Happy New Year 2014!

Like rest of the world, the 'New Year' fever has caught the border town of Phuntsholing and at 11: 50 PM the musics are only roaring louder from every part of the town. Checking out from the Gol-Building, I can see people of all age levels rushing to the party halls and some simply roaming around the town, mostly in pair- couple I mean. Bhutanese, Nepali, Hindi and English pop and rock songs fill the night in roaring fashion.

Unlike them who took this New Year Celebration to the street, I chose to remain inside, simply because I am too tired to go out and mark the end of the year 2013 partying and dancing. But being in the Gol-Building in the heart of the town isn't really away from partying and merry making. I feel like I am already in the clubs and party hall with all those deafening sounds buzzing around. The only difference is I am alone in the room, in front of the TV-with the Chelsea-Liverpool epic premiere league match rebroadcast, and side by side penning this thoughts down.

Looking back in the year 2013, I have almost equal proportion of goods and bad. I have successfully taught two semesters without any problems which I feel is the greatest achievement as far as my job is concerned. I will strive to better myself in teaching in the years to come. But I know I can't stick with and be happy with the same qualification-so to go to the grad school was in my hope-list. But I am still without a scholarship and that I feel is a bad part. Nevertheless, I have tried a couple and of which one couldn't even go through the application process and one got rejected. So, I have made the effort and will do better in the new year 2014.

Oh, talking of the year 2014, its already 2014. I have missed the count-down having lost in my thoughts.

Anyway, I wish each and everyone a Happy New Year 2014.

Wishing good health.

Cheers!!!

A Flashback

I'm two semesters old in my teaching career, and it has been a wonderful experience living the life of a teacher. The journey wasn't that easy with occasional bumpy rides on the way. But thanks to the blessings of the loving parents, wisdom of the caring seniors and the prayers of the trusting well wishers, things turned out quite good so far.

Despite the frequent emotional break downs, the show went on and now it's already in the final days of the Fall Semester 2013. The university college is a pool of people with differing dreams, differing ideas, differing ways of approach and above all differing personalities. The way in which you cater to this huge pool of diverse people shows the kind of person you are. Instead of playing the sole role of a knowledge transmitter, the teachers got to spend enough time knowing each student and catering to their needs. This is easier said than done, but it is worth trying. I am not saying or hinting in any way that I have succeeded in doing so, but this is what I have thought of and tried on a few occasions. Being year-guide to the same batch of students for two consecutive semesters was a good testing ground. Over the course of time I knew them well personally and academically, and I was able to probe them when they showed signs of deviating from the expected norms. As a result they were brought to the right track and semester progressed without any disciplinary issues that could otherwise distract their academic pursuit. I remember taking pride in  reporting about the good conduct of my students and good attendance report during the department meetings. And every time I got bogged down by the work loads and nature of job, I would take out a bundle of papers containing the feedback that I received from my students last semesters. It boosted me and gave me enough courage to go on with the teaching. It doesn't mean that I have a greatest of feedback, that is too much to ask for and not possible for a beginner like me, but it does help me to capitalize on the positive aspects of my teaching while working on to improving on the negative aspects.

Now that teaching has been completed, all I look forward to is the paper checking. Hope result would turn out to be encouraging.

A Friendship Day?

If I remember correctly, the wishes for the friendship day have started coming in since July 31st. A bit curious, as always, I looked up in the Google! A prominent person on the Twitter presumably clueless about the day twitted:

 

Yiwang Pindarica ‏@yiwangpindarica1 Aug

Is today friendship, day?? Ive been getting a lot of messages from my friends :)

which only heightened my curiosity. Of thousands of related posts (info) that Google displayed, I looked two and both said that the International Friendship Day in fact for the year 2013 is on 4th of August 2013, that is today. 

I quickly twitted her back. And she replied: "thank u :) #whatwouldwedowithoutgoogle haha".

Being the fervent believer of the Google and having 'confirmed' of the date, I didn't reply or wish anyone until today. But with usual Sunday chores, I had nearly forgotten about the day. If it wasn't for a friend who teaches in Lhuntse that sent me the message, I would have forgotten totally. After replying to her message, I composed a message and sms-ed to the friends whom I have a great opportunity to share precious time at one point of my life.

"Close ur eyes 4 a sec & stand still n think of ur precious gift yet in ur life. I hope that gift is ur luvly frens. How lucky 2 have them, right? Happy Friendship Day!"

This was my short message for my friends on this special day, today. So, the same message goes out to my dear readers and fellow wonderful bloggers from whom I draw inspiration and motivation. Our virtual friendship shall shine forever.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY to you all.

Getting to know Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

About a dozen or so teaching members of the college came voluntarily for Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) training resourced by a senior Computer Science faculty Mr. Sangay Thinley. Although VLE has been made available to all the colleges under Royal University of Bhutan for quite a sometime  now, it remains fairly unknown to most of the faculty. One thing is because not many are trained to make use it and also due to heavy academic workload that keeps them away from using it. I have come to know about it and even used it at Samtse College of Education. But that was as a student. Now as a teacher, I have to know how to create a course, post assignments, manage attendance and many more which VLE handily provides. In an attempt to popularize it, Sir Sangay has taken personal initiative to forgo his weekends and teach those who are new and genuinely interested to use.

It was a hands-on training and we were trained on using various features that VLE has, which if made to a full use can be so handy. We assumed a course creator's role and created a new course each on which we added the features such as class time table, work plan, and posted some assignments and quizzes. It was during the time of creating quizzes that we resorted to "GOOGLE" (Yes, who doesn't right? Haha) for suitable questions to be added to the question bank. I don't know what prompted my colleague to search me typing my name on the google search engine, but what he showed me had me taken back to my university life. Its been more than two years since my graduation and had almost forgotten about the photo-shoot that I did once for the University brochure.

If anyone is interested to study at Florida Institute of Technology, Florida, then follow this link: http://www.educations.com/Florida_Institute_of_Technology__b17174.html

Following is the interview excerpt:

Florida Tech

Name: Pema Wangdi

Email: pwangdi2007@my.fit.edu

Country: Bhutan

Major: Applied Mathematics

Tell us about your first visit to Florida Tech.

Florida Tech is a small campus that is beautiful and welcoming. I quickly learned how diverse the student population is and how many fun things there are to do within the campus and around it.

Tell us about your experience with campus life and student activities.

There are many organizations to get involved in at Florida Tech which gives me many different types of activities to choose from. The university itself is such a close community with so many great people. I feel like I am cared for and part of a big family!

Tell us about your major.

I am currently majoring in applied mathematics here at Florida Tech. Initially I was going to major in mathematical sciences, but I am now very happy in my applied mathematics major. The faculty and staff guided me through the major changing process to make it as easy as possible.

Tell us about your professors.

The thing that still amazes me is the credentials that all of the professors in our department have. They all have degrees from highly reputed universities and have established their names in the world of mathematics. Some professors have even been to space! On top of that, all of my professors have been so kind and helpful in my studies!

Tell us about your plans for the future.

Even though there are many opportunities for me here, I hope to teach in my country after receiving a degree fromFlorida Tech. I have done undergraduate research on the modeling of cell growth via functional differential equations under the guidance of my professor who helped me build confidence. Florida Tech has challenged me to do my best which I know will help in achieving what I have always dreamed about.

Tell us any advice you have for future Florida Tech students.

Florida Tech is a safe haven for higher learning; you need to be part of it!

Kanglung comes to life

To the residents of Kanglung and in particular the shopkeepers whose livelihood depends majorly on the students and staffs of this premiere institute-Sherubtse, the summer and winter vacations are their worst period of the year for the obvious reason. As the semester gears to an end, they clear their stocks and get ready to close their business. In a way, they also prepare for a forced-vacation.

No sooner than the students depart for various parts of the country for vacation, the shopkeepers lock their business up and leave the town with a deserted look. This poses some inconveniences for the remaining few who chooses to spend their vacation on the campus itself. 

"We can't even get the basic necessities, such as vegetables, as shops remained totally closed," says a lecturer who prefers to remain on campus.

The otherwise lively Kanglung town with tens of hundreds of students and lecturers comes to an abrupt  halt by the end of the semester. With the closing of the college, the brisk business also comes to a halt and everything looks dry. As if to cover up for the poor or no business during the vacations, the prices for the items during the season climb very high! Yet with a fewer alternatives in the offing, the students and the staff have to live with the soaring prices of the basic commodities.

The dormant lives of the shopkeepers come to a full swing with the picking up of the business as the semester once again set to begin. The mood of the entire town changes and within no time the town assumes a business hub, though seasonal. Packed buses and taxis making their way into the town are a welcome scene for them as they indicate the opening of the college for yet another busy semester. They begin to stock up their goods and once again their busy life restart. Apart from the prospect of their business, they get the sense of the re-union of the family members.

The college is very much a part of their life and they always look forward to the reopening of the college. As usual the Fall semester 2013 officially kicked off with the Faculty meeting held on the morning of Saturday, 20th July, 2013. The ER (Essential Repeat) students have come early to prepare for the paper(s) they are required to clear before the commencement of the regular classes scheduled for 25th. As the day breaks from the dawn, number of vehicles make their way into the town ferrying the students from various parts of country. The provosts remain busy allocating the rooms and lecturers keep busy planning for the semester.

Everybody seems so engaged with the regular duty and thus the Fall Semester has officially started in the Sherubtse College.

My Birthday Prediction!

Today is a very special day for me. I’m all so thankful for this day for I was given this wonderful experience to be this world.

I did not have a luxury of celebrating a cake ceremony with candlelight. I did not have a pleasure of hosting a sumptuous dinner and I did not have an honor of receiving a special call or wishes from the loved ones, either.

But I did have a chance to smile real big with my 1^st grader niece. I happen to share about my birthday to my sister over a lunch along a casual conversation. It wasn’t that difficult to recollect my 25^th birthday, (1^st July2012), when I do so, though, it brings me tears and fears. The last thing anybody would want for the birthday is a sickness/illness! I was seriously ill and bedridden with sudden body pain and muscle fatigue. My parents panicked but all for their desperate effort in conducting sudden ritual, I recovered by the next day! That’s how I remembered my 25^th birthday. This year’s birthday, at least I am thankful, I didn’t fall sick. I am here at Deothang for summer vacation. My niece upon hearing me mentioning about my birthday to her mom, asked me how old I was. I plainly said “26”, but my answer surprised her. For some reason, she doesn’t seem to believe me until her mom’s confirmation.

Having confirmed, she took out a paper and a pencil and sat beside me. She asked me a few questions, and I answered based to my abilities. J The next moment she had the findings of her game. She has a prediction for me on my 26^th birthday:

“You will marry with KZ (short form of my girl choice I’ve given to her, and will go to Tibet, will have one kid and be a carpenter later in life!”

I was amazed by my 1^st grader niece’s prediction. Although it is just a game, I liked her findings, I really did. Haha. She made my birthday special with her prediction and I promised that I would see if her prediction indeed turns out to be true.

The Sun Set in My World!

I am still taken aback by that fateful event. 

That cruel fate had me "broken" into million pieces from which I have yet to come out "alive" in full glory. No word of condolences and desperate "cheer up" attempts of friends made any sense to me. A very heavy ‘invisible’ force stuck me so hard that knocked me down unconscious. Sympathizers and friends alike freaked out by the terrible sight of me. I was a sick man with all dreams shattered. I could hear and see yet nothing really existed. I would walk miles with no clear destination. I would wake up from a nightmare, totally soaked in sweat. 

Living in that amusing hallucinatory castle was a beautiful feeling only to be short-lived. I would think millions different things yet only one thing would eventually come to focus, repeatedly. It was irresistible and I gave up after playing that losing battle. My airbed turned unbearably cold and otherwise charming life turned into a source of miseries. I looked ahead, beyond, far and wide but to no avail of what I looked for. My vision blurred and I couldn't trace the path. Fervent follower of the religion that I was, I prayed every single moment and sought the blessings. Every morning I woke up to a chilly weather, waited till the sun rise and requested it to be my witness. Every evening I took a walk till the beach to further assure its support and see it off.

Oh, always an emotional thing to see the sun set. I murmured facing the western crimson with hands firmly clasped "Why can't She just come back like you do every morning?" I broke down as I saw it set deeper into the horizon leaving my 'world' in a complete darkness. 

The gentle ocean breeze escorted me back to my room. 

The Balloon Dance!

Balloon dance. Photo credit: Google.

This fictional story was written in 2012 when I was at Samtse College of Education undergoing Post-graduate Diploma in Education (PgDE). So all characters or names appearing in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. 

                                      

One morning, an invitation letter greets Tandin in his sitting room. Bound with strong curiosity he quickly reaches for the letter as he reads out loud: 

“We the Samtse College Family would like to cordially invite you to the 44^th Foundation Day cum sports day of Samtse College of Education on 28^th of April, 2012 at 0700 hours at College Stadium. Your presence will be highly appreciated…”

A freshly graduated Army officer from National Defense Academy (NDA) from India, of course, now Dasho Tandin gladly accepts the invitation. It has been just over a couple of months since his first placement at Royal Bhutan Army’s Samtse Branch, and the invitation of this sort too was the first time.

Being the youngest of five siblings, he is cared and loved by all the family members. The humble parents of his, who live in a remote Gonpa in the Eastern Bhutan, places so much of trust on him. But at the same time, he is their sole concern for he is the only remaining son to start the family of his own. Which means, he had all that a son aspires for-the loving parents and now a fulfilling career in the Army, but a true companion for life.

That evening during a walk, he bumped into Major Dasho Tshechi, his immediate boss, who is putting up with a messy relationship with his wife who works in California for about 10 years now. Their once highly fulfilling and successful life together had met with regular turbulences with insurmountable mistrusts creeping in shortly after she had left for USA. Now, a romantic and wonderful life are a thing of past. Their only child, now a 15-year old boy, skips meal, hardly engages in conversation, and worst yet comes home hardly sober. He has resorted to drinking after disqualifying for college, this winter. Tandin, in a way sympathized his boss but was helpless. He only wished he could help revive his glory for this was the time his boss should be shinning!

The next day he woke up early in the morning, washed, had a cup of black tea and a two loafs of bread. He then neatly dressed in the plain green suits and with that shinny-silver stars on his shoulders, he looked just spectacular. His 6.0’ height was an added blend to his already dashing figure. In a few minutes, he was in a deep Green Hilux, a pickup truck, zooming along the NPPF Colony and to the Samtse College of Education main gate. His boss and a couple of other officers-colleagues were escorted by a tall lady councilor to the VIP’s tent. 

Shortly, the chief guest, the Honorary Counsul General of India to Bhutan, appeared from his official ambassadorial car as the dancers and the college director escorted him to the Podium, from where he was to deliver a sport day message!

The student-teacher participants in white shirts and paints stood in rows in their respective CG (collaborative group). More than half a dozen of tents were pitched around the ground, which housed the respective CG members. The Flag bearing the CG logo erected by the tent identified the 8 CGs.

As the clock ticked exactly 8:00 AM, with the offering of the Marchang ceremony, the National flag was unfurled and the Olympic torch lighted-indicating the start of the numerous competitions for the day. The roaring cheer-ups from the members, deafening sounds of the officials’ whistles, and remarks of the commentators brought full of life to the otherwise quite campus of Samtse.

Every after the completion of three different sports, the winners were awarded prizes and the next competition began. And with that the guests and student-teachers were kept fully entertained throughout. But the most interesting of all was yet to come. Almost at the end of the competition, the commentator announced that the ‘honorable guests’ are requested to join the ‘Balloon Dance’! Dasho Tandin was at lost, and wasn’t sure if he should give a try. But the college director wouldn’t heed to his pleas as he dragged him to the ground and introduced to a girl, who was going to be his co-dancer. His otherwise white face turned red in blush, but in quest to break the ice, he broke a brief smile to his ‘partner’ and she just looked rather hesitant. He felt quite odd standing there in the middle of the ground with a stranger girl, that too without a clue how the game was played! 

He listened carefully to the MC who detailed out the game plan or the rules: 

A couple is given a filled balloon each. The balloon is to be placed in between their foreheads, and dance to the background music. Whoever fails to keep the balloon in between (falls down) in due course of dancing, exits the competition. 

The rules were said and the music about to begin when Tandin realized that to win the competition, it needed perfect coordination from both the partners. But both of them were strangers and couldn’t dare say anything. He, however, placed so much trust on her and that within no time he felt comfortable dancing together. Bam! There struck the magic! He placed the balloon and made sure she was comfortable as well. He could smell her perfume, which he thought was tantalizing. As they concentrated on the game and coordinated the moves, they discovered something totally unexpected-the love. They both flashed smiles at each other, and exchanged the winks time and again. Tandin found his co-dancer just perfect, well maintained figure, smooth and straight hair and above all a beautiful face! In other words, he found her a complete package of what he was in a need. One after another, the couples left the competition but so far they were still in a perfect shape. As if the spell of invisible glue, the balloon kept sticking well between them. An equally bonded and well-coordinated couple was a bank manager and the college lady lecturer. The audience cheered, clapped, and laughed at them as they danced to a fast-beat music. Although both of them were aware of the fact of life, that the game should eventually end, they didn’t like that fact. All they wanted at that time was to keep dancing together and enjoy each other’s presence on the court. But their wish was rather short lived as the bank manager and his partner lost control of their balloon, making Dasho Tandin and a student-teacher girl the winner of the Balloon dance! The MC as expected roared in appreciation and announced the winners, but neither of them showed any sign of happiness or victory. Deep inside, he was dying to hug her before she could take leave from the court to her respective CG tent, but he couldn’t dare to do so. Somehow, he felt there was a same kind of urge from her as well, but pressure was too much that neither of them could actually dare do it.

Despite winning the competition, he felt sad to end the dance with his newfound partner. He couldn’t believe what has just happened and he couldn’t believe his eyes about what he just saw in that GIRL!

“Wow, she is a complete package,” he thought.

He gently handed her the pink balloon with which they had won the competition and stood for a snap with the chief guest handing them the prize! Without even the thought of it, he handed over the prize to her, bade goodbye and headed towards the VIP tent!

Back in the VIP tent, he felt imprisoned under the confine of love. He tried tracing her but to no avail. She had disappeared into the crowd of student-teachers. 

Sherubtse bids Farewell to its senior most Faculty

Prof. Gopal in his office, during his final days at Shercol

When I first got introduced to Prof. Gopal and Prof. Bala by Madam Dean as a new recruit in the faculty of Mathematics back in 2011, I was nervous! I survived that somehow but when the Head of School then allocated office with two of them, I was even more nervous and worried! Not because they were terrifying, but because I am no match with them and sharing office with Professors was nerve-wrecking. I was worried that our generation gap would be a big issue not to mention about their already established professionalism as compared to a fresh graduate like me. But I was so wronged. Both of them were welcoming, kind-hearted, adjustable, friendly and above all caring. Within no time, I felt comfortable and in fact felt fortunate to be under the guidance of the two professors. But their departures had me shaken, because I had looked up to and counted so much on them for whatever problems I would encounter in my teaching career. Someone like me needed their guidance a lot. But they had to leave and without them we feel like an orphan! Nevertheless, with all their blessings, we hope to move forward as they had envisioned. 


Today morning was particularly chilly and cold. But being in the office wasn't any better. The office which otherwise filled with joy and warmth looked deserted. It was emotionally charged, and the silence in aplenty. It's longest occupant has left it behind after 35 long years. The very sight of a shut-down computer, an empty chair and a few books on the table was indication enough how they missed their master, Professor Gopalakrishnan, the longest serving personality in the history of Sherubtse College, who received the Gold Medal for the same from His Majesty the King in December, 2012.

"He has nurtured Sherubtse College from its infancy to its adolescence stage," says a choked Mr. Manish on his farewell. .....

It was in 1978 when a young energetic 24 year-old Gopal came to Bhutan soon after completing Masters Degree in Science in Mathematics with 1^st division.

He was just visiting Bhutan in total oblivion to the place on an invitation of his brother who was working in DANTAK at Deothang. He had no idea or really decided on his career until his brother conveyed him a news regarding the need for a new maths teacher who could manage both +2 and degree students at Sherubtse college, the only public school then. Although, he liked the very thought of working in Bhutan, he wasn’t sure if he had got that required conviction for the profession. Little did he know that he would be in this profession for next 35 years and superannuate from the same profession once he was unsure of. But he liked the place very much and that’s when he decided to give it a shot. Accordingly, he got in touch with Fr. Mackay, who at that time was also planning to move the school section to Khaling and make Sherubtse a full flegged degree college. Fr. Leclaire was to head the college while Fr. Mackay went on to head the newfound Khaling school.

“He appointed me on the spot, and that’s how I started my career here,” says Prof. Gopalakrishnan with a smile. And he continues, “I can still remember that day, 18^th Feb, 1978.”

His legendary career had begun, thus.

Over the span of 35 years of his distinguished service to the education sector of our nation, along with teaching Mathematics to pre-university students, he has held numerous posts such as club coordinator, provost, Exam cell in-charge, Programme leader and a member of Academic Quality Committee in which capacity he had looked over the quality of the courses being offered in the college and brought tremendous changes as and when required.

“Back then there were not many staffs, so I had to shoulder so many responsibilities, and I liked what I did, because of which I lost track of time. And I don’t know how 35 years have passed so easily,” he recollects.

He is also accredited for developing several mathematical modules for an infant Royal University of Bhutan, when it got delinked from the Delhi University whom it was affiliated with.

On being asked what was/were the best part of teaching, he took a few moments and said:

“I loved teaching +2 specially because the students unlike degree students were so keen on studies and would come up with so many doubts and questions which kept me busy all the time.”

Now he boasts of having many generations of students who are holding various key positions in the civil service as well as in the corporate agencies. As a matter of fact, a few of his own students have already joined Sherubtse College and other sister colleges as lecturers. That’s for him a greatest source of satisfaction.

When teaching has become almost everybody’s ‘last-option’, what made Prof. Gopal to remain in this profession for this long deserves a serious look. 

“I don’t ask much out of my life, that’s what kept me this long here in Bhutan,” declares he and continues, “what Kanglung has to offer was sufficient and good enough for a person like me. I didn’t need supermarkets or shopping complex to make my life happy. The basics necessities, which Kanglung was offering was enough for my survival.”

And he further continued, 

“When I was appointed, my initial payment was Rs. 550, and the house rent was just Rs. 8. This very same room/apartment now the college is charging me Rs. 3000. See how things have changed since my arrival here back in 1978. To lead a normal life, you don’t need crores and crores of money. Money alone cannot buy happiness, and those who have so much money isn’t necessarily successful. If you are happy with what you have, then your life is a success.”

There is no wonder why he was respected highly not just in the Sherubtse College family, but among the people known to him across the nation. The recognition of his deeds, in fact came from the Throne itself when he was nominated and subsequently awarded the Gold Medal for his distinguished service on the national day in December 2012.

Now he feels ever more humbled and respected. If that fact has surprised you, what you will hear later is even going to take you for a big surprise.

“I have never claimed TA/DA in my entire life, until the very last day today (25^th Feb. 2013) when I was asked by the authority to make the claim but I kept on delaying because I didn’t think I should claim. That was for the (official) duty trip, enabled for attending the National day, being one of the recipients of National Merits for life long service (Gold Medal) in Dec. 2012,” says he as a matter-of-factly.

It was only after repeated notifications from the management that he decided to claim the TA/DA for the first and last time in his life!

Just as he was bound to leave the college, he does so with so much of pride and affection for the college as well as country as a whole. In what could be his last words for the School of Mathematics and Computer Science, for which he was a prominent member for so long, he had some valuable advices.

“Our department is single most/biggest department and so far it is fairly functioning well. But there are still (some) rooms for improvement, so keep on working for it. Even if you make a small mistake out of sheer carelessness, it would affect so many students here. So don't be careless!”

He warned everyone to not let the “inherent laziness” take over and that everyone should work hard if success is to follow.

“Each one of you have a unique talents and individuality, so build on that and work on that. Don’t cut corners to please someone and in a way lose your individuality.”

As the time wound up, and his stay here in Bhutan started to fall in terms of hours and down to minutes, the sadness was so evident on his face as well as in what he had to say.

“Today I called my wife, and told her that the school is giving me a farewell party today. And immediately, she cried on the phone, so I was like ‘why are you crying, it is me who should be crying.’ But the fact is she loved this place so much and that the mention of this farewell was so painful for her. So that was too bad, but like I said earlier anyone has to get to this position. And this happens to be just my turn to say goodbye.”

A long silence ensued...

With that the legendary figure ends his stay in the ‘peak of learning’.  

The Last Words-Being conscious of TIME!

Following excerpts are the last words with my students (classes VII & IX) of Chapcha Middle Secondary School, Chukha, during the Farewell session, in August 2012. I taught them (mathematics) for 45 days as a practicing teacher (TP).

The time is a precious resource, which you cannot save for future! Does it sound familiar? I hope it does. Because I have been saying this, countless times and if it was something perishable, it would have been long perished and found its destiny in a garbage pit. But it isn’t something of that sort to say the least. It is a timeless thing. As a GNH graduate, you should be mindful of the time and its significance. And use them judiciously. Don’t waste time for something that would lead you to nowhere, be it short term or long term. There is absolutely no harm in aiming so high, unless of course those aims come into your life as deterrents. But your high aims should sufficiently be backed with consistent efforts from your part. In fact, it is only when you aim so high that you eventually be able to land somewhere in the middle. However, it is very important for you to have a self-comforting strategy worked out in advance. Meaning, that you should not be so rigid or hard on yourself that would ultimately make your life miserable if your aims aren’t fulfilled as you aspired.  And that you should somehow know your limitations and talents and whatever the circumstances, know how to consol yourself. Well again, of course, know how to celebrate your success if it turns out good. Knowing how to acknowledge your effort, time and whatever factors that would have facilitated you to get to that level is very important. I say it important not because you have then succeeded, but it is, in fact, even more important if you have failed. Failing isn’t unnatural to anybody else for we have experienced one time or other. But what isn’t natural is that we don’t take the failure as a stepping-stone, in the sense we don’t access the factors that could have possibly led to the failures. If we did that, we would become a better person following the failure. So key point here, don’t abandon the failure but acknowledge it and learn from the mistakes!

Don’t blame your life when in reality you are the one who is entirely responsible for building that life itself-you are the architect of your own life. Life isn’t what you get of it, but what you make of it. Someone had matter-of-factly said, “Is life worth living? That depends on liver.” Although the condition of liver would ultimately determine if your life is worth living or not, as long as other conditions are well in place, make your life worth living. Because, do you realize getting the life itself is priceless needless to mention being worthy? Even more so, we are the set of most fortunate ones to have borne in the peace-loving country like ours. We can’t ask for more when you are already being accorded with free education, shelters, health care and many more. Our Kingdom’s constitution guarantees it. Don’t you think we are fortunate? I am sure you agree with me. In our country, we don’t have to die simply because we can’t bear the medical expenses or afford to pay health insurance. Despite the fact that our country is underdeveloped with weak economy, the government ensures that we the citizens have a free access to all the medical cares.

Now look back and see if you should feel proud of being born in the Kingdom of Bhutan? Don’t ever forget that our parents have suffered enough in raising us and now educating us. So if we can’t feel the need to thank them or pay our gratitude, then our very morality of being human is questionable, besides we are doing huge injustice to our own life! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, I sincerely request you to use the time judiciously, don’t waste time on something which would actually put you into trouble but study well and be somebody that your parents and you would feel proud of. Lets make our country and our parents proud. Ultimately, it is your pride!

Thank you, everybody. 

The New Beginning!

Today is the new beginning for me in many ways.

Today is the first day after the New Year-LOSAR-2013. The female snake year in our Bhutanese term. This marks the beginning of the new year in our Bhutanese tradition, even though it has been almost one and half months since the commencement of the actual New Year 2013.

I have just returned from Deothang after a simple gathering with my parents down there over a lavish lunch and drinks. Despite the college being opened for its academic year 2012 (Spring Semester) on 8th of February, for the obvious reasons, the actual teaching couldn't be started then. In fact, not even today!

With a feel of heavy yoke already in my neck, having given to teach two complete modules Discrete Structures (for VI Semester MP) and Calculus I (for B.Sc. Comp. Sci. A & B), I took today as a very special day. The day that can make a biggest of difference-creating a right impression in other words. 

The very class for the day was at 8:30 AM with final year final semester students with Discrete Structure. Out of total 16 students en-marked to be in this class, only 8 turned up. That 50% attendance in the class sparked a dilemma whether to go-head with the regular teaching or not. But I did not resort to a unilateral decision; instead acted as democratic as possible in seeking their views and majority vote per se.  As expected, they voiced unanimously to call off the class citing they '...want to bask Sun'! 

I did as per their wish and here I am right now in my office penning down my very first post for the year after long long time. This is yet another beginning in the world of blogging. 

Now one more class with 65 (sixty five) students of 2nd semester Computer Science students awaits at 2 PM. I have got to instill in them the true essence of Mathematics, particularly the beauty of Calculus. 

For all these new beginnings, I seek blessings of the Ken-Chog-Sum, my root Gurus, and parents. And of course, my senior faculties, and ever budding students.