Dawa in Mongar (Chapter - 7)

Today I had block periods with IX A. Having explained the last three paragraphs, I asked them about their doubts. Then I wrote the 3 questions on the board as instructed earlier. They were to finish answering two of them in 25 minutes. Sharp at 2.35, I asked the class if they had finished answering the questions. They did. Then I erased the 2^nd and 3^rd questions and started writing the main points of Q-1, which read -

1.      Briefly write about the grisly dog. I told the class that as the grisly dog featured throughout the chapter, they would do well to answer the question depending on the marks it carried. Damcho and Karma Zangmo were the first two students to raise their hands and the points they had written in answer to Q-1 were:

The grisly dog was born in Bumthang. But when there was a population boom for the dogs, he was deported to monger. He subsequently settled down in Mongar as he found the warm climate of the place agreeable to his old bones, He was quite lazy and preferred to spend his time lying in the shade. He was a friendly and helpful dog.

2.      What did Dawa tell the grisly dog about the dog pound in Thimphu?

Dawa told the grisly dog that the dog pound in Thimphu was dreaded by all the dogs. Once a dog was taken there, he spent his entire life without being seen or heard of again. No one knew what it actually was as no one ever returned from it.

3.      Write a short note on the Deportation.

Once there was a dog population boom in Bumthang. The dogs were noticed as they were to be seen everywhere. The People who did not like dogs might have complained and the authorities rounded up the dogs, loaded them on a truck and had them deported to and dumped in Mongar. It became a serious issue between the people of Bumthang and Mongar. The matter was left at that as no follow up action was taken.

While I was coming out of the class, Damcho  asked me a question”

4.      “Sir, What were some of the reasons for Dawa leaving for Bumthang?”

I realized that there was more to the question than met the ears. I told him that there were mainly three reasons for Dawa’s departure for Bumthang.

ü  Firstly, he wanted to go to the Cave of Gelong Ma Pemo for curing his mange.

ü  He always wanted to travel to different parts of the country.

ü  He was getting tired of the dirty dog politics of Thimphu.

ü  After his encounter with the grisly dog, he wanted to see the Kikila pass.

ü  The easy life of monger was not for him as he had always wanted to lead an active life.

But the question I really delighted in answering came from Pemba. “Sir, why do you think Dawa was so humble and down-to-earth?”

I told them once again that answering a question like that would depend on the marks it carried. At that moment I could only think of two reasons.

ü  Firstly, Dawa lost his whole family on a single day, that too within a matter of minutes. All the members of his family dropped dead in front of his eyes. Try imagining yourself in his position. How would you feel if something like that happened?

When by a cruel stroke of fate, you are left as the only surviving member of the family, the world stops being innocent, bright and beautiful any more and you start looking at it from a more practical and humble perspective.

ü  Dawa was also  a knowledgable and educated dog. He knew many languages and was a much-travelled dog. True education and a broader perspective of the world makes you truly humble. ( You have heard of the popular sayings:’ A little learning is a dangerous thing’ or ‘ An empty vessel sounds much’, haven’t you? A vessel full of something will not make such a loud noise. Similarly, a truly educated, knowlable person will never brag or boast.  She will always stay down to earth and humble). Dawa was no exception.

Getting back to "Dawa, ..." is a pure Delight

Dawa thought he was in Bumthang after crossing the fourth pass (i.e. Dochula, Pelela, Yotongla and Thrumshingla). But he wondered aloud why Bumthang was so hot. His confusion was cleared by a grisly dog lying in the shade of a garbage bin.

The dog informed him that he (Dawa) was in Mongar instead. He must have overlooked the small pass that separates Chumey valley from Chokhor valley. Dawa then recollected the pass. It was rather small, but not insignificant. A dog so far away from the west was not expected to be familiar with the legends of the place. Dawa felt very proud of his name when the grisly dog acquinted him with the history of the pass. The legend has it that once the enemies of Thuksay Dawa, the spiritual son of saint Pema Lingpa, attacked him. His  protective deities then turned themselves into ferocious dogs and stopped his enemies from crossing the pass into Chumey valley where Thuksay dawa was living at that time. That is how the pass came to be known as Kikila pass or the pass of the dogs.

The oldie then asked Dawa to go back the same way he reached Mongar through the Thrumshingla pass. Though it was very difficult to cross even for a strong dog. Dawa took offence at the remark and was determined to cross it ten times, if he had to, inorder to get to Bumthang, his ultimate destination.

It was only then that his passion for languages made him notice the different accent of the grisly dog. On enquiry, the dog told him that originally he was from Bumthang. When there was a dog population boom in Bumthang, the dogs were rounded up, loaded in a truck, deported to and dumped in Mongar. This created a furore between the people of the two dzongkhags. Though no follow up action was taken afterwards. Despite many dogs returning immediately, the grisly doggie decided to settle down in monger as he found the warm climate of Mongar suitable.

Dawa then talked to him about the dog pound in Thimphu, which was dreaded by every dog and from where, once impounded, there was no escape for a dog. Despite Dawa’s initial distrust, he realized that the other dog’s fondness for Bumthang was genuine.

He stayed in Mongar for a few days and was shown around the town by the grisly dog. He showed Dawa the places which were frequented by the boss dogs, the follower dogs and the ordinary dogs. The last group seemed to be quite content with their lot as they lived by the simple philosophy of ‘one does not desire what one does not see.’

The dog dynamics of monger made Dawa conclude that dogs all over were the same  and recollect the circumstances in Thimphu, particularly about his own band of followers. They followed Dawa everywhere and lived in a make-believe world of their own creation. Dawa also understood the difficulties of a dog world. It was difficult not to enjoy the privileges that came with power. He realized that for his own survival he had to avoid the company of his followers when they started flatering him and stealing his words. They looked like stealing his thoughts as well. Dawa realized that he would be a non-entity if he allowed them to have their own way. They had started doubting his leadership qualities. If none of them dared to challenge him, it was solely for the reason that Dawa discharged his leaderly duties flawlessly..

His followers were exasperated by his humble behaviour. They asked him to be more authoritative and take advantage of his position. Dawa felt glad when he escaped from them and thought his mange was a blessing in disguise.

After a heavy meal one day, when he was resting in the football field, Dawa felt sluggish and drowsy. He woke up with a start when the grisly dog asked him to go back to Bumthang before he became used to the easy life of Mongar. The cold climate of Bumthang would energize him and make him active. Dawa knew that the grisly dog was right and decided to leave for Bumthang.