Bottom of the ranking, but top of the world; story of Bhutan's Maiden world cup qualification 2018

Football is God’s Gift to the humanity.

History books are filled with sporting events which brought about peace, excitement and above all, unity amongst the people. Mandela unified South Africa through rugby. Rainbow nation’s rugby win against New Zealand in 1995, led then by a white Afrikaner became a huge symbol of racial reconciliation not just in SA but globally. Nigerians stopped civil war for two days in 1967 to watch Pele, king of soccer play. And our own Kings Cup final in 2013, when Yedzin played MMC Nepal, everyone flocked at Changlimithang to watch our boys play. After an intense national election, there was a need for national healing and football proved to be one.

Our football has come all the way from getting thrashed by Kuwait in 2000 for 20-0 to a rare win against Afganistan, 3-1, in SAFF games 2008, to a clean win of 3-1 on aggregate against Sri Lanka, Fifa World Cup qualification, round one for Asia’s bottom ranked teams. We were tagged as the world’s worst team according to Fifa Coca Cola ranking and were pitted against Sri Lanka, the second best team amongst the lowest ranking Asian teams. There was literally no hope to get even a draw against the team that defeated us on our last five matches against them. Let alone the Sri Lankan former captain who labelled their match with us as not even good enough to acquire experience, even we, the football fans at home, did not see any chance.

Team Bhutan thanking the crowd for the support.

History however was defied. And there was nothing sweeter than the victory. To everyone’s astonishment, our boys not only did double, but defeated Sri Lankans cleanly. We were all over the media, and top of the world. 17^th December is our national day, but now 17^th March, 2015, shall be as historic as our national day. We not only filled our stadium packed, people were sitting atop the wall, roof, fencing, and even on a mound of earth in a distant view. It was nothing lesser than our historic national day. The atmosphere was electric; there were waves (uncountable times), there were people cheering and eruption of joy. There can never be a justice if we describe the mood in words; it simply was AWESOME.

CG7 scoring the first goal.

The victory shall propel football enthusiast to a greater heights, thus, propelling country even to a greater height. Sports have always been more than just a game. In Spain after Cristiano Ronaldo was bought by Madrid, the potential prospect of having him play against Lionel Messi, not only improved their league, but also had Spain’s  tourist visit increased. Of course, our own Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), Chencho Gyeltshen  (CG7) had us handed a huge inspirational win. Bhutan’s tactic was pretty much like Portugal’s; get the ball to no.7 and let him do the wonders.  And HE DID WONDERS. The victory was our federations too for developing these players from their early teenage. The team with average age of 22 looks promising to at least look forward for a good decade of football. With Kings Cup and artificial turfs, our national team’s awe-inspiring performance is a cheery on top.

From the bottom of the ranking, we are today on top of the world. Let the Dragon roar.

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Fifa World Cup in Bhutan

Football, the global religion, like any other country, has taken our country completely to another level of global excitement and celebration. Today, we have every kids wearing jersey of famous footballers, idolizing the football gods, and enjoying the every bit of game not just in television but also in a playing ground. The artificial turf, which is the only above standard football ground for us at the moment is always occupied with the football matches from morning 8 AM to 12AM midnight. And the heavy fee which ranges from Nu.2500-Nu. 5000 per match doesn’t deter people to come all the way from Trongsa to come and play a one and half hour match. It just shows how much Bhutanese are into the football.

Even with such craze, Bhutan participating in the FIFA world cup remains the most dreaded dream of ours. Bhutan’s only international tournament is SAFF championship, where Bhutan remains an undisputed underdog of the tournament. The tournament of course helps our players give the exposure, however, whether Bhutan have the capacity to host the tournament or not, we have not been able to get the nods from the governing body to organize it in our country.

FIFA world cup trophy which will be landing here in Bhutan. Photo courtesy; www.kuenselonline.com

TheFifa world cup trophy, as a part of its world tour would be brought to Bhutan in December. Fifa with more members than the UNO, kind of deserves a big applaud for promoting the event and in a way, bringing the globe together for the common cause of leisure and oneness. For Bhutanese aspiring footballers, this prestigious trophy landing in our soil would surely serve to instill the new enthusiasm. And it would surely inspire our Football Federation to promote and help the football education receive enough attention and instigation.  Of course, BFF is already up with another artificial turf at Changjiji which translates into more facility, more football, more enjoyment and more financial outcome. 

The other final trophy

Well, for the record, we are past that 2002 event where FIFA organised the football match called ''the other final", when Bhutan took on Montserrat, then the two lowest ranking countries in FIFA ranking, coinciding with the FIFA world cup final 2002. Today we are 207th out of 209 countries. However, Montserrat has moved on to 193rd. 

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The Jobs, youth and cost of lifestyle

These days the job providers always claim that there are enough jobs for our unemployed youth and yet, our youth prefer to stay unemployed. It triggered me to kind of defend these youths who are left unemployed and kind of think why there are so many jobs that are rejected by the youth even though most of them are succumbing to the harsh realities of unemployment.

I got myself employed for a job in a consultancy till I decided what to do; whether to appear common civil service exam or start my career in private entrepreneurship. My boss who is an architect tells me on that particular day of my employment that these days the house rents have doubled, food expenditure has also doubled, fuel prices have also doubled, but on the other hand, architects fees have gone half. It struck me right up.

There was a point, in fact a strong one. The rise in the expenditure and the raise in salaries, never go equally. In Thimphu alone, one does not get a house for less than 8000 nu/month. For a simple person who is working in a company that manufactures furniture cannot afford a house of Nu.8000 with his meager salary of Nu.6000. The quality of life to be good and healthy would mean to have a proper space to cover one’s head, proper clothes, proper food and good facilities. Let alone about getting his kids into a proper school, or helping his aged parents with some money at the end of the month or during the annual puja, simple living standard is also beyond his ability. We live in a situation where job qualities do not match the living expenditure. House rents are like touching sky, and even then we have shortages of houses which would mean that the escalation in the rents would be unarguable in near future.

Let’s talk about government jobs. Firstly, whenever we have youth unemployment increasing so much, everyone stares at Labor Ministry, now perhaps more than that we might stare at our government as they promised 100 % employment. Every year thousands of graduates flock to Thimphu in search of jobs. Looking at the number of jobs created by government and private sectors, the job intake would mean that we are way short of the jobs which these graduates would take up proudly and enthusiastically. There are also situations, where students are sent outside to study some courses by RCSE and DAHE only to come back and find that there are no jobs suited for the course which s/he was sent to. Either the course is so hi-tech that government does not find the need of employing a person who has mastered in such a big course or the government has not been able to find the place where the studied education could be placed into use. Where do we blame?

Picture Courtesy- Bhutan Observer.bt

And there are youths who are trained in vocational training institutes, and yet we have foreigners working even in the construction of simple structures. At a glance, we might blame our youth for the pride that one cannot digest, but no one looks at the job quality like better salary, respectful environment. Today, even the most skilled carpenters have lost their jobs, it can be attributed to the change in the construction style, but still, for the required work, and our contractors prefer to get Mr. Kumar from Cooch Behar as he is less costly.

We live in an age where costs of needs are exceedingly higher than what we earn. And it seems like we really don’t have answer for these various implications which are the adverse affects of the development of the city. Today, government has stopped providing loans, and banks would dry up, more problems would follow. The ever tiring farming job which is not lucrative as working in a road side would be forced upon. We live in a ever changing age, and the ripple effect of the change is so strong to bear.

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Kings Cup- Outdoing its Expectation

Last May, kings cup final was played between, Real Madrid and its city rival, Atletico Madrid. And to my utter disappointment, real Madrid lost. However, I always liked to believe that luck denied Real Madrid. It isn’t normal that Ronaldo, Ozil and Di Maria all hitting the wood work. It was a last match of Mourinho before he left the club for Chelsea. And now its been almost two and half months, and we have a different King’s Cup, a tournament born in our own turf.

Yedzin celebration after a win against 3 Star. Picture Courtesy; goalnepal.com

Kings Cup, as hyped as it is, it has lived up to the expectation, even to a point that it brought people together, or rather gave a respite after a much hyped election. The national healing was necessary, and thus, football proved it more than just a game. When we see many people cheering for Bhutanese teams, and for that matter, even when our people jumped off their seats when United Sikkim equalized in the dying minutes of the semifinal match, it reminded me the Invictus, a movie on Nelson Mandela. The rugby game apparently unites the country. (Forgive me for the comparison if our small tournament do not merit such praise, but for the frog in the well thinks well is the world, and I am happily letting the thought pass)

Today, we have a final match. Yedzin has come long way from being the national league champions to beating Nepal’s3 Stars which was considered to be one of the best teams of Nepal to playing in the final match. It will be a good match between Manang Fc and Yedzin FC, at least, we will be cheering for the Bhutanese team. I remember myself sitting with my small group of friends in Delhi amongst many Indian football fans, watching Bhutan play India in SAFF. It was such a belittling moment as the Bhutanese team was outperformed by the Indian players and we couldn’t even cheer. Already our number was too small, that we had to endure the Bhutanese players hardly getting the ball. However, today it’s a different scenario, we have the crowd, we have the team performing well, and above all, its our own turf, the variables looks good to come out with the good equation.

Yedzin FC team. Picture Courtesy- Goalnepal.com

Good luck Yedzin, and let’s hope today’s tournament is the beginning of so many football festivals in times to come. It is so much an economic boost, while it is an entertainment loved by everyone. We can expect our league to improve with every team vying for the place in the Kings Cup tournament.

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...and the chorten weeps silently in the cold night

Amidst the wind singing the glory of nature as it swayed over the meandering cheerful river, prayers flags, those tattered and torn danced to the song of wind. Their fluttering often shook the old wooden pole on which they were hoisted. Yet, merry was all over the hill. Faraway, the basking yellow ray is disappearing behind the white peaks, and Chorten, in its miserable ruin was weeping silently. 

Prayers flags in their old frayed self gathered to ask, “What’s the matter?”

Only a commanding wind made the weeping of old Chorten noisier, however.

“There were times, when whole village was built around me,” Chorten begin to recite his old faded memory, “in fact my friends were also revered important that they were held above everything and worshiped as a seat of sacredness.”

“But people still come and worship you. What’s bothering you with that sadness?” in a roaring wind, one of the swaying prayer flags comforted his old compatriot.

“These are few, who wear red robes and wrinkles on their faces. There used to be a time when I used to be rich with sacred relics inside me, and once in a month, on a day which would be followed by a full moon, whole village would come and offer prayers led by venerable beings. I used to rejoice in merry.”

The wind has now ushered the strong cold hail storms. Prayer flags shivered strongly as the shredded cloth pieces fluttered even stronger.

“I have had the opportunities in my life to know many of your predecessors,” Chorten now felt the pain of prayer flags as well, “Once pompous and colorful ancestors of yours withstood even stronger winds than this. They were always singing something or the other, only when there was a strong sunshine, they felt alone as people stayed inside the house. There were no soul to circumambulate”.

“Even being glamorous is also short lived,” one of the prayer flags stuttered, “We succumb to our age earlier than you.”

“...which is a good thing. At least the fire burns your ruined body!” Chorten sighed, “I don’t even have the luxury of it. I am left to the merry of tourists visiting the place. Ruins excite them.”

“Within my ruined parts, history is captured,” folks unfortunately takes pride. “But the history is nothing if sacredness has evaporated long into the fading time. History needs memories to be alive”

“I was vandalized couple of times; my prized possessions were taken out and were never returned back. Earlier people panicked and rebuilt me again, but with roads invading the villages, rich folks have cloned me with alien materials. Stones engraved with holy lines, people worshiped them, but now alien materials have also overtaken their places in the folks’ mind. Folks used to flock here and camp their journeys through me, and happily I offered them the shelter, and now even the ones who come purposely to visit me go back with few clicks and snaps.”

“I was built over a place where a great lama once subdued the deity. I have ever since tried my every bit of self indulgence to repay the faith of the great lama and the villagers by peacefully blending with the landscape”.

Every little thing that exists on the earth is vulnerable to the change and succumbs sadly to the new urge of ours. History is lost in a change and we let it be. Our biggest strength lies in your cultural identity and these chortens form a bigger part of our cultural landscapes. It forms the image of our place and reminds us of our religion.  

Photo courtesy: http://www.scmp.com

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Youth and youthful follies

Remember the words of our beloved His Majesty the king that future of the country rests in the hands of our youth who would become the citizens of tomorrow? Well, one should as it has become nonetheless the most spoken of slogans in school speeches, Dashos’ addressing, principals’ advises, and of course a pet line for a blogger like me to even begin my post on youth and related subjects. And most ironically, we are today in an age where youth problems have not only become a common problem but also has threatened the safety of many other around. It’s no mystery or a joke for that matter if a fully grown up man is scared to walk alone in night around the street corners. Personally my parents would always caution me even when I am late by few hours at home in the evening. And they are not being strict parents but a concerned folks shaken up by the stories of youthful follies, crimes and incidents floating around frequently in papers and of course in talks around the neighborhood.

http://chetankejriwal.wordpress.com/

In a week, there are lots and lots of incidences where out of fight, a young man is stabbed or wounded, and it is just as frequent as any unwelcome guest. The society is threatened of its peace and even worse sometimes when a source that which threatens your neighbor is but your own son. Through my personal experience, I am sometimes haunted by the thoughts of an acquaintance who was stabbed in Lobesa and succumbed to death later on in Punakha hospital. Its unbelievable, my friends that yesterday you were talking, joking and having a fun with a person and today he is killed by certain young guy who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. And such trend has now picked up at an alarming rate, and it’s something that which should worry everyone before like a cursed plague, it starts contaminating the whole civilization.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/

It’s becoming a trend as if it’s something that should spread to become a culture. Our lives are threatened not by the bombs of terrorist attacks but definitely much more alarming than it, the acts of our younger generations. The parenting and schooling is now called upon for extra responsibilities and not only them, even ourselves as a part of the society who have in some ways contributed in building such threatening youth nuisance is called upon to start thinking of making younger generations a crop of tomorrow’s citizen as envisioned by the King.

Youths of Bhutan are in stabbing spree, and we are still not wondering about the ones who let the dogs out? If we are threatened to roam around in the city, then its always wiser to groom the ones in our house to a better person so that he doesn’t go before you and you get scared to move around. If charity starts from house, then misfortune also begins from it.

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Bhutan's famous win over Afghanistan in 2009 SAFF appears futuristic with 5-0 loss to India in 2011

It’s been 30 minutes and the score board read Bhutan 0- India 0.  This is football, bhaiya! Not the kind of game you guys are crazy of- cricket, of which India is the reigning world champions. And in football, we would definitely show you how to kick it, my mind was going crazy with overwhelmed pride, I was proud of Bhutanese footballers playing against India. India can concede more than a half dozen to other countries, of course not the ones who are playing in SAFF competition, but with Bhutan of whose football team, let alone the world, even our counterpart Indian friends doubt of having one to play against is now giving a tough time. Every dog has its own day. And it seemed like we are going to have a decent match although we don’t have hope that we will win it until we ended up conceding 5.

Bhutan's Goal keeper closing the goal for Sunil Chhetri

The stadium which boasts of being second largest in the world has few hundred spectators gathered. If it was cricket, scene would have been definitely different. Five of us sat amongst many other Indian friends to cheer for the match. Amidst the noises and chants of ‘India’ ‘India’, five of us were as dead as our football team. Let alone the pressure from Bhutanese side, they hardly touched the ball. And we could cheer only when Bhutanese players touched the ball, and it didn’t last more than few seconds. The first goal was lucky for Indians as it came out in set piece, corner kick, but second goal, third and fourth and fifth, the tale was building up beautifully for our Indian friends who do not get much to feel delighted about their team and they have now one to feel cheerful even though most of them know only one players name- Chhetri, I doubt whether they knew who Chhetri was for it was certainly not Dhoni or Tendulkar as they shouted only Chhetri for any forward players. And amidst all these heavy heart wrenching experiences building in front of us, I looked around searching familiar faces. Of course I couldn’t guess the person but definitely gloomy and dumb faces certainly looked Bhutanese. And with game almost death, I couldn’t keep my eyes away from scoreboard and thinking that I have to sit down for few more minutes.

On the day of Bhutan’s first match against Sri Lanka, I was quite disheartened with the channel Ten Action for not broadcasting the live match. It seemed insulting to show a match from I-league which was not live match also. If Ten Action sponsored to telecast the SAFF cup live on TV, then they must show all the matches. Watching live match, I didn’t mind them not showing it live though it would have been nice at least to watch Bhutan play live in TV for my own first time experience.

Bhutanese players looked like a bunch of young kids asked to look for the ball and when found the ball, they were not told what to do with it. In the stylish hairstyles, our young amateurs (as often the commentator describes) lacked everything. If one was not playing the game plan, then I expected some physical play, which our young friends couldn’t do as they were too weak in front of Indian counterparts. The coach was the first person from Bhutan team to leave the field, and looking at him, I wondered whether he mistook the SAFF cup to be young kids’ championship. The goal keeper, my friend who is four years junior to me says was his two years junior in school. Of course goalie deserve every applaud. If it was not for him, we would have had enough goals for whole Bhutanese team assuming that five goals were one each for five of us. Bhutan’s famous victory over Afghanistan in 2009 SAFF looked so futuristic suddenly.

Bhutanese supporters enjoying the match

Well, watching it losing without having a proper attack on opponent’s goalie who made fun by jogging along the goal line during the match as he was left without having to do anything, I wondered how long Bhutan will take to give a good competitive match. How long it will take for Bhutan to have players who can amaze us and make us feel proud? And in all those pondering, I found out that we can never be at the level to offer the competitive challenge. In the past, India might have not agreed to participate in world cup for whatever reasons unknown, we are interestingly the first country to even disagree on playing a world cup qualifying match now. We are way behind in terms of sporting education and achievements. In other parts of world, sport events brings whole broken nation together, adds country’s major part of economy through sport’s revenue, and celebrates it as a entertainment festival, we have our few Bhutanese people having a rather good time playing in a field, not even a football ground. Well, it’s a matter of time, when country’s economy grows, we could perhaps expect these facilities to also grow. As of now, let’s pass on the joke that 5-0 against India who has such sporting facilities and academies could score only five against our young team.

After the match was over, players heading to dressing room

After the match was over, it was a nice feeling though when Indian fans cheered for Bhutanese footballers as they walked out of the field. They shouted, ‘Bhutan’ ‘Bhutan’.

“My team may play bad, but I am Bhutanese and I am here for them,”’ Chimi my friend echoed as he kept on wearing a headband which was painted with Bhutanese flag.

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SAFF tournament live on Ten Action+, time to cheer Bhutan on Live TV

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/10-ways to pursue happiness

So far the avid football viewers have only watched big European teams in premier leagues, la-liga and Champions league in television. Gluing ourselves in front of a TV during the weekends cheering the teams which don’t have anything with our damn life, our enthusiasm of supporting a team in Europe goes even to an extent by going to Lhakhangs to pray for the team’s success, we undeniably announces our strong madness for football. And this madness is not just within the group who enjoys playing football but amongst the ones who do not know how to kick around the ball as well.

And there are few people in empty stands of Changlimithang sitting idly and watching our Bhutanese league. One doesn’t even know the team let alone the players. All that people cheer when someone scores is by the kit number. Such is our lifestyle, we know people around the world but we have rejected the people around ourselves, somehow we have lost the interest to know them.

Well, I think events which are somehow available at a very cheap cost of perhaps events broadcasted in mediums which are accessible could perhaps bring the people together. It might bring the neighbours together and discuss about our own players, our own team. This goes beyond football.

This time, SAFFtournament which is going to be held in India shall be broadcasted live in Ten Action+. Yes, South Asian Football Federation cup in which Bhutan in 2008 famously reached semi-final and nearly beat India that the match has to go to extra time. The tournament will start from 2^nd December and end on 11^th December. Bhutan is the least ranked team amongst the eight nations competing in the tournament. Bhutan is grouped with India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Don’t forget to check in your TV on 3^rd December at 6.30 BST, Bhutan will play Sri Lanka. And on 5^th, at same time, Bhutan will play the host India and last group match on 7^th against Afghanistan at 3.30 BST. For sure, this time round one might be cheering for Dorjis, Kinleys, Wangchuks, Sonams, for the first time in TV for most of us. Good luck Team Bhutan.

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Wishing His Majesty Fourth king birth anniversary on the 11.11.11

The country was going through turmoil with the cloak of grievances looming over the nation with untimely demise of the third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the young prince, then just 17 was to ascend to the golden throne forgetting that he is just a boy who would love but to grow up by enjoying his teenage. After two years, he was officially crowned as the fourth king of Bhutan. 

The youngest monarch in the world then was indeed entrusted with many responsibilities most of which can often be credited as the vision of our father of modern Bhutan, the third king. And much to the contrary, the niche of our young king was filled but with very few educated officials then to the huge task of taking Bhutan ahead.

However, during the reign of 34 years as the king of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk proved blessing to the people of Bhutan. His legacies echo through the history of Bhutan’s development from an isolated Buddhist kingdom to a peaceful and developing Himalayan kingdom. His vision translated into an unprecedented happiness and socio-economic prosperity. While maintaining a conservative cultural values and tradition, Bhutan emerged to the forefront of the world as exemplary and a proud nation of measuring country’s wealth on the basis of country’s happiness. It was always the people who mattered and often in His Majesty’s words, the well being of country’s people and active participation of people were always heard. Today, Gross National Happiness has stretched its importance even inside the power of United Nation that UN unanimously accepted the concept as the millennium goal. And to be the loving citizen of the architect behind such visions which is embarking onto change the history of world, can there be any reason more to feel proud of.

He is popular today around the world for bringing about so many reforms in the country including his own abdication of throne in favour of his own son and of course introducing the constitutional democracy in the country much against the wishes of the people who wanted the absolute monarchy to continue flourishing. 2008 saw the first elected country’s government, and king with his son, the present king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk guided throughout the changes. While in some countries around the world, peace of people is torn apart by the fights amongst the power mongers, we have here the kings who share their powers with the people. Same year, for the first time in the history of Bhutan, the king crowned another king.

His Majesty crowning the fifth king

And on 11^th November, 2011, our beloved Father, His Majesty celebrates 56^th birth anniversary. Let’s join the people, government, monastic schools and the nation in offering prayers and wishes for the long and peaceful life of our monarch. Let us all pray that our beloved king continue guiding the country, people and the king prosperously and peacefully.

With queen mother

Long Live the King!

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Tale of two Diwalis

Two years back, much contrary to the festive mood around Diwali, I almost landed up handicapped to my already battered body. In the midst of cracking lights and sounds, I let the cracker lose in my hand. The sound was so strong that after two days of having numb ears, I approached a doctor only to know that in my left ear, there is a perforation in my ear drum. It was a disaster. I felt like that the bomb that blasted in my hand went out once again, this time shattering myself with a big thunderous fear. After thorough check up, doctor advises me on operation. The artificial membrane has to be fixed and it would cost me around 13 grand. Even though, I was not having enough money, I almost signed the papers. On my friend’s advice, I hesitated. What if during operation something goes wrong? What if I never recover properly after operation? What if........? I was taunted more by these questions of fear.

Sometimes, miracles do happen. I went to AIIMS and to my utter surprise, doctors there advised me to not to worry. The membranes inside will grow up on its own. It takes six weeks to heal fully. It was the happiest thing I ever did I felt. A friend in AIIMS helped me to complete the medical check-up. It was a good lesson for me to not to get bamboozled by doctors who are greedy for money, or to say that one should always look for government hospitals. I would have done the unthinkable if I agreed on operation. My memorable Diwali, lasted for a month and half, and I am more than happy to have no problem at all in my ear.

And this year, under the thundering sounds and cracking lights of diwali, unlike few years back, I was standing in front of His Majesty the king in Delhi Embassy. If I have missed everything in royal wedding, king and queen’s audience just after few days of wedding, I can never ask for anything more. It was my second audience with the king in two years.

Unlike wearing the cottons in my ear, this time, after diwali, I went to the college wearing the shirt gifted by the king.

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His Majesty's audience in Delhi Embassy

Under the shattering sky

That roared with colourful lights

We waited for the arrival of a king

Hundred from places far and away

To greet the Royal Couple.

King, as ever modest

Introduced the beautiful queen

And the crowd ruptured into excitement

When the king kissed the queen.

And the majestic moment

With a tea in the lawn

Continued as their majesties

Walked around the crowd.

Of wisdoms and of values

King echoed with light humours.

Than of such gracious audience

From the much loved king

Can there ever be such a treat

On the festive occasion of diwali.

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Royal Wedding; Pictures with thousand memories

HM announcing his wish to marry Jitsuen Pema on 20th May, 2011

Jitsuen Pema with the King

Royal Bride Jitsuen Pema, a day before royal wedding in Punakha Dzong.

Finally on 13th October in Punakha Dzong

King and the Royal Bride

And the queen is crowned

Posing for journalists around the world who came for royal wedding

Walking down towards the people who are waiting outside to have the glimpse of Royal Couple

His Majesty and the queen walking through the crowd's greetings.

Receiving Khada from the crowds

Thimphu waiting for His Majesty and the Queen, 14th October, 2011.

Finally His Majesty and the queen arrives in Thimphu.

Third day 15th Oct, in Changlimithang.

His Majesty kissing the queen much to the delight of the crowd.

Finally on the lips. HM said before kissing her, "I must kiss your queen."

Happy amongst the joyous crowd.

celebration continues

HM dancing with members of parliament ...

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A kiss to a queen, With Love from the king

Not so much though

Like a knight

On a galloping horse

Taking away the princess

And filling her dreams

With fairytales,

Our king

Much to the delight

Of the blessed crowd

Kissed the newly crowned queen

And it shall thus remain

In the folds of memories

Of lots gathered there

As the happiest gift

From the people’s king.

Let the history

Be of not only victories

But also of love

Of one kiss

Which seized the heart

Of our beautiful queen.

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On the joyous Occasion of Royal Wedding

Faraway behind the curls of joyous clouds, behind the beautiful mountains capped with pristine snow, behind the standing trees of mother green, behind the oceans where the flying birds disappear, behind the curling roads which leads to many other curling roads, and within the little Himalayan kingdom whose treasured history is filled with reign of gracious monarchs, where peace have always prevailed to make its imminence embedded in not just religion but also a daily affairs of its loyal subjects, history shall began yet another  imperial chapter with the pageantry glorified in the chapter of history with not just historic but a heartfelt occasion with the holy marriage of our King. Once again, thousands of Bhutanese will rejoice upon the beaconing of not only historic but also a heart touching fairytale of royal wedding ending towards the new dawn in the annals of Bhutan’s ever harmonious history. The occasion as royal as such, marks another milestone in the reign our humble king, and to be actually blessed with beautiful and humble queen, can there be anything sacred than such occasion to us as a loyal and happy citizens of Bhutan.

As I sit down to scribble this felicitations, how much I wish that if I could paint this ever treasured possession of my heart to be able to pay my utmost respect and prayers for the harmonious union on the canvas that which shall never wrinkle and always be there in life as the dear achievement any loyal citizen is remembered with. Human history is not short of stories of love and thus the tranquil it has heralded upon, but never were an occasion where I could be much a part of than this Royal Wedding which insights not just extraordinary feelings but a historic great. Ergo even though I am faraway in the land miles away from the peaceful wedding hub, Drukyul, with much joy, I celebrate this heavenly feeling of excitement.

It seems to be only few days ago when His Majesty, much to the delight of Bhutan, announced the desire to marry Jitsuen Pema, then the unknown woman whom our king described as young, warm and kind in heart and character, the qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience which will make her a great servant to the nation. And that through the union, he shall have a queen who supports, works and serve the people and country. Time in the merrymaking of such joyous tidings, nation once again came into a overwhelming mood to look forward to the much awaited moment that most of us has not even realized that it’s been almost five months. And as royal merit respect, I respectfully thank His Majesty for letting one forget the daily toiling of life and anticipate merrily for this occasion.

Truly, by the certain graceful deeds in the last few months of our queen, Ashi Jitsuen Pema, there is little doubt (which would of course be so much unholy even to think of one) left in us, loyal citizens, of whose joy our king, humbled as People’s King concerns. She embodies the perfect human being saddled with qualities which are best described as cheerful, beautiful, supportive and humble. In the times of such modernized era, when fashion intrudes into everyone’s heart and soul, Her Majesty the queen, still embodies the perfect character of cultured woman, an epitome of a soul nurtured with one’s rooted culture and nourished with wisdom of heavenly earth. It is with utmost pride that we can continue to live in Bhutan and serve the king with a new hope of harmony in the country where the king is supported with an ever intelligent queen who has not just the wisdom highly noted but also a care and love for king and the people. 

And well, to describe the king and his indulgent qualities, no amount of words would suffice to describe it. It can sometime be argued so much without doubt that it is something that should be felt and be rejoiced of than trying to describe it in words. Heavenly happiness and peace through the benevolent reign of certain king worshiped as next to god, it can only be felt. And to be blessed with a union between such two, there is nothing so extraordinary happening on earth than this one. It is a time for us to pray for everlasting happiness upon our country.

Nation shall sing the song of happiness, unity, loyalty and sovereignty. Monasteries shall lead the beads of prayers which thus shall be heard by the thousands residing in high and low, plain and narrow, and it shall be lavished with greater wishes and prayers. Offices will remain closed with the time graced to mark the occasion as nation embarks on new history, schools shall dance to the tunes of happiness and excitements around. For once and all, Bhutan shall rejoice in the glory of our King’s marriage solemnized in Heaven. It heralds new beginning, a journey that we begin with the happy royal wedding. Tomorrow when the history is read, let this occasion be one of the most exciting and the extraordinary events in the pages of our peaceful history.

As for me and my wishes, a heartfelt prayers that I am conveying, I shall ignite it with vigor enough to crawl upon the curling clouds, climb over the white snow mountains, run along the great Indian plains, row over the waves of oceans, pass across the standing trees of green earth, defy the torrent winds and thus be there together with you all’s prayers that it shall be hidden in the folds of the holy scarf His Majesty would wear. Thus it shall console me of the fact that I am unfortunately not around Bhutan to be a part of the time called upon to witness the greatest event in our glorious history.

Let the peace and Happiness prevail always in Bhutan.

May God bless the King and the Queen!

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