Special Dedication Week to our Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck

This week is celebrated as ‘Special Dedication Week’ to His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo on His 60^th birth anniversary in Bhutan.  Every day–for–a–week, we are having different messages and programs. We light butter lamps for the king which is arranged (a small altar) in front of the assembly ground. We sing Zhabten(a special prayer for long life). Many students’ speakers spoke about the fourth king in the morning assembly. There were also quiz questions based on the fourth king’s life.

We solemnize this week to our living legacy. We express and show our gratitude, honor, homage, accolade, commendation, felicitation, wish, pledge, gratefulness, thankfulness, appreciation, greeting and pay tribute, and we pray for his happy and long life. To honor the occasion, I recounted a short fact about the fourth Druk Gyalpo during one of my a week duties (Teacher on Duty)

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born at Dechencholing Palace, Thimphu on 11 November 1955, to the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck.

                                                         

The mantle of leadership, when Bhutan was at a crossroads both domestically and internationally, fell on him, on June 2, 1974, when he became the king of Bhutan at the age of 18.

He married to the four queens, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck and Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, who all are daughters of Yab Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuji Zam.

He brought many landmarks developments, like construction of Chukha Hydropower Project, road networks, decentralization of administrations, opening to tourism, became a member of many organization like WHO, UNESCO, World bank, IMF, SAARC, established RIM in Bhutan, established Gewog Yargay Tshochung, etc…

During his reign, he firmly established our status as an independent, sovereign nation.

During his reign, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck expanded diplomatic relations with many foreign countries. His Majesty foreign policy deepens Bhutan’s relations with many countries especially India. Bhutan also received many high-level foreign visitors including various Prime Ministers of India; Yasser Arafat; Prince Naruhito of Japan, the King Birendra of Nepal, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh, and I.K. Gujral; and Prince Charles of Wales, to name a few.

The country overcame the militancy of the southern rebels in the 1990s. His Majesty led the "operation flush out" team against ULFA, KLO and NDFB militants. The well-armed militants from Assam and Bengal had illegally entered jungles of southern Bhutan and camped in some 30 locations while carrying out attacks back in Assam and Bengal. Our King personally headed the military operation and flushed them out in three days, which might have brought a security threat to the country.

The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, also drafted the Constitution of Bhutan with his people, providing the legal framework for a democratic, political system for Bhutan. The drafting of the Constitution for the kingdom of Bhutan is an exemplary stride towards democracy. In many countries, the changes in the system of governments were brought externally through revolution and public strife. However, the Bhutanese are fortunate since the change came as a gift to the people of Bhutan from the Throne. The Constitution was offered to the people at a time when the country enjoyed unparalleled peace and stability with total harmony and unshakable fidelity between the King and the people.

The fourth king abdicated the thrown for the people in 2006 and in favor of his son Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

A larger than life figure, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is a national hero of different historic dimensions and aspects of national status and life. His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the creator of GNH (Gross National Happiness) and the Father of the Nation.

I also recited a short oath to our king which I have written very recently:

Our joy ring, we sing

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light

Great God, our king.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck

United, peace and spring of development brought

Thank you.

Long live our beloved king.

May His Majesty enjoy many years of happiness and may the flag of Pelden Drukpa continue to flutter high under the reign of his son, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Long live the Fourth Druk Gyalpo! Palden Drukpa Gyelo!

 

Not only me, our students also read so many beautiful messages and tributes to our king.

One of these messages is written below; which was read out by Mr. Dawa Thsering of class V B. I wrote this piece for him.

My King: The Jewel of our Country

My king, my country’s king. He is helpful to all the people. He worries about his country. He makes good decisions to help people when any problem comes.

I am glad to have a smart and brave king. He guides our small nation with great love and affection. He is guiding us to the realms of modernity without sacrificing our great tradition. He is our guardian.

My king is my parent. He is very popular everywhere. He has built many schools and hospitals, roads, electricity, etc, for his people.

I have my poem here for you, Your Majesty.

You are the bud of love

And country’s king

You are so special

You are the king of many great hearts

And jewel of our country.

His Majesty Visits

His Majesty visited Darla Gewog on 17/10/2015. It was a history to have an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at Rinchentse Helipad, Darla. No king had visited before in Darla. His Majesty’s plan was to visit our school, but due to some busy schedule, the Majesty and His entourages arrived very late in the evening. Our school and staff were asked to go down to Rinchentse. So, we walked in line for almost three kilometers to be picked by buses on the way. The school was very unlucky and unfortunate to have missed the Royal visit. We had splendorous and pompous preparation for His Majesty's visit to our school for almost a week. But anyways, we were extremely lucky to have the audience at Rinchentse with the public of Darla and neighboring villages. Thousands of people assembled on the ground. Many people were said to have come early in the morning from 5am. The audience was graced with His Majesty's presence at 5pm. The Majesty gave a royal speech on how happy he was to be with the people. He also talked about being a good citizen and taking care of children – sons and daughters. The Majesty also served Tokha to the people. People also received His Majesty's booklet with a Coronation coin in it. There were also some dances from the public of Darla and students of Darla MSS. Bhutanese comedians, Gyem Tshering and Gyam Dorji broke out many witty jokes; and there were lots of mirth and joys. When people came out, people were all smiles to have received a beautiful portrait of His Majesty the King and The Queen.  

Senseless to Be in Senses

You see around many things, you concurred and fabricated and take part, you hurt, making you both helpless and sad. And happy and hopeful. You have the sense to feel all these. But when you are separated from your senses you feel nothing, it’s ecstasy and just a fantasy of illusionist life.

  

The senselessness of being

Fills heaven with rainbows.

Everything is you; a life and the universe.

You will shout, sing and dance,

In the space, you occupy.

Now, be in sense, eyes wide open;

Feels the darkness and light,

Sunshine and harsh wind.

Trails of soft, iron trails,

Each denuding life.

These are invisible threads en route to

the common destination: the grave.

Books are bound, framed and forced,

Weeping, smiling they are taught naught.

Perfection and decency are treasures,

Things forgotten and unlearned.

Aging, we grow experienced, then what?

We’re pulled down to the grave.

Reading Week 2015

Reading Week is organized in our school every year with an intent of helping our students understand the importance of reading and the infinite benefits it facilitates in their growth in academics as a student. Moreover, it betters human in their individual and social life spheres.  In accordance with the plan set at the preset of the academic year, it was organized from 7 to 12 of September 2015.  This year’s theme was “Read, Lead and Succeed.”  During the week, some special reading activities were initiated so as to facilitate an opportunity for more students to take part in the reading activities and thereby develop and inculcate an the interest of reading within them. 

Readers’ Theatre

Readers’ theatre was conducted as a competition item between the sections of grade PP-III.  It was interesting to see the tiny tots of our school presenting themselves as little narrators and various fanciful characters in their creative costumes and attire as kings, queens, butterflies, birds, etc. Their babbling speeches and sing-song narrations did create an effective ambiance and were appreciated by everyone.  The presentations were evaluated based on creativity and coordination and prizes were awarded accordingly. 

Winners

·         PP A

·         I A

·         II A

·         Iii A & B

Random Reading

This reading activity was conducted for students classes VII – X to check their ability to read Dzongkha and English fluently and their preparedness and confidence to speak before an audience.  They were instructed beforehand to ready with two passages, in English and Dzongkha, and read it out as the coordinator of the day randomly called out their roll numbers in the assembly.  The activity went well as we planned and had the desired result.

Selected Reading

This activity was for the students from classes IV-VI.  Some of the students who were identified by the teachers were concerned readout either pieces of news or interesting information they wanted to share with their fellow students in the assembly. This activity was also successful though many of the students who came forward couldn’t be permitted to present their reading due to time constraints in the assembly. 

Quiz

A mini-quiz of two questions related to books and reading was also initiated to evaluate the students’ awareness of popular books, writers and some common literary terms.  And prizes were awarded instantly to the winners.

Book Talk

As on every Friday, two students presented reviews of an English and a Dzongkha book.  The reviews are helping the students to get acquainted with the interesting books in the library and rouse their curiosity to read them.

Mass Reading

To facilitate more time for general reading, an hour was created, on Thursday, by deducting five minutes from each period.  So, after the instructional hours, all students and teachers came out to the open, settled in conducive places and read books of their choice for an hour.

We are very happy to note here that all the activities we had envisaged went well, leading this year’s Reading Week into a grand success.  It is hoped that our plans for such activities in the future will also meet with the same grandeur and success.