"King Jigme" saved me from further Interrogation

In the class today, we were informed that there will be a mass demonstration of Red Shirts starting from tomorrow in the vicinity of our University campus. Consequently, we were warned to shut down any plans of moving out at least for this weekend.

Frankly speaking, ‘Protest’ is one word that always numbs and paralyzes me with phobia succumbing to an extreme anxiety mode. Needless to mention about participating or observing it in reality, I haven’t heard of it anyway back in my country. Thanks to your Majesty the Kings!!! Heaven must have been stunned to discover that a small nation like Bhutan possessed a king of kings.  

That moment after my ear was injected with such a piece of report, weakened the muscle of my attention. I experienced the rush of blood into my brain because the thunder due to the march of more than 50,000 pairs of legs will be heard and seen this time. I was not armoured in anyways to confront such circumstances since I have never seen one during these 3 decades of life on earth. But, no newspapers ever escaped from my eyes regarding the conflicts clashes and death tolls ensuing due to the protest. Therefore, to a layman like me, the protest was deemed as an equivalent term for ‘gambling a human life. 

“The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) begins a three-day rally Saturday that is billed as a show of strength in light of moves by independent agencies which threaten to strip Yingluck Shinawatra of her caretaker prime ministerial post”, the Bangkok Post read. My inbox was already flooded with the alarms of the demonstration which was scheduled to take place soon.  

Normally, I and my friends always shop for groceries and vegetables during the weekends. Fearing that we might miss the market the next day, we planned to fill our stocks that evening. Hence, we headed to the market donning with the same tune of mood and excitement as before.

As we were waiting to cross the road, I saw an armed policeman spying on our moves. In the fear of suspicion, I remained dumb without even knowing what to do. And eventually, when the traffic was clear, we crossed the road to pass nearby him.

He strolled towards us and said, “You China?”

The kind of language he spoke was not very strange to our ears anymore. Being here for the last 8 months, we are accustomed to the kind of English Thais speak. So, I assumed that he must have to mean whether we were from China. So, I quickly responded, “No, sir. From Bhutan”.

He seemed to have missed what I said. So, clearing the throat, he took a few steps closer. I scanned him and saw his waist surrounded with weapons and shotgun. On seeing this, my nerves started to shiver and my tongue failed to pronounce even those daily words.

I repeated saying ‘Bhutan’ and my friends added it all together. Hearing the word ‘Bhutan’ repeatedly, he took back a few steps and gazed with his left hand scratching the few moustached chins.    

We looked at one another for some time without any clues on why we were interrogated. But suddenly, the serious interrogating face of this armed personnel donned with a smile and said,  

“Oh,…o ….o…… Buuu..taan”

“King Jigme”.

And within no minutes, we echoed his words. 
"Yes, King Jigme. King Jigme"

In fact, we clung firmly to the word “King Jigme” as a license to free us from further questioning.

Further, I took out my university student card and passport copy from my bag and explained to him that we are from Bhutan and are current international students at Mahidol University.

He pretended to scan the documents and murmured ‘King Jigme’ for few more times and let us go peacefully.

We still could not understand the reasons for the interrogations but we laughed at ourselves for being questioned. My friends further chuckled when I related to those ‘Banged Up Abroad’ television shows.

It was funnier that “King Jigme” served more than the university student card and our passport from further probing.

“King Jigme” by the way is the name of our beloved fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Popularly known as the ‘People’s King’ in our kingdom and as ‘Prince Charming’ in Thailand, His Majesty is very popular in Thailand after his visit in 2006. His Majesty the King, then the crowned prince, joined with Thais during the 60th-anniversary celebration of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the Golden Throne. 

Thank you, Your Majesty, for everything you gave to us. You are truly an incredible human blessed for the Bhutanese. The great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi was not mistaken to remark,

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; today it means getting along with people”.

LONG LIVE OUR KING.

For more messages, click here:

http://dumchowangdi.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-humble-message-to-servant-leader.html

His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Ashi Jetseun Pema Wangchuck

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” - John C. Maxwell