RESPECTED THROMPON, THIMPHU

Our Thimphu Valley is teeming with populations of all kinds. It is not only one of the most loved places, but also one of the highly visited cities in Bhutan. All works of people make their visit officially or unofficially at least in their lifetime. It was not long ago, one granny whom I know very closely has visited our Capital City only to find carelessly built buildings, poorly framed drainage systems, and pitiful roads. However, we never give up talking big about "High Tourist Destination, and Carbon Negative Country."

Therefore, I write to your reputed self to express my concern over Planting of Trees (greening of urban) in and around our Thimphu city. Although, I have seen you working extremely very hard for the people of the whole 20 Dzongkhags. Over the years, Thimphu has seemingly become one of the crowded places, and there is nothing much we can do now. We need to do something urgently, when the population is still manageable, and grounded, because it seems everything should start from our Capital City.  

Therefore, I request your good office to kindly initiate to Plant some Trees (Look for: Ginkgo trees, abies densa, cherry, garosu-gil, spruce, willow, maple, bottle brush, etc) and some flowers around our Thimphu THROM, especially around main street - Nordzin Lam Stretch, backyard of Changlimithang Stadium, and around every building, which now is at its ugliest face. I still remember the Willow Tree in front of Clock Tower Square, that now has gone very old, and ugly. Therefore, at the capacity of your office, or Thimphu Municipal, please look for its replacement urgently.

However, while looking for urban trees, you need to look for trees/plants that can live under the most difficult urban conditions of air pollution, weather, dog urine, soil compaction and some human abuses. You also need to check that it should grow big, high enough to shade buildings, streets, and cool the air.

It was also found out that, planting of trees, and flowers (greening of city) have enormous benefits not only for human-being, but also it can help maintain a good ecosystem.

Some of the benefits of urban trees are; it can play an important role in increasing urban biodiversity, provide animals with food and protection, and it can absorb lots of CO₂. Therefore, trees play an important role in climate change mitigation especially in cities with high levels of pollution. Trees can improve not only air quality, but also help to cool the air. Large trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants, it can improve physical and mental well-being of urban communities, trees also regulate water flow and play a key role in preventing floods and reducing the risk of natural disasters, and planning urban landscapes with trees can hugely attract tourism, and business.

Although initially it may appear quite strange, and ugly trends, but latter part of this development, and initiative can improve our town by its looks, and presentation.

I find you the most powerful individual, and an office holder in Thimphu Throm to solve my concern more skillfully, and appropriately. I appeal to your office to kindly look into this matter, and start this seemingly odd project under your guidance, and kindness. I hope you can take this concern more aptly.

Yours Sincerely

A Concerned Citizen

Carbon Negative Land

Japanese Made Bridge to Remember - Part III

Recently I had a trip to Trongsa. The ongoing DNC Bridge construction project between Zhemgang and Trongsa National Highway, which is a few kilometers away from Trongsa Town, had immensely surprised me. It feels good to see Japanese people working absolutely very hard in the land of Drukpas (in GNH land). Like no other people, they have a very pure heart to serve our people. Honestly, not even our professionals do this in any field.  

Every time I pass across their Bridge it gives me different feelings, the massive satisfaction. Of course, I didn't know the exact number of DNC (Japanese) bridges in Bhutan, but I know most of them are fully serving its purpose.

It seems we are absolutely not getting their mission, and the core motives of such grand, and aids of Japanese and the government of Japan. When shall we understand their mission, and the motives? Their Work Ethics. Their testament of quality. Their safety control at the site. Their systematic work brain power. Their work organizing skills. Their time management skills. And their monitoring trends.

It seems to me as always; Japanese people are seemingly the best working force, hard working people, and trusted partner. For varied reasons, they are not only the promising and faithful partners, but also a very dedicated above service and faith.

One of the officials from the DNC Project stated that, "I learned from my superiors who said, before starting work, we need to visit the field. During the paperwork, we need to imagine the field. This is the best way to make our work accurate, efficient, and to secure quality." 

Will this happen in our construction development board?

Overall, as an ordinary Bhutanese, I have seen them working very hard, seems like they have very patriotic feelings for Bhutan and towards their work. For a long period of time, I like their motives, and their WORK ETHICS! However, by nature and sticking by the developmental philosophy we should be more mindful, better serving people, trusted one, and good human-being than possibly anybody else. 

One thing I dislike is the hydropower project being blatantly executing between Bhutan-and-India. The sinking of PHPA-I and II are actually cutting down some thickly polluted Bhutanese fats now both financially, and environmentally. The debt is multiplying at the speed of light, and the projects are happening at the slowest snail pace. 

The only hope left is to shy away from signing new Hydropower project contract until all the ongoing projects are complete safely at the lowest additional cost. 

However, this lines of Udai made me feel proud for some day our own Bhutanese can become a bomb shield, "I hope that my son will completely acquire necessary skills and knowledge in DNC. Then, my ambition is to enhance the capacity in the construction industry in Bhutan with my son."

What if we think to tapping Japanese skills and the expertise to ensure similar technical pass-down from experienced Bhutanese working in DNC to the younger generations. What if we encourage more educated minds to take a chance to work, and learn from them. We need their working ethics someday. I believe that such foremost skills, and knowledge are one of the most irreplaceable fortunes in Bhutan, and that imperceptible fortune should be taken advantage in all the construction sites, to develop a reliable construction industry across Bhutan. 

Along with these, let us also not forget to ensure the safety and the implementation of the quality system across all our development sectors. I personally pray for the secure, transparent, and vibrant system to enshrine someday in the Land of Drukpas. 

THANK YOU JICA. THANK YOU JAPANESE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN.  You continue to shine, we continue to enjoy your good service. Your sincere work ethics is deeply valued in Bhutan for all the times. 

The Story of a Night Guard

Born and brought up in far South of the country, Mr. Bovey Daju has long-standing story of both success and failure.

Not everyone is born with Silver Spoon in the mouth. Thus, endurance is what it takes to complete one's short life.

Owing to some family obstacles, he didn’t get chance to go to school for any formal education. Since, education during those time was not as easy as today. Unfortunate in many ways. However, he did not stop to keep working hard for his family.

As he sits down with his favourite Doma Khamto, he narrates his rich life experiences – "Being the eldest son in a family is not easy. From an early age, he looked after many family matters which in fact, have taught him endless endurance of life. As he helped his parents raise their siblings, he knew he has to be the role model. Back home he not only looks after his younger siblings, but also looks after whole house hold activities. In fact, there are many times where he acted more than a father in his family. As a little boy, he also learnt to cook and do some house-hold chores seriously."  

However, after his marriage, he felt the importance and the need of education, if not for his children. What education means for a living? The power of education! And all?

Thus, for the sake of his kids, he left home. It was almost twenty years he is away from his parents to pursue the wildest dreams of his kid’s proper education, simply for EDUCATION. However, some still continue to blame government for not doing enough, simply they want free SICKLE. Until now, he had worked for different companies. Some great, and few horrible. However, as a night guard he found it heavily challenging and risky. He found night duty, especially in a chilly and outwardly stationed school, he had faced some very extreme human outrange of discrimination and abusing. As he matures now, have varied field of experiences, if one thing that matters above all, and that is necessary part of living a beautiful life, that is EDUCATION. Through, his rich experiences of East to West journey, he always keeps in mind that Education is mother of everything.

By his looks, he is very similar to mid-twenty SALMAN BHAI of TERINAAM.  His height is approximately 5.70 and face cut is very close to Korean Stars.

If everything goes as planned, he wants his children to be well educated, and if possible, have one decent government jobs. Because in his entire life, he found government jobs not only gives stable income but also earns lots of respect in the society.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. 

                                                         –By Sun Tzu

Night and Light

Flash Back