The long awaited book joint authored by Tshering Tashi and Tim Fischer has now been published.

From Jesuits to Jetsetters

Bold Bhutan Beckons

Inhaling Gross National Happiness

By Tim Fischer and Tshering Tashi

Published by CopyRight Publishing, Brisbane, Australia

To get a first edition log on to  http://www.copyright.net.au/details.php?id=113

This book on Bhutan is the first of its kind. It is co-authored by a distinguished visitor to the country and a resident Bhutanese. Written in a travelogue-narrative style, the two authors for the last three years have harmoniously woven 16 stories into a beautiful tapestry. Most of the stories are written down for the first time. It has something for everybody. You can soak your soul, allow your conscience to surface, encourage you your faculty of wonder to indulge in bits of mythology and mysticism.

The five sections of the book include an informative blend of color and black and white photographs. All the chapters can be read independently yet together they help create a deeper understanding of the philosophy and culture of the last Mahayana Buddhist kingdom. The book opens with the story of the discovery of a hidden village - accessible only by climbing a set of 'crow ladders'. On discovering the village, the Bhutanese writer did not realize that he had embarked on another journey. Although the writer did not succeed in reaching this village, its discovery helped the Election Commission of Bhutan to invite these isolated people to participate in the first Democratic Parliament election. Following this intriguing chapter is the story of the first European travelers' (16th century) observations of Bhutan - perceptive and a reader's delight. This story is written using the carefully and accurate notes of the Jesuits, related here for the first time since these were written. The notes had been buried in the Italian Vatican Library over three centuries but have just recently been translated into English.

The first section concludes with the election of the first king of Bhutan in 1907. This is particularly interesting because just last year Bhutan transited from a monarchy to a democracy with a sovereign. After one hundred years the king gave back power to the people at his own initiative.

This story of the Jesuit priests is followed by a story on the founder of Bhutan who to this date is highly revered for his vision and philosophy. This man lived when heavier-than-air flight was only in its infancy yet his philosophy will intrigue even modern day psychiatrists. He challenged concepts of multi-tasking and advised recipes for attainment of true happiness.

The second section 'Portraits from Heaven' also has four chapters. The readers will be treated to High Tea with one of Bhutan's greatest hermits. Some monks think he may have achieved enlightenment, but the readers will have sufficient room for their own interpretation. The second chapter in the section discusses the life of Bhutan's greatest and last classical musician. His lute is believed to possess magic and this may not be ruled out when many visitors to Bhutan have said that it is important to suspend rationality while traveling to this kingdom. A patently commercial story follows - mythical and mystical creatures like the yeti and Blue Bear are discussed. Though the writer provides maps and stories, conclusive evidence of their existence has yet to be provided, but there is sufficient material to launch a serious research. The last chapter describes how the Bhutan philosophy of Gross National Happiness may the answer as to why it will always have the world's highest unclimbed mountain.

In the third section, 'Storm Cloud Descends' both authors tread on thin ice and talk about two sensitive stories. The first is the assassination of the Prime Minister and how Bhutan recovered from tragedy. The second is about 'Hotel Mike' and his warriors in the 2003 conflict. Both these stories are only talked about in hushed tones. While there has been limited written account of the first story the second story is being told in this book for the first time. In 2003, the king (code named 'Hotel Mike' from the acronym for His Majesty or HM) led on foot to lead 6,000 Bhutanese soldiers to flush out foreign militants from Bhutanese soil. The low intensity conflict secured the sovereignty of a landlocked country which was being jeopardized. Bhutan's small army is only ceremonial and the victory was not celebrated, instead butter lamps were lit as a sign of remorse. The world in which we live is increasing infected with terrorism, and can learn from Bhutan that it is better to win peace and trust than win a battle.

The second-last section has another four chapters. It begins with the story of an Indian engineer now based in Australia, who helped build Bhutan's first motor road in the 1960s. Till then Bhutanese lived as they did in medieval times, encouraged by a self isolation policy. The background story and the engineer's perception of the Bhutanese is heart rending. According to him the 174 km road was built in record time, without any machines, by the Bhutanese. This gives an outsider's view of the king and his people. The second chapter of this section, 'From Serfdom to democracy - the last vintage chamberlain', is the story of the chamberlain whose life changed with the wind of modernization of the country. From walking barefoot to wearing shoes, it is also the story of one man's dedication to his boss who was the Fourth King, and the qualities required to maintain that dedication. This story is followed by 'My and Son and I, growing up in Transition' - this is about the writer's journey with his son, witnessing the changes the tiny kingdom of Bhutan is witnessing. Editors described this chapter as moving and touching. Its evocative story contains sentiment that can touch the heart of people of a lonely existence trying to reach out to another lonely fellow-being, in this case a son

The last chapter in this section is the writer's journey to the Western World particularly Great Britain and the United States. Two chapters in the final section conclude the book. Tshering reminds that Bhutan is not Shangri-la, as it still has its share of worries. Tim wittily prescribes 11 ways to inhale the principal guiding philosophy of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness.

The book may sound a little sensational as it has some elements of a fairy tale. But this was never the intention of the writers. In fact the Bhutanese writer was fatalistic and allowed the book to write itself. Dedicated to attainment of life and work balance and peace and happiness on our Earth, Bold Bhutan Beckons may help readers to decide their future pathway.