My
wish for creative writing is in dwindle, and I am fully aware of this! I also
know deep in my mind that I should read more, write more, keep my blog updated
and alive and perhaps start planning to write a book few years down the line. Today
when I visited my blog site I found that it is already a year since I wrote
last.
As
the 2019 curtain falls, and as in my last piece that I wrote around this time
last year, I will be again writing mostly about myself. Of course, living in further shrunken global
village, owing to ever aggressive social media aided by faster, more affordable
and more powerful internet, I also cannot avoid speaking on few global and
local issues that made some impact on my mind and perhaps my life too this year.
First
I want to talk about the issues around our own home, Bhutan. Whether one likes it
or not, some of the key headlines for this year were no short of despair and
disappointments that included rapes of the minors, murders, molestation in our
esteemed schools (unfortunately often involving our highly respected guardians
and the promoters of knowledge), corruptions (most often committed by the most
revered and privileged civil servants) and several other immoral occurrences that
often gave us shivers of hopelessness in our otherwise upright and high spirit.
Increasing number of fatal vehicle
accidents (mostly due to human errors), additions in the HIV cases, upward
trends in suicides, serious concerns with oversee youth employments were among
many other melancholies filling up our headlines. Drug trafficking, additions, smuggling also featured once a while during the year. Of course fueling hopes
in our GNH spirit, there were several positive incidences too that we must not
forget to count. Improved connectivity (both physical and virtual), no cutoff
for Class X (many young people directly benefited were obviously happy), completion
of another hydropower project, and few more socio-economic and developmental
programmes which are all well intended initiatives of the Government of the
day. Above all and as always the most
significant rays of hopes and dreams originated from the wisdom of His Majesty
the King. Addressing the 112th National Day, the HM made few
significant and historical announcements that will have a much longer impact on
the people of Bhutan, especially the future generations. As always the message
was clear, something no one could miss, and in specific points:
Of
the three Royal commands, the foremost was a concern of slow economic growth. In this regard, HM clearly directed
the Government to chart out a clear economic road map for the 21st
century.
Secondly, as a small nation we should be doing better than what we are now. In this
regard, the government, lawmakers, civil service,
and institutions have been asked to undertake the responsibility of restructuring
and improving our laws, policies and procedures.
Thirdly, our Youth: HM commanded
that it is in our hands to build a better future for our children. “One of our
most important national objectives, is to empower every single child in Bhutan
for success. Bhutan’s future will be mirrored by the strength and capabilities
of our youth.
For our children to excel, they
must adhere to the highest standards, and have capability, integrity,
discipline, 21st century education, unity and solidarity.”
To meet some of these youth development
activities, Gyalsung (National Service) will commence from 2022. It will be a
year-long training for those attaining the age of 18. The one year training
will include a 3-month military style training, and a 9-month program in areas
like agriculture sciences, entrepreneurship, computers and coding, health
sciences, etc.
“Gyalsung will provide
direction and encourage our youth to be strong, independent thinkers, capable
of serving the country. It will bring the youth of Bhutan together in a shared
experience and act as a rite of passage- irrespective of their economic or
regional backgrounds.”
The crowd
applauded in excitement when His Majesty announced that Their Majesties are expecting
a second Royal Child. What could be more special gift for the people of Bhutan than
this for 2020!
All
in all the clear message to the public as well as the government of the day is
that, with the five year cycles of election and Government formations that we
have adopted, we must not get in the culture of short term targets simply based on the political compulsions.
One
other big news for the youth, especially the high school graduates, is the plan
to expand and deepen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training,
making this a very sought after choice from next few years.
All
in all I think Bhutan has something to look forward to shaping up in next two
to three years. The elected government holds responsibility of accomplishing
these noble goals.
On
the personal front:
My
growth in 2019 was amidst the usual vocabularies such as academic calendar,
students, faculty, university, programs, examinations, results, meetings, and so
on and so forth. These are all the primary functions in the academic
management, but anyone would need some additional fuel to keep one burning normally
and not get burnt out. It is important to avoid getting fatigue. This could
happen when your job requires very fixed routine and your mind gets occupied
immensely by the events around the humdrum. Sometimes excitements and
enthusiasm run high, but often equally low run your frustrations. Your mind is
often not your own but is the storehouse of concerns, worries, deadlines,
difficult resolutions and unpleasant decisions. 
To
counter these challengers, where do you draw your breather from, your
mindfulness and calm? Of course they say one can do breathing exercises, meditations,
yoga, etc., but these require a great deal of self-discipline and the impacts these
bring are often inadequate (at least for me). However I had been extremely
fortunate in 2019. I was able to enjoy some exciting travels. With three visits
to Europe, I was able to happily tick off my travel bucket in 2019 - Hungary,
Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France and Norway. This came pretty
unexpectedly but definitely with a great deal of learning opportunities, exposure
and rejuvenation.
The
highlights of the travel for me was the discovery of a small nation state of Liechtenstein
in the heart of Europe. Small, rich yet
with such display of simplicity and authenticity, this country is
extra-ordinary. Anyone fortunate to travel that part of the world should not
miss out this country. Of course everyone knows about Switzerland but to be
there in person and feel the height of advancement along with environmental
conservation is awesome. I felt the nature/ creator also had been extremely kind
to some of these beautiful countries of Europe.
In
general after meeting people from different walks of life and knowing about
their aspirations and apprehensions in their own countries, you begin finding a
lot of reasons to love your own country. The excitement of development is over
in these developed nations and they are seeking new happiness. Bhutan is one
country that many think can be a great example of a nation trying to live the
philosophy of happiness – at least that is what most people relate Bhutan to
(among who know us). The biggest of concerns for most educated and intellectual
groups in most of these European nations today seem that of not just the perceived
fear but new experiences of climate change.
Not
just the adults, even young adults and children are tensed and angry, and are taking
to streets to draw the world attention. I am sure Bhutanese children can also
rise above the rhetoric and contribute in learning from these global concerns
and be prepared for their own future. I am obviously not preempting them to
raise slogans but be aware and sensitive to these global trepidation. 
While
there is a clear environmental consciousness and also effort to reduce
consumption in some of these developed nations, there are clear reverse trends here
in our developing world. We are rushing towards unsustainable ways. Many of the developing nations are deep in debts
mostly owing to unsustainable consumption and productions. 
Climate
change is the biggest global threat today and it can be minimized to some
extent by changing our personal habits, moderating desires and being conscious
of our own individual footprint on the mother Earth. This year I am trying to
avoid using any single use pet bottles such as so called very popular ‘mineral
water’. I would also like to appeal my family and friends to support these
small steps and also make their own small resolves.
Let
us blame the world only after we have taken some actions at our individual
level.
Of
few books that I read this year, Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari largely kept my
mind occupied. His arguments about the natural and biological built of human
nature, historical manipulation of the earth, cultural, political and economic
evolutions (as ‘imagined orders’) are witty, provocative and in many ways
powerful. He also explains how negativity and gossips brings pleasure in
humankind. Even though the Homo sapiens sapiens have now
succeeded in settling down as diverse ethnic groups, linguistic and language
groups, as tribes, nationalities, etc.,
the fundamental biological and social human nature runs deep in our consciousness.
There are instances of annexations and imperialism continued even in recent
years but these are much smaller in scale and scope compared how unsettling and
overambitious humans of the previous centuries were. The author reminds us of a
need to be more kind, compassionate, tolerant and humane since we all
ultimately belonged to same common ancestor.
In
Summary:
Time
seem to be the biggest healer. This is evident from the fact that even the
worst tragedy which happened a year ago or even few months ago seem to be less painful
than the most recent one of the same magnitude and form. The case in point is
the murder of a small girl in Paro few months ago and the most recent
mysterious death of little Dena in the broad daylight of Thimphu. There were
many more terrible tragedies that impacted the lives of several families as
well as the Bhutanese societies this year. It is often a blessing that our
memories are short lived and generally we are very forgiving compassionate
being living in this land. This may be a blessing, but it should not make us complacent
and let these tragedies keep hammering us. Social media has definitely played
some positive responsibility in keeping us connected, informed and integrated in
the society. I hope to wish this side of the social media proliferating. A
small country with a small population ought to be more accommodating, harmonious
and understanding. Let peace, prosperity and happiness prevail in Druk yul and
the world at large in 2020 and beyond.
