As per Gen Nyetsang La’s recommendation I test his presented imported leather shoes (waterproof as the piece of leather label bears the same impression on it), which he hasn’t used for years after presented to him by a close one, this evening with Phuntsok. Taking a round around the part of the monastic community, we happen to enter Loseling Library’s roadside public service property, where it serves the mass monks with screening arduously recorded weekly VoA(Tibetan) world news, Kunleng (a forum) and Cyber Tibet on every Monday from 8:00pm onward. The book store of Tibetan Buddhist classics, the cafeteria, those benches set around the veranda against the iron railings of the single storey building, concrete benches around the spacious lawn, the stationary concrete crescent seats around the round table and the rest are for social welfare so far. After buying a half litre bottle of beverage drink 7 Up and a packet of Lays from the canteen, we step on to the spectator-ground now with sprouted short turf fed by the recent falls. It’s soft and the lawn is dimly lit by those a few solar lamps on posts around and two or three on short vertical shafts put on the side parts of the building top. Finding a place among those in twos and threes lounging and chatting, we begin to feel cool and refreshing here after warming up stroll, especially for me with the heavy shoes on. May be as of the spaciousness of the lawn and the refreshing green patch at one side with coco trees, large leaves bearing trees and saplings I find here more at rest than the well maintained garden in front of the grand temple edifice, where, too, many go for lounging besides doing some circumambulations. As I look around I find most of the loungers are in twos and threes, their Tongag (upper wear) taken off and in yellow or red singlet. There are those lying down and chatting. Those who toy with their cell phones can be seen their faces lit up by screen light. The two beside me are lying down with the two slim plastic bottles of peach juice placed next to their heads. My casts encounter with those holding a bottle up against their mouths. Now and again I hear the low flow of conversations going on all around punctuated by a shrill abrupt laughter. And burping is constant as forced by beverage gas input like Phuntsok’s munching crunchy potato chips with the sort of addicted haste.
At the far side the whitewashed concrete screen (almost 10 by 10 feet), which replaced the former cloth one years ago, rests vacantly on the three concrete feet. For informing the mass monks with World and Tibet related news in Tibetan and laying all these facilities at their disposals I have a feeling of appreciation for such sense of community welfare shared and enjoyed by the thousands of monk-students of the two monastic universities.
The sky is speckles with diffused galaxies but there isn't a sign of the moon in any shapes. The breezes are cooling and more refreshing than the taken ones.
On Monday, when the show is going on, one can find there are those standing against the neck-high wall from outside and viewing the huge screen. They are casual viewers, may be having no serious minds like the large packed ones within the compound. It’s how Norbu Samphel, the top one in VoA with his rich thick voice plus coherent skill in hosting world news, has found such a huge group of fans here. Viewing recorded VoA Tibetan service thus for years now under the aegis of Loseling Library's Society's contribution, it is also like to have found one's own most interested news or other programs anchor or anchors, one could be found making fuss over delay in appearing one's interested anchor or achors. A young monk in his early twenties nicknamed Akutonpa can be said as the best mimicker of Norbu Samphel. His role is to entertain a certain number of listeners back at the monastic Roof Top canteen right after the show. For him it is serious like debriefing after a certain mission. The assiduousness and seriousness in his almost similar tone make it funny and entertaining. But Akutonpa never falters. He can keep on speaking with a stern expression. An elder one passing by would chuckle when seeing him doing so. And so it is also like the concluding act of the weekly holiday for some.
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