So I needed a few used patangs – ceremonial swords worn by decorated officials. I needed for my next project – another religious construction. After a few direct enquiries with people I knew, which bore no results, I posted my request on Facebook.

And to my surprise, a kind lady, who doesn’t want to be named, responded. Let’s call her Golden Heart. Golden Heart mentioned that she had in fact three patangs and a few karbas (Sharchop word for ladle). She said if they were fine for my project, I could have them. She called me immediately to get my home address.

“Do you want to know how I got those patangs?” she asked.

“I was walking along Thimphu street and I found an old woman in a scorching Sun selling them on the sidewalk,” she said. She decided then and there to buy all the goods although she had absolutely no use of them. She felt sorry that someone that old had to sit under the burning Sun to make ends meet.

“I felt so pity for her,” she added. “The old lady told me that her husband finds old patangs and restores them and sells them. And with the money they earn they survive.”

The karbas came from other rural salesman and were also bought out of sympathy.

What also struck me about Golden Heart is that she comes from the Lhotsham community, who are predominantly Hindu. Who would have thought? And how inspiring is it for me that my works get resonated beyond my own religious fraternity.

More than her religious faith, however, I learnt through our call that Golden Heart is driven by kindness and simplicity. Although she lives on a small pension and is currently broke, while undergoing a long medical treatment she refused any money from me.

To be honest, I am often discouraged by the bureaucratic roadblocks I have to encounter even when I am doing something good for some distant community, or for the nation. However, it is ordinary people like our Golden Heart, their support and simplicity and their words of encouragement that keep me going.

Thank you, Golden Heart. May you be blessed with speedy recovery and a long life. The world needs more of you.