This
past Sunday, I took my family for a drive to the base of Cheri Monastery,
hoping to escape the monotony of a lazy weekend. But instead of the serene,
pristine environment one would expect near a sacred site, I was met with a
disheartening sight—trash everywhere.
Plastic
bottles, food wrappers, and discarded waste lined the roadsides, piled up near
makeshift shops, floated by the riverbanks, and even lay scattered near Chortens.
The park leading toward Tango wasn’t spared either. It was a stark reminder of
a growing problem that seems to be slipping through the cracks of our national
consciousness.
This
isn’t the first time I’ve written about this issue on my blog, and I fear it
won’t be the last. Bhutan is a country celebrated for its Gross National Happiness
(GNH), its commitment in making a happy society, and its proud achievement of
remaining carbon negative. Now, there’s even talk of Bhutan becoming a global
education hub by 2035. These are all noble aspirations—ones I deeply respect. But
in our drive to achieve these grand visions, are we neglecting the most basic
responsibility of keeping our surroundings clean?
A
while back, an Indian friend of mine visited Bhutan and remarked, "Cleanliness
here is at the next level." But his tone wasn’t one of
admiration—it was laced with guilt, as he compared it to the littered streets
of his native Delhi. His words stuck with me. If a visitor notices this, why
don’t we?
Cleanliness
isn’t rocket science. It doesn’t require high-level policies or complex
solutions. It starts with simple mindfulness—carrying our trash back, using
bins, and teaching our children the same. If we can’t keep our sacred spaces,
rivers, and roads clean, how can we claim to uphold the values of GNH or
sustainability?
Perhaps
it’s time for a collective reality check. Before we leap into becoming a global
education hub or any other lofty goal, maybe we should first ensure that our
own backyard reflects the values we preach. Because a clean Bhutan isn’t just
an aesthetic choice—it’s a fundamental part of who we are.
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