Landscape photography

Alike to the sundown and sunup, we all have one thing in common:

We all have one beginning- birth

And we all have one end- death

Reading companions

I don’t frequent Youth Centre much. As it is generally students that throng the center, I feel my presence would, needlessly, meddle their freedom and leave them malcontent. So, I shun being regular especially during school off hours.

But seldom I do and see if I can be of any help to the visitors.

It was around last week that I ran into three little girls whose unfeigned love for the books had me adore their bibliophile habit. One was second grader and the other two third. Only after several exchange of words did I discern the three were almost daily visitors to the center. Curious I felt and prudently maneuvered to spark up a discussion while strictly keeping the friendly composure.

Source- google

Soon realizing that they were dodging the interrogations, I stopped bothering any further. But to have them perpetuate the conversation, I sweet mouthed them and seemingly the thought of leaving me unattended, because I am a teacher, didn’t even orbit somewhere near their imagination. Thereafter, no sooner had I established good acquaintance by the dint of my ingenuity than they relished my noble intention. We became good friends.

All the three had one thing in common.

They have a strong penchant for Dzongkha books. All the three told they read mainly to acquire knowledge and keep themselves informed. Yes, their read was flawless, commendable and at par with many students two or three levels superior to them. But when asked on their liking towards English, they shied away a little and candidly whispered, “It is quite hard”. To check their competency, with my slapdash approach, I bumped into books of their standard and forcibly made them read aloud. The three of them looked nervous and fell behind hugely as compared to their Dzongkha counterpart.

Soon afterwards, knowing their plight in English, I made an attempt to kindle their interest. They appeared enthusiastic and flanked me from either sides to see what my influence have to offer them. Together we did chorus reading for almost an hour and took to solo reading quite some time later. It was fulfilling to see them at my disposal and unanimously agree with the idea of reading together.

They retreated with an assignment to commit few hours of the day to read English and display considerable progress. While I could not help myself wait for the next round of meet, I firmly kept my fingers crossed for their endeavor and watched them pull away homewards with smiles crossing their lovely lips.  

Little did I know that I will walk into curious mind like theirs and feel please myself? 

It was a lesson which came unannounced because of our common interest- a lesson where no classroom was required, the subject was reading and the outcome, inspiration. 

Monastic education to Modern education- A tribute to beloved K4

Since time immemorial,   Bhutan was cooped  up  in   thickets    of isolation and had remained anonymous to the rest of the world.    It ain’t until 1960 that Bhutan woke up from its   long   slumber     of seclusion to the dawn of modernization, and set out on   embracing the outside world.

Source- google

Although with the crowning of Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck came the inception of modern education, it was predominantly monastic education that thrived prodigiously to flourish language, arts, philosophy and literature. Riveting details of Sindu Raja and Nawachhe, the Bhutanese Jog yig by Demang Tsemang in seventh and eighth centuries were the products of the monastic education in the country.

The Monastic education was institutionalized in the Dzongs under different Je Khenpos, private temples and a separate Shedra in Tharpaling around 1914 by first King inviting His Eminence Tongden Shacha. His Eminence sent Atsara Rimpochhe to Bhutan. Many young people were sent to study under His Eminence Tongden Shacha. The Second King patronized the Shedras further. Many Shedras like Phajo Ding, Tangu, etc. were constructed by the successive monarchs. Monastic education flourished symbiotically and it complemented modern education.

Bhutanese monks were continually sent to Tibet to learn from revered lamas only to return years later to develop monastic centres or to teach dharma in their own ways, steadily paving the trail for the advent of modern education.

"Despite the late start of education in formal and organized sense of term, there were already awakened minds and enlightened initiatives which lit the lamp of learning, albeit in the most modest surroundings, right from the beginning" concludes the then education minister, Thakur Singh

History has it that 46 boys from Bhutan were enrolled in Dr. Grahams Homes, a Scottish mission school in what is known as today's Kalimpong.

Bhutan’s first school was also inaugurated in 1914 at Haa with a Bhutanese teacher called Lopon Karp. The following year another school was founded at first king’s palace in Bumthang, especially for the crown prince Jigme Wangchuck and some children of people attending at the royal court. They were mainly drilled in English with teachers from Scotland mission and Tibetan dialect.

By 1919-1920, there were about 21 students at Bumthang and 28 students studying in Haa. The education system slowly took to its pace and number of schools augmented to 11 schools and 400 students were enrolled by 1961.

Further, with the introduction of first five year plan in 1961, modern education was promoted to address basic educational needs and to develop human resources. The subjects taught then were English, arithmetic, Hindi and Buddhist scriptures.

 Since our primitive ancestors were ignorant on the importance of education, a good number of parents shunned their children’ from sending to schools dreading their helping hands would be at bay when required. Oral history unearths the fact that instances of education officials setting out in disguised form to have students enrolled in schools also prevailed. Gradually, in the course of evolution as they deciphered the scopes of education in near future, our parents didn’t hesitate to dispatch them. Moreover, with the mapping of network with outside world, Bhutan witnessed burgeoning number of schools with students from different walks of life being taught by expatriate teachers. That was how the lamp of modern learning was lit.

 Today, we have schools close to 504 across the country. Realizing that modern education can play an irreplaceable role in snowballing self-growth, socio-economic development and progress in Bhutan, we, now, see hordes of students thronging for admission which is a sufficient testimony that the nation has long before exited the most cherished state of isolation and checked into world of no more desolation.

However, there is a subtle difference in the education system in Bhutan compared to elsewhere in the world. In Bhutan, the education system pays particular attention to imparting to the students a sense of belongingness and respect for the culture and tradition of their country. In addition, ever since the birth of globally celebrated paradigm philosophy GNH by our very soul, JSW, Bhutanese education has never failed to incorporate it and transmit through curriculum to our learners. It is because of this unique philosophy pronounced by K4 that, we pride over the education system in Bhutan.

His majesty the fourth king believed, as did his predecessors, that every citizens must be educated in order to create an enlightened and productive Bhutanese society. Therefore, the education sector became invincible one.  Till date, we enjoy free access to primary, secondary and even tertiary education. Further under the unparalleled reign of our charismatic kings, schools spanned throughout the nation has been blessed with myriads of facilities that comes without having to pay. (Books, dress, geometry box etc). Of all, extra precedence was set purposefully over the education sector as it was inevitable in producing future architects of the nation that serve as the engine for development.

 Ultimately, my words here would not suffice to match the timeless deeds and noble contribution but as I reluctantly put end to my speech here, we, your subjects, remain firmly indebted and pray for your longevity and commit selflessly to contribute in the building of the nation- Palden Drukpa.

Ours is a journey of myths and legends to the quest of modern education. It is a journey that has come a long way and stood the test of time under the benevolent leadership of Wangchuck dynasty.

Thank you for installing education right at our disposal.

May you perpetuate to bless us with your unfathomable wisdom for all times to come?

Note- I extend my acknowledgement to all the references i have made

Safety education for parents and biking culture in india

BBS reported the sad demise of two Bhutanese students studying in Punjab lately. The root cause of the misfortune was bike accident.

Bhutanese falling victim to such disaster is not a new trend in India. A lot many has succumbed to similar ill fate in earlier times.

That said, my humble commiseration extends to the bereaved families of the two. And I pray for the departed souls to rest in peace.

I am authoring this article neither to aggravate nor to foul mouth over the sorry state but to divulge the inside-out of Bhutanese life which proceeds on in our neighboring country while out on studies. Because I am an Indian graduate myself, I have sufficient details of experiences that can translate into a wakeup call for aspiring parents looking for enrolment in India to keep clear of the unpleasant news happening to their own children in future.

Believe me, I had my fair share for three odd years in Bangalore while I was pursuing my undergraduate course. I have had my parents soaked up in tight positions, sometimes making a phone call at non-human hours and weeping out of frustrations. On several occasions, it was the money that I preyed upon to get myself a secondhand bike.

But as if a wonderful stroke of luck had hands in it, my hope of getting one was never materialized.

Reminiscently, I have a vivid cogitations of how I once mounted my friends’ bike under alcohol influence and almost chanced upon near death. Today, when I chew over those musings, I feel my parents just showed up to my rescue which, otherwise, I could have come home parceled.

Unfortunately, not few were as lucky as me. During my three years stay there, more than four lives were claimed in bike mishaps.

My writing here would not do the justice of expressing the concerns of parents whose children’s are studying abroad. The only thing to make sense of this is to hear from one’s own parents or get into their shoes.

Now, away from home, whose parents will consent the idea of their children owning a bike in foreign soil and coming back home lifeless when a huge sum was loaned intentionally to finance their education. Who will have the lion’s heart to hear of all the heart tearing roars ebbing away from a place where you have once sent with hopes and aspirations?

No one, Perhaps. Everyone would anticipate profusely for safe arrival and success stories to be shared.

But, it happens at the expense of some parents not being cautious enough in money matters. At such miles distance, money is required to do bills, pay rents and hoard some for unknown emergencies. If anything more than usual is claimed in the name of laptop, study tour and other miscellaneous things, parents should not blindly satiate their financial thirst simply because they are far-off and in dire need of it. In addition, parents should not be easily taken to a humble appeal consisting of numerous concerns, for these are the clandestine devise to extract money and own a bike.

Therefore, dear parents, prior to recklessly depositing a huge sum please plunge into the matter thoroughly, enquire friends or even lecturers and do the necessary remittance.

Money, if not invested thoughtfully, can dig our own graves.

Reutala- The unbeatable one II

In recent times, Zhemgang has been making quite a headline on national media- BBS. The menacing road conditions at Reutala has called on the attention of many travelers and left them almost ball freezing.

In retrospect, Kheng Zhemgang was once hotspot for people commuting from Bumthang and Trongsa towards Gelephu when the construction plan of Wangdigang bypass didn’t pop up. It was the onset of golden era then. Business bloomed to the extent of explosion and socio economic status prodigiously thrived.

But the golden era reign was put to an end with the emerging idea of bypass route from Wangdigang. People were left chapfallen at the proposal of road truncation but having considered the foreseeable gains of the road at large, it became indispensable to repel the bitter truth. While on the contrary, it failed to sound mellifluous for those residing at proper Zhemgang and has ensued in near geographical seclusion. This is a short account of how a simple road diversion has left the distant place suffer to its own fate.

Today when the human muscle powers are replaced by mammoth technologies and ideas become innovative, can’t we deploy solutions that assure decent roads and appropriately connect the place with others?

Like other places, Zhemgang is also designated as one of the tourist destinations whose diversity of avifauna has made it rightly call ‘birding paradise’. Moreover, it is home to some of the nature’s glorified creatures that puts Bhutan in the frontline of global birding arena.

To this end, realizing plethora of scopes in ameliorating livelihood of communities, a tourist spot was also installed at Dangkhar. It consists of few houses ideally engulfed by breathtaking greeneries and splendidly put up traditional houses which are of earth build.

Regrettably, it remains practically defunct throughout the year. Even if it’s not so, number of tourist paving visit lies close to couple of them. The obvious reason for the poor turnout of tourists is the erratic road conditions at Reutala coupled with torrential downpours. Already the usual length of road requires 7- 8 hours’ time to complete the course and with occasional blocks to beat at different locations, it consumes not less than 10 hours. As the majority of time has to be invested on roads, many feel reluctant to make it up to here.

Come years, If we are to see hosts of tourist, the first assignment is to settle the miserable roads. But if techniques other than usual ones are not thought of, it can be a sure tinderbox situation at this vulnerable point, as flying boulders could wipeout the dozer and deposit it below in yawning chasm. Since the affair has reached a stalemate, now it is high time the concerned stakeholders heed less to the present call of solution and try to outwit through new tactics- Road diversion.

Until road diversion is adopted as a means, the problem could keep coming and rather become worst. Being complacent of the current state of problem can potentially ensue in serious economic regression in near future. And there is no denying that civil servants from all walks of life shun their placement here, not on account of place but because of road conditions.

Truth be told, it takes less time for a parcel or mail to arrive Thimphu from Japan than to Zhemgang from Thimphu.

I am all praise to everyone here enduring the hardship.

Reutala- The unbeatable one

July month had seen no post on my blog. And in June month it was only one update. So, I don’t deny to admit that I am a failed blogger. I have tried good number of times to update but the burden of my personal stuffs had me first set precedence over my own wellbeing. Then I got back desperately to my blog but only to realize that writing demands consistent practice.

Anyway, better late than never.

Prior to my arrival in Zhemgang, I have heard and seen it several times frequenting the media- both Kuensel and BBS. Who will not, after all, when it is the largely covered hot news from Kheng region. Thanks to Mr. Pema Samdrup, a BBS correspondent. But the news is hot only during rainy seasons because the place remains cut off from the rest of the country- Reutala from above and Box cutting from below. This is the fate of Khenrig Namsum people in summer.

The unbeatable Reutala

Although it is not as popular as recent news- fund embezzlement, murder or any other absconded cases, it at least deserve trivial attention. Many drivers and travelers play their lucks in crossing that not more than 1km distance of road. Seriously, what is happening to the imperative problem that goes in even to the notice of the highest level? Does it mean that alphabetically last Zhemgang is doomed to suffer till the end? Already, the place is labelled remote. Let’s not further aggravate and insulate in thicket of isolation whose socio economic development is soaring up gradually.

Some seven or eight years before, Jumja used to be more precarious than Ruetala. Passengers and travelers boarding from Phuentsholing witnesses the highest level of adrenaline pump when cruising through the unstable, sinking and nervous roads of Jumja. Nobody would dare to fall in slumber and even if one did, immediately withdraws and chants the time honored formulae “om mani padme hung.” That stretch of road, to which many experienced bumpy death ride and devoured myriads of lives, is now a favorite winding country lane to zoom off with time honored song “country road, take me home to the place I belong”

When doom-laden roads of such could be fixed, I suppose Reutala has many possibilities to become road of peace for all the travelers.

What I heard of the problem is that every year the amount invested to ease the road tension averages to millions. However, the outcome is absolute futile. Going by the total injection of money into the recurrent issue, it would have sufficed the budget for new construction of roads. Since the core concern of the place is shooting boulders during monsoon seasons and there is faint hope of beating the issue, the only alternative is diversification of the current road.

From the collective conjectures of native there, the idea of peace road is conceivable if the existing road is diverted and constructed from the summit of the slope where water sources are surmised to be the force behind falling boulders. The other remedy, according to locals, is the construction of tunnels. I am not sure if this can really appeal the concerned stakeholders but the concept of diverting the current road seem pretty impressive and doable without the need of exorbitant expertise and labors.

When some parts of the place get their motor roads blacktopped several times and widened even when it can accommodate two trucks, what is that makes Reutala unattended genuinely and ignored before everyone’s eye?

How many times must the travelers and drivers play their lucks? How many times must the bus drop its passengers at the mouth and let them gait in swampy area for hours to get at the ass of Reutala. How many times should we fret about the arrival of our loved ones?

Please show us some mercy people in authority. Please continue to bless us GOD, while we make our bumpy voyage of life and death along the ceaseless hell roads of Reutala.  

Walking in the footstep of Ap Bokto

Any Bhutanese, young or old, in any part of the world would not conclude their description on Bhutan without making a mention of our pristine environment. Such is the degree of pride and precedence that we set over our lush green environment

More so, it’s introduced as module in schools and spelt out as one of the pillars of GNH to depict how indispensable it is to Bhutanese. Various legislations and acts are also put in place to accentuate its importance.

Geographically, we are sandwiched between two of world giants but what keep us unparalleled and known to rest of the world is because of our green gold. Since long time back, Bhutanese have maintained intimate connection and revered environment as source of life. His majesty the fourth king was awarded with prestigious champion of the earth medal in 2005 for his tireless stewardship towards environment.

Today, as the country strides forward, one challenge that we confront is waste management. With mushrooming number of population, the problem is getting uglier to our sight day by day. However, at individual level, if we do our own part the problems can be trimmed to a large extent.

Walking in the footstep of Ap Bokto is one way of playing our part- be a responsible citizen.

On 18^th April, there was a mass cleaning campaign marathon. Hundreds of Ap Bokto gathered to clean up the litters which were scattered all over. Majority of trashes were plastics from junk food while few constituted sanitary pads dumped so irresponsibly. However, we did our share- picking up junks, cutting grasses and clearing drains. It almost consumed six hours.

Now what’s worrying is that the toil of six hours could be beaten within seconds, if it is not for the collective efforts from all individuals. So, everyone should be held responsible. It would, of course, be more effective with strict surveillance from municipal’s side at least twice in a month along with appropriate interventions, say like levying fines, from dzongkhags’ side to taper off the waste issues. Otherwise, as stated above, investment of 6 hours would go fruitless. Moreover, if parents can curtail buying junk foods to their children, there would not surface any need for extra cleaning campaign.

The only grievance over the cleaning campaign was the insufficiency of tractors. When we could clean huge span of area, they weren't able to supply at least two waste collector tractors. Even the one delivered came only once that failed to accommodate the wastes. Thereafter, it went out of sight.

Anyway for next round of cleaning, it was a take home message that sufficient tractors be supplied and if not, a truck to house enough wastes so that work proceeds gracefully without any friction in between.

As school constitutes the larger segment, few mull over that the school should spearhead programs of such kind, as if the tradition was passed down since time immemorial. How can we conceive the idea of clean environment when it is lone school versus large communities around? It is high time that we change our mindset and accept it as everyone’s liability because we believe each one of us are custodian of clean Bhutan.

Let us be reminded of Ap Boktos’ message before waiting for school to come and clean. Together, we can promote brand Bhutan go clean and green.

Education first, alcohol last

As a teacher, it is never my motive to produce a student with first class marks but to shape them into a paragon and produce first class human beings. After all, a student equipped with good values and attitudes are the ones who are more probable to reach far in life. This is what, perhaps, the education is all about. 

But education alone would not suffice to produce value based human beings, if what is not learned in school is not taught at home by the parents. So it should first kick off at home with parents as teacher. In short, if parents strive hard from their side, problems like absenteeism in school, disciplinary issues, substance abuse and quitting school midway would be a thing of past. However, in many circumstances, the concern is borne only by the teachers.

This is my third year running in teaching profession. And ever since I joined, I have never had a scene where students doesn’t take French leave from school. It is already one this year and when probed on the matter, the responses were quite heart wrenching. Few children suffer at the expense of their parents’ decadence.

The boy to whom I adopted as my sibling had gone missing a week ago.

Last Saturday, I met him in a play field. As I had no idea on his disappearance, I even scowled and warned him to be regular but only to know that he dropped out from the school. Because I don’t teach his class, I fail to keep surveillance on his whereabouts and by the time it came in my knowledge, he was already five days missing in the class. We struck on a conversation and he honestly detailed me everything that went on at his place. One time I have even seen it for myself. His mother is alcoholic and he is the only son available around, others being engaged with their work. He has to take care of her and at times things become demanding with academic pressures from the other end.

I suggested him to reach her at brother’s place but she would never consent the idea. As the grievances became recurrent and the situation displeasing, he gave up the idea of schooling to tend her. He even shared that the expenses made in buying him clothes and shoes were not spared. The pitiful emotions had me immersed in confusion and reassured him not to lose hope and resort for substances whatsoever. Now, he has already decided on becoming a vegetable vendor.

Although, he is not even an average performer in the class, he is also certainly not the one who doesn’t take delight in learning. In the field, he is an iconic performer with abilities to partake in every games and sports.

Few days ago, I called up his brother to get the certificate done but nobody turned up till now. Let alone appearing in person, not a call was made which is a sheer ignorance.

So, dear parents, however grave the problem may be, please don’t compromise on children’s education because somewhere in the phase of earth, millions still dream of going to school.

I am fortunate to be bred by a responsible parents.

Atsaras of Zhemgang tsechu

The only timid atsara of the festive

Look at gun!

beautiful ear-studs 

The player going red

My school

In the beginning, it was just a piece of land.  Soon it became Zhemgang Pry School. Then Zhemgang High School.  And now, autonomous cum central school. Ever since its inception in 1958, the school has unfailingly served as pinnacle of learning for khengrig namsum region and produced sublime souls from all walks of life.  

It is almost 7 or 8 months passed since the dawn of school autonomy. However, many are still bewildered, and few even draw parallel between autonomous, private schools and colleges. Let alone someone outside education fraternity, even I was baffled initially.

Well, the difference is only in terms of human resourcing and finance. Now with the grant of school autonomy, the school is vested with authority to retain and remove (transfer) teachers. Retain- if duties are dispatched unconditionally. Remove- if fundamental duties are compromised. However, the intention is not to pick at flaws but to bring in the best and take schools to the forefront of learning.

At the budget level, unlike the past years, the school need not remit the unexpended funds to the ministry. The school can save the money and carry it over to next fiscal year. Moreover, the monthly remuneration, to which many draw analogy with private schools, are also disbursed by the school,

So, many are of view that autonomous schools are delinked from MoE or concerned district education office.

As meek as it sounds, regardless of private or government, no school in Bhutan operates without its parent agency except colleges which are under different agency. Thus, autonomous school is no private and it’s neither delinked from MoE nor Dzongkhag education office as the directives would always emanate from the two. It is just that the financial and human resource muscle is conferred more to schools.

Since the concept of school autonomy is remarkably recent, only 19 schools are piloted for just five years. If, after five years, the test yield good result, it would be extended to other schools too.

The next revolution that my school saw this year was the implementation of central school. Certainly, it is a boon for students and parents hailing from far flung places, for many things come to them without having to pay. But at the end, students failing to handover school properties would ensue in deduction of money.

On the contrary, day scholars are deprived of the free school uniform and sportswear. Honorable education minister during his recent visit said that since boarders are 24x7 times confined to school norms and to compensate the stringency, the facilities were made more accessible to curtail them from moving out as day scholar.

Moreover, to house burgeoning number of students, few more buildings are yet to come up in a month or two.

Now, we are already classes seven to twelve. Hence, consolidating location A and B, we are Zhemgang Central School with school population amounting nearly to 1100. Besides, other things like its strategic location and accessibility from different regions of the place were also considered.

Lyonpo, in his concluding remark, wished us luck and reiterated the words of His majesty the king- “you can’t give what you don’t have”.

Sundown

Captions please...

Practice shots

Reasons for latent blog

It’s hard to keep pace with writing especially when you are into the woods and internet facility is at bay. The fact is, it’s even harder with internet facility at home because we tend to procrastinate, taking into consideration that any time a post can be updated on blog. And even as a month is passed, not a single post is seen on blog.

To a greater or lesser extent, it’s the complacency that drives writers inactive on blog. Another attribute of latent blog is the time constraint, either due to busy schedule or lengthy emergency circumstances. 

But to many of us, it is the writer’s block that really puts us to the test. To suffer from writers block is to struggle like a toddler picking how to stand on their own. The more we try to write, frustrated and insecure we feel, landing up hitting delete button the next morning. Not knowing it’s a natural feelings can be killing, because at the peak of diffidence and frustration, few feel defeated and relinquish writing thereafter.

If such feelings pop up in mind, straightaway take a break and never get back to work with overdue thoughts. Look for scenes around the nature like birds making love or take a breathtaking walk and get inspired.

Nonetheless, there are some who make daring comebacks realizing human beings are innately no writers and that it takes even lifetime to become an established writer.  

If seldom the reason for not posting on blog is improvement in writing, it is simple. Just compare a writing with tufts of hair on our head. We never notice the hairs growing but everyday every second it keeps increasing inch by inch and it’s evident only to others. Analogous to the hairs on our own head, the writings composed by self is never on the mend but to the readers it could serve as the feast of their eyes. And to some, it may even be their daily dose of pleasure and if not posted frequently, express grievances over it like our own self do.   

The worst thing we can do in writing is compare with online articles. Of course it is good to do but unless one is a seasoned writer it will only add to insecure thoughts, and in chronic frustration even cause termination of blog. So be yourself and write the way you feel.

It’s a universal truth that reading and writing make good combo. What it calls to be consistent blogger and decent writer is the reading habit. An avid reader is undoubtedly a good writer and takes delight in blogging. It differs over nonreader as much as living differ from dead.

Reading is like banking where a depositor is always credited with interest so long as he makes the deposits. In reading, a reader profit out of books with new vocabularies which is akin to the interest in the bank. As long as reading perpetuates, the interest keep growing handsome making it easier for one to look for words when writing demands.

And so, if your blog remains barren for a while like mine keep calm and read books.

New year celebration

Yesterday was a good eye opener for the New Year. Although it came out as impromptu meeting it made a good neighbor union. A simple feast was hosted to rejoice the New Year.

As anticipated my house owner, albeit not keeping well for last few days, joined us. He started with series of resolutions for the year and conveyed wishes to all. No sooner did he finish the resolution than he poured himself a cup of home-grown liquor. Once he hit the bottle, who wouldn't want to set out on conversation?

He offered appreciation for the initiative taken and regretted for not being able to play host. However, the limelight of the day was not about playing host or repentance but on imperative concerns of modern times.

It was pleasant to see him express thoughts on pressing issues.

On the serious note, he particularly focused on committing in 

relationship. The role of both the players in molding durable relation was what he highlighted now and then with genuine concern on his freckled face. I conjectured his youthful days and couldn't come in terms when abruptly, in slip of tongue, his wife disclosed one of top secret of past years. 

Embarrassingly he settled the conflict and tried deviating the conversation several times. Eventually he could not and accepted the failure pleading all the young couples present there to shun killing two birds with one stone.

It is no exaggeration to say that most of his views are one way traffic. What prompted to draw the conclusion was the protest he made on the modern ways of healing? He opines that traditional methods are pushed to the limit and scientific approaches somehow overrated. 

According to him, an obese patient should not abstain from consuming fatty stuffs like butter, just because the butter is natural product and would not have any impact whatsoever. Nobody but his own wife retorts sharply to the old school of thoughts.

Another worthy yet lengthy conversation struck was on the nature of different vocations. He doesn't deny that health and teaching are the noble professions. As soon as he spoke on health, he asserted it even nobler than education. Noticing my envy to the assurance made, he swiftly maneuvers the conversation and reassured education is equally essential. 

Nevertheless, he resolutely believe that teachers are the main architect of the nation and need secure protection body should there be problems like recent type. The idea of good discipline, as per him, would have to come from both parents and teachers. That was the only thought provoking dialogue of the day from his side.

Shortly after the meal, prior to the sundown, the get together came to a halt when his bottle got empty. He paid us courtesy for being like his own child and took a flight. While on my part, I thanked him for fatherly hospitality and making us feel home.

Had it not been for the special occasion, I would still be deprived of opportunity to taste my house owners curry coupled with fetid cheese.