Phuentsho's Ink

30/09/2022

04/11/2021

Two university graduates, Sonam Dorji and Sangay Dorji, from Dangdung village in Langthel, Trongsa, started commercial farming in May of this year and have employed six youths.

06/06/2021

23/05/2021

04/03/2021

एक और दिन एक और प्रतियोगिता!

इस बार हिंदी में - सभी भूटानी नागरिकों को एक किस्सा, एक कहानी या एक घटना बताने के लिए आमंत्रित किया जाता है, जो भारत भूटान मैत्री को हिंदी में दर्शाता है - अधिकतम 2 मिनट।

अपने videobytes को [email protected] पर ईमेल करें
अंतिम तिथि - 5 March

PMO India Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India Indian Council For Cultural Relations

24/01/2021

Congratulations

Binod Rai bags second position in international online chess competition

Binod Rai, 29, from Gelephu bagged the overall second position in a maiden chess competition conducted between Bhutan and Israel after establishing formal diplomatic ties in December last year.
https://kuenselonline.com/binod-rai-bags-second-position-in-international-online-chess-competition/

18/01/2021

:

The Prime Minister also said that Bhutanese living abroad can contact the Bhutanese Embassies for the COVID vaccine. Lyonchhen said if the host country provides the vaccine for free, Bhutanese living abroad should go for it and if they have to pay for the vaccine then the Bhutanese embassy will pay for them. Lyonchhen said, its a gift from His Majesty The King to every Bhutanese.

15/01/2021

Thank you Your Majesty 🙏🙏🙏

Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu, launched on 14 April 2020 to provide income support to individuals whose livelihoods were affected because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has granted Nu 1.4 billion to 34,384 individuals so far (including child support Kidu of Nu 50.2 million).

The Relief Kidu will be continued for three months, from January to March 2021 and will grant Nu 10,000 and Nu 7,000 as the full and partial amounts, respectively. Individuals who applied for or received Kidu in Phase III are NOT required to re-apply. Applications are open to new applicants who have been displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.royalkidu.bt/

15/01/2021

𝗔 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀

There comes a time in the life of a nation when the worst of adversities brings out the best in its people. One such time is now. One such nation is Bhutan. And, one such people are the Bhutanese.

Covid-19 was a bolt from the blue for the world and the news reverberated across the Himalayas, even in the otherwise unsuspecting, innocent Bhutan going about its normal rhythm of life. So, even as the first positive case of the virus was detected in a visiting tourist, the country was galvanised within hours and a national task force was promptly put in place to meet any potential eventuality.

“Not a single life should be lost to Covid-19” was the order from the King, who has been leading the collective effort from the front. Seven months on, there have been no fatalities, transmission episodes number around just 260, out of which some 80 cases are in isolation and the rest have recovered. But we have no illusion about the challenge that the unknown enemy poses.

Despite all the anxiety and uncertainty that still hangs in the air, this has become one of the truly extraordinary instances in which the whole nation of Bhutan has come together as a family. This moment has witnessed the spontaneous manifestation of national solidarity, outbursts of goodwill and volunteerism, and an uplifting sense of giving and caring across the country.

His Majesty has travelled multiple times to all the risk-prone areas to personally assess the situation and to provide moral support and reassurance to the front-line warriors posted in diverse locations. The government has emphasized the primacy of life over development work, which can be picked up and expedited as normality returns.

The young men and women in orange trained under the auspices of the De-Sung, meaning ‘Guardians of Peace’, are part of a programme initiated by His Majesty the King in 2011, and have been the bulwark of essential service delivery across the country during the national lockdown. In addition to patrolling border-entries and towns, these omnipresent guardians of peace help with the implementation of health advisory services in critical places, deliver medicines and safety-related items like masks, sanitisers, and soaps wherever needed, and assist state agencies in diverse ways.

To help home-yearning Bhutanese citizens stranded in foreign lands, chartered flights have been arranged by the government as directed by His Majesty the King. All returning youth who have unfortunately been rendered jobless are receiving monthly maintenance allowances from the state, as are local job-seekers. Payments of bank loans have also been deferred and interest on all loans waived for several months till the situation improves. Bank officials have been going around to villages with cash to make it available to people who cannot access banking facilities owing to the disruption of normal working hours and movement restrictions.

It is truly heartening to witness hotel owners offering their properties to be used as quarantine facilities by the government which meets all the tracing, testing, quarantining, isolating, food, accommodation and follow-up costs. Many house owners have also been waiving monthly rents, fully or partially, which has relieved tenants of much anxiety during these difficult times.

Many vehicle owners, travel agents, and taxi drivers have volunteered their services as their contribution to the national effort. The business and industry sectors have been making their share of input to support the government.

In this statewide effort, even villagers and farmers have been offering their farm and livestock production to the front-line heroes. Many households keep food items outside their homes for those in need and invite the front-line warriors in for meals and rest in appreciation of these service providers, who willingly distance themselves from their homes and families for fear of possible infection.

In solidarity with the government, all members of the parliament have donated one-month’s salary to the Covid-19 fund, while volunteers and well-wishers have also been pitching in, in big and small ways. It is indeed heartening to see the government and the opposition party working in perfect harmony to handle the virus-threat.

It must be rare in the world for the Queen of the country to personally prepare and deliver food and refreshments to the men and women in the frontline. But Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan has been doing precisely this for several weeks now – preparing nutritious food and refreshments for the health workers and other frontline warriors and support teams stationed all over Bhutan.
As a special act of love and care during these anxious times, all new-born babies across the country have also been receiving royal gifts from Her Majesty the Queen in hospitals and homes.
Touching messages of gratitude and prayer have been pouring in from across the country in acknowledgement of such royal affection and care.

At this time in Bhutan, the whole country has transformed into a veritable temple of worship with His Holiness the Chief Abbot presiding over sacred prayer ceremonies performed by the monastic institutions across the country for the well-being of the country, the citizens and people the world over.

The Office of His Holiness also made exceptional efforts to deliver – through our embassies and other diplomatic channels – sacred items invested with blessings and empowerment to all our Bhutanese citizens to keep them safe wherever they are in the world. The recipients of these surprise blessings from their beloved country when they are away from home, at a challenging time, have been moved beyond words as they express their gratitude to the noble souls for comfort and reassurance.

His Majesty has instructed that all demographic details be collected from citizens above 60 years of age from across the country. The elderly receive vitamin tablets, masks, sanitisers and soaps sent by the King to their homes.

An embodiment of compassion for all sentient beings – human and non-human - His Majesty the King has desired and directed that even the stray dogs on the street should not go hungry. To this end, personnel from the Royal Bhutan Army have been feeding the strays wherever they are during the lockdown when food becomes scarce for them.

Televised live music, dance performances and film-shows provide regular relief and entertainment during the lockdown and quarantine period. An unprecedented volume and variety of soul-healing music, uplifting songs and poems have been produced and presented by young and old to wish the country and citizens well at this difficult moment. Teachers have been going out of their way to help students in need. Public cooperation and adherence to safety protocols have been remarkable despite obvious inconveniences.

With all its challenges and the lingering anxieties, this unprecedented time has led to a heartening manifestation of positive energy, the spirit of caring and sharing, and the desire to reach out at an individual as well as at a collective level, prompted by the nobler impulses of humanity, that mark Bhutan out as a rare cradle of Gross National Happiness today.

These heart-warming expressions of national solidarity, born from the love of life and the urge to live as a united family, have even inspired me to publish a special tribute-anthology of reflections, representing a wide cross-section of the society, from pre-teen children to retired prime ministers and elders, on Bhutan’s response to Covid-19 titled Bhutan at Her Best: Sunrays through the rain.
A deeply loved People’s King has fulfilled, many times over, the pledge that Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck made in his Coronation Address to the nation on November 6, 2008:

“Throughout my reign, I will never rule you like a king. I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a brother, and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing. I shall live such a life as a good human being that you may find it worthy to serve as an example for your children. I have no personal goals other than to fulfil your hopes and aspirations. I shall always serve you, day and night, in the spirit of kindness, justice and equality’’.

Concluding the third mid-pandemic address to the nation on September 11, 2020, the Healer King embraced all his people at home and around the world: “You are all in my thoughts”.

Bhutan has hitherto managed to escape the worst thanks to the edifying demonstration of shared priorities and a common purpose, from humble peasants in remote villages to the high office of the head of state. The impulse to save and the will to serve to make Bhutan a veritable nation of healers during this global pandemic.

It is my fervent prayer that this re-germination of the old latent seed of humanity around the world and the soul-healing sunshine of goodwill and positive energy that Bhutan radiates now will become the new normal beyond Covid-19.

These precious gains are the assets that inspire what I call Revolution 5.0: The Return of the Human, that beckons us to reaffirm and to reassert the primacy of humanity before the exploitative, unsustainable and life-denying GDP-based mode returns and nullifies all our hard-earned benedictions.

Thakur S Powdyel
Former Minister of Education
Royal Government of Bhutan.

P.S. This article first appeared in 'THE OTHER HUNDRED'

15/01/2021

13/01/2021

11/01/2021

“There are many national policies and plans to prioritise but most important of all, we must empower the next generation. No matter how we think and reflect, study and analyse the situation, the answer lies in strengthening the youth-our children.”

His Majesty the King
Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

09/01/2021

The first page of exclusive content for paid subscribers of the Bhutanese only. Read it two days ahead of others before it is uploaded on the website.

For a year’s subscription M-BoB Nu 500 to the BoB Account Number – 100915844 with Account name – The Bhutanese.
For two years subscription send in Nu 1,000.

Then take a screenshot of the transaction and email it along with your email ID to [email protected] .
The PDF copy of the paper will be sent to you.

Please check the email address properly when sending your screen shot. In case you do not get your PDF copy call Sonam Dema 17801081.

Subscribe to stay ahead and support journalism.

Thank You,

The Bhutanese

06/01/2021

05/01/2021

Using his Brian to drive them away . 😁😁 Good thinking

04/01/2021

“I broke my arm one time and the funny thing is that this was the event that led me into the music field- a boy with a broken arm wanted to play the guitar. Upon my request, my parents bought me a guitar. There were hardly any proper music schools back then. Fortunately, my neighbour Ratna helped tune my guitar and also taught me a few chords. With no internet access or a music teacher, I had to learn on my own. Just a little way in, I knew that the thing I wanted to do in life was to become a music teacher to provide those with the desire to learn music an opportunity to do so. I used to play the guitar until I got a piano from a friend. I got the piano in exchange for a brand new jacket of mine that he borrowed but never returned. I was so in love with the piano that I missed three days of classes, just so I could stay home and learn to play it.

I was also passionate about electrical engineering. In high school, I had invented an earthquake alarm which could be used as a safety alarm. I even got a scholarship at Ugyen Academy after a teacher sent a recommendation for me because of my creation, although I wasn’t particularly good in studies. Being good in creative fields can have good potential in life. After high school, I was in a dilemma- music or engineering? When I decided to choose my passion, people were ready to be critics. They said music had no scope and that I was making a mistake. But my parents were fine with whatever decision I took. Additionally, I knew that music was my calling in life. Somewhere along the journey of trying to decide, I met someone who used to teach music in Druk school and also gave tutorials. I reveled in the idea of being able to make a living out of one’s passion. And thus I set my mind on becoming a music teacher someday.

I went to India to study music. I had to practice 9 hours a day just to catch up with my peers. It was difficult but I knew it was going to be worth it. I came back to the country in 2017 and without wasting any more time, opened my own music tutorial classes. I invested what I had, which was not much. To be a music teacher at Druk school was something I had always wanted. So when Drona and Sonam Wangchen, who were shooting the music video for “Hey Beautiful” at Druk school recommended me to the school Principal, I was beyond thrilled to receive a job offer from the school. I am now working at one of the schools I always wanted to work at. Dreams do come true- I am a testimony to that.

It’s amazing how life presents you with opportunities despite all the obstacles when you are determined to follow your passion. One such opportunity came to me right after I was done performing in a show. The popular band ‘Misty Terrace’ contacted me and asked me to join their New Year’s eve show in 2014. Soon after, they welcomed me as a part of their band. When everyone failed to see any scope in music, I saw possibilities. Nothing in life is easy so why not take risks and run after what we truly want? With pure intentions and constant enthusiasm for something you love, life will get gratifying. Yield to the temptations and the opportunities that fall your way, they may not pass again.”

02/01/2021

His Majesty The King and the ministers pose for a humourous photograph with unusual and centuries-old traditional masks at the Trashigang Dzong

31/12/2020

30/12/2020

28/12/2020

RIGSS is pleased to announce the names of the candidates selected for various positions at the institute, in the alphabetical order of their names, as follows:

26/12/2020

The Prime Minister Dasho (Dr) Lotay Tshering announced that the lady (50-year-old) who was identifie

25/12/2020

24/12/2020

23/12/2020

22/12/2020

Appeal from the Ministry of Health

22/12/2020

Hats off to all the heroes 👍🏻 conforming to the words of The King and in the service of Bhutanese . We can feel the pinch behind wearing those double or even tripled layered medical gown. Yet no complaints. 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🙏🙏

21/12/2020

Thank your Your Majesty 🙏🙏🙏🙏 going as down as to this level 🙏🙏🙏