I have a dream

I Have A Dream, to keep me going….

I was just woken up. The memory was still vivid and lingering in my mind. Even a scintillating dream goes a long way Into rejuvenating, reenergizing and reinvigorating you, your day.

The first thing that came to my mind on getting back in touch with reality was a movie I had seen many moons ago. It was a movie called “GOALMAAL” starring the chocolate-cream, romantic actor of Indian cinema, Amol Palekar. It was that part of the movie where he is found to be a hugely entertaining song that goes like: Swapno me dekha tha ek swapna, O jo Amitabh hai apna, Market se out huan, logo ko dount huan, Main Amitabh ho gaya….

(I found in my dream, our megastar, Amitabh Bachchan, down in the dumps and out of the market and in his place another superstar, that’s me, emerging.)

I was lying in my bed too, in my dream, with the early sunrays peeping through the gaps in the curtain trying to drive away from my still weary eyes the last trace of the sleep. The mobile near my woe-begone pillow started beeping. Lazily, reluctantly I picked it up with my eyes still closed trying to hang on to the departing dream. It was my Principal Sir. “Good Morning, RNB sir. I just received a call from the Headquarters. You have been selected for the prestigious Teaching Award. The ceremony is to take place two days from hence at the Changlimitang Stadium in the capital on the National Day. They are going to send a car all the way from up to pick you up. Please get ready soon. You may have to stay in Thimphu for a couple of days. Congratulations. We all are very proud of you, Sir. The car, by the way, will be at your doorstep at around 9.30 a.m.”

By then, my eyes were wide open. As the line went dead at the other end, I rubbed my eyes to make sure that the call was genuine; I heard a voice in my head asking the question that I couldn’t ask Principal Sir. “Sir, Are you sure that the teacher they are looking for is me… to have been selected, of all the teachers in this dzongkhag, for this award?”

The next couple of hours found me in dizzy – packing clothes suitable for the occasion into my trolley, my shaving-kit and all. I felt like calling home and sharing this unbelievable news with my family but had to change my mind due to lack of time. “Later, buddy, later. You’ll have enough time to share the story of your good fortune,” the voice in my head was heard advising me again.

I shaved, had a cleansing bath, got dressed….Wait, lemme put on the blue suit and the best one I’ll put on on the D day. I had barely finished grabbing a mouthful, when there was a

knock on the door. I wasted no time in opening it with trepidation and a heart racing like it was out of control. There was a serious-looking man, bespectacled, smartly-attired, accompanied by the DDEO, outside, “Mr. Bhattacharjee? Kezang from MoE, come to take you up to Thimphu for the award.”

“Pleasure meeting you, Sir,” was alI I could mumble out, bereft of my manners and all as I was at that time. I didn’t even ask them in and simply dashed into my bedroom, leaving them standing at the door!

Within 10 minutes, I was seated on the front seat beside the driver while Mr. Kezang eased himself at the back of the Prado. He was extremely cordial and informed me on the way that we were headed to the Guest House in the capital. I will stay there for the next couple of days till the event was over. After lunch, I will be rushed to the Education office and introduced to the Secretary and some other important officials. In the afternoon, there will be a briefing at the Zimpoen’s office at Tashichodzong.

I was introduced to the Secretary, Department of Education after a quick lunch. He shook my hand firmly and congratulated me on being selected for the award. Told me that the whole Education Department was proud of my achievement.

I was in a daze. Was it really happening to me? Was I one insignificant teacher, R.N.Bhattacharjee, or someone else? “Please God; let it continue for a little longer, even if it is a dream.” I implored to the one above. There was no respite for me after that till late into the night. I was driven to the Zimpoen’s office. The ZIMPOEN’s Office! ZIMPOEN OF HIS MAJESTY, THE KING OF BHUTAN! He must have read the amazement and shock of the whole thing on my face and stretching out a friendly hand, greeted me: “Nice to meet you, Mr. Bhattacharjee.” I nearly fell down at the mention of my name.

“Nice to meet you, Sir.” Then I realized my mistake and hastily tried to correct myself.” I mean, Your Excellency.” He was His Majesty’s Zimpoen and as a result, was l to be addressed as such as per the protocol. He instructed me about how to receive the award from His Majesty. It was a solemn, sombre and serious occasion and demanded the highest reverence and etiquette from a civilian. I spent hours practising the ways of bowing down to His Majesty. The Zimpoen also informed me formally over a cup of tea afterwards that His Majesty was very generous and lenient to the Indians working in Bhutan.

The next day, the 16th of December, rolled on in a flurry of activities. I had an inkling of the Sherig Lyenpo, the minister of Education of the country, as dignified as ever, in a formal luncheon, hosted in honour of the award winning Heads of Institutes and teachers like me.

There were some other important people to meet and some more protocol to be mastered.

Before I could say a decent prayer, I found myself seated with a host of fellow brethren from

the Education family, inside a tent in the Chamlimithang Stadium. The stadium looked like a picture, with a multitude of people gathered from all over the country in colourful dresses, waving banners and festoons on the occasion of The National Day of Bhutan. The crowd looked jubilant and in a festive mood. In the area behind the fencing, there were school kids gleefully and frantically holding the national flags. Someone announced something regarding the speech to be delivered shortly by the Lyenchoen (the Prime Minister) of Bhutan. I raised my head from arranging the disarrayed tie. Lyenchoenn Tshering Tobgay, someone I have always admired from the day he addressed the gathering of teachers and students in the MPH of Jakar High School in Bumthang, as a member of the former Education Minister, Lyenpo Sangay Nidup’s team. Lyenchoen, true to his reputation, delivered a detailed and mesmerizing speech.

Finally, it was him. I literally pinched myself when I saw him walking majestically along the red carpet to the podium. The Royal, the whole stadium, nay, the whole nation was waiting for with bated breath. His Majesty then addressed the nation in his inimitable, baritone voice. His speech made clear to the people present in the stadium as well as the millions glued to the TV, how much he cared for his country and the people, his love and concern and his dreams and aspirations for the country closest to his heart.

I sat inside the tent, transfixed, amidst the tumultuous applause of the crowd as His Majesty raised his hand in acknowlegemnt at the conclusion of the speech. The MC next informed the gathering about the concluding event of the day – The Award Ceremony. That in keeping with the tradition, His Majesty would now graciously acknowledge the contributions of some Leaders and Teachers, who through their hard work, initiatives and devotion to the profession, made a huge difference in the lives of many for the spread and advancement of Education in the country.

The names of many a great leader, were called out, one after another. They all went up gracefully, bowed before His Majesty and received their medals. Soon it was the teachers’ turn. For me, it was still like as if I was watching a great race in slow motion, when the teacher, sitting next to me, nudged me with his elbow to move forward. I was just awakened out of my reverie to catch the last few words of the MC: “May I now request Mr. Rathin Bhattacharjee, Chhukha Central Schhol, Chhukha, to come up to the podium to receive his award from His Majesty, please?”

I sprang to my feet, somehow aware of the thousands of eyes watching my every move. I nearly fumbled at the stairs leading to the dais. But the people of this god-blessed country being more understanding, considerate, sympathetic and appreciative than any I have known in my lifetime, egged me on.

It was only then that the enormity of the situation dawned on me. Here I was, standing inches away from someone, considered nothing short of divinity in this part of the world!

The realization made me more nervous. Beads of sweat appeared on my forehead even on a

pleasant yet cold day. I very nearly forgot all the etiquette some important officials of the Education Department had been trying to impart to me for the last couple of days as if their very survival depended on my mustering them, just for this moment.

His Majesty must have sensed my nervousness and predicament. He smiled his winning smile as I remembered to bow down to him just in the nick of time. He looked more handsome at that time than ever.

As I retraced my steps and got back inside the tent, I remembered what Barda (Eldest brother) told me once. During his soujourns over 180 countries across the globe, only once did he have the good fortune of glancing at the Queen of England from a distance. From a distance, did you get it? And here I was back in the tent, while all the handshakes and pats on the back were going on, just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime- encounter with the King of a great country! As the chimes of the Clock Tower could be heard from a distance, I was beaming from ear to ear….

P.S: I remember Tagore’s “The Hero” at the conclusion of this writing. Like him, I won’t ask for the fulfilment of my dream. But would it not be really nice if such dreams can recur every now and then, just to KEEP ME GOING?