It rained heavily on the morning of 13th of April – the second day of the Sixth Volunteers Program organised by the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project. However, from the window of my room, I could see volunteers walking in the rain, and laughing and cracking jokes. It was a sight to cherish – so much solidarity – so much pride.

That night the laughter and some music filled the air, as members of the Bhutanese Sandalwood entertained the crowd with songs, dances and jokes.

Two days later, with the program having ended and the participants making their way back to their homes in other parts of Bhutan, Gelephu felt bit empty. But not as empty as it was during Covid.

In fact, one can notice the city rise slowly like a giant having been asleep for long. Business is picking up, cyclists and joggers – even chhilips cycling and jogging, are a common sight, and hotels are doing brisk business as the spiritual projects organise long prayer ceremonies and blessings and volunteering works.

Much of the levelling works of the new international airport looks done. The location of each of the 108 chortens has been cleared. And GMC Building is for now the star attraction in the old town.

The Mindfulness City project is far from over, though. In fact it has just started. The journey will be hard and long but it is a journey worth embarking on, and a venture – if delayed by another 10-15 years, will miss its mark. For now, patience and belief will do us some good. What needs some improvement is communication and better public awareness. Confusions still.

GMC is our hope to take Bhutan to the next level. However, no hope can become a reality if there is no sense of ownership among the very people the project is supposed to benefit. The series of volunteers programs helps to adequately this vital goal – of bringing together a nation towards a common vision.

So, we keep moving, with patience and conviction.

A day after the volunteers have left the town, I was interviewed by a foreign journalist. He asked me to define GMC in one sound bite. I replied,

“Simply put, GMC is prosperity with purpose. That’s my definition. For far too long we have been sacrificing economic growth in favour environment. We need to find a better balance to address the dissatisfaction among our people, the youth especially. Covid exposed that imbalance.”

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(Disclaimer: views are my own. And not of any organization I represent or lead)