Rinchey's Rhapsody

I dream a dream of being in my dreamland; Its tall buildings, landscape and vistas Fascinates me and soothes my aching soul. Its woods and planes do seem to me Like a magical world of dreams it be. But I shall question through eternity, Would the soil there smell of fraternity? And will the air smell of love? Will one live in freedom and age with dignity? Will a mother feed her children Love, warmth, sweat and blood? Will all people pray for you, Even when you mean none to them? Will people forgive in humbleness Or curse you in utter disgrace? If be not these in my dreamland, I would rot in a happy hell Than prosper in an unhappy heaven. The land full of hopes, the land free of guillotine, This is my land, my country Bhutan.                                                                                                  - Rinchen Phuntsho.

Teacher – by Choice or by Chance? I vividly recollect to this day how I stammered and stuttered while delivering a speech on this same topic as a final year trainee in the exalted Paro College of Education. My talk, then, centered on the behaviours of the trainees (including myself) juxtaposed to the expected behaviorism of a would-be-teacher. Now, five years into the service, the same question confronts me. Situation has changed considerably since the time we last attended the lectures at the Colleges of Education. New times bring forth new challenges. The syllabus has changed, the classrooms have changed, the class strengths have changed and so are the customs of the schools but have we changed to meet the challenges of the changing times? Are we who we have been many years before? Or have we undergone some amount of transformation in making ourselves congruent to the changed times? Do we judge a student’s performance by his/her academic transcripts? Do we take their cognitiv

The Unseen Fate Rabgyel, 30, was a tall and handsome man. Ongmo, 22 was a girl whose beauty could make any man turn and stare as she walked. Rabgyel and Ongmo were different in so many ways. While the former was shy and quiet, the later was frank, friendly and was fond of talking. Despite this, they were the model of a perfect couple. Their relationship was admired and much talked about by their friends. Apart from love and care, the strength and continuity of their relationship imprinted from their respect. They would look at themselves wonderingly at how perfect they looked together. After a year, Ongmo gave birth to a daughter named Tenzin. Their bond still continued with the same affection as if it was carved on stone. They were the happiest family in the community and very soon they became parents of two children. In due course of time, Rabgyel, working for the Ministry of health, got training for a year in Bangkok and Ongmo, a housewife stayed back at home looking after