I am overjoyed to share with you that I represented Writers Association of Bhutan (WAB) in the closing session of Creative Non Fiction Writing Workshop organized by Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy today afternoon. It so happened that during their discussion session they pointed out the need to have an association for writers which is when we were mentioned and Ms. Pek Dorji, the organizer, invited us instantly.

Ashi Kuenzang Choden, Lily Wangchuk, Dorji Penjor and I were to speak to the participants of our areas. Looking at the three of them I almost decided to sneak out but I had to think of WAB. I finished my share of water trying to moist my drying throat and lips before I could finally speak.

I shared our dreams

Writers Association of Bhutan is still a month old baby, but a baby that will grow into a handsome giant. It is a big dream which we shouldn’t have dared but if we didn’t we would have to wait forever. We always wanted a governing body for writers to pursue their writing dream but during our time we couldn’t be lucky. We couldn’t imagine standing here waiting to pass down our misfortune to our children. WAB will grow up to change it all. WAB will do justice to literary talents.

I made it clear that WAB is not just a forum for writers as it might seem, I declared that a few of us are working on the foundation and when it comes to the actual formalization of the association we would come asking for their help.

They are more than ready to help us. In fact Dr. CT Dorji already gave me all his bio-data to be entered as formal member of the association. He didn’t hesitate to share that he could help us in finding sponsors from across borders. Ashi Kuenzang left me her email address to be posted on our blog with the most delightful announcement for amateur/aspiring writers like us. We will be posting it soon after we have the announcement tab set on the website. Lily has lots of experiences to share with aspiring writers and therefore the rest of the group requested her to write on our website. Hope to read her soon. We didn’t have time to listen to Tashi Tshering who has co-authored a book with a westerner, hoping to read him here too, for they all took note of WAB.

Yeshey Dorji, the great photographer was there without his lenses and even I had to come without mine and damn I missed photographing with them. I consoled myself saying may be god wants to give me another chance to meet them. I was shy to ask for their autographs and by the time I could gather my guts Ashi was gone, Yeshey Dorji disappeared, Dr. CT Dorji and Dorji Penjor hurried away with brief handshakes. Lily signed me an autograph and gave her contacts, we sure need it.

After I thanked Ms. Pek Dorji I told the rest, “See you on WAB.”

6th Auguts, 2010

4 Responses to “WAB attends Writers Workshop”