Zhidar Matters- The Rise and Fall of a Controversial 18th Century Bhutanese Ruler- Dorji Penjore

I have read the book over few evenings. Sir Dorji Penjor, author of the book as he does in all his writings, showed us again on the subject many have no or less knowledge but matter in ways. Zhidar Matters is my third book by Sir Dorji. From the book “Dasho Keiji Nishioka: A Japanese Who Lived for Bhutan (2011)” learnt that Nishioka revolutionalized agriculture in Zhemgang. Respectable cultivable farmland (Paddy field) villagers own today back home owes to Dasho’s utter commitment. Lo and behold a mistress of Dasho from my village helped put our farmland on the map. Not flexing, my father through Dasho got a set of farm machines that eased families and got his name Apa in the community. 

Check this: https://dorjipenjore.wordpress.com/dasho-keiji-nishioka-a-japanese-who-lived-for-bhutan/ 

Love, Courtship and Marriage in Rural Bhutan: A Preliminary Ethnography of Wamling Village in Zhemgang (2009): This book talks about the courting of suitors to marriage in Wamling village. Few of the practices revealed in the book are similar to that of most villages in upper Kheng or elsewhere.  

Here is the link: https://dorjipenjore.wordpress.com/love-courtship-and-marriage-in-rural-bhutan/ Friends who borrowed this book of mine please return lah. 

“Zhidar Matters” made the talk of the town. A free distribution that stopped suddenly and reviews did seize the interest of many. I read one-fourth online and the rest on the hardcover. The narration is so impeccable. We can relearn Duars of the south and War with the British in-depth. 

Sympathizing history hero an orphan who rose from pillar to the highest post of the land “Druk Desi” is natural. Zhidar was overthrown and denied home entry in war defeat to the British, and loss of regional powers. His life after War defeats is a mystery. The book doesn’t provide Zhidar’s complete biography, differing theories questions and activates continuity of study from other scholars. 

The British in Bhutan history starts with Zhidar and Cooh Behar. The book gives an account of how Bhutan in the region has political influences over many kingdoms then. The engagement from Bhutan with Tibet, Cooh Behar, Bengal, Nepal, British and other kingdoms is a testament to its stand today. Besides learning the history of relevance, it also provides other enticing historical figures from neighboring countries. I have an online copy of the book.

Thank you Dorji Sir.   

Book Review: Prisoners of Geography

Thank You Tshering Phuntso for letting me extend the ownership of your book for more than a year. Finally through the push of guilt and personal resolution of reading five books and journaling for 2021, I am done “Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that tell you everything you need to know about global Politics.” and my review.

The book does not page Bhutan to the global Map nor contains a paragraph describing the Dragon Kingdom and its sovereign power of influence. As insignificant as Bhutan is to the world, the book failed to bring her relations in geography to the two superpowers China & India. The contentions younger Bhutanese approve is increasing her foreign diplomats’ inoculation and simplifying foreign policy and its implementations. This book tells us how contentious and important in considering Allies and politics. 

A Bhutan-India affair was never hostility, both sides ripening the same remunerations for having sown greater historical friendship. One is always behind the other. The good two shares are having mounted two doors in a worthy house. The payback always measures at par. The natural politics that Bhutan cannot escape nor ignore is a breed and is not unnatural. The Geography we live in is consistently connected and so does Politics. Tim Marshall described political influences all over discussing geography.

History comes and goes in waves, in a turbulent situation we lose, and during the calmer time, it’s time to progress. The Geography that defends history is turbulent is the southern plains Bhutan ceded to British India, the status quo Doklam and the glaciers at the Northern front thwarting Chinese interest(not fully). The presence of China in the North and the absence of better plains, surveyed resources, and water in the south for navigations deterred explorers and exploiters into Bhutan. The calmer phase is now; Bhutan has its markings in the international arena, histories are recorded and Governance thriving. History and Geography are parallel entities today whereby History is spurred by Geography and Geography limited in History. Two of them are to be given special priority with better political inclinations for the good, not to be the victims of Geographical prisoners.    

The insurance policy in Geography is an invincible investment. The dividends are cognitive, both present and future prospectus tied. For instance, Arctic Snow is melting; the presence of natural resource deposits has ignited nations to spur science and technology as insurance for competitions. The dividends are so tempting that even far-away India and Japan participated.

The most intriguing case of the insurance in this book is Russian sending two manned submersibles 13,980 feet below the waves to the seabed of the North Pole (the Artic) and planting a rust-proof Titanium Russian Flag in 2007 as a statement of their presence and investment while it is a disputed place of neighboring nations.

Another example of Geographical insurance is Tibet. Though major parties are in pictures and the reconciliations are on the table, Tibet’s independence is a question that does not have a rigid response. Even if it did gain the independence it seeks, India insured Tibet giving a home to Dalai Lama and the Tibetan’s Independent movement in Dharamsala while their feet were weak. So the new Tibet would then align more towards India to return their insurance claims than to China. This put India in a better position in World Geography. The respect Bhutan has from India is similar to the Geographical theory China put up on Nepal.      

Marshal’s work of translating world Maps to a 287-page book is praiseworthy. The easy access to the big world issues through proper sequencing is relatable. Besides weather, seas, mountains, rivers, and the deserts within the confinement of individual nation’s map affecting its strengths and vulnerabilities, the questions of; Putin’s boldness, Americans global superpower, China’s expanding interest around the world, Middle East’s Money, the differences between India & Pakistan, South & North Korea, why 50 billion Nicaragua Canal Project (funded by Hong Kong’s Businessman) which is near to existing Panama Canal is built are explained in length. The doubts are clear when one is done reading the book and the perspective of the World is never again the same. You will understand the crisis and movements around the globe which humanly are possible but lethally ignored because of Geographical Politics. 

If you are an educator, the book would be of great help. I remember learning World, India, and of course Bhutan’s Geography in grades 9 & 10, I could relate to the faint I learned then to enormous this book provides. The learning here, even if the facts of Geography and Politics have deviated, is considerable. I recommend you to have a physical World Globe by your side or a Google map to relate as you read through. The narration becomes real through imaginary inspections.

The Geography in parallel to the rudimentary history of the smaller nations is a bully, threat, and disputes from the bigger. The strong sense of insular community stand of North Korea isn’t mistaken but logical. The even greater implications Geography dictates is a foreign policy challenge, befriending one, pester the other.

Elliot and Thompson Publications

ISBN: 978-1-78396-243-3 

Edition 2016, Author: Tim Marshall

Prisoners of Geography- Tim Marshall

The House Quiz

The House Quiz-3 Results, 24^th December, 2020

 General Knowledge:

1.      The first GNH Centre to be created outside Bhutan is in Thailand. Which European country is second to Thailand to establish GNH Centre?- Answer: Spain,    (None)
2.      ISBN numbers on books were 10 digits up to the end of December 2006, but changed since 1 January 2007. How long is it now? Answer: 13 digits,  (Acho Acho)
3.      The intersecting lines drawn on maps and globes are-Answer: Geographic grids,  (Longman)
4.      Who was the first Bhutanese to open account with the Bank of Bhutan? Answer: King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, (Lily)
5.      What is this symbol * called? Answer: Asterisk, (Rinchey Motay)

Influential People in Bhutan:

6.      Who was appointed as Dzongdhey Chichab (Governor) in eastern Zone having administrative control over 6 Dzongkhags with Headquarter at Yongphula in 1990? – Answer: Lyonchen Jigme Yozer Thinley,   (Jigu).
7.      She is from Lhuntse, first woman to join RBP in 1983, studied in YHS, attended Aviation Security training in Manila and acted in feature Film Gasa Lamai Singye in 1988.Who is she? Answer: Chimi Wangmo,   (None).
8.      Dr. C.T Dorji from Wangdiphodrang joined Bhutan Civil Service in 1968 as Accountant in Bank of Bhutan, received “Ramjam Gom Scarf”. He superannuated after rendering 37 dedicated years in June 2005. C.T stands for? Answer: Chenkyo Tshering Dorji,    (None).
9.      Who is first woman Dasho to join Bhutan Civil Service? She is also first woman to become Rabjam? Answer: Dasho Dawa Dem,     (None).
10.   Druk Thuksey recipient Talop Dopay’s music contribution to Bhutan is well-known. He also possesses another skill where he headed as a master during Trashichoedzong renovation in 1960s. Name the skill. Answer: Painter,     (Longman).
Social:
11.   A dying person exhibits the signs of both the inner and outer death. During the moment of dying, the best possible way to benefit dying is to have an accomplished Lam, Monk, or nuns near him/her to give and lead through Transference of Conscious. What is this process called in Buddhist Traditions? Answer: Phowa,    (Longman).
12.   Which is a not diabetic symptom?
Thirsty, Hunger, Blurred vision, Weight loose, None. Answer: None,     (None).
13.   What are the lending rate and the ceiling amount of non-formal rural financing with CSI Bank? Answer: 5% & Nu: 500000,    (Jigu & Rinchey Motay: Point each).
14.   List all the legal tender notes in Bhutan. Answer: 1,2,5,10,20,50,100,500,1000,   (None).
15.   Where is Royal Bhutan Mountain Spring Water (Check Picture) manufactured in Bhutan? Answer: Lingmithang Mongar,    (None).

Current Affairs: 

16.   Security Clearance Certificate of Bhutan expires in one year. However, the system accepts renewal only within x number of days before its expiry validity.  After expired, one could renew any time. What is the value of x?  Answer: 7 days,    (Acho Acho).
17.   How much new BT’s data quota would Nu: 299 fetch? Answer: 4500MB,    (Shaw Dawa).
18.   Which nation will produce the 300 million doses of Sputnik V Vaccine? Answer: India,    (Jigu).
19.   Which country launched UK telecom satellites in space? Answer: Russia,   (None).
20.   Which countries ranked on (1) top and at the (2) bottom of Human Freedom index?   Answer: New Zealand & Syrian Arab Republic,     (Jigu for part of answers).

General: 

21.   A 6% stock yields 8%. The market value of the stock is- Answer: 75.     (None).
22.   Payment of property transfer tax in Bhutan from husband to wife or vice-versa is 10% of the assessed value of the property. True/false? Answer: False,     (Japan Siab).
23.   How many Thromde Demkhongs in Thimphu Thromde? Answer: 7,      (Japan Siab).
24.   དུས་སུ་བབ་པའི་ཆརཔ། སྐབས་སུ་བབ་པའི་ ་་་་་་་་་་། - Fill in the blank. Answer: གཏམ། ,   (Jigu) 
25.   Dzongkha term for laptop?  Answer: Laptop,   (None).
26.   Where is Lhading Goenpa in Bhutan? Answer: Paro,     (Rinchey Motay).
27.   Who authored the book Married to Bhutan? Answer: Linda Leaming,    (Japan Siab).
28.   When was “Not for Happiness” by Khentse Norbu published? Answer: 2012,     (None).
29.   Name the book written by Present DG of TCB? Answer: Escapades Awakenings,   (Lily).
30.   Where is Deegala Village in Bhutan? Answer: Zhemgang,     (Rinchey Motay).

Bonus: 

31.   “He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future” Whose quote is this? Answer: Adolf Hitler,  (Japan Siab).
32.   Who painted the famous half-length Mona Lisa portrait? Answer: Leonardo Da Vinci,   (Japan Siab).  
33.   Who translated Bhutan’s National Anthem to English? Music -Aku Tongmi. Answer: Dasho Gyalden Thinley,     (None).
34.   Which countries’ National Flag Bhutan referred to while designing Bhutan National Flag? Answer: India and British,   (Longman & Rinchen Motay shares point each).
35.   The formal dimension of Bhutan’s National Flag is same as that of Y Country. Name the Y. Answer: India,    (Rinchey Motay).
Results:

	Position	Participant	Regulars Points	Bonus Points	Total
	1	Rinchen Motay	5	5*1	10
	2	Japan Siab	3	2*2	7
	3	Longman	3	1	4
	4	Jigu	5	0	5
	5	Acho Acho	2	0	2
	6	Shaw BoB	1	0	1
	7	Lily	2	0	2
	8	Toby	0	0	0
	9	Boy TN	0	0	0
		None	12	2	14
					45

            Quiz Master: Donkey in quiz R2        
   Questions- 35
 
 PS: Posted as it was from the House quiz. The House is a group formed among Friends. Intended to remember this 50 years down the line.