October 2011, Issue No. 10 EDITORIAL thinks that The Buddha is a Scientist. Sangay Thinley The second half of the acadmic year saw trainees’ par- and Dorji Ngueldrup share with us their personal expe- ticipating in more co-curricular activities and attending riences in their career path. The former shares about his seminars and talk series apart from the regular academic mission to RIM while the latter focuses on essentiality of schedules. The main ojective of organizing such events business education in one’s life. is to impart holistic education. Finally, we have two poems on Happiness and on 23 In this 10th edition of our bi-annual newsletter, we have years on this earth. articles addressing from one end of spectrum to an- As a special feature to commemorate the Silver Jubilee other; be it Decriminalisation of Abortion in Bhutan or Celebration, we have the three recipients of the best fac- reflection articles. ulty, staff and longest serving employee sharing with us First we have Ugyen Lhamo, a PGDNL trainee who their thoughts on receving the awards. shares about the daily life of Beggars and focuses on the 2011 is a historic year for celebrating 25 years of man- trauma and trials which they undergo. She asks to em- agement excellence. It marks the important role that pathize with such people who hardly meet their ends- the institute had accomplished for the past 25 years meet and insist on giving a helping hand rather than in grooming leaders and managers of the nation. As a despising them. Another PGDNL trainee, Thongjay, milestone, the institute has launched two master’s pro- highlights on Decriminalisation of Abortion in Bhutan. grammes coinciding with the silver jubilee. The two He debates on the urgent need of decriminalisation of masters’ programmes-Master of Public Administration abortion; for it is said to be the “free exercise of vol- and Masters of Management scheduled for February untary motherhood”. We then have Sangay, a PGDNL 2012 will provide unique learning opportunities for our trainee, talking about the Independence of Judiciary prospective candidates from the public, private and civil and its role in a vibrant democracy . Tshering Yangden, society organizations. a PGDFM trainee writes about following one’s dream. We then have Rigstsal Dorji, a PGDPA graduate who Coinciding with the Silver Jubilee Celebration, RIM also observed its 15th convocation on 9th August 2011. IN THIS ISSUE Page In the Dzongkha Section, we have articles on Manage- Editorial.......................................................................01 ment Principles, Life and Buddhism, and some poems Who are the beggars..................... ............................02 dedicated for the momentous occasion of His Majesty’s Wedding. Decriminallization of Abortion in Bhutan.............03 As always, we would like to express our sincere gratitude Independence of Judiciary........................................06 to all our contributors for their continued support. Following your Dream..............................................08 Our wishes and prayers for a wonderful and pros- What should the Business Education give to you?10 perous year 2012 and happy reading. Buddha is a scientest.................................................11 Tashi Delek! Mission RIM...............................................................12 Editorial Team : Poems..........................................................................13 Namgay Pelzang, PGDFM, Literary Secretary (English) Campus Events...........................................................14 Metho Dema, PGDPA (English) Younten Dorji, PGDNL (English) Dzongkha Section......................................................21 Dhanapati Bahandari, PGDPA (English) KINLEY TSHERING, LITERARY ADVISER , DRC (ENGLISH) newsletter 1 RIM October 2011, Issue No. 10 Who are the beggars? dividuals who beg often come from unstable family backgrounds. Those who beg often have low educa- Not everyone who gets to live on this earthly heaven tion and possess inadequate professional skills to sur- has merited the virtue. Philosophically, if individu- vive in the modern economy. Drug issues, and both als are to lead exceedingly exuberant life free from psychiatric and physical disability, are often associ- worldly sufferings, then the charm of living produces ated with begging behaviors. a monophonic music, driving all people to a monoto- nous living. Individually, every person will be able to An Action Aid International study on beggary in In- make up to the world class. We are all born as hu- dia also shows that 99 percent of men and 97 percent mans but with different price tags. While a few peo- of women get into beggary due to poverty, religious ple have means, others do not. This condition makes aspirations, depression or ideological differences (the people depend on donations, alms or to search for the Hindu, 2005). In the United Kingdom, Begging is one philanthropists. Those dependents are the beggars in outcome of a range of previous life experiences that our common parlance. have resulted in social exclusion and isolation. A sub- stantial proportion of those begging have an alcohol and drug dependence (Kemp, 1997). So, both the in- ternational and Victorian data highlight the complex- ity of issues surrounding begging ((Horn and Cooke, 2001, p.7). No beggars indicated that they begged because it was lucrative or ‘easy money’. (Melbourne University Law Review 2005) Begging is a last resort for many of them as it is a more acceptable option to providing for basic needs than resorting to other criminal activities such as shop lifting, burglary, drug dealing, and prostitution (Taylor et al, 2001). Begging is viewed as a humili- ating yet necessary means of survival by them. For them a single penny counts, and it talks about break- ing their hunger. Just like any other profession, the helpless and the disabled are forced to beg to meet their necessities. Every country’s bureaucrats have placed their heart Given the choice, I am sure they may not be interest- and soul for economic development as their first pri- ed to take a hot bath in summer and cold showers in ority, so that they can solve the issues of poverty, un- winter. When asked, they have different stories to tell employment, homelessness and other social issues. and various reasons to beg. Thus, begging is a choice- Nonetheless, rich are becoming richer and the gap less profession and a way of living. For them, each day between haves and have-nots is increasing.The beg- breaks by begging and if people of good virtue turn gars have their own expectations from their leaders up their way, the beggars are the most happiest. But who should try to resolve this issue. The beggars ac- on the contrary if no one turns up, they have to sleep tually beg for help and support for the upliftment of with a groaning stomach and a gnawing hunger. their conditions and situations. I feel that if the gov- ernment create some ways and means to uplift lives of Research in begging has been carried out around beggars, this would help them a lot. the world-Los Angeles (Taylor, 1999) and Washing- ton D.C. (Weiner & Weaver, 1974); Serbia (Acton, Every individual is responsible as well. We are all re- 1996), Nigeria (Ojanuga,1990), Israel (Shichor & El- sponsible directly or indirectly towards the causes of lis, 1981), Ireland (Gmelch & Gmelch, 1978), and Co- begging. Why do people resort to drug abuse? The lumbia (Gutierrez, 1970). These studies depicts that, reason behind could be lack of family guidance and begging is most often associated with homelessness care. So, we as one of the members of a family ought in both industrialized and developing nations. In- to know the problems faced by each member and newsletter 2 RIM October 2011, Issue No. 10 solve them. If we fail to do, then we may encounter References bigger consequences. Begging is one such problem caused by negligence of our elderly parents, disabled Horn, Michael, and Cooke, Michelle, 2001, A Ques and helpless ones. I don’t think we can afford to lose tion of Begging: A study of the extent and na our loved ones; they are the ones who shared their ture of begging in the City of Melbourne, P.6-7. love and warmth with us and we cannot waste away ISBN 0 9588815 5 3. their plights. Kemp, P A (1997) ‘The characteristics of single Proliferation of beggars in the street should be of great homeless people in England’ in R Burrows, N concern knocking each and every heart of humanity. Pleace & D Quilgars (eds), Homelessness and To certain group, beggars are the greatest nuisance to Social Policy, Routledge, London,69-87. the society, while to others; they are the promoters The Hindu: National Newspaper 2005, Begging, not of kindness, the soft nature of human hearts. But to by choice: study, India’s national newspaper, my conviction, beggars are neither a beggar by pro- New Delhi, Accessed on 24th august 2011. pinquity nor by their wish, rather they are the piti- ful souls, silently crying to all of us for our mercy. Of Melbourne University (2005, 25th August 2011) Law course, beggars are nuisance to the public, however Review. they are also those whose lives are enslaved and ru- ined by our direct or indirect involvement. Beggars generally are the ones, who are either with physical or mental disability. So, are they the destitute? Then, who shall not become beggars if the circumstances created by others force them to take this path. But, remember they are also a human being, having a soul and feelings. Ugyen Lhamo Seeing with eyes and with heart is what kindness real- PGDNL ly is. Beggars have remained beggars, with sufferings where solutions remain a distant dream. They are ........................................................................................... baked in the sun, frozen in the cold, blown by dusty Decriminalization of Abortion in Bhutan winds, but all goes unheard by the world. When their lives are replete with sufferings and turmoil, don’t Introduction they need our help? We ought to offer a little contri- bution to make a difference in their lives.