Our Turn: Let us welcome our new Bhutanese neighbors

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Our Turn: Let us welcome our new Bhutanese neighbors

In Concord, there is still work to do

Last week, another incident of racially-based hatred diminished our community and reminded us that there is still work to do to be the friendly and welcoming Concord we want to be. Someone, probably a neighbor, wrote hateful notes and left them on the door of a Bhutanese family new to the country. We then learned that other acts of bullying happened in this housing complex against the Bhutanese – stones have been thrown, youth have blocked doorways and demanded money for entry, unfriendly words were spoken.

It is hard to understand how anyone could see our new Bhutanese neighbors as a threat. Go into just about any Bhutanese home in town and you will be welcomed, served chia (tea), and probably offered a meal. You will be treated graciously and with the kind of hospitality many of us have forgotten in the rush of our busy lives. You will meet people who embody the family values that Americans talk about but don’t always practice. Bhutanese families take care of each other, respect their elders and teach good values to their children.

Knowing what the Bhutanese have been through on their journey to Concord, how could anyone not welcome them with open arms?

Anything but happy.

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom situated between the two big Asian giants, India and China. It is known to the world as one of the most exotic tourist destinations in the world. The model for the mythical Shangri-La, Bhutan is a country of heart-stopping beauty. It declares itself to be the country with the highest Gross National Happiness. However, for the Bhutanese people living in New Hampshire, Bhutan has been anything but happy.

Tiny Bhutan has generated the largest number of refugees in the world in proportion to its total area and population. Nepali-speaking people known as the Lhotsampa migrated to Bhutan in 1624 and built homes and businesses. They raised generations of families and contributed to the growth and development of Bhutan for centuries. With the passage of time, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese began playing major and influential roles in Bhutanese culture, economy, education, and government.

This presented a threat to the ruling powers, and consequently thousands of people were arbitrarily threatened, intimidated, arrested, tortured, raped and killed. More than 100,000 peace-loving citizens were forced to leave Bhutan between 1990 and 1995, and made to live the most pathetic refugee life for over 18 years in refugee camps in Nepal.

The Lhotsampa longed to return to their homes and resume their lives. It was only when no hope of repatriation was left and no other options remained that they accepted the hospitality of the United States and agreed to be resettled here. So far about 65,000 Bhutanese have been resettled in the U.S. and approximately 1,800 of them were fortunate enough to restart and rebuild their lives in New Hampshire.

American Dream
The Bhutanese are here as part of a formal resettlement program and New Hampshire is their new home. Soon they will be citizens. These families deserve every chance to pursue the American Dream. Consistently refugees have proven that they are hard working and driven to succeed.

They increase our nation’s diversity and enrich our communities culturally and linguistically.

They become professionals and taxpayers and open businesses that create new jobs. Google, Intel, Yahoo, Hotmail, Sun Microsystems, YouTube, and eBay were all established by refugees and immigrants. Immigration is good for our economy.

We live in a global world, yet so many of our American youth have limited experience of other cultures. Immigrants and refugees remind us that there is much in the world beyond our borders. The exposure in school to other cultures, lifestyles, languages, beliefs and heritage is an excellent education for our young people.

Sometimes refugees are perceived as being a drain on America’s welfare and social support systems. People complain about their levels of unemployment – or conversely, their taking away jobs from “real” Americans. These negative perceptions are unfounded.

They come to the United States hoping to regain self-sufficiency and economic stability for their families and the community they live in. Refugees often start with temporary, part-time and low-paying jobs with no benefits, and are not to blame for the persistent unemployment we are experiencing in our current economy.

To the parents and children targeted by this hateful speech, we grieve for you that you have come so far and through so much adversity, only to have been treated so poorly by people who should know better. We want you to know that the stone throwers are in the minority. You have many friends who are ready to stand by you and support you. We’ve got your back.

To the writers of hateful graffiti and the throwers of stones, we hope someday you will have a cup of chia with your Bhutanese neighbors, enjoy some dhal bhaat and momos, and have a conversation about what it means to be living in a changing Concord. You have a lot of friends you haven’t met, who will broaden your horizons and enrich your lives in ways you haven’t dreamed of.

Until then, Namaste.

(Bhagirath Khatiwada of Concord is a former refugee from Bhutan. He is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Hampshire. Julia Freeman-Woolpert of Concord is outreach director at the Disabilities Rights Center.)

Courtesy : Concord Monitor

एरिजोना, एक्रोनमा सामाजिक दशैं मनाइयो

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एरिजोना, एक्रोनमा सामाजिक दशैं मनाइयो

“भुट्नीज कम्मुनिटी एरिजोना (बीसिए)-ले दुर्गा पूजा कमिटी एवं धर्म तथा सांस्कृतिक संयोजक केबी चौहानको अगुवाइमा सामाजिक तहमा दशैंपर्व मनायो । सो पर्व मनाउने सिलसिलामा अक्टोबर १० मा घटस्थापना गरी अक्टोबर २१, सप्तमीको दिनदेखि लगातार पठनपाठन शुरु भएको थियो भने अक्टोबर २३, अर्थात नवमीका दिन पठनपाठन, यज्ञ, हवन गरी दुर्गा पूजा समापन गरियो ।

दुर्गा रुप नौ कन्या केटीहरुलाई कपडा,दक्षिणा दीईयो । गुरु पुरोहितलाई दानदक्षिणा साथै स्वयंसेवकहलाई प्रमाणपत्र दिइयो । दुर्गा पूजाको महत्वबारे अध्यक्ष श्री टेकवीर क्षेत्रीले  संक्षेप विचार व्यक्त गर्नुभयो डा: पूर्ण क्षेत्रीका हातबाट प्रमाणपत्र वितरण भयो। भूटानी समाजकै सबै मित्रहरूको तत्परतामा कार्यक्रम सफल भएको केबी चौहानजी बताउनु भयो । चौहानले सबैलाई धन्यवाद दिँदै आभार पनि प्रकट गर्नुभयो । सो अवसरमा उपाध्यक्षत्रय  दिलिप मिश्र, श्री टिकासापकोटा , तारा नेपाललगायत अरु धेरै व्यक्तिहरूको उपस्थिति थियो  । दशमीको दिन बिहान सात बजेदेखि नौ  बजेसम्म प्रसाद स्वरुप जमरा-टीका विरण गरियो भने पुर्णिमाको दिन लिंगा सेलाउने काम पनि विधिपूर्वक समापन गरियो ।

यसरी नै ओहायो राज्यको एक्रोन महानगरमा पनि सामाजिक तहमा दशैंपर्व मनाइएको समाचार प्राप्त भएको छ । अक्टोबर २० तारिखको दिन स्वतः स्फूर्त रूपमा भेला भएको केही भूटानीहरूको टोलीले एकदिने सामाजिक दशैंपर्व मनाउने सहमति गरी सो आयोजना गरिएको थाहा भएको छ ।  एक्रोनका भीम ढुंगाना, दिल रिमाल, हरि अधिकारी, घनश्याम अधिकारी, विष्णु धिमाल, लक्ष्मी मिश्र, ईश्वरी मिश्रलगायत धेरै भूटानीहरूको सक्रियतामा सो कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भएको बताइएको छ । भक्त घिमिरेको अध्यक्षतामा सम्पन्न सो सामाजिक कार्यक्रममा भूटानीज कम्यूनिटी एसोसिएशन-

एक्रोनमा भूटानीहरूको विधिपूर्वक दशै पूजा

एक्रोन (बीसीएए)-का सदस्यलगायत अन्य अतिथिहरूको पनि उपस्थिति थियो ।

Celebrating new hopes

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Celebrating new hopes

The time is rife for celebration. It is the time for harvest and the sky cleared of the clouds. Hindus all over, and especially of central Asia, celebrated the victory of good virtues over the evil power of devilish virtue.

The Bhutanese diaspora too celebrated Dashain festival in their new homes. In several cities of resettlement in US, Canada, UK and Australia, Bhutanese Hindus observed Durga pooja during the Navaratra. Reports from various sources suggest that there is zeal and motivation within the community to hand over these cultural and religious heritages to coming generations, wherever they live.

In Bhutan, Navaratra was observed full nine days with the recitation and prayer devoted to goddess Durga in the Hindu Temple of Thimphu. It is the official way to show that Hinduism in Bhutan is not under any restriction. On the ninth day, the ministers and high level officials did visit the temple to get the blessings of Nava Durga Bhawani. But, unlike the last year, the king is seen nowhere to observe the tika ceremony with the public.

It is usually a concern of fund crunch for the Hindu Samudaya of Bhutan to observe Navaratra offering prayer to goddess Durga in every temple located in the districts like Dagana, Tsirang, Samtse, Chukha and Samdrupjonhkhar. Although funding of dratshang and shedra (the Buddhist religious center place for monks) is a government undertaking, no such fund is channeled to other Hindu temples and religious learning places (pathsala) outside Thimphu.

But for the urban people who lived away from home, one day official holiday was not sufficient to reach home any way. Many employees have to take two to three days off from work and seek tika blessings from the elders. So the nine days of devotional prayer to Durga can well be pertained to increase of power of the government and not to well- being of people. No, it is not to give concession to Lhotshampa Hindus to celebrate the festival with families and friends at home.

There is still a stigma among the Lhotshampa living in north to put tika on forehead as they might get queer comments from the neighbors and passer-by.

Aussie Bhutanese to Host Multicultural Festival

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Aussie Bhutanese to Host Multicultural Festival

Bhutanese Organisation of Australia is set to organize a multicultural festival on November 3, 2012 in Glenroy College, Melbourne on the occasion of Dashain and Tihar, the two great Hindu Festivals. The aim of organizing the festival is to introduce Bhutanese community to the world community of Victoria, to the government agencies, other facilitating agencies and also to promote cultural harmony among various ethnic groups.

According to the organizers, the festival shall involve various government and social service providers of Victoria engaged in community service for the new comers. “It is an initiative by BOA in partnership with Karen-Burmese, Assyrian and Chaldean, Burundian and others from Africa, Italian, Greeks, Kurdish, Indian, Nepalese, Chinese and Vietnamese communities living in Victoria”, reads a promotional flyer of BOA.

By the way of hosting such multicultural event, BOA hopes to make it more meaningful by including some charity events like blood donation through Red Cross, organ donation through DonateLife Victoria and UNHCR charity donation to African refugees.

Incepted in 2009, Bhutanese Organization in Australia is encouraging the Bhutanese new comers to integrate into the mainstream Australian society while maintaining the Bhutanese origin, identity and promoting unity. This is the first ever multicultural event BOA is taking initiative to organize.

Dashain in Camps

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Dashain in Camps

Camp residents are as usual happy about the festival, although for many it has become a festival without the part of family members. Some even refrained from celebrating it,but could not resist going to the bamboo swing (lingey ping) put nearby. It is only the price, not the unavailability of goods that deters people from buying. The exorbitant price of common food items make the refugee buyers to pick the low quality one.

However, for those families whose members are already employed in the west, it is a matter to spend the exchanged dollars. The dollars are also spent for the entertainment as the cheap roadside game of dice or rush to nearby cinema hall. Older folks are still shuffling the deck of cards, in public areas or under open bamboo shades.

The refugee population now has less distance to travel for the visit to relatives as three eastern camps are consolidated to Beldangi and Sanischare. Travel expenses have thus reduced and money saved for buying highly-prized fruits like apple or grapes or oranges.

October 24: Just Another Wednesday

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October 24: Just Another Wednesday

Setting aside all my work, I am falling for this article not because it’s more important than the others but may be because what I have to say here might as well fill in the hearts of a significant proportion of exiled Bhutanese.

As the leaves start falling down and the trees start looking naked; drizzles of chilling rains start making their way to the ground; days become shorter and shorter, nights prolong; something in my heart is saying the world isn’t the same anymore. This time of year is supposed to be warm and sunny, loud and fun. Instead, everyone seems to be busy with their usual chores. There’s no sign of energy and laughter. The world around me seems rather cold and passive. And what an awful chronological disorder: Dashain actually is nearing us – and to many people’s heartache, nothing seems to suggest so.

Not so long ago, Dashain used to be the most anticipated day of any year. Not only for its newness and creativity, but something even more substantive: its ability to bring families back together, happiness on the face of so many (and I should mention, hardships to volumes). Shopping, traveling, getting-together-dinners, just to name a few, used to be very symbolic. Kites for the young, dice and cards for adults, shopping for girls and excitement for everyone…these were not just a mere display of happiness but happiness itself.

But for so many of us who have come so far from our home, those memories are a common source of frustration. Sadly, Dashain here doesn’t come in our doors and windows, not in the streets, and frustratingly enough, not even in our hearts and minds! It only comes on a wall calendar. Some cannot miss their jobs or schools (I actually have a midterm exam on the day). Many do not feel the same level of excitement they used to even if they have necessary time and resources. Some lucky ones do try to make the most of their time, despite not so friendly environment.

If Dashain is supposed to be a unique day when everyone puts aside their daily chores, leaves behind their strains and fatigues and comes out with open heart and mind to celebrate the victory of the good against the evil, may be October 24, 2012 is just another Wednesday. If Dashain is a synonym for victory and joy, the upcoming one no longer resembles the same level of enthusiasm. Here in a foreign land, we are bound by the conditions set by our schools and employers and can hardly deviate from them. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about this situation except that it only begs the question of the importance of establishing a coalition that can best represent all exiled Bhutanese and can voice our cultural concerns to our respective governments.

So this year’s Dashain is going to be rather hollow – as like the last four years’ have been. After all, what a Dashain without shuffling a deck of cards with friends and family? Without coming all together for a few days of charms and cheers? Without seeing distant relatives that have been out of sight for so long? And most importantly, without accepting blessings from wise old people that matter to us? For all who are looking forward to the day: Happy Dashain! For many others, and me it’s just another Wednesday.

Mapping the right course

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Mapping the right course

When it comes to accomplishing amplest forms of fundamental rights, freedom or democracy, courses of struggle by the victims are advanced accordingly toning change in time and situation. We, however, strived it through same fashion even though the situation at times had sought more stronger and reliable tactics to wrestle with Thimphu peacefully.

Our context
By now, this writer is convinced that our mode of struggle—as said to be a ‘struggle for democracy’ in Bhutan, however, has not advanced. Beginning early 1990s and until the posting of this piece, we have envisaged and upheld the same mantras—no matter whether they are already achieved, yet to be attained and or are completely unachievable.

If one weighs in the changes taking place in Bhutan diligently, you can ascertain that most among the 13-point demands placed before then government by the Bhutan Peoples’ Party (BPP) on August 2, 1990, nearly similar to that of the Communists Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM) in 2004, are already met—some partially and some fully whereas some appear attainable inevitably with the course of time citing the positive changes taking place in Bhutan.  Other exiled political parties’ demands, not to an exception, are not much different. This stance, however, in no way was meant at backing-up those who had played crucial role in exiling tens of thousands of its own citizen. What it does, though, is to point out the need to consider changing the course of our struggle and work more effectively.

We must admit that some of our demands appear entirely unreasonable until people from within the country rise-up to seek them. This scrutiny in itself is abundant in pointing out the need of shifting the course of our struggle; if at all it is a must and that there exist one, for ‘the time is always right to do what is right.’ The political uproar in our neighboring Nepal & Afghanistan and the ongoing unrest in various regions of the Middle East clearly indicate that no major political transformation ensue in a country overnight. We should by now understand that Thimphu is not an exception to this.

Failures
During years’ struggle for bolstering our call for democracy and freedom in Bhutan, we placed ourselves against the backdrop of the imprecise courses—up to the point that we never realized what could be done next when one approach fails. And we kept on failing one after the other attempts. Our all-time key demand—dignified repatriation—never became feasible. Although not a single refugee has returned home, at least until the posting of this article, a good number of refugees camped in Nepal are likely to wait for the day. It is, therefore, time to let these folks know that the option of repatriation is getting thinner every other day and that it is time for them to think of securing a better future. In actuality, it appears that the beginning of the third country resettlement process also marked the end of repatriation.

We have always pointed out fingers at a handful of leaders for this big failure. Have we ever questioned if we (public) pondered our responsibilities? Answer: probably many NO(s) Vs. few YES(s)! Whether or not you accept it, the fact is we lacked, have been lacking & will continue to lack visionary leaders. We almost never upheld united voice and those who had the caliber to make it either advocated the issue singly or washed-off their hands completely.

Moving forward
Evidently speaking, yet not to be mentioned here in detail though, it is mirrored time & again that many of our forefront leaders slogged in without applicable & long-term strategies: thus the failure. Past is past. We should not always consider beholding retrospection. It’s time to look forward and keep moving. It’s time for healing. It’s time to build-up stronger, prosperous and united Diaspora first even before thinking of continuing to advocate our issue should the need still exists at all. Once a united voice and or a stronger Diaspora is established, we should then wisely map out course of our struggle and spend some good time to sketch out strategies. I see that we have only two options: (1) consider advocating national reconciliation and or (2) challenge Bhutan government more strongly before international arena with well-documented facts on its atrocities carried out in 1990s. The latter, however, might not yield expected results at the end of the day as its costlier and time consuming.

We should also be very clear that Thimphu is always efficacious to lure the world’s affirmative courtesy towards the perception of its concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which in return has candidly contributed in cloaking its atrocities carried out in early and late 1990s. We, thus, should have some prodigious strategies & plans, in future if not now, to overcome this situation.

Former Chief Editor and one of the current contributing editors of Bhutan News Service, Mishra is majoring in “International Studies” at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He blogs at www.tpmishra.com. Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Educationist Adhikari receives Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

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Educationist Adhikari receives Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

In recognition of his contribution to community services, particularly the settlement of Bhutanese refugees in Canada, educationist Tikaram Adhikari has been honored with this year’s prominent Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The Medal stands as a tangible way for Canada to honor her majesty for her service to Canada. At the same time, it will serve to honor contributions and achievements made by Canadians, who represent the full breadth of our society.

The honor is a commemorative medal created in 2011 to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II.

Who is Tikaram Adhikari?
Educationist Adhikari, who has been residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba of Canada, holds a Masters in Economics from Punjab University, India; Master of Natural Resources Management from University of Manitoba; and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from University of London.

Adhikari (middle) at the ceremony while receiving Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne (Picture courtesy : Tikaram Adhikari)

He has been working as part-time instructor at the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg for the last 10 years teaching economics and various international development studies courses including Theories and Methods of Program Planning and Evaluation as part of newly developed Master of Development Practice.

Currently, he works full-time as Career Coach and Facilitator at Manitoba Start assisting new Canadians settle and integrate into Canadian life as he continues teaching at the post-secondary institutions.

His passion is assisting all newcomers including Bhutanese refugees settle in the new homelands, developing cross-cultural understanding among people and promotion of peace and understanding among diverse group of people through peaceful co-existence. Global citizenship, adult education, social justice and promotion of human rights and human values underpin his work in social service provision and development.

He was a Visiting Research Fellow of Asian Scholarship Foundation (funded by Ford Foundation) on youth development policy in the Philippines. He worked as a Consultant on Monitoring and Evaluation of Community-Based Development Program of Aga Khan Foundation, India; Policy Analyst with Manitoba Government, Canada; facilitated development of faculty research funding proposals at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba and worked as consultant on socio-economic projects in Bhutan.

While in Bhutan, he taught Economics and Education courses to undergraduate and graduate student teachers for over nine years at the National Institute of Education, Economics at Yangchenphug High School and worked as Program Officer for Save the Children/USA for three years.

He had co-authored two economics textbooks in Bhutan (1996 & 1998) and that these books were used in the school curricular until last year and also taught economics to King Jigme Khesar when he was in grade 11 and 12.

Bhutan fails to get elected at UNSC

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Bhutan fails to get elected at UNSC

Bhutan failed to secure enough votes to get elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Thursday.

Of the 193 votes cast, Bhutan secured just 20 votes, reported the online edition of the Inner City Press.

As per the UN rules, a member country should secure at least 128 votes to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay has criticized the Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley’s government of “ill conceiving and misguiding” the probable voters, and questioned the government’s current strategy on foreign policies.

Terming the governments international priorities ‘irresponsible at best’ he said, “We also feel compelled to voice our deep concern over the overall direction of Bhutan’s foreign policy under the current government.”

Virginian community celebrates Dashara

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Virginian community celebrates Dashara

The resettled community in Roanoke in Virginia of the United States celebrated this year’s Durga Pooja along with cultural program on Oct 20. Roanoke houses about 120 families, and the number is at the rise.

Resettled youths in Virginia perform stage dance (Picture courtesy : Mohan Bhandari)

Several guests from the resettlement agencies joined the community celebrations in Virginia, it is learnt.

The organizer said that the youth group performed some cultural items while senior citizens over 84 years were also honored by offering Khada by Nandi Kishore Mishra during the program.

The cultural programs included different dances by school going children,Balan and Sangani.

Contributed by Mohan Bhandari for BNS from Virginia

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