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| Brandon Jackson, honoured for his feat. |
Amidst the swirling mist and the vibrant colours of
Bhutanese tradition, an American student named Brendon Jackson, studying
physical science at Sherubtse College at Kanglung in Trashigang, decided to
test his mettle in one of the kingdom’s nation-wide annual physical contests:
the Druk Gi Nyagoe Droendur, the Strong Man of Bhutan
competition. Brendon, hailing from the United States, arrived in Bhutan as part
of an international study program, drawn by the nation’s enigmatic philosophy
of Gross National Happiness and its pristine, untouched landscapes. It was
during his time there that he learned of the Druk Gi Nyagoe, a
competition deeply embedded in the fabric of Bhutanese culture, designed to
celebrate the raw, agrarian strength that has historically sustained
communities in these rugged mountains.
The
decision to participate was not made lightly. The events of the Druk Gi
Nyagoe Droendur are not the standardised lifts of a modern gymnasium; they
are a direct reflection of rural Bhutanese life. They require a unique blend of
strength, endurance, and technique that Brendon, despite his fitness, had never
encountered. The challenges included a race carrying a heavy sack filled
with sand weighing 105 Kgs, a huge log weighing 115 kgs and a pair
of vehicle tyres weighing 120 kgs, testing the pure power of the competitors.
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| Brandon carrying 105 kg sack. |
Jackson
claims that ever since he arrived in the country a year ago, it has been his
sought-after program, which is telecast on the country’s only television
channel, Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS). He proudly added that he had a wish
to participate once in the competition. Although the entry into the event is for
the Bhutanese people, the event coordinator, Mr Pema Tshering, fulfilled his
wish as a guest participant during the selection round in Trashigang Dzongkhag.
He had been practising for months before the entertaining feat.
The day of the competition dawned with an electric atmosphere. The Trashigang MSS school ground was filled with the vibrant sights and sounds of local spectators—cheering for the participants and echoing the emcee: Druk Gi………Nyagoe! Druk Gi………Nyagoe! Druk Gi………Nyagoe! When Brendon’s turn came, the cheering noise increased, seeing the foreigner joining the locals in the competition. Before the whistle went off, when asked about his feelings, Brendon said (in scanty Dzongkha words) that he would give his best in the challenge with a smile.
The first challenge of the event was completed easily, where he was tasked to drag a huge wooden log at a distance of about a soccer field and carry it back again to the starting point. While in the second part of the challenge, Jackson hurdled twice to lift a sack filled with sand weighing 105 kgs, and on his third attempt, he could ferry across to the other end of the field. The final challenge of carrying a pair of tyres (weighing 125 kgs) was done as the crowd lauded him with cheers of congratulations. He completed the challenge within 10 minutes. He came third in the competition.
The day of the competition dawned with an electric atmosphere. The Trashigang MSS school ground was filled with the vibrant sights and sounds of local spectators—cheering for the participants and echoing the emcee: Druk Gi………Nyagoe! Druk Gi………Nyagoe! Druk Gi………Nyagoe! When Brendon’s turn came, the cheering noise increased, seeing the foreigner joining the locals in the competition. Before the whistle went off, when asked about his feelings, Brendon said (in scanty Dzongkha words) that he would give his best in the challenge with a smile.
The first challenge of the event was completed easily, where he was tasked to drag a huge wooden log at a distance of about a soccer field and carry it back again to the starting point. While in the second part of the challenge, Jackson hurdled twice to lift a sack filled with sand weighing 105 kgs, and on his third attempt, he could ferry across to the other end of the field. The final challenge of carrying a pair of tyres (weighing 125 kgs) was done as the crowd lauded him with cheers of congratulations. He completed the challenge within 10 minutes. He came third in the competition.
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| Brandon's Final feat! Tyres weighing 120 kgs |
While
he may not have clinched the title of Druk Gi Nyagoe, Brendon Jackson
achieved something far more significant. His participation was a testament to
the power of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing a culture with
open arms and a willing spirit. He did not simply observe Bhutanese tradition;
he lived it, sweated for it, and strained for it. In doing so, he not only
brought more entertainment to the local spectators but he also earned the deep
respect of the Bhutanese who witnessed the event on television across the
country.
Brendon’s story is a powerful reminder that the strongest bridges between cultures are not built through policy or tourism alone, but through shared human experience. His journey to the Druk Gi Nyagoe Droendur, although a brief event, but a profound one in spirit, leaving an indelible mark on his life and on the community that so warmly welcomed his heartfelt participation in the event.
Brendon’s story is a powerful reminder that the strongest bridges between cultures are not built through policy or tourism alone, but through shared human experience. His journey to the Druk Gi Nyagoe Droendur, although a brief event, but a profound one in spirit, leaving an indelible mark on his life and on the community that so warmly welcomed his heartfelt participation in the event.
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