Dorji Tenzin: Random Thoughts like Cries of a Clown

Looking for a House on rent In Gasa Since I got appointment order posting me at Gasa, I have been looking for a house through friends and friends’ friends but it seems there isn’t any. All suggest that I live combined with other staff till I find separate accommodation. I thought while I attend induction program, I would confirm at least house to live in. As two weeks passed looking for a house through friends, euphoria of my first civil service placement has died down. I have decided to quit my high paying corporate job so that I could play larger role to support publi. But even before I join, I doubt whether I made the mistake in choosing the career.   However, other than house, I understood from various sources that getting posted in districts and rural places have its share of advantages and disadvantages. While enrichment through information and development may be poor, it is being compensated by community vitality people experienced. Everybody knows everybody there....

Long ago, a handsome, young and capable courtier was sent to Gasa by Druk Depa to serve under Lama of Gasa. He had to leave his beloved sweetheart Galem at Punakha Chang located near Punakha Dzong which was seat of Druk Depa. While Singye was serving Lama, his beloved was pressured to marry Depa, the powerful man of the country. Unknown to Singye, Galem was also pregnant with his child which proved catastrophic as her family feared backlash from the Depa. Galem was thus left to die with her unborn child along the bank of Mochu River. The ill-fated lovers could meet at last on the burning pyre.   I can’t imagine the pain Singye might have endured missing his beloved. He had loved his lover more than his life. Yet the duty he was entrusted was heavier than mountain and more precious than mound of gold. Given the choice, he would definitely have given up his service to Lama for his beloved of legendary beauty. But he was not given choice. Given the circumstances of his time,...

Sometime in 1985, a boy was born to a single mother while she was weeding in the rugged maize field.   A 34 years old woman squatted on the ground as she was seized with labor pain. Hidden among waist-length maize plant shoots waving lazily in the wind, she pushed hard. A baby fell on the ground. It rolled down the slope before she could regain strength. Luckily, it was struck on group of sturdy maize plant. She used her Tego to wrap her child as she had no other means. Tired, thirsty and hungry, she stayed there not knowing whether to throw child or take her home. She was afraid of her parents because she already had two children without father as father had left them. The father of child in her hand was husband of her younger sister who gave birth a few months ago. The man had double crossed her. She almost made her mind to hide   baby boy in nearby forest but soft cry emanated   from innocent face made her think otherwise. When she took the boy home, her pare...

When I was a kid, village festivals and annual household rituals were great sources of excitement for me and other children of my age. We would dress up in our possible best whenever there is community Tsechus. We would go early in the morning and returned late at night. We loved to watch Atsara teasing village damsels with wooden phallus while girls giggled and played coy. I often wished I was that clown so that I could crack vulgar jokes with those beautiful damsels. In the same way, boys of my age never missed annual household Lhasel or household deity propitiation which usually started in the evening. Boys of our age especially teenagers would be coerced to shout vulgar cants and do vulgar acts as required by those village priests according to their religious texts. We would happily shout vulgar things like, ‘the hostess has deep holed female part and head priest has long male part.’ We would also cover ourselves with blankets or cloths and perform dances and do coitus play...