Gorkha Brigades in Delhi..

Exclusive Pictures of Gorkha Brigades in New Delhi. All Photos by Bishal Rai

Its difficult separating GJM from GNLF recently

Cartoons by Barun Roy

Eden Sanatorium Darjeeling

The first anniversary advertisement of the Darjeeling Eden Sanatorium. Perhaps also the only remaining photo of the original Eden Sanatorium still preserved today [1]”

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[1] Reproduced with permission from Fallen Cicada, the Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy

A Journey to the Darjeeling in 1911!

An reproduction from a brochure titled

‘The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

An illustrated guide to Railway and Darjeeling’

published by Hood and Company in England in 1911

The brochure offers interesting facts about the Journey to Darjeeling as besides Calcutta, Darjeeling was the most important destination in the Eastern India. The above extract describes the journey from Calcutta the capital of the British Indian Empire to the Darjeeling, the Summer Capital of the British Indian Empire.

The Extract says,

 

“Until 1878, the year when the Northern Bengal State Railway was opened for traffic, the route from Calcutta to Darjeeling, available for those who had the time, money and energy necessary to undertake so formidable a journey, was by rail from Howrah, the terminus of the East India Railway on the West bank of the Hooghly to Sahebgunge, a distance of 219 miles; then by steam ferry across the Ganges to Carragola, thence by bullock cart to the river opposite Dingra Ghat; after crossing which, again by bullock cart or Palkee gharry to Purneah, Kessengunge, Titalya, and Siliguri, whence the ascent commenced via the Punkabaree Road, which joins the present cart road at Kurseong. The whole journey took from five to six days, and was about as exhausting and uncomfortable a journey as can well be imagined…[1]”

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[1] Reproduced with permission from Fallen Cicada, the Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy

Believe it or not! Darjeeling was Dardshiling!

The German Name for Darjeeling was

Dardschiling

A German map of 1895 showing the major railway routes of India. Note the German spelling of Darjeeling - Dardschiling! “Weltverkehr: Die Entwicklung von Seeschiffahrl, Eisenbahn, Post und Telegraphie, by Michael Giestbeck, Freiburg/Brsg. 1895 (2nd edition)”. Average gradient of the Darjeeling railway line then was 1:36.

Photo collected by Barun Roy

[1] Reproduced with permission from Fallen Cicada, the Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy

Two GNLF bigwigs resign

Kalimpong, March 4: The resignations of Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha and former DGHC councillor Tshering Sherpa from the GNLF could herald the exodus of a considerable number of members from the subdivision.

The duo put in their resignations yesterday, four days after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha scored twin victories by successfully stalling the Sixth Schedule bill in Parliament and extracting an assurance from the Bengal government that Subash Ghisingh would resign as caretaker administrator of the DGHC within March 10.

Analysts said their resignations would sound the death knell for the GNLF in the Kalimpong sub-division.

Lepcha said the only reason why he resigned is the inept leadership of Ghisingh.

“He alone is responsible for bringing the party to such a sorry state despite enjoying popular support of the people for two decades,” Lepcha said.

The three-time Kalimpong legislator said he has no plans to join any party and would support anyone espousing the Gorkhaland cause.

Notably, Morcha president Bimal Gurung had in the past indicated that he was not averse to Lepcha joining his new party, provided, as with other GNLF rebels, the recommendation came from the grassroots. Sherpa, though, is unlikely to be accepted by Gurung so readily.

In fact, during two earlier occasions that Gurung addressed public meetings here after the formation of the Morcha, he had taken potshots at Sherpa and other GNLF leaders. Lepcha, however, had been spared.

This probably explains why immediately after announcing his resignation, Sherpa said he was joining the Congress along with his supporters. However, the Darjeeling district Congress committee today said Sherpa had not joined the party.

“When anybody wishes to join our party, he or she has to seek membership by following certain procedures. Neither Sherpa, nor his supporters, have done that. The party will take a decision only after they formally apply for membership,” said a Congress official.

Kurseong clash

Six persons were arrested from Latpanchar, 17 km from Kurseong, after supporters of the Morcha and the GNLF clashed last night, reports our correspondent.

All six are Morcha supporters, who were later released on personal bonds.

The Morcha has alleged that the GNLF members had abused them and had also asked them not to use electricity that was distributed by the rural electrification department of the DGHC.

This led to a war of words, followed by the clash in which both the groups pelted the other with stones.

The Morcha has also filed an FIR with the Kurseong police demanding the arrest of the GNLF members. [The Telegraph]

Door shut, MLA puts off feast

Darjeeling, March 4: Kurseong MLA Shanta Chhetri has been forced to cancel her son’s wedding reception scheduled for tomorrow as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has barred the GNLF leader’s entry into the hills.

“My effigies are being burnt everyday and my house is under siege. How can I organise a wedding reception?” Chhetri said over the phone from Calcutta.

Morcha leaders refused comment. The GNLF legislator had invited their wrath after she voiced support for the hills’ Sixth Schedule status. The Morcha is against the Sixth Schedule bill, which has been sent for review by a parliamentary panel, and Subash Ghisingh, the GNLF chief and one of the architects of the bill.

Chhetri’s son Sharad Chandra Karki, 24, got married to Nita, 21, in October 2007.

The ceremony then took place in the bride’s house, 35km from Kalimpong. A puja was supposed to be held in the groom’s house in Kurseong tomorrow, followed by a reception, said the MLA. She had missed the October wedding for “official work” in London.