Message from Kuenga Chhoegyel

Dear Sirs and Madams,

Forty years seems to have slipped away so fast. I remember entering into this beautiful campus as a little child.

Starting a new thing is not always easy. It had not been easy for Mr. and Mrs. Kippenes. Coming from almost opposite side of the globe to a strange land with strangers all around not knowing the language people spoke shows how so brave they were. Today it’s a moment, a moment to thank for lighting the torch for the blind to travel from the darkness to light.

Besides teaching us to feel Braille dots and to add the coins, you have taught us to climb mountains through the rain and snow, hailstorms and biting cold winds, scorching heat of the sun to bring bamboos to crush and build a hut for cooking class—the life of common Bhutanese lead in those days.

Sending us to Sherubtse either on foot, or at the back of a truck or in a bus, to many of us sometimes felt too harsh, today realize your definite objective of travelling independently. Witnessing Shakespeare’s plays staged and spending the nights in the hostel assumed as a waste of time, today understands the goal of integration.

The social evenings, the school day celebration, trying to memorizing dialogues of dramas and songs, seemed to have led us to the journey of wholesome education.

Today, as we celebrate this joyous occasion of teacher’s day, it is a great moment, a moment to thank you sir and madam for the wonderful job you have done.

Mrs. Gro Holm Rypestol was yet another remarkable teacher worth noting. When we were naughty, she advised us, making us realize the situation. We did not repeat. Many of her skills and strategies of teaching she used once upon a time, find it so useful today, as I teach our young visually impaired friends. Thank you very much Lopen for bringing me onto the platform, where I stand today.

Mr. Philip Holmburg, the successor to Mr. Kippenes, was yet another remarkable man. He was the man of action. Through him, the institute learnt the need of nationalizing, the importance of promoting and preserving tradition and culture. He taught children and the teachers to stop calling Sahib and address him as Lop Gom and his wife Lop Ama and not mem-sahib. He requested the ministry to appoint a national principal.

On this joyous occasion, I must not forget to pay tribute to Lt. Ngawang the first national principal of the institute. He was not only an excellent math teacher, but also an excellent principal. He supported and encouraged those who worked hard and equally used corrective methods to those who did not make the best use of the working hours. Through his guidance, some learnt book keeping and others learnt writing official letters. Within his 12 years of service as a principal of this institute, he had done a marvelous job. He strongly believed in academic excellence. He ensured that teachers do not miss classes and ensured that the students use the best use of the time for studies. In the cold winter days, realizing that students would not be able to feel the Braille dots, he would make fire to keep the students warm. Alumni members of this institute, who are today holding crucial jobs in various sectors are some of his contributions.

The institute has nurtured so many blind children, witnessed the little kids coming to school growing into boys and girls to men and women, graduating from the institute to higher Secondary school, university, getting trained and leading a meaningful and productive living. While many succeeded, some failed and had to go back home. In fact, that is how it works everywhere.

About forty teachers have served the visually impaired children and have left the institute. Some have passed away, some retired and some still serving the nation. And, all of them contributed to the institute in one way or the other, leading the blind children from the darkness to the brightly lit world. Some are on the stage viewed by all the spectators, some behind the curtain ensuring that the spectators are not tired of watching the same scene. Some are rewarded while others left unnoticed.

This year, as the institute celebrated her 40th birthday, and looking down from the platform where I stand today, I see many inspiring teachers who selflessly serve the children, who never misses classes, who work beyond the school time, who lead them by hand on weekend walks, who are so much concern of their wellbeing and share of their welfare, who supports them on their day to day learning. Today it is a moment, a moment to thank you for your unwavering support and service for the blind.

The world may count very little for what you have done and is doing, but in the eyes of god, it has tremendous values. And, I do believe, that one day, you will be rewarded. Lifting our eyes to heaven; let me make a prayer, a prayer for the sun of peace, prosperity and happiness to shine in your lives. May god bless you.
Kuenga Chhoegyel (Alumni of the institute)