Three Bhutanese students in Pestolazzi, UK

Thanks to a UK based charitable trust, Pestolazzi International Village Trust, three students from disadvantaged background of Bhutan got scholarships to study in UK for their secondary education.

According to a press release issued by Pestolazzi, of 43 international students selected for International baccalaureate diploma, three came from Bhutan. Thinley Dendup, Dawa Zangmo and Lungten Wangdi supposedly have good stars to get that chance of being international student in UK.

The Bhutanese scholars in UK (Picture courtesy: Pestolazzi)
The Bhutanese scholars in UK (Picture courtesy: Pestolazzi)

‘These three students have amazing life experience with Pestolazzi, representing Bhutan for the first time,’ reads the press statement issued 29 April, 2014. The charity has been sponsoring students of disadvantaged background from all over the world for over 50 years.

The students have been in the UK for nine months now and are well settled in East Sussex village of Sedlescombe.

Thinley,17, the youngest of three says that it is challenging be in new country, adapting to English foods, people and places. “The life at Pestolazzi is with fun and excitement. We are learning and guided in every step. Besides academic, dancing, cooking, going to adventures, celebrating birthdays are fun to learn,” he shares.

For Lungten, eldest of three, his experience in London earlier at London International Model United Nations was incredible, as against his life in small village in Bhutan. He also finds difference in mode of learning. “ The availability of modern technologies and equipment are very distant to Bhutan. The internet services and other high-tech studying materials give more quality.”

Dawa Zangmo, 18, explained how she found her way to get this scholarship to Pestolazzi. “I was told by my teacher about this scholarship and I applied and got it. Everyday I am learning about myself and others in this multi-faith and multi-cultural community,” she adds.

The press release stated : During their second year in Pestolazzi, the students will be able to apply for full scholarship in the universities, mostly in the US, in order to continue their study. Pestolzzi alumni have set that precedence and the Bhutanese students also will follow the trend.

These fortunate students also hope that in Bhutan, old and young alike, will be inspired by their journeys and benefit from Pestolazzi’s ethos of giving back and making difference in the world.

Thinley, Dawa and Lungten are hosting a Bhutanese Cultural Evening on May 29, 2014. They are very much excited about sharing their pristine culture to a vast amalgam of culturally diverse world of England. “It will be a fantastic forum to let the people know about our beautiful kingdom, and I really looking forward to it,” Dawa said elated.

Nebraska community receives QPR training

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Community leaders from the Bhutanese Community in Nebraska (BCN) took part in a suicide prevention training offered by the Department of Health and Human Services on April 26.

Participants and facilitators of the QPR training (Picture courtesy: BCN)
Participants and facilitators of the QPR training
(Picture courtesy: BCN)

According to Karna Gurung, 20 community leaders received the training.

The training was aimed at teaching basic concepts on suicide and its prevention, informed he.

The training materials also included QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer), causes of suicides, and preventive measures.

Its president, Bhim Gurung, said that the board has already decided to hold second phase of the training in near future by involving both the community and local agencies.

Nebraska community hasn’t witnessed any suicide as of now.

Mother’s Day observed in New Hampshire

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The Santan Kirtan Mandali (SKM) observed Mother’s Day amidst a program organized in Manchester Hindu temple in New Hampshire, Sunday.

According to Bishnu Maya Koirala, president of SKM, the event honored some 25 women  from different ethnic backgrounds including Americans with khada as a token of love. They were mostly in their 70s and 80s.

It's our day: Santan Kirtan Mandali honors sister Jacklin, Executive Director of Holi Cross Family Work Center (Picture: Guru Subedi)
It’s our day: Santan Kirtan Mandali honors sister Jacklin, Executive Director of Holi Cross Family Work Center in New Hempshire
(Picture: Guru Subedi)

Talking to BNS, sister Jacklin, Executive Director of Holi Cross Family Work Center, said she was extremely delighted to receive a recognition from the Bhutanese community.

“I am honored to be chosen by Bhutanese in this function. I am so happy at this hour,” she expressed.

“We haven’t observed Mother’s Day for a longtime. We took it as a privilege today to organize this event,” another woman Sumitra Subedi told.

Mother’s Day in Nepali is also known as Mata Tirtha Aushi. People pay homage to their mothers presenting her favorite food, clothing and various gifts on this day.

The day is marked as an auspicious occasion  to see mother’s face, and express respect and love.

BCU observes NY 2071 BS

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Amidst a large presence members of the community, guests and representatives from agencies and from local communities, the Bhutanese Community in Utah (BCU) celebrated Nepali New Year 2071, literally known as Bikram Sambat, on April 19 at a local Krishna temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The receiving and honoring of the community members, who became naturalized citizens followed by group dance from applauded Bhutanese American, marked the opening of three-hour-long event.

Bhutanese-Americans, who have recently obtained US citizenship, from Salt Lake City, Utah
Bhutanese-Americans, who have recently obtained US citizenship, from Salt Lake City, Utah

One of the honored members, Puspa Bajgai, who considers himself as illiterate in both Nepali and English, shared his thoughts as saying: “I am very happy and proud today. When I was in Nepal in a refugee camp, I remember how badly we were used to be treated by some of the local community people just because we were refugee, and didn’t have citizenship. I can firmly tell you that anyone who can hear and see can easily pass the test for naturalization.”

Devi Rizal, who also was able to pass the citizenship test, presented a token of respect to those who never went to school in their lives, but were able to pass the citizenship test.

The program filled with different modern and cultural dances, songs by Bhutanese youth, women’s group and children entertained the quests, sponsors and the other presented in the program for the celebration.

The All State, an auto insurance company, was primary sponsor of the event, according to BCU president, Mukti Bhurtel.

Bhutanese Society of Nelson holds election

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The Bhutanese Society of Nelson, a non- profit organization from New Zealand, elected its 11-member board of directors during its annual general meeting held on April 12.

New board of directors of Bhutanese Society of Nelson (Picture: BSN)
New board of directors of Bhutanese Society of Nelson
(Picture: BSN)

G. Regmi was re-elected as chair of the organization for his third tenure. Similarly, Dhan Bahadur Rai, Netra Prasad Sharma and Dhanman Pradhan were elected as vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. The other elected members included Hari Dahal, Dev Narayan Niroula, Bishnu Adhikari, Deependra Magar, Bimala Mangar and Purnima Alley

A three member election committee that comprised of Chandra Prasad Dahal, a founder member of the organization, Ghanashyam Pyakurel and Dhan Bahadur Mangar conducted the election.

The organization, which was formed in October 2010, has been involved in various community works. It also runs a radio program ‘Radio Lhotsampa’. Most of the organization’s programs are funded by Lottery Grant Board, Nelson City Council, Canterbury Community Trust, Community Organization Grant Scheme (COGS) and individual donors.

२०७० मा डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्य र संगीत

  • यतिराज अजनबी, एड्लेड, अस्ट्रलिया

सन् १९९० मा तत्कालीन भूटानी सरकारले दक्षिण भूटानीहरूलाई देशबाट लखेट्न सुरु गरेको लगभग अढाई दशक भैसकेकोछ | त्यसरी आफ्नो थातथलोबाट विस्थापित हुनुको प्रमुख कारण मध्ये एउटा हो हाम्रो भाषा | अन्य जनावर भन्दा भिन्न मान्छे भाषाकै कारणले गर्दा भएको हो भन्ने तथ्यका बारेमा कसैको मतान्तर रहन्छ जस्तो लाग्दैन | नेपाल मधेस फाउण्डेसन र तराई मानव अधिकार रक्षक सञ्जालले हालै प्रकाशित गरेको आफ्नो पुस्तक ‘मिथिला मन्थन’ को एउटा अंशमा नेपालका एक सुपरिचित विश्लेषक सी के लालले यसो भनेका छन् । सो लेखका सबै पक्षमा सत प्रतिशत सहमति जायर गर्न असमर्थ भए पनि भाषासंग सम्बन्धित केही तर्कहरू भने अवश्य पनि मान्य तथा मननीय छन् | भाषिक रूपमा साक्षर तथा साहित्यिक तवरले हामी सबल भएका भए सायद १९९० को आन्दोलन असफल हुने थिएन कि | यो असफलता तथा हारलाई आत्मसाथ गरेर सफलता तथा विजय प्राप्त गर्ने एउटै रहेको विकल्प भनेको हाम्रो भोगाइलाई दस्तावेजीकरण गर्नु हो | अतः हामीले हाम्रो भाषा तथा साहित्यको संरक्षण, प्रवर्धन औ गुणस्थरलाई प्राथमिकता दिनु अहिलेको अत्यधिक आवश्यकता हो |

२०७० मा साहित्य परिषद भूटानको निष्कृयताको बारेमा सामाजिक सन्जालहरूमा केही अशिष्ट तथा अस्वस्थ प्रकृतिका निष्कर्षविहीन र नकारात्मक बहसहरू भए | हाम्रो साहित्य अहिले संक्रमणकालीन अवस्थाबाट गुज्रिरहेको हुनाले यस्ता स्वभावका छलफलहरू हुनु अस्वाभाविक अवश्य हैन यद्यपि यी वादविवादहरू चलिरहँदा हामीले तत्सम्बन्धी लेख्ने र बोल्ने शैलीमा पुनर्विचार गरेनौं भने यो अरण्यरोदन हुने मात्र नभई यो हाम्रो दीर्घकालीन हानिकारक दुर्व्यसनी समेत बन्नेछ | साहित्य लेख्ने औ साहित्य क्षेत्रमा लागेका व्यक्तिहरू बौद्धिक जमातभित्र पर्ने भएकाले उनीहरूलाई समुदाय या समाजले उपल्लो दर्जामा राखेर हेर्ने प्रचलनलाई निरन्तरता प्रदान गर्नुका साथै यसलाई अध्यावधिक राख्ने हेतुले पनि हामीले उक्त संवादहरूमा सार्वजनिक रूपमा हाम्रा तर्कहरू सम्प्रेषण गर्ने क्रममा सहिष्णुता, सौहार्द्रता र संयमता अपनाउन अनिवार्य हुन्छ |

नेपाली साहित्य परिष भूटान साहित्य परिषद भूटानमा (सा.प.भू) रूपान्तरण भए पश्चात् जन आकांक्षा अनुरुप यसले कुनै उल्लेखनीय कार्य गर्न नसक्नुका थुप्रै कारणहरू छन् | अहिलेको समिति कुनै अधिकारिक नभएर मात्र कामचलाउ यानिकी तदर्थ हो | यसको तदर्थ समितिमा रहेका अहिलेका कार्यकर्ताहरूले उनीहरूको समय पाबन्दीका बावजुद जे जति गरेकाछन् त्यो विल्कुल अवैतनिक सेवा हो तर यसो भन्दैमा उनीहरूले काम नगरी बसिरहने अनि अनि त्यो अकर्मण्यताको विरुद्धमा आएका आवाजहरूलाई नसुन्ने वा उनीहरूका कमीकमजोरीलाई नसच्याउने भन्ने कुरा भने सहर्ष स्वीकार्य हुन्न | परिषदको आर्थिक हैसितय राम्रो नहुन्जेल यसले कुनै उल्लेखनीय काम गर्छ भन्ने कुरामा हामी कसैलाई पनि शङ्का लाग्नु अनुचित कुरा हैन | यसको आर्थिक सबलीकरण हुनु अघि यो विशेष गरी अमेरिकाको कुनै स्थानमा औपचारिक रूपमा दर्ता हुनु पर्दछ | भूटान हामी अधिकांशको जन्मभूमि भएता पनि भूटानसंगको अबको हाम्रो सम्बन्ध भनेको भौतिक नभएर केवल सम्वेदनात्मक हुने भएकाले सा.प.भू. लाई समग्र भूटानी डायस्पोराको प्रतिनिधि प्राज्ञिक तथा साहित्यिक संस्था बनाउन हाम्रो साहित्यका शुभचिन्तकहरु, साहित्यप्रति झुकाव राख्ने र सम्पूर्ण साहित्यिक मित्रहरूको कर्म सहितको एक्यबद्धताका साथ साथै सक्रिय सहभागितामा यसलाई बृहत् तथा समय सापेक्ष बनाउन यसको पुनर्निर्माण गरेर डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्य परिषद या भूटानी डायस्पोरिक साहित्य परिषदमा रूपान्तरण गर्न सके सान्दर्भिक ठहरिनेछ | यसो गरियो भने भविष्यमा यो संस्थाले गरेका सुन्दर कार्यको श्रेय भूटानले लिने सन्देह तथा सम्भावनाको निवारण पनि हुने छ |

विक्रमसम्वत् २०७० डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्यको अहिले सम्मको संमृद्ध साल हो | यस वर्ष डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्यको परिसरमा डेन्जोम साम्पांगको स्वीकारोक्ति , हरि के. क्षेत्रीको रेमनिसन्स: पेटिसन एण्ड पोलिटिक्स, शिवलाल दाहालको अलबिदा बेलडाँगी तथा वाई एन चौलागाईंको साक्षी ले अपेक्षानुरूप चर्चा पाए | वाई एन चौलागाईंको साक्षी २०६९ को फाल्गुणमा प्रकाशित भएता पनि अधिकांश पाठकहरू सम्म भने २०७० मा पुगेको थियो | पहिलो संस्करणमा १५०० प्रति छापिएको साक्षी श्रावण २०७० मा आएको दोस्रो संस्करणमा पनि १५०० प्रति नै छापिएको थियो |

लीलाधर अधिकारी (पातलो अन्तरे) को ‘अन्तरे’ , जे एन दाहालको सन्ध्या तथा खेम रिजालको किनाराको छालगजल सङ्ग्रह, त्यस्तै धर्मेन्द्र तिम्सिना “क्षितिज”, जे एन दाहाल तथा डी पि दुलालको संयुक्त रुवाई सङ्ग्रह त्रिकोण पनि यसै वर्ष पाठकका दराज सजाउन पुगेका थिए | शरणार्थी शिविरको विषम परिस्थितिमा पनि सन् १९९३ देखि अनवरत रूपमा भूटानी नेपाली भाषा तथा साहित्योन्नती प्रति प्रतिबद्ध भएर लागेका हाम्रा अग्रज भाषा तथा साहित्यसेवी गंगाराम लामिटारेललाई अन्तराष्ट्रिय नेपाली साहित्य समाजले अमेरिकाको वाशिंगटनमा सम्मान २०७० मै गरेको थियो | भूटानी साहित्यले नेपाली मिडियामा तथा मूलधार नेपाली साहित्यका हस्तीहरू माझ २०७० मा जति चर्चा पायो त्यति त्यो भन्दा अघि सायदै पाएको थियो | अर्गनाइजेसन अफ भुटनिज कम्युनिटीज इन अमेरिका (ओ बि सी ए ) तथा भुटनिज कम्युनिटी अफ हर्टफर्ड, कनेक्टिकट तथा भुटनिज क्रिएटिभ ग्रुप अफ स्प्रिंगफिल्ड, मासाचुसेट्स को संयुक्त आयोजनामा एक दिवसिय साहित्यिक गोष्ठी गत अक्टोबरमा भएको थियो | चैत्र १५ २०७० माअमेरिकाको टेक्सासमा भूटनीज लिगेसी युवा क्लबद्वारा विश्व भूटानी साहित्य सङ्गठन (जि०बि०एल्०ओ) को सक्रियतामा त्यस्तै अर्को साहित्यिक गोष्ठी आयोजना गरिएको थियो |

Bhutaneseliterature.com को रेडियो सृजनामा विद्युतीय अभिलेख राखिएका कार्यक्रमहरूको सङ्ख्या मङ्सिर ७ २०६६ देखि सुरु भएको रमेश गौतमको पहिलो डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्यिक कार्यक्रम आप्रवासका सुसेलीहरू (Voice of Diaspora) देखि जेठ २५ २०७० १३ बाट सञ्चालनमा आएको प्रकाश घिमिरेको मिसमास सम्म आइपुग्दा १२ पुगेको छ | यी कार्यक्रहरूमा शान्त सरोवरकोसृजना कथासृजना सङ्गीत तथा उर्वशी, विदेश ढकालको भेटघाट तथा सायद मेरो कथा, ढकाल माइलोको स्रष्टा र सृजना , गंगा अधिकारीको गोधूलि, डम्बर ओस्तीको समय सन्दर्भ, कृष्ण ठुल्दाइको साहित्य संसार र प्रकाश धमलाको मधुरस पर्दछन् | यी कार्यक्रम प्रस्तोताहरूले लागाएको गुण डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्यिले कहिल्यै नबिर्सने मात्र हैन त्यसबाट उरिण हुन पनि सक्ने छैन | हामीले लेख्ने साहित्यका सबै विधा रेडियो सृजनाले समेट्न सक्नु हो भने सुनमा सुगन्ध भने झैँ हुन्थ्यो | राकेश काफ्लेको निर्देशन तथा राकेश काफ्ले , धन लेप्चा, विशाल काफ्ले, नवराज राई र सन लिम्बु प्रस्तोता रहेको भूटानी ढुकढुकी २०७० मै जन्मेको पहिलो दृश्य साहित्यिक कार्यक्रम हो | भूटानी ढुकढुकी र गगन कोइरालाको बिसौनी मात्र दुई अहिलेसम्मका विशुद्ध साहित्यिक दृश्य कार्यक्रम हुन् | त्यसै गरी गोविन्द फुँयालको भूटानी त्रिवेणी र अम्बर श्रीको भूटानी सेरोफेरो ले पनि डायस्पोरिक भूटानी साहित्यिक सृजनाको गतिविधि बढाउन टेवा पुर्याएका छन् | यी प्रस्तुतिहरूमा प्राय गजल र रुवाई मात्र नसमेटेर साहित्यका अन्य विधालाई समेत समावेश गर्न सक्ने हो भने हाम्रो समग्र साहित्यको फाँट अझ फराकिलो बन्नुका साथसाथै त्यसले अन्य विधाका सर्जकहरूको सृजनात्मक शक्तिमा थप ऊर्जा प्रदान गर्ने कुरा सुनिश्चित हुने थियो | यद्यपि वहाँहरू आफ्नो व्यस्तताका बावजुद जुन हिसाबले कार्यक्रम उत्पादनमा खटिरहनु भएकोछ त्यो भने अवश्य पनि अत्यन्तै प्रशंसनीय छ |

खेम रिजालका शब्द रचना रहेको एल्बम पहिलो भेट, गायक डी बि तामाङको एउटा तारा, गायिका कान्छी माया सुब्बाको कान्छी , गायक शिव माप्चनको पहिलो पइला तथा शान्त सरोवरको अनुभव गीति एल्बमपनि २०७० मै श्रोताले सुन्न पाएका थिए | जम्मा आठ वटा गीत रहेको डी बि तामाङको एउटा तारा का छ वटा गीत उनी आफैँले रचना तथा सङ्गीत गरेका छन् | एउटा गीत कुमार गुरुङको शब्द तथा सङ्गीतमा छ भने जोगमाया गुरुङको गीतको सङ्गीत स्रोत भनेर उनैलाई भनिएको छ | आठ गीत समेटिएको कान्छी मा अर्जुन प्रधान, खेम रिजाल, प्रकाश घिमिरे तथा मणि शर्मा रिजालका एक एक वटा रचना छन् भने डम्बर खापुङ र अम्बर सुब्बाले दुइटा गीतमा सङ्गीत भरेकाछन् | छवटा गीत संगृहीत शिव माप्चनको पहिलो पइलाका पाँच वटा गीतमा उन्को आफ्नै शब्द सङ्गीत छ भने एउटा गीत कमल राईको शब्द सङ्गीतमा छ | छ वटै गीतले बनेको शान्त सरोवरको अनुभव को एउटा गीत अर्जुन प्रधानको छ भने एउटामा शिव राईको सङ्गीत छ |

किरण गजमेरको एकल सङ्गीत तथा दावा तामाङ विश्वास, दीपक दशनामी र लोकेश गुरुङको शब्द रहेको लोकेश गुरुङको पहिलो एल्बम प्रतीक्षा माघ/फाल्गुण २०६९ मा सार्वजनिक गरिए पनि यसले श्रोता सम्म पुग्न र उनीहरूका कानाकर्षण गर्न भने २०७० मै सफल भएको थियो | यस एल्बमको दीपक दशनामीको शब्दमा रहेको पूर्णिमाको चन्द्रमालाई भने भूटानी डायस्पोराका गायकद्वारा गाइएको यस वर्ष को सर्वाधिक हेरिएको/सुनिएको गीत हो | जुन १८ २०१३ मा यु ट्युबमा अप्लोड गरिएको यस गीतलाई १२ अप्रिल २०१४ तदनुसार चैत्र ३० २०७० एड्लेडको स्थानीय समयानुसार १० बजे सम्ममा ३,५८,५०० पटक हेरिएको थियो | मन्जु खड्का तथा सुमन योन्जनको र मोहन योन्जनद्वारा रचित गीतहरूको संगालो सरगम पनि २०७० सालमै बजारमा आएको हो | मन्जु र सुमन दम्पति हुन् | त्यस्तै अन्य थुप्रै फुटकर गीतहरू पनि आएका छन् | भूटानी नेपाली साङ्गीतिक आकाशमा उदाएका पहिला चिम्किला नक्षत्र एवम् अत्यन्तै लोकप्रिय गीत बन्धनको चिनो का गायक प्रताप सुब्बा पनि यसै वर्ष भुटनिज कम्युनिटी इन क्यालीफोर्नियाद्वारा सम्मानित भएकाछन् |

आक्कलझुक्कल कविता या कविता-कृति बाहेक अन्य साहित्य, सङ्गीत या कलाको समीक्षा भने अहिले सम्म भएको पाइएको छैन नै भन्नुपर्छ | यसको अर्थ हाम्रो साहित्य, सङ्गीत तथा कला समीक्षा गर्ने श्रेणी को भएको छैन भन्ने चाहिँ पक्कै हैन | तर फेरि यसो भनेर हाम्रा सबै सृजनाहरू स्तरीय छन् भन्ने बुझियो भने त्यो बुझाई नभएर भ्रम हुनेछ | यसरी हाम्रो साहित्य, कला तथा सङ्गीतको उन्नयन र उत्थानमा प्रत्यक्ष रूपमा महत्वपूर्ण सहयोग पुर्याउदै आएका व्यक्तित्वहरूको योगदानलाई अविच्छिन्न राख्न तपाईँ हामीले पनि वहाँहरूको सृजनालाई किनी उहाँहरूको हौसला बढाएर सो क्षेत्रको विकास, विस्तार तथा विस्तृतिकरणलाई अझ वृहत्तर बनाउनमा परोक्ष रूपमा योगदान पुर्‍याउन सक्दछौं |

कुनै पनि भाषाको साहित्यको स्तर तथा संमृद्धिकोलागि आफ्नो भाषालाई संरक्षण गरेर मात्र नपुग्ने भएकाले यसको सम्बर्धन, प्रवर्धन तथा स्तरमा प्राथमिकता दिनु पर्ने आवश्यकतालाई हृदयंगम गर्न सकियो भने हामीले पनि हाम्रो साहित्यलाई हाम्रो भन्नुको मज्जा र गर्व एकै साथ लिन र गर्न सक्नेछौं भन्ने कुरा भविष्यमा कथा हुने छैन |सरसर्ती समग्रमा हेर्दा सङ्गीत र साहित्यको हकमा २०७० साल विस्थापित, पुनर्स्थापनको प्रक्रियामै रहेका तथा पुनर्स्थापित भूटानीहरूको अहिले सम्मको स्वर्ण वर्ष भने कुनै अत्युक्ति नहोला | हामीले यही रफ्तारलाई अतिरिक्त लगनशीलताका साथ कायम राख्न सकियो भने हामीले सृजना गर्ने साहित्य र सङ्गीतको लक्षित गन्तव्यमा अवतरण हुन त्यति धेरै समय नलाग्ने कुराको दस्ताबेज सहितको प्रत्यक्षदर्शी तथा गवाह हो विक्रमसम्वत् २०७० |

[यतिराज अजनबी Bhutaneseliterature.com का सम्पादक हुन्। उनी शिशिरका फूलहरु नामक ब्लगमा नियमित ब्लगिङ गर्दछन्। – सम्पादक]

MoU signed to expedite hydro-power generation

The power companies of  India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding  to expedite the process of developing four  hydropower plants. Druk Green power corporation and Satluj Jalvidyut Nigam Limited signed the MoU following the signing of agreements on April 22 by the respective governments.

Kholongchhu (600 MW), Chamkarchhu (700MW), Wangchu (570MW) and Bunakhachhu(180MW) are in the pipeline for harnessing covered by the joint venture project.

MoU signed between DGPC and SJVL
MoU signed between DGPC and SJVL/Photo: Kuensel

It is leaned that Kholongchhu project will be financed through 70 percent loan and 30 percent equity.

The kuensel quoted the managing director of DGPC who said the project will begin by September or October this year.

The two companies are to form a joint venture company in three months.  But, before that some regulatory compliance for the construction and acquisition of land has to be done. An approval of clearance from National Environmental Commission and Bhutan Electricity Authority need to be acquired by the joint venture company, a mandatory provision, according to Chhewang Rinzin, the managing director of DG

A resettled man killed himself in Cincinnati

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Suicide-prevention-posterPadam Lal  Neopaney, aged approximately 48, is said to have finished the self in Cincinnati, Sunday, 20th April.

BNS learned from unconfirmed source that he was alone at the time of incident.

Police has returned the dead body after postmortem at funeral house. His funeral is yet to be done.

The Neopaney family arrived United States from Sanischare refugee camp.

ICHRB presents at Institute for Justice and Human Rights

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Suraj Budathoki, Executive director of International Campaign for Human Rights in Bhutan (ICHR) and Bill Gillett, Dean at School of Business  at Southern New Hampshire University, presented a paper titled ‘Building international support for human rights in Bhutan’ at an annual event hosted April 16 by the university’s faculty, Institute for justice and human rights.

The abstract submitted by Suraj and Bill got approval for the presentation among many other world human rights issues presented for the whole day event.

Bill Gillet gave an overview of the background of genesis of Bhutan refugee issue. He also raised some important points on behalf of the refugees wishing repatriation and getting justice for the loss and pain they endured. He raised, ‘Can the resettlement in third countries constitute justice for the refugees? And, without the compensation for lost identity and property, how resettlement alone can be a just result?’

Suraj and Bill at SNHU
Suraj and Bill at SNHU/ Photo courtesy: ICHR

His paper also spoke about the non-access of the victims to the court where they have no state to support the claims such refugee individuals have. Justice cannot be delivered without the least acknowledgement from the wrongdoer.

He also pointed out, ‘How can the refugees after resettlement and becoming citizens in the western countries get the international community to pursue their claims against a small, non-strategic country like Bhutan’.

Suraj presented his paper mostly centered on the background of the problem, the genesis of it lying in the unfair citizenship acts that made many southern Bhutanese illegal despite possessing the citizenship cards. He pointed out the fact of categorization of citizens from F1 to F7 by the census of 1989.

Suraj ended his presentation with a hope that America standing on the dictum “injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere” will help some refugees remaining in camp to go back.

ICHRB has been active in advocating the Bhutanese refugee issue as an offshoot of massive human rights violation by the state and that refugees’ right to return has been violated by the international agencies too.

Manitoba community observes Nepali New Year 2071

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Nepali Cultural Society of Manitoba (NCSM) held its 7th Annual General Meeting here in Winnipeg on April 12, 2014. This annual gathering of community members also marked the celebration of Nepali New Year 2071 BS along with vouching for constructive suggestions in improving the operation of the society. The current president, Tikaram Adhikari, chaired the AGM. NCSM was initiated in 2007 to preserve, promote and celebrate common cultural heritage among members of the Nepali community who came from Bhutan, Nepal and India. In addition, the society aims to bring community members together through various programs.

Board members of AGM in session
Board members of AGM in session

The community activities are managed by a board of nine executives who organize various programs at different times of the year. The highlight of the evening included a release of annual newsletter of the society that provided a pictorial and descriptive view of the different programs the society had organized during the year. It also marked the hosting of video/photo display of various activities that the members could view during dinner.

Some local guests also joined the Nepali community for celebration.  The occasion was marked by cultural dances, songs, playing musical instrument, Nepali poem recitation, bingo and dinner. It provided opportunities for meeting families and friends as they shared the rich traditions and cultural heritage of Nepali ancestry.

Enjoying cultural program
Enjoying cultural program

There were members who travelled for over 2.5 hours from Kenora in Ontario to attend this important community event and exchange New Year greetings with other members of the community. Invited guests and other members of the Canadian society including some government officials attended the New Year celebration and had a good understanding of the Nepali culture and heritage.

The society’s activity can be viewed at http://www.nepalicsm.com/

With inputs from Tikaram Adhikari, Manitoba, Canada