𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞, 𝐎𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡’𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

Om Prakash, originally from Tsirang, first started drinking alcohol in 2004 during his school years, initially finding it enjoyable. He would hang out with his friends on weekends and drink. Over time, his consumption steadily increased. They would even wait for the breaks between classes to sneak out and drink at a bar above their school. They paid in cash when they had money and on credit when they didn’t, sometimes even depositing in advance when funds were available, eventually leading to regular drinking.

Even in classes, when teachers assigned homework, he would leave all his book pages empty. He never concentrated in class and showed no interest in learning during his school days due to his drinking habit. He bunked most classes and attended only about two to three days of school each week, resulting in several warnings and punishments. This habit led to his suspension from school in 2006, but he found it difficult to break away.

Choosing to leave school, he returned to his village for a year. In 2009, he relocated to Gelephu in Sarpang Dzongkhag, where he secured a job as a temporary laborer. Despite facing challenges due to his condition, Om Prakash excelled in his work and was recognized for his dedication, earning him an opportunity for training in Thailand. Unfortunately, due to his condition, he was unable to take up this promising opportunity.

During his drinking days, Om Prakash experienced the lowest point of his life. His daughter had not even seen him properly, as he left them when she was just 28 days old. Despite having parents and family who could have cared for him, they all rejected him because of his habit. This led him to endure nights alone on the streets, with no shelter or place to call home. His struggle to maintain steady employment worsened; although he found work at construction sites, his drinking problem repeatedly cost him his jobs, forcing him back to the streets time and again.

Om lamented, “My family suffered deeply because of my addiction. My wife, a housewife, had to care for our young child alone. I was unable to assist my parents with their daily tasks, either physically or financially. My siblings had distanced themselves from me. I lost everything I had because of my disorder. All I could think about was alcohol; it consumed me entirely, leaving me empty.”

“One fortunate day, my cousin sister Junu Chhetri introduced me to Lama Zhenphen, who helped me begin my treatment in 2015. However, I relapsed after two years of my recovery journey,” he stated. After relapsing, he was back on the streets.

He said he still remembers Lama Zhenphen telling him, “One day you will suffer, and I will help you.” When the lama saw him on the streets of Thimphu, he helped him with some necessities and directed him to visit the Happiness Center in Phuentsholing. Om Prakash decided to go and arrived there on September 1, 2022. He stayed at the center for nearly six months. During his stay, he followed the schedule, meditated regularly, and attended input classes that focused on experiences and sharing.

“I learnt the meaning of this very human life, the meaning of living with family, and I really wanted to live with my family and give my love and care to my daughter, whom she deserves. I learned that the reason for all my sorrows and my family’s suffering was alcohol, so I became stronger,” he shared.

During this short stint, he managed to regain the trust of his wife and child. In February 2023, he returned to Gelephu and started a small shop in the town. There, he worked tirelessly, waking up early in the morning to prepare his products and working late into the night. “It was a small restaurant where I even made Juma, a local vegetable delicacy, for wholesale and supplied it to other shops. I operated that shop for around 10 months and then started a canteen in Bhur village, Gelephu,” he recalled.

“Today, I have the trust of my family. I have proven that I can now live without alcohol, look others in the eye, and do anything without fear. My daughter is happy to have both parents together because when I was drinking, I wasn’t close to her,” he reflected. “These days, she doesn’t want to be apart from me, and the happiness I see in her is what keeps me committed to staying clean for the rest of my life,” he added.

The worst thing that happened in his life while using alcohol was that his daughter could not recognize him, and she often asked about her father’s whereabouts, he said. Secondly, he regrets spending and wasting around seven years of his valuable life behind bars due to his habit and actions.

“When I was at the Happiness Center, I stayed there as a client for the first month, and after that, I started working at the Happiness Cafe. During my recovery, I operated the canteen for about six months. There, I learned how to deal with customers, how to attract them, and I acquired cooking and many other skills,” Om added further.

He expressed gratitude for receiving a second, more beautiful and meaningful life, thanks to individuals whom he wishes to thank immensely. “I am deeply grateful and honored to Lama Zhenphen, my cousin sister Junu Chhetri of Ambient Café in Thimphu, Bhup Dhoj Ghalley, Project Director of the Happiness Center in Phuentsholing, and Ugyen Dorji, Co-founder and Old Age Coordinator of the Happiness Center in Phuentsholing, for their unwavering support and for making my transformation possible,” Om said. It has been nearly two years since he started his recovery journey, and he no longer feels the urges he once did. Now, he works tirelessly day and night to pursue his dreams, earning the trust and confidence of everyone around him.

Through his personal experiences, he says, “We have to quit through self-will and persevere with determination. Everything is possible! We can regain trust once we are clean and stop using. Family and friends will have confidence in us and believe in us only if we prove ourselves after quitting. That’s how we can achieve our dreams,” he added.

Reach out to Happiness center, Phuentsholing at 0097517772396, Bhup Dhoj Ghaley, Project Director and 00975 77730070, Ugyen Dorji, Co-founder.