That one thing...

CLARIFICATION PLEASE!

The second last session of the Parliament of Bhutan saw extensive debate on the Annual Report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission. There were praises, allegations, accusations, emotions, anger, excuses, worries, satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In effect, it was in no short of drama.

While I am not sure of what public in general made out of this whole saga, as an anti-corruption activist and as someone working for the agency dedicated and mandated to combat corruption by no less than the Constitution of the country, I am tempted to clarify certain things.

The Minister, Ministry of Health raised issues on investigation in his Ministry and alleged ACC of unnecessarily  prolonging investigation in his Ministry and called upon the house and Anti-Corruption Commission to complete investigation in Ministry of Health as soon as possible.

While it is true that the Ministry of Health has been under the scanner of ACC for almost four years, it is factually incorrect to say ‘ACC is unnecessarily prolonging investigation there.’ It is FACTUALLY incorrect because, ACC has, over the period of four years, completed 8 corruption cases in Ministry of Health, of which 5 cases have been put before the Court of Law through the Office of the Attorney General and 3 cases are being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for necessary prosecution. Given the constraints and the nature of the task, unearthing 8 cases in four years is indeed timely and comparable with any standard of criminal investigation in the world. Mind you- proving beyond reasonable doubt is the principle and fulfilling it is not anyone’s cup of tea.

Opposition Leader called upon the house on the need to include names of those alleged and accused in the annual report of the Commission.

While it is easy and sounds fancier to include names of alleged or accused in the report, it is legally incorrect to do so. It is legally incorrect because, under our law, one cannot assume anyone guilty until proven and naming people in the report would invariably take to mean such assumption.  Mind you- ‘presumption of innocence’ is the principle and not abiding by it would have legal implications like in any other jurisdictions where the onus to prove lie with the accuser.

to be continued

Growing Vegetables at Home and Comparative disadvantage

I met Mr. Dal Bahadur who hails from Sarpang District last weekends at Centenary Farmers’ Market. We studied together at Jakar Junior High School in Bumthang long time ago.

With his caliber and intellect, I was sure, beyond a shadow of doubt, that he will either become a doctor or an engineer, -a profession much sought after even today, after his studies and to that extent, he even proclaimed his aspiration, if I can remember correctly. 

As I met him that day, he was neither a doctor nor an engineer. As much as my guts failed to ask him what happened to his childhood aspirations, his appearance and the circumstances quickly told me that he has taken to farming for his profession and he isn’t doing well.

Drawing lessons from the interviewing techniques, I quickly leveled our emotions and drove him into a common but non-threatening ground of rapport building.  I told him about the RUPEE CRUNCH and the Government’s austerity measure of BANNING vegetable imports from India and how this might and would provide OPPORTUNITY for him as a farmer to cash in and do well.

“This is Bullshit!” he said. “Things do not work in a vacuum like this.” He added.

The next hour or two of our togetherness was no less than an academic setup for economics class as he went about illustrating the theories of international trade starting from the David Ricardo’s classical theory of comparative advantage to Adam Smith’s theory of absolute cost difference to modern Bertil Ohlin’s theorem, which ‘states that countries which are rich in labour will export labour intensive goods and countries which are rich in capital will export capital intensive goods.” 

There was nothing I could agree less with him. Unless we improve the conditions for agriculture in terms of water and fertilizers along with adequate subsidy to make up for the cost difference between our two countries or with other countries for that matter, not even the Great Wall of China, let alone the BAN, can stop us from going to India given the rationality of human beings.

We didn’t even talk about the advantage of ‘economies of scale’ that countries like India enjoy over us.  In the interest of my kids who I was with that day, we had to part our ways, and we parted our ways, ofcourse increasingly convinced of the unconvincing implications of the policy put in place to overcome rupee crisis.

I wished him all the luck in all the turnarounds he is wishing for in future.

Turning point

I have options not to take this path.
Photo courtesy: http://agewell-initiatives.blogspot.com/

There is no empirical study done to establish how civil servants faired their post-retirement life even though several of them retired over several years.  A couple of retirees that I see around paint different picture all together. While there are some doing extremely well and living a happy and comfortable life, there are others who are not doing well and consistently grappling to make their ends meet. 

While some of the happier retirees are happy simply by banking on their well to do children, some seem to be cashing in from the fortune they made during the hay days whether legal or illegal. But for retirees like Ap Kado, who has neither children nor fortune, post-retirement life has not been any merrier and it's Ap Kado's post-retirement condition that got me into thinking……"Can I ever secure my future as Civil Servant?"…………..... "Where is the guarantee that I will be Ap Kado after my retirement?"

The socio-economic and demographic conditions have radically changed to rest assured that my children will do well in future. The ever changing values and quickly degrading culture is increasingly accelerating uncertainties in the certainty of banking on my children even if they do well in future. The number of aged people loitering in and around Thimphu city stands testimony to it.

There is neither any hay days like those days for any civil servants to make fortune to secure my gray days. As much as it is ethically and morally incorrect, there is also very less opportunity for anyone to be corrupt and prosper. Unlike in the past, together with risk of detecting corrupt acts the cost of corruption has also increased drastically.

That being the case and the fact that there is hardly any thing left from my legal income at the end of a month, Ap Kado is increasingly becoming my reality and it’s time I act now to change this reality.  

Decision that tickled my @$#

On 20^th February 2012, I get a mail from AP-INTACT- an email-based network group of anti-corruption practitioners from all across the world, publicly announcing of an opening for a scholarship program at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) at Laxenburg, Austria.  For me, more than the training content, it was the number of anti-corruption practitioners who will be gathering there for this program (70 from all across the world) that captured my imagination. “Wow! What a pool of resources” I said to myself.  ---Such is the opportunity.

“Dear Friends,

I trust this mail finds you well.  The International Anti-Corruption Academy in Laxenburg, Austria, is inviting new applications for its 2012 summer school. Interested friends can find details and apply online here.”

On 2^nd March 2012, I informed this matter to Mr. A. K Rinzin, Chief of the Education Division and decided to apply for this program. But wait! You better inform the Commission about it even though there is no guarantee that you will get through the selection process. On the same day, Mr. A.K wrote to HR Officer requesting her to put up the matter during the upcoming HRC meeting.

“Dear Pasang,

Please find attached herewith the information regarding the upcoming program at the International Anti-corruption Summer Academy. Loday and I will apply………………and that is the reason I am forwarding this to you. Please put it up to the next HRC.

-  A Karma Rinzin”

Considering silence as acceptance, on 14 March 2012, I submitted my application online- a day before the submission deadline. -Such is the aspiration. 

On 13^th April 2012, I get a mail from IACA informing me of my admittance to the International Anti-Corruption Summer Academy with an IACSA Scholarship. They have not only accepted my candidature but also agreed to fund me in full. –Such is the luck.

“Dear Mr. Tsheten,

It is a great pleasure for us to inform you that the IACSA Selection Board has admitted you to the International Anti-Corruption Summer Academy with an IACSA Scholarship. This years´ Summer Academy will take place in Laxenburg, Austria, from 5 to 14 July 2012 at the premises of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).

In order to process your admission, please confirm your attendance by e-mail before 24 April 2012, 12:00 CET. Please confirm also that you agree with the Declaration of Consent for IACSA Scholarship Holders at the International Anti-Corruption Summer.”

On 18^th April 2012, the matter was put before the HRC for onward recommendation to the Commission-the final approving authority to my two ways ticket to Austria. The following is the minutes of the meeting.

“DCPO informed the HRC that Mr. Loday has applied for scholarship to participate in the summer academy organized by IACA and had received his acceptance letter. It was learned that AK had sent an email to HRO regarding the scholarship. In the mean time he went ahead with application for the scholarship. The members agreed that before applying for the course, the same should have been routed through the HRC. One of the members felt that though there was some procedural violation yet if the course content was useful and relevant, the violation could be excused. And exception could be made considering the relevance of the course. However, majority felt that nomination process was violated and any consideration will create precedence, which may lead to adhocism and derail planned HR implementation.”

If the above minutes of the meeting is anything to go by Mr. Loday Tsheten is accused of procedural violation, setting precedence, creating adhocism and finally derailing the planned HR implementation.

while it’s always nice to be accused of something, somewhere, sometimes, the manner and the wisdom with which such accusations are made calls for serious sole-searching.  I am still wondering as to how and why I might be accused of procedural violation if I have already informed the concerned official prior to my application? Was it right to victimize someone for the inefficacy of another?  –Such is the wisdom and rationale that supports decision-making in an organization that aspires to be the best.

And on 23rd April 2012, a day before the deadline to confirm my participation, I get the final decision from the authority.

“As a senior officer who is fully aware of HR policy and procedure and who has operated as HR member, such oversight of procedure is not acceptable. Despite the scholarship, participation is not approved. This sets an unhealthy trend.”

Fully respecting all the wisdom behind the decisions and of course, adamantly dejecting all the allegations put against, Loday Tsheten wrote to IACA. 

“Dear Sir/Mam,

Thank you very much for your kind consideration. However, I regret to inform you that I cannot make it to the upcoming summer academy program to be held in July this year due to unavoidable circumstances.

Thank you once again and with best wishes,

Loday Tsheten

Bhutan”

  

Rupee crunch and Implication II

However there is no way Bhutan can be complacent about it. As much as people do not want to call this a crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel is dim and we are in for a serious trouble.

Our Ngultrum is highly pressured and is increasingly being pushed to the limit. The Royal Monetary Authority, in a bid to maintain this “peg at par” rate with Indian Rupee, is heavily borrowing. As much as the borrowings from Indian banks help provide much needed rupee in the economy for now it is also increasingly adding up to the already high debt service ratio of our country. Prices of almost all commodities in the market have increased. Investments are halted. Black market is said to be setting in if it is not already in operation. Thought not pronounced, unemployment and layoff in some of the companies seem imminent. 

This is no time for hallow promises that “Everything is going to be okay.” This is no time for blame game. It is time indeed for people in the authority to come up with a viable and sustainable solution.  I for one, for that matter, wouldn’t hide my audacity, beside others, to review the rationale and appropriateness of current pegging system in lieu of the changed economic environment we are in.

May the wisdom prevail for all times to come.

Rupee Crisis and implication thereof

Indian Rupee

The current rupee crunch that Bhutan is facing today, as far as I am concerned, was as sure as eggs. It was, in fact, bowed to the inevitable. To me, it was just a matter of how worse would it get and when?

Just have a look around your house and it will tell you how dependent you are to India. I don’t know about yours- almost everything I have in my house is imported from India including the broom behind my door.  The question however is,- is it bad? Not necessarily I would say. United States, for example has everything imported from China. You can hardly find products made in USA in many of the malls there and so is the case with Australia.

Where is the problem then? The problem lies with imbalance of trade and thus payment. Unlike USA and Australia, we are simply importing much more than what we are exporting.  Was that avoidable? Absolutely not! It is only rationale to demonstrate our economic prosperity through increased pattern of consumption. As much as desirable, the rate at which our economy has grown and growing is directly responsible for this crisis and I would neither blame government nor private sector directly.

Had it not been for Bhutan, situation like this could have already resulted into major financial and economic crisis in the region. Latin American Crisis of 1994 and Asian Crisis of 1997 are some of the legendary examples of how currency crisis can trigger major crisis in the economy. 

The first thing any rationale person would do in such a situation is sell Ngultrum or convert whatever Ngultrum you have into other stable currency or buy gold.  Reaction of such nature, if the market is efficient, will distort market equilibrium by increasing supply and decreasing demand for Ngultrum in the economy. This will invariably lead to what analyst would call ‘loss of confidence’ to our Ngultrum.   Thanks to dead and inefficient capital market, absence of foreign exchange market, un-integrated economy and innocent people- we still have confidence in our own Ngultrum.

To be continued....

Why the State should fund Political parties in Bhutan?

As a realist and anti-corruption activist, I dare say- the State should fund Political Parties in Bhutan and here are my Two Cents as to why.

(For my readers outside Bhutan, State funding for political parties has been a controversial issue ever since the ruling party submitted to the Parliament for approval owing to the financial difficulties faced.)

Not considering the existing electoral laws vis-à-vis the governance of the Political Parties in Bhutan and even by the modest and the most conservative standard, Political Parties ought to spend not less than Nu. 3 million annually to stay alive and kicking in the system. And that, invariably, excludes resources needed in R&D Department, which I say is very crucial, if one is to make any difference in the arena of politics.

And, where should this 3 million come from? The Political Parties Rules of the Kingdom of Bhutan-2009 provides for but limits the source of revenue to one-time registration fee, membership fee and voluntary contributions.  If what’s being experienced by the two existing political parties holds any water, this 3 million Ngultrum is hard to come by and it’s increasingly going to be harder with memberships dwindling and no voluntary contribution coming forth. There are also no indications, whatsoever, that people will register with the parties and accordingly contribute to their sustainability in future. And if this be the case, how will Political Parties function?

And, yes of course, we have few elites who can chip in?  But, as much restrictive as this voluntary contribution is (there is ceiling to it as well), it is also a highly risky business. There is a saying that my mother often reminds me of- “MEE ZEY KOEMER GYAL TSAM NA….RANG SEM KIPAI DUE MESHAR”. (You will not have peace of mind….if you have gobbled food from others).  That’s where and when the environment for CORRUPTION becomes conducive.   And if this be the case, how will Political Parties function?

Therefore, it is only proper that the State not only fund but also fund adequately if democracy is not to be undermined in this country.

Off-Party Campaign

In context of political change in the Thunder Dragon Kingdom

Many wake up from their deep but eternal slumber

While some on the pretext of 'responding to nation’s call'

Others calling it their sacred duty

Many for financial freedom

Few for social fame

Like many elsewhere

Some vowed for employment

Others guaranteed national security 

Many promised  better economic prosperity
Few even pledged to protect our pristine environment
A million dollar questions, however is- Is Bhutan changing for better?

Amidst these aspiring politicians
How many are genuine?

How many can deliver?
And yet-how many are crooks? Only a time can reveal and until such time

Lets think of those who thought of what one can do to one’s country and not otherwise.


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Note:This is the poem I wrote in 2007 when Bhutan was frantically preparing for transition from 100 years of Monarchy to Constitutional Democracy.  

His Majesty the King’s National Day Address to the nation

My fellow Bhutanese, it gives me great joy to speak to you on this auspicious occasion marking the day Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck ascended the Throne, in 1907. Our nation has been blessed with the benevolent reigns of four monarchs since.

It is exactly five years since I became King. In these five years, we have made a successful transition to democracy. The elected government, bureaucracy and government agencies have implemented important development activities effectively and we have continued to achieve impressive socio-economic growth. Bhutan’s relations with other nations have grown more diverse and strong. I am extremely proud of these achievements and the people and I, are deeply grateful to the government, dratshang, civil service and private sector.

In October, I married Jetsun Pema. I am grateful for the warmth and affection with which, all our Bhutanese people came together to celebrate with me. I deeply appreciate the efforts and preparations made by the government, bureaucracy and volunteers; the prayers of the Zhung Dratshang and religious community; the good wishes and blessings of our senior citizens; the joy and happiness with which the youth embraced the occasion and the wholehearted love and support of the people of the 20 dzongkhags. The strength of your love and kindness towards me leaves me deeply humbled. As a young King, I have not yet been able to serve you as my father has done but my greatest desire is that I must repay your love, loyalty, support and trust. I pledge that it shall be my life-long endeavor to do so.

My dear citizens, while I am deeply satisfied with the progress of our nation, it is my duty as King to contemplate, every single day, on the challenges that lie ahead for our nation. My deepest concerns today are:

Democracy – we have made a unique transition to democracy. What makes this transition even more extraordinary is the short span of time within which we have done so. Yet, the true test shall be whether we have the will and commitment to sustain a well functioning and strong vibrant democracy for all time to come. Further, we have a strong, committed parliament today, but my worry is, in the future, whether our best and brightest people will forsake their careers in order to serve the nation through politics. After all, for democracy to succeed, we will always need strong, capable and upright people in parliament.

Education – the government over the decades has built schools in remote areas and trained teachers to man these schools. It has made immense efforts to build a strong education system. However, is the education our youth are receiving attuned to needs of the nation? And once educated, will our children find employment and realize their full potential?

Corruption – will we allow it, as in so many developing countries, to spread throughout society and destroy everything? Or will we meet the challenge and overcome it no matter how difficult it might be? In fighting corruption, will we remember to also fight waste, unnecessary expenditure and complacency?

Self-reliance – how do we achieve a measure of self-reliance that will make our growth sustainable? How do we overcome our great dependence on imports, for example?

These are my concerns. But our people must be reassured that it is not only I, as King, who seeks the solutions to these problems. We have the government led by the prime minister, the civil service and members of parliament and local government, who shall all work together to address these challenges.

I am confident because our people are unique. Our people are proud citizens who love our country and take it as our sacred duty to serve the nation. As Bhutanese we have so many qualities to be proud of. The manner, in which we all were united in celebration of my wedding, is a symbol of the fraternity and brotherhood among our people. It is an auspicious sign, that we will always come together, in good times and bad, in the interest of our nation. We will always, together as one, defend and protect our nation. If we are able to preserve this strength of unity and harmony, we shall overcome all challenges that may come our way.

Before I conclude, in the spirit of national days past, I will present awards to those who have served our nation and people well.

I end with a prayer for our nation. That the sun of peace and prosperity may always shine on Bhutan – a nation blessed by the teachings of Lord Buddha – a Shangrila blessed by the great Guru Rimpoche and founded by our revered and beloved parent Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal – a country born from the labour of Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the people of Bhutan.

My Answer in the Words of My Monarch

Photo Courtesy: Dorji Wangchuk

Ever since a graduate student in Syracuse University asked me this question -"what is the thing that keeps Bhutanese people happy?", I have been searching for an answer and I am almost growing old. 

It wasn't the economic development that we have achieved so far, otherwise Americans would have been the happiest people in the world followed by Chinese and Japanese.  It wasn't the LDC status that we still continue to languish in,  otherwise Burundi and Congo would have had the title. Perhaps it must be the geographical location- but then, how come others who dwell in and around this mountain range are not necessarily known for happiness? Nah- I bet it's not the looks of the Bhutanese people that mattered for our happiness,- there are Koreans and Indians who are better known for it and they aren't the happiest people either. 

The answer lies in the word of my Beloved Monarch -His Majesty the 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.- it came in the State Banquet Address to the joint session of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan during his State visit .

He said, " Bhutanese continue to live lives of simplicity and modesty that foster a deep sense of harmony among our people...." 

Yes! there it is. It is indeed the nature of the people of Bhutan that mattered all together at the end of the day. -the simplistic nature, the modest nature, the level of contentment even though we may be the poorest on earth. The sense of harmony, I guess, is the bi-product of simplicity and modesty.

If so, where lies the challenge now? - in creating happiness or maintaining happiness?

Sweet Meeting of Sweet Sweet Hearts

This poem was written by my brother (3rd eldest) in the year 1996 in dedication to me and my dear wife after we first paired up in Sherubtse College.

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At last the beauteous lone moon began to smile

And sailed with northern star a thousand mile

Un-numbered celestial body danced with gay

But to celebrate their cousin's blithesome day!

Com'on fans, the firmament doth dance in gay

Birds on trees with joyous note go astray

Lets join the birds and the firmament to celebrate 

The sweet meeting of sweet sweet hearts in elaborate

The moon's and stars' light in union

Clears the darkness where dwells wretched million

May the two blessed beings of common heart

Spread love and happiness throughout 

May the garish wind widen not the distance

And happiness tell every moment of their existence

May the fickle fate keep her blind hand away

And let live the joyous bosoms in their own holy way!

'May this holy bud of love

By summer's reaping breathe

Turn into a beauteous flower'

'May the sun grows cold

And the stars are old

Let not the love that's found

For any body for anything sold!'

-Kuenzang Dorji Tawla

Sheer Nonsense

Relics on public display

Here is a quote from an article published in the 9th November issue of the Bhutantoday, a daily news paper in Bhutan. It talks about an incident where a Police Officer, in the midst and rage of managing or mismanaging crowd gathered to get a glimpse of Buddha and his disciples' relics brought all the way from India, bashed one student black and blue.

Close up of the relic

"An editor of a print media who was at the scene on October 4 in Tendrelthang said the police were facing a tough time managing the crowd. “I have no comments on what happened. But the police were under duress.  If the crowd was not controlled there were even chances of the relics being damaged, which is worse than people losing lives,” 

It is the second sentence of the paragraph that bothered me and I am picking on it. 

It's MY TWO CENTS again, ..wait a minute,-- Did that editor,whoever he/she may be, really say that "damaging relics would be worse than losing lives? You got to be kidding. It can't be true. If not for nothing, an editor of a print media can't go that wrong by any chance. It is got to be a misquote as it's often a case and it is only proper that it is corrected in whatever ways deemed appropriate. But for some reason, if the editor did say that, I condemn him/her from the marrow of my bone and I condemn the paper for providing space for such a sheer nonsense. 

Crowd that day- it's was chaotic indeed. 

I say non sense because; firstly, relics displayed there are bone remains of Buddha and his two disciples and by nature, even if they are precious, they are not at all delicate and destructible. Secondly, the way the so called editor, goes about placing importance to the non-living things as against the living beings, that too with human lives is something that I cannot comprehend and rationalize.

Perspective on the notion that there is a dearth of Political Leadership in Bhutan

As thrilling as the news of two more political parties in the offing, it was equally baffling to learn that the founders are actually looking so frantically for people to lead those political parties and that there is actual dearth of them in the country. It has not only impeded the process but also discounted a choice which otherwise would have strengthened democracy in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Yes! Leaders are important,- but do we know what we are looking for when talking about leadership?  Are we looking for someone with a high-powered job title? Are we looking for someone with a historical and ancestral background of leadership? Are we looking for someone with spectacular gift of gap?  Are we looking for someone with loads of family wealth or is that a fearless person we are looking for?

Here is MY TWO CENTS on the issue of leadership. While leadership is defined by many in many different ways, Hal G. Rainey- a distinguished Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia defines it as “the capacity of someone to direct and energize the willingness of people in social units to take action and achieve goals.”  (Hal Rainey, 1996). I can’t agree less with Rainey even with some stint of political spectrum into it.

If leadership is all about the ‘capacity of an individual to direct and energize the willingness of people in social units not only to take action but also to achieve goals’ what then are the characteristics that enable it? Again American authors- Kouzens and Posner has it all. They administered a questionnaire to over seventy-five thousand people around the globe, asking respondents to list the qualities they “most looked for and admired in a leader - someone whose direction they would willingly follow” and found out that it’s the honesty, forward-looking, competent and inspiration that mattered the most in the characteristics of a leader.  (Kouzens & Posner 2002), Others like intelligence, broad-mindedness, background, experience and oratory skills ranked much lower.

If the afore-mentioned characteristics are all that mattered in terms of enabling leaders to direct and energize the willingness of people in the society and having followers all along- a million dollar question would then be;- Is Bhutan really short of HONEST people who are not only FORWARD-LOOKING but COMPETENT with fair degree of INSPIRATION? Don’t we even have five of such characters to lead five political parties or are we simply not willing to understand the meaning and the concept of leadership in a way deemed appropriate?

"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work." -Vince Lombardi 

Royal Wedding on 13-15 of October

After the ceremony at Punakha 

 "We pledge to serve our people together as a family and we will bring up children who are better educated, more prosperous and stronger than us." said His Majesty.

Royal Kiss at Changlingmithang Ground

Lhaki's First Article

Page 1

Page 2

May your soul rest in PEACE

My Tuesday's return to home after office was unusual. I know it was Jigme and Lhaki's (my two wonderful kids) tuition day and as it is, I did not expect them to be at home that very evening to greet me with their lovely and sincere similes as they used to every day. A smile that rejuvenates me after hectic and monotonous eight hrs of office work and provides every reason for me to live yet another day in life.

As I approached home and switched off the engine of my car, I heard an unusual cry of a child. I could not help but immediately think of my daughter. "Is that my Lhaki?" asked myself with immense worry and cold sensation lingering down  my spine. I couldn't be wrong. It was Lhaki who was crying but what for? Did she not get along with her tuition teacher? Did her Brother bother her? Did her Mother scold her for some reason? 

I opened the door quickly and to my surprise, it wasn't only Lhaki who was crying,  Jigme was crying too. It's been really long since I saw them crying and it wasn't a pleasant surprise at all to see not only one but two kids sobbing so loudly and painfully and that too at the same time. In a flash of second, my mind automatically switched to the concern of their mother... my better half who is everything and means a world to them as much as to me. Before I could utter a word to my kids and to my great relief, she popped in from another room but looked equally dazed. 

Knowing nothing as happened to my better-half, I hugged my daughter and slowly and calmly asked her as to what happened? In the mist of her cry with such agony, I could hear KAKA but the rest of her sentence goes Wo wo and wie wie. Kaka is our pet cat and she is about six to seven months old. She has been with us as a family for little less than two months but dearly dearly loved by my two kids. 

"What happened to Kaka Jigs" I asked my son. "She is gone" replied Jigme. "How?" "A Taxi ran her over". My kids were not only saddened by the loss of a lovable pet in the name of Kaka but shocked by the live scene of a death happening right in front of their eyes. 

As we offered butter lamps and prayed for her soul to rest in peace Jigme asked me if her soul will come to him in the night as she always slept with him while Lhaki repeatedly commented about how he shouldn't be a  cab driver if he cannot see what's on the road. 

Valid questions indeed!

Tribute to Humphrey Fellowship Programme

It would be an exaggeration if I say "I am much wiser after completing my Humphrey fellowship in US". But I tell you-I would be lying if I don't tell you that.."I am much informed now".

It would be an over statement if I say that "I have conquered the world after going through the Humphrey Fellowship program in US". But I tell you- I would be understating it if I don't tell you that.."I have friends and networks all over the world now".

As much as there are many to attribute and accredit, there would also be too little or nothing to show if much of what you gained is left to go into waste. I may be wiser and may I be more connected now but what counts ultimately is what I can make out of this. While it may be too much and too early to promise anything for now but definitely will I retrospect into my own self and my way of doing things and see how and where I can change for better for I know "a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step."

And for all those good things I say "Thank You" to

·         Hubert Humphrey against whose name this wonderful program is instituted

·         The State of Department for the ownership

·         IIE for organization and coordination

·         Syracuse University for hosting us, and

·         The people of the United States of America for their taxes.

God Bless America!

Adieus SyraCUSE





Maxwell School of Syracuse University (Photo by: Jung Wook Auh)

 Dear CUSE,
Never in my wildest dream 've I ever thought I would be with you one day. It's got to be magic or some kind of karma that lead us to this destiny. Perhaps..you don't know this- you got me thinking from the day IIE introduced you to me. I 've looked into every possible record you have on the net including the GoogleEarth. And guess what? ..the more I explored and knew you better more close I felt towards you and more I longed to be with you.


Within your own limitations, you provided me with prestine but conducive environment to study, fabulous architecture to enjoy, awesome wilderness to wonder, an excellent Maxwell School of Syracuse University to study, learned professors to learn from, good facilities to flirt and wonderful people to associate with. I will forever cherish all those. The wisdom, information, network and relationship that I will carry forward should serve as good reminiscence of our love affair in future.

I know this parting would be about it for our love affair for now but in case, please don't forget to warn me in advance of  your record-breaking snowfall, piercing wind, icy rainstorm and month-long gloomy weather conditions.  

Thank you once again and adieus!

Yours lovingly

Loday Tsheten



Syracuse (Photo by: Jung Wook Auh)



Wisdom behind the Royal Decree

There is only one thing that the Election Commission of Bhutan can do judging by the Royal Decree issued to them by His Majesty on 4th of May 2011 following an appeal by so called potential but disqualified candidates a couple of days ago.

The decree, amongst others, specifically points to how unconducive the environment is for the local government election to take place and that the democracy per se might suffer if issues are not resolved before going ahead with the election.  Another important point that stands out clear and loud is on having to remain faithful to the Constitution. By this, MY TWO CENTS are of the opinion that Constitution ought to be followed come what may and that bending it to suit our temporary need would be undesirable and uncalled for.

The only viable option for the Election Commission of Bhutan now is to postpond the local government election. Postpond to the extent of cooling time required for those disqualified candidates. This would not only resolve issues but also help us remain faithful to the letter and spirit of our Constitution without having to bend or amend any portion of it. Even otherwise, what is the opportunity cost of not holding the LG election for another one year?.. afterall, we already waited so much.

What is apparently more apparent in this Royal Decree is in the promise that His Majesty made during one of his public speeches-that he will 'not even for a day rule us as a king' and that he will 'serve us as father and son' for all time to come. This Royal Decree stands testemony to it. There is absolutely no decree to this Royal Decree and I am sure it is by design. As much as it provides guidance, this decree also lays  foundation for good discourse and particpation.

That's why, I say, Bhutan has a unique system of government.