It was
autumn of 2009 when I headed to National Institute of Technology Silchar for my
Engineering degree. By the way it was like going to moon, no one knew where and
how the Silchar was. We headed blindly. Seems no Bhutanese had been there
before. But we made the way there.
And there I
met my friend, who helped me in all eight semesters. He was from Sri Lanka. And
he came by flight to remote India for his degree. The flight! I used to ask him
unusual questions. How is it to fly? He used to say, it’s so awesome to those
who had never been on flight. But once you had been on flight they wish they
had fastest bus transport. And he laughed at me so loud knowing that I saw
planes in movies only.
Now back
there at my village. It was sometime in 2006, when the government moved with
the aim of connecting internet to remote Gewogs, from Laya to Shingkhar Lauri. Heavy solar panels and antennas were to be
transported. It was too tedious to carry on back of people, given that Lauri was four day
walk from road point. So the hardware’s and instruments were air lifted by
helicopter. The news of helicopter went on with waves of happiness. My mom packed her lunch
and headed to Gewog center which was four hour walk just to have glimpse of the
Helicopter. She made it. She saw it, and that day she still tells me like she
had been to fairy-tale world.
Another
ambitious plan for government to electrify whole Bhutan by 2013 was rushing. The
date line passed but still no plans were executed at my Gewogs. But in mid summer
of 2013, the sky roared with flying of helicopters for second time. It landed
on every village carrying transformers for electrification. Carrying
the transformer weighing tons and tons was near to impossible without road and
rugged terrain. The news flooded and back there at villages our parents went
to extend of prostrating to the pilot. The pilot was decorated with volumes of
Khadar in remote village. He was worshiped more than god. In no place on earth
he would have given such offerings and got a red carpet reception. That was
story in my village: of plane and helicopter.
 |
| arrival of new aircraft Airbus A319 with shark let, march 2015. Drukair |
2015! And I
was already working on aircraft for almost two years. I was employed in an
organization where I had no idea of what would be working. Plane was dream even
to have a glimpse of it forget about working on it. Today I am proud. I maintain an
aircraft that conquer the blue virgin skies of Bhutan and other world.
I was also selected for the training in New
Zealand. My heart was filled with bubbling happiness. Yes I would be flying across bay of Bengal and Pacific oceans, that i used learn in Geography classes. My mom was so
worried about my flight. I told her that flying is safer than driving a car on
good high way and there is nothing to worry.
She might be still imaging how my flight was. She
might be still wondering in which side of world I am. She won’t believe me
still even after two months when I say the time difference is six hour between
Bhutan and New Zealand.
Now mom, you walked 8
hours just to have glimpse of helicopter, you offered a khaddar to that pilot who
landed at our home with transformers for electrification. Now with this blog I
promised that as soon I return back to Bhutan you will see a plane which carry
hundreds of passengers. And indeed I will make sure that you will fly to either Bumthang or Katmandu on pilgrimage. Till then mom be safe and wish my dreams be
fulfilled.
Good day to
all…….
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