard working people and of course scores of events of the Third World Water Forum.

5.     Yet another Convocation

My wife Tulsa, our two sons, Arun and Suraj joined me in my PhD convocation in a small hilly station of Shillong in North east India. On that lovely autumn night we rejoiced the joint achievement over a family dinner in a great old palace standing over the Shillong peak.

6.     A Teacher’s Day at Sherubtse 

This was my 16^th year being on the faculty at Sherubtse. Accidentally the leadership of the college had fallen on me for a very brief period. The entire student body came together to honour all the hundred odd faculty members and showered us with praises. 

7.     Touched by my King

I was one of the thousands Bhutanese witnessing the Coronation ceremony of the Druk Gyelpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at Changlimithang in December 2008. The young monarch walked slowly across, talking, smiling and touching the people and made a momentary stop in front of me. He put his gracious hands on my shoulder preventing me from getting up and kindly asked, ‘where are you now?’ I was chocked with joy and only could say, ‘I am the Dean at the Royal Thimphu College”.  His Majesty then caressed my balding head basked in the sun and kindly remarked, “Have you applied the sunscreen? It may hurt you later. Thank you for coming (to the function)”. 

I could ask for no more.