Neykor ( Pilgrimage ) casualties.

So many died in Mecca the holy shrine centred on the Black Stone. What could have caused the human throng to panic and stampede? Do those who die at a holy site or on the journey of pilgrimage go to heaven ? I just wonder !  No matter where a person dies the bereaved family would always mourn the loss and yet I hope for those killed in the stampede found their seats in holy abode. Rest in Peace in the presence of Allah.

Nurturing Politicians for a brief Summer Blossom in Bhutan.

Format schools through colleges those that have inclination for politics, the grooming starts early in many Countries.

In India the incredible ocean of religions, creeds and castes of  multifarious communities, the schools and colleges  churn out great many materials of future politicians. By college stage of life, groups like youth wing of Congress Party and youth wing of Bharat Janata Party are already influential political organisations. In fact the youth seem to form the core foundation of Political Party pyramids. Youth groups are pampered and courted by Political Parties and Politicians. They have the stamina and enthusiasm to communicate effectively with the base of democracy, the people. 

In United States and other Western Countries, one sure path to political future is getting involved early on as volunteers in political campaigns.  As one gains experience so does one's role grows in political campaigns. That's how a future leader gains the grass root knowledge, masters strategic know how, win friends and establishes contacts. Its a must have political infrastructure for a great many would be political leaders though there are exceptions.

So if youngsters in Bhutan feel that they have political bugs in them, they could I assume, can go ahead in helping in election  campaigns as volunteers but not as party members. Is there a law against being volunteer workers during Elections in Bhutan ? Could any Bhutanese provide a definite answer? I have my doubts.

I am not aware of any legislated law but election rules are altogether a different political scenario.  Past experiences sometimes comprised of fresh election rules  appearing during the process of an election as ad hoc measures proclaimed as inviolable by the Election Commission depending on the deemed need of a particular situation/ particular demand/ particular objective but not necessarily in keeping with the principle or the spirit of genuine and free democracy.

If volunteer service is not permitted then many Bhutanese youths cannot gain necessary experiences to swim in waters of democracy. It is not advisable for Bhutanese youths to register as actual  members of a Political Party. Registering as Party member attracts so much repercussions at a later stage under the narrowly designed, stringent election rules in Bhutan. Its like a curse on youth when seeking Government and Corporative jobs. Tempting youths with the light of democracy and penalising them for literally  appearing in the light. That's the kind of paradox that Election Commission of Bhutan represents to me.

Before blooming into a politician, you need to bud a lot for learning the ropes of elections and campaigns. If volunteer service is not outlawed by Election Commission, get early into the spirit of election process.  Start with Geog  and Thromdey Tshopka elections and graduate to Primary and General Elections. The experiences are worth a Masters Degree in Political Science and practically more applicable. In the election fields, you will come across many political pitfalls and boons.  Politicians come to realise that nothing is assured including the votes of even relatives and otherwise deemed great friends. However, the enemy of your opponent is really your true captive vote. So one must know more of who hates whom in a community or in a constituency rather than who loves who.

And its alright to promise the moon because voters simply want a nod for a possible shot at Paradise.  Delivery or non delivery of campaign promises  do not matter so much.  After 5 years, old voters are either dead, dying or priorities have changed and fresh eligible voters simply want to hear a confirmation to a shot at their dream Paradise. Not many care of the past history as long as the present is attractive and seductively presented. Mass seduction or manipulation is the core force of political campaigns. Promise what voters desire and say aloud what they just want to hear. Truth is respected but votes go to the agreeable candidates. So agree with voters by all means and do what you want once the votes are in. And if you are a good leader at heart then do what you feel is the best for the society and the nation without fear or favour. You will be rewarded somehow in some ways and your deeds will bear fruits for years on.

Beware that under prevailing Bhutanese political system and the trend of voter psychology, budding Bhutanese politicians cannot really bank on a lifetime tenure in politics.  Many voters have the perception that political seats are national prize that should be shared on rotational basis and  not monopolised by any individual. I feel it is an innocent wishful thinking that will fade with time and trouble. Thus in the present social scene, quality of candidate can be secondary in the choice of the voters.  But the main stumbling block for a life long engagement in politics is the upper age limit of 65 years after which the door shuts. This too will change as years go by and democratic philosophy matures with experiences.

After the age of 65, citizens of Bhutan are constitutionally barred from contesting elections. Bhutanese constitution framers seemed to have been of the view that politicians needs physical stamina not necessarily experience in administering the nation. Also they may have been fearful of dictatorship rule by long serving seasoned politicians as if Hitler was a product of seasoned political process. So in Bhutan, political profession is a kind of sojourn to a brief summer dream world. Nevertheless, if you have the inclination plunge on early. It is said early bird catches the worm. And as for short tenure, life itself can be shorter.

If Bhutanese Constitution is adopted by United States, Donald Trump aged 69 and Hillary Clinton aged 67, would be barred from contesting in the  Presidential Election that is presently going on in America at Party level nomination.  So Jeb Bush would have a high chance of being  elected the 3rd Bush American President in 2016, And Jeb Bush like his predecessors father and elder brother Presidents will lead America to another " glorious war " in the Middle East against Muslim Nations.

There will be more Muslim refugees entering America and Western Countries thus ultimately fulfilling the prophecy in Buddhist scriptures that Muslims will take over the world and only then the next Buddha shall appear. Buddhist belief in the dawn of new world of Buddhism. The Christians await the Resurrection whilst the Muslim will have their Warrior Hero to subdue the rest. 

Now getting back to present reality, if Clinton or Trump  does make to the White House in spite of their elderly age, the wisdom of Bhutanese Constitution that old cannot perform or experience is dangerous, falters in reality check. And if 62 aged Jeb Bush becomes the President of America, then the prediction of all 1000 Buddhas comes true and Bhutanese political philosophy triumphs, too.  God may need to save the world but Bhutan should then be able to survive the Muslim roost even as all other Countries pay homage to great Allah.

The political lesson that politicians need to master is that they too are agents not the master of change. If China did not takeover Tibet, Buddhism would not have taken hold of the West. And if America had left Middle East alone, Muslims would not be have been dispersed all over the wold. The truth and fact of life is that we are all pawns especially the political leaders in a greater game. They introduce or induce policies to take effect  but have no control of the larger implications and fallouts from their actions. And anyone that participates but does not control the end destiny are pawns by nature though few like political leaders are more importantly active pawns. And that most important and valuable principle of democracy is ensuring the same rights to the other fellow citizens that we wish to exercise for ourselves. For this reason I take the opportunity to share following thoughts.

For record, from the time of constitution framing stage, I myself never favoured the abdication of the King at the age of 65, the prerequisites of a college graduate degree for political candidates and the exclusion of religious practitioners like monks from voting rights. I appreciate the very substantive reasons put forth but feel conditional democracy is not really in keeping with the spirit of democracy. The true and unhindered choice of the voters is of paramount importance in any election process.  And equal rights of citizens of same nation and subject of the same King must be the very soul of vibrant Bhutanese constitutional monarchy system.

I am for monks and alike in exercising voting right but support the sentiment that religious personalities should not be members of Political Parties or participate as candidates.

I feel that the  prerequisite of a college degree is against the democratic choice of the voters in a democracy. Likewise it makes a lot of sense to incorporate certain number of years of experience also as a prerequisite for a would be political post holder but again it is against the spirit of democracy where the choice must be left to the voters.

The benefit of the wisdom of choice must be made freely available to the voters if democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people.

Likewise regarding compulsory retirement from active politics at 65 years of age,  I felt it was just not simply a waste of good talent and experience but also against the spirit of democracy to deny active participation to senior citizens in the process of democracy. Equal rights in democracy outweighs any other valid and valuable views.

And as for Kings abdicating at the age of 65, I felt and still feel  it could unnecessarily create national disharmony and even crisis in the future.  Not all Kings may share the kind of love and respect for each other as the present two Kings. Even so there is no guarantee that other forces would not attempt to play kingly politics if they see an opportunity to enhance their stakes.  Power and wealth have tremendous change of heart and character impact on individuals. And very few individuals, families or leaders can put common happiness and national cohesion above personal thirst for power and wealth.

Thus the safest bet in a democracy is in respectfully leaving the decision to the voters themselves to choose who they want and for how long. The legislations required are that which prevent curtailment of people choice through bribery or threats. The core requirement of true democracy is the environment of free and fair election so that the voters can make free choice uninfluenced by greed for financial gain or fear of insecurity.

I understand and also accept that process of democracy needs time to evolve. Therefore, it is my hope and prayer that national confidence matures with age and experience. And that  Bhutan and Bhutanese  gradually evolve to a higher level of principle of democracy wherein all Bhutanese above the age of 18 can exercise equal participation in democratic process regardless of age, health or profession.

May Tsawa Sum prevail under the watching guidance of the Deities of Pelden Drukpa in Bhutan and may equal rights be the pillar of democracy all over the world.

A Message for Sonam Pem the non entity in the Bhutanese Forum.

Sonam Pem or are you Tashi Yangchen, a he or a she ? On Monday the 7th of September, you tried to divert readers attention away from my Post titled," A Collusion among the Royal Bhutan Army, Kuensel and The Bhutanese - A National Shame."

You fabricated a story of fidelity cum rape allegation against my son Major Sangey Wangchuk. I allowed your wild imagination to remain posted for 6 hours before deleting the nonsense. It was to demonstrate to you that those who read and comment on my Posts / Blogs are mature, intelligent people. They do not care a shit for the likes of you.

Then on 8th Tuesday you posted the same hallucination in the Bhutanese Forum. I see some gullible or your collaborators supported you and few questioned your credibility.

Its too bad that you or your lover/ spouse got into problem for the horrible Gelegphu incident. The Army will not leave such heinous acts unpunished. Too bad but you deserve every severe consequence.

So you know in person my son Major Sangey Wangchuk and his beautiful and well educated wife Mrs.Tshering Tshoki who is the lucky mother of two lovely kids. A handsome boy taken after his father and a beautiful daughter taken after her mother. And yes, my daughter in law is a civil servant with a Masters Degree in Finance. You forgot to state that she is a Budget Officer in the Ministry of Finance.

And yes, my son and his lovely family  reside happily at Luntenphu Army Head Quarter in their official residence. You are jealous and you are angry and you are as guilty as hell for being a party of wrong doers at Gelegphu.

Did you think  you could get me to remove my post on Monday by posting your hallucination about my son in the same Post ? That did not work. So you thought that through Bhutanese Forum, you could at the least create some doubts in peoples mind.

I gave you 3 clear days to  measure your success by examining the profiles of those who took your bait. Must be pleased to find similar characters as yourself. You poor miserable dark figure suffering in the depth of cesspit.

I think I can satisfy your bitchy urge but my virility domain does not extent to ex- lovers of my sons. Sorry but relieved that someone more deserving married my son Major Sangey Wangchuk. You are not happy with your present army Dasho husband ? You might find peace and contentment if you stop flirting with your identity and different lovers.

In your story, you forgot some important details such as the names of the Pelpon and that of  his daughter. So this fictitious girl is 17 years old, is she?  That suited your rape insinuation perfectly. Matches the cunningness of a jealous mentality that  had instigated the horrible incident at Gelegphu. Let me tell you fictitious characters if christened with names would sound more authentic. You should have named your characters. Oh !  Oh !  You were protecting their privacy ? What a laugh when as Tashi Yangchen you crucified the 2 soldier wives in Gelephu. Sonam Pem is your good fairy tale side of character? What is Tashi Yangchen? A manipulative bitch !

People who hallucinate tend to create characters for themselves. Sounds like you are barren.  Try visiting the Drukpa Kinlay Lhakhang at Lobesa. If you had abortion,  its your doing. Why seek sympathy in the guise of some other girl ? I think you made up this tall story for your friends. True friends will not think less of you because you are barren. But then such false characters cannot have genuine friends. So you had to seek sympathy through whatever means, is it so ?

A mistake you made in the spelling of SANGEY. Major Sangey Wangchuk name is spelt with an E not A. And you forgot to add another vital information. Major Sangey Wangchuk is the Staff Officer to the Hon'ble Major General of Royal Bhutan Army at Lungtenphu. He is a very disciplined and capable Officer. You had to know I am sure.

So if you are a bitch, come and bitch to the Royal Bhutan Police Chief or to His Excellency Chief of Operations, Royal Bhutan Army.You will surely be served with justice. If you are a bastard come and look in the eyes of Major Sangey Wangchuk. You must know that gallant Officers of RBA know how to deal with bastards and liars like you. And scums who act like drimpoen dorji and you. Do not soil Facebook.

I have every reasons to be proud of Major Sangey Wangchuk. He is a through bred. You are a scum. My son is a Gentleman. Come out from the shadow and make your charge if you are even a figment of a man or woman that real human beings are. May you always remain haunted by your Gelephu horror and suffer in anonymity forever.

Shocking ! Dear Japan hit by River Floods.

Forget Europe, Japanese River embankments far less structured than India's Rivers to resist floodings. Two days of rain and Japanese people under flood water. Tsunami and Earthquakes are altogether different levels of natural disasters.  But River Floods ! This is shameful for being so unprepared.

Really very sorry for the multitudes of people affected. Maybe less life lost but so many lives destroyed due to property loss and damages to business enterprises. Dear Prime Minister. Please fortify your river embankments and then the race to fortify war armaments.

And Thank You Japan and Japanese people for helping Bhutan. But please at least take some preventive measures against river floods to curtail your own misery. Japan has to have the financial resources and technical knowhow so please revamp the national will to prevent any future river floods. It is so helplessly sad to see houses swallowed or uprooted by flood water.

EMIS: Education Monitoring Information System ?

There is a system introduced by the Education system for all schools to number tag all students and record all census details called EMIS.

The names of Dzongkhags, geogs, thromdes and village are automatically listed. So the school enumerator teacher simply need to punch in the relevant names.

In helping the teacher at Sunshine fill the computerised on line form, I was not able  to find my village " Watsa " under Katsho Geog Haa Dzongkhag. In fact none of the villages under Katsho Geog belonged to the Katsho Geog. To solve the mystery I asked the teacher to punch other 5 Geog village lists. We discovered that the villages of Katsho geog was listed under Samar geog and vice versa the villages of Samar geog listed under Katsho geog. It is possible that similar mistakes could be there in other Dzongkhag.

So that day, there was no alternative in the format to punch the correct village name of my grandson except to accept the choice , " other " in lieu of the village name.
I hope by now the Education Ministry 's centralised data system Manager has corrected the flaw in its central data system.

Public Health Excellence Award from WHO

A Legacy of Good Heart.

World Health Organisation honoured His Excellency Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup with the award of Public Health Excellence. It is a national honour for Bhutan and a richly deserved recognition by WHO for the immense contribution that Lyonpo made towards good health of all Bhutanese. National capacity to procure essential medicines and vaccines is a giant step towards ensuring national people health. Thank you and congratulations Honourable Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup. May Your Excellency and Aum and children always enjoy good health and happiness.

The collusion among the Royal Bhutan Army, Kuensel and The Bhutanese - A national shame.

I have reread the Army media spokesman's version of the horrible incident at Gelephu RBA Cantonment printed by Kuensel. It seems The Bhutanese also printed the same version. The Editors of the two News Papers should be called upon to resign by fellow journalists for this heinous disgraceful journalistic conduct and motive.

Why and how does the two main stream media Print newspapers devote a whole page to the army version when their own  Reporters never ever were allowed to report about the incident ? Do we have a main stream media or a communist propaganda machine at work?

When this incident was brought out in the public forum by an anonymous Karma Mindu, I made my comment. Then a Dorji Dorji came out with a more graphic account. It was then I asked the anonymous Dorji Dorji to reveal his identity because it was such a serious national matter and no responsible Bhutanese should treat it anonymously. Instead of Dorji Dorji responding positively, there was another hopeless character Jarog Dongchen with a barrage of personal attacks on me.

I realise that Karma Mindu, Dorji Dorji and Jarog Dongchen is actually one same individual.  He is an officer who seems  fully knowledgeable about the whole horrible incident. But his motive was not totally moralistic. His later demands demonstrated that he bears grudges with Army Command be it at the Gelegphu Army Wing or at Army Hq. So decided to expose the incident through social media  instead of processing his information through official channel. Still regardless of his selfish motive, I thank the anonymous officer Jaro Dongme the faceless coward for bringing this incident to the public attention.  Then there were anonymous self appointed unofficial army spokespersons who defended and denied the incident.  These anonymous characters viciously attacked the 2 soldier wives and  anyone who dared to express a sympathetic view for the plight of two soldier wives , as being anti Army and anti national. And worse these foul mouths justified the incident by citing the devotion of the Army to the Tsawa Sum as if  otherwise  a pious person can get away with murder.

I invite all to read my comments. I have never questioned the integrity and honour of the Royal Bhutan Army. I did my best to examine the case from both sides of the spectrum after reading in between the lines of pro and anti opinions expressed about the incident by both anonymous and genuine personalities.

Now here I am presenting my take of the Army Spokesperson version.  The Army statement is a long abusive narration largely devoted to shaming the 2 soldier wives and it has been so generously and shamelessly published by Kuensel.

1. It is a terrible, shameless and vicious attack upon the 2 wives of foot soldiers. Something unimaginable for an esteemed Army Institution to do. Apart from chastening their unfaithful conduct, their motherhood was lambasted. Pray Sir,  on what grounds do you dare to question their motherhood when your own version states that the women took their children with them when they ran away from the cantonment? The correct scenario seems to be that they did not leave their children behind abandoned even when they themselves were evicted from the army camp and their family quarter confiscated.

Also the children seem to have well passed their breast feeding days. If the 2 wives were such bad and hopeless mothers who else could have nursed the children till such an age if not their mothers ?

2  The whole incident seems to have been instigated by a supposedly high morale female group who felt that it was most devilish of the 2 soldier wives to have sex  with men other than their spouses. An act that presumably no spouses in Bhutan or elsewhere in the world is known to commit ! How incredible ! This is a women incited incident and the army statement confirms how grievous the other army wives felt. I, too , believe that actual army officers have less to do with the occurrence of this incident but in the end unfortunately the Officer/s will have to take the fall simply for being the superiors.

3.  According to the army version, there was indeed a Drimpeon Dorji armed with chilli powder which the army spokesperson referred to as  " tools brandished ".  And it seems the Drimpeon had other high morale accomplices accompanying him on a mission of purgatory.  Apparently the two soldier wives were in quite drunken state when caught in sexual act with other men.  So they had to be near naked and defenceless.

Was it possible for the Drimpeon  and his accomplices to manhandle and smear the vagina of the targeted women with chilli powder that the Drimpeon already was carrying with him for this very purpose?  I leave it to all the responsible and honourable officers of the Royal Bhutan Army to determine and not to, " social media enthusiasts ".  Is such an heinous infliction on any woman justifiable under any circumstances ? I leave it to all the fathers who respect their daughters and all the sons who have respect for their mothers and even jealous husbands.

4. The army version indirectly confirms that the wives and the children were evicted from their army family housing  and the soldier husbands of the victimised wives shifted to bachelor accommodation. In the Army only married soldiers are allotted family housing  and bachelor soldiers live at the barracks with common Mess. Whether they ran off out of fear, shame  or were evicted , the indisputable fact is that presently the victimised  2 soldier wives and their children are in desolate state of affairs.

5.  It is true that in matters of public image, few can easily soil a group name. So the army wives would be rightly offended by such public sexual behaviour of colleagues. And as army version confirms , the institution has more acceptable norms to deal with such misconducts. But the official corrective procedures were not followed. A lynch them type of emotion ruled the roost and so a horrible infliction occurred.

Conclusion:
I personally feel that the Army Command would already have taken actions against all involved in this savage vengeance act.  The investigations would be through in accordance to established procedures. It is understandable that everything cannot be shared in public domain though the spokesperson implies that no penalty has  yet been imposed on wrong doers. So far so good I thought.

However,  I think it is wrong for the Army as an Institution to issue a long narrative  that blamed and shamed the 2 soldier wives who may be illiterate, comparatively young and already have been thoroughly abused by unruly forces within the Army. Against this back drop,  can any neutral observer trust that Justice have been imparted by the Army Command even behind the scene ?

The Army Spokesperson high handedly  accused, " social media enthusiasts of casting aspersions on any individual or organisation based on hearsay  and unconfirmed rumour ".  If its all hearsay and rumour,  how come the Army itself is confirming that parties involved exist and incident did happen but the Army has its own version. Please , Please understand that many of us in the social media did not malign the Army as an Institution and we did not act irresponsibly or anonymously. The Army is welcome to reexamine the comments on Dorji Dorji and Karma Mindu Threads on this incident.

It is most unfortunate that this incident happened. People were appalled but no one really ever questioned the integrity and the goodness of Royal Bhutan Army as an Institution.  It was an isolated case. No Establishment can ever prevent mishaps no matter how hard it tries.  But this version wherein the Army adopted the technique that best defence is to attack by attacking the 2 helpless women is beyond the realm of any integrity and honour.  And unlike the shameful incident at Gelegphu which may have taken place without the knowledge of the Gelegphu Commanding Officer,  this army version narration blaming and shaming the 2 victims had to be cleared officially cleared by the concerned Army Command . And it is Sir, most unbecoming of an honoured and respected Institution of Gentlemen Officers and Fellow Defenders of national honour and sovereignty to direct all wrath upon two socially erring females who are not even direct paid employees of the Army.

I pray that at least the Army Command attempt to correct the desolate situation of the 2 soldier wives and their children through monetary compensation.

A King and a Destiny called Bhutan.

In celebration of 60 years of a King's life, I share few personal  experience with the royal Person.

There are many speculations about ecclesiastical origin of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Some say it was Guru Padma Sambhava who prophesied his birth yet others say it is written in Terton Druda Dorji's golden script. At one time there was a strong rumour that the present reincarnate of Gyelsey Tenzin Rabgye recognised the King as the reincarnation of the 1st Dharma Raja of Bhutan known as Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.  There is also a tale that was hardly retold and now not at all. That is that after two Princesses were born to His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and his enthroned Queen Her Majesty Queen Keasang Choden Wangchuck, the King sought heavenly intervention through prayers to Terton Drudra Dorji for a son. And Prince Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born.

All these may be myth or fabricated adulation to a Buddhist King. I can never tell but I am still intrigued. As a born and brought up Buddhist, all these are faith striking and therefore, undeniable, yet not possible to authenticate with great certainty. What I can with certainty declare is that with so many feats of his own accomplishments there really is no necessity to seek powers beyond the royal person himself as testimony to his great qualities.

He is a Prince but not a royal ego prince. I found him to be just a heavenly noble prince since my first encounter with him at Namseling Palace. Polite almost to a fault with an ever present fleeting smile on his royal countenance that beguiled the presence of an incredibly sharp mind with a legendary memory. He never forgot a face and can recall the minute details of a supposed to be a long ago forgotten conversation of no great significance. He would play pranks on friends or should I say colleagues but he never looked down upon a colleague.

He was trained to be humble from birth and possess a self being of true saintly approach to life, a quality that enabled a crown prince to take in stride the frugality of livelihood existence. It may sound incredible but he did live through a hermit princely life. Nothing of opulence touched his life. A down to earth person who simply cherished being just one among the crowd.

At Namseling Palace exclusive School he had all his class mates sharing his one multipurpose room ( bed room cum sitting room). That is except for me. I was invited but I opted for the room that had a view of the temple of Nyerchen Dangkarla far away on a summit of a towering hill. My family had traditional ties of Faith with the Deity of that Temple. I was so grateful and reassured upon coming to a totally new place and suddenly discovering that I had the Dangkar Chen watching over me. Also I did not interpret the invitation as royal command. Same thing happened when on a week end I was " invited " to accompany the entourage on a short hunting trip. Oh !  Sorry I don't like hunting animals. Now tell me how can I not love and admire the royal person who not just tolerated my odd man out character but I was accepted as I was. His Majesty helped me to be a more comprehensive person.

Let me add just one more incident involving me. Not to make it a story of my life but to provide another important insight to the incredible human being the crown prince. He was presented with a light motor bike of Japanese make by the King probably. And some stupid person borrows it in the dead of the night without so much as by your leave and worse damages it. The young prince was naturally extremely disappointed and we the student colleagues at Ugyen Wangchuck Academy were totally put off by the act of the obnoxious person. Few wanted to teach the character a physical lesson. Finally the crown Prince turned to me. What do you think? I share the same sentiment Dasho but then I am not the future King I responded. The irony of life is that a good King has to be more patient and more forgiving than all of his subjects. I hated what I had to say and my colleagues surely had all the right to be disgusted with me. But that was the end of the matter. All of us school mates were older than the crown prince. Most by 3 years including myself but we learnt a lot from His Royal Highness through everyday such intimate experiences.

In my humble view the Prince lived through a poor man  princely livelihood. I do not think there was any kind of fixed weekly or monthly personal allowance for him from the Government or from their Majesties his royal parents.  His basic needs were taken care of but the Crown Prince just wasn't granted any monetary allowance to spend freely as he deemed. I could get by because I was born on a farm where everyday existence was a struggle. But for someone born a prince ! And yet he gracefully lived and enjoyed his hostel life like any of us.  Perhaps it is such unbelievable and basic livelihood life style during his young formative years that has made huge imprints in his outlook of life. Happiness is more relevant to life than material wealth. The world may be quite amazed as to how the King at such young age could expound Gross National Happiness philosophy. Maybe it was not a philosophy to him. For all I know it could be simply a realisation by him that he was happier as Crown Prince with his basic needs met than as King with all the wealth, power and anxieties.

A short quote of a remark from the royal lips could demonstrate how pragmatic he was than thousand of other pages of reasonings  and examples. Quote, " The Mercedes car is comfortable to travel in but its so expensive. Toyota is far more reasonably affordable." Unquote. There used to be two blue coloured Mercedes cars probably bought for VIP foreign dignitaries  visit.

Even today he travels along the rugged mountain roads in a Toyota Land Cruiser. His Majesty lives in a forested corner of Thimphu Valley, a kind of a hamlet community consisting the King and few royal members with a small contingent of service and security people.  The place is a little distance away from my traditional home of pounded mud wall. The King's home is a  one storey cottage fashioned from blue pine timber. There are few more similar shelters for others.

The King's homely humour remains the most irresistible charm. At one time I had stopped to give way to the royal convoy coming from the opposite direction. His Majesty stopped and graciously spent few minutes to inquire how I was. And out of blue, he said we are neighbours but you never drop in at my place. Then he extended his hand to grant me a warm hand shake. Did I receive the audience of my King on the road between Haa and Thimphu or was I in Heaven being received by Lord Buddha Himself !  Such is the magnanimity and humanness of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He is of course a King but of the divine kind. And it is this  divine quality that overpowers one and all no matter who you may be a President or an Ambassador or a humble farmer in some remote corner of the Kingdom.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said of his father, " there never was and there never will be a King like Jigme Singye Wangchuck ". I found King Jigme Singye Wangchuck to be a human jewel. Not the kind that many Bhutanese are fond of lipping in public about the King being the national jewel. Simply a person with royal understanding of human nature and who has no qualms of being one among the crowd because that is where he is able to gauge the true pulse of life, nation and his people. To me he represents the earthly spirits of the Triple Gem.

Thank you Your Majesty for simply being such a down to earth personality. Always open to another view, another way of doing things in better way and the ability to adapt knowledge and information you acquire to national needs. For being the bravest general and most pious teacher and loving father to answer the call of all kinds of occasions and situations. May the Kingdom be guided always by the nobleness of your blood and wisdom.

A tribute to 60 years of the life of a great human being who I met as a young carefree prince, witnessed as he guided the nation through peace and turmoil and introduced the concept of gradual democratic ways of governance and finally abdication in favour of his able successor to lead the Kingdom in an era of constitutional Democracy and people elected government.

A true account of a small part of a King's journey that I had the privilege and honour to share and experience. The greatest respect for a person lies in being honest with him. And I do have the greatest  respect for my Kings and my Country.

Today the 5th of September, 2015 is a good day. And being Saturday makes it even more brighter. So I have chosen to share a personal account of a personal side of the King. May his qualities brighten that of all who chance upon this personal glimpse shared in the spirit of a tribute.

RCSC : Intentions and Results.

To do the right, intention alone is not an adequate solution but it is a necessary start up.

Shaking up civil service by RCSC could be a productive way to improve efficiency and create employment for those willing to work. The habitual late comers and early bunkers, the early morning drinkers and fellows who tax their colleagues with non performance can be identified. But clever dodgers of responsibility and sweet talkers and life long chamchas would still be upheld  as indispensables by the bosses.  How would bosses know their own weakness? How would the roving ambassadors be identified from amongst all civil servants ?

RCSC on the right track intention but still must partially be guided by those bosses with blind spots. Any way for hope of greater efficiency and equal load sharing responsibility, the free riders need to be discouraged. Good Luck to the Commission.

A Shocker for Lyonpo Rinzin Dorje from High Court.

Today the 4th September,2015 Kuensel issue carries the details of verdict on Lyonpo Rinzin Dorje court case. He has been convicted of misuse of public property. It was one of the two criminal charges that former Attorney General filed against then the Foreign Minister for irregularities committed as Haa Dzongda.

The new Attorney General had not wanted to appeal the Haa Trial Court verdict that vindicated the Minister. But ACC outgoing Chief Dasho Neten refused to budge and called for ACC right to appeal and prosecute the case.

The High Court denied ACC the right to appeal or prosecute but indirectly called upon OAG to appeal. The Attorney General dropped the graver charge of Tender manipulation and appealed the less significant case of recovery of vehicle hire charges. To pre-empt criminal conviction, the OAG asked the Court to drop the charge of misuse of public property and instead institute the charge of administrative sanction.

The High Court Bench I which denied the ACC to prosecute this very case also refused to be bonded by the desires of the Attorney General in the conduct of the judicial process of the case in the Court. The charge of misuse of public property was retained and the defendant is now convicted on this account.

Now Lyonpo Rinzin Dorji is in a situation that one calls from frying pan into fire and it all happened because of attempting to white wash a black object in the open with raw lime and Oophs ! It rained cats and dogs ! He could lose his constituency seat.

Sorry Lyonpo. I felt the loss of cabinet post was an adequate penalty especially when one sees the kind of loose nets in Bhutan's political and social corruption cases. But really you should have been more realistic at the Trial Court. Could have volunteered to pay the full 10 trip hire charges and explained your this and the other tender lapse on political and social circumstances that prevailed in that period of time. There were justifiable reasons. A less ACC humiliating verdict could have prevented the appeal and saved the cabinet post.

The verdict of the Trial Court smacked of a Judge under duress producing a stressful outcome. The hon'ble Judge had declared his self interest of a spiritual brothership with the defendant but the Supreme Court refused to free him from adjudicating the case. There were genuine logistical problems for the Judiciary.  My comment on the Trial Court verdict, at that time, was that, " I had not expected such a white wash ". A more curative verdict could have prevented the outburst of ACC Chief who felt that it was an insult not a judicial verdict.

Now the ball is in the Speaker's Court. Only Parliament can delist convicted MP. After that Election Commission can hold reelection. But before that the defendant can appeal to the Supreme Court. I hope the defence lawyer again would not resort to that hopeless ground of emergency excuse.  What kind of emergency situation is ferrying ten truck loads of personal goods using government trucks on ten different occasions ? And what kind of monumental flops are taught in some law schools or do pass outs expect spiritual brothers in every Court to understand brotherly emergency !

If there is some constitutional ground to hold on to the constituency's seat, then forget appeal and accept the verdict with all humility.  But if MP status is at stake then  its better to appeal but make appeal on more substantial ground to repeal the criminal  conviction on the vehicle misuse. And if acceptable to High Court pay the hire charges and the penalties thereof before the appeal to Supreme Court on the one year sentence. There may be a window of reprieve. There could be another reasonable way of looking at a Dzongda's need to use the Pool vehicle  instead of hiring other transport. But that view must be shown by the defence lawyer. Good Luck to the Defendant.

Whilst in Haa do not fear Ap Chundu. But Beware of Miri Phuensum the sacred title that Haaps have for the Triple Gem.