Father of Medical Laboratory of Bhutan

It was 8 p.m. I was attending my evening duty at hospital. I just visited his chamber, and he was visibly busy with some pending works. As I entered his room, he smiled and welcomed me to sit on the chair. I sat on the chair across his table, opposite to him. He, with his trademark gentle voice, asked as to what he may do for me. I said I am visiting him to get some information about him because I wanted to write something about him. As soon as he heard what I said, he went blank and speechless. I, at first, thought that he didn’t like what I said for some reason. But it wasn’t the case. He slowly started to talk and shared some of the most daunting challenges he has faced in his life up until now.

He came to Bhutan on 2^nd August, 1975. This year is his 40^th year of active service to our nation. He said that when he came to Bhutan, there wasn’t a simple medical laboratory services available. For him to start a good laboratory services in Bhutan was a big challenge, he explained me with the smile of satisfaction on his face,  Bhutanese were not fond of  the profession because they had to handle patient’s stool, urine and blood, he said. He was accompanied by one Indian laboratory technician and one Sikkimese helper. Their work was to examine stool for parasites and to perform blood grouping since there was no required equipment to perform other parameters, he said.

First three months of his stay in Bhutan were the toughest. He even thought of going back to his country as nobody was ready to take up the laboratory works having to deal with human faeces and urine. However, after some time, people realized that that laboratory works are also a field of profession and there was a good scope to get employed there. Gradually, people came forward and wanted to learn from him. He has trained countless Bhutanese health personnel and still continues to guide and train the trainees of GesarGyalpo University of Health and Sciences of Bhutan. Thanks to the tireless work of this old man, today Bhutan can boast of many qualified laboratory technicians. He says he is happy to see the seed he sowed many years ago blooming and eventually giving such healthy fruits.

He is a patient’s Doctor in the truest sense!Early in the morning many patients take advantage of his time because other Doctors turn up to their office at 9.00a.m. He comes to his office at 8.00a.m. Every day to complete the pending works but many patients can be seen lining up to meet him at his chamber. He never lets any patient to go back without checking. He always checks the patient, go along with the patient to drop the sample to be tested at every respective chamber and never let patient bear the trouble of locating and submitting the samples. He checks many patients, collects blood, stool, and urine sample of the patients by himself, and then collects reports and always monitors until he/she is alright.

Because he can’t refuse the patients his help and service, he is not able to finish his work during office hours mostly. He stays back at his chamber till 8 p.m. every day relying on the snacks when he feels the need to eat something.He is workaholic. He works 12 hours every day and even weekends are not free for him. Every single day is a working day for him. Being under the same department as he is in, I have learned a lot of good things from him. If I have to summarize whatever I learned from him in few words, I would say ‘pure dedication to work our assigned works’.

His employment contract expired in 2013 but the Government of Bhutan extended it for two more years. This year is his last and by December end, he will be leaving Bhutan for good. I asked him whether he would continue working here if his contract was given another extension. He said he would happily do so because he would take it more as an obligation than an extension of his employment. I hope he will continue to contribute to Bhutan is some ways. Bhutan would lose a great contributor if he decides to leave the country that has been his home for so many years.

In a befitting conclusion to the words of wisdom he shared with me, he said, “My religion says that if we do our work whole-heartedly and not half- heartedly, then we will attain Nirvana when we die. I always try to follow my religion.”

Father of medical laboratory of Bhutan.

Is Gambling Banned in Bhutan?

“Thud…thud…” I always hear the sound from the house next to where I stay along with some voices.  I thought that neighbors were busy collecting the bhukhari woods for the winter and   they are cutting the big log into pieces so that it can be used easily. But this thought didn't convince me and I wondered why they are fetching so early because it is still the summer.

So, I went near them to find out what they were up to. Then I saw a group of old- aged men playing Parala in a great zest making loud noises, playing icily. I realized where the Thud sound came from. They raised their hand high into air holding a small cup with a pair of dice inside and the cup-like container came with full force on a circular, semi-hard pad on the floor.

Urban life is totally different from village life. In village, our parents were sweating a lot by cutting big log into pieces for varieties of functions, like to cook food for them and animals. Contrary to such struggles, here in urban area people waste their energy, times and space to unlawful activities which make people physically, emotionally and financially broke. That is something self destructive which I always tease my friends comparing such activities to a jobless monkey rubbing its ass on a rock.

Though, I heard that gambling is prohibited in our country I could see many people play anywhere and everywhere; some even play along the roadside and in front of their shops, sitting in a circle and playing without any hesitation. In all over the districts during Tshechu time people are always fond of involving in gambling. But after many flaws and terrible issues being raised like there were many chaos and misunderstanding between the owners and customers, the authority has stopped that business and nowadays we don’t see it being played during any festivals and even on Tshechu days like before.

And it confuses me whether it is banned during Tshechu time only or it is banned completely. Nowadays, the game is going rampant everywhere - people playing lavishly and nobody seems to care about it.

The adult people have to live by example and show positive attitudes and healthy ways of life to younger generation. We must not forget that nowadays generations are both clever and intelligent.  I heard playing cards, Parala and other gambling are bad games because it could lead to huge loss. Some people spend money as if they were rich but back home all the anger is thrown at their family. Family gets distorted, and there is no peace in the house.

First they play for fun with their friends, gradually they start playing for money, and then they feel great when they get money and continue to play.  After that they become addicted and play for huge amounts. When they are out of money, they play and gamble on their properties like cars, house and land in certain degree. Everything is lost to other and they go for credits, and at last commit suicide after not being able to pay back the credits. The main cause of such discomforts and distresses can be playing of vacuity game only.

I have come across the story of wives being exchanged by the two men by playing the cards and Parala. Some men make plaything on their wife. It is very shameful to hear such stories!

So, I make earnest request here that under the reign of our beloved kings and under the real Buddha, the Je khenpo, let’s not engage ourselves in such harmful and self-destructive activities. Such games will never and ever bring happiness at any cost. They could rather ruin whatever little happiness we have. Moreover, it causes a lot of disturbance to neighbours. I feel the concerned authority has to look at the matter and do away with the game on condition that if it reoccurs the person shall be guilty of serious consequences.

Message to my Angel.

Life is like an echo, we get back what we give,

True love is like diamond - real and rare.

You are a diamond that shines with pure love;

And I treasure your sincere care.

When you are down I am literally rattled;

The test of love doesn't come when we are together,

It comes when we are apart and much obliged,

Yet mission of meeting will be a dream until we have feather.

The value of sentimental love cannot be measured,

But only true lover will imprint in your heart,

That love has to be appreciated and treasured.

I don’t have intention of abasing you out of abhorrence,

And don’t want to abduct you in any means to abandon you.

Though, I might have hurt you with abet words and act of aberrance,

Nevertheless, I don’t have any intention to hurt you.

I work day and night to withstand our lives in a meaningful way,

I pray for our lives and sentient beings to be free from Samsara,

And I beg you forgiveness for cadaverous act of play,

Because we want to be a perfect couple at the end of a day,

You dainty damsel should accept to a daft like me.

No matter whether history becomes legend, legend become myth,

I will be longing for you till I get eternal holiday of my life-the death.

Yours love,    

The birth day then celebrated.

On the previous day of the birth day, I received a call from her saying that she wanted to come to my place which shocked me that she like to come otherwise it is always the opposite and compelled to come at my place.

In her haste she reached at the place in a pleasant mood. She gave me an unique expression!

At around 10:00pm, we have dinner and went to bed early to get some warmth to pacify the freezing body.

Suddenly at midnight, I was awakened from deep slumber by happy birth day song being played from cell phone.It reverberated the darkroom where we lay. It was an alarm she had set exactly at 12:00am with the birth day song as an alarm tone. "Happy birth day dear." She said to me with smile face as she rummaged in her hand bag and handed me with a birth day gift festooned with shiny silver papers.

I was bemused and fumbled for a word because I was oblivious of my own birth day. It was the first time to receive a birth day gift after many years had passed unknowingly my own birth day.

I know you are not from affluent family to manage a gift but that wee gift was a big thing in my life. You are the one who had wished me with a gift dear.

I don't have vestige of hard feelings for you, rather I trust you and guaranteed to lead a happy life ahead.....

Thank you Dear for everything.

Thank you.