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.