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My comments on Dasho Benji's Page on his post of Ada rachu

Dasho Penji

I do not recall anything in our culture or history that Ada Rachu was the norm for formal wear.

Comments by Rinzin Penjor 

Really true . Too many legislations that tend to

regulate behaviours of individuals will often result in non compliance of

them for which I hope every one is well aware of it.

My comments 

Then I do not remember our grand parents wore shoes nor Ghos we wear today. Does it mean we have to wear those Khasha Gho and Khasha Kira. Culture never stays same but change with time that is y it is called culture. Why do we call culture of modern gadgets because this evolved a period of time. Second by prohibiting the choice for the woman is a violation of women's right of choice and also deprives the creativities of our women rachu weavers whose livelihood are dependent on it. If one buys equally good quality of Ada Rachu, it might cost equally like other Rachu, then what is the difference. Instead of this, why not make policies and rules on mandatory use of our national language to the extend possible. It is not made because we know those called Cultural Officers and senior bureaucrats, most even can't read Dzongkha forget being able to write properly. In fact Dzongkha on verge of extinction as very few people can actually write their names correctly. Whereas the national dress is thriving and becoming a fashion which we should feel proud of. Only regressive thoughts would stall the progressive thoughts and wisdoms.

Kinley Wangchuck's reply to me

Okay let's consider culture should change "Our ancestors did not wear shoes they wore Khasha Gho which you are saying people this days should not be wearing shoes and be wearing Khasha Gho" if that is the case let's the culture change no need to wear Kabney to go to Dzong can we do that. People try to understand I think we should be flexible to let the authorities bring some changes to bring good in society to bring uniformity. Like Tshoke said if quality is concerned why not order Ada Rachu from Gucci or any brand. Let our women look good in some good quality Ada Rachu not necessarily have to be patterned. We men wear plain whit Kabney but different quality. Let's accept it. Welcome Ada Rachu. People with Ada brain are not willing to accept the new rule.

My Reply to Kinley Wangchuck

It's not merely about Ada Rachu but about our outlook on policies of preservation of our culture. The very concept of culture is not about being in ancient or homogenous or uniformity but the use of certain things or acts that has been accepted as the norms in the society, thus question of preservation of culture of Ada Rachu alone deprives the culture of pattern Rachu in the country over a period of time. second, Bhutan is a democratic nation now and authorities can't just impose rules at the whims and fancies of their will. Any rule must be within the limits of constitution which is the basic democratic rights of the women's choice and to be consulted them while making such decisions as it affects the mass of women in the country. Third, it undermines creativity of our people in embroidery as now there is no place for such to thrive on Rachu. Remember, Embroidery is one of the thirteen arts and crafts of our national identity. Fourth, when such rules are imposed so silently and secretly without informing the public not only causes huge loss to those shops already stocked with Patten rachus and deprives those women and their families dependent on them of their livelihood which is violation of fundamental rights of citizens to practice their choice of vocation and as well as right to life. And of course it also destroys the beauty of diversity in culture and promotion of nation heritage and culture which is one of the state principles of state policy. In nutshell, it deprives women's right to choose, freedom of expression, deprives those lives dependent on these kind of vocation and only promotes homogenous and uniform among the Bhutanese women through authoritative imposition of rules as opposed to democratic rights and culture of diversity gifted from the throne.

My comments on Dasho Benji's Page on his post of Ada rachu

Dasho Penji

I do not recall anything in our culture or history that Ada Rachu was the norm for formal wear.

Comments by Rinzin Penjor 

Really true . Too many legislations that tend to

Shall we force to stop the change or evolve with change- The Ada Rachu

My Post on Facebook

Colour and pattern are always associated with elegance and beauty of the women in any society and Bhutan is no exception.  And I have always appreciated our Bhutanese women the way they dress with the passage of time and evolution. They all look much more elegant with the numerous designs and patterns in the Bhutanese textile in recent years. On formal occasions with
more elegant dresses with equally patterned Rachu would adorn the Bhutanese attires for women even better. In fact one of the biggest fashions in Bhutan today is the variety and celebration of our women’s dress.

The news of prohibition on use of Rachu except Ada Rachu seems  to be  sign of suppression on the general population of women in the country.  Have we consulted our women on their own issue in this regard? Are their sentiments respected and their views protected adequately when decisions are taken probably  by the male dominated profession-the Cultural Officers.  Do we really have  convincing research results show that why Ada rachu was worn by common people during those times and does it worth the hurting the sentiment of our women merely because one single reason? The reasons cited the Kuensel are not convincing, atleast for me. If we have to adhere to only old cultures, I must confess that we shouldn’t be wearing anything, because that was the real culture when we actually began our civilization. Going  by the culture from what I have heard from my old parents and elderly people in the village, neither men nor women wore shoes,  they all could only wear Khasha Gho and Kira because people could not afford and options were too minimal during those times. Shall we start wearing those in the name of preserving our culture and stop wearing shoes because that is not our culture for common people. Today, we  have the option and everyone can afford to buy in all sorts of variety. Does it really help us to preserve our culture? What about our culture of weaving Rachu in varieties of patterns for decades and what about their  right to creativity?  We also know  the way Rachu is worn by certain level people and common people are entirely different and that itself shows we have great respect  and our culture of hierarchy is maintained.

Bhutan as a Buddhist nation, we believe in impermanence and equality for all human beings. So where does the permanence on culture come from. Culture must evolve with time and passage and  society must accept the change in culture. Our parents and our elders have graciously accepted the change over time in all aspects and that is why, Bhutan is one of the most liberal nations. With democracy, we should be progressing not regressing.