Whether or not peaceful-and-democratic movements would be launched in Bhutan someday in future, she has already started making cash deposit in her bank account to contribute for the cause. She has almost saved around one hundred thousand Kroner (equivalent to 15,918 US dollar) about which she has already informed the Norwegian authorities as well.
“I will contribute this amount for the democratic struggle in Bhutan but that should hit the success”, she says, followed by the recitation of a patriotic poem she had jotted after five months of her forcible eviction from her homeland.
Perhaps, her lips easily reflected the words of sentiments for that land where she born: against the Druk regime’s suppression on Nepali-ethnic Bhutanese, depiction of the fate of evictees and obviously a pro-democratic. Hardly had she stopped crying, once she started reciting her poem, quite for some time, clearly to mean she still posed a deep-rooted sense of respect, love and devotion towards her birthplace, Bhutan.
For Suk Maya Rai, 32, of Jhapa-based Beldangi-II camp under Sector I/3-22, her life after resettlement in Alta municipality in Norway, two hours by plane to reach the capital city, Oslo, has explored more possibilities of earning a dignified and better living. “Our life in Norway is perfect and cool”, says Suk Maya over a more-than-one-hour long telephonic conversation.
A long-posed hallucination of Suk Maya has come to reality; all of her five children are going to school and are succeeding in the field of studies. “I along with the eldest daughter, Sara, will be joining grade 11 once we finish the language classes”, says Suk Maya, “now I can well communicate with people in Norwegian language.”
The first-resettled family in this Northern European country in January 2008, Suk Maya, was frequently tortured by her spouse who had a second marriage. “I often shed tears from my eyes remembering my offended life inside refugee camp. Many neighbors used to dominate me for being a rape-victim family.”
The fresh memories of both physical and mental torture given by her spouse haven’t yet been erased from her mind. She makes an appeal to the UNHCR office in Nepal not to refer her spouse’s case for resettlement in Norway. “I have heard that he (her husband) is trying to rejoin with me here in Norway. I would be unsafe if he comes here and stays with me”, adds Suk Maya.
These days the Rai family receives 32, 000/- Kroner (around 5,000 US dollars) per month, increased by 12,000 Kroner to the amount she used to get some months back, for managing the basic expenses to earn her living. Suk Maya need not have to pay rental charges for a small-and-beautiful house, situated some 2,000 km away from the capital city, government pays for her.
The financial support provided by the government is sufficient for this small family. “My caseworker provide me even with some extra money upon my request, particularly during the time of festival”, adds Suk Maya, a devotee of Christianity.
It may, for many of us, be mind-boggling tip to hear at but Suk Maya says the Alta Kommune (Fliktning Kontur) has provided her with three house workers; they assist her to look after her children, clean and manage the house, among other domestic works. “They sometimes try to assist me even to take off my clothes and shoes when I back to home from my language classes but I have never given them this opportunity”, says Suk Maya, maintaining that she never has a sense of getting ‘arrogant at’ when she earns better and maintains standard living.
When asked about how she gets updated on news related to Bhutan and refugees, Suk Maya, flashing some signals of happiness says, “You know? I learnt about internet facilities. I often visit news sites; sometimes seek help of my children who are used to with it.” Lack of confidence in using the e-mail, however, yet continues as she says she would not create her own e-mail ID unless she is entirely used to with it.
Suk Maya’s immense attainment in being competent to learn about the internet facilities is a big testament to the fact that where there is will there is a way, also a ‘challenge’ to those who say uneducated people can’t do anything after resettlement in third countries.
For Suk Maya, acquiring formal education had been a mere dream almost before she boarded the plane (at the age of 31) from Nepal to Norway. Now the countdown has begun. She will join her grade 11, in her own words, once she completes her language classes, thanks to the UNHCR for its sincere effort to resettle this vulnerable family.
“Many people have discouraged me from getting resettled in third country. The reasons they used to cite was that women would be unsafe in western lands, however, now I can say it is not like that. I am safe; I have the privilege of spending a dignified and most respectable life here in Norway”, says Suk Maya, while during a recall of her past days inside UNHCR-managed camps in Nepal.
The resettlement of at least nine Bhutanese families, 49 individuals in Alta municipality, has added in her the degree of cheerfulness. All of them share the same room during the schooling days for their language classes. “I often visit my Bhutanese friend’s apartment. Whenever I wish to be there I make a call at the municipality and seek for the vehicle, they will then drop me there and help me get back to my house”, adds she.
“Earlier I didn’t finish reciting the whole content of my poem. Can I continue it now?” she questions. As she keeps reciting the poem, a buzzing sound was distinctly heard as if she was banging on chest with her hands, probably in an attempt to show her degree of devotion towards her long-awaited final destination, Bhutan.
“Jeg elsker Bhutan. Jeg liker å reise hjem en dag”, adds Suk Maya, which means ‘I love Bhutan’. ‘I like to return home one day.’
(This is the third part of the series ‘A mother’s long journey’. See Part-I and Part II.
I really enjoy the true story of Suk Maya,She deserve to be in third country and had happened to be there and strated her new life with new hopes and inspiration.
I really like the couragious effort taken by Madam Suk maya. I wish her children shall lernn lesson from her the only Mom.
Wish u very happy life in Nordic
Great and good news. when i heard the story of sukmaya, conciously or unconciously my eyes were wet. I feel it. Sukmaya, you’ve the bhutanese blood. I’ve one or two suggestions for suk maya if the news is fact.
First, don’t contribute your earned money for the political cause. people will misuse that money and make another women to suffer like you. instead form a trust in your own name and name that trust as SUKMAYA CHARITY (कोष). Use that money for the welfare of women, infant and children.you’ll get emotional satisfaction and this will be for the devine cause.
second, you should be the inspiration to all the bhutanese mass. Media friends, let’s campaign for awareness and declare this lady as GRREAT BHUTANESE LADY OF 2008. She can be an icon.
let god bless sukmaya and her entire family.
Kancha kaka, how are you? Your idea to declare Suk maya didi the GREAT BHUTANESE LADY OF 2008 sounds good. I back this idea. Kaka’s eyes were just wet only but you know as i am a soft hearted guy i cried for a while. Thanx to the writer of the story and APFA, BNS team for such a great story.
Actually, you guys are professionals now. I never happened to read such an interesting story. Now i am waiting for the next series. When will it get published ho? and BIG NAMASKAR AND GREAT WISHES TO DIDI SUK MAYA in NORWAY.
Interesting story.
i think it is not true story because try to know the real story la.i want to comment the editor that please try to know the fact situation and published in news paper hai.because i lived in norway before but now i am not there and know the situation of there.please editor know the fact and try to published it because do not give wrong information to the publce ok
hope you will edite it .
Suk maya’s story is very interesting one.i feel sympathy upon her n tears roll down when i go through it.
T.P,thank you very much for writing such good story.if you keep on writing like this type of story than you will become a great bhutanese journalist all over the world.
Chandra Giri,
Norway.
TP’s account of Suk MAya in Norway is a an eye opener to all courageous and self- esteemed females. It is the brightening side of Suk Maya’s life.Let all females of bhutanese origin get an inspiration and work ahead to empower themselves.
Thankyou TP for an exploratory story.
hai,when i read this article i fells that bhutaness refugee will not forget their life of refugees camp even,when they were twenent -four hours busy.Exile jornalist go on writing such interesting article and carate awearness to all resettled bhutanees people not to forget their country.Bhutan is our birth place ,so one day we wil back.
Hi,
I know u very well and i hope u too same.I am Arpan Dewan from California,USA.
i know very well about ur struggle and braveness towards ur family.Being a Single lady also u never loose ur confidence and power.U did a really hard job and Challenge to this whole world…….If sometime u have free time plz contact me
in this email id..(adraipal@gmail.com)…..
I will pray to god that ur Hope and dreams must fullfil soon and Say my Big Hi to ur Daughter…….
Lets god kiss ur and urs family every success..
Bye(Arpan Dewan(rai)Oaklnd,california)
Hello,
Im very much proud of getting chance to read Sukmaya’s journey third part. TP bhai, Thanx a lot, for creating such a factual, encouraging and patriotic story.I’ll salute both the writer and Sukmaya for giving such an inspiring article to the Bhutanese community. Suk maya didi im also on your path for the Democracy and press freedom in our country Bhutan. Didi best of luck for our common dream.
TP bhai, Once again thank you and hope you will continue with the same in the future too. Best of luck.
USA
The article published is worthwhile and laudable. It states coherently that Suk Maya is the true Bhutanese daughter filled in with native air and water that run through her veins. Had all the Bhutanese anywhere across the globe cultured the same aspirations as that of Suk Maya, it could be predictable that democracy and press freedom are not that far in Bhutan. I wish every Bhutanese would ascend the same escalator as Suk Maya and go ahead defeating the enigmatic abyss hooked in it to hit the bull’s eye.
Suk Maya can be right..but we have to face the concrete wall standing before us..if there is anything we can do..let us all know..
GOD BLESS THEM…ALL THE BEST FOR THIER BRIGHT FURTURE.
Congratulation! Suk Maya enjoy the pease Norway offers you. Wish you all the best.
A really sad story of Suk Maya Didi and the torture she faced in her life but everything is going to be alright now and didi be happy you are one of the lucky woman to be in a country like Norway. Your children will definitely feel your pain and work hard. Enjoy your new life.
This is what…god sees the truth but waits…best of luck for her…
Dear writer,
Thanks a lot for publishing such a touching story. I think this story is able to include the same torments of other people of who had and been facing the torture and being victimize. This story really gives some hope and determination to struggle for the rest of life to us, and I regard it as an example from where we have to learn some hidden tips to outcome the problems and to struggle for the rest part of life to make more convenience to live really successful life with pride, dignity. freedom and obviously peacefully. Go on…writing such stories.. Wish you all the best!!! Thanks to the Suk maya for her great thoughts ..for her patriotic feelings to our mother land…If we had l people like you in 1990s, of course we wouldn’t have to suffer great devastaion which made us Refugee, which itself sounds very sorrowfull life. May your dream to repatriat back to Bhutan comes as a true . Best of luck!!!!!!! but before to go back to Bhutan may your life in Norway be fruitfull and wonderfull.
Kind regard
Nabin
hi every body iam doughter of suk maya rai. first i wanna give you heart full thanks couse you all truelly think about me and my family and support to da something better.and i promised you all that i can do for me and my family i hope ur wish will reach in my mind. sarita rai …