People protest CPIM cadres hassling Gorkhas in Siliguri

People protest by burning effigies of CPIM leaders at Kalimpong

GJM leaders and Government Officials meet in Siliguri to end stalemate

Dardschilling – Darjeeling!

A German Map of 1895 showing the major railway routes of India. Note the German spelling of Darjeeling – Dardschilling

Source: Fallen Cicada – Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy 2003

DGHC electric crematorium in ruins before inauguration

Anjan Dutta Shooting his latest film at Chowrasta, Darjeeling

Photo: Barun Roy

Monk held for outraging a girl’s modesty

RHENOCK, May 02: A monk was arrested yesterday for outraging the modesty of a girl.
Ongda Bhutia of Changey, Pakyong in East Sikkim was arrested yesterday by Pakyong Police on the complaint of a female student of Rhenock Government College, when the girl lodged a complaint stating that she received a series of phone calls in her cell phone from Ongda Bhutia, who she alleged made vulgar calls to her intending to outrage her modesty. The Rhenock Police obtained the details of the mobile calls from the mobile company, which corroborated the girl’s allegation. The case was registered under section 509 of the IPC and is under investigation.

Sikkim opposition submits memorandum on ‘suppression of press’ to Governor

GANGTOK, May 02: Six opposition parties including the State units of national parties met Governor Sudarshan Agarwal at Raj Bhawan here today and submitted a memorandum on the suppression of freedom of press in Sikkim.

The memorandum signed by the president, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) NB Bhandari, president, Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) HR Pradhan, committee member, Communist Party of India (M) PP Koirala, president, Sikkim Himlai Rajya Parishad (SHRP) Dr. AD Subba, president, Sikkim State Nationalists Congress Party (NCP) Ashok Tsong and Jigme N Kazi from Sikkim United has stated the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Government’s high-handedness on a local Nepali daily Hamro Prajashakti.
According to the memorandum, the alleged attempt to close ‘Hamro Prajashakti’ if succeeded by the SDF party and the Government will systematically wipe out all papers which does not propagate their virtues leaving behind a State with a one sided media.

National seminar of Gorkha Parisangh held in Siliguri – Six resolutions adopted; future course of action announced

SILIGURI, May 02: Amidst under current tension, a three day long national seminar of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) concluded in Siliguri yesterday. The seminar included conferences of Parisangh’s national executive members, national council’s members and an indoor meeting of political parties of Darjeeling, Sikkim and Assam as well.  The last day of the session was addressed by the prominent intellectuals of the organization and outside. A press release informs that six resolutions were adopted in the national council meet under the presidentship of D.K Bhandari, who is also the chairperson of the only apolitical organization of Gorkhas in India.

In the resolutions, it has proposed that Sikkim and Central Government should take suitable initiatives to resolve the pending case of the Tamangs and Limboos of Sikkim who have so far not been able to enjoy their political rights despite their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Government of India. It has also been proposed that the Government of India should create a separate state of the Indian Gorkhas by comprising the lands of Darjeeling and Dooars areas under the article 3 (A) of the constitution. The Seminar also proposed that the BGP’s committees existing in 22 states in India must start approaching their legislative assemblies to bring motion in favour of a separate state for the Indian Gorkhas.

Was Darjeeling ever part of Pakistan?

In 1947, the then leaders of the Muslim League came forward with their own plan for Darjeeling and its merger with East Pakistan. A Muslim league team visited Darjeeling around the same time, held talks with the leaders of the local political party and participated in a convention on the merger issue. Some understanding appears to have been reached between them. This was reflected in the bizarre developments in Darjeeling between August 14 and 18, 1947. This Pakistani flag [see the only photo ever taken] fluttered on the Darjeeling Town hall for full five days in place of the Union jack. Darjeeling was popularly stated to have become a part of Pakistan in preference to India and Nepal. In fact, even sweets were disturbed and fireworks let off in joyous celebration of Pakistan’s independence.

(C) Copyrights to the photo – Fallen Cicada – Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy

Dasmunshi asks CM to call all-party meeting to discuss on Gorkhaland Agitation II

An all-party meeting to find a way out of the impasse in the Darjeeling hills following renewed agitation by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, should be called by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said today.

The problems should be sorted out over the table and the chief minister should convene an all-party meeting, he said. In response to GJM president Bimal Gurung’s complaints that the state government was denying them permission for holding public meetings in Siliguri, Dasmushi said none had the right to snatch away democratic rights by imposing prohibitory orders.

Criticising the Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Asok Bhattacharya, who had had reportedly called Gorkhas ‘foreigners’, Dasmunshi said he was not the chief minister.

Bhattacharya had told tourists to avoid visiting Darjeeling and that the GJM was trying to divide the people of the hills and plains. Dasmunshi asked him to refrain from making such statements.

GJMM to end hunger strike in Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) decided to end their fast unto death after the West Bengal government gave them permission to hold political rallies and meetings in Siliguri town in Darjeeling district. “West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb and Home Secretary Asoke Mohan Chakrabarty told us Saturday afternoon that we can hold political programmes in Siliguri. Since our demand has been met we have decided to withdraw the fast at 5 p.m.,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.

He added that GJM would hold a meeting at the Gandhi Maidan in Siliguri May 7.

The GJM supporters decided to go for a fast unto death from May 1 in Darjeeling protesting the state government’s decision disallowing them from holding any political programmes in Siliguri.

The GJM, led by its president Bimal Gurung, has been spearheading a movement in the hills demanding a separate state and also opposing the sixth schedule status for Darjeeling.

The central government in 2005 announced the sixth schedule status to the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) that ensures greater autonomy to the governing body. But Gurung’s group is demanding full statehood.

Legendary Footballer Shyam Thapa in Darjeeling

Legendary football player Shyam Thapa with his wife in Darjeeling

(Photo: Barun Roy)

Bhutanese King confers Dakyen to Speaker

THIMPHU: His Majesty the King conferred Dakyen to the National Assembly Speaker Tshogpoen Jigme Tshultim at the Tashichhodzong Friday. His Majesty the King also conferred the orange scarf and Patang to Tshogpoen Jigme Tshultim. He was elected as the National Assembly speaker through a secret ballot on April 21.

Tshogpoen Jigme Tshultim graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from St. Joseph’s College in Darjeeling, India in 1975. Later he pursued post graduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years in the civil service, he has served as the Managing Director of the Tourism Corporation and as Dzongda in Paro, Samtse, and Monggar. He has also served as the Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh.

He was the first senior government servant to resign to join politics. He was awarded the Red Scarf and title of Dasho in 1997 by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

Hunger Strikers in Siliguri

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Hunger Strikers sit down for ‘fast unto death’ beneath the statue of World Hero Tenzing Norgay Sherpa at Darjeeling More

Muslims of Tibet

Masood Butt is a Tibetan, living in India. But, unlike most other Tibetans in exile, who are Buddhists, Butt is a Muslim. However, apart from his faith, there is little else to distinguish Butt from other Tibetans. He follows Tibetan customs, speaks the language fluently and regards the Dalai Lama as his leader. Yet, Butt’s community — the Tibetan Muslims — are little known in India, even though they have shared with their Buddhist brethren, the plight of leaving their homeland. And they have been living in India for the last 50 years.”Like other Tibetans, our community, too has faced tough times and undergone great mental and physical strain,” says Butt, who now works with the Dalai Lama’s office in Dharamsala.

The story of the Tibetan Muslims is that of a unique community, that has blended different cultural strains to forge a distinct identity, that has been kept alive even in the face of adversity. What is interesting to know is that Islam arrived almost a 1000 years ago in Tibet — a region that has always been synonymous with a monolithic Buddhist culture. How the first Muslim settlers reached Tibet is an interesting tale. Sometime in the 12th century, it is believed, a group of Muslim traders from Kashmir and Ladakh came to Tibet as merchants. Many of these traders settled in Tibet and married Tibetan women, who later converted to the religion of their husbands. Author Thomas Arnold, in his book, The Preaching of Islam says that gradually, marriages and social interactions led to an increase in the Tibetan Muslim population until a sizable community came up around Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.

“The Tibetan government allowed the Muslims freedom to handle their own affairs, without any interference. This enabled the community to retain their identity, while at the same time absorbing traditional Tibetan social and cultural traditions,” says Butt. The Tibetan Muslims followed the occupation of their ancestors and were mainly traders, who owned successful businesses. The community also contributed to Tibetan society and culture in many ways. For instance, the first cinema hall in Tibet was started by a Tibetan Muslim businessman. Also, Nangma — a popular classical music form of Tibet, is believed to have been brought to Tibet by the Muslims. In fact, the word ‘Nangma’ is said to be derived from the Urdu word, ‘Naghma’, which means song. “These high-pitched lilting songs, developed in Tibet around the turn of the century, were a craze in Lhasa, with musical hits by Acha Izzat, Bhai Akbar-la and Oulam Mehdi on the lips of almost everyone,” says Butt.

Many Tibetan scholars have commented on how religions as diverse as Islam and Buddhism could co-exist in peace in a traditional society such as that of Tibet. The credit for this, some feel, goes to religious leaders like the Dalai Lama, who took the lead in fostering this spirit of brotherhood. For instance, a history of the Tibetan Muslim community published some years ago relates how during the 17th century, the fifth Dalai Lama readily agreed to give the Muslims land within Lhasa for building a mosque.

Morcha gets rally nod

Siliguri, May 3: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has wangled the government’s permission to hold a rally in Siliguri.

The decision came a couple of hours after Morcha supporters sat on a hunger strike at Darjeeling More below Tenzing Norgay’s statue this afternoon.

“After a discussion with a Morcha delegation, it has been decided that it can organise a meeting at Indira Gandhi Maidan on May 7 from 11am to 4.45pm,” B.L. Meena, divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri and caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, said.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri met Meena at the circuit house with 16 other leaders.

“The Morcha, in turn, has promised to withdraw its ongoing hunger strikes and keep government offices open in the hills,” the divisional commissioner said.

Rajesh Pandey, the Darjeeling district magistrate, handed over a list of 19 conditions to the Morcha team after the meeting to make sure the May 7 meeting to press for a separate state is peaceful.