Busy Days

This mid-year has become quite eventful; there was PM Narendra Modi visiting Bhutan, and there is an ongoing World Cup, and the students are writing their mid-term examinations. And teachers too are busy doing paper corrections. And in this way, it has become saddening as everyone has to sacrifice time for mid-term examinations.

To make matter a bit light, we do group correction. We have Science, Maths, English, Dzongkhag and other departments. The good thing about group evaluation is that the works are done very fast, not only that we get to eat many different delicious dishes like momo, shaphalay, etc sponsored by the respective subject teacher. This type of evaluation is good if all answers are multiple choices. It saves time; a great deal.

The bad thing about group evaluation is marking. Especially, parts like essay types or letter writing, when marked by different teachers, marks also differ. Some, lets say do strict correction and award low marks, and some lenient give high marks. And there are some who give marks just by glancing handwriting, or the first sentence, or the last sentence. I think the same is happening in BCSE evaluation in Phuntsholing.

There is no way to do comparative analysis/study of essay types or answers. On the other hand, the moods of the evaluators depend so much while awarding. These days, World Cup is going on at night, which leaves evaluators to hang throughout the night. Because of this drowsiness or hangover, the letter ‘d’ may seems like ‘b.’ So, ‘bead’ may become ‘dead.’ I am afraid we are gonna hang somebody’s life, very badly. OR, it may be another way round, owing to laziness or sleepiness, in order to do away with the correction, and make time for enough sleep, one could give 24 out of 25. There is every chance. One thing is sure, if ones favorite country lost in the match, I am sure the marks would touch the ground level.

So, it is very important to do special rituals like ‘Wangta Lungta’ to bring the best of luck. It is all unfair, one needs some kind of luck, to make evaluators affect or blind them to award good marks by mistake.

I told my students that before any venture, or such kind of difficult task, like exam like this, that they must do some kind of rituals for it. If not, one’s Wangta and Lungta will be thrown like a piece of shit. I told them that if they don’t have anyone to do such a kind of special ritual, why do they call me. I can even perform mask dances for them. And the fact is; I don’t need any kind of mask!

Some funny answers from our students:

A rough vacation he had!!!

Sentu is dog or cat???

Open your Pandora box, so that i can enter inside permanently.

You gotta make your MUM very mad...

Another Cup, 2014-World Cup Business

An exhilarating and escalating business is in full swing in Brazil with millions of world cup fans thronging the place. If you watch TV, most of the channels show clips of what’s going outside and inside the stadium. Brazilian civilizations and cultures, rich Brazilian arts, and artifacts are displayed just to get some bucks, and at the end of the day is everyone’s dream.

Not surprisingly, every corner of the world knows about the world cup. Another world cup is going on in every person's mind. The bet is going on. At my place, here in Chukha, the world cup business is in full swing. I would like to call this ‘another world cup’; people have lots of fun making money games. The gambling of bets is in full swing. Though the prediction of which team will win the world cup is only the god knows. The gamblers knew it, but with a dwindling chance. They look at the good players, but not as a team.

The quality of work has drastically reduced with this world cup. Subordinates, heads, and even laymen and the government servant are busy betting for their countries. Lots of fluke money is made and lots of money is gone. Works postponed and left, their mind inclined and eyes closed to the days’ works.

I think many school students will pass this year-this mid-term. Many teachers’ evaluators would just think a life of an individual is not so important as the world cup. With their unfinished sleep, they would go through a sentence or two and sum up the answer, or it would be vice-versa. They would give a big ‘0’ if their team lost, or to catch up the time for the cup.

Coming to the offices late and bullshitting in top noises will be common scenes everywhere. Sinecure workers! You join any group, a debate is in full swing, betting is in full swing. You could hear quarrels and noises late in the night, which cause nuisances to the neighbors, people in the houses. If it is to judge the quality of work this June and July, they should be paying half the salary; as they would have not done more than that. I heard, some even take casual leave to watch cup that is not yours in any way.

Tell Me Wai

From FB

I watched a movie called ‘Soong Na Oie’ yesterday. It is roughly translated into ‘Tell Me Wai’ (Soong Na Oie) and it is quite a run-of-the-mill one. Directed by an experienced filmmaker Mr. Tshering Wangyel is once again with one of his trite genres- love-story.  ‘Soong Na Oi’ reflects both sides of life; tradition and modern fashion. The protagonist, who seems to be an antagonist to his family needs shampooing his hair badly. Phurba Thinley, a swayer and pander monk says correctly that his hairs look similar to that of porcupine in the forest. This truly reflects our youth, a kind of Korean culture adapted by our youth, in which they love it. On the other hand, the female protagonist showcases the real simplicity of the village and the life in villages. So, we know that there will be an infusion of these two diverse lives in the end.

One dialogue that the viewers will remember is the frequent repeats of ‘Yeid May Na,’ and the rough translation could be ‘There is something.’ The moment he speaks, he starts with ‘Yeid May Na,’ and there is NOTHING in as such. The story is all told- run-of-the-mill and no different than his past movies. In fact, his past movies, that I had watched are far better than this one. The movie only becomes alive because of Phurba Thinley and Azha Namgay’s comedies, if not; this movie is not for elder citizens but a child-act-play. The movie has also many loud-earsplitting songs, which are mostly ‘I love you, you love me.’

The movie was shot mostly in the picturesque valleys of Bumthang and Paro. This striking background otherwise is the plus point for viewers. You got to see the greenery of Bhutan at least.

From FB

Other good part of the movie is in the ending part, as it is in other movies too. The side-splitting fights and dialogues keep one engage for a few minutes, then movie ends when it is supposed to be in climax. And as you know, the worst become good, and good overcome bad.

Darla School Literary Club-A Voice of Imagination

An Activity in Progress

Learners should be given freedom in gathering, structuring, and assembling their ideas. They should be allowed to understand, communicate and write freely. And proper guidance in their shifting ideas is all we need as an educator.

And so, School English Literary aims to fulfill that. As there is an increased demand for creative talent in every sphere of life, and it so has become prominent; as modern societies have grown more complex. In lieu, Literary aims to shape a man of parts in creating a wholesome human, and in calculating values of love, peace, understanding, and aesthetic values. It also helps one to model into a charismatic, trustworthy, or well-rounded individual.

Life is a concoction and creation of…. It helps to build a vision for them to live on. So, it tries to create a home away from home with a sense of imagination. They fly in the wings of imaginative ideas.

Likewise, there are many clubs in my school. Clubs in our school are strategically planned in writing with a full commitment, and they are executed properly. I believe that clubs are for stimulation, relaxation, and interest when they are fraught with physical and mental strife.

Various clubs like Health, Home science, Nature, Tarayana, Saloon, Maintenance, etc cater to the need of students. Come Wednesday (7^th period), every student from class four and above rushes and set aside for their respective club.  The clubs have their written, frames, aims, and objectives. The activities are carried out for an hour.

The main aim of our Literary Club is to help the members to enhance their language skills and nurture their language skills and nurture their literary talents. It will also encourage the club members and through them the other students to compose literary articles and maintain the literary board. We also conduct and carry out the activities planned for each club meeting successfully. And it will help the members to be competent in their awareness about the current affairs and GK.

Below are some of our activities for the year 2014:

1.       Play vocabulary games like crossword, jumble words, puzzles, etc.

2.       Sharing of experiences through verbal and written medium.

3.       Tell quizzes and riddles.

4.       Write creative articles like a short poem, short essay, short story, etc.(free writing activities)

5.       Instant creation of a story.

6.       Read interesting articles; creative and imaginative writing.

7.       Talk and discuss poetry, stories, novel, and drama (at least, they learn to appreciate, experience if not, and enjoy varied genres).

8.       Book review.

9.       Display articles on the board.

10.   Edit articles for the magazine.

11.   Enact short skit or play.

12.   Coordinate all school literary activities like debate, quiz, extempore speech, etc

A Wise Tree-Jangchub Shing

Do you watch a program called ‘Jangchub Shing’ hosted by Mr. Karma Dendup every Thursday on BBS 2? This program is of immense benefit to our viewers. I take out my time to watch the show. I would like to thank him for this show. He asks rebellious, but real-world questions. Kudos for awakening us to the basics of the Buddhist religion. I learned that there is a vast difference between religion and spirituality; religion leads more often to egotism than to humility, and spirituality leads more often to humility than to egotism.

Out of my unawareness or interest, I have asked him two layman questions last time, that if he could ask for it for better illumination. My first question was; the only path to spiritual enlightenment is understanding and grasping one’s mind. We can attain this by constant meditation and mental contemplation called ‘gom’ in Dzongkha. In other words, it’s basically knowing your soul; what is the soul? Shape? Colour? Size? Empty?... To attain the level of full realization, that is knowing the soul, is the highest level, and that one can be borne in the nirvana. But, the process of identifying the nature of the soul, whether the soul is empty or not, whether the soul dies or not; what is the soul? The concrete meaning of soul and its whereabouts is difficult to get from any Rinpocheas, as they say, that it is a secret, a kind of not sharable, cannot be revealed. If religion is for the benefit of all sentient beings, and if Rinpochea, Lamas, and sages, are to liberate all sentient beings, why do our saviors say it’s difficult to get this? Why it is not allowed to share easily? Why can’t it be shown so that we become Buddha-nature and liberate from the sufferings?

My second question was about the Buddha-nature. We say every human; in fact, every creature living is a Buddha himself. We have Buddha-nature. If we have Buddha nature, what inclines us to do the most treacherous things…? Which part of the demon/inside makes us do unsolicited things? Does every creature, for example, an ant has Buddha-nature? If animals have Buddha-nature, how can we/ they awaken their true nature? Is there anyways for animals to attain a better position? For example, pigs offering bodily (meat) help them to lift their lives?

I hope he will ask the questions, which he said, he would for sure. I can’t help (with many such questions, which I am going to ask next time) but feel the questions are unfair without understanding its true intent or even its basic teachings. But however, they are entitled to my views cause and based on my experiences.

So, can anyone light upon these topics, or do you have such questions hanging like goiter in your throat? If so, say it. Say it for the benefit of all. We know that there are many paths and they all lead to the same truth. But where is that path called the same truth?