Saturday, April 19, 2025

We recently launched so if you see any technical glitches please email us at: [email protected]

DONATE
HomeNewsLIVE BLOGGING: OBCA convention in Georgia
News

LIVE BLOGGING: OBCA convention in Georgia

TP Mishra
By TP Mishra
8880

Live reporting by TP Mishra and Abi Subedi from Atlanta while the second day’s after-lunch session online update was done by Ramesh Gautam from Norway

11:00 PM: Election concludes through consensus basis. Yam Kharel is elected as Chairman of  OBCA national committee. Kumar Gurung is elected as Vice-Chairman whereas DJ Khaling takes in the position of secretary followed by Tika Acharya as Treasurer.

11:08 PM: Meanwhile, members of Board of Directors include Tara Dhungana, Pabitra Rizal, Bhakti Sharma, DB Rai, Deo Datta Sharma and Sarman Samal.

From right: Yam Kharel, DJ Khaling, Kumar Gurung and Tika Acharya discussing about formation of board of directors once they were elected. Photo/TP Mishra
From right: Yam Kharel, DJ Khaling, Kumar Gurung and Tika Acharya discussing about formation of board of directors once they were elected. Photo/TP Mishra

11:20 PM: The convention also elects Vise-Chairs on region basis that includes Rudra Kuikel (South-East), Hari Dhakal (North- East), Monarath Khanal (Pacific), Hari Uprety (Mountain Zone), Deo Thapa, Charan Timsina (North- Central).

11:24 PM: The convention adopted interim by-laws which is said to be in effect for a year. The elected body is an ad-hoc committee for interim period of one year.

11:28 PM: Around 55 participants from various different states were seen in the convention hall during the time of election through consensus basis. Participants busied themselves extending whishes to the elected body. Demand of youth leadership was clearly reflected during the discussion session.

11:48 PM: BNS representative reaches out to Rudra Kuikel for short comment. He says he is hopeful that the OBCA will be the national organization for all the Bhutanese in USA and that it will serve the community in a true spirit.

11:52 PM: Bhutanese Artist of Georgia performs a cultural presentation to entertain the papticipants of the convention. Emerging artists rocked the floor with various traditional songs and music.


Second day program
9:48 AM: Program just begins.

9:59 AM: Raja Ghaley, president of Nepalese Association of South East American takes in  chair of chief guest.

10:06AM: Organising committe informs they are waiting for arrival of local journalists to begin the formal program.

10:12: Floor seen busy wispering to one another about who would lead OBCA

Young artist from Bhutanese Artists of Georgia rocking the floor after the convention. Photo/TP
Ganga Neopane, young artist from Bhutanese Artists of Georgia, rocks the floor after the convention. Photo/TP Mishra

10:18AM: A team of artists performing OBCA song. Song says our communIty is composed of various castes, culture, religion, tradition. It says we  all are struggling and we need to step into progress.

10:40 AM: Amber Bhattarai, a participant from Alaska, speaks to BNS representative: says their team is closely observing the convention but they are not mandated to come into OBCA.

11:27AM: Following Deo Dutta Sharma’s briefing of the objective of the today’s session , guests including some representatives extending their wishes for successful convention.

11:32AM: Hari Bangaley addressing the function; recalls his past experiances being physically torture back in Bhutan

11:47AM: Chief Guest Raja Ghaley reacts to BNS query; “I am excited to be here but as all of our originality,culture and ethnicity is same, it might appear good if we all be united.

12:30PM: Almost nearing to lunch.We regret to inform valued readers that as there is no internet connection in venue hall, as we continue to update from mobile. We won’t be able to continue live blogging after lunch.

First day programs
8:35 PM : The Convention began at 7 pm. As BNS representatives entered the convention venue bit late, the live blogging actually begins from 8:35 pm. The opening of the floor followed the by-law presentation, discussion on it from the floor

8:50 PM : Reportedly learnt that representatives from 17 different States from within the USA showed their participation. Some of them including representatives from Alaska, however, say they attend the program as observer

Bhakti Sharma, Chief Coordinator for first national organising committee, addressing the participants on the day one convention. Photo/TP Mishra
Bhakti Sharma, Chief Coordinator for first national organising committee, addressing the participants on the day one convention. Photo/TP Mishra

9:00 PM: A beautiful small hall with decoration in dias sees around 100 people as participants of the program. Discussion on By-laws presentation continues. BNS updates news from mobile as there is no internet connection in the convention hall. The first Organizing Committe members including Bhakti Sharma, Yam Kharel, DJ Khaling, Manorath Khanal, Manoj Rai, Kumar Gurung seen sitting in dias.

9:13 PM: Bhakti Sharma explaining the articals of By-law. Floor seen active in shooting cross questions.

9:21 PM: One of the seriously discussed point, it is not yet decided if the Ad hoc Board of Directors and Executives shall be constituted through general consensus or it shall be elected through votings.

9:28 PM: Discussion almost comes to the end. It is expected to end by 10 pm. Sharma still reading the by-laws while the floor keeps shooting the questions

9:33 PM: D J Khaling presenting the by-laws as Sharma takes his support

9:46 PM: Khaling continues presenting by-laws. Some participants seen leaving the convention hall. Participants stepping in and out seen quite frequently

10:00 PM: Still by- laws presentation continues. Khaling reminds he is running out of time

10:35 PM: Program ends. By- laws yet to be adopted. Convention to continue from 6:30 AM tomorrow. Sharma declares the end of today’s session by extending words of gratitude to participants .

Listen to Tika Acharya who participated today’s session below recorded on the first day (click here to download)

Previous article
BCN announces results of essay writing competition
Next article
Artists portray to depict 20 years in camps
TP Mishra
TP Mishra
A father, husband, public speaker, and a freelancer, Mr. Mishra returns to this news portal as the Executive Editor after he had served in the same capacity for nearly three years in the recent past. Born in Dagana, Bhutan and raised in the refugee camp in Nepal, Mishra’s entry into journalism began as early as 2002, and he has been volunteering in the area since then. Mr. Mishra worked as a special correspondent for The Bhutan Reporter (TBR) Monthly for a few years in the early-mid 2000s. Later, he became Editor at the same newspaper, and also served as the Chief Editor of TBR for two years. He is one of the founder members of Bhutan News Service (BNS), where he started serving as Editor (2006-2009), and later Chief Editor (2009-2011). Mr. Mishra also served as one of the main hosts of the radio program, Saranarthi Sarokar (translates to ‘Refugee Concern’ in English) in one of the local FM stations in Kathmandu, Nepal from 2007 through 2009. As a host of the program, he interviewed dozens of high-profile Nepalese and Bhutanese politicians, academicians, social and community leaders, including foreign diplomats then based in Kathmandu and Jhapa, Nepal. Aside from his reporting work while in Kathmandu, Mr. Mishra also got involved in other philanthropic work, and helped needy refugees. Mr. Mishra led two donation campaigns through the lobby in Kathmandu among fellow Bhutanese refugees and supported fire victims in the refugee camp in the eastern part of the country. Mr. Mishra also directly assisted dozens of sick patients with various illnesses from the refugee camps in Jhapa to get their appropriate treatment in Kathmandu-based hospitals at a discounted rate and/or free of cost. Mr. Mishra has appeared in various national, regional and international publications including the Wall Street Journal, Aljazeera America, Explore Parts Unknown, Global Post, Himal Southasian, among dozens of other media outlets with articles aimed at advocating the Bhutanese refugee issue. The New York Times, BBC, Guardian Weekly, among many others have featured Mishra’s work. Mr. Mishra has also written articles extensively reflecting the state of ‘freedom of speech & expression in Bhutan.’ Mr. Mishra is also the author of a handbook called Becoming a Journalist in Exile. Mr. Mishra is the recipient of two awards—one by the Bhutan Press Union (2006), and the other by the Organization of Bhutanese Communities in America (2011) for his contributions in the related field. Founder President of the Bhutan Chapter of the Third World Media Network (2006-2012), Mishra has also represented Bhutan in various regional and national-level trainings and seminars on media freedom while during his stay in Nepal. Mr. Mishra holds his first Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Purbanchal University in Nepal, and the second Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

RELATED ARTICLES

© Copyright - Bhutan News Service. 2004-2025