Saturday, October 28, 2023

Lennock had Lost an Employee, but I Lost a Friend

Image: Sahar Rai

Image: Sahar Rai

Image: Sahar Rai

Image: Sahar Rai

Image: Sahar Rai


In a land where Kangaroos roamed freely, two strangers from the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan found themselves in a dreamland. We met as newcomers to Australia, each feeling like an outsider in a land that was so different from our beloved Bhutan. Little did I know that this chance encounter would evolve into a lasting friendship.

As time passed, Tashi and I went from being strangers to close friends. More than anyone, I've known my friend Tashi for the past 6 months as a cool, handsome man with an amusing nature. Our shared vision for our homeland, Bhutan, brought us together.

We dreamt of a Bhutan where politics would serve the greater good and our tiny kingdom would thrive on ethical and sustainable principles. Our discussions revolved around these ideals, and we felt a sense of urgency to serve our motherland with the utmost sincerity and honesty. 

We deeply promised to take home one, or many ideas and knowledge we observed or gained in a culturally diverse land, or anything worthy to take home for our beloved land would be the future of our land, the added value of the hidden kingdom. We've got miles to go before we sleep in peace, before we fall deep before our bones weaken, and before we promise to build our country into a promising land.

Our backgrounds were intertwined in our conversations, as we both hailed from Bhutanese families with deep connections to the banking and education sectors. Our chats ranged from the intricacies of banking to challenges in the education system. We were both passionate about seeing improvements in critical areas such as health and education.  

Our friendship was as versatile as it was genuine. We seamlessly transitioned from ultra-professional discussions to sharing the tiniest personal details of our lives. We talked about fatherhood, our past relationships—the girlfriend gags—and the ups and downs around Melrose Drive. From cold to scorching heat and shared meals, we used to share unending fantasies for our future.

Amidst our diverse conversations, our unwavering love and respect for our beloved monarchs used to always top our talking list. We shared stories about our monarchs' contributions to Bhutan's progress, and it used to be a source of great pride for both of us to work more sincerely. We were equally proud of our graceful Prince, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, who is growing up under the guidance of two beloved Monarchs, K4 and K5. This shows the depth of knowledge and vision the King must-have for his country.

As close friends often do, we had our moments of jest and boiling. I had a knack for bringing up nonsense topics, from toilet humor to discussions about the flaws in our education system and the frustrating mismanagement that I've observed as a school lopen. I used to tease Tashi about his uncanny ability to bunk and hide from our boss. Often, we used to play a rat game, but only to fall under Benny's trap, our boss!

One thing was clear: the shared longing for our home, our tiny Bhutan, was deeply wrapped under the rim of our hearts. We missed our aging parents and relatives, the simple joys, and the warmth of our homeland. Lennock lost a gentleman, but I've lost a friend who had become a working partner. Our journey in the land of kangaroos had transformed us, and our friendship was a testament to the enduring connection we had to the land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan.

Best wishes for your new journey; perhaps the least traveled, I'm sure you will reap the best out of it and will prove yourself a gentleman, a true Bhutanese by discipline.






*** ALL THE VERY BEST!*** 


"$"


Monday, October 2, 2023

Farmers' Dream

Dear Farmers of Kikhar, Zhemgang


                                                                                Source: kuenselonline.com

... "I have decided not to continue with mushroom cultivation." Grieved Thinley from Kikhar, Zhemgang on the disappointment of mushroom farming. 

I have passed the following blind comment on the Kuensel post dated October 2. 

"We are too fast to conclude. We must try the maximum, give our best, explore means and need to be innovative. This is good news but discouraging for others in such pursuit. Nothing comes easy. There are no free meals in life."

I am quite adamant that I may have sounded rude and a bit selfish. While I know what it is to lose such a stake, the means of livelihood!

While I can feel the disappointment of our farmers, their time, energy, and resources going down the drain. However, nothing comes for free in life. As much as these aspiring mushroom farmers of a remote pocket of the country, I am concerned and bothered by this news of a failed trial of mushroom farming. This is not the end of everything. We must learn from the failures. 

As a son of a farmer myself, the pain of losing the ultimate means of livelihood, is nothing more disappointing than this. However, it should be the lesson for the next move, on what went wrong and how to overcome those setbacks. One must have positivity, courage, virtue, workmanship, and never never-giving mentality, and not be a failure-bound person either. 

I am sure the next bountiful harvest is waiting for you all. Keep trying and show to the world that there is still a chance to stand. It shows your courage and will to do the minimum. One need is to be resilient, and innovative, explore beyond normal and be mindful of whatever is planned. 

Innovative means our farmers need to explore and harness endless solutions not only from within but also beyond the border. Great ideas and practical solutions are just a click away as no formal training or need to visit a service center like in the past. There is endless exposure: YouTube, Social Media, Google, etc...Just keep exploring more. 

I have unconditional hope and trust for our farmers who shed a lot of hardship in the sun, and rain. Despite your failure this time, you all deserve our sincere praise. 

Particularly for us, a landlocked country with limited, very limited resources and expertise, we are bound for failure. But every time we step down, we must learn to stand more firm and strong and need to learn the power of setbacks in life. 

I share my raw reverential thought, but the greater share of impact is for the budding entrepreneurs, or enthusiasts young minds striving to be in the pool of farming are at the losing end of the hope. Just forget about one-time failure, tomorrow will be brighter. Keep working more like you all do always. 

Remember you are your sunshine, hero. There is nothing wrong with failing. If you all work with hope, one day, soon enough, you will reap your hardship, the workmanship craft. If not for a bigger dream or kind cash income, it will surely be a great feast for your family and the community. 

Perhaps, every start goes through a tough, same head-scratching experience. Experience of both good and hard times makes one strong and grounded. You must learn all the goodness from these experiences take this failure as your strength and move on with even more courage and power to try more and fail more, and that will surely be your success. 


Full article can be viewed from the given link: https://kuenselonline.com/kikhar-farmers-worry-as-mushrooms-fail/

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