SIKKIM – Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom ~ Andrew Duff

A book review

Sikkim was an independent small nation in the Himalayas, like a fairy-tale kingdom with a king and an American queen. Sikkim is now an associate state of India, lying in the northeast India, bordered with China in the north, Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The author, Andrew Duff in his book ‘Sikkim: A requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom’ describes vividly the true story of this tiny country, which was annexed by India in 1975, despite being survived throughout the reign of the British Empire in India.

King Thondup Namgyal mostly referred as ‘Chogyal of Sikkim’ was the 12^th and the last Chogyal of the Kingdom of Sikkim and his beautiful American Queen Hope Cooke the last queen of Sikkim. Chogyal Thondup’s like for alcohol was well known among his people. Andrew Duff through his extensively researched book goes into the details of the situation and annexation of Sikkim. Sikkim being faced threats from China after the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese, the Chogyal Thondup developed good relation with Indira Gandhi, then the prime minister of India and signed a treaty between the two countries. Sikkim then had been the protectorate of India, especially with the dealings of foreign affairs.

The book points out the troubles and efforts the Chogyal has put to ensure Sikkim’s identity as an independent and sovereign country reaching out internationally. Thondup through his various connections with India, US embassy and other countries had always tried to be a member of the United Nations, unfortunately Sikkim has not been able to obtain a membership in the United Nations. Thondup wanted the similar status of Bhutan as an independent country, since Bhutan had already became a member of the United Nations.

Due to geopolitical problems and the pressure from China in the north, India was concerned about the situation of Sikkim, since China seemed interested in Sikkim and other parts of country. India gradually got involved in the internal politics of Sikkim and constitutional democracy was enforced, in which the Kazi and Kazini, pro-Indian politicians gradually was gaining political power with the backup from India. Despite having treaty between the India and Sikkim, Indian involvement in Sikkim kept on increasing with the appointment of a political officer and increasing the presence of Indian military. Thondup’s power kept on diminishing and his hope for an independent nation seemed to fade away and in addition his wife the queen Hope Cooke has returned to New York. Hope Cooke also did try to help Thondup to strengthen the status of Sikkim, she also founded the Friends of Sikkim in America and also consulted many officials from the United Nations for the membership but in vain.

Soon, Sikkim got gradually flooded with immigration of Nepalese and Indian population, which made Thondup even more worried that his ethnic might turn into a minority. With the constitutional democracy in place, Kazi and the Indian appointed political officer with the help of India conducted election in Sikkim to merge Sikkim with India as an associate state. This book describes in great detail of the status of the Chogyal and the electoral processes. Majority of votes favored Sikkim to be an associate state of India and the position of Chogyal was eventually removed. Thousands of Indian military were present in Sikkim, public demonstrations were evident and the Chogyal’s palace was also surrounded the Indian armies. In 1975, Sikkim became the 22^nd state of India despite having strong opposition from China.

This book reminds me of how fragile the smaller countries are especially when its neighbors are large and powerful. As a Bhutanese, I am very much thankful to our brave and farsighted kings.

the reasons I won’t be coming – Elliot Perlman

This book comprises of nine interesting stories. Perlman is tells his stories with varied introductions and storylines. Some of the stories really moves you and gets caught up in reading till the end. Some stories have awards to their name, which I must say it deserves it. Among this stories, I liked most the last story of the book A Tale in Two Cities, which is the lengthiest of all. Story ranges from thriller to love story to human conditions. You may not want to miss some of it. But don’t get discourage to find the story you don’t like. And honestly I did not get few stories what it was all about.

Perlman has a unique narrative skills, he can perfectly put down his ideas, descriptions and plots. It’s written in simple and easily understandable and is a good read. What I like is his skill to narrate the whole situation or life into a short description. 

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki MURAKAMI

Haruki Marakami’s book Wind-Up Bird chronicle is one of his best novels, it has some awards to its name. This hard-to-review masterpiece vaults into first rank international fiction novels.

Toru Okada leaves his job and stays home unemployed while his wife, Kumiko goes for work. He is more like an emotionless man but thinks too much. They somehow get divorced upon losing their cat in first place and subsequently, most of the things tend to remain mysterious to Toru. They named their cat Noburu Wataya derived from Kumiko’s borther name, Noboru Wataya. Toru meets lots of somewhat mysterious and crazy-like people like Malta and Creta Kano sisters, Mr. Honda, a World War II lieutenant and strange Akazakis. He develops friendship with May Kasahara, whom he met when he was looking out for cat, and their relation tell us how small things and thoughts matters.

The buried secrets of the World War II are described vividly and intensely, that some of it might be disturbing (one can skip this chapter though). Russian and Japan conflicts, Mongolian guy skinning a Major, faraway torturous prison in Siberia and the secret agents; all these take us to the secrets of World War II.

Toru goes to the bottom of the well for some reason or no reason for few days as described by lieutenant while sharing his war experiences with Mongolians and Russians. Most of the time, Toru tries to contact or find his wife or ex-wife but some unknown factors of her brother Noburu Wataya plays major role to keep away Kumiku from him. The whole thing is somehow related to each other like Toru to World War II, well tale with Toru and lieutenant, Wind-Up bird that cries and winds spring, which only Toru hears.

Story keeps us going and its unpredictable what comes next. Murakami has profoundly put his imagination into words, and we tend to delve into his beautiful yet mysterious world of imagination.

A Wind-Up Bird Tattoo (Source: google)

Framed Himalaya: Lachen Valley

A wonderful coffee-table book, Framed Himalaya: Lachen Valley by Tenzing Ingty, Barkha Subbha, Samar Momin and Dharmendra Lamsel, is a photo documentary of an unexplored and mystical part of the world, Lachen Valley in the north of Sikkim, India.

Authors are a group of young researchers enthusiastically exploring the unexplored. The book describes everything from culture, tradition, landscape, plants, amphibians, animals to land degradation. It contains perfectly aimed angles and high resolution photographs, of which some of it includes rare pictures of plants and landscapes.

A worth reading, exquisite and profound book. It shows us high biodiversity within a small patch of valley and portrays a true treasure trove. It reminds us how vulnerable they are, the culture and tradition of the people known as Dokpas and Lachenpas, landscapes and biodiversity. They are degrading and in a sense changing due to various factors such as human-induced activities or climate change. Hence, the book reminds ourselves the treasure hidden in the fragile Himalayas and its significance. What I like the most besides the content, is the presentation of the book, I must say it’s professional. This book is one of the first kind from Lachen. 

The book is available on Amazon/FramedHimalaya

Enjoy the book! 

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History ~ Elizabeth Kolbert

A Review

A thought-provoking book The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize winner, shows how human have major influence in extinction of any kind of species. There were five mass extinctions which led to reduction in diversity of life over time. We are here in the period of Anthropocene, where thousands of species are disappearing before our eyes.

Kolbert, as a reporter tells us how species are being led to extinction through history and science which date back before the era of dinosaurs. Also describes how fossils tells us story and chronology of extinct species and the drivers for extinctions. Extinction history brings to light the major concept, what lies ahead in the face of human destruction. Book takes us back to the very ancient era of evolution and describes the wonders of species. She shows how scientists are risking and devoting their lives to trace back and document the lost species and conserve the present day endangered and critically endangered species. She also shows that humans are the one endangering the species around the world since thousands of year back and will continue to do so, eventually risking their own species. The lost species are gone forever, from giant dinosaurs, mammoths to great auks to micro bacterial, except for some of bones remaining in the museums, book tells many more species are in queue.

Kolbert explains very well with hard science, history and at times with humors. She managed to extract as many as information from numerous scientists around the world and delivers as an entertaining and engrossing legend. This fact-based book is an eye opener to the general public at large and contributes toward immense understandings of sixth extinction. It also reminds us the sense of urgency to contribute towards conservation of diversity of life directly or indirectly.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World ~ Haruki MURAKAMI

A Review

Haruki Murakami never leaves stone unturned when it comes to writing hilariously funny, thrilling, mysterious, seductive and inventive novel. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World has the touch of sci-fi data processing, fantasy in the hard-boiled wonderland, info war, suspense and some comedy. We are kept in suspense, often plunged with some odd characters. We tend to dwell in some kind of parallel world, not exactly the scientific parallel world we know. So, the story runs parallel, same time, one person but in two different worlds. One world seems to be real though.

Murakami’s trademark, a nameless character narrates the story. A data processing genius, working for a company had had his life placed somewhere mysterious by a professor, who seem to conduct neuro-physical research for good. There, this nameless guy thrives in both the worlds until he is brought to knowledge on it or in other words, expiration time.  

He somehow involves in the info war with granddaughter of the professor, who has his laboratory established underground besides INKling dwelling (INKling seem like some kind of folklore animal related to fish family; prefers rotten human flesh). Rival companies as well as INKlings are after them, all in want of the data. In another world, it’s the end of the world. Surrounded by high walls, where one’s shadow is cut off, with it goes one’s consciousness and the people of the town got no mind at all, a hard-boiled wonderland. In this wonder world, memories are no more and yet no feelings, no love. Somehow, he thrives here or may be lives here.  

Story in the end somehow expects the unexpected, revealing how mind is feeble and flexible. An easy to read but hard to grasp at times, this novel takes some stake in neuro-data processing or in simple words, processing data with conscious mind but through the brain (professor explains well though). All in all, a worth reading book and if you ever feel like to imagine some faraway surreal world, this book is the ticket. 

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki ~ Haruki MURAKAMI

A Review

Haruki Murakami has his book Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki And His Years of Pilgrimage set as number one New York Times Bestseller. His work as usual has mesmerizing and mysterious touch which keeps us going till the end. His book wonderfully describes how simple things matter the most in life and how unnoticed ordinary actions drag us down at times. It touches in detail the small things in life, the endless thoughts and dreams with never diminishing excitement.

Intelligently written, seducing, mysterious and detailing everyday lives, the book resonates lives of Tsukuru and his high school group friends. Tsukuru here is obliged to go back into the past and lighten his burden which he carries for more than a decade. Things turn up unexpectedly, whereupon he decides to move on, although he continue carrying burdens which he hardly recognize. Struggled and challenged enough with his burden, in other words with his own identity and destination, he is lost in his own thoughts. Though, he tried to move forward and still trying. And his love for train station never fades whatever is the reason.

It has a smooth storyline with deep touch on the isolation and loneliness which is often disturbing. The depth of disturbance is well described which reflects vivid images within us. It’s the story revolving around mystery, friendship, love and sadness over ages. Murakami’s book certainly hit bull’s eye with this one more remarkable masterpiece, no wonder it’s the best book of the year.

A Wild Sheep Chase ~ Haruki MURAKAMI

Written by one of the finest Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, A Wild Sheep Chase takes us on a long journey in search of a sheep. A sheep that doesn’t even known to exist or may be it existed! Profoundly written and easy to read, the book takes us into a thriller-like mysterious road to nowhere but at times one is tangled into a relation of lost friend and ephemeral love and a madcap comedy.

He had decent job and a decent life. An innocent, divorced and ordinary man encountered with a mission to chase a wild sheep, whom nobody knows about its existence, leaves everything behind even his job and a cat.  No knowledge of sheep, he is set for the chase not only for sheep but for his lost friend as well. Along with his girlfriend, they get involved in business of the Sheep Professor, a professor who was so obsessed with sheep that he wasted his entire life for sheep. Lands in no man’s land and gets lost, who in the end finds mystery in his own life. He embraces his new world.

Story is surrounded by mysteries but runs into story of comedy which paves way into a tale of depressive and forlorn situation. It ends with something unexpected. It captivates us to read further until it reaches the height of a wonderful novel. 

Imprisoned in Iran ~ Review

A book narrating true story of author Dan Baumann. He was falsely accused of espionage and was halt in the most infamous high security prison in Iran for 9 weeks. Story describes some horrifying experiences in a foreign prison. Having dual citizenship of America and Swiss, he managed to enter Iran with his Swiss passport to spread the love of God. 

Toured around Iran for almost two weeks, he developed many connections among the locals. All he and his South African friend couldn't do was to get out of Iran, whereby they landed unexpectedly in an infamous jail.His story reveals the nightmares of being in a foreign prison for no apparent reason. Also adds how he really had faith in God despite doubting God at times.

A good book to remind oneself to be prepared before planning any trips.

Buddhism Plain and Simple - The Practice of Being Aware, Right Now, Every Day by Steve Hagen: Review

If you want to know the clear and simple insights of Buddhism, this is the right book. Buddhism Plain and Simple The Practice of Being Aware, Right Now, Every Day profoundly written by Steve Hagen is something that reminds the readers of being aware of the self. Steve Hagen is a Zen Priest, a long-time teacher of Buddhism, and the author of How the World Can Be the Way It Is.

The book is easy and simple to understand and it guides readers to the path of Buddha’s wisdom and his observations. It revives the ancient teachings on awareness, where one learn to be aware of the self every single moment and every single day.

The approach to the teachings on awareness is frantically different from other books, it’s easy to understand the practice of awareness, the four noble truths and the eightfold path of Buddha. It also teaches the causes of sufferings and describes undeniable sufferings such as death. He clearly defines consciousness and Truth and Reality.

We are also reminded of the change, changes goes on whatsoever, every moment. That’s where awareness play a great role. Hagen teaches how to practice awareness on self on the very present moment, here and now. Meditation comes into scene while practicing awareness, some of the methods on meditation are well described here.

He notes: Don’t expect to get anything from meditation – including enlightenment. If you really want enlightenment. Just notice what thus – Mind – actually is. Notice that a grasping mind is the antithesis of what you say you want.

If you are interested you can find the book at Amazon.com

A Brief History of Time from the Big Bang to Black Holes ~ Stephen Hawking

A Brief Review

With one of the world’s brilliant mind, Stephen Hawking has his bestselling book A Brief History of Time set astrophysics to next level. Book reveals the cosmological wonders in the brilliant mind of Hawking. His extraordinary brain reveals his theories of universes and arguments of the cosmos.

For the sake of common readers at large, the theories are simplified without any mathematical formulas except for the Einstein’s famous equation E = mc². Book tends to answer the complex questions on universe with clarity and wit such as the existence of beginning of time, time traveling backwards, prediction/remembering our future, String theory and many more interesting subjects.

He also touches on the subject of happenings before the Big Bang and the existence of Big Crunch, where he reveals that most people believe that the time began with the Big Bang. In addition he suggests that if time has beginning than there will be an end of time too, where time will end with the Big Crunch. He emphasizes on the imaginary time, which makes his theories to be accurately proved.

Outstandingly he describes the formation of Black Holes and existence of numerous Black Holes with varying sizes and shielded with event horizon, the boundary of Black Holes. He mentions that Black Holes aren't so black.

Book ultimately creates awareness of the possibility and complexity of unification of physics, which would explain whole universe with a theory. Book also has the description of the expansion of our universe. 

The Theory of Everything - The Origin and Fate of the Universe ~ Stephen Hawking

A great modern physicist and the author of the bestseller, A Brief History of Time is here again with his book The Theory of Everything; The Origin and Fate of the Universe. He also authored The Black Holes and Baby Universes.

His book takes readers into the depth of origin of the universe, Big Bang, String Theory and Black Holes. It covers a series of seven lectures on cosmology, delivered at universities and conferences. Despite the study of cosmology being complex which includes various equations, he tries to make it simple for the public. It also takes readers back into the theory of Aristotle’s determination of cosmology and Hubble’s discovery of cosmological particles and theories of various other ancient renowned physicists.

The book describes the history of cosmological discoveries beginning with Galileo’s invention of telescope until the modern day approach towards latest scientific researches on universe and black holes. He describes black holes based on his research which took him more than a decade. According to his research, space-time may be finite in extent but without boundary or edge. Also, black holes has boundary-like particles known as the event horizon. He exemplifies this by giving us a picture of the earth which has a boundary but no edge. You can travel around the earth and reach to the same point but you would not fall off the earth because it does not have an edge.

Hawking also takes us deeper in explaining his theories and arguments on expanding universe, black holes, origin of universe and direction of time. He explains the influence of gravitational forces and magnetic field on black holes and speed of light. His theory also explains that there might be many more dimensions in outer space including space and time. According to his theory, time travel might be possible. However, it might seem like a science fiction.

As a great scientist, he tends to make the public aware of cosmological studies by simplifying his theories. The book is a treat for anyone who is fascinated by the concepts of universe, outer space, space-time etc. If you ever wondered and gazed at the night sky with fascination, there is nothing like reading Hawking's books who is not only a great scientist but also a literary man. 

BLACK HOLES AND BABY UNIVERSES - STEPHEN HAWKING

A great scientist and an author Stephen Hawking of the phenomenal bestselling book, A Brief History of Time  has done it again with his book Black Holes and Baby Universes. The book with calligraphy and great scientific theory sheds  light on the unexplored regions of the black holes, light, space and time. I haven’t as yet read his masterpiece, A Brief History of Time though, since I have lost the book but somehow I will try managing it from the book store.

Despite being physically disabled, his adroit and phenomenal equations goes beyond the consistent limited black holes and universe exploration. He has taken the scientific world over limits and his book also takes the audience into the intricate details of black holes, time, space and the universes. The black hole theory has been ramified attributed to his numerous years of researches, according to Hawking, black holes are not black. He has also suggested that there might be numerous black holes in the universes considering the existence of numerous other unobserved or undiscovered universes.

Black holes absorb everything including light, his theory talks about radiations and particles which travels faster than light in the black holes which are emitted steadily. The speed of light is usually distracted in the black holes by the minute radiations, probably invisible. What happens to the radiations and particles emitted steadily from the black hole is unknown and therefore what happens eventually in the black hole is also unknown. However, he has described briefly the phenomenal theory and his researches about the black holes.

Stephen Hawking takes physics to a whole new level compared to other scientists about the origin and the history of the universe since the big bang in the real time but what exactly occurred before the big bang still remain a mystery. However, in the imaginary time if considered, it would reveal the dimensions of space and time or even the other unknown dimensions in cosmology. Imaginary time considers that the universe has neither beginning nor an end. The universe is self-contained and pre-determined.

The book describes the formation of black holes and existence of some advanced species in the other universes.

What I learned now is that the universe is expanding to the lower state of density and we are out of the black hole. Stephen is also fond of classical music besides his scientific studies. 

Words of My Perfect Teacher – A Brief Review

A worth reading classical Tibetan Buddhist book by Patrul Rinpoche introduces readers into the depth of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the rare classical books translated into English language by the Padmakara Translation Group trying to reach out to the wider audiences.

The technical aspects of the different stages of meditations are briefly described, which I believe that would be beneficial if practiced consistently. Some of the higher meditation techniques are also briefly described which obviously seem to be unnatural, but practical. Well, it’s all about the enlightenment and to achieve it, the book has it the right path.

The fact impermanence of earth or life and the universe itself has been revealed; which also includes the beings which live in the outer universes. Obviously the principle of cause and effect are comprehensively described and the solutions revealed too.

As everyone is well aware about the Karmic effect, brief confrontations with the bad Karma and accumulation of good Karma is very well instructed. 

A certain part of Guru Yoga and the ultimate method for arousing the wisdom of realization are well instructed attributing how capable we are and how much perseverance and patience we have. 

So as the title of the book, the teachings in the book are based on the teachings by his Master/teacher of the author without much manipulation. 

Why Men Want Sex and Women Need Love - Brief Review

The authors of the International Bestseller Book ‘Why Men Don’t Listen & Women Can’t Read Maps’, Allan & Barbara Pease has again written a New International Bestselling book ‘Why Men Want Sex & Women Need Love’. The book distinguishes the sexual desires between the opposite sexes with scientific research and facts. Accentuating the sex in the relationships, it reveals what men and women really want from love and sex and how to have a happy future.

Most men whether married or single think of sex every minute, wherever they are and whenever they see women. Conversely, most women think of love since, for women love and sex are emotionally attached unlike men. Men’s brain is compounded to do one thing at one time whereas women can do many things at a time. In most cases men’s brain can differentiate between sex and love. For men sex is sex and love is love. Sex is hardwired into the men’s brain since the primitive age, where men used to hunt and women used to nurture their children and cook. Sex is hardwired into men’s brain so that, men can spread his gene as wide as possible, to maintain his DNA flow. Men have higher testosterone levels than women and women have higher levels of oestrogen compared to men, these hormones distinguish the sexual drives in human species.

Because women wanted to attract men, there are many cosmetic industries and fashion magazines in the world. When women tend to attract, they have a list of criteria which depends on men’s ability to gather resources and ability to love. Men too have criteria in choosing partner for them that is sex! Most men choose their long term and short term partners depending on their different criterion for short term and long term relationships. For short term relation obviously it is sex and for long term relation, men needs a decent, motherly, caring, loving woman who can satisfy them on bed. Women need love and resources from men.

It is very important for women to understand men and handle him accordingly and it is equally important for men not to understand women but show love and handle accordingly. The biggest turn on for women isn't the sex but the sight of a man cooking dinner, doing the dishes, feeding the kids and putting his dirty clothes in the laundry. To have a good relationship, discuss problems somewhere neutral at agreed time and understand the differences of men and women. Men and women are different. Not better, not worse, just different.

PS: No Proof Read

Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps – Brief Review

A book by Allan and Barbara Pease on the nature of differences between men and women showcases to the world that the men and women are different based on scientific research results.  It tells us that the men due to higher testosterone and women with higher estrogen levels, these hormones has created much differences ranging from the way of thinking, analyzing, problem solving, visual interpretations to the way of behaving.

It also reveals why men always think of sex while women think more of relationship and why women talk so much while men so little. It’s in the brain due to the evolutionary processes of the human species. For thousands of years men have been hunting while women have been guarding the nest and nurturing children. It has evolved men and women in these current natures, which quite doesn’t fit in this present world. It might take another several years to evolve men and women to be fit in the present world, where men hunt no more and women hardly guard the nests.

It explains men’s higher spatial ability and women’s lower level of the ability, which has ultimately led women to make mess of the reverse parallel parking while there is higher percentage of male pilots in the world. And Men should never lie to women, since the lies are somehow caught through the method that is beyond men’s understanding.

The book teaches how to understand the truth about the men and women and how to go about it.

The Art of Happiness - Brief Review

The Art of Happiness – A Handbook for Living is a finely written happiness book relating the east and the west by His Holiness Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler (Psychiatrist based in Arizona).

The Buddhist practices on happiness are related to the scientific practices in the west through series of questions, answers, teachings and discussions. The book tends to create the Buddhist principles on happiness into a daily practice or habit for a happy living, whether one is Buddhist or not.

The Art of Happiness reasons out one’s purpose of life, that is Happiness (or Enlightenment in Buddhism) and the happiness is barely known in some parts of the world. All the beings have the right to happiness and the happiness has the sources, so to find the sources of happiness, the book describes various eastern and western methods of training one’s mind of happiness. Also teaches the various methods and reasons to develop the compassion by deepening the connection to other beings. To achieve happiness, one has to transform sufferings and deal with anger and the book has it, how to transform one’s sufferings and deal with anger through various means like finding meaning in the pain and suffering and bringing about change.

Che Guevara - A Latin Revolutionary Icon

Being a bio-science student then, I always wondered who Che Guevara was, since my college days. I thought that he was some kind of music rock star or some Hollywood celebrity. I noticed his images on almost everything, right starting from t-shirts to blotches and magazines. His images were mostly used for commercial purposes and even I was gifted with a blotch with his image on by my closest friend.   

(Photo courtesy: trcs.wikispace.com)

Through his biography by Richard L. Harris, Ph. D (Professor of California State University) I came to know that Che Guevara is a renowned revolutionary leader in Latin American countries. He was named Ernesto Guevara de la Serna and was born to an Argentine family on June 14, 1928. He completed his medical studies in Argentina and he was politically interested especially in anti-imperialism and was a pro-Marxist. In the middle of his medical studies, he expedited on motor bike with his friend Alberto Granado almost all around the Latin American countries. Thereafter, he published his note ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ and the diary led to the production of a film.

His motorcycle expedition around Latin America caught his attention on the injustices of the miners and common people, since then he got to be the anti-imperialist, which he desired to be one. He too had a love story to which he got married thrice and had about five children.  

Che leading a prosaic lifestyle, had been successful in enforcing the famous Guerilla warfare with his friend Fidel Castro. Since then Che became an outstanding guerilla fighter and got promoted to a commandant, top ranked post in Guerilla warfare. The guerilla force has brought revolution in Cuba and Congo, where the force had gained some public support. Che had held some great posts such as president of Central bank of Cuba, Minister of Industry and the Head of Cuban Mission in Asia, Europe and South American countries. He even spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on the crisis in the Congo.

Che and his forces had a successful revolution in Congo and Cuba but his Guerilla forces failed in bringing the revolution in Bolivia. Later, while establishing his core camp in Bolivia, he was captured in 1967 and then executed by the Bolivian armies and authoritarians despite the US CIA protest against his execution. Bolivian government although had a tough time deciding the fate of Che, they somehow with some reasonable sense had Che shot in the prison. To the general public, the government revealed that Che died of the wounds that he acquired during the Guerilla warfare. So for around some decades, none knew about Che burial until the discovery of his burial remains in 1997 in Bolivia and thus the remains were returned to Cuba.

The Times Magazine included Che as the one of the most influential 100 people of the 20^th century. Even to these days many leaders in Latin America and others pays homage and tribute to Che and some leaders has also adopted to follow Che’s anti-imperialist ideologies. Nowadays his images are found in almost all around the world with the impression on many surfaces. With his heroic looks and his historic actions, he still tends to be an inspiration to many younger generations around the world. He was an intrepid leader! Che is a great source of inspiration to me!

PS: No Proof Read

Escapades Awakenings ~ A Review

A 590 paged novel written by a first timer Bhutanese author Doji Dhratyul, Escapades Awakenings is a uniquely written book about the Bhutanese life styles in the remote village and the life styles in the present generation. The novel which spans over three generations portrays how the rural girls in a remote village of Zhemgang are exploited by the town/city dwellers or the civil servants (Dashos) in particular. The book surely disseminates the knowledge of women’s fate in rural villages, where most of the present Bhutanese urban generation hardly has the knowledge of it. 

Some of the common Bhutanese phrases for culture, tradition, religion and languages are also used frequently with the phrases explanation, which in fact gives truly a Bhutanese insight. The book revolves around the women’s rural lifestyle, tragedies, urban lifestyles, culture, religion and traditions and little thrill. It also emphasizes on how the rural people were used as porters for the visiting officials, where even young girls are burdened with heavy luggage.  

It gives the picture of how a rural girl was exploited by a high ranking government official, which eventually has led to the birth of a fatherless daughter; it was an unofficial kind of gesture to impress the high ranking visiting officials by fulfilling their needs. It’s always the women who had suffered in the end. 

The official never had the knowledge that he has a daughter but even if he knows perhaps there’s nothing he would have done. So in a case, after some years later, the same official visited their village again, where he was offered a young girl, Thruebab but the girl being a first timer in such cases managed to escape for good. She later learned from her mother that the visiting official was her father! 

Her mother was in complete bliss, when she learned that her daughter has escaped from an unlawful activity. Their family never had a man except a young baby boy, younger brother of Thuebab, born from a local Casanova with whom Thruebab’s mother had planned to marry. But unfortunately, he left the world soon. 

It has become a custom in their village that whenever any high ranking officials visit their village, the village head or representatives arranges some tolls to fulfill the official’s needs. So in fact, the village representative or head manages by hook or crook to get some young girls to entertain the officials, they carry a notion that if they fail to impress the officials, they wouldn’t bring in much development in their village.

Thruebab managed to reach Thimphu with her first love, but she got cheated too, since her lover was a married man with children. She gave birth to a daughter from her first love. After some years working in Thimphu, Thruebab becomes one of the richest persons in the country by owning a large company and she educated her daughter at the States. Which later Thruebab hands over the company to her MBA graduate daughter and thereafter Thruebab had planned to get into religious practice with her old primary teacher, Chencho at Aja Nye, Mongar. Thruebab studied till primary level at her village, where her teacher had fallen in love with her mother, but it was an unsuccessful story. Hence, the teacher got into Buddhist practice which was soon followed by his student Thruebab.

The book also touches some aspects of Bhutan’s transition to constitutional democracy from Monarchy and some references into the future. The author took around six years to complete this amazing fiction novel, which also has some facts in it. Some of the incidences mentioned in the book had gone lots of changes and some of the incidences or traditions are on the verge of endangerment. It is worth reading the book especially for those who are interested in knowing the happenings of the rural life in far-flung tiny village although some incidences/traditions continue to be practiced even in our present days. 
The book costs Nu. 600.00 only.

NB: It’s just my personal review/opinion. No Proof Read