Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI)
Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI)
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  • Home
    • Bhutanese Refugees
  • About Us
  • Faith- Groups
    • APBHI
    • KSI
    • BABSI
    • Ray of Hope Inc.
  • Programs
    • Projects >
      • BLCEP
      • Adult ESL
      • Citizenship Classes
    • Services >
      • Green Card Filing
      • Income Tax Preparation
      • Citizenship Applications (N-400)
      • Job Applications & Resume Writing
      • Translation & Interpretations
      • Benefit Applications
  • Publications
    • The BCI Update >
      • BCI Update Special Edition
      • Vol 11, August 2018
      • Vol 10, July 2018
      • Vol 9, June 2018
      • Vol 8, May 2018
      • Vol 7, April 2018
      • Vol 6, October 2017
      • Vol 5, August 2017
      • Vol 4, July 2017
      • Vol 3, June 2017
      • Vol 2, April 2017
      • Vol 1, March 2017
    • The Bhutan Observer >
      • TBO Blog
      • December 2018
      • November 2018
      • October 2018
      • September 2018
      • August 2018
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
      • November 2017
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The BCI Update
​Dedicated to the Bhutanese in Iowa​
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Vol. 7, April 2018

FROM THE BCI OFFICE DESK....... ​

The year 2017 swiftly passed by leaving more challenges for the future. While every experience is an asset for meeting what lies ahead, the new year was a time to work with renewed vigor and vision. The BCI tightened its belts to serve the community even better than before. The Board and the Executive delivered on the new strategy to enhance the dispensation of projects and services which is the heart of the BCI.  From simple support of benefit applications, our volunteers who are mostly the members of the board and executive continue to impart major classes of ESL and Citizenship. However, the new comer, Karate classes taught through Druk American Shito-ryu Karate Do, has taken the lime light as significant numbers of youth and elders alike are attracted to the program.
But that is one aspect of what the BCI hopes to achieve. Another major goal of the BCI is the protection, promotion and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in Iowa. We are very concerned of the fact that our identity lies in the culture we carry. Hence we leave no stones unturned in promoting our culture. On a long-term basis, the BCI is already working towards our goal which will keep our community intact. This would require time, commitment and investment by the members of the community which would eventually lead to the materialization of a Nepali Bhutanese dream here in Iowa.   

Faith Groups- Cream of the BCI

​The faith groups that compose the main structure of the BCI truly gives the organization a secular outlook. The BCI respects the religious and spiritual aspirations and practice of all human kind irrespective of caste, creed, color, sex, origin, religion or any conscientiously held beliefs. The heartbeat of the BCI are these faith groups namely Bhutanese Hindu in Iowa [BHI], Kirat Society of Iowa [KSI], Bhutanese American Buddhist Society of Iowa [BABSI], Ray of Hope International, Inc. and the Heavenly Path. These groups besides serving in their own capacity, constantly ring an alarm in the BCI that humanity comes before anything that you are. With this spirit, this organization has been moving forward to achieve what it has stated in its mission statement. 
 


upcoming events...


Buddha Jayanti to be held on April 28
​Yet another reminder of Lord Buddha’s teachings of love and compassion is here for us to remember. The 2062ndbirth anniversary of the Buddha is round the corner. It is expected that hundreds of the devotees of Lord Buddha will be flocking into the office hall of the BCI to receive blessings from the holy monks besides listening to their discourses and the Buddhist chants. It does make our hearts very light and subtle to be a part of this purifying event. Buddha was born on a full moon night, was enlightened on a full moon night and left this body on a full moon night too. That’s why it is referred as Buddha Purnima. The Bhutanese American Buddhist Society of Iowa [BABSI] is organizing this event on April 28th2018.  

Karate Grading in June 9, 2018
​The Karate classes, has truly been a pet of the BCI. With so much of young souls making fun and frolic in the BCI hall besides learning the Karate do, of the Olympic base, anyone would find it amusing. Our greatest asset is the instructor Mr.Tilak B. Gurung who is a Black Belt 2nd Dan.  As a member of the BCI board, he has been instrumental in organizing many of our social activities and he is doing the Karate job fabulously.  The grading for the first batch will be held on June 9, 2018 at 111 E Army Post Road, Des Moines Iowa 50315 [The Ridge Sports Academy]
This program is run by the Bhutanese Community in Iowa  with technical support from Druk American Shito-Ryu Karate do [DASK]. Children above 5 years of age are registered in the program which is intended to teach discipline, development and dynamism and help attain physical fitness. Presently, new participants are recruited and demonstrations are being given to the guardians so as to select their children for the grading slated to take place on June 1, 2018.

BHI Celebrates Ram Nawami

The Bhutanese Hindus in Iowa (BHI), the sister organization of the BCI, celebrated the auspicious birth anniversary of Lord Ram in the office complex here on March 25, 2018. Hindus regard Lord Rama as a symbol of the victory of good over evil. While Rama’s life itself had not been less difficult than others yet he never lost his balance and was equipoised in all kinds of situation. This could be his central message to the mankind. A devotee found highest regard from Rama without any discrimination as can be seen in how he ate the fruit first tasted by Saberee who wanted to make sure the lord got the sweeter fruit.


​VOICES OF VICTIMS: A SPECIMEN OF RACIST REPRESSION IN BHUTAN
​

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I am Ashraj Rai, originally from the Dumtey village of Dorokha Sub Division in Samchi district in south Bhutan.  I am 70 years old living with my 5-member family in Des Moines, Iowa in the United States.  I and my parents were all born in Bhutan. Prior to coming here, I lived with my family in Sanischare Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal until September 1, 2013. We landed in the US on September 16, 2013.
I used to be a Karbari meaning an assistant village headman, in my village in Bhutan. I served between 1977 - 1979. Until 1977, things w ere good for all in Bhutan. However, gradually the germs of discrimination entered into the minds of the rulers in Bhutan. In early 1980, southerners were allowed to wear their cultural dress to go to government offices. This freedom was turned upside down when in 1986, the government banned the Dhaka topi and daura surwal [Traditional southern Bhutanese dress] altogether. The south Bhutanese officers in high government offices were hand in gloves with the northerners. 
The immediate cause of racism was the implementation of the census policy in 1988. By this the Nepali speaking Bhutanese were categorized into 7 different groups and asked to produce the land tax receipt of the year 1958 as a proof of Bhutanese citizenship.  They also put a condition that you must speak the north Bhutanese language to be eligible for citizenship.  In such a situation, one can imagine how terrorized the citizens were for being turned into illegal immigrants overnight.
I was asked to produce the land tax receipt of 1958 which I could not. We were told to leave the country immediately.  The chief district officer warned that if we did not obey the government order, we will be imprisoned for life.  Fearing this, I and other village folks from the adjoining villages left Bhutan to take refuge in Nepal. 

invitation to those in need

The BCI extends hearty invitation to all the members of our community to take the free benefit of the projects and services being offered here upon appointment.  Some of them include ESL and Citizenship class, Karate classes, Computer Literacy Program, Elderly Program and benefit applications, application for citizenship, green card, translation and interpretation services.
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The BCI update 

Published by: The Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI) | 4121 SE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320 | bci@bhutaniowa.org
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PO Box 36381 | 4121 SE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320
Email: bci@bhutaniowa.org