The Waste Collector

The wonderful scenario presents a refreshing atmosphere for all in the middle of spring, 2008. People from different places gather the inhabitants of this magnificent foothill. They are mostly appointed by the government to provide services for the economic development of the nation. The most interesting part of the place would be meeting with ethnic group called Lhops, who are popularly known as Doyas. These local tribes are gentle, kind and naive by nature. One would definitely experience the real meaning of friendship, love and attachment by spending few days with them. ‘I have a friend from there, his name is Sam’. It is a garden for delicious fruits like oranges, leechi and Jackfruit. Jackfruit trees are scattered over almost all the places that it is not being used as the source of income which otherwise could have been possible.

Meanwhile Tsheten Doya is experiencing a slight change in his lifestyle as recently being employed as a dry sweeper in the dzongkhag administration. Initially his weak and fragile body failed to suit the demand of ESP personnel. He was about to be rejected from the interview but his simplicity and honesty earned him a reward which other competitor could not live up to. He called his friends who accompanied him till samtse to find a work and celebrated the occasion of getting a new job in Tamang’s Bar. ‘Today, I don’t have much to offer, let’s share one bottle of whisky among ourselves’. ‘We are so happy that you finally found your work’ replied one of his friends. As time stretch by, they enjoyed drinking a sip of whisky which lately made them quite benumbed.

Leaving him all alone, his friends left Samtse towards Sendhen embracing him with deep sorrow the next morning.

Possibly he managed to get one rented house at a low rent. Despite his meager income he bought things on a priority basis and started beginning his new life without any difficulties. After the third salary, he managed to buy one Samsung mobile @ Rs.1500. Since then he became interested in listening to radio and music most often.

A miracle awaited him unexpectedly. A doubt is suspected that a thief could have left the bag hidden in the secret garbage. As he segregated the waste, he discovered to his astonishment a brand new suitcase. He tried to rub his eyes twice to confirm it again. Taking it behind the toilet wall, slowly and carefully looking around him he opened the suitcase. He felt scared at first instance when he saw a bundle of 500 notes filled packed in the suitcase.

“What shall I do with this amount” he asked himself. “Should I return it back to where it lied or what about reporting it to the police”? After sometime, he alters his idea; instead thought wisely to accept the money as a gift of god. Later, he went home immediately to conceal it.

Following the incident, Doya bought a santro car and started doing small business on rented cottage in samtse market. By that time he has given up his work. The success of his business went well according to his plans. He knew how to invest and earn more profit so within a short time he became so rich by doing contract works. Then he was about to get married.

But one of his friends disturbed him too badly knocking the door. Later he came to realize that it was just in his dream. When he narrated the dream to his friend, both of them couldn’t stop laughing for a while.

Tears of Happiness

Flying in the Druk Air was the most cherishing moment in my life. Passing three months in ‘Heart of India’ was really a rejoicing, joyful, entertaining, exciting but short experience for me, meeting many good friends from seven beautiful countries with amazing culture and thoughts will remain as a profound memory in my whole life. I have never come to realized that I will spend my days like that before. Still I could visualize the image of the tallest Qutab Minar and the giant Taj Mahal as I enjoyed visiting two places the most. I don’t mean to pull down other places, they were also nice and worth for visiting. It was astounding for me to see people all over the places working hard day and night for food, cloth and shelter. I know it is hard convincing the truth and easy to tell lies, you will know internal feeling of a person or things only when being close to that particular object.

Early in the morning, when colour of sky changes into semi white, when the noise of the street is calm and quite, I started assuming that many people must be doing yoga which to some extent is famous in India. My room mate, Mr Rishi who is from Nepal is a good practitioner of yoga and physical exercise. He encouraged and taught me how to do some body stretching works. As said, I felt the result of doing it, it helps in relieving body ache and making us physically active whole day. For some time, it became like our daily routine. After having done the yoga from 5 to 6, we get fresh up, and then we go for breakfast with tea and bread which is substituted at sometimes with Puri and Sabji. The man at cafeteria was kind and gentle. He has a son who is also like his father. The hospitality at the cafeteria was like at home. We use to exchange jokes to each other sometimes. He laughs heartily when I joke.

At 9 am, all the participants meet in the parking nearby the canteen to go to training institute by vehicle, reserved for us. We share and divide ourselves into three vehicles, in each four or five passengers were allowed. So, when traveling on the way, I feel little scare at initial because of the crowded traffic and speed to which driver reach us on time. As time goes by, it is nothing of a kind to get scared and frightened with usual event. Being a Hindi music lover, I feel like dancing in the vehicle when Radio Mirchi plays the music of latest films. Without any awareness, the vehicle drops us at the Institute so fast.

The training on “Information technology on information management” for a three month lasted as I thought and it was enough for me to learn everything which I wanted to learn and use in my library. Classes were interesting and totally new for me. I learn many things in little span of time from scientists who were well versed in their field of study. I am still applying the skill in doing my work at present. The training has changed me, I came to know how to operate computer, manipulate spreadsheet, Msword and power point just on my own.

During break time, we use to go outside the institute campus. We use to take tea from Mr Goolu’s hand. He sells tea and cigarettes near the gate to the campus. His business runs well though he runs his business in a temporary hut. The hut has only a roof and it’s without walls. He has improvised a bench for his customers to seat. He smiles and adds a flavor in his tea that’s why I see continuous flow of customer in his small business. He is the peddler living out a happy life. Mr Ayub Dogar who is from Pakistan always takes me there for a treat.

Mr. Ayub Dogar is a good friend of mine during my entire course in Delhi. He is huge and a tall guy. Also, he is a religious minded person. He loves visiting temples and sacred places. His way of talking to other is polite and noble, that’s the reason why I got attracted to be friend with him. Without him it would have been difficult for me to travel widely across Delhi. He took me to chandi chwok, Jama masjid and Delhi Haat. I had also been to Lajpat Nagar, Cannaught place, Lotus Temple, India Gate and South Extension with my friends during my stay in New Delhi.

I had a wonderful time to make wonderful friends from other SAARC countries. They are all best in their ways. They gave me all the love which I get from my friends back at home. Staying close and spending good amount of time with them was moment to cherish. Even when I feel bit hungry, being close and togetherness gave me a sense of energy to get active. I liked making plans together and traveling together in a group.

It made me sad in the very last moment when it was time for us to depart. Mr Ayub gave huge hug to me. I didn’t know our friendship is going to get end like that…The Druk Air brought me back where I belong and I feel like waking up from my dream.

It has been 5 years now. We write a mail to each other and try to recollect and remember the happy memories of the past.

Thanks

Sangay Dawa

Library Assistant

Samtse College of Education

Open Heart

I think I have potential to move forward and develop library to meet the standard of international libraries. After completing my CE-XII commerce, I am going to look for scholarship opportunity. I am always thinking and dreaming of possessing masters in librarianship. Hope I will get hold of it some day in my life. I loved to work not for money, all I look for is pleasure and happiness at work.

Mental health and good life

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A Piece of (Thomas Hardy’s) Heart

The world has long had an obsession with preserving the body parts of the dead. The ancient Egyptians were famous for it. During the Middle Ages, nearly every church in Europe had relics in its possession, often including the bones and organs of saints. But as perceptions of death changed, these traditions gradually went out of style -- with a few notable exceptions.Most famously, the brain of Albert Einstein was removed after his death and owned by a succession of scientists for the next forty years. Only in the 1990s was it returned to Princeton University, where researchers concluded that, yes, Einstein was smarter than the average bear.After Napoleon’s mysterious death in 1821, his overeager jailers stole many of the former French leader’s belongings -- including his "little corporal" (if you believe the rumors). It now rests in a quiet home in New Jersey. The same fate was said to befall the bodies of John Dillinger and Grigori Rasputin, but both stories just may be urban legends.Other famous body parts that remained in circulation after the deaths of their owners include Oliver Cromwell's head, Sarah Bernhardt's leg, and more recently and tragically, the bones of famed BBC and PBS personality Alistair Cooke. And poor Thomas Hardy's heart was supposedly eaten by his doctor's cat!So I suppose the moral of this story is, at least for dead celebrities, keep your friends close and your enemies far, far away.Suggested Sites...
Napoleon's Privates - a recent book about the unfortunate fate of Napoleon's remains -- and other scandalous historical moments.
Postcards from the Brain Museum - another book about research completed on the brains of important figures from Einstein to Lenin.
Dead Celebrities' Body Parts - photo gallery of just what it sounds like.
National Museum of Health and Medicine - owns pieces of Abraham Lincoln’s skull and hair, as well as the bullet that killed him.
Directory categories: History, Death Beliefs and Practices, Collecting, Urban Legends, Dead Celebrities
Archived under: 19th Century, Actors, Anatomy, Ancient History, Authors, Bereavement, Celebrities, Collectibles, Collecting, Crime, Criminals, Dead Celebrities, Death, Grigori Rasputin, History, In Character, Medicine, Mysteries, Mythology and Folklore, Oliver Cromwell, Rumors, Secrets, Urban Legends, Weird Stuff

By Sarah LatozaWed, March 18, 2009, 12:01 am PDT

His Majesty’s address at the 3rd convocation of Royal University of Bhutan for Samtse and Paro Colleges of Education, February 17, 2009

It always makes me very happy to meet and spend time with you. And when we do get the opportunity, we all want it to be a happy time. However, we must also understand the difference between getting together as friends to talk and laugh and then getting together to work for our people and country. At this moment, with so many senior officials gathered together, we must say we are here for work.I can say so many good things today about the success of our country, about the hard work of our people. We have done our work well, our policies have been good – everything we have done we have done with the interests of our people and country in mind – that is why we are here today as a unique and successful nation. But my saying these things will not change anything. It serves no purpose or bears no fruits. Praising what we have already done will not bring new rewards. It is better to see what our weaknesses are, where we have not done very well, where we need to do better.My duty is to worry every single day about our people and country. And to voice these worries frankly so that we do not get carried away, get caught unaware, or become complacent. So bear with me as I speak to you about my concerns about our education system or standards. Those of you who work in the ministry of education or related agencies must not feel singled out.I am a firm believer that if there is one word that will stand out above all other words when we describe our country’s amazing journey of modernization over the last few decades - it is Education. Our institutions, our leaders of today – all of us, including me – are the proud products of the Bhutanese education system.Our education system built and nurtured with your hard work and dedication has served us well. But we must understand that the times have changed here in Bhutan and all around us in the world. We cannot face new challenges with the same tools. The private sector is adjusting itself to new challenges and opportunities; the bureaucracy is finding its place in a new system of governance; the entire country is adapting to new roles in our young democracy. Thus, every person and institution must evolve to meet the aspirations of our people and the changing needs of our nation.Today I speak on behalf of our teachers and students – our teachers will always be committed and dedicated teachers – our students will always be diligent and loyal students – but it is the duty of parents, policy makers and the government to put the right tools in their hands – the right books, the right curriculum, the right direction. For this we must first ask ourselves where do we want to go as an economy, as a democracy, as a nation. In other words, what is the Vision for Bhutan? Then we must build an education system that nurtures people with the right skills, knowledge and training to fulfill this Vision. The sooner we realize this the better.The word Vision is such a profound word and yet one that is so commonly mis-used. I feel that there is no better reason to use this word than to describe the importance of education. For if our Vision for the nation is not contained in the pages of the books that our young children hold, in the words of our teachers as they lead their classrooms, and in the education policies of our governments, then let it be said – we have no Vision.We can dream of a strong bureaucracy of the highest standards but we must not forget that those standards must be set in school where our future bureaucrats are.We can dream of world class IT parks, of being an international financial centre, of competing at international standards but we must not forget that we can have none of these if our schools and colleges do not bestow such talents and skills.We can dream of a nation of environmental conservation, GNH, a strong economy, a vibrant democracy and yet none are possible or sustainable if we have not already toiled and sweated in the building of a strong education system.Our nation’s future lies in an ever-shrinking world. Our government’s goals, and the 10th plan reflect this reality. If we take even a cursory glance at the immediate goals of our nation, we will see goals such as developing hydropower, mines, health, tourism, banking, Information Technology; roads, domestic and international airports; and so on. You hear terms like ‘knowledge based’, ‘niche’, ‘broadband’, ‘innovation’, ‘data centre’, ‘sustainable’ and so on. These goals and terms are perfectly normal and as I said, reflect the reality of the changing times.But if changing realities bring new ambitions and goals, it must also bring new plans and preparation. Most importantly, we have to ask ourselves how do we build and nurture the people who will implement the plans and fulfill our goals? The answer lies in Education. But statistics show that while we pile dream upon dream like floors on a skyscraper, the foundation needs to be strengthened.Let me make an extremely broad and elementary observation. In all the countries where progress has been strong in the areas we strive to develop, the strength of the education system has been in Math and Science. In fact in India, the favourite subject for most students is Mathematics. In Bhutan, Mathematics is one of our main weaknesses – most students do not like Math and the majority score less than 50%. We have similar weaknesses in Science and amazingly, even English.I have studied our own official statistics, which show these in great detail – you should look at them too- but for today, what we need to do is ask ourselves the question – “does our education system reflect our changing opportunities and challenges?” Contemplate this question. Contemplate! For what a grave mistake it will be to stand proud as nation on the hard work of our forefathers, the successes of our past and on the admiration and respect of the outside world today. And fail to see that it will all disappear tomorrow, if we lose sight of the fundamental reasons for our success.Contemplate! For what a grave mistake it will be to dream with great optimism of taking our nation from this successful democratic transition into a future of even greater success, without realizing that it is not us but our children who must secure that success for the nation.I have said it time and time again, “a nation’s future will mirror the quality of her youth – a nation cannot fool herself into thinking of a bright future when she has not invested wisely in her children.”We always repeat what HM the fourth King once said, “the future of our nation lies in the hands of our children.” We must know that His Majesty, my father, meant that quality of education for our young Bhutanese is of paramount importance. And that it is our duty as today’s parents, leaders and citizens to provide it. We must ensure that their young little hands grow to become strong and worthy of carrying our nation to greater heights.I cannot go into details of the education sector – there are experts among us who can do this. All I know is, as simple as it sounds, that our hopes and aspirations as a nation must be reflected in what is taught to our future generations in the classroom. This is my view. I urge parents, policymakers and the general public to reflect on this. Keep in mind:
That our culture, traditions and heritage are the foundation of our Nation and our People are our greatest asset.
That we have a small population – but our people love the country – with the right tools we can achieve anything.
That educating our People is the first step to fulfilling our aspirations as a nation.
That it is not enough to provide free education – we must provide education of such quality that it will guarantee a distinguished place for our youth anywhere in the world.
And that our window of opportunity is small – today the largest section of our population are Youth – how we address quality of education now will determine whether we will build strong young citizens who will ensure a long bright future for the nation - or fail and confine such a large number of our young children and their children to generations of hardship and struggle.
When the sun sets every evening, we go to sleep in the comfort that it will rise in the morning and things will be the same. Do not however let the light of education ever go out. For if it should become dark, even for a moment, we will find that generations of our children will suffer its effects and the light on a bright future for our nation will take decades to shine again.Parents and teachers, I want you to know that as King my passion will always be to nurture our youth, day after day, year after year - for it is their skills, their labour and commitment to the country that will build our future. There is no other path – no other tool - for Bhutan’s future success.I end with the words – “Our nation’s Vision can only be fulfilled if the scope of our dreams and aspirations are matched by the reality of our commitment to nurturing our future citizens.”

DOE announces international agreement on Global Science Online Gateway

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has established a multilateral alliance to govern the rapidly growing online gateway to international scientific research information, WorldWideScience.org. Officials from organizations representing 38 countries formalized their commitment in June in Seoul, Korea, by signing a WorldWideScience Alliance agreement to sustain and build upon joint efforts to provide a single, sophisticated point of access for diverse scientific resources and expertise from nations around the world. “WorldWideScience.org is already a wonderful tool for communication, bringing scientific databases from many countries to the fingertips of those advancing the frontiers of knowledge across the globe. It is well on its way towards becoming a complete, comprehensive, international source for scientific inquiry,” DOE Under Secretary for Science Dr. Raymond L. Orbach said. “Unleashing global scientific discovery, through WorldWideScience.org, will accelerate scientific progress. That is why we are so excited about this alliance and the global access to science it will provide.” WorldWideScience.org is the result of an agreement signed in January 2007 by Dr. Orbach and Chief Executive of the British Library Dame Lynne Brindley. to partner on the development of a global science gateway to accelerate scientific discovery by giving people faster and more convenient access to online scientific databases.

When WorldWideScience.org was first made publicly available in June 2007, it was capable of searching 12 databases from 10 countries. Today, the web site enables anyone with internet access to launch a single-query search of 32 national scientific databases and portals from 44 countries, covering six continents and nearly half of the world’s population. The typical user query searches 200 million pages of science and technology information not typically accessible through popular search engines. The governance document laying out the structure for the WorldWideScience Alliance was ratified in February at the International Council for Scientific and Technical Information (ICSTI) 2008 Winter Meeting in Paris, France. DOE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), within DOE’s Office of Science, serves as the WorldWideScience.org Operating Agent. OSTI conceived of the global science gateway and developed the application based on research results from DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research program. The multilateral alliance was established to serve as the permanent governance structure of WorldWideScience.org and consists of 11 founding member organizations representing 38 countries. Founding-member organizations include: African Journals OnLine; the British Library; Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (South Africa); German National Library of Science and Technology; Institut de l’Information Scientifique et Technique (France); Japan Science and Technology Agency; Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information; Science.gov Alliance (United States); Scientific Electronic Library Online; and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. In addition to member countries, ICSTI will serve as a member and primary sponsor. Learn more about the WorldWideScience Alliance.