When we have here, Why look for others?

I may not be entirely right to write the following but I am penning what I feel and what is right in me. I can be hanged for writing this. I did not do any crime. This is a mere freedom of expression utilized by layman and lowly educated. Bear the wrongs, highlight the mistakes with your wisdom. I salute your rightness for I am a mere wanderer lost in the desert.

Italy had Florence Nightingale who did godly service to the soldiers of the Crimean war of 1854. She treated the wounded soldiers from both the sides. She pioneered nursing. That was the service of priceless human being to the humanity with selflessness.

Bhutan had our own. We still have. Dr. Lotay Tshering, a noble man. Capable, indeed. A man with unfathomable knowledge. A man that saved so many lives. A man that serves the nation with utmost dedication. And the list is endless.

When Dr. Lotay Tshering, a urologist with the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital declared his intent to join politics, the Royal Civil Service Commission had the gut to slapped a Bhutanese citizen with Nu.62 lakhs for he went against the law of the land. Dr. Lotay did not do any crime worth that much amount. For past 12 years, he was with the Ministry of Health treating the dying patients. At last, an acknowledgment for his selfless service was having to pay a lump sum amount to the government. He was directly or indirectly forced to resign from the service.

Aftermath of his resignation, the national referral hospital had to refer several patients to India for gallstone and other kidney related surgery. The government must have spent a huge amount to refer patients abroad. There was no competent person to replace HIM.

There are so many questions flickering in my mind. I do not have clear-cut reason why Dr. Lotay got such a cruel reward. Is it a meritorious award for him by RCSC? Did Dr. Lotay committed a big crime by declaring his interest to join the politics? Joining politics is his fundamental rights. Was he not allowed to exercise his rights? Nowhere in the Constitution there is an article stating that health specialist should refrain joining politics. If He is treated with such, then what about those civil servant who goes on corrupting the country every day? What about those civil servant who do not do anything in the office and receives same amount of salary at end of the month? What about those civil servants who claim a huge amount of TA/DA bill without travelling away from the threshold of their office? What about those civil servants who always drink and come to office? What about those civil servants who gamble in the office with the door locked from outside? Is there justice in the system?

I am flabbergasted when RCSC issued warning letter to Dr. Lotay Tshering. When we are advertising and looking for medics from other countries to join our Health Ministry to curve the shortage of medics, why did the commission slapped him with aforementioned amount? Did RCSC ever heard that there are some doctors in the country who are mistreating the patients? Did they issued same warning letter and amount they are liable to pay to those doctors? Dr. Lotay Tshering is one of the rarest of the rare doctor who is entirely dedicated to his profession and does his duty dutifully. There is something wrong with our system.  Why are we looking for the medical specialists outside when we are not able to treat our own professionals heartily? We have qualified and well-versed specialist. We have right here.

I was reading the KuenselOnline news article when I saw Dr. Lotay making voluntary contribution. He is still serving the needy ones with surgery camps. More than 400 patients availed surgery services from Dr. Lotay after he resigned from the service. Isn’t he a noble person – a God disguised in human beings to safeguard humankind? Doesn’t he deserve a better reward than the previous one?

The Health Ministry wants him back but whether or not to join the ministry is his choice. And it should be. He is not an animal who goes away when people chases out and comes back when they want. He was chased away by the concerned authorities making him to pay a colossal amount. If he join the Ministry again, won’t he be getting the same ill treatment again?

Who could have come back to render volunteer service after the authorities penalized him/her? Will you and I? The answer will be big NO. But the Urologist did. He did for the greater cause. SALUTE HIM. HE DESERVES IT. We have exemplary citizen. Do not look in other countries for examples of patriotic citizen. We have right here.

Today, Dr. Lotay is serving the people. His voluntary contribution should be looked at as an example. This is more than the natural responsibility. He is making best use of his acquired knowledge. Many lives are being saved by his generous effort. A huge chunk of government’s money is saved. He is, indeed, a true Bhutanese. MAY HIS CONTRIBUTION BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES.

MAY THY SERVITUDE TO THE PEOPLE BE BENEDICTION,

A GEM THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH THE UNACCOMPLISHED,

A DREAM THAT COMES TO REALITY

RENDERING A NEW HOPE, A NEW DREAM, A NEW LIFE.

FOR THY SERVICE, I SALUTE THEE.