The Talking Mountain

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Bhutanese Faces

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Zhemgang Trong, Heritage Village On Fire

It is neither easy to see fire gauging the house nor fighting against it is possible with common man’s energy. But if we unite as one and work for it, nothing is impossible.

Honestly, I have seen house-on-fire for the first time and it’s not easy to see someone’s life long hard work and accomplishment going into flames. In front of everyone’s eye the house has become out-of- service, the rubble is all we can see now. I have seen people around had successfully fought against fire with all the possible brand of the energy. The dedication they have put this time was beyond measures.

House on fire

Personally I feel that, Zhemgang is a subject so close to me since I belong to this place for five long years and seen this 'Majestic Trong, Heritage House' every day. It housed almost quarter of total population. I have subjectively fallen in love with the age old stone designed house for so long at the very first sight. The place where I live happily with everyone around, the place where I get to hang-out with families and friends and the place where I get every possible clean and fresh air. I only know how special this place is to me.

Initially the pressure, tension and people squeak mounted to the highest level but due to many hands put together finally we could successfully contained the fire after a heavy battle for more than two hours. If someone ask me to choose between People’s battle and Fire battle, I would rather go for human battle which is far too easy and assertive but not in punching my Wife to black-and-blue.

Scene after fire battle

This time, I have honestly seen the most unity among our people like never before. People from all works of life (i.e. firefighters, civil servants, Police personal, Dessup team, Business community, students) came together to battle the fire, we came together to share the loss and felt the pain together by our helping hands until the last flicker and the last curl of smoke is completely put-off. This is what we are taught from the time we are living a life in this well fenced Kingship country.

We did it and together we can!

In this great tragedy my heartfelt goes out to the owner of the house and to the tenants who resides there with all hopes to live a life. I have seen this time that indispensable disaster equipment and human power didn’t fail at all. When someone was busy thinking on how to control the fire, some busy lost in watching fire engulfing the whole house, few bold-hearted police personal and the selected few of disaster teams who selflessly risked their own life to climb up to the roof to rescue the further spreading of the fire are truly the heroes. If there is someone we could call a hero, it is them who climb up to battle the fire and they are my heroes. They deserve our hands-down!

If someone ask me how you have contained the fire from spreading to next house. I would say we did it together but more importantly there are selected few who did their best job to control the fire. And not everyone was a hero.

After a heavy battle and when the last flicker and the last smoke rolled up into the air, I have seen people around with their satisfied and glaring faces once again. Because no one was injured and fire was successfully put under control from spreading further. If otherwise, Zhemgang would hold another national headline on the same story cover like Chamkhar town had just before few months. Nevertheless, I am happy to see once again the continuity of age old traditional houses built with Bhutanese architect in its same foundation. Although, the real cause of the fire was still at large. However, some unknown source told that the fire initially started from one of the tenant’s kitchen.

But the sad part was before the fire was under control I got my ball freeze to its smallest size possible since the water is icy to touch. Even, if someone drag me to the court of law stating I haven't bathed for so long, I would seek for Trump's Lynch to fence me from freezing my ball.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

The Karmic Wheel

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Special Gift!

source: kuenselonline

PLEDGES -- Zhemgang Central School

We pledge to HRH the Gyalsey on his 1^st Birth Anniversary that in the academic year 2017,

we shall;

1. Read at least ten books during the academic year.

2. Always respect my teachers and parents.

3. Always abide by my school rules and regulations.

4. Always be kind and helpful to my schoolmates.

5. Always be friendly with my schoolmates.

6. Always do my work on time.

7. Work very hard to accomplish my goals.

8. Always come to school, prepared to learn.

9. Actively participate in school activities.

10. Always maintain a positive attitude towards everything.

11. Always refrain from undesirable activities.

12. Work on improving my communication skills

13. Work on improving my character.

14. Always take good care of school properties.

15. Exercise zero tolerance against indiscipline that is harmful to self and others.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Rufous-necked Hornbill, the Pride of Zhemgang

The Rufous-necked hornbill is a species of hornbill found in Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. The number of this bird species has declined significantly due to habitat loss. However, Bhutan has some countable numbers of this bird species intact.

Although, Zhemgang is secluded from most modern touch however, the place is known for rich biodiversity. Thus, it homed to many critically endangered flora and fauna. One among them is Rufous-necked hornbill which is already under threatened list globally.

Perhaps, it was a wonderful experience to shoot this high–flying bird on my recent trips to Mithun farm. Occasionally, one can also find this bird feeding on the way to Buli, tingtibi, gonphu-pangbang highway and around Royal Manas Park in lower Kheng.

It has been over a month now, but I still have that great feel of this giant bird flying over my head. This bird is very sensitive to human sound and settlement. Thus, it settles to an amazingly uncommon place for feeding and tall tree branch for nesting making it very difficult for a common people to see its young one.

Of the four different species of the Hornbill found in Bhutan, Rufous-necked hornbill is found at the highest elevation.

Rufous-necked hornbills are monogamous birds and a gender sensitive. Owing to its survival, male counterpart is brighter in color than its female partner.

This bird has a large colorful body with large and sublime beak which they use for breaking fruit seeds and for defensive purpose. Like most of the birds, it also got some cultural significance or belief. It has very husky and peculiar call different from other bird species.

The nesting season is in-between mid-March to mid-July with breeding cycle that last for approximately four months (120 days).

Rufous-necked hornbill mainly faces threats from timber extraction, collection of wild fruits and seeds, road constructions, hydro power project, clearing of forests for power transmission line and natural threats such as competition for food. This bird is also found to be extremely vulnerable to serpent eagle attack.

The way forward to preserve this bird is by incorporating hornbill conservation activities in the community and by initiating environmental education outreach programmes to school children and local community.

Over five years of bird watching and photographing experience, and having travelled to great length of forest, I have learned that there is nothing like enjoying with nature. It also helps one to manage stress and relief from unnecessary tension. It makes you feel happy and calm your mind.

I would request all people to make mindful developmental activities for which there are larger share of wildlife in our ecosystem.