New Year (2016) Resolution

Every human being is born with different fates to do something in life and survive. Depending on one’s own fate everybody earns a living accepting the responsibility gifted by god in their life, believing it is granted and everyone works with dedication. In my case, I accept my life and the profession I am in because working environment and my routine caters to a needy and people in pain come to my place to get cured. My work gives me joy. Everybody is concerned about their own health and whenever they have any little pain and suffering, they come to avail medical services get rid of their pain. The greatest satisfaction of my work comes when I see people smiling and going back cured and all right after they came to hospital feeling unwell.

My ambition from pre-primary to middle secondary grades was to become a doctor to help the patients who come to hospital to get rid of their ailments. I thought doctors are kindhearted with pure heart donning a clean white coat. It is true that we wear white coat in hospital to indicate that health care providers are pure from internal and external without any bias between the patients. All of us are responsible to take care of the patient equally no matter what degree of ailments they come with to at the clinic. A patient has the right to get equal treatments at any medical service they choose and in Bhutan we are lucky to get free medical services. Therefore, such free services has to be utilized meaningfully.

When I reached higher secondary school, my ambition changed because the subjects I took was Mathematics. Mathematics students would not qualify to become a doctor and I had to change my ambition to become an engineer. We have to always aim at sky then only we could reach at least certain level of our life which will give us some satisfaction. Likewise, my aim was big - to become a doctor and an engineer but my karmic deeds and luck didn’t favor me to become what I wanted to be and everything got shattered.

It was a blessing in disguise for me after joining Khesar Gyalpo Universityof Health and Sciences of Bhutan. I got training for two years as a Medical Laboratory Technician and I work in Department of pathology and medical laboratory services. The department plays an important role in medical services as a diagnostic service of the patient’s illness. A patient comes to doctor with clinical signs and symptoms, doctor sends us the patient’s samples to diagnose the accurate pathogens causing the disease. If we are wrong, doctors are wrong and we need to be extra cautious on diagnosing the accurate pathogens.

The patients are reluctant to listen to what we request them to do in sampling their sample and dropping in the laboratory. They drop the inadequate samples and always expect excellent report which is unreasonable. Laboratory services are not robotic that can change the unwanted things into a useful thing. Please make a note that if you throw your waste, what you will see in the waste bin will be rubbish and not a clean thing. Therefore, I urge the patients to submit adequate samples to get accurate and best results. Let us start afresh as the New Year 2016 begins so that we make our works easier and more core competent.

Examining the patient’s sample through microscope gives me immense joy since I could see varieties of pathogens, different sizes, shapes, colour and wonderful environment. Such things cannot be seen by our naked eyes, credit goes to the discoverer who invented it. Looking through the microscope, enjoying in other world, identifying the pathogens, coming back to the real world and writing a report is my normal routine works that always gives me satisfaction at the end of the day.

As the year 2015 ends and the New Year 2016 begins, my resolution for the year would be to be punctual, creating pleasant environment, diagnosing right pathogens and release accurate and competent results to the patients as this profession is my bread and butter.

Thank you!

The life of a Graduate

She is from a very remote place of Bhutan. Her poor family supported with whatever financial resources they could get for her schooling. She studied very well and excelled in her studies and completed her graduate in 2014. In 2014 she appeared RCSC examination but could not qualify for a government job. Her dream was still alive and confidently aimed to make another attempt at the RCSC exams in 2015.

She waited large part of the year waiting for the RCSC examination to be conducted. Her family gave her tuition fee to get coaching from a consultancy firm who had started coaching classes for the graduates sitting for the Bhutan Civil Service Examination. She took up the coaching sessions at the Rigsin Consultancy paying Nu. 6000 for two subjects.

When 2015 RCSC exam came closer, she was well prepared to face the exams. After the exams, she said this year’s exam is quite easy compared to last year’s and that the coaching classes really helped her this year. She said that viva-voce has also gone really well because the panelists were jolly. She said they didn't ask tough questions and they asked her to tell jokes, she told jokes and they all laughed. After the viva-voce over, she was waiting near a school gate with her friend to be picked up by her friend’s mother. The panelists were leaving the exam hall. And when they saw her, they pointed at her and told her that she did the viva-voce really well. She was confused and asked the panelists as to whom they are referring. They told her that she had done the best. She went back home happily thinking that she will get through the exams and get a job this year since the written exams went well and her viva voce was went good as well.

And she was eagerly waiting for the result to be declared. A day before her result declaration, she could not sleep well. She prayed to god for blessings and luck. She could not eat well also. The next day, she woke up early in the morning at 5 o’ clock and started praying. She has not eaten breakfast waiting for the result to be declared. Due to tension, she could not breathe well and she even suffered from sore throat.

At 9.00 am BST, the result was uploaded on the RCSC website. She entered her BCSE registration number and checked her result. It was not what she expected. She hadn’t qualified and her marks were not up to her expectation. She cried out of heartbreak, her tears rolled down uncontrollably from her cheeks. “Why am I so unlucky? Luck didn't favor me this year also. My dream is shattered now, I can’t face anyone. How? When? What job will I get now?” She cried and shouted aloud. I was very sad looking at her condition. She has studied very hard from pre-primary to college to fulfill her dreams, her parent’s dreams, and her family’s dreams but that RCSC exam distorted everything. She said that her viva-voce mark is not satisfactory. She has to get more than that because the panelists have said to her that she has done well. She said that why the panelists said again and again to her of good viva if the mark is given is low. Her friend came out from viva-voce room with red face and said that she has not gone well but when result is out her viva mark is more than her, and she doubts that the panelist has done mistake while marking the marks. If her viva mark is little higher, she would have got through the exam. This year her expectation was to get a pass mark only but it did not happen.

One-day luck really matters a lot in our career and our previous karma too. Her natural ability has really abated. She can’t dream more, she can’t help her parents anymore and I doubt when she will fulfill her dreams.

Scarcity of job opportunities in our country has really spoiled the graduates and youths above all.

A graduate’s life is very haggard! I can’t think of them roaming in the town, going different offices endlessly for interviews. For a single vacancy around 50 plus graduate submit their documents hoping to get a job. And all the vacancies are filled up by the experienced and in-service candidates. After so many attempts and failures, they get restless and aimless. In such a situation many graduates are being spoiled indulging in many unlawful behaviors because our job market scenario has really let them down.

After many years of study, their dreams remain as dreams only. Then they start to indulge in unwanted and often harmful activities. That’s why many people blame on them. Our political parties always pledge to create many jobs opportunities but when they come to power, not many changes can be seen although there is a lot to be done.

Thank you.

The Ultimate Wedding

The Royal Couple

The 20th of May, 2011 was the auspicious occasion of 7th session of the First Parliament. The traditional procession was set in full swing. The His Majesty led the way to the chamber of National Assembly accompanied by the Prime Minister and the Members of Parliament.

After the hall was filled and settled, the Speaker thanked His Majesty for his presence and reported the points to be discussed in the session, the Prime minister submitted the State of the Nation report, and members of parliament thanked His Majesty’s guidance in development of our small country.

Around 11.05 a.m. His Majesty addressed the Parliament and the people of Bhutan that he had decided to marry The Queen of His heart. The people of Drukyul have been waiting for so long with the question “when the people’s king will marry the Queen of his heart?” But on that day the king shared to his countrymen and it was the greatest pleasure for us to hear that the king will be soon married.

The His Majesty smiled and blushed a bit while naming the Queen, Ashi Jetsun Pema because he feared how the people of Bhutan would like and love that he had chosen his bride. No doubt the people of Bhutan accepted the only Dakini who conquered the living Bhudha to become the Queen of the land.

On October 2011, it was the joyous occasion where tens of thousands of Bhutanese gathered to celebrate the day what Bhutanese have been waited for and the celebration was legendary. The ultimate wedding celebration has been diffused whole over the world that the youngest king and Queen of Bhutan were being married.

The His Majesty addressed the people on December 17th of the year that they (the Royal Couple) were blessed by dhar Neynga from Kuenrey, offered to them by the fourth king was the special, they prayed to the three jewels for continuity of peace and prosperity in the nation. And the king and Queen thanked the Fourth King, the government and the people for the greatest and successful wedding celebration.

The Royal kiss in the crowd broke the ice of the celebration.

So, I offer my sincere prayers for the good health, long life and glorious reign of His Majesty the king and the Queen on their fourth Anniversary. 

TASHI DELEK.

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.