MY SCHOOLS AND COLLEGE; MY CHANGES.

"The power of Education will take you to the height that you never have imagined or dreamed."

Zangthi Community School.

Though the photo seems blur, my vivid childhood memories take me back to Zangthi Community School when I first got my admission in 1995. There were around 45 students in Class PP in my batch. Currently, many of those class mates who studied from this school are serving the country at various capacities.

Located far away from road point at one time, many teachers would refuse to come to Zangthi Community School but today, the situation is otherwise. Since there was not enough affordable note books available at that time, we started writing using chalk and slate board. These slate boards and chalks used to be collected back by class captain after the classes are over. However, a new fortunate page of our school life took turn as we got note books and pencils as we got admission in class I onward. The school uniform (Serthra) was first made compulsory for all the students when I was in Class V.

During weekends, we had to collect fire woods for teachers and sometimes, we had to work  kitchen gardens of our teachers. I, as well as my friends first started playing football and volleyball in the school. the most interesting thing was the volleyball match between my school and Dungmanma Community School which is located at  two hours  walking distance. Another most interesting event apart from academics was "Annual Variety Show" where I first started playing skits like "Ap Wang Drujay, Gasa Lamey Singye, King Solomon, etc". Today, almost all young boys and girls go school from my village.

The front view of Lauri Primary School.

I got admission in Lauri Primary School (Class VI) and I stayed in the hostel as a Boarder for the first time in my life. Studying at night using lantern and standing in queue for daily meals were memorable moments at Lauri Primary School. We would eagerly wait for weekends to rush home and meet our parents. The most common words from every student's lip at hostel was "Saturday Home Firewood" which implies "Hostelers have to fetch firewood on Saturdays and then rush back to home"

Khaling Lower Secondary School

From Class VII -VIII, I studied at Khaling Lower Secondary School.

Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary School. (Main Academic Building)

Getting opportunity to study at JSHSS was considered to be most fortunate for many students in Bhutan. The fact is JSHSS bears a track record of having produced a set of finest academicians. There are many JSHSS Alumni across Bhutan and overseas working in both government and non government organisations.
Therefore, I am equally proud to be one alumnus as others.

College Of Dairy and Food Science Technology Under Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (INDIA)

 Having got a Scholarship to pursue B.Tech Food Technology degree program from College of Dairy and Food Science Technology, Rajasthan (India) was a clear mark of milestone for my career. It was a like a lifetime opportunity and experience getting a chance to interact with new atmosphere and people from different walks of life during my college days. CDFST is a technical college under Maharana Pratap University of Agri. & Tech offering courses like B.Tech Food Technology, B.Tech Dairy Technology, B.Tech Biotechnology.

Today, alumni of the College are working in renown Multi-National Companies (MNC) within India and other foreign countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Switzerland in the field of Food Processing, Food Quality Management and Legistlations, Agriculture sectors, etc.

TRACING BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

Gonong, Lauri, S/Jongkhar.

Historical Background
This is my village, Gonong. Located at the extreme eastern part of Bhutan, my village has literally remained isolated and ignored for decades; deprive of basic modern facilities. That is why majority of population from my locality was illiterate sometime before 1980.

 According to elderly people in my village, the historical background behind the name of my village "Gonong" describes "Go" means "First", and "Thong" means "sun rays was first seen".  It was called as Gothong but later on, it got changed into present name "Gonong" due to people finding it easy to say.

There are around 40-50 households in my village. The houses are built traditionally with locally available raw materials. The people in my village live in harmony by extending helping hands among themselves. I have never seen any sign of division among the villagers and I was told that people in my village are basically from same ancestral parents.

Changes and Current Scenario
However, my village came into lame light in late 1980 (Nineteen eighties) with institution of primary school, basic health centre, agriculture and livestock centres in the Geog. Since then, the livelihood of people in my village experiencing a gross change day by day.

Today, I am very proud to say that I came from Gonong, Lauri under Samdrup Jongkhar. My village has almost all the modern facilities like education, health, agriculture, livestock, mobile connection, clean drinking water. The works to connect village with road and electricity are in full swing. Nowadays, many farmers have switched from subsistence farming to intensive farming method. Unlike in the past, they focus on growing cash crops like vegetables. The socio-economic status of farmers is likely to improve once the village is connected with road. There are farmers Groups working to collect both forest products etc available locally. 

There are many people from my village working in both government and non-governmental agencies across Bhutan. And many children are in succession in various schools and colleges. The village which was isolated one time back in history is galloping with positive strides at faster pace. As a member, I wish the same momentum continues even the days to come so that peace and tranquility prevail as ever.