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In the depths of the Himalayas, at a remote hot spring known as Tsachu (which simply means “hot spring” in the local language), a child would appear daily. This child wasn’t a resident; rather, like a stray cat, he would emerge from somewhere, receive food, and then vanish. He never smiled, never spoke, and his eyes held a deep-seated anger. His mouth remained tightly shut, and after eating, he would disappear without a trace. This routine continued for 19 days.

Genla and his group had planned a two-day stay at Tsachu, located approximately 45 minutes from the Bhutanese border, beyond Tawang, an area renowned for its monasteries. However, an unexpected heavy snowfall trapped them there. The military initiated a rescue operation, but it took 21 days for a truck, equipped with chained wheels, to reach them through the snow.

During this time, Genla grew increasingly concerned about the silent child. Upon inquiring with the village elder, he learned that the child’s parents were alcoholics who had abandoned him. Genla expressed his desire to take in the child and any other children in need, offering them education and a nurturing environment. The elder was initially hesitant, questioning the necessity of education when the children were surviving as they were. Genla argued that mere survival wasn’t enough. With ample time due to the snowbound situation, they engaged in extensive discussions about the importance of education. Eventually, the elder agreed and visited Jhamtse Gatsal to see the community firsthand.

As a result, the boy from the hot spring, along with two orphaned girls from the area, were welcomed into Jhamtse Gatsal?the first children from that region to join the community. However, integrating the boy proved challenging. He remained expressionless, never smiled, and kept his mouth firmly closed, his eyes reflecting a persistent hardness.

Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community