Discovering the sole of our roles

It was really a nerve-racking situation for me to make the career choices during my education. My inspiration to be a part of the teaching profession came from the values embedded in the profession. I listened to and considered the expressions of the lips, devoid of judgments and critical thinking on it, but given the truth of maturation and grave reflection of the moment, I ventured into right option of where I am today.

I am a rigid believer and a follower of Buddhism and I have absolute reliance and worship in it. The profound act of generosity, the embedded value, and the truth in it, stand unmoved about the nobility and bear hidden wisdom in it. Genuinely penning down from the pure heart, I made the right choice to be a teacher. Habitually spending a little time to imagine on the insightfulness of teaching world, I dream if I can carry out miraculous in teaching and learning business, but the impossibility intervenes and I am concerned if I can be operational in facing the challenges at the forefront with due consideration of  nature and wide-ranges of a teaching profession.  

Let’s think about what a great responsibility it is to create differences in someone else’s life? It is of-course a noble responsibility that makes a difference in the nation’s most vital resources, the human capital. And also many great people and scholar say that, it is the held responsibility to believe the worth and dignity of each human beings, recognize the supreme importance of the pursuit of true devotion to excel and nurture the democratic principle in learning. It is the professions which is vested by the public with trust and duty that requires the highest ideals of professional services. To be an educator, demands to be mindfully responsible to increases the intelligence of the students through the discipline pursuit of knowledge and be persistent in fostering respect for a life of learning.

To faithfully execute these duties, one should promise to work always to better understand the content, instructional practices and the learners. Seek the policy support to promote quality educational process and outstandingly emulate personal qualities to foster and democratic style of learning. To carry on the profession, we must engage in reflecting practices, considering problems solving and reconstruction. As an educator, one must believe the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizing the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence and nurture Gross national happiness values. We must strive to work to stimulate the spirit of inquiry and thoughtful formulation of working goal.

Right now, I believe not, that majority of us are doing enough, with the fact that we are student teachers, but I am sure that, sooner or later as we enter the world of teaching, we would take the responsibilities to exert every effort to raise professional standard, to promote a climate that would encourage the exercise of professional. We are at the premature stage of discovering the sole of the most difficult profession and yet the most important job in the world. We have many lives to touch and many lives to light upon and it is time for us to find the sole of our role.

                             32^nd ISfTE Seminar, Educating for GNH: Role of teachers

The 32^nd International Society for Teacher Education (ISfTE) seminar was held at Paro College of Education. The focus of the seminar was educating for Gross National Happiness (GNH): The Role of Teachers.

More than 150 professors, educators, scholars, researchers, policy makers and teachers from across 25 countries, including 35 representatives from Bhutan attended the 5 days seminars. The opening ceremony was graced by His Excellency the Minister of Education, Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel on the eve of 20^th May, 2012 in the Centenary Lecturer Theater. Also the present were the Secretary General of ISfTE, Dr. Forrest Crawford, Vice Chancellor of Royal University of Bhutan, representative of National Council for Women and Children (NCWC) and Directors of two Education Colleges (Paro and Samtse)

The seminar presented opportunities for teacher educators to exchange global views and experiences in trusting diversity and best practices of teaching. The participants also discussed practical ways to put the conventional practices in formal ways of learning. The principle focus of the seminar was the rich diversity of papers presented by the participants.  The participants worked in small groups during the seminar to discuss the content of papers and provide collegial feedback.  Each day of the seminar began with a keynote speech by prominent educators like Vice Chancellor of Royal University of Bhutan, Dr. Pema Thinley, the Director of Research Dr. Dorji Thinley, Professor Tom Maxwell and the seminar encouraged constructive dialogues on contemporary issues in teacher education which helped participants understand the educational environment of the other countries.

The International Society for Teacher Education (ISfTE) is an independent organization of teacher educators free of external political or economic controls. It is dedicated to the improvement of teacher education in all settings by fostering discussion, critical analysis and dissemination of ideas from research and innovative practice in teacher education. It was formed in 1981 to provide a forum where teacher educators, and those with an interest in teacher training and development, could meet as professionals and discuss their work.

The five day seminar successfully ended on Friday, 25^th of May, 2012, with a range of cultural programs performed by the student teachers of Paro College of Education. The 33^rd Annual International Society for Teacher Education will take place in Hong Kong in 2013.  

HUB OF ACADEMIC STRUCTURE

“Regardless of a Learning Center being a fresh concept in Bhutan, Paro College of Education ought to consider itself proud to have the most developed Learning Center, when matched up to other colleges in Bhutan” said Dr. Gretchen Legler, visiting professor at Paro College of Education (PCE).

Positioned in the hub of the academic structure, with extremely welcoming footsteps, beautiful, carpeted room, big transparent window, learner friendly tables and chairs, the beautiful bold tag on the doorway of the Learning Center (LC) sends the message that it is an imperative venue for learning at PCE.

The Director’s dream of a Learning Centre was materialized, when Mr. Roy and Nancy Greenwood, two Canadian volunteers started the learning centre in the year 2010. After their term of one year, another volunteer Mrs. Charlton continued with running the center until it is presently, manned by Dr. Legler.

Dr. Legler said, “Learning Center embraces whole different educational philosophy which is very much in line with GNH values in education. So every college must have an active learning center to promote responsibility in learning and help with all kind of accountability of GNH Values.”

With these aims in mind and to quench the student’s thirst for learning, the center offers assistance in various fields, such as clarification of assignments, referencing, convention of writing, practicing oral presentation, finding online resources for academic literacy, peer mentoring and collaborative reading. The assistance catered to faculties also varies from research skills to application for further studies and to PhD education.

While the endeavors of center remain to provide student teacher and faculty with academic support, there are many steps needed to further progress to reach the level of a well-established center. Firstly, with regard to resources in the center, we need to have a wide range of reading materials on the shelf, different handouts, writing materials, reference book and a printer as an indispensible part of the Learning Center. These kinds of facilities made available in the room would motivate students to engage in their own education through providing services as per the needs of the students. Secondly, the human resources are very important, without which the certainty of center is lost to stagnation.   

Legler said, “Currently the two biggest challenges faced by the center, are getting students to know that there is a learning center and staffing the learning center”. Dr. Legler and Ms. Lhazom Dema tried to address the challenge of getting students to know about the existence of the LC through orientation and creating of awareness.

However, she hopes that, with the upcoming peer mentoring groups as a measure for the problem, she thinks that the problem would be resolved to some extend. The peer mentoring is one of the ways of catering to learning through sharing of ideas and information within peers. It primarily focuses on learning through the means of helping each other. The peer mentoring in the learning center would come into effect after Dr. Legler trained the group of 13 student teachers.

32nd International Society for Teacher Education (ISfTE) Seminar

 Master of ceremony: Dawa and Kinley Wangmo

Anchor-1: Good Evening! Ladies and Gentleman! The galaxy of intellectuals, Your Hon’ble, Minister of Education, Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdel, Vice Chancellor of Royal University of Bhutan, Dasho Pema Thinley, ISfTE Secretary General, Professor, Forrest Crawford, and respected Professors and Educators from across the globe.

My name is Dawa, undergoing my Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education at Paro College of Education and this is my final year.

I am Kinley Wangmo, in final year B.ed Primary General.

 It gives us immense pleasure and privilege to be a part of THE programme, this evening.

Well! My first and foremost duty - On behalf of Paro College of Education is to welcome you all in the opening ceremony of 32^nd Annual International Society for Teacher Education. The theme for the seminar is Educating for Gross National Happiness: Role of Teacher

Here at this seminar, we value our intellectual capital, and nurture it through a perfect blend, of the traditional as well as contemporary ways and means, for the comprehensive development, of the teacher education, so that every year the society at large is benefitted with the well equipped professionals who can significantly contribute to the value creation process.

Once again it’s our pleasure to welcome you all to the 32^nd ISfTE Seminar!

Anchor-2: To embark on this occasion, we will have our traditional auspicious Marchang ceremony.

Marchang is an offering of wine to the lama, yidam, pawo, khandrum, choechong sungma, neydag and zhidag (translated into English this words means that we are making offerings to our spiritual teachers, dakini, deities, tutelary, heroes and heroines). The Marchang is said to invoke fortune, blessing for the removal of obstacles, and for the successful outcome of the endeavor being inaugurated.

(MARCHANG…)

Anchor-1: May I now request the Director of Paro College of Education ----- Dasho Thubten Gyatsho, to present an opening remark.

AFTER THE ADDRESS – Thank you sir

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentlemen may I now, request the Guest of honor, His Excellency Minister of Education, Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdel to address the gathering.

AFTER THE ADDRESS – Thank you la Lyonpo

Ladies and Gentleman, now we shall proceed to next venue: that is in Centenary Gymnasium For cultural extravaganza…

(PROCEEDING TO CENTENARY GYMNASIUM)

CULTURAL PROGRAMME BY ROYAL ACADEMY of PERFORMING ARTS

WELCOME DINNER

CENTENARY GYMNASIUM

Anchor-1 Ladies and gentleman,

Warm welcome to centenary Gymnasium for the 2^nd part of today’s program, in this episode you will discover the colours of a cultural feast,  unfolded by the artists of Royal Academic of Performing Arts (RAPA) and PEC Cultural group.

To start on, may I invite Joenparlekso artistes from RAPA on the showground…

This folk song and dance performed at the start of a festive occasion is to welcome the honored guests. The lyrics of the song go as follows…

It is with joy that we welcome the distinguished guest in heaven, even water glitter with the spiritual power of Gods

We wish that the rays of heaven would fall on this beautiful world on this auspicious day and grant good health and happiness to all distinguished guest…

We present this song for the pleasure of our guest… Enjoy!

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentleman, up next we present to you, Thuenpa puenzhi chham (dance of the four friends)

The elephant, monkey, rabbit and the peacock are four friends who live in harmonious existence in the forest of Varanasi, India. The four animals supporting one another signify living in harmony by working together. The dance describes their special relationship and cooperation.

Ladies and gentleman take pleasure…

(After Dance) That was indeed a lovely performance. How captivating! Poetry of footsteps!

A blend of cosmic tune and divine music!

Thank you!

Anchor-1: Ladies and gentleman, next we present you… Rigsar dance by: Paro College Culture Group…

Rigsar dance is a music genre, the dominant type of popular music of Bhutan. In the early 1990s, the Rigsar industry grew considerably, as Drayang repopularized the genre, adding more electronic elements. Modern Rigsar recordings often use electronic approximations of drums and guitars.

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentleman, next may I invite performer of Layap Zhabdro from RAPA…

The semi nomadic tribes of the village called Laya, high up at the foothills of the snowy mountains ranges in the north of Bhutan have songs and dances that describe the beautiful panoramic surrounding. Glimpses and glittering snow-clad Mountain, the white prayer flags fluttering high up on the mountain have inspired many beautiful songs. This particular song describes the task of collection of incense plants from the mountain sides as offering to the Gods.

Dear dignitaries, take joy in the presentation…..

AFTER THE PERFORMANCE

Incredible, the dancers really held everyone captive. Thank you, it was Awesome!

Anchor-1: Ladies and Gentleman hold your breath for another dance by RAPA… for now we present to you Pachham (Dance of the heros)

Terton Pema lingpa, the treasur discoverer in the 15^th century witnessed the pachham being performed in Zangdopelri, the abode of Guru Rinpochee by the heros (Pawos) and the heroines (khandom-pamos) accompanied by harmonious melodies of the religion of the Guru Rinpochee. This dance was introduced and is performed to pacify the world and to restore peace and happiness.

Let’s witness the dance of heroes, by welcoming entertainer from RAPA…

(After the dance) Very engrossing with various movement, figure and mesmerizing formation…

Thank You!

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentleman, next program in the list we have for you is Zhungdra (Samyay ki salamo)

One of the oldest Bhutanese songs, this describes the construction of Samyay monastery, “Migyur Lhuengi-Drukpai- Phodrang” in Tibet during 8^th century. It is said that king Thrisong Deotsen’s will was shaken as the construction of the monastery was prolonged by hostile spirits and shanta Rakshita suggested that the king invited Guru Padma Sambhava to vanquish the evil forces. The completion of the monastery is said to have taken 6 long years.

Thank you!

Anchor-1: Ladies and Gentleman, next we present you with Boedra (title) for that may I invite Presenter of Paro College on the stage…

Boedra is a traditional genre of Bhutanese music. Boedra, which is influenced by Tibetan folk music, is one of the two main folk singing styles in Bhutan, the other being zhungdra, which was developed in the 17th century.

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentleman, let’s have a change.

Up next I call on showground RAPA musician for Instrumental Musical Display

The instrument used are Dranyen (lute), Yangchen (Dulcimer), Piwang (Fiddle) and lingm (Flute)…

Let’s have amusing moment with melody dipped music notes…

Anchor-1: Ladies and gentleman, next we present to you the Dramitse Ngachaam (Dance of Drummer from the Dramitsee)

In the 16^th century, lama kuenga Gyeltshen, Spiritual teacher, a learned lama from Dramitse is believed to have visited the celestial palace of Guru Rinpochee through his miraculous power. He saw the attendants of the Guru transform themselves into peaceful or terrifying deities and performing a dance with drums. Upon his return he introduced the dance that depicts the supremacy of Gods over demons and symbolizes the victory of the good over evils. This dance is included with the UNESCO’s list of unique intangible cultural heritage of mankind since 2002.

This was mesmerizing, powerful and alluring dance… Thank you!

Anchor-2: Ladies and gentleman, next item in the list, we present you, Folk Song (Ae Mo Chog Lay) 

This is a folk song and dance from the two hamlets of Merak and Sakten in eastern Bhutan, where we have a small group of semi- nomadic people with their distinctive dress and language. This is a unique dance of the highlander through which they seek refuge in their local deities Amo Jomo. It is also believed when they offer this song to their deity it can ward off the evil and negative emotions and bestow them with blessing and good fortunes.

Anchor-1: Ladies and gentleman, subsequently, I invite the presenters of Kepi Drukyul…

This is the song and dance about how in Bhutan the land of thunder dragon, people live in joy and harmony. Blessed by the triple gems, there is peace and tranquility.

Enjoy! Ladies and gentleman…

Anchor-2: Duet Song

ACHOR 1: Ladies and gentleman…Now we shall break for a yummy…yummy… Dinner… Until then this is Dawa and Kinley Wangmo, leave-taking with the message, have a delicious dinner and good night to all of you la.

The Role of Educational Research
The research undertaken in educational profession is more than a set of a skills and way of thinking: examining critically the various aspect of your day to day professional work; understanding and formulating, guiding principle that governs a particular procedure; and developing and testing new theory for the enhancement of your practices. “It is a habit of questioning what you do and systematic examination of the observed information to find answer, with the view to instituting appropriate changes for more effective professional services” Kumar, R. (2005). The educational research looks into the matter such as teaching, learning, infrastructure, environment, teachers, students and management within the context of education system. The research in education has been playing many vital role out of which three most important are; add to our knowledge, improve the practices and inform policy debate.
It is difficult for many of the researchers to locate exact sources of information and find authentic data to write literature review.  I am not being reckless to this point either, but thorough understanding of the research finding, is biggest challenges to the researcher, they needs to devote greater portion of time, effort and money looking for valid details from multi resources. Nonetheless “the research add to our knowledge, it need innumerable finding, careful study and in depth exploration on the issues. In the process we need to locate many of the resources like library, internet, interviewing etc… to accumulate data. As a result of encountering many information and series of inner learning through different resources, expand the knowledge of researcher as well as those concern, through presentation, conference etc… on top of that the knowledge on the aspect of our day to day professional work increases its boundary” (Creswell, 2009.). Research can allow us to extend what we know in ways we never conceived. It gives us wide hope and area to explore on new things practically and manually. Research address gaps in knowledge, it can address areas in which little is known, like perhaps the effects of online versus traditional classroom learning.
The influence of research into practicality should undergo long process. It needs lots of sacrifices and hard work to really influence and gains the attention of policy maker and administration. The researchers need to produce valid testimony and legitimate explanation to pursue the authority which would bring beneficiary in the right place, through policies. To do that, are the complications, when researcher cannot cover the depth, breath and length of the problems, as a result they are questioned and even possibly reject their proposal. But on the other side,  the research improves practices and in this sentences I would understand in two ways, research would improve the older practices with new practices and researcher improve the practices over researching skills and methods. Research is done with the problem being raised at high. The problem can be very much related within the context of the education environment. To resolve, researcher come up with multi skills and method to proof necessary evidence and institute appropriate changes for more effective services. Through the data analysis and interpretation, ingredient with necessary reason and proof, I belief they can entice greater influences in improving the earlier practice, which have been monotonous and ineffective, meaning they act as a test to verify previous findings and accordingly illustrate the proposed solution. Since action research start with every day experience and is concern with the development of living knowledge in many ways the process of enquiry is important as specific outcome. Good action research emerges over time in an individual develop skills of inquiry and communities of enquiry develop within community of practices. Research is more than a set of skill, it demand thinking, analyzing, understanding and formulating. It is designed to solve particular existing problems so there is a much larger audience eager to support research that is likely to be profitable or solve problems of immediate concern.  We also must understand how research impacts our decision making.  Most people make decisions without gathered information to back them up.  Only few do.  The problem is most people aren't patient enough to put in the effort.  Research requires time, effort, and sometimes money to have the evidence you need to make a sound decision that's why many avoid it.  The research you do and evidence you gathered will have impact on your future. For that researcher must be equipped with all essential skill and tools to go about successful and productive research.
As the greater authority holds in the hand of policy maker, the researcher should target to convince them and have their faith in our proposal. In doing so, the research base and conclusion needs to be very strong and influential indeed, where upon it is another challenge for researcher. Despite this difficulty, researchers inform policy, “if the research piece is advertised to higher level, with all the appropriate reasons, prove and argument, research in turn will get political commitment and support” (Creswell, 2009.). It adds an important perspective for different learning types and helps revise theory and practice to reflect different student’s needs. With authority in their palm, they raise their voice to debate on the issue. As product of debate and discussion the problem is brought down to the solution. So “Political can influence the practice” by rephrasing, reshaping, reformulating the policy and in turn their policy will influence the practices. These are only a few of the many reasons research is important, particularly to educators. In an increasingly data-driven society, it is vital that educators know how to locate, find, and interpret research on their own. Further, educators need to be able to conduct quality research to examine issues within their own contexts.
Other important roles of educational research, would be obviously understood through the answer for the question why, collectively, do we perform educational research? At first glance the answers seem clear. We want to learn about effective programs and teaching methods to help students learn. We want to discover relationships between variables in educational settings to plan interventions. We want to understand cultural contexts of schools to create schools that embody justice and reduce prejudice and inequality to children.
From the individual researcher’s perspective we investigate topics about which we are curious or passionate; as well, we do research because it is an integral part of the academic role and a central factor in academic promotion. We may sometimes be paid or co-opted to do research in a setting that we did not choose out of personal-professional interest. Individually and collectively, we do educational research as part of a quest for meaning and necessary solution for the problem. Research also allows you to pursue your interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge yourself in new ways. Working on a faculty-initiated research project gives you the opportunity work closely with a mentor–a faculty member or other experienced researcher.
In conclusion research is very vital to our everyday decision making. Research Papers in Education is not only a vital source of pertinent information for educational researchers, but also required reading for educational policy-makers and planners. It arms you from wrong information and save time and money.  It is important to your success as you take on life's challenges and career decisions making. The research plays vital role in adding, to our knowledge through innumerable finding, careful study and in depth exploration on the issues. It improves older practices with the new practices and researcher improves the practices over researching skills and methods too. On top of that, a researcher informs policy, once research piece is advertised to higher level, with all the appropriate reasons, prove and argument. So the research has become indispensable part, to cater the positive changes in educational field. 

Reference
Biddix, Patrick,  J. (n.d.). What is Educational Research? Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://researchrundowns.wordpress.com/intro/whatisedresearch/
Creswell, John, W. (2009, 3rd ed.). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed       methods approach. SAGE Publication ltd: California.
Kumar. (2011). Research Methodology: A Step By Step Guide for Beginners. Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=Fn77k1mAl2IC&pg=PA20&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
The Quest for Meaning in Educational Research. (2004). Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/cho27244j.htm.

 
New students’ new problems
With the recruitment of 288 new students, both boys and girls freshly from high school for their bachelor’s degree in education, there is likely to be a classroom shortage in the college. Unlike previous years, the number of the intake of students was high, says the administration of the college.
With this concern in mind, the administration put a fresh measure in place to address the accommodation problem. As a solution, they came up with a new system of adjusting the classrooms on a rotational basis. Although the scheme was taken into account as a measure to solve the problem, there are other sides of the coin. Despite giving opportunity for personal responsibility and inculcating in us the ethical value of respecting the other’s time and place, there are a number of ambiguities on the scheme, considering the execution part.
 On the initial day of the system, I saw one of the lecturers confounded with the exact class location. He made one entire round to locate the class and in the intervening time I am sure he lost a few precious times.
Moreover, many classes are ignoring the very significant of sanitation. There is a notion conflict amongst the students that, it is a business of other section to maintain the cleanliness, but recklessly a classrooms remained mess up and tainted. In addition, an extremely expensive teaching and learning amenities, which are obtainable in the classes, were unattended behind. The heaters light were on, the overhead projector and LCD are not taken care appropriately, and it has become a tendency of use and throw.
In some cases, the furniture like chairs, tables, and even the OHP started to move from a place to another, all along with students, probably introducing another problem of insufficient furniture with a large number of students.Looking very closely, there are problems embedded within the four walls of each class. The problems concerning, the preparation of a teaching and learning materials for students and lecturer. There is a mismatch, between the presentation materials prepared by a lecturer and students with that of the facilities available in a class. For instance in one of the session, lopen had prepared his lesson on the OHP slide; unfortunately, the class scheduled for a session was equipped with a LCD. Further, it is also unsuitable for all the classes to find out a permanent walls and area to paste their presentation and an academic work. Consequently, most of the classes continue to be an unfavorable environment for learning, as it remains unfilled around the wall.
The problems reflected above are personal observation, after keeping a careful watch in the new system and it is a genuine, as far as concern of a self. Although the change in a system operates as an alternative solution for the problem, we can always weigh the pros and cons in it, to bring improvement and favor ability in the system.
The few lines of proposition made here necessarily do not demand consideration in the system change, rather thinking of solution along with the problems would be a best strategy to come into acceptable solution, as said two head is better than one.
First solution for the problem could be, possibly looking for adequate classroom construction, in the college, although it is financially pinching. That would solve the problems permanently be it in the present as well as future.
 Looking for an unnecessary usage of the space and changing into classroom could be another answer to the problem. For example, the space, once used by CAPSD and other storeroom near bookshop could have been classroom for time being.
The other alternative could be, making available of a needed facilities in all the classes, so that it matches the teaching and learning needs of lectures and students. By the absence of these facilities, it is for sure that, our prime purpose of being here is defeated. If the college does not have sufficient teaching and learning aids, it would have been better organization, to keep fix classroom, for half of the classes. In this way, those classes with fixed room would use one kind of teaching and learning aid that would probably solve the contradiction in the preparation of presentation in the class.
Finally, one of the solutions could be restriction of the rotation between two classrooms only, because in this way, student becomes responsible in keeping the classes clean and accountable for the facilities. At the same time, this would suit the teaching and learning needs and provide a fitting environment for the learning.

TO FIVE BRAVE

The constitution of Kingdom of Bhutan under the article seven, the fundamental right states “all persons are equal before law and are entitled to equal and effective protection of the law and shall not be discriminated against on the ground of race, sex, language, religion, politics or other status”

This exactly applies to five brave individuals who disclosed their identity as HIV status on Bhutan Broadcasting Services, the national television on 1^st December 2011. It was an inspiring courage and selfless act of those individuals and personally, I would like to congrats them as a concern citizen for their bravery. Their appearance on the national television was shocking to many of the peoples around the nation, not as a HIV Patient but for their guts to appear. Particularly I have an enormous admiration to all of them individually, for the message they carried along with their appearance on the television.

 The personal notion of a HIV patient was very different during my tender age. I fear the name of the diseases itself and gave me horror as soon as I heard people with the diseases identity. I would be reluctant to go near those victims and avoid at far distant. The similar behaviour was also seen with my friends and usually we do gather in one of the corner to discuss and jeer as a united, but now when I realize, they are like you and me.  They are no different than every one of us, the diseases is like any other diseases, although it appear terrible in the eye of society with stigmatization and discrimination.

Now to understand them really, why don’t we assume their status? How would we think and what would be our reaction to the society if they look upon with that stigma. What would we imagine to different level of discrimination from relatives, office goers, parents, and community? I think with the pressures from different level of society the solution available would be suicide and do we think, that is the moral encouragement in the society of Gross National Happiness?

Now listening to the experiences, from those HIV infected, I felt extremely sorry and pity for my misconception. The physical pain of austerity and emotional fear of death they explain gave me strong blow at heart. The multi level of prejudice and criticism from humanity and disgrace situation they came across made their environment unfeasible to show their face.

The ways of treatment to those victims are no different than animals; even I feel animals are happy and better. They are neglected and considered as lifeless body that would take all the blames. Does it sound right? I guess NO.

The story needs revolution, the commitment from people, to support morally and treat as any other normal human being. We should clear those stigmas the society is bound with. Be compassionate and let our victim execute their fundamental right after all we are Buddhist.

December 1^st is observed as International HIV and AIDs day.  The day in Bhutan is observed in the capital city, Thimphu with those five brave and selfless individual who disclosed their identities as HIV status. The theme for the year was “ZERO NEW INFECTION AND ZERO DISCRIMINATION OF HIV INFECTION”