Let us March Forward!

Uh! It is time to stretch our arms, rub our eyes, straighten our necks, take deep breath, and shake our heads to lighten the pressure that remained mounted on our body. We have done our part, done well. We have appropriately and adequately waved farewell to our first half of academic session 2013. It has come to a satisfying end. Teachers and students came together; resources polled and used, new initiatives made, old ways thanked and made to respite by new innovations, we have designed and created, participated and won. In short, all these are to sum up the activities our school has carried out in our glorious past. Thanks to everyone; teachers and students, Dzongkhags and ministries, departments and agencies, for lending us their relentless support when we were at the helm of endeavors that exerted pressure for unlimited wants. We got our support much before our energy to reckon got exhausted. I am extremely gratified. I credit successes of our school onto your names.
My expression of gratification does not end here. It will drag on as long as education drags on. The process of education is eternal. It must pull on with all its accessories. The never-ending journey of education is well expressed by Lord Alfred Tennyson when he says: ‘All experience is an arch wherethru’ gleams that untraveled world, whose margin fades forever and forever when I move.’ We cannot have education in isolation either. All over again, I may need your hands and hearts, your paramount support, your willingness to sacrifice time and sleep, your perseverance to travel through misty and alien worlds, and your preparedness to explore and discover new heights. Pursuing education is like climbing up a straight pole. We may not reach the top in our first few attempts. But altogether, it is not impossible. Howsoever straight and slippery the pole may be, we have acrobats who do it with the least energy. This is made possible by constant and repeated practices.
Let us unite and march forward. Our grater competitors lie in the close proximity of our school with its armour fastened well and all necessary weapons. They are over-confident in thought to defeat us and divert our course through the roughest and darkest gorges where they would easily ensnare us. Where would we go then? We are trapped in between devil and the death. To fight death is impossible. I see a ray of hope in fighting against devil no matter how monstrous and grotesque it looks. Preparation is what is required to fight to win. It is nothing daunting and deadening.
Teachers of Baylling have all necessary requisite for students’ preparation.  This is neither sycophancy nor self praise. We have armour set aside for deserving students.  Teachers always nourish dreams about students and when fulfilled relish its jovial satisfaction. Teachers do not mind lending their precious Excalibur (Sword of Legendary King Arthur believed to possess mystic power. Here, synonymous with knowledge teacher possesses) to anyone. However, no matter how sympathetic teachers are with students, they cannot fight wrathful enemies. Teachers have fought and won. Now they are at the apex of mountain waiting for students to win and join them. Despite having unfathomable desire to help students fight, rules forbid them to descend from top to the plains.
Drive to prepare to win must sprout out from students. It is individual student to harness dreams of victory and prepare accordingly. Tolerate minute inconveniences that may impede your ways; turn failures to opportunity by using logic, learn that success is an end result of hard work, persevere- for victory may never be realized at first attempt, sacrifice-is difficult but worthy at times to reap plump sweet fruits. In culmination, students must remember lot more demands to cling on to like reflecting upon poor parents’ condition at home, imagining how difficult and downtrodden one would become if not prepared well for competitive job worlds, understanding the type of leadership His Majesty dreamt of while mentioning ‘The youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow’, questioning the purpose of your being in school, and contemplating about your deeply rooted responsibilities of serving the King, Country and the People.

I bestow my warmest regards and the very best wishes to all Baylling HSS family members, in this second 2013 academic session. May unconquered parts be conquered, undiscovered treasure from books be discovered, works incomplete gets completed, and unpleasant changes shape and become pleasant! May disasters, misfortunes, tides of undesired commotion, and unexpected friction resulting from indiscipline not find its breathing space in our territory!

Goodbyes

We are aware that relieving many teachers together to go to other schools is never viewed good. It often makes people click their tongue with doubts and sense of loss, brings contempt like why should administration let many teachers go together, raises suspicion like whether it is not the result of poor management. Even to management, it is uncertain whether the replacement we shall have can be equally competent and experienced as teachers who left us. However, the reasons why many teachers are transferred this year are none of the above.

They have their own obligations which are beyond the control of management:

1.       Mr. Chimi Dorji (Promotion as Vice Principal, no place in Baylling for VP)

2.       Mrs. Sonam Choden (by default being the wife of Mr. Chimi Dorji)

3.       Mr. Sonam Tobgay (on marital ground, as his wife is working at Paro)

4.       Mrs. Deki (on marital ground, her husband is working under REC at Yonphula)  

5.       Mr. Sangay Rinchen (has to look after his aged parents)

6.       Mrs. Lungten Seldon (store in-charge, wife of Mr. Sangay Rinchen)

7.       Mr. N. K. Muley (served for 11 long years at Baylling, wishes to experience school with large students before he leaves back for his country).

With heavy heart, great sense of loss, the above staff and their invaluable contributions to our school were acknowledged on 16^th December 2013. Wish all of them all the very best in their new places of posting.  

A Letter from Principal to students on the Eve of Departure

My Dearest Students,

How different time is today from the time we met in the beginning? It was spring; everything was greening, blooming, welcoming and rejuvenating. We enjoyed the mirth of its bountiful offerings. We danced to the tune of the soft wind; we got drunk in the nectar of its beauty. We celebrated many faceted victories in the grandeur, many a times. We braved and faced and overcame difficulties with ease. Difficult times that unfolded its evil snare to trap us in were molded into opportunities and used as ladder for us to climb and reach the unreached. Difficult tasks stooped low against our unifying forces and made it appear humble. We have never tasted defeat.

In peace and tranquility, we have learnt to weave tapestry of different color and design that would definitely find its place of importance in life. We have with utmost joy, learnt the art of living. Education is indispensable. Education is eye-opener. Educated persons can easily be distinguished from the uneducated persons: their thought differs immensely, work they initiate result in high yields. Unlike in the past, we now know why educated persons are placed above others and offered respects. We are not jealous. Rather, you and I have adapted to new taste and wished to earn reputation and respect from society and win heart, sympathy and friendship from strangers and persons who look at us with contempt, through education. Once we find taste in something, we become addicted to it. There is no way for us to get out of this truth. No matter, how hard, how expensive, and what elevation education reaches, we shall never quit pursuing education. Education will remain our top priority.

I write this as if you are writing it or as if I know everything of you. Or who can argue me wrong if I say I know both in and out of each one of you? By this time of the year, I have spent four years with many of you with the exception of few. To tell the truth, for teachers, a few moments are enough to learn of his students. Why can’t I learn and discover of my students in four years? What would have been left for me to learn of my students now? I have tried not to miss any single moment with you. I was there watching you perform cultural programs on the stage, witnessing the exalting moments of your literary programs, shaking head and imagining myself as one artiste on the stage watching you perform entertaining drama, and comforting you the moment I found you with low spirit and motivating, encouraging and at times literary inspiring you to perform even better. The crux of my talk is that I have, in blood and flesh, become part of you.

Unaware, in the dream drawn by heavenly jubilation, time has reached the brink of our separation. I do not know how possible our separation is. However, as a matter of fact, the season of fertility is followed by harsh season of dryness. With pain no less than the separation of nail from flesh to me, I must give vent to my desire to cling on to our togetherness. Time may subside pain and heal my wound. I let you loose from today, of course, with difficulty so that you can gradually move away from me like thin cloth piece being swept away by wind in a wavy condition to land on a place which would be your final destination.

From your participation in different activities, interest you took in creative arts, sacrifices you made, patience and endurance you had in learning, I see silver lining in your life not far from where you are now. You and I know very well that we are not born with silver spoon in our mouth, but your hard work brought you close to the person with one. Do not forget, even amidst your wildest dream that you are about to become a bright shining star, responsible and respectable persons. Tread the way you are already through. Need not falter; do not fall prey to drunkard, drug addicts, and influential wasters. You are distinctly different from those sections of people. It is absolutely needless to doubt your potentialities. I know you all are persons about to mushroom into caring doctors, accurate engineers, perfect architects, inquisitive historians, daring pilots, farsighted leaders and all. I salute you all in advance, my dearest students of classes X and XII 2013 batch, for what you are all going to become.

Above all, you all are productive and brain-boxes citizens of our country, proud children of your parents, and cream products of Baylling HSS. Live with ingrained qualities like placing our Nation above everything, serve it with utmost dedication and loyalty, and remain ever ready in thoughts and actions to place life if need be. Gods cannot be seen. Gods created parents in its own image. So, worship parents with no less feeling than what and how you would have worshipped Gods. Every command they give is precious and pious. You must not remain complacent and let it enter into a space of oblivion. Do not let them have any instance of regret. Make them feel proud that they gave birth to sons or daughters like you.

Should you need any support, your alma mater – Bylling HSS shall remain opened, extended and as always, welcomed. I left my premier college, Sherubtse College fifteen years ago. Still, I find it difficult to forget the long clock tower it has on its exterior, red colored academic buildings where thousands of geniuses of Bhutan studied, a library room-reservoir of knowledge, different hostels where I put up at different times and the mess dining hall where I had meals for five long years. I get nostalgia even today. I never pass it, when I chance to pass by, without glancing and praying for its continued success and growth. What I am now is solely because of my former schools and College. I am sure it is needless for me to mention why I am recounting this. You know the best.

Good luck! May you all get courage to face wilderness in search of your destiny. Except to a few gifted persons, many do not come across bed of roses instantaneously. May you recognize your final destiny at a glance! All faculty members, here at Baylling and I shall keep our fingers crossed, crossed and always crossed for your success.

Sincerely yours,

Yonten Jamtsho   

       

My thoughts on how to adapt to Rapid Urbanization and the increased stress on water, energy and waste

It is an undeniable truth that the population of the world has crossed seven billion. Every day, many thousands are getting added to it. If, as world bank assessed, 67% of population are going to reside in cities by 2050, cities must really become ‘smart’ and look for ways to tackle rapid urbanization and an increased stress on water, energy and waste. It is high time that everybody puts head together and come up with amicable and long term solutions.

With my head on my pillow, I gave thoughts consecutively for so many nights. Of course what I thought was very ordinary. However, I like to put it below for others to add on it or think and close it:

1.       More Skyscrapers and Underground Houses

With the increase in population, we feel that the size of the land is shrinking. There is no possibility of reclaiming or extending its size. However, to accommodate increasing number of population, some solutions have to be found out. I see one possible solution as having more skyscrapers and underground houses. We do have skyscrapers in cities but not much. We see it clustered in few pockets of cities. I see wisdom in spreading skyscrapers and underground houses across the length and breadth of cities. It can definitely ease accommodation crunch.

2.       Limit Small Personal Vehicles

Vehicles occupy large spaces in cities and towns. One reason for congestion in cities is the presence of large number of vehicles. Vehicles and its emission into the air is the greatest enemy to environment. It pollutes air, affects plants and animals, and renders most useful thing waste. To keep the movement of people alive and going, linking train facilities, public bus services, air and sea services are seen to be the best alternatives to numerous small personal vehicles.   

3.       Introduce system that people can work at home

If feasible, I see it good to make people work at home and submit the progress or report of their works after certain days or a month as specified and agreed between government or cooperatives and employees. Currently, we have residential places for people to reside along with offices for people to work.  Both occupy huge chunk of land.

4.       Establish Offices and Industries in the outskirts of the cities

It is industries that is polluting water, air and making everything scarce inside cities. If it is relocated to the outskirts of the cities, at least resources within the cities can be protected. If offices are set up outside cities, office goers can work outside cities which may drastically ease congestion problems in cities.

5.       Introduce mobile shops

To introduce, we must convince both shopkeepers and customers. Shopkeepers have to be convinced to keep shops closed for three days a week initially. Encourage customers to call shopkeepers so that shopkeepers can deliver the goods customers want at his doorsteps.

For luxury and comfort items, question of choice may come. But for necessities, small household items, I do not see the reason why it should not work.

Congestions, wastes and questions of scarcity arise because of the frequent movement of people from one place to another.

6.       Sharing of resources on equal proportion

Limit occupation of excessive land by an individual. Educate inmates on values like accommodating, leaving doors open for neighbors to share resources, trusting one another, welcoming, having less desire. Instill in inmates the value of cultural tolerance.

7.       Expansion of urbanization

Sunset follows sunrise is same like saying the opposite. Time has come for us to say ‘urban-rural migration’ not just ‘rural-urban migration’. In other words, we can think of expanding the territory of urban areas. Establish government enterprises and businesses in rural areas and make everything available to people at a cheaper rate. Provide all necessities like schools, hospitals etc. Set up industries in villages. Relocate some industries from urban to rural areas which may help urban area get rid of resource constraints, wastes and congestion. Open windows for job opportunities.