BHUTAN and UN Membership Day

On 21st September,1971, the Third King of Bhutan achieved the national dream of all Kings and the Bhutanese citizens. Bhutan was admitted into the august hall of sovereign nations- The United Nations. It is not possible to comprehend how on earth the Bhutanese King persuaded India to assist him to get his Kingdom into the membership of United Nation ?

Today Bhutanese leadership is unable to even glance at another nation without the approval nod of India. It seems that the euphoric D- Day of September,1971 has somehow got waylaid and ambushed even though in paper the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of 1949 has been suitably amended several years back to enhance Bhutanese control over Bhutan's external affairs.

I vividly recall that UN celebration day at Lungtenphu, Thimphu in September,1971. His Majesty was in high royal mood. It was also my first experience of seeing the King and the Queen of Bhutan together arm in arm.  Her Majesty Queen Keasang Choden Wangchuck and  entourage arrived at the celebration ground and His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck went forward towards the Entourage ,received his delicately beautiful Queen and  gallantly  escorted her.  It was a picture of national unity on such an important and auspicious national Day.

Several decades have passed by since that great day when the very heart of a great Monarch fluttered with joy and expectations for his nation and citizens. The Dragon was at its glorious peak.

The days of Camelot is no more. Bhutan has undergone internal political changes. The Law of the King has been converted to Constitutional Law that is Gyelthrim to Tsathrim. However the King can still guide the nation and his citizens with the spirit of D-Day of September,1971 and secure dignified sovereignty in the external affairs of Bhutan. 

The Constitution enshrines the royal institution and royal prerogatives
( Gyal-ju and Wongchha ). The introduction of Democracy has not relieved the dragon throne  from the duty of protecting the dignity of the Kingdom even while democratic leaderships seeks comfort in bilateral appeasement with India. Political serfdom was never the part of the traditional Bhutanese  characteristic even though it is human to desire material wants. Money and power is everything except for love,respect and freedom.

Wishing all Bhutanese a very happy UN Membership Day Celebration in your hearts. Remember and cherish with pride 21st September,1971 when the Dragon roared his own flame.

The Risk of Adolescent Love

The recent very disturbing teenage couple hanging  may have been averted if only the social and legal apparatus have deeper comprehension of puppy or puberty affections.

Adolescence love for all its distractions is not an evil  disease. Young innocent lovers should not be driven to hanging themselves from the nearest tree.  The school authorities and parents have to develop tender precautions in handling teenage weakness.

In a coeducation school there will be opposite sex attractions and in some cases sexual relationship which is bad for school discipline. However once it has happened it should not be demonized. The relationship is inappropriate and early but its not evil. After all ultimately almost everyone look forward to sexual relationship and love in their life.

Its too late for the young school couple of Bumthang,the school authority, the parents of the deceased and other family members. But other school authorities,other parents and law makers and enforcers could make necessary humane efforts to look back towards their adolescent days and accordingly look at the situations before them from the hearts of our teenagers.

If suppose such erring teenage couples are threatened under possible rape law that govern underage sex even consensual ; expulsion from school or even be chastised before the school assembly the pressure could drive the cornered couple over the cliff. For onlookers it is a horrible sad  incident but for the teenagers and their families its a shipwreck of many lives.

For so many young people it is important to believe that tomorrow is a new day and fresh hope. You are never in a hopeless vacuum as long as you have good health. You love to live not to die. Be brave to fulfill your education needs and in the process you make a mistake or fall in love then convert such episodes to strengthen your resolves to succeed in life.

Corporal Punishment

It seems that any physical beating by a person in authority is considered corporal punishment. This notion is incorrect. When manhandling takes place against innocent students or subordinates, it is an assault against an adult victim or rape of social and mental equanimity of young growing children.

Innocent children have no developed psychological  defence mechanism against physical and verbal aggression by their guardians especially when these occur out of personal anger or vendetta.

To misuse official authority of any institution, office or school to victimize one's charges or subordinates in  defence of one's erring family member could be construed as an act of criminal nature.

When something seemingly has gone haywire beyond doubt in an institution, the responsible next administrative authority has to take corrective measures immediately. The legal or judicial process  can take time but the institutional  administrative and social  environment should be restored and freed of autocratic personality. Such responsive administering would curb future callousness and assuage the grievances of the victims.