RSS Feed (xml)
Bhutan Thimphu Festival Tour Itinerary
13 years ago
May 17, 2010
May 16, 2010
Why can’t Bhutanese be Bhutanese?
This is just a humble participation in the discussion initiated by Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche in last Saturday’s Kuensel.
In 2008, I attended a two-module management training programme called “Leading for Change” organised by RCSC for mid-level civil servants. At the end of the second module, the resource person asked the participants to come up with sketch drawings on the theme “Bhutan: Twenty years from now.”
Two sketches particularly struck me: one depicted a herdsman from Merak-Sakteng checking the latest international butter price offers on the internet from his home desktop computer; the other was a cleaner haughtily shaking hands with the prime minister of Bhutan as if to say, “I’m your boss and you’re my servant.”
While these two scenarios will indeed be noticeable changes for Bhutan, if at all they happen, one may wonder whether both the changes are in the right direction, the change we can believe in. If they are not, we may have to choose wisely; and to choose wisely, we will have to work hard just as a American politician said, “Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job.”
Using rinpoche’s figurative expression, I will attempt to share my views on two of the four aspects raised by him.
Language
This is an area where we have to blame ourselves. The problem, I see, is not so much with Dzongkha as a language, but with us as its users and, perhaps, with its strategies and planning.
I have several foreign friends, who have acquired Dzongkha competency — both speaking and writing— by learning genuinely within months if not within weeks. Some foreigners have even written books in Dzongkha.
Some things we have to learn with the brain, but some things we have to learn with the heart. The main problem for Dzongkha not becoming popular is not learning with heart, as I see it at this stage. Of course, there are other issues like proper planning and proper teaching-learning; and for this, we may have to rewrite some Dzongkha literature and we may have to reassess our Dzongkha pedagogy, but we also have to rethink our perception of the national language.
This is not to say that we do not need English. English is a necessary language for us. But saying we need English is not to be considered as same as we don’t need Dzongkha.
I recommend bilingualism. This does not mean mixing Dzongkha and English, but a policy of considering the two languages equally important and defining their domains of use quite clearly.
India has something called three-language formula: Hindi as the official language, English as the associate official language, and mother tongue as a state language or third official language. Singapore and Switzerland have four-language policies; and some other countries, such as South Africa, have eleven official languages. This means that they devote so much time and resources to teach all the official languages equally.
The possibility of using Roman script to write native languages, as suggested by rinpoche, is not without problems. This is especially true for languages, such as ours, which have so many similar words, with tonal distinctions to indicate different meanings.
Because of the Dzongkha sound systems, we may have to use diacritics and symbols, which will be far more problematic than the problems posed by using the native script. In fact, in every country, including European and Asian ones, such as Indonesia, where Romanisation is an official policy, there are controversies and problems of arbitrariness in writing their languages.
To talk about the importance of a national language, I think the presidents of China and France or the chancellor of Germany will never address a UN Assembly session or a NATO summit in English at least for another 1000 years. If they do, they will not get votes. Anglos will be Anglos; Romans will be Romans. Why can’t Bhutanese be Bhutanese and move ahead as Bhutanese?
Let us keep rinpoche’s suggestions, which are very objective, as a possible option if things fail miserably and go horribly wrong; but for now, let us continue to do what we do, of course with modifications and adaptations, and see how it goes. Someone said, “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a language. You just have to get people to stop reading them.”
Let us not do this at present.
Happiness
My idea of happiness is that I have a work to exercise my brain or my brawn; that I have a root lama to seek refuge; that I have enough leisure and affordability to go on holidays and pilgrimages; and that my fridge is never empty. My happiness is also a kind of world, where everything is green when I look out of my window; where no person commits suicide; where our streets are free of gang fights; where our neighbours do not complain of burglaries.
It is also a kind of life in which husbands do not beat wives, or vice versa; my grandparents do not feel alienated from society; and my office mates do not die of kidney failure because they could not get enough dialysis.
To create a world like this, which is almost Utopia, I think everyone has to play his or her own part. The government has to generate maximum hydro-ngultrums or dollars; the banks have to think of giving back to the people and to the economy, and not always think of taking away from them; and our companies and industries have to invest in those projects, where there are economies of scale.
Our agriculturists have to grow those crops that we have comparative advantage over other producers in the neighbourhood, and they have to think of creating variability and diversity, so that we have maximum gains from international trade. Our villagers have to plant two saplings for every tree they cut down.
Last, but not least, our lamas and monks have to keep praying or chanting ferociously. Although they do not create tangible outputs, they clear all unforeseen obstacles for our country; so that we can move forward as a small but happy nation, along with automistic-mechanistic countries, like USA or Japan, for as long as the Earth exists.
The nature and weight of our responsibilities may differ. Some may have to carry forests on their backs like mountains; some may have to crack nuts like squirrels; but let us all play our parts in this game of nation building.
Source: Kuenselonline
In 2008, I attended a two-module management training programme called “Leading for Change” organised by RCSC for mid-level civil servants. At the end of the second module, the resource person asked the participants to come up with sketch drawings on the theme “Bhutan: Twenty years from now.”
Two sketches particularly struck me: one depicted a herdsman from Merak-Sakteng checking the latest international butter price offers on the internet from his home desktop computer; the other was a cleaner haughtily shaking hands with the prime minister of Bhutan as if to say, “I’m your boss and you’re my servant.”
While these two scenarios will indeed be noticeable changes for Bhutan, if at all they happen, one may wonder whether both the changes are in the right direction, the change we can believe in. If they are not, we may have to choose wisely; and to choose wisely, we will have to work hard just as a American politician said, “Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job.”
Using rinpoche’s figurative expression, I will attempt to share my views on two of the four aspects raised by him.
Language
This is an area where we have to blame ourselves. The problem, I see, is not so much with Dzongkha as a language, but with us as its users and, perhaps, with its strategies and planning.
I have several foreign friends, who have acquired Dzongkha competency — both speaking and writing— by learning genuinely within months if not within weeks. Some foreigners have even written books in Dzongkha.
Some things we have to learn with the brain, but some things we have to learn with the heart. The main problem for Dzongkha not becoming popular is not learning with heart, as I see it at this stage. Of course, there are other issues like proper planning and proper teaching-learning; and for this, we may have to rewrite some Dzongkha literature and we may have to reassess our Dzongkha pedagogy, but we also have to rethink our perception of the national language.
This is not to say that we do not need English. English is a necessary language for us. But saying we need English is not to be considered as same as we don’t need Dzongkha.
I recommend bilingualism. This does not mean mixing Dzongkha and English, but a policy of considering the two languages equally important and defining their domains of use quite clearly.
India has something called three-language formula: Hindi as the official language, English as the associate official language, and mother tongue as a state language or third official language. Singapore and Switzerland have four-language policies; and some other countries, such as South Africa, have eleven official languages. This means that they devote so much time and resources to teach all the official languages equally.
The possibility of using Roman script to write native languages, as suggested by rinpoche, is not without problems. This is especially true for languages, such as ours, which have so many similar words, with tonal distinctions to indicate different meanings.
Because of the Dzongkha sound systems, we may have to use diacritics and symbols, which will be far more problematic than the problems posed by using the native script. In fact, in every country, including European and Asian ones, such as Indonesia, where Romanisation is an official policy, there are controversies and problems of arbitrariness in writing their languages.
To talk about the importance of a national language, I think the presidents of China and France or the chancellor of Germany will never address a UN Assembly session or a NATO summit in English at least for another 1000 years. If they do, they will not get votes. Anglos will be Anglos; Romans will be Romans. Why can’t Bhutanese be Bhutanese and move ahead as Bhutanese?
Let us keep rinpoche’s suggestions, which are very objective, as a possible option if things fail miserably and go horribly wrong; but for now, let us continue to do what we do, of course with modifications and adaptations, and see how it goes. Someone said, “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a language. You just have to get people to stop reading them.”
Let us not do this at present.
Happiness
My idea of happiness is that I have a work to exercise my brain or my brawn; that I have a root lama to seek refuge; that I have enough leisure and affordability to go on holidays and pilgrimages; and that my fridge is never empty. My happiness is also a kind of world, where everything is green when I look out of my window; where no person commits suicide; where our streets are free of gang fights; where our neighbours do not complain of burglaries.
It is also a kind of life in which husbands do not beat wives, or vice versa; my grandparents do not feel alienated from society; and my office mates do not die of kidney failure because they could not get enough dialysis.
To create a world like this, which is almost Utopia, I think everyone has to play his or her own part. The government has to generate maximum hydro-ngultrums or dollars; the banks have to think of giving back to the people and to the economy, and not always think of taking away from them; and our companies and industries have to invest in those projects, where there are economies of scale.
Our agriculturists have to grow those crops that we have comparative advantage over other producers in the neighbourhood, and they have to think of creating variability and diversity, so that we have maximum gains from international trade. Our villagers have to plant two saplings for every tree they cut down.
Last, but not least, our lamas and monks have to keep praying or chanting ferociously. Although they do not create tangible outputs, they clear all unforeseen obstacles for our country; so that we can move forward as a small but happy nation, along with automistic-mechanistic countries, like USA or Japan, for as long as the Earth exists.
The nature and weight of our responsibilities may differ. Some may have to carry forests on their backs like mountains; some may have to crack nuts like squirrels; but let us all play our parts in this game of nation building.
Source: Kuenselonline
May 14, 2010
His Majesty the King granted an audience to the King George Tupou V
King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of TongaHis Majesty the King granted an audience to the King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga yesterday. He was escorted in a traditional Chipdrel procession to the Tashichhodzong.
At the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong, King George Tupou was presented a guard of honour by the Royal Bhutan Army and the Royal Body Guards.
Following the guard of honour, His Majesty the King granted an audience at the Tashichhodzong.
King George Tupou V presented His Majesty with the illustrious Tongan order of Queen Salote III.
Tongan order of Queen Salote IIIThe only recipient is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
This is his third visit to Bhutan. He visited Bhutan in 2002 and 2007.
King George Tupou the V arrived in the Kingdom on Wednesday.
Source: BBS
Pasakha bridge opened to traffic yesterday by the prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley
Pasakha industries should not face problems in the rainy season with an all weather bridge over the Padazekhachu, on the Pasakha-Manitar road, opened to traffic yesterday by the prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley.
The 100 m long and nine metre wide bridge has a load capacity of 70 metric tonnes (MT) and cost Nu 63.58M to build. Construction began last year.
“Without a permanent bridge, industries faced a lot of difficulties during monsoon,” said the works and human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba at the inauguration. “It isn’t the biggest but nonetheless a very important one.”
About 140 heavy vehicles ply to and from the Pasakha industrial estate everyday.
Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba also thanked project DANTAK and the Indian government for their continued support.
DANTAK officials said that the new bridge would provide all weather connectivity for all kinds of heavy vehicles to Pasakha industrial area.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by the Indian ambassador, Pavan K Varma, the director general of border roads, Lt Gen MC Badhani and the chief engineer of Project DANTAK, Brigadier US Dadu.
According to DANTAK officials, the Pasakha-Manitar road, envisaged as a bypass to the slide prone area of Ramitey, Sorchhen and Jumja on the Asian highway of Phuentsholing-Thimphu road, was handed over to the roads department in February 2008, except for two bridges at 0.11 km and 2.85 km from Pasakha industrial estate.
“Pasakha, being a major industrial estate in Bhutan located across the Padazekhachu, the need for a permanent bridge for swift transportation of all raw materials and machineries was felt since years ago,” states a report on the bridge from DANTAK.
Source: Kuenselonline
May 13, 2010
Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan
The government of Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan in farm road bridge design, strengthening local governance and developing a solid waste management programme, according to officials of the gross national happiness (GNH) commission.
“We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said.
GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu. The seminar is held annually so that recipient countries are updated and fully understand the donor country’s systems and are in a better position to access opportunities. The seminar also provides information on the status of government proposals.
Bhutan had made five proposals under grant aid (projects worth more than USD 2M), of which one has been approved. “Japan has agreed to the replacement of ambulances, which is the priority of the ruling government,” the GNH secretary said.
The proposal for the KR II grant for 2010 was not approved, but this did not mean that the door had been closed, said the GNH secretary. “The government will be resubmitting the proposal, given its importance,” said Karma Tshiteem. “Besides, we’re still getting support under the KR II grant.” The KR II grant supports underprivileged farmers and strengthening farm mechanisation.
The seminar also shared with government officials other possibilities of assistance, such as enhanced access to ODA (official development assistance) loans. For least developed countries like Bhutan, ODA loans are available at a very low rate of interest, under one percent, and repayment periods are very long.
According to GNH officials, Bhutan has already availed one such loan for the rural electrification project. “Given our priorities, we might have to take another to complete the rural electrification project, and another one to fund rural credit,” Karma Tshiteem said.
JICA’s director for South Asia division 1, Hara Shohei, said that the ODA budget has a limitation and cannot focus on all the proposals put forward, but proposals accepted were in line with the government’s priority like helping the eastern region. “I hope we can do something for the people living in underdeveloped places,” he said.
On rural electrification, Hara Shohei said that about three billion Japanese yen would be considered, and discussions had started with department of energy, as well as Bhutan power supply. “Our consultants will carry out a preparatory survey from this month, which will be completed by the end of October this year, and I hope we’ll be able to conclude the loan agreement by end of next March, so that actual distribution and transmission lines in the rural area can be started early by next year, and also meet national target of 100 percent electrification in the rural areas by 2013.”
Hara Shohei said that the relationship between Bhutan and JICA is deep and widespread, which signifies good outcome.
Source: Kuenselonline
“We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said.
GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu. The seminar is held annually so that recipient countries are updated and fully understand the donor country’s systems and are in a better position to access opportunities. The seminar also provides information on the status of government proposals.
Bhutan had made five proposals under grant aid (projects worth more than USD 2M), of which one has been approved. “Japan has agreed to the replacement of ambulances, which is the priority of the ruling government,” the GNH secretary said.
The proposal for the KR II grant for 2010 was not approved, but this did not mean that the door had been closed, said the GNH secretary. “The government will be resubmitting the proposal, given its importance,” said Karma Tshiteem. “Besides, we’re still getting support under the KR II grant.” The KR II grant supports underprivileged farmers and strengthening farm mechanisation.
The seminar also shared with government officials other possibilities of assistance, such as enhanced access to ODA (official development assistance) loans. For least developed countries like Bhutan, ODA loans are available at a very low rate of interest, under one percent, and repayment periods are very long.
According to GNH officials, Bhutan has already availed one such loan for the rural electrification project. “Given our priorities, we might have to take another to complete the rural electrification project, and another one to fund rural credit,” Karma Tshiteem said.
JICA’s director for South Asia division 1, Hara Shohei, said that the ODA budget has a limitation and cannot focus on all the proposals put forward, but proposals accepted were in line with the government’s priority like helping the eastern region. “I hope we can do something for the people living in underdeveloped places,” he said.
On rural electrification, Hara Shohei said that about three billion Japanese yen would be considered, and discussions had started with department of energy, as well as Bhutan power supply. “Our consultants will carry out a preparatory survey from this month, which will be completed by the end of October this year, and I hope we’ll be able to conclude the loan agreement by end of next March, so that actual distribution and transmission lines in the rural area can be started early by next year, and also meet national target of 100 percent electrification in the rural areas by 2013.”
Hara Shohei said that the relationship between Bhutan and JICA is deep and widespread, which signifies good outcome.
Source: Kuenselonline
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
