A Brief History of Darjeeling Hills (1780 – 1845)

King George’s birthday being Celebrated at Chowrasta, Darjeeling

By P. Ojha [1]

The district of Darjeeling was originally a part of the dominion of Sikkim. The King of Sikkim became involved in unsuccessful struggles with the Gorkhas of Nepal, who had invaded Sikkim in 1780. During the next 30 years, they overran Sikkim as far east as the Tista and conquered and annexed the Terai. In the meantime, owing to a disagreement over the frontier policy of the Gorkhas, war broke out in 1814, between Nepal and the East India Company, at the end of which in 1816, by the Treaty of Sagauli, the Nepalese creed, the Darjeeling tract to the East India Company which they had wrested from the King of Sikkim by the company by the treaty of Titaliya on 10^th February, 1817.

Under this treaty, the King of Sikkim was bound to refer to the arbitration of the British Government regarding all disputes between his subjects and those of the neighbouring states. In 1827, disputes between Sikkim and Nepal states arose, which were referred to the Governor General. In 1828, two officers, Captain G. A. Lloyd and J. W. Grant, I. C. S. were debuted to settle the internal disputes. They found their way into Chungtong, to the west of Darjeeling and were much impressed with the possibilities of the station as a sanatorium. The following year Capt. Lloyd spend six days in the “old Gorkha station of Darjeeling” the then Deputy Surveyor General of Bengal who likewise reported favourably on the situation of Darjeeling. The court of Directors of the East India Company then directed Capt. Lloyd to be deputed to start negotiations with Sikkimputtee, the aged King of Sikkim for a cession of the hill either for an equivalent in money or land. This transfer was successfully accomplished on 1^st February 1835, the 24 miles long and 6 miles wide strip of hill territory stretching from the Northern Frontier of the district to the Pankhabarie in the plains which included Darjeeling and the deed read as follows:

Heritage tag on hill buildings- Rs 53 lakh for renovation

Darjeeling, April 16: The 158-year-old Darjeeling Municipality building and Municipal Boy’s High School have been declared heritage properties by the West Bengal Heritage Commission.

Pemba Tshering Ola, the chairman of the civic body, said the commission also sanctioned Rs 53 lakh for the renovation of the two structures. “While Rs 37 lakh will be for the refurbishment of the municipal building, the rest will be spent on repairing the school,” said Ola. [Inset: The Darjeeling Municipality building. Picture by Suman Tamang]

The civic body is getting ready to float tenders for the renovation of the buildings, which are made of stones, so that the work can start in a couple of months.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Darjeeling

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, The Art of Living, in Darjeeling.

All Photos by Barun Roy

From the archives of Beacon

An Appeal

By Mr. Ichamani Chettri, Dubai

Dear Friends,

I have realized that we Gorkhas all over world and indeed in Darjeeling Hills and the surrounding areas in print and vocal have been using words like ‘Gorkha’, ‘Nepali’ and ‘Gurkha’ interchangeably. This is certainly, confusing not just to all our friends but to our own future generations. I request all and lay that we henceforth only use the term ‘Gorkha’ to identify us.

With Best Wishes

Ichamani Chettri

Dubai

We the people of Darjeeling still saying that we are Nepali,Gorkha & Gurkha

we can understand the meaning is same but it is very difficult to convince other people,so from today onwards we will say we are “Gorkha”,we will not say we are Nepali or Gurkha,This will help us to avoid confusion.

We will say we are Gorkha and our demand is for Gorkhaland.

Also we must be familiar with the Spelling of “Gorkha”.

All Should say we are Gorkha.Today we can see that all the Gorkhas are together in the form of GJMM and fighting for Gorkhaland.

No comment about our language Neplai and etc.Initial stage is we are Gorkha.The spelling of “Gorkha” is in Correct form and “Gurkha is in Wrong form.Comments are welcome ichamanikc@yahoo.com).

Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad to hold peace convention on 19 April

SILIGURI, April 15: Following the footsteps of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP) has planned to organise a convention on the premises of Bagdogra Girls’ College on 19 April. The objective of the convention is to strengthen harmony between the people of the Hills and the plains. All the political parties would be invited to the convention.  Giving this information Mrs Moni Thapa, the sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad said that against the backdrop of the continuous attempts by some subversive elements to conjure up a gulf in the Hills on ethnic lines, the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad has decided to organise a peace convention to boost peace and development both in the Hills and the plains.  “We are all concerned regarding the attempts by some separatist elements to disrupt peace and development in the Darjeeling district. We are also alarmed with Siliguri being dragged into the separate statehood controversy. The state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya would attend the convention Mrs Thapa said.  It may be mentioned that the Siliguri Municipal Corporation organised a convention on 10 April to oppose the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s (GJMM) demand to include Siliguri and Dooars in the proposed Gorkhaland state. This convention had run into controversy when the GJMM opposed it, saying that it was part of the state’s conspiracy to tarnish its image.  The participation of the RSP, Congress and Trinamul Congress in the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad convention is still uncertain as they stand by the belief that such a convention would prove counter-productive and would only strengthen the separatist forces.

Prohibitory orders help Sikkim avoid confrontation over Dzongu project

Gangtok, April 15: A confrontation between the east district administration and opponents of a hydroelectric power project at Dzongu was today averted after over 500 Lepcha people from West Bengal called off their visit to the state capital here in the wake of clamping of prohibitory orders by the authorities.  The Lepcha delegation, which had reached Singtam last evening and was scheduled to visit Gangtok to express solidarity with the activists of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) agitating against the power project at Dzongu, would embark on their visit to north Sikkim from Singtam itself, ACT spokesman Mr Tseten Lepcha said.

The decision to make alternative travel arrangement for the Lepcha people from the neighbouring state was taken after the east district administration clamped section 144 prohibiting the assembly of large gathering in the state capital, he said.  The Lepchas from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and adjoining areas, who were on a four-day visit to Sikkim for pilgrimage to their holy land at Dzongu and also to register their protest against the construction of hydroelectric power project there, would reach Dzongu by undertaking padyatra from different destinations, the ACT spokesman said. The ACT, a non-political organisation, has been agitating against the Dzongu power project since June 20, 2007, on the ground that the project site was a holy land of the indigenous Lepcha community. It had solicitated support from the Lepcha people from West Bengal for the ongoing agitation against the power project consequently over 500 lepchas from the neighbouring state had arrived at Singtam yesterday to extend symbolic support to the protesters. [The Statesman]

Champasari blasts accused arrested, produced in court

SILIGURI, April 15: Five youths, three of whom are women, have been arrested in connection with the 3 April Champasari blasts in Siliguri and the subsequent seizure of explosives from different locations in the town.  The Pradhannagar police, investigating the blasts nabbed the five suspected militants last night. They were produced before a Siliguri court this afternoon.  The arrested men have been identified as Balkrishna Rai and Suresh Biswakarma ~ both residents of Sikkim, while the women were identified as Fulmaya Gurung, Krishna Gurung and Sandhya Tamang. Fulmaya Gurung and Krishna Gurung are Bhutanese refugees from the Beldangi-1 camp in Jhapa, Nepal and Sandhya Tamang hails from Jorbunglow in Darjeeling.
“We could reach them by tracking the call records of Dipen Rai’s ~ another ultra arrested on the day of the Champasari blasts ~ cell phone. They were arrested separately from Pradhannagar, Jorbunglow and Sikkim,” the Siliguri additional superintendent of police, Mr Rajesh Yadav said.
Adding further, the ASP said that the three arrested girls were residing in rented houses at Gurung Busty and Sevoke Road in Siliguri. “They arrived in Siliguri three-four months back and were living in the town as trainee nurses. The two men were keeping in touch with them and were providing assistance to them from Sikkim,” he said.

The police have recovered several leaflets, documents and diaries from their possessions reportedly, containing details of the planned terror plots. Three persons, including a woman, were killed in the accidental blasts at a household in Champasari, Siliguri on 3 April when the suspected ultras were working on the timed explosive devices.  Following the blasts, the Pradhannagar police recovered 2.5 kg explosive from a Mallaguri household on 8 April and ten live bombs with six timers from a Gurung Busty household on 12 April. [The Statesman]

4,000 new seats in tech colleges

KOLKATA, April 15: Candidates aspiring for an engineering degree have reason to cheer, as at least 4,000  seats will be added to engineering colleges in the state this year. Around 14 new private colleges have approached the state higher education department and might enroll students after receiving the AICTE’s approval. Presently, there are around 17,000 engineering seats and after the addition, the seat count in the engineering category might go up to 21,000.  The Joint Entrance Examinations Board has taken a host of measures to prevent goof ups during this year’s Joint Entrance Examination. This comes after the board came under the scanner following the arrest of 21 persons on charges of impersonation.
Candidates will be asked for their left thumb impression in two sets of answer scripts (the optical mark reader and answer booklet). The Board has prepared CDs that contain personal information about the candidates ~ including name, photograph, signature and thumb impression ~ at each examination centre to which Board officials would refer to in case of any doubt. “Instead of harassing students, personnel in charge of centres have been asked to tally the information,” said Prof. Datta, chairman, Joint Entrance Examinations Board. Again, candidates have been asked to enter the examination hall 15 minutes before the examination begins. Candidates will furnish personal information in two sets of answer scripts and Board officials will tally the information during this time. “Apart from Board officials and students, nobody will be allowed inside the examination hall. The Board has taken some other preventive measures to prevent dummy candidates from appearing for the examination but these details cannot be disclosed,” said Prof. Datta. [The Statesman]

Doctor on call and medical unit for Bagdogra fliers

Bagdogra, April 15: Kishore Ranade, a 56-year-old businessman travelling on a flight from Delhi to Bagdogra, started feeling uneasy soon after takeoff. As the flight progressed, his discomfort increased and the pilot was informed.

He radioed the air traffic control at Bagdogra Airport, setting off a chain of actions at the airport’s medical inspection (MI) room so that Ranade could get immediate medical attention to save his life.

The above is a hypothetical situation that was cited while explaining the medical readiness and facilities which were launched at the airport today. “Passengers using Bagdogra Airport can now rest assured that trained personnel and basic emergency equipment will be at hand in case of any medical emergency,” said airport director K.K. Bhaumik.

Earlier, the airport had only a dispensary where a person with some basic knowledge about first aid would be available. “In the past, we had to rely on Indian Air Force doctors stationed in the base nearby whenever passengers needed medical help,” he said.

Bonds saw bullets but kept mum

Siliguri, April 15: The American women arrested in the bullet case had become aware of the ammunition in Darjeeling by chance but chose to proceed to the Bagdogra airport with the lethal luggage – a mistake that has sent them to jail for at least three days.

Monica Bond (57) and her daughter Heather K. Bond (37) – tourists from Santa Barbara in California – were today sent to judicial custody for three days. But they have been charged under the Indian Arms Act that carries imprisonment ranging from three to seven years. [Inset: Heather (left) and Monica being taken to Siliguri court. A Telegraph picture]

The Bonds told investigators that they had stumbled on the clip of 11 bullets in their luggage in Darjeeling, where they had gone after coming through Bagdogra Airport last week. “The ammunition was inside a folded umbrella. In Darjeeling, they took out the umbrella when it rained one day and found the loaded clip,” a police officer said.

Had the Bonds told authorities of the discovery of bullets immediately, they would have been treated leniently. However, an officer added: “Since they did not have any documents for the bullets, we would have had to charge them any way.”

A factor that could still work in the Bonds’ favour is their reported clean record in the US. “The FBI has faxed some of the details of my clients, confirming that they do not have any criminal record in the US,” their lawyer Abhay Prasad Chatterjee said. “Their passports are valid and they have visas till August 4 this year.”

The two were detained yesterday at Bagdogra airport when the security staff of Deccan found the bullets in a 9mm pistol clip in one of their backpacks while scanning their registered baggage. Monica, a retired nurse, and Heather, an employee of California’s forest and fire protection department, were scheduled to board the Deccan’s Flight 619 to Delhi via Guwahati.

More join statehood march

Kurseong, April 15: Thirty youths from the hills today joined the Gorkha Janmukti Agsu’s march to the Sankosh in the Dooars to mark the area of Gorkhaland, the new state they are demanding. Sixteen youths had set off from Darjeeling on Sunday for the river on the Assam border to plant Gorkha Janmukti Morcha flags along the 290km stretch.

The marchers, who arrived here late in the evening yesterday, were welcomed by the Kurseong chapter of the Gorkha Janmukti Agsu, a students’ organisation.

“They will walk around 20km today before halting at Tindharia. They will not budge from their aim even if the administration tries to stop them midway,” said Sonam Lama, the president local chapter of the Janmukti Agsu.

Raids reveal blast suspects

Siliguri, April 15: Five persons suspected to be linked to the Champasari blasts and the subsequent seizure of explosives from Mallaguri and Gurung Bustee have been arrested in the past 24 hours. A high-level multi-department committee has been formed to investigate the incidents.

However, the woman whose picture was released by police yesterday, still remains elusive.

Ganga Gurung, Sandhya Tamang, Krishna Gajmer, Suresh Biswakarma and Balkumar Rai were picked up by the police from different part of the town. [Inset: A rally demanding Gorkhaland brought out by schoolteachers under the banner of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Tuesday in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang]

Sandhya is one of the three women who had gone missing from the house in Gurung Bustee. Told by the landlady that the three had claimed to be trainee nurses at a nursing home, the police had raided it and based on information picked up there, arrested Ganga Gurung, alias Fulmaya Tamang, last night from the Bhaktinagar area.

More raids followed after Ganga was interrogated.

All the arrested persons were produced in the court of the Siliguri additional chief judicial magistrate and remanded in police custody for eight days.

Wild call for Dooars visitors

Siliguri, April 15: Tonga ride through Mathura tea garden, boating on the Bania river and angling on the confluence of the Kalchini, Bania and Buri Basra: Chilapata is offering all these and more.

Villagers in the fringe areas of Chilapata forest are queuing up to nurture the wild so that it draws as many visitors as Gorumara National Park and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

“Keeping in mind the ideals of eco-tourism, we have been able to mobilise a group of people living in the peripheral areas of the forest range,” said Raj Basu, the vice-president of the Association of Conservation and Tourism.

Basu said Chilapata in the Dooars, located 130km from Siliguri, never had many visitors despite its tourism potential. “It is a major elephant corridor and connects Jaldapara to the Buxa Tiger reserve,” he said. “One can find vestiges of past eras around the place. The ruins of the fort of Neel Raja is one of them. Although Chilapata has excellent communication network and a private resort, people do not know about it. ”

Today, most tourists prefer to visit Gorumara, located more than 100km from Chilapata. [Insets: People who are behind the various tourist projects in Chilapata and (below) the Bania that flows through the forest. Telegraph pictures]

Worry over cable holes on road- Telecom giant and PWD race against monsoon

Kalimpong, April 15: A private telecom company has dug up long stretches of the most important road running through the subdivision to lay optical fibre cables, raising the spectre of a commuters’ nightmare if the task is not completed before the onset of monsoon.

Vodafone Essar Ltd is laying the cables from Chitrey on NH31A to Pedong via Kalimpong town and from there up to the Sikkim border. The existing drains alongside the road are being dug up for the work and already, transport operators and commuters are complaining about how narrow and dusty the stretches have become.

“Many parts of the road were only recently repaired after they were damaged during monsoon last year. Now, it is back to square one,” said Pranay Thapa, a driver.

However, both the mobile company and the Bengal public works department (PWD), which maintains the 29km stretch from Chitrey to Algarah (Lower Rishi and Upper Rishi Roads), promised to complete the major part of the work before the rains. [Inset: The drain alongside Lower Rishi Road dug up at 8th Mile near Kalimpong. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha]

“The company has deposited about Rs 72 lakh with us. As soon as they finish laying the cables, we will begin constructing the drains and repair the stretches of the road that might have been damaged because of the digging,” said Nihir Kanti Biswas, the executive engineer of the PWD’s north Bengal construction division.

Sikkim govt trains gun on Dzongu march

Gangtok, April 15: The Sikkim government has voiced its concern about the Lepcha marchers from Kalimpong and Darjeeling who are headed for Dzongu in the North district to protest against mega hydel power projects being set up there.

The Lepcha community considers Dzongu “holy land”. The marchers, who claim they are on a pilgrimage, today reached Dikchu in North Sikkim.

“The state government has noted with concern the ‘tour’ being organised by a group of people from Darjeeling, Bengal, to Dzongu, North Sikkim…. Such a ‘tour’ has never been undertaken in the past…ostensibly for the purpose of pilgrimage, (it) is being actively supported by individuals and groups who have been voicing their opposition to the hydel projects for several months or those opposed to the present government,” a statement issued by the Sikkim government read. [Inset: The marchers after they started off from Tribeni near Kalimpong on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha]

Strike relief for tourists

Darjeeling, April 15: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to relax its indefinite shutdown at tourist facilities and spots in Darjeeling from tomorrow. The relief will also cover the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)’s joy rides.

The DHR’s daily passenger service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, however, will not be allowed.

The botanical garden, the zoo run by the Bengal forest department and the Rock Garden and Shrubbery Park maintained by the DGHC, will be open along with the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and its museum .

The Morcha call for closure of all government offices from yesterday had included these tourist spots. Yesterday was a state holiday and the facilities, except for the toy train, would have been closed to tourists even if there had been no agitation. The toy train rides, however, were shut for two consecutive days.

The decision to extend the relaxation to tourist facilities run by the government was taken after a meeting with district magistrate Rajesh Pandey, who returned to Darjeeling today. However, at the end of the meeting, D.K. Pradhan, a Morcha leader, said: “The talks remained largely inconclusive.”