Let not others lead a way for you

Chess game (google)

 

In a game of chess, each piece is important and leads the game in its own way. To keep the game alive, the king has to be kept safe and away from getting check mate. 

In life, often times we wait for someone to take the lead. Often times, we do not appreciate the effort put-in by someone else and just see an easily achieved success.

 

I believe, one need not wait for someone else to make a choice for us. I myself often talk about the system not working well but do not try seeing what should have been done. If we want the system to change, we the ones benefitting must give a definite, consistent signal to the government that is meant to improve.

 

The amount of work that needs to be done is huge, and we bear responsibility at an individual level.

 

Expecting one person to take the lead is a mundane trend. If everything depends on one person, then we are limiting our creativity. We must allow our creative mind to grow wide and let it complain in order to achieve something great.

Judo a sport of discipline

... let me reflect on the Judo Demonstration that I attended recently. 

It is amazing to see that Bhutanese are enjoying and practising this sport. 

What is Judo?

Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport involving using holds and leverage to submit an opponent.

Judo in Bhutan: a reflection 

Pelkhil School hosted a sports promotion event on October 17 at Pelkhil Judo Hall as a part of the celebration.

A team from the Japanese Embassy in India and members of Bhutan Judo Association demonstrated basic Judo techniques with some practical exercises for around 40 students from Chang Rigphel Lower Secondary School.

Pelkhil school has been working towards the promotion of this sport through the inauguration of a Dojo (Judo hall) in 2021. It is the first sports facility in Bhutan built and supported by the Japanese government under cultural grant assistance.

According to the International Judo Federation (IJF), over 40 million people from over 200 countries practice judo, making it the most widely practised martial art in the world. Judo is also one of the most widely practised sports in the world.

On August 5, 2016, Bhutan Judo Association was admitted as a full member of IJF and JUA.

The Bhutan Judo Association currently has 200 members.

Judo Derivation 

The word “judo” can be broken down into two parts: “Ju” meaning “gentle,” and “do meaning “way,” which together mean, “gentle way.” This judo definition represents one of the martial arts major concepts, that gentleness controls hardness.

Drones to be used for surveying slope disaster

 ...Bhutan will have favourable method of studying slope disaster with the use of drones.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed two drones and flight simulators to the Department of Roads (DoR) for surveying slope disasters on roads, at the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement yesterday. 

The JICA Chief Representative Tomoyuki Yamada handed over the equipment to the director general of DoR during the 6th joint coordination meeting. It is a part of the “Project for capacity development on counter-measures of slope disaster on roads in Bhutan.” 

According to Tomoyuki Yamada, the implementation of the project should improve the capacity of the counterparts of the department of roads. 

“We are glad to see that most of the project activities are on track despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.  

Due to geographical and geological conditions, the roadways of Bhutan are subject to slope disaster risks at numerous locations. Slope disasters, including slope failure and debris flow, are common in the country, particularly during the rainy season.

At the regional level, the project committee would train the DoR officials on the usage of drones to survey the slopes. 

Coronation Day of His Majesty the King

 On November 1, 2008, His Majesty received the "Dhar Kha Nga" from His Holiness the Je Khenpo within the sacred "Machen" of the historic

Punakha Dzong, where the sacred and private rite of consummating His Majesty's commitment to govern as a Dharma King was performed.

Since then, the world has seen His Majesty serve with altruism, compassion and wisdom. Placing the people's welfare at the core of everything, His Majesty continues to give leadership a new meaning. 

We are fortunate to be subjects of a sovereign, the likes of whom rarely trot the world. 

As we remember November 1, 2008, I join the Nation in offering my most sublime prayers for His Majesty's good health, joy and long life.

Baseball in Bhutan

 

Within a few years, baseball has made its influence in Bhutan. 

I first saw and got to play baseball in 2019 while facilitating Camp Rural Urban Friendship in Panbang, Zhemgang. 

All thanks to Aue Namgyel Wangchuk who made sure that the participants learn a new form of sports. 

Today, for the second time I got to attend RICB U18  Bhutan Baseball League playoffs being played at Motithang School.  

Thimphu Baseball Club played versus the Royal Body Guard team and Taba LSS played against Dechencholing HSS.

It was great to learn from the coordinators, coaches and teams regarding the ongoing match as well as know its reach in the country.

With good wishes to the winning teams (RBG and Dechencholing HSS) who would be playing finals on November 11, I am glad to know this new sport will draw in hundreds of youth into an engaging game. 

The tournament is organised by the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA) in collaboration with the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan. It started on August 27. 

BBSA has reached out its campaign to schools under Thimphu Thromde and Wangduephodrang dzongkhag. It plans to reach out to southern dzongkhags next year. 

The polluted river: an eye-sore

... The priorities are clear and it is very welcome that the pathetic state of our drains that connects to the river is a priority.

From how our drainage system is built and maintained, we will never be able to manage a few hours of heavy rains. 

If we have built some, they are blocked with garbage carelessly thrown in it. In fact, open drains are the favourite dump yard for the city's residents. Moreover, the drains flow down to the river polluting the pristine water. 

The approach to urban governance needs to change.

Wastewater treatment plants are constructed with effect and it is said that 12 million litres a day is treated once the water reaches the treatment area at Langjophaka and one at Babesa where the treatment plants are based. 

The treatment plant has not been able to lower the total suspended solid (TSS) or particles and debris floating on the surface of the sewage to the permissible threshold (Kuensel, 2022.)

What about the river, and the aquatic life in between? Cannot we have a better system in place to ensure that dirty drains do not flow into the river? 

The priorities are clear and it is very welcome that the pathetic state of our drains is a priority. We need better gutters, well-maintained, and efficient treatment, not lip service on clean Bhutan. 

Pedestrian terminal user fee welcome

The decision to charge a Nu 10 user fee at the pedestrian terminal in Phuentsholing from November 1 is welcome.

The levy is applicable for every instance of entry and exit. That means if a Bhutanese goes to Jaigaon, he or she will have to pay a Nu 10 user fee at the terminal and another Nu 10 user fee to enter Bhutan.

This will also be applicable to foreigners—if an Indian national from across the border decides to enter Phuentsholing, he or she will have to pay a Nu 10 user fee at the terminal and another Nu 10 exit fee.

Bhutanese in general see the merit of this decision. When the announcement came early this week, Phuentsholing residents, although a bit surprised, supported the decision.  

What we must understand is that the terminal should be self-sustaining. As the director general of the Department of Immigration, Pema L Dorji said, the user fee is for the “upkeep and maintenance of the terminal.” What this means is that the fee collection will be ploughed back into many recurrent expenses at the terminal such as electricity bills, internet bandwidth charges, and air-conditioning, among others.

As the terminal is busy throughout the day, it has already seen some wear and tear. Because there is a huge potential for success, the thromde should be able to manage the terminal outside the government’s development budget.

What we must also remember is that our neighbours from across the border might feel that we are making entry to Phuentsholing difficult for them. Such views are unfortunate and can’t be helped. We are already hearing complaints from across the border and their threats to retaliate with similar requirements for Bhutanese entering Jaigaon.

It is the responsibility of the dzongkhag, drungkhag, and thromde officials to disseminate the plans and information to their counterparts across the border. The pedestrian terminal is there not to limit the movement of people and trade between Phuentsholing and Jaigaon; it is to facilitate both very transparently and professionally. More important, it is for the safety of the people on both sides of the border.

@Kuenselonline