The message from the streets
30 July 2010
The sound of prayer wheels turning gives a certain kind of peace in your mind. You feel that nothing can ever go wrong in this GNH country. You foolishly try to ignore the fact that there are some things which can really touch you and make you want to cry your heart out.
Yes, I am talking about the elderly people living on the streets of Thimphu city. They have no one to turn to, and it’s a really sad thing. Walking out on the person who has spent all his life trying to nurture you and give you the best of the best is really tragic. With no proper food to eat, no place to stay and no person to turn to when in need is a serious issue.
We talk about values. We talk about how we should respect and care for each other in times of hardship. Where has all this gone? Is it just some kind of talk or do we really mean it?
Whenever I pass by the memorial chorten, I can’t help but wonder what kind of person would let their parents live on the unprotected streets where they are prone to many atrocious situations.
But what really surprises me is the smile that they have on their face. They chat merrily among themselves and act as if nothing is wrong. But is their smile really genuine or are they trying to fake it?
Isn’t it sad to see their efforts going down the drain? Once upon a time, they must have led a wonderful life but where has it all gone?
No, I am not trying to put blame on anybody. What I am really trying to say is, how people can be so selfish. I know Bhutan has stepped forward in terms of development or an individual’s attitude. But this doesn’t mean that we abandon our age-old traditions.
The only solace that they receive now, I feel, is from their prayer beads. Old age is a stage where they seek companionship. It’s a very delicate stage but imagine what they must be feeling when they are abandoned this way?
Although most of the people are aware about this rising problem, they are feigning as if everything is alright.
Sometimes, when I observe these elderly people, I can feel the pain in my heart. I wonder what must be really going through their mind. Have they abandoned their hope? But the beauty of this is how they put up a show to fight against the odd with their smile and faith in gods.
If this is the situation right now, how will it be in the future? Will there be more elders living on the streets?
I am not trying to generalize the situation. But I have no other option than to keep wondering why they are sidelined. Is it because children consider their parents a burden when they grow old? Even if they are, is it something morally correct to let them live on the streets?
We always talk about achieving community vitality. How can we achieve it when there are homeless people living on the streets?
By Passing Dema
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I heard that our kind government is constructing a “Home for the Old” at Bumthang. Let us hope and pray that the problems narrated by Passang Dema be solved once the project is constructed.
The problem is not only at Thimphu. I have seen the same problems and situation in other 19 Dzongkhags too. So let us join our hands and hearts to curb such sad situations by atleast asking them and collecting their data and genuine information and submit to appropriate authority.
And I feel that the society must be taught in taking care of our old parents as we (some of us) lack that very base. I am also experiencing this very situation. We are three brothers and sisters and amongst them I am the eldest one. Being I am the eldest, I had to shoulder my parents to bring and brought up and educate of my younger ones. Now they have got the job and although they earn for themselves, they never look after for their old parents, they simply enjoy their own life and do not care their old parents and also ignored their elder sister.
That’s why the society must be taught the value of “Tha Damtse, Lay Jumde” through “Choesheys” as already doing by our kind Dratshang Lhentshog during every morning through TVs and Radios.
Thanks for that as some of us have improved a lot through such “Layrims” in BBS and Radios programs.
Nowdays we all are turning evils and devils due to want of wealth for oneself and ownself only. Isn’t this a social-corruption? Such people who don’t care their old parents must be lawfully punished and brought to justice. It will be a shameful thing if those people are human beings.
There is no huge sin as such of ignoring and uncaring our old parents.
We must combat such issues like Passang Dema has articled.
If we sons and daughters could take care of our own old parents, I don’t see that there’s a need for a home of the old. I feel it is like we are taking them to the grave before death. How cruel of those people not taking care of their old parents. This is also a great corruption, a very sinful corruption.
Where is the compassion and love towards sentient beings gone at this stage. Are we really practicing what we preaches. To whom is to be blamed??? It is we ourselves that we must adopt a good social values for the common goodness and welfare. Let us stop now going for only own-self selfishly. Let us think of other poor and suffering people around us. They also need peace and happiness as like you and me, all.
Let us pray for all and start helping each other especially from rich ones to poorer ones. Let us not make them work like slaves and eat like dogs. Let us start feeling pity on them.