And the Spirit Lives on ….. (12/03/25)

And the Spirit Lives on ….. (12/03/25)

Chapter-16 of my book (The Autobiography of CU’s Worst

Student) has the same content. Why did I decide to conclude “‘I Love you in the ICU’ & 20 Other Stories” with that story then? I don’t know. I am not sure. Perhaps, it shows a craving somewhere deep down which had best not be fulfilled. I so badly wanted my stories on Bhutan to be published from Bhutan first. Whatever. This story reflects my love for and gratitude to the great country that Bhutan is.)

And The Spirit Lives On…….. 

My autobiography (The Autobiography of CU’s Worst Student) has kept me engaged for the last three weeks or so. Now the time has come for me to conclude it, I am overcome with mixed emotions. I feel satiated to be able to give a part of myself to you all. I also feel sad that the autobiography, like everything else in this world, has to come to an end.

I shall conclude “CU’s Worst Student” with what I shared with my standard-XII students last year. I shared with them one of my most cherished daydreams, while introducing the American,

James Thurber’s classic fantasy called ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. For your information, Reader, this is a story of an average American, who shackled by the drudgeries of daily living, domineered over by an overbearing, bossy wife, seeks a route of escape through daydreaming to the world of fantasy. He is, in his daydreams, everything that he is not in his real life. A fearless, brave-heart of a navy commander; the world’s greatest pistol-shot; or a martyr about to be shot dead by his mercenary enemies, but one who remains ‘undefeated, inscrutable to the last’.

The last daydream stated above, conveys the message that, no matter what, Mitty, will remain the die-hard romantic that he is and go on daydreaming till the end of his life, to inspire millions of young, middle-aged or elderly men, who have very nearly given up on Life, due to fear, failure, fatigue and frustration. 

Now to come back to my daydream that I usually share with the students…..

 It is a glorious afternoon in Thimphu. The JDWMH (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Hall) is packed to the capacity. There hangs an air of expectancy, poignancy and nostalgia over the auditorium. On the center stage, His Majesty, Druk Gyelpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth hereditary monarch of the country, can be seen seated on a regal, cushioned couch.

 They voice of the MC goes on, acquainting the distinguished gathering with the profile of the seventh teacher to be felicitated then. “Next in line, we have a teacher, who, after a career spanning over nearly three decades in the service of the Tsa-Wa-Sum, retired recently from Chhukha Central School ……”

 At this, all eyes turn to the concerned teacher, sitting on the front-row along with the other 21 teachers invited for the occasion through a meticulous selection process , one each from the dzongkhags across the country. The man in spotlight looks rather young for one who is supposed to be in his mid-sixties! Wearing silver-rimmed glasses, with streaks of silver all over his head, the teacher is found to be intently looking up to the revered figure of His Majesty on stage. In his immaculately tailored suit, there is an aura of respectability and composure about the man.

 The voice of the MC can be heard again over the general humming of the audience.

“Mr. Bhattacharjee has had a distinguished career, having worked as a Language teacher in five schools across the country. In recognition of his meritorious service to the nation, the Government of Bhutan is pleased and proud to offer him this prestigious memento, as a token of love and gratitude. Now may I request Lopen Bhattacharjee, to come on to the stage please, to receive the memento from our beloved Monarch?”

Heads turn again and only this time the audience notices the bespectacled man, with the high-powered glasses on the bridge of his nose, fumbling with the stick by the side of his chair. He refuses the offer of help of a young man hastily emerging from the wings on the side, and standing tall and erect as he used to, when he was even in his late fifties, he fervently tries to hasten his steps to the carpeted staircase on the right leading up to the stage.

Despite age finally having caught up with him, there is an air of steel will and gracefulness about his persona as he gets there, His Majesty, gets up and smiling, pats him on the back, commending him with a few words, while handing over the memento, amidst the rapturous applause of the audience…………………..

Some daydreams are meant to be daydreams only. Similarly, all teachers cannot be meant for rewards and awards. But will it not be nice if an outrageous daydream like mine turns out to be true by some magic or something once-in-a-lifetime? Will it not be nice to have the daydream materialize? To be able to shake hands with the man I have admired and appreciated all these years, without him being so much as aware of my presence?

The End