By: Bhuwan Pyakurel, City Councilman, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I often remember the day where my class teacher wrote 08/08/88 on the black board’s right-hand corner. I was a third grader in my elementary school in Bhutan. This was my last day at school in Bhutan. Within months, we were told that schools were closed, and that we were to stay home. Although I was not sure why the schools were closed, I was happy that I didn’t have to go to school.
In an early June morning the next year, my three siblings and I were to leave our home for an unknown destination. Our parents had left home a few weeks before, under the pretense of going to the Sunday market. It was clear to us later that they had actually escaped from being persecuted by the Royal Bhutan army. As our parents did not return, my siblings and I were forced to leave too. Four of us left our home. The destination was unknown, and so was the route we would need to take. We boarded a bus with the hope of meeting our parents very soon. Fortunately, we were able to meet with them in India after several days of efforts put in by unknown well-wishers on the Indian side of the border.
This story is common to thousands of other Bhutanese and other New Americans who have arrived in this country after fleeing from persecution. I get reminded of this experience when I think of voting and the right to vote. After being evicted from Bhutan the question “why me?” kept troubling me. As a child, I had heard stories of the Royal Bhutan Army burning houses, confiscating property, arresting people for no reason or even killing them while in custody. With these questions unanswered, we survived a humiliating life in India for weeks when finally, the Indian police bundled us up in trucks and dumped us in the border of Nepal.
This was how thousands of Bhutanese people arrived in Nepal where we lived as refugees in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-administered camps. An estimated one-sixth of Bhutan’s population was forced to become refugees. It took me years to understand that Bhutan had evicted the Nepali- speaking Southern Bhutanese citizens because they belonged to a different identity group than what the king and the ruling elites belonged to. The rulers thought that the Nepali speaking southern Bhutanese, who are -mostly Hindus, would not be a best fit in its “one nation, one people” assimilationist royal policy.
The Bhutanese refugees tried for a dignified repatriation to their country of citizenship. Bhutan was successful to prevent our return. It had encouraged its citizens not to accept us. The refugees, tired of humiliation in the refugee camps, were looking for other durable solutions when the offer of resettlement in selected western countries, including the United States, came.
I was thrilled when I heard about the news of resettlement! Thanks to the people and the government of the United States of America! This country not only gave us a place to live but also a great opportunity to thrive and realize the American dream, which millions around the world hope for.
I grabbed the opportunity to opt for resettlement in the US. After a thorough vetting procedure, I arrived on June of 2009. The moment I entered the US, I became a former refugee. That is one of the best changes of my life. The unwanted title which de-humanized me for more than 18 years, was no longer a part of my identity. Being naturalized and becoming a US citizen in 2015 was the best moment for me.
During the entire process, I was filled with emotion and cried a lot! Every time I remember the day, I have nothing but thankfulness to this nation for giving me and thousands like myself in distress, a second chance!
During the naturalization ceremony, a federal judge, who administered us the Oath, stated something that changed my life, a lot. She said that as newest citizens of this great nation we now had two very important responsibilities: One was to vote and the other was to run for public office! Ever since I heard about these two responsibilities, I feel that I have very important duty towards this nation! Thereafter, I have always ensured that I vote in all elections and in 2019 I ran for public office. It is the greatness of the American people that got me elected to the Reynoldsburg City Council, making me the first Bhutanese American to be elected in any public office in the United States of America.
To me, voting means freedom! In the US, a citizen has the ability and freedom to choose a person of their choice to govern the country. Although it may sound natural and simple to many, it must be realized that not all people around the world have that right. This is a country where a former refugee can become an elected official and serve the nation. This is a very rare distinction, characteristic to the United States of America.
This November, or even earlier, I encourage everyone to vote to exercise their freedom and support democracy.