16 May, 2010 – “If you succeed today, the box of coins and the five layers of textiles in front of you are yours,” His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928-1972) said to Bhutan’s three notable astrologers.

The occasion was an archery match in the garden palace in Thimphu on a fine day in 1971. “If our team wins, the jeep parked in front of you is also yours,” the chief astrologer, Geshey Doti, was assured. “If we lose, then the bucket of starch water in front of you will be poured on your heads without any hesitation.”

The build up to this historic match started from a conversation between a senior member of the king’s court, Dasho Tsang Tsang, who reportedly said to the late His Majesty, “Even the best archer can’t secure a single hit if his village astrologer Geshey Doti is used.”

But the King dismissed this, saying, “It’s the skill of the archer that determines the victory and not the astrologer.” Dasho Tsang Tsang refused to give in to the king’s argument and so the historic match came to be.

The king gave chief astrologer Geshey Doti, from Haa valley, the freedom to engage in all tricks of the trade without any fear. For example, the name and age of the best archers are buried under the soles of shoes to undermine confidence. Clay models of archers are pricked with bamboo arrows to cause twinges.

The chief astrologer had two deputies, the one from Paro was only known as the old man from Jakarthang village, and the other from Wangduephodrang was Tsing Tsing.

Tsing Tsing was so revered that rival archery teams were known to have accepted defeat even before the game. He lived in Gaylep and was exempted from tax.

For the historic archery match, the king captained a team of average shooters, comprising mainly district governors. The opponents were the royal bodyguards, all sharp shooters, captained by lieutenant Dorji, the only commissioned officer in the team.

According to Sha Dema, an opponent of the king’s team, they spent all the time playing the national game or making their own arrows and bows. “We were exempted from all the duties of a bodyguard,” said Sha Dema.

Drimpon Rinzi was the crack shot of his team. He used a short bamboo bow and his arrows were even shorter. “If you looked, you could see his arrow travel fast,” according to Dasho Tsheltrim.

The king’s team had played two practice matches with the bodyguard team. They lost both but managed in both games to score 10 and 11 points of the 15 needed to win.

On the eve of the game, the king slept with his team members in the living room. This allowed the astrologers to perform all rituals with convenience.

“We can’t win, because our opponents are sharp-shooters, but we must try and secure at least 10 points,” the King told his archers before the start of the match at 8:30 am.

A large crowd of people watched nervously. One of them was aum Dorji Yangki. She said that the king always invited the archer’s spouses. She remembers the colourful day. The archery ground was festooned with flags. “They were many dancers and I remember sitting in the tent and enjoying the day,” she said.

The crowd was sure that the king’s team would win, because they had the support of the astrologers. But the skilled bodyguard shooters were consistent and managed to score the 15 points in the first two rounds. In each round, all eleven archers get to shoot. Each hit fetches two points. Points are neutralised if an opponent strikes the target.

From the king’s team, only Dasho Dodo managed to hit one shot and secure two points. The king and his noblemen were no match and their astrologers were of no help.

Two people from Gangtey in the king’s court were chosen to pour the starch water on the astrologers. The starch water, drained while cooking rice, was taken especially from the monk’s kitchen. Bhutanese consider it unfit for human consumption and it’s fed to cattle. When starch water is poured over a person, it means the person is useless.

Since nobody had the courage to humiliate the astrologers, the guest master, Dronyer Agay Dorji, and a retainer Anday Kum, were engaged for the task. After the starch water was poured on their heads, the astrologers ran quickly to the riverbed near the archery ground and then ran home. His Majesty later sent for them and gave them the five textiles.

At the end of the game, His Majesty announced, “We just proved that the astrologers couldn’t help us. Henceforth, from this day onwards, we must stop relying on them.”

Much to their curiosity, a few months later, four of the sharpshooters of the king’s team suffered. Kabjip Sampa not only lost his speech but was also paralysed and, to this day, lives in his wheel chair. Seyphub Lengo lost control of his bicycle and fell from the Lungtenzampa bridge into the river. Shortly after, his teammate, Tongling Singye Dorji shot himself in the barracks. The third person, Tshewang Rabgay, died of illness.

Tshering Tashi
Co-author, Bold Bhutan Beckons

kuenselonline.com

Comments are closed