LIGHT OF EDUCATION IS LIGHT OF GOD

United with the pristine land - Bhutan and her people for the shower of unfathomable love bestowed on me, my family, and many of my brothers and sisters of India and elsewhere, I am inclined to contribute some of my feelings and experiences to the august publication: Bhutan at Her Best.

" WE NEED MILLIONS OF MAHATMAS, BUT HISTORY HAS GIVEN US ONLY ONE."

-- His Majesty The King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk

I felt electrified by the above thought of His Majesty The King of Bhutan expressed in his speech as the chief guest at the Convocation of the University of Calcutta on October 5, 2010. To me, the address has been a holy text. So, I have preserved the speech published in The Telegraph, Calcutta, Thursday, October 7, 2010, as a priceless asset for its humanising and stimulating potency.

The message of the speech today in the Corona afflicted world sounds louder and more relevant. The content clearly outlines the causes of today's disaster and provides guidelines on how to rebuild a better world. I find a total manifestation of the speech in His Majesty's leadership in protecting and propelling the nation today. The Bhutanese Government, under His Majesty's guidance, is rescuing and saving not only the Bhutanese from different parts of the world but also some of the Non-Bhutanese from the claws of Corona. No life has been lost to Corona in Bhutan in the compassionate care and guidance of the Divine King.

An American Corona-victim tourist was treated at Bhutanese hospital, healed, and safely reached back home, America, by the Royal Government. In another instance, a single Bhutanese woman has been brought back home from Singapore by a Bhutanese helicopter. Under the guidance of His Majesty The King, the Government has taken so much care of the citizens that students and every other Bhutanese abroad are safely back home. Those who are in quarantine are also in excellent care. A few who were afflicted with the Virus abroad have been brought back home, treated, and healed. I feel assured no one is going to be defeated by Corona in Bhutan for the incredible compassion of The King for his people.

As we see the world picture today, in no other country, the citizens are being taken care of as it is in Bhutan. Mother Teresa said, " Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." In that sense, Bhutan today is not only one of the happiest but also the wealthiest country in the world where every citizen is wanted, loved, and cared for. The material might, negligent of the humanitarian and spiritual light of the mightiest nations, have become helpless today. The present world abounds in skyscrapers and palatial houses but lacks home for lack of love for fellow beings. Our beloved King so beautifully poured his wisdom of eternal truth in his resurrecting speech: "......All these buildings, monuments, this life that we hold so dear - all of these must give way and perish - not Values - Values of kindness, integrity, justice. Even death shall not extinguish them......... Our generation is called upon to rethink, to redefine the true purpose of growth....."

Bhutanese nation is a personification of: " Humanity is the mother of all religions." I remember my friend and colleague Mr. Somarajan at Nangkor Central School saying at my farewell party on December 17, 2007: "... The care and goodwill Chowdhury sir received from the Bhutanese people during sir's sickness last year(2006). I doubt whether he would get such love and care even in his hometown." This is a bitter truth shared by outspoken Mr. Somarajan. I believe Bhutan has become home to all whoever has lived there as it is to me.

It is a unique and unparalleled country where humans are treated with dignity and offered honour and appreciation by the Government even for their smallest forms of services to the nation with the least kind of injustice. I felt ecstatic with heavenly joy and emotion on May 2, 2018, at Changlingmithang, Thimphu, to receive unprecedented and astounding hospitality, honour and recognition as a guest of honour along with my 42 Indian colleagues to the kingdom's historic Teacher's Day celebration to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between Bhutan and India. As all the former Indian teachers who had worked in Bhutan could not be accommodated in the historical celebration, a separate Reception Programme was organised in Kolkata, India, on January 6, 2019, with a view to shower recognition to the rest of the Indian teachers. This gesture of appreciation for our services in the education of the kingdom was bestowed upon us by The Royal Government at the command of His Majesty The King. The history of humankind may not have witnessed such a terrific honour for the teachers elsewhere on the planet.  If I had not worked and lived in Bhutan, I would not have known that human beings can be treated with such sky-high love and dignity. To reciprocate the grand gesture of goodwill, I reaffirm my pledge to remain loyal and faithful to the Tsa-Wa-Sum till my last breath.

In Bhutan, the beloved Kings are the manifestations of Lord Himself, which is in line with the philosophy of The Bhagavad Gita. Here the Kings are the embodiments of real dharma and righteousness. My tears of joy and emotion rolled down on November 6, 2008, to see our Fourth Druk Gyalpo gently placing the Raven Crown on the head of his son, the fifth King of Bhutan, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk. The picture of this sacred event speaks volumes about the supreme height of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, which inspires millions and adds a new chapter to human history. When our history is replete with examples of violence and bloodshed for mere greed of power and position, the Great Fourth abdicated the throne like the great King Ashoka. It ushered in a new era of democracy in the kingdom. I do not know any country in the world where democracy blossomed without violence. For endless wisdom and boundless vision of the Great Fourth, Bhutan has made unprecedented progress in all spheres of life and emerged as one of the happiest nations. Without any material might the name and fame of Bhutan and the Bhutanese have spread far and wide for the indescribable beauty and bliss of the kingdom. To the world tourists, The Last Shangri la is now the most attractive place. It is all because of the marvellous leadership of the Kings, especially The Fourth.

In the Corona- scourged world, the best and worst of every country, and the strengths and weaknesses of every leader has surfaced more vividly than ever before. I have seen the different kinds of hidden poverty, especially the misery of humanity, in the so-called richest and hi-tech, advanced countries, under the mask of material glamour. Thus, I have lost my long-standing interest in visiting those countries. But the hidden beauty and might of Bhutan and her leadership has shone more vigorously than ever before. In as much as my love and interest in Bhutan has grown multifold. My Bhutanese brothers and sisters should turn inward to see, explore, and nurture the inner beauty- the beauty of Bhutanese values. "Civilisation is not built by machines but by values."

Since the Corona outbreak, I have been in constant touch with Bhutan and the rest of the world. I have noticed countless different aspects of life in different countries. But I discovered a common thing in every nation except Bhutan -- that is frustration and unhappiness among citizens. When people in other countries are shouting and complaining against the Governments and leadership, Bhutanese citizens are celebrating their joy and appreciation for the love and care of the King and Government in the scourge of Corona. This is the best indication of the astounding success of the GNH philosophy of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

His Majesty The Fifth Druk Gyalpo at his stirring speech of October 5, 2010, at Kolkata, wished for millions of Mahatmas saying: " We need millions of Mahatmas, but history has given us only one." The psychology of 'Thought Power ' teaches us one becomes what he thinks. As driven by the highest thought-oriented leadership and actions, I see modern Mahatmas in the Kings of Bhutan. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's prayer is relevant here: .......Where the mind is led forward by thee/ Into ever-widening thought and actions - / Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

I have numerous reasons and experiences to admire Bhutanese nation which I am pouring in my late father's dream book entitled: My Divine Life -- Gift of Bhutan.

Bhutan - My Bodh Gaya: On my final departure from Bhutan in March 2013 I revealed my heart to Mr. Gyembo Namgyel, a correspondent of Bhutan Observer saying, "When thousands of Bhutanese go to Bodh Gaya on pilgrimage every year, I will return to Bhutan as a pilgrim." In today's world, when humanity has become helpless even in the wealthiest countries, my statement bears more meaning and more truth to me. Yes, Bhutan will continue to remain my Bodh Gaya! Palden Drukpa Gyalo!

Written by: 

Santosh Chowdhury, 

Ex-Teacher, 

Royal Government of Bhutan