Lunch at Karma’s home
28 March 2009
For most farmers in Lhuentse, His Majesty the King’s visit to their villages and granting land kidu marked the end of share-cropping and years of heartache. But it meant much more than that. Tempa Wangdi reports.
As His Majesty settled for packed lunch, Karma Yangzom from Magar had an opportunity to share His Majesty’s lunch. “Never did I dream that His Majesty would visit my house and have his lunch here. His Majesty even shared his lunch with me,” she said, awed.
As His Majesty walked from Magar to Samling, villagers stood by the way with thridar, rice bowls and ara palang. “His Majesty is indeed the norbu of our country,” said Tshewang Dorji from Khoma. He added, “Now we do not need to go to Thimphu to meet His Majesty anymore. He comes to us.”
His Majesty’s genuine concern and affection surprised villagers. “I knew a kidu would be granted but I never thought that His Majesty would be so close with us villagers,” said Tshewang from Khoma.
Among the vulnerable farmers with small landholdings, His Majesty visited the home of Sonam Dema from Tongling. “I never heard of a King visiting each humble home of a village. I feel elevated to have received His Majesty in my home. I am too overwhelmed to say anything more,” she said. Now, having received the land kidu, Sonam Dema does not have to cultivate someone’s land.
In every gewog, more than 50 percent of the farmers gathered to offer thridar to His Majesty. Manmo, 78, from Gangla in Khoma Gewog, did not want to miss the opportunity to offer thridar to His Majesty. She walked from Gangla to Khoma for more than two hours one day ahead of His Majesty’s visit. “I am weak and I could not go to Thimphu during His Majesty’s coronation, but here I have the opportunity,” she said, as she offered her thridar with rest of the villagers.
Sonam Dema from Tongling in Gangzur Gewog was a share-cropper before she received kidu. “I will work harder now that I have become independent,” she said. According to Karma Drupchu from Ney Pemacholing, he has not had a moment of peaceful sleep before receiving land kidu. “All my worries are gone as His Majesty granted this kidu,” he said. Karma Drupchu was to pay Nu 80,000 for the excess land. He was thinking of taking a loan to clear the excess land payment.
Sonam Tobgay from Shawa in Gangzur Gewog has three children. In the survey of 1998 and 2001, four of his 10-acre landholding was declared excess land. According to him, three generations of his family have cultivated the land. He is supposed to share the six-acre landholding with his three sisters and a maternal relative. “Each of us get only 1.5 acres of land,” he said. “I was worried thinking where I would go if we were not given that excess land. I thought about it while walking, sleeping and eating.”
After his audience with His Majesty the King, Sonam Tobgay said, “We villagers are so lucky to have a King like His Majesty who changed everything for us.” He said that he didn’t have any regret even if he died the next morning, adding that now he had what children expect from their parents, land.
Tenzin from Ney Pemacholing was supposed to pay Nu 18,000 for his excess land. He went to seek help from a government office but to no avail because excess land was a national issue. “If we did not pay, we would not get the land. I thought I would sell my cattle and pay for the excess land,” he said. “His Majesty not only granted kidu, but also a warm audience.”
After granting the land kidu, As His Majesty joined village dancers for a round of Lungpa chungchung sergi gangna gawa la, a popular folk song close to His Majesty’s heart, villagers, monks and students watched with admiration.
His Majesty is accompanied by His Royal Highness Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck and Her Royal Highness Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck.
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yeah it is really happy to hear such things. i am also proud to be citizen of bhutan.i would say that our His Majestry has compasinate heart for all of us. he struggles for us and we all should be dedicated to our king and our country
Ayee….HIS mAjesty is more than a king to us.there is no word to descirbe him.We should learn from him……….
long live our king
We love our kings. It is indeed a great kidu to our people. But the concern is what will be the consequences to the people who already paid for the excess land. Will government return the money? I know some people paid out of the fear under the pressure of dzongkhags’ administrators. I hope and pray our beloved king will look into this matter also. let equity and justices be shared by all the citizen of Bhutan.
long life our kings.
Common people its a time we gather hearts,hands,ideas n souls together n make bhutan more beautiful to live in….so so so lucky to hav borned in bhutan under such benevolent king….thanks god…
KING FOR THE PEOPLE and NOT PEOPLE FOR THE KING…INDEED. LONG LIVE OUR BELOVED KING!!!
HE IS A GREAT KING