Dawa: The Story of a Stray Dog in Bhutan

by Kunzang Choden

Dawa looks like just another scruffy Thimphu street dog, but don't be fooled: he understand Dzongkaha, he has an urge to see the world and his bigger-than-normal brain is matched only by his compassionate heart. His is an extraordinary life; follow it from its tragic beginnings, to his ascension as the legendary Leader of Howling in Thimphu, to the miracle that saves him. Dawa's story will appeal to all who have experienced life's rigors - but have never given up hope on the possibilities. (from back cover)

Genres: The World, Asia, Animals, Fiction

129 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Kunzang Choden was born in 1952, in the year of the dragon, in Bumthang, Central Bhutan. She spent her early childhood in Bhutan but went to India (Darjeeling) for her primary and secondary education. She has a BA Honours in Psychology from Indraprastha College in Delhi and a BA in Sociology from the University of Nebraska, USA.

She has worked as a teacher and later for the UNDP in Bhutan. From 1990 onwards, Kunzang has been writing on Bhutanese oral traditions, folklore and women. She lives in Thimphu Bhutan with her husband and continues to research and document Bhutan's oral traditions.

Reviews

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,74 ⭐

Dawa se va de viaje

Comencé esta novela, esperando conocer un poco sobre la vida de las personas en Bután, a través de la historia de un perro de la calle, como parte de mi deseo de comprender un poquito más de la humanidad, en sus aspectos comunes y en su diversidad.

No parece haber sido el libro más apropiado para ello; la historia se centra principalmente en las correrías de este perro callejero con talentos especiales, y recurriendo al recurso de atribuirle ( y sus congéneres) algunos atributos humanos, un estilo que no muy caro a mis gustos. Tal vez la única manera de leerlo es como literatura infantil, algo que leería a mis nietos (hasta tiene fotos y dibujos).

Dawa, tal vez la reencarnación de un traductor políglota que siempre soñó con viajar, comienza viajando de Paro a la gran ciudad de Timpu, capital de Bután, y posteriormente se dirige hacia el oriente buscando la sanación, cruzando las quebradas de Dochula, Pelela, Yotongla y Thrumshingla, y volviendo sobre sus pasos, el de Kikila en Bumthang, para llegar finalmente a la cueva sagrada del Valle de Tang, cruzándose con incontables templos, monjes y peregrinos (además de turistas).

Un libro muy bien escrito, más allá de las limitaciones que encontré en la historia; tal vez sea más del gusto de quienes son aficionados a los animales humanizados, así como quien quisiera conocer un poco más la geografía de Bután (sus recorridos se pueden seguir bien en Google Maps). Y en su favor, puedo decir que logra transmitir una gran serenidad, valoración de la vida, llevando por momentos a un estado de beatitud. Ohmmm. 🙏🏻

Kunzang Choden (1952) es la escritora más relevante de Bután (¿Se dirá butanesa?), y la única que se ha publicado en occidente. Pero tal vez hubiera sido mejor elegir otra de sus obras, como The Circle of Karma.

[Terri Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! I have spent quite a bit of time living in Bhutan and this book so captured the people and dogs cohabitating as well as the deep essence of the country. Thank you Kunzang for a lovely story. Keep writing!

[Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book about the life of a stray dog in Bhutan. When one has traveled through Bhutan one can appreciate the meaning in this book and the culture of Bhutan as portrayed in this book.

[Stephanie Guyer-Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best dog book I've read since The Art of Racing in the Rain.

[Dechen Choden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawa thinks better than humans, in fact he is way more caring, smart and thoughtful compared to humans. The found the story a bit sad in the beginning but it was fun.

[Tashi wangmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it four years back during our junior year in high school. I had a great time reading it. And one line particularly stuck me. I can't quote it but it was something like how could people abuse stray disease carrying dogs. they didn't chose to have that disease.

I am an animal lover. I read it somewhere that animal are like children. they don't know how to talk and they need care.

I recalled the ine from the story I mentioned when in my senior years I saw a stray dog being hit by a vehicle right before my eyes. I was disturbed the whole week or so. I saw the same thing happen again when I was studying outside in the lawn beside our classroom block. The son of one of the school faculty drove through the dog, unintionally ofcourse but he left it there intionally afterward. I think the dog suffered internal bleeding becasue it looked okay but had lost its balance and sight. soon it's breath stopped altogether and it was gone.

it was really depressing to see the absence of the dog the next day in the assembly ground. he was always taking nap near by me in the front. And I would always watch it when I bored by the speeches that were delivered.

I should not have done this review becasue it brings back bitter memories all concluding that human beings are selfish mortals who thinks that animal lives are insignificant.

[Вікторія Слінявчук · Rating 4 out of 5]

История бродячего пса по имени Дава. "Дава" означает "Луна".
Бутанцы верят, что из всех животных именно собаки ближе всего к реинкарнации к человеческом облике, и собака после смерти, скорее всего, переродится человеком. Однако, с Давой вышло наоборот - в прошлом воплощении он был человеком, а потом родился собакой. Так как в прошлой жизни Дава был переводчиком-полиглотом, то и в собачьем облике он понимает человеческие языки, а также в нем осталась страсть к путешествиям, которую он так и не смог реализовать в прошлой жизни.
Мелкий, слабый и некрасивый Дава сперва занимает позицию вожака в собачьей общине Тхимпху, столицы Бутана, благодаря (не шучу) художественному вою :) Однако, вскоре он заболевает чесоткой, и в поисках исцеления отправляется искать святое место - пещеру, куда давным-давно удалилась больная проказой принцесса Гелонгма Палмо. Там она обрела исцеление (и просветление), и Дава надеется, что и ему удастся вылечиться, если он найдет эту пещеру.
История милая, только жалко песика, его так часто лупят, даже буддийские монахи, хотя им, вроде бы, и полагается сочувствовать всему живому.

[Junhao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and enjoyable read, the story of Dawa's life contains meaningful lessons for all of us, about what is important in both life and work. I saw numerous dogs during my trip in Bhutan and it's interesting to see life and Bhutan from a dog's perspective!

[Tommi Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always relunctant to read a dog book because of the fear the dog will not live, but this little book about a perfectly imperfect stray is all heart.

It was perfect for my Read the World challenge.

[Bob Balm]

having just visited Bhutan, I bought this at the airport and immediately finished it on the outgoing flight. A quaint and wholesome story that's especially fun to read if you've just visited the places that Dawa frequents.

[Tshering Demam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed very well

[Thinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its pretty good n I like his compassionate 🎈❤️

[Appi Pema]

...

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story and while reading it, you can learn a lot about Buthan.

[Anit Koirala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful read! It teaches you so much about life, friendship and adventure from the perspective of a stray dog.

[Dolf van der Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

#87: Bhutan 🇧🇹
A nice, simple fable about a stray dog in Bhutan. As a fable, it is quite moralistic, but you also learn a lot about Butan, its culture, language, religion and geography.

[Emmanuel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Superb

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story of perseverance and hope

[Brittany]

This illustrated the political and social climate of Bhutan, but through the lens of a stray dog. It was a quick read, but still impactful and tender/bittersweet 3

[Annamari Laaksonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawa: the story of a stray dog in Bhutan is a light hearted book about a stray dog Dawa who is the reincarnation of a multilingual translator, and therefore can understand many human languages. Dawa is an orphan dog who lives in the streets of Paro, but he dreams big and goes on to find a new life in Thimphu. It is a clever and enjoyable book with many parallels to human life, and at the same time it satirises human behaviour. Dawa goes through many hardships from leadership position pressures to getting an infectious skin disease from a fluffy female dog. Even if he learns to speak perfect Dzongkha, he will still not be enough and always considered just a street dog. He is smart, strategic, has great instincts and survival skills, speaks many languages, acquires education and knowledge, yet still he cannot escape his condition of not being born with privilege. His condition and the precarious role of leading the nightly howlings lead him to take a pilgrimage close to a monastery in the mountains. It is a remarkable little book and I truly enjoyed it, its wit and cleverness, subtle satire and description of village life in Bhutan. I am not surprised at all that the book forms part of the school curriculum in Bhutan. 

I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com

[Ceels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book and a great insight into political systems and leadership at the time it was written.

[Namgay]

i want to read this book