IOU- my life

Have you ever been washed by a river? Well, I was and I have one person to be grateful for I could write this today. His parents named him Yongba, he had accepted it, I acknowledged him so, and as my dear friend.
His parents named him Yongba because his speeches lisped and saliva dripped from the sides of his mouth throughout. He shared his “Tengma” stocked in his pockets along with marbles, and other toys. He was fair in complexion, mouth turned pink from the friction of his shirt sleeves that subconsciously worked to clear his mess. He was strong and took care of bullies. He was good at what we played and competed. He did not cheat in the game and any sign of it from his competitor infuriated him. He was a good childhood companion.

Everyday we met soon after breakfast to fill with fun in the rest of the day. We played football, sneaked into a movie hall, fished, caught crabs, played in the river, laid in sand, and rocks naked under scorching sun while the clothes were left to dry etcetera. Yongba had adventurous plans to be executed every single day. I allied with all my resources.
Interesting aspect of our friendship is that I have no clue as to how we became friends. Our families were not friends. He did not go to school. I don’t remember having met his parents (only heard his mother’s voice while we played nearby his house). We lived kilometres apart but he was the dearest childhood friend I remembered when I lived with my parents.
I remember him very often than not. It was one summer in Phuntsholing I saw him last and that was the only one event that I can picture clearer than any other I had with Yongba. One morning, we met just like any other day. That day he had picnic in his mind. He had briefed me on how to get cooking oil from kitchen without the knowledge of my mother. He had planned the next day to spend by the river with good fishes to catch and feast. We pooled our cooking oils to fry possible fish and crabs from the river. He had salt and some chilli pepper wrapped in plastic and tucked inside his trouser pocket. I was pretty sure of menu for the lunch.

All the plans we had, he made it happen. He had a great skill for an eight or nine year old. He caught fishes as easy as in the fish market. He played with crabs, grabbed snakes by the head, and let it curl around his hand, talked with it like a child playing with a toy. I feared snake like a poison vessel that would bite and left you to die in seconds. He was a charmer, and for me he was the brave heart.

Careful with our supply we ran for the river from Kharbandi. I lived on the way to Phutsholing’s old hospital from the town and Yongba in Kharbandi. Every time we met at Kharbandi. Now when I think of the arrangement, it would have been closer if he had come down to my place and gone from there. That was not important then, (I think). As soon we were by the river, Yongba caught some fishes. Fire was started, before I realised he was working on the fishes, Chef was at work. I decided to play in the shallow part of the river, vigilantly avoiding deeper pool, where my friend glided like a fish when he swam.  Many a times, he coaxed me to swim at the deeper side of the river but I refrained all the time. I feared water for no reason at all. May be I was washed away by the river in my previous life.

Not that I know of, but what I know is- as Yongba fried his prey, and wind carried the taste that floated all over the river, aroma made me hungry. No sooner I was called, I headed towards the bank distracted by hunger and scent of fries, I lost balance. Deep end of the river swallowed me, I fought not to gulp water, and I gulped it again and again. My body dashed on the rock, rolled over it, debris scratched my back, pebbles and stones rattled my head, water turned dark and I closed my eyes. My throat choked with the solution, I fought to cling on some thing to fight the current, and I caught hold of small, smooth-surfaced rock in the bed. I pushed myself on surface, just a second to grasp a breath, I was pulled again.  River carried me as a part of its course. I wished for Yongba.  My hands, legs and body were too tired, bruised and sore against the river that tussled downward determined to take along what was in its way.

I heard Yongba shouting out Ashok, ashok, ashok…
He reached to catch my hand, which was bone-wearied from the rock, roots, and river wall that would not let me hold. I was almost dead washed by a flash flood.
I don’t have any other memories with him there after because we did not meet under the supervision of our parents (I guess). Well as I write this, I think of my friend with gratitude, and wonder if he remembered me, and the time we spent as children. And the day he gave me courage, and hopes to survive against the tides of Monsoon River.
As I think more of that day, I have no clue of how I reached home and what happen to those fried fishes. Where are you, my friend? I wish to meet you and give it another shot for being my friend, and saving my life.

Movie Muse

When I first arrived in Perth, I wondered why Thinlay and Gopi wanted to watch Bollywood movies when Australia had so much to offer in terms of Hollywood and Australian made movies. Now, I muse at the answers that I have discovered.

I think it is easier for us to connect with the Indian sense, sensibilities, humour and language that prevail in the region. I don’t remember when did I start to watch Hindi movies. I think the best way to put it is that I grew up with it. Indian cultures have permeated into most of us; occasionally I try to fight it and I fail because I can’t resist the new releases with Sharukh Khan in them. Being away for a while, every time a new Hindi movie is released in Australia, I am tempted to watch it and I watch it. It offers me a momentary comfort of being closer to home. I have not been able to visit most part of India (except for few major cities), but I have subconsciously assumed that I have known India and Indians well.

Bhutan and India being the close and best of neighbours in the South Asia have fared well in all fields among the nations of the region. I assume that it is not only the across the boarder reason, other factors like the cultural influence, the economic ties, historical inter-dependence, and social interactions among the people on everyday basis have made these two countries so much closer than their geographical boundaries.

Bollywood movies are famously known for songs, dances and awfully lengthy stories and scenes and these ingredients have also become a way of telling a story in the Bhutanese films. One time there were speculations that Bhutanese film industry might be named some thing like “Sandalwood”. My friend has started a Facebook page calling it “Bhutan Films” and generally it is referred as Bhutanese Film Industry (let’s call it Rose, lol). I think the industry itself has not become anything important at this stage to give it a name and fame (or people who are responsible to name it might have the same reason, or maybe it is not that important to name it). As I have come to think of it, the Industry cannot, should not be ignored. It will be a strong medium for the future generations to connect and respond. The Bhutanese films are slowly influencing the young generations. Let’s leave it to them by what name they would want to call it, or someone could intervene to recognise the importance of film industry and its role for today and tomorrow.

I don’t remember taking my daughters to watch Bhutanese movies, but they know the songs from most of the movies. How did they learn it? They like to sing and dance, dress up like actors and actresses. Like wise, when I was growing, it was once in a blue moon that I went to watch Hindi movies with my parents in Norgay and Mig cinema hall. But, I remember watching most of the movies; I managed some how. It was only at the later part of my life, I started watching Hollywood movies starting from Chaya video hall in Jaigoan. The difference between these two exposures, it was hard to connect with Hollywood movies, even though they were more appealing than the other. I had whole lot of things to learn about the western world to truly appreciate everything depicted in the movie. Bollywood was easier and after some time it was boring because I could predict an ending during the movie. Hollywood offered a new riddle.

Hollywood movies are great source of entertainment. It offers better understanding of American culture, complex sense of humour, music, and futuristic, thought provoking dilemma. I still find it hard to fully connect with everything in the movie. Some times it was hard to find a clue of how the movie ended and irrespective of whether or not it made sense, I watched many of the movies.

I found out when I visited a video rental in Perth that I had missed many of the Hollywood movies released in the past, I had a good list of popular movies that I could recall looking at the names and faces of actors and actresses.  But I could not get to experience what was portrayed in the movie in a real time that could be a reason why Hollywood messages cannot seep beyond the surface of my senses while Bollywood has a special place within my sense and sensibilities.

Considering my experience, I feel that Bhutanese film industry would be a many more experiences of the people who are growing with it- idolising their favourite actor and actress, singing and dancing to the rhythm of the music, and tuning one’s fantasy from scenes left open for interpretation. I could not believe that most of the Bhutanese students have laptop-copy of majority of the Bhutanese films to be watched and exchanged during their stay in a place far away from home. How did they get those copies? (That would be another interest topic to ponder). The important thing is Bhutanese film Industry has started making a connection with its viewers. The bond, in my belief, would depend on the dedication of the people in the industry to continually engage their viewers with fresh stories and entertainment ideas.

With the introduction of cable Television and entertainment channels flooding through it from India and elsewhere in the world, there are varieties of source available for cultural and like influences, but the encouraging part of the history-in-the-making is the existence of Bhutanese films and other related participation in the process. Unlike in the past, it was all Bollywood.

I think it all sums up when we think of a time when Dasho Tshering Wangda mesmerised the crowd in the Clock Tower with the song “Aankh Hai Bhari Bhari Aur Tum Mushkurane ki Baat Kartay Ho” from the movie TUM SE ACHCHA KAUN HAIN. Bollywood has become global and for someone like me it is still local.

Up turn and Down turn

Why is Australia growing when every other economy are in the down turn? This is not a million dollar question for a country lot smaller than Australia in the midst of high Himalayan Mountains- Bhutan.

Australian Bureau of Statistics have released its September headlines, the economy grew by 0.6 percent in June quarter 2009. The notable countries among the league are India, China, Indonesia, Poland and Korea. The GDP growth of India in April-June quarter was 9.3 percent, China’s GDP is said to have advance at 7.9 percent annual clip in the second quarter as announced in the G20 meeting and few are maintaining on the positive side while rest of the world are struggling to get out of negative side of the graph.

The country, which is also doing well and is usually, ignored both in good and a bad time is Bhutan. It does not have economic strength to lift the world or provide cushion to the falling ones. The GDP grew by 21.4 percent in 2007-08 as per the economic indicators published by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan. By now, anyone would conclude that it is because of the growth in production of electricity from its swift flowing rivers.

Australia, on the other hand, has growing economic ties with China, the sixth largest economy of the world and fastest growing with a tremendous potential to consume Australian Iron ore and other raw materials. It was reported that Australia exports more than 17 per cent to China, while sourcing more than 17 per cent of its imported goods from there.

Australian International trade history show that its trading partners were Great Britain and rest of Europe. Since 1970 the trade pattern shifted to Asia and pacific regions when Britain joined European Union, where it lost its trade advantages with it. So it lead to the exploring markets closer to home, and China being one of them.

Bhutan had maintained close ties with India ever since it opened to outside world in the early 60s. More than 80% of its produce is exported to India while importing close to 70% from it. The growth in export was brought about by the hydropower projects.

Australia and Bhutan have negligible trade activities. According to the data compiled by the Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bhutan ranks at 217th in total trade with Australia.

It could be my own imagination when I say that geographical shape of Bhutan and Australia appears similar, even though one is an island and other is a land-locked country, but I am quite certain that these two countries are flourishing even in the midst of crisis. The only reason, I assume, is because these countries are economically linked to the future economic giants of Asia.