Kathmandu, Nepal/Members of Druk National Congress (DNC) celebrated the Party’s 24th Foundation Day at Kathmandu, Nepal on June 16, 2018. The customary sujadesi was served to members and guests.
Gedun Choephel, President of the Party appealed Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to amicably solve exile political issue at the earliest.
He said, “ Druk Gyalpo should take initiative to resolve outstanding exile political and refugee issues at earliest. DNC doesn’t want external actors to intervene in internal political affairs of Bhutan. DNC is optimist that Druk Gyalpo will heed our appeal”
President also offer Tashi Delek to Bhutanese citizens on the occasion of Party foundation day celebration.
The party was founded on the 16th June, 1994 by late Rongthong Kunley Dorji with the support of Bhutanese both inside the country and in exile.
Radha Devi Thapa was barely nine, when both of her parents left her and five other siblings orphaned in a span of three months in 1972. It was in a village of Nainital, in Dalim block of Samdrupjongkhar district in southeastern Bhutan.
Including her, eight kids, ranging two months to twelve years were taken in by her second uncle shouldering responsibility to feed and shelter them. It was through an official accord they got this custody of a guardian.
Damber Kumar Nirola was twelve years when he finished the local Neoly Primary school, ready to move to next school in Trashigang for higher education which his uncle promised to support after the death of his father.
He is now prominent psychiatrist in Jigme Dorji National referral Hospital in Thimphu.
Radha Devi did not get the same opportunity as her eldest brother to be in school. After she finished her third grade, she was taken out from school, and loaded with household chores that a village girl was expected to perform then.
“Maybe I was not as lucky as my brothers for getting education,” she believes her fate.
Her younger brother Om P Nirola is associate director at Druk Holding and Investment, a royal finance company for investing in existing companies of Bhutan.
Radha Devi’s father, Dip Bahadur Nirola, was a village head, commonly addressed as Mandal (Gup) who initiated the process of building school in Dalim.
“The position of Mandal is comparable to present day Mayor in any city of US,” Radha Devi explains the role and power of her father.
She has no clue about the cause of death of her father, but she remembers her mother died due to obstructed placenta soon after the birth of her youngest sister.
Radha Devi Thapa at her apartment in Louisville/Photo : BNS
She was married to a Thapa man from other side of Neoly, agriculturally prosperous and sprawling new land opened for settlement. Her second sister, Chhai Maya was seventeen, while she was just 13 at the marriage.
‘We were married at the same auspicious occasion on the last day of puran (a religious sermon for seven days) held by our uncles.’
Life was a arduous journey for these Nirola siblings. They lived under the aegis of their uncle who took over most of the land their father owned, and had paid workers and laborers for doing the agricultural and livestock tasks. But Radha and her siblings, did not get a good moment for respite; Om P Nirola burnt the midnight oil to finish his school work after completing most of the domestic chores.
There were often very harsh words; Radha remembers every distressful moment of agony and pain of losing parents.
“Husking the rice paddy in a traditional human powered wooden mill (Dhiki) consumed half the night, and we all children helped in getting the rice incomplete off the husk.”
When their aunt also died leaving behind small kids, the uncle of their charge became a wanderer; he left the village of Neoly to reach Chirang where he spent almost a year. That was the time when all Nirola kids ate almost half of the raw corn-ears in the field, in absence of a guardian. Radha still remembers this survival strategy when no adult takes responsibility to feed the kids.
Radha is now naturalized to US citizen.
She is proud herself for being able to pass the citizenship test preparing on her own, though her English is still rudimentary.
That she worked for various social services of camp management and women empowerment, Radha credits this engagement for her confidence to get naturalized.
While adjusting to new land and culture, she is quite worried that upcoming generations might lose their cultural identity, and their native language- Nepali; wish that no young men or women put themselves and the community on shame by irresponsible and illegal act.
“Let nobody forget their roots and their own culture to maintain the identity of Bhutanese Nepali”.
न्यु ह्याम्सर । नेपाली–भाषाको संरक्षणमा जोड दिँदै दुई दिने बृहत् भूटानी साहित्य सम्मेलन आइतबार (जून १०, २०१८) ओहायो राज्यको सिन्सिन्याटीमा सकिएको छ । साहित्य परिषद् भूटानको यो कार्यक्रम भूट्निज कम्युनिटी अफ सिन्सिन्याटीको संयोजनमा आयोजना भएको थियो ।
विभिन्न धर्म–समुदायको प्रार्थनाबाट शुरू भएको यो सम्मेलनमा दुई साङ्गीतिक तथा आठ साहित्यिकसहित १० वटा कृति विमोचन र ५ वटा कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गरिएका थिए । सम्मेलनको उदघाटनमा भूटानका ज्ञातअज्ञात शहीदहरूको सम्झना गरिएको थियो भने शहीदहरूप्रति समर्पित मनोज राईको ”श्रद्धाञ्जली” गीति–एल्बमको विमोचन गरिएको थियो । पुनर्वासका क्रममा अस्ट्रेलिया पुगेका रचनाकार यतिराज अजनवीको गीति–एल्बम ”अजनवी” को पनि यस कार्यक्रममा विमोचन भयो ।
कार्यक्रममा साहित्य परिषद् भूटानद्वारा प्रकाशित प्रतिनिधि कथा सङ्ग्रह “समकालीन भूटानी नेपाली कथा“, कवि तुम्बेहाङ्ग लिम्बुको कविता सङ्ग्रह “किनारका प्रश्न“, खेम रिजालको ”धूमिल जून”, खगेन्द्र भण्डारी जन्तरेको ”सम्झनामा देश”, आभास रिखाम मगर ”प्रश्नहरूको पहाड” विमोचित भए । त्यसैगरी तेस्रो मुलुक पुनर्वासपछि आफ्नो भाषा–संस्कृति जोगाइ राख्न १३ डिसेम्बर २०१४ मा स्थापित युवाहरूको समूह ‘मातृभाषा संरक्षण समूह‘ बाट प्रकाशित तीन कृति: गंगा अधिकारी लामिटारेको ”तरङ्ग”, प्रतिमान सिवाको ”म जयमायाको सन्तान”, हिमशिखरको ”फूलको धार” पनि सार्वजनिक गरिए ।
साहित्यकार गङ्गाराम लामिटारेको ”पुनर्वासपछि नेपाली भाषा: समस्या र चुनौती” विषयक कार्यपत्र, डा. लक्ष्मीनारायण ढकालको ”भूटानको नेपाली भाषा–साहित्यिक आन्दोलनमा बनारसको योगदान” विषयक कार्यपत्र, खिम खतिवडाको ”हाम्रो नेपाली भाषा” विषयक कार्यपत्र र शिवलाल दाहालको समीक्षात्मक आलेख ”भूटानको नेपाली साहित्य: केही चिन्तन केही विचरण” प्रस्तुत भएका थिए ।
उक्त अवसरमा थुप्रै रचनाकारहरूले आ–आफ्ना रचना वाचन गरेका थिए । साहित्य परिषद्, भूटानका अध्यक्ष भक्त घिमिरेको सभापतित्व तथा भूटानका अग्रज गायक प्रताब सुब्बाको प्रमुख आतिथ्यमा उक्त कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भएको थियो ।
भूटानीहरू पुनर्वासपछि नेपाली भाषा सङ्कटमा परिरहेको सन्दर्भमा विभिन्न वक्ताले नयाँ पुस्तामा नेपाली भाषा कसरी हस्तान्तरण गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने परिचर्चा गरेका थिए । नेपाली भाषा नयाँ पुस्तामा हराएर जानसक्ने चिन्ता प्रकट गर्दै पाठ्यक्रम निर्माण गरी बालबालिकालाई पठनपाठन गर्न विलम्ब गर्न नहुने कुरामा अधिकांशले जोड दिएका थिए ।
व्यक्तित्व–सम्मान, भाषा शिक्षण तथा साहित्यका विषयमा छलफल, मन्तव्य, गीत, स्थानीय कलाकारहरूको नृत्य, आदि प्रस्तुत गरिएका थिए ।
कार्यक्रममा नर्वे, नेपाल, क्यानडा, अष्ट्रेलिया, अमेरिकाका विभिन्न राज्यबाट पनि सहभागिता भएको थियो । पहिलो दिनको तुलनामा दोस्रो दिनको उपस्थिति कम देखिएको थियो ।
कार्यक्रमपछि बसेको परिषद्को बैठकले अर्को व्यवस्था नहुन्जेलसम्म साहित्यकार शिवलाल दाहाललाई निर्देशक मण्डलको अध्यक्षमा नियुक्तसमेत गरेको छ ।
सन् २०१६ मा अमेरिकामा गैर नाफामुखी संस्थाका रूपमा दर्ता भएपछि साहित्य परिषद् भूटानले गरेको सम्मेलनलाई ठूलै उपलब्धि मानिएको छ । सन् १९९३ मार्च १७ मा स्थापित साहित्य परिषद भूटान भूटानी साहित्यको सबैभन्दा जेठो संस्था हो । स्थापना हुँदा यसको नाम नेपाली भाषा परिषद, भूटान थियो । सन् २००४ मा यस संस्थालाई नेपाली साहित्य परिषद, भूटानमा रूपान्तरण गरियो । यसलाई सन् २०११ मा भूटान साहित्य परिषदका रूपमा रूपान्तरित गरियो । सन् २०१४ को डिसेम्बरमा साहित्य परिषद् – भूटानले नयाँ निर्देशक–मण्डली (बोर्ड अफ् डाइरेक्टर्स) र कार्यसमितिसहितको नयाँ नेतृत्त्व पाएको थियो ।
If it was not for the love of native language and literature among the resettled Bhutanese Nepali community, Literature Council of Bhutan would not have attracted the crowd of more than two hundred attendees from across the globe and US. Literature council of Bhutan (LCOB) convened its much awaited two day convention at Forest Park Baptist church June 9-10, releasing half dozen books and two music CDs.
Attendees from as far as Adelaide, South Australia, Nepal and Norway flew to Cincinnati for attending this mini model of literary festival.
The first day of the convention was opened with tribute to known and unknown martyrs of Bhutanese democratic movement, led by the faith leaders of Hindu, Buddhist, Kirat and Christian communities followed by a kirat dance.
Khem Rizal of Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati that took the responsibility for hosting the convention welcomed the guests and participants.
Manoj Rai, coordinator of music department of LCOB, sang a song dedicated to martyr Mon Bahadur Chhetri. He broke into tears in the middle of singing, stunning the audience.
Attendees of convention/ photo: Bikash Siwa
Shradhanjali by Manoj Rai and Ajnabi by Yeti Raj Ajnabi are two music CDs released.
Ram Gurung, the Bhutanese singer from Georgia, presented the background of music composition by Manoj and himself, that reflected diversity within the Bhutanese Nepali in America.
Pratap Subba, the pioneer singer of Bhutan, spoke of how important it is for keeping the language alive for all musical composition.
Three books authored by Ganga Lamitarey, Pratiman Siwa and Himshikhar released on the first day were published by Matribhasa Samrakshan Samuha, a loose group formed for preservation of mother tongue.
Another book, Prasnaharuko Pahad authored by Abhas Rikham was also released the same occasion.
Various individuals took the floor reciting their own creations-gajal and short poems.
Shiva Lal Dahal, noted literary figure of LCOB, presented the working paper on evolutionary trend of Bhutanese Nepali literature beginning in the seventies.
LCOB felicitated and honored several literary figures and budding writers with certificate of appreciation. Maya Bhattarai, a disabled women writer, is one such writer who has contributed to Nepali literature by her lyrics, poems and gajals.
A budding rap singer, Bikash Shiwa rocked the floor by his first ever rap song, Bhutan 1990s, that summarized events of democratic movement and thereafter.
In the informal session held 8-9 pm at community office, discussion was held for possibility of partnership and merging of Global Bhutanese Literary Organization (GBLO) and Literary Council of Bhutan (LCOB). According to Karna Gurung, GBLO has been working on expanding Nepali language teaching activities with opening of chapters in different states and in global scale.
The second day began much later than the stipulated time. The floor opened by performance of two dance performance presented by Bhutanese community of Cincinnati.
Writer Khim Khatiwoda/Photo BNS
Three more book release marked the day. Books authored by Khagendra Bhandari, Tumbehang Limbu, Khem Rizal and a collection of short stories edited by Yeti Raj Ajnabi and Shivalal Dahal were released. Except for Khem’s Dhumil Joon, three others were published by LCOB.
Yeti Raj Ajnabi presented an overview of the short stories collected in the book – samakaalin bhutani katha, while Shiva Dahal gave a short critque of Tumbehang’s book, Kinara ko prasna.
In the final hour of the day, Dr. Laxmi Narayan Dhakal and writer Khim Khatiwoda presented their papers. Khim Khatiwoda gave an overview of his primer books to teach Nepali language – the methods, content and its usefulness for children in the US or other western countries. Dr. Laxmi presented his research report on the contribution of Sanskrit universities and student organizations in Benaras for the development of Nepali literature in Bhutan.
It is learned that LCOB appointed Shivalal Dahal as the candidate for board acting president.
LCOB president Bhakta Ghimirey gave vote of thanks to all convening participants and volunteers of Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati.
He also declared some prestigious awards for writing, publishing and promoting Nepali language and literature in the Bhutanese Diaspora. These cash prize awards are sponsored by families and business owners.
Bhola Dhungana emceed the two day convention with his flow of linguistic talent.
A three-day conference (June 5 — 7) New American Leadership Academy, 2018 was concluded yesterday in New Hampshire organized with guidance from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) in partnership with Building Community in new Hampshire, Overcomers Support Services, Rohingya Society of Greater Nashua, local leaders, LIRS advisors, alumni and other community allies with a view to bring the local leaders at the regional level closer to the ground.
This academy focused on creating more opportunities for migrant and refugee alums and New American leaders by enhancing their leadership skills through experience. Growing and organizing a local network of migrant and refugee leaders and their allies willing to participate in future youth engagement activities. The academy emphasized the importance of higher education for successful integration and sustainable economic health, two overarching goals of the academy.
Participants at academy; Photo/Abinash
Wilmot Collins, first African-American Mayor of Helene, Montana was the keynote speaker. Mayor Collins encouraged the young leaders to take bold steps and get involved in community engagement activities. “We all have talents; so shake-up your comfort zone, connect dots and stay clean,” said Mayor Collins “If you don’t advocate for your communities, no one is going to do for you.”
Bhagirath Khatiwada, the lead planning committee member of the academy, in his welcome remarks encouraged the young leaders to stay connected, get help from each other and take the skills learned back home. “You don’t have to do different things; do things differently,” said Mr. Khatiwada.
Folabi Olagbaju, LIRS Director for Outreach facilitated the Advocacy Session and Higher Education Session. “LIRS has been organizing Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy by bringing leaders from around the country to Washington, DC for a 3-4-day leadership training and World Refugee Day (WRD) Advocacy Congressional Visits. But, this year we decided to do the academy differently letting the enthusiastic alums to help them organize their own local academies advocating for and engaging with the local community,” said Folabi.
Omar Bah, an author and Founder & Executive Director of the Refugee Dream Center, Inc. thanked the organizing committee, “Under the limited LIRS funding, this cohort has made a significant progress in developing our grassroots efforts in the surrounding areas. These leaders will make significant impact through their projects activities in the lives of others and bring positive change in their communities,” said Omar.
Mr. Bah facilitated and oriented the new leaders on skills on advocacy.
Photo/Abinash
Suraj Budathoki, the Executive Director of Building Community of New Hampshire (BCNH), formerly Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire, spoke on highlights of BCNH and encouraged participants to uphold passions and courage to work on collective issues of refugees and immigrants.
On the final day, participants visited the offices of US Senators from New Hampshire- Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Maggie Hassan; and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) to urge them for the protection of refugees and immigrants worldwide and at our borders.
Clement Kigugu, Executive Director of Overcomers Support Services thanked all the participants for their time. Advocacy, leadership and higher education were the three themes of the academy. The academy brought a total of 26 leaders from five states, comprising nine nationalities. The event was held at Hampton Inn by Hilton in Concord/Bow.
Planning committee members of the academy included Tilak Niroula, Suraj Budathoki, Clement Kigugu, Motikhar Bhujel, Mohammad Mustak Arif and Bhagirath Khatiwada.
न्यु ह्याम्सर । भूटानी साहित्य महोत्सव तथा साहित्य परिषद, भूटान सम्मेलनको तयारी पूरा भएको छ । अमेरिकाको ओहायो राज्यको सिन्सिन्याटीमा जून ९–१० मा हुने उक्त कार्यक्रम साहित्य परिषद, भूटानलाई भूट्निज कम्युनिटी अफ सिन्सिन्याटीको सहयोगमा गर्दैछ । कार्यक्रम स्थल ६८० वेस्ट श्यारोन रोड, सिन्सिन्याटी, ओहायो ४५२४० (680 W Sharon Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45240) हो ।
मनोज राईको गीति एल्बम गरी ८पुस्तक र २ गीति एल्बम आदि कृति सार्वजनिक गरिने छ ।
कार्यक्रममा नर्वे, नेपाल, क्यानडा, अष्ट्रेलिया, अमेरिकाका विभिन्न राज्यबाट पनि सहभागिता हुनेछ । कार्यक्रममा गीत–संगीतकार आदिका साथै समुदायलाई फरक ढंगले नेतृत्व गर्ने व्यक्तित्वहरूको पनि उपस्थिति रहने छ । कार्यक्रम दुई दिन बिहान ९ बजेदेखि साँझ ५ बजेसम्म हुनेछ ।
”नेपालमा रहँदा स्थापित साहित्य परिषद भूटानको यो ठूलो र औपचारिक सम्मेलन हो,” आयोजक संस्थाका खेम रिजालले भूटान न्युज सर्भिसलाई भन्नुभयो । सन् १९९३ मा स्थापित साहित्य परिषद भूटान भूटानी साहित्यको सबैभन्दा जेठो संस्था हो । स्थापना हुँदा यसको नाम नेपाली भाषा परिषद, भूटान थियो । सन् २००४ मा यस संस्थालाई नेपाली साहित्य परिषद, भूटानमा रूपान्तरण गरियो । यसलाई सन् २०११ मा भूटान साहित्य परिषदका रूपमा रुपान्तरित गरियो । सन् २०१४ को डिसेम्बरमा साहित्य परिषद् – भूटानले नयाँ निर्देशक–मण्डली (बोर्ड अफ् डाइरेक्टर्स) र कार्यसमितिसहितको नयाँ नेतृत्त्व पाएको थियो ।
In the first weekend of June, around twenty four individuals participated in basic journalism training held at office facility of Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO) located at 4646 Tamarack blvd, Columbus.
The training was organized by Jagaran Nepali monthly, that circulates among Bhutanese community in Ohio and neighboring states.
The training covered an overview of Bhutan’s media development, publications during 1990s outside and inside the
refugee camps, basic elements of writing hard news and feature. Facilitators Ganga Lmitarey, Bhakta Ghimirey and Buddha Mani Dhakal presented each of these topics in two sessions both days.
Guest speakers Dr.Binaya Subedi of Ohio State University and publishers of Somali Link, a Somali-English bilingual paper also gave participants the basic idea of how to research, publish and distribute papers in the targeted community. Dr. Binaya Subedi highlighted on ethics of researching and publishing the findings,
Bhuwan Pyakurel, the president of BCCO summed up the positive outcomes of current media activities in Bhutanese community and emphasized on the strategy development to sustain ethnic papers like Jagaran.
Bhola Khatri, 47, a long time health worker of Beldangi 2 camp, died on June 1, in Park City hospital, Fort Worth Texas. As per his cousin, Om Khatri, he went to hospital driving himself for Kidney surgery on May 30.
He was a dedicated health worker in Beldangi refugee camp for all the years he lived in camp.
Bhola was resettled in 2008. In early days of post resettlement phase, he volunteered for refugees to teach driving, get driver license, interpret and help patients to visit hospital.
He served in Catholic Charities Fort Worth as a refugee case worker for 5 years. He was working in John Peter Smith hospital, distributing medicine door-to- door to people who cannot drive up to hospital.
His untimely demise at the age of 47 caused great loss to his family and the Bhutanese community residing in Fort Worth, Texas.
He was born in Gelephu Bhutan. He is survived by three kids and his widow father. His mother passed away just last year.
Update: In a latest report sent to BNS from hospital in Siliguri, Birendra Magar writes, ” a second operation of Dr. Bhampa Rai has just completed at 11:02 pm. He is still in operation theater.”
Kishor Rai wrote in facebook message this morning- “Condition of Dr. Rai is back to critical. Blood infusion is continuing. Blood donors are requested to contact 9735957273.”
Per Kishor Rai the doctors have advised that Dr. Rai shall be in observation for few more days, and he is going to be alright.
Dr. Bhampa Rai, who was hospitalized in Ananda Lok hospital in Siliguri, has undergone intestinal surgery at around 11:38 pm. According to our correspondent, Birendra Magar, he is now able to talk and is in stable condition. He is now kept in high dependency unit (HDU).
According to doctors involved in his surgery, he has to remain in hospital for few more days.
In the latest update sent by Balaram Poudyal through googlegroups, Mrs. Urmila Rai is taken to Birta City hospital for dialysis Thursday morning. She is undergoing dialysis twice a week. Her health condition is deteriorating.
Balaram Poudyal appeals all Bhutanese to support financially, physically, mentally with effort to save the Rai couple. Dr. Rai has worked tirelessly to give medical care and advice to refugees and local Nepali citizens whenever in need, He was the first medical doctor to be in refugee camp in Mai during the emergency phase in 1991/92/93.
In an effort to garner fund support to Dr.Rai, Bhutan News Network has set up a gofund me page.
