Interview with Blogger Barun Roy – The Pakistani Spectator!

A Masters Degree holder in Computer Aided Designing and a double graduate in Computer Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering, Barun Roy is the author of 11 books including two best sellers – Fallen Cicada and Sunset Dreams. He has worked in different capacities – as a Humanitarian Aid Worker, he has worked in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Chechnya. As a journalist he has traveled through almost all the states of India and Nepal. Barun Roy became one of India’s youngest professional editors when at the age of 19 he edited a Monthly English Newsmagazine called Beacon. His name was included in India’s Outstanding Personalities’ Directory in the year 1998 and in 1999 he was awarded the ‘Super Intellectual Award 1998’ by International Management Council of India, New Delhi.

Barun Roy, today spends much of his time, traveling, writing, researching, reporting, blogging and as he says ‘experiencing’ different cultures. Barun Roy is also deeply devoted to social welfare, working amongst farmers and tea workers in the villages and tea plantations of Darjeeling Hills.

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My blog is The Himalayan Beacon known popularly among the blogging community and the readers as simply, Beacon Online

I began blogging on the first of January 2008. It was something that I had been putting aside for some years. Blogging requires a concentrated effort and a commitment to post at least once in a day. As a journalist, author, researcher and a traveler, I would often find hard to devote time. Yet after I took up responsibility of Darjeeling Times, as its editor I realized that I had to start blogging. Mainstream journalism has its restrictions. Either, there is only so much that you can publish and so much that you can deliberate upon. My first posts thence, were issues that I could not dwell on in the Magazine. Within a fortnight, I began posting almost daily. By the end of January 2008, Beacon Online had latest news, exclusive news reports, cover stories and exclusive photo features. In the month of February 2008, I started incorporating interview audios and videos. By the end of March 2008, general discussions on Beacon Online had led to the publication of first European Article on the issues of Gorkhas in India by the International Relations and Security Network, Zurich. Numerous articles concerning Gorkhas in India in Marathi by Sunjay Awati, Associate Editor, Lok Satta, was published in association with Beacon Online. Within four months thus, Beacon Online has transformed in itself from a mere personal outlet of a journalist into a major news, views and entertainment provider and a platform for social deliberations to millions of Gorkhas all over world.

To read the entire interview please click here:

http://www.pakspectator.com/interview-with-blogger-barun-roy/

TEACHERS DAY

By Ichamani Chettri

On every 5^th of September we are celebrating Teachers day. First of all we have to understand why we are celebrating Teachers day?What is the History behind Teachers day.

It is the day we celebrate the people who have transformed our lives for the better through the medium of education. The people who significantly contributed in promising a life of education, erudition and learning. It’s our teacher. The custodian of learning who thought us the facts of learning and existence.

I think the reason of celebrating Teachers day is not clear to Mr.Bhusan Thapa because one article I read on Himalaya Darpan “We will not celebrate Teachers Day unless we will get Gorkhaland”.I believe that Mr.Bhusan Thapa is also Teacher

I extremely object the statement given by Mr.Bhusan Thapa not to celebrate Teachers day,

Mr.Bhusan I would like to remind you one thing whatever you rather we are today that is just because of our teachers, who gave us Knowledge, discipline, shown us the right way in fact our ninety percent credit always goes to teacher.

We are celebrating Teachers day because of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Actually 5^th of september is the birth day of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

(History and origin of Teacher’s Day in India is related to Dr. Radhakrishnan.)

India has been celebrating Teacher’s Day on 5th of September since 1962. Actually 5th of September is the birthday of Dr .Sarvepalli Radhakhrishnan, a philosopher and a teacher par excellence. Some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday. In reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, “instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5th is observed as Teacher’s day”. The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan’s love for the teaching profession. From then onwards, his birthday is observed as Teacher’s Day in India. All this lead to Teachers Day origin in India.

The Gorkha who ended Daku Man Singh’s terror

Daku Man Singh was the most notorious and wanted dacoit of Chambal Valley. Jyoti Thapa Mani recounts how finally it was a Gorkha soldier’s wit and courage that finally ended Man Singh’s reign of terror

On the 7^th of November, 2005, most-wanted dacoit Nirbhay Gujjar, with a Rs 2.5 lakhs prize for his head, was gunned down in an encounter at Etawah, near Nagpur, India. Almost a year ago, his Southern counterpart, Veerappan was also killed in similar circumstances. Located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the Chambal Valley has been a home to scores of dacoits or baghis/outlaws as they like to call themselves. Shot dead on 25^th July 2001, ex-dacoit queen turned politician, Phoolan Devi with her trademark red bandana and khaki fatigues, also stalked her prey in this region. But the title of the most legendary dacoit is held by Daku Man Singh. Between 1939 and 1955, he had notched up 1,112 dacoities, 185 murders, countless ransom kidnappings, 90 police encounters and 32 dead policemen under his belt. His gang grew larger and bolder till just firing in the air was enough to scare many a police posse away. The situation for the MP police was so desperate, that they were known to capture weapons from the villagers and report an encounter with the dacoits. Like it was said, none was able to touch a whisker of Man Singh’s famous handlebar moustache. Till the MP government sought Gorkha help.

March 1954. A recipient of the prestigious “Star of Burma’ medal , serviceman Babbar Singh Thapa was recuperating in his home when he received a call from his ex-commandant Colonel Kushal Singh Thapa, stationed at Gorakhpur. Babbar had been seriously injured in a road accident near Jammu in Northern India. He and other servicemen were returning for their leave, when their vehicle skidded and fell off a cliff into the gorge below. It was pitch dark, yet seriously injured Babar managed to climb inch by inch up to the road and then passed out. The rest had died on the spot. When Babbar regained consciousness, he found himself in the Udhampur army hospital.

Though still on medical leave, Babbar immediately left to respond to his boss’s summons and reached Gorakhpur. It was only after reaching there that he was informed that some daring Gorkhas were required to curb the dacoit menace in MP. Babbar could not resist the challenge and took it up. And so the hunt began. It was a tough task. The dacoit confidence index was high as they had always managed to make Mickey Mouses of the police. Secondly, the villagers were either Man Singh’s supporters or plain terrified of him. Initially Babbar and his team managed to bag only four smalltime dacoits.

Land Rover – Series 1 or Series 3!

A Land Rover still in duty in Darjeeling

All Photos by Barun Roy

Turnbull School – Dr. Mahendra P. Lama’s Alma Mater

Turnbull School is Dr. M. P. Lama’s Alma Mater!

Photo by Barun Roy

Free Heart Surgery for children!

A Life Saving Contribution from Ms Rashmi Dewan

Gorkha leaders to meet Buddhadeb today

Kolkata, May 22 : The leaders of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here today to discuss about a separate State for Gorkhas comprising Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars and Siliguri.

A four-member GJM delegation comprising, Vice President Pradip Pradhan and two central committee members Amar Lama and Anmol Prasad will attend the meeting.

According to sources, they will submit the proposed map of Gorkhaland to the Chief Minister and urge him to raise a bill in the State Assembly and send it to the Centre after formally passing and recommending it.

The Gorkha people led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) started agitation in early 1980s demanding a separate Gorkhaland state.

Subsequently, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was set up under the GNLF supremo Subhash Ghisingh to administer the hills. The Central Government in 2005 had announced to accord sixth schedule status to the GNLF-led DGHC that would ensure greater autonomy to the governing body. Opposing the sixth schedule status for Darjeeling, the GJM, a rival of GNLF led by new hill leader Bimal Gurung has been demanding Ghising’s resignation and setting up of Gorkhaland state for long.

The Communist Government in West Bengal is opposed to the demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas. [ANI]

Today’s Beacon Online Exclusive Wallpaper

Independent Committee on Big Hydro Projects wants State Govt to suspend Panang project for five years – “Sikkim should go for small and micro hydro HEPs instead”

GANGTOK, May 20: The six-member Independent Committee on Big Hydro Projects, who are just back after a trip from Dzongu today said that the 280 MW Panang Hydro Electric Project (HEP) will completely and permanently destroy the serene environment of Dzongu. In a press conference held this evening at the BL House here, the members said that the project will “not only destroy the place with deep and unique religious sentiments attached but will also destroy the unique Lepcha community’s abode.”

Speaking with the media, the members said that the Sikkim government, partly under pressure from the central government, has hastily committed itself to develop about 42 big hydropower projects, without much consultation with the Sikkimese people or without considering the implications of the projects for the local people, environment, culture, future generations and even return on investment for the state or the people. The team comprising of Souparno Lahiri (National Forum of Forest People and Forest workers, Delhi), Ravindra Nath (Rural Volunteers Centre, Akajan, Assam), Partho J Das (North Eastern Centre for Environmental Research and Development, Guwahati), Vimal Bhai (Matu Jan Sangathan, Delhi), Arnab (NESPON, Siliguri, West Bengal) and Himanshu Thakkar (South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, Delhi) said that the State Government instead of assessing and realising the potential of power generation in Dzongu and other regions of Sikkim has entered into an MOU with an unknown entity like the Himagiri company for 280 MW Panang HEP.

“The government should rather suspend or declare moratorium on this project for five years and in the meantime take up the small and micro hydro HEPs in this region and also see the how the Teesta V project performs,” they said.  Informing that the Panang Project still has not been given concurrence by the Central Electricity Authority under the Section 8 of electricity Act, the team stressed that the work, which has now commenced on this project is illegal.

“The State Government has also failed to consider the implications of the projects for the local people, environment, culture, future generations and even return on investment for the state people, the environmental team said. They went on to say that the State Government has also not seriously assessed the options available for electricity generation or options for development in general, which according to them was evident in the way the Teesta V has been developed and the way the Panang MOU has been signed or Teesta III implementation has started.

During their two-day visit to the State, the team visited a completed Public Sector Hydro Project like the 510 MW Teesta V HEP, the under construction private sector HEP like the 1200 MW Teesta III HEP and the Dzongu area, including the site of the proposed 280 MW Panang HEP. The team also interacted with the affected people, elected representatives, project officials and contractors of the Teesta III HEP, NGOs, Public Relations officer of Himagiri, visited the Central Water Commission officer in Dzongu as well as went through the official documents, data and clearance letters.

West Sikkim gears up to prevent bird flu outbreak – All entry points on the West Sikkim-Darjeeling border under close watch

GYALSHING, May 20: An outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in areas of Bijanbari, Pool Bazaar and Gook Dara of Darjeeling District has been reported. As per the information received from DIO, West, there are five bridges including one vehicular bridge across the Rambhang river which connects West Sikkim to the affected areas of Darjeeling District which include footbridges at Khani Khola which connects Chumbong block, Mangsari block under Soreng Constituency, Siktam block and Lunchok/Daramdin under Daramdin Constituency.  The West District administration is taking no chance and taking all possible precautionary measures to keep the bird flu away from the region. Spraying of all vehicles and goods has started in all these entry points. So far, there are no reports of outbreak of bird flu in West Sikkim. Officials from State Police Department, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department and Forest Department have been deputed in each of these entry points.

Having a Splash!

Tourists enjoy some great family moments in the pool at the Ban Jhakri Falls near Ranka in East Sikkim.

A proud moment for N Bengal cricketers

SILIGURI, May 21: It was a historic moment in cricket annals of north Bengal when former India cricketer Madan Lal interviewed all-rounder Debabrata Das at the end of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings against the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last evening.

For the first time in the history of the game , a Siliguri boy was honoured with an exclusive TV interview during an official match featuring top international cricketers. After Das played a hurricane knock studded with a four and two sixes, the channel chose to speak to the cricketer because of his “significant contribution” to the Knight Riders’ innings. Lal, who spoke in superlatives about the ability of Das as a cricketer, both before and after the chat, quizzed the right-handed batsman on various aspects of his game and the chances of his team in the tournament as well as against the Rajasthan Royals.

Bird flu mop up starts today

DARJEELING, May 21: The first phase of culling operation in the bird flu zone of Bijanbari in Darjeeling sub-division ended today. “Except for a small resistance the culling exercise went on smoothly. The mopping exercise would begin tomorrow,” said the Bijanbari BDO, Mr Rajdeep Datta.

Fourteen ARD teams carried out the culling exercise in the 0-5 km zone of the epicentre that includes the four gram panchayats of Nore, Chung Thung, Rishihaat and Shittong. A Central observer from Delhi accompanied each of the 14 ARD teams in the bird flu stricken areas. “This was to ensure that the culling exercise was carried out efficiently,” said Mr Datta.  Though the district administration had targeted to cull 17, 000 birds approximately, 19,000 birds were culled in effect. “The number of birds culled exceeded the target by 2,000,” said the Darjeeling DM, Mr Rajesh Pandey.

The administration is still maintaining a strict vigil in the zone spreading 5-10 km’s of the epicentre and the ban on the entry and exit of poultry still stands, the administration said. [The Statesman]

Opposition for restoration of democracy

GANGTOK, May 21: The Opposition parties in Sikkim submitted a memorandum to the Governor Mr Sudarshan Agarwal today demanding action in restoring democracy in the state. The Opposition includes the Congress, BJP, CPI-M, Nationalist Congress Party and two regional parties, Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad and Gorkha Prajatantric Party. The memorandum stated that the present Sikkim Democratic Front government was trying to gag the media and obstruct public rallies organised by the Opposition.

HS scripts checked with leniency?

KOLKATA, May 21: Teachers are of the opinion that the exceptional increase in pass percentage in Higher Secondary results are more because of the lenient assessment by HS Council than the overall academic improvement of students. To save the candidates from disqualifying in a subject the HS Council had directed examiners to give at least three extra marks.  During the final tabulation, examiners were asked to deduct five marks from the subject where the candidate had obtained good marks and add it to the subject where the student had failed to score pass marks. The council had also directed examiners to give one mark instead of half to students. “Had the council not followed such a lenient assessment system, the pass percentage would have dipped by 8 to 10 per cent,” said Mr Ashok Maity, secretary, West Bengal Headmasters’ Association.

English and Mathematics were the two subjects where many HS candidates scored poor marks. The examiners were given special instructions to check the answer scripts of these two subjects leniently and head examiners had been directed to give qualifying marks to students, said Mr Maity. Even Madhyamik examinations which are considered to be comparatively easier than HS have never witnessed more than 75 per cent successful candidates. “The council’s efforts to bring the HS results at par with the other boards have in turn lowered the academic standards. Thus, despite securing above 70 per cent marks in English and mathematics, many students are reluctant to pursue these subjects for higher education,” said Mr Naba Kumar Karmakar, general secretary, West Bengal Teachers’ Association. [The Statesman]

Namesake robs account

Kalimpong, May 21: Sharing the same name with his one-time neighbour cost Bijay Bareily, a former jawan of Eastern Frontier Rifles, Rs 1.15 lakh after his namesake withdrew the money from his State Bank of India account.

Bijay Bareily, alias Robin, who is a peon in a local school and the main accused, was arrested yesterday after police were informed about the fraud by the SBI authorities on Monday. He was today remanded in judicial custody along with two of his accomplices, George Rai and Robert Young.

The two Bareilys were neighbours at Middle Bongbusty here till some time ago when the former jawan moved into his brother’s house near Enginedara.

In the first week of April, Robin was delivered a mail containing Bijay’s ATM card. Instead of alerting his one-time neighbour, Robin secured the card’s password from the local branch of the SBI by impersonating as Bijay. Then between April 9 and May 12, Robin with the connivance of Rai and Young withdrew around Rs 1.15 lakh from Bijay’s account through the card.

Assam tea loss is Bengal gain- Companies skirt Guwahati auction

Guwahati, May 21: At least 10 major companies with gardens in Assam are bypassing the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre and selling their produce through the Calcutta Tea Auction Centre, causing a 17 million-kg drop in sales in the state.

State industry and commerce minister Pradyut Bordoloi spelt out the shocker at a news conference today, doling out statistics to prove his point.

The Guwahati auction centre sold 159m kg in 2000 but last year the figure came down to 142m kg, whereas the Calcutta auction sold 140m kg last year, 42m kg more than the amount sold in 2000, he said.

Besides the state losing out on revenue, the drop in sales has earned the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre the dubious distinction of being a storehouse of mediocre tea.

This, despite the fact that GTAC was the world’s third largest in volume of business after the auction centres in Mombasa in Kenya and Colombo in Sri Lanka. In terms of business in CTC, GTAC was the world’s second largest after Mombasa.

The minister said the government has approached these companies and requested them to sell at least some percentage of their total produce through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.

“We have also asked the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre to go all out for aggressive marketing. We cannot be complacent. It is the nonchalant attitude of GTAC that the Calcutta auction centre is taking advantage of,” he said.

Assam’s annual tea production at present is just over 500m kg, which is 55 per cent of the country’s total produce.

However, there have been complaints regarding the quality of Assam tea — especially those produced in bought-leaf factories.

Bordoloi said the decline in quality had reflected in one of the major buyers of Assam tea — the Tata-owned Tetley — procuring just 15 per cent of its requirement from Assam as against the earlier figure of 70 per cent.

Hill council sacks 109 teachers

Darjeeling, May 21: The DGHC has decided to terminate the services of 109 ad-hoc teachers of hill schools with effect from June 1, citing “irregularities in their appointments”.

All the teachers were appointed in January-February 2008, when GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh was still the caretaker administrator of the DGHC.

The termination order, issued by the education department of the council, reads: “As approved by the administrator, DGHC, in the case file collection No IV-9 Secondary Cell/Edu/dt 2.05.08, the services of the following contract teachers are no longer required by the DGHC from 1.6.2008.” The order has been signed on May 17, 2008.

The DGHC has cited Clause 4 of the agreement signed by the teachers — where there is provision for immediate termination of services as and when desired by the council — for the decision.

“The teachers were appointed in January-February this year. We have found irregularities in the appointments,” said the current caretaker administrator of the DGHC, B.L. Meena.