Kalimpong Press Club sets standard for Press Fraternity in the Hills

BY BARUN ROY

Founded in 1998 and modeled after the Kolkata Press Club, Kalimpong Press Club today brings together full time journalists, freelancers, teachers, academics, scholars, intellectuals, businessmen and eminent citizens. It is no wonder that they are able to give to the society more than just the accounts of things happening in an around Kalimpong sub-division. Speaking with The Himalayan Beacon, Arun Rai, Secretary, Kalimpong Press Club said, “we have always believed in the fact that together and united under one banner we could achieve a great of things which was otherwise impossible. However, still coming together under one banner and forming a Press Club was not simple. We need a good organization and a good philosophy. Some of our friends had come to visit Kalimpong in 1998. They would talk about their ‘Kolkata Press Club’. They told us that even Bureaucrats and Ministers were members of their Press Club. We realized that it was essential to involve prominent citizens and officials as it would strengthen the club. Hence as we started the Club with 16 executive members who were working Journalists we invited eminent personalities of the town to join the club as Associate and Life Members. This lead to some eminent personalities which included teachers, academicians, businessmen, intellectuals etc to be associated with our Club.” The club today has quite a number of eminent personalities of Kalimpong as its Life and Associate Members. The Club thereafter, dedicated itself in generating public opinion, creating awareness and in general setting a trend of intellectual deliberation on various topics.  In the one decade of its existence, Kalimpong Press Club has organized numerous workshops and seminars involving eminent personalities in the Nation. Among the numerous Seminars and Interactive Programmes, the most recent ones including Seminars, Workshop and Interactive Programmes on Police Public Relationship, Establishment of NHPC – How far it is beneficial to the people of Kalimpong , Is Bundh the only solution of a problem, Role of Media – Regional Journalism and its impact, Fall in the use of Nepali Language, Copyright Act, Gorkhas in the eyes of Gorkhas and Non Gorkhas, PROBLEMS  AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS OF PRESENT EXAMINATION CONDUCTION PROGRAMME etc. On the 12^th of August, Kalimpong Press Club organized an interactive programme on the National Relevance of the Demand of Gorkhaland in the Political Context. The interactive session participated and attended by a large section of the people was broadcast ‘live’ through cable. A paper on ‘National Relevance of the Demand of Gorkhaland in the Political Context’ was submitted by Joel Rai, Deputy Editor, India Today Group while an analytical observation on the said paper was offered by Prof. Munish Tamang of Motilal Nehru College, N. Delhi. The session was very successful and the Club is looking ahead to organize more of such sessions.

The proactive role that Kalimpong Press Club is playing needs to be encouraged and copied by Press Clubs and journalists from all over the hills and Sikkim and indeed in the rest of the nation. The Club with its abysmal resources is trying to come up with more programmes and community service schemes. The Himalayan Beacon wishes Kalimpong Press Club best of wishes and pledges all her support. The Himalayan Beacon also congratulates Kalimpong Press Club on its glorious and successful first decade of its existence. May the Club see hundreds of such glorious and successful decades.

THE NEVER-ENDING WAIT FOR A HOMELAND

By Dr. Sonam B Wangyal

Dr. Wangyal is a respected amateur historian from the region. He is a prolific writer and in fact started his writing career with Beacon and The Statesman in 1998.

The following is a chronicle of the long and enduring struggle of a peoples’ movement for a separate homeland for over a hundred years. It is not a testament to ridicule or chastise our Bengali counterparts but simply to let them understand the sense of helpless predicament that a minority community suffers under the weight of an overwhelming majority population, the helplessness under the dark cloud of political chauvinism, and the helplessness in suffering financial nepotism. This is also a testament to illustrate many states in India have had the good sense to agree to a partition(s) without feeling a loss of prestige even when there was a possibility of another bifurcation. Assam has been split more times than Bengal can even dread of, and it is still alive and kicking, despite the threat of even more partitions. Consider the strong and proud martial state of Punjab which was partitioned into Punjab and Haryana, it was further partitioned with the formation of Himachal Pradesh and a third partition created Chhandigarh. Punjab still survives not humiliated, not politically weakened and not financially at any great loss. The partitioning of Madhya Pradesh created Chhattisgarh; Andhra Pradesh was a result of the partition of Madras (Tamil Nadu), and Jharkhand was a result of partition of Bihar. New states have been created but the partition or the process and the subsequent evolvements have never reduced the prestige and the standing of the ‘mother’ states. Examples abound and my prayer is that Bengal politicians should draw lessons form history. I am absolutely confident that a Bengali will be at home in Gorkhaland as a Gorkha will be in Bengal as has been for a Sardar in Haryana or a Jat in Punjab. The exercise is basically to give an identity to a community, race or language, in the form of a separate homeland. I seriously empathized with one of my good friend, a Bengali from Cachar in Assam, who used to feel isolated, violated and insulted, for his community was an absolute minority with Cachar and its Bengali population like an island surrounded by non-Bengalis. I would request my Bengali friends to co-relate the plight of the Cachar Bengalis in Assam to the dilemma of the Gorkhas and tribal people in West Bengal and then fashion one’s opinion. One is naturally inclined to believe, and even entirely agree, that Bengal has always been above fair and square with the hills but the present Chief Minister himself is on record commenting that enough had not been done, a statement that comes after 61 years of independence of India and 73 years after the creation of Bengal Legislative Assembly. It is therefore not surprising that numerous Bengali intellectuals are openly espousing Gorkhaland and that is so because history is their testimony, not misplaced sentiment, undue pride or jingoistic political fuss. Of course some confrontational groups of Bengalis and a few politicians do share a different opinion, and the former has over-reacted occasionally and the latter harps on non-acceptance of another partition, but in the end history and reality have to be respected, agreed upon and accepted. No where in India has a community ever had such a profound and protracted struggle like the toil, effort and endeavour for a homeland and I for one believe that an amicable separation is any day better than a rancorous and a bitter divorce. The story of a struggle for a creation of a separate homeland unfolds in 1907, in the last century, and even continues to the present one. As a non-political observer I find it amazing that despite the Bengali politicians generally being highly cultured, refined, well-educated and staunch believers in human dignity and rights to self determination feels no embarrassment in retaining Darjeeling and the Dooars as parts of West Bengal.

1907: The FIRST DEMAND for a Separate Homeland: Following the division of Bengal the Darjeeling district was put under Bhagalpur Division in Bihar. This did not solve the problem for us because even in Bihar we were still a wretched minority. The very act of shunting the district from one division to another became a proof that the British did not quite know where to place the district. This must have stirred into an awakening amongst the educated people in the district on the feeling that their hills were doomed to exist as a minority through attachment to a bigger state in the plains. Whether Darjeeling was thrown into Bihar or Bengal the hillmen would be an ineffective minority amongst the teeming millions of plainsmen. Furthermore, educationally or financially the hillmen were no match against the plainsmen who had established colleges, universities and commercial industries. Then came the news of the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)[1] which promised constitutional changes and some voice to the Indians in deciding public matters. This must have appeared like a small light at the end of the tunnel and so two years before (1907) the actual reforms came into practice the “leaders of the Hill people” submitted to the government a joint petition on behalf of the Bhutias, Lepchas, and Nepalis demanding a “separate administrative set-up” outside the influence of Bengal. At that period of time, most of the new states that have come up in the past decade or two, had not even been conceptualized, let alone demanded or struggled for.

Nothing materialized out of the 1907 petition and it could be called a failure except for the fact that it was for the first time the three major communities had come under one umbrella, united for a common cause, to seek a homeland of their own. Despite the government’s indifference the year in history did not draw a total blank for Kurseong and Siliguri obtained municipality status in that year.

1917: The SECOND DEMAND for a Separate Homeland

After a gap of ten years on 5th December, 1917, The Hillmen’s Association petitioned Edwin Montague, the Secretary of State for India that “Darjeeling’s inclusion in Bengal was comparatively recent and only because the British were rulers common to both places. …Historically, culturally, ethnically, socially, religiously, linguistically there was no affinity whatsoever between Bengal and Darjeeling.” The petition further stated that, “In laying down the plans for the future, the Government should aim at the creation of a separate unit comprising of the present Darjeeling District with the portion of Jalpaiguri District which was annexed from Bhutan in 1865.”[2] This would translate as Darjeeling and the Dooars and it was the first demarcation of the homeland in the minds of our forefathers as far back as 1917. It is of no surprise that the Prant Parishad, Gorkha National Liberation Front and the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha sought or seek nothing more than that. The petition also proposed the formation of North East Frontier Province (cf. North West Frontier Province) which would include Darjeeling District, Dooars, Assam and NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh). Signatories were S.W. Laden La, Dr. Yensingh Sitling, Khardgabahadur Gurung, Meghbir Singh, Lachman Singh, Narprasad Kumai, and Deonidhi Upadhaya.   

India eyeing to export 20 million kg tea to Egypt

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

By N V Maller

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Coimbatore, Aug 13 (PTI) About two decades after losing the flourishing tea market in Egypt, the Indian tea industry has drawn up an ambitious plan to increase exports from two million kgs now to 20 million kgs in the next few years.

Seeking to recapture its share in the Egyptian tea market, where India had a good share in CTC segment till the early 90s, the United Planters’ Association of Southern India and the Tea Board have joined hands to set up an India Tea Promotion Centre in Cairo.

An UPASI team had already visited Cairo recently and held ‘fruitful’ negotiations with a government-run company there and the centre would possibly become operational by the year end, UPASI Secretary-General Ullas Menon told PTI.

With the festive season of Ramzan beginning next month, the company preferred to discuss further modalities later, he said.

Stating that the Union Commerce Ministry and the Tea Board had identified Egypt, Iran and Pakistan as thrust areas for improving tea exports, Menon said India had a substantial market share in the CTC segment till the early 90’s.

The Board was running a tea centre in downtown Cairo, but was wound up in 80’s and even today the road, where the Centre existed continued to be known as ‘Mamarr Al-Shay Al-Hindiy’, which means ‘The street of Indian Tea’, he said.

Paintings to be on exhibition at Ramkrishna Auditorium, Kalimpong

One of the paintings to be exhibited at Ramkrishna Auditorium. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Sitong Kurseong Road Link broken due to landslide

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Hunt begins for virgin ‘living goddess’

By Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal

Article from: Agence France-Presse

August 14, 2008: RELIGIOUS authorities in Nepal have begun the search for a girl who could be as young as three or four to serve as the new Kumari, or the virgin “living goddess”, in a centuries-old tradition.

Astrologers were consulting horoscopes of candidates from Buddhist Shakya families to replace the current Kumari, Preeti Shakya, who is 11 and should retire during the annual Hindu festival of Dasain in October, temple officials said.

“If we don’t change her now, we’ll have to wait until next year which could be late,” said Deepak Bahadur Pandey, a senior official of the state-run Trust Corporation that oversees the country’s cultural matters.

“If the girl starts menstruating while serving as Kumari, it is considered inauspicious,” Mr Pandey said on Tuesday.

Under the Kumari tradition, a girl selected from a Buddhist Newar family goes through a rigorous cultural process and becomes the “living goddess”.

Children remain easy prey for exploitation, violence

FROM GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN

That the children continue to fall prey to the violence of malevolent adults is a testimony to the fact that despite millennia of our evolution, our societies continue to fail the most vulnerable among us.

Notwithstanding the economic, scientific and cultural progress of modern societies, children remain easy targets of exploitation and violence.

Street children are the most vulnerable lot. Sexual abuse is hidden but a widely prevalent suffering among them. No child is safe and away from this cauldron of suffering.

Approximately 99 per cent of them are physically and psychologically abused. Child sexual abuse may include fondling a child’s genitals, masturbation, oral-genital contact, digital penetration, and vaginal and anal intercourse.

The other ways a child can be abused with are direct physical contact, such as sex by exposures, voyeurism and child pornography, use of obscene language, also referred to as non-contact abuse, shows a research conducted jointly by CPSC NGO Nepal, CPCS INT Belgium and VOC Nepal.

The report was unveiled at a programme organised by the Yalamaya Kendra on Monday.

Males are the predominant perpetrators of sexual abuse against street children. On average, there are three male abusers for every two female abusers. On an average, 40 per cent of sexually abusive episodes are perpetrated by street-living children and adults as well as 40 per cent by non-street living adults.

Non street-living adults include relatives, shop, hotel or restaurant owners and workers or any Nepali adult not living on the street. The street is clearly the chief location for all types of sexual abuses, accounting for one in three incidents occurring.

Street children are the reality world-wide and in Kathmandu valley alone, the number of street children are estimated roughly 1200. They live, sleep and work under the open sky and survive without family support. They are living with friends and peers, working as beggars and rag pickers. In spite of their young age, they are exposed to some of the worst forms of exploitation and forced to experience social exclusion day after day.

The reasons for why children end up in the streets of Kathmandu are numerous and complex. Socio-economic conditions in villages, family violence, attraction towards the city, and political instability, are some of them.

Children on the street are living in groups- small gangs following their own rules with their own way of thinking and own way of living. Marginalised by society they create their own system with their own power relations, hierarchy and values.

Death of a Tibetan Warrior

FROM THE NEW YORK OBSERVER

The Dalai Lama, astride horse, escaping Tibet in 1959 with assistance from Wangyal, in hat.

On a blustery day last December, my 78-year-old Tibetan father stepped out of customs at John F. Kennedy Airport into the unforgiving air of his new home. After eight years apart, his family was reunited in a land where he could find the freedom and independence for which he spent the better part of his life fighting.

I first met Wangyal (many Tibetans use only one name) as a student 13 years ago when I lived with his family, who were among the thousands of Tibetans who had fled Chinese control of their homeland and ended up in Kathmandu, Nepal. A Jewish kid from Pittsburgh, I soon took to calling him what everyone else did, “Pala”-father.

Pala had never been to America, but he was no stranger to it. He listened to the nightly Voice of America broadcasts in Tibetan, drawing false hope that America would somehow renew its silent promise to stand up to the Chinese, who had invaded and occupied Tibet since the early 1950s. While uttering mantras to the Buddha of compassion during his daily circumambulations of the holy stupa, he wore gifts of Steelers sweatshirts and Yankees hats from students like me. He knew the feel of a U.S.-military-issued rifle and knew of a place called Colorado, where hundreds of his fellow guerilla fighters were airlifted to C.I.A. training camps.

The day I went to live with my Tibetan family in their two-room apartment, I was ushered immediately into the shrine room, where I was to sleep under the protective gaze of the Buddha and the lingering calm of incense. Pala soon came in to empty the water bowl offerings, followed by my 11-year-old Tibetan brother, who stroked the hair on my white arm and asked if I wanted to see a picture of Pala with the Dalai Lama.

Prachanda meets MPRF chief to discuss Govt. formation in Nepal

CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda today met Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum (MPRF) chairman Upendra Yadav to discuss the government formation in Nepal.

Kathmandu, Aug 12 : CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today met Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) chairman Upendra Yadav to discuss the government formation in Nepal.

According to Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the meeting concluded to continue attempts for consensus until the election of the Prime Minister scheduled to be held on Friday.

The meeting between the Maoists and the MPRF comes at a time when the Nepali Congress (NC) has announced to stay in opposition if it is not given the Defense Ministry.

Prachanda also met Nepali Congress leader and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

According to sources, Sitaula told Prachanda that caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has proposed to reconsider the Defense Ministry.

GJM to celebrate I-Day with fanfare

FROM THE HINDU

Siliguri (PTI): The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has decided to celebrate the Independence Day with much fanfare this year.

Separate Independence Day celebration committees were formed for Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-divisions to make celebrations colourful, GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang told PTI over phone on Wednesday from Darjeeling.

Many students would join the march past, every house would raise the national Tri-colour and people would organise cultural programmes, he said.

Besides, there would be programmes to remember the freedom fighters and to distribute clothes and food grains to poor people, Tamang said.

The GJM would also keep a strict vigil to ensure that there was no breach of peace in the hills on that day, he added.

Strike hits output of India’s Darjeeling teas

FROM DAILY TIMES

KOLKATA: Thousands of Indian tea plantation workers in the Darjeeling region went on strike on Monday demanding higher wages, and have threatened to step up their protests, endangering output of premium brews.

The daylong stoppage hit peak-season activity on 350 gardens in the Himalayan region in eastern India, which also suffered in June during protests for a separate state for the region’s ethnic Nepalis, known as Gorkhas.

“The Darjeeling tea industry will lose about 20 million rupees ($475,000) a day owing to these strikes,” Rajiv Lochan, a tea garden owner and secretary of the Siliguri Tea Traders’ Association, told Reuters. The region produces about 10 million kg of premium teas which sell at up to six times the price of other grades. “We will resort to an indefinite strike from Aug. 18 if our demands are not met,” said Orient Kawar, a striking worker. reuters

Tuk-tuk travels to trace tea

FROM THE HUNSLOW CHRONICLE

By Nina Rossi

A tea-mad Isleworth man is preparing to hit the road in a tiny tuk-tuk to trace the popular beverage’s long history.

Mike Hasler, of Worton Road, has just set off on an incredible journey that will see him spend almost seven months travelling 15,000km across eighteen countries in three-wheeled auto-rickshaws with a top speed of 31mph.

Along with his three friends he will trace tea’s ancient trading routes from Darjeeling, India to London and help produce ‘Tracing Tea’, an eight-part documentary celebrating the 350th anniversary of tea’s introduction to Britain.

As he passes through the Indian Sub-Continent, China, Central Asia, Iran and Europe, Mr Hasler, 34, hopes to encounter stories of espionage and warfare, philosophy and medicine centred on our nation’s favourite brew.

India in Asian Cup, Sunil Chettri scores a hatrick!

FROM THE STATESMAN

NEW DELHI, Aug. 13: Sunil Chhetri claimed the rare distinction of scoring thrice in a final as India drubbed defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 in the floodlit summit showdown of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup at Ambedkar Stadium, here today.

The victory, to which Baichung Bhutia contributed a goal while Subrata Pal pulled off some stunning saves, enabled the team to qualify for the next Asian Cup ~ continental football’s loftiest platform where India had last been seen in 1984. Chhetri, who had said before the match that the summit clash would be the most important 90 minutes of his career, stole the show today by scoring in the ninth, 19th and 75th minutes, and giving opposition defence a torrid time with numerous solo runs. However, India today perhaps found inspiration from the Nehru Cup victory last August at the same ground. They must also be thanking the weather Gods as incessant rains in Hyderabad had forced the AFC to shift the match from there to Ambedkar Stadium which again looked festive with spectators almost filling up the 20000 capacity stadium. The home team surged ahead under controversial circumstances through Chhetri from a move initiated by Renedy Singh’s corner.

Central defender Gouramangi Singh connected the corner but found the right upright on the way for Steven Dias to essay a fine cross from the right for Chhetri to slam home. The crowd was stunned after Uzbek referee Valentin Kovalenko did not immediately award a goal doubting it was offside. However, the referee awarded the goal to the hosts after consultation with the assistant referee Mohammed Jabar Dharman from Qatar. India cushioned their lead in the 19th minute with Baichung scoring a gem of a goal. The Indian captain found the net with a wonderfully struck left footer, connecting a Chhetri low pass from the left edge of the box, which flew past the Tajik goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev’s left. Four minutes later, Chhetri’s score took the margin to 3-0.

Jubilation – Football High, Bhaichung and Sunil makes India proud

Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia (right) Sunil Chhetri after a goal against Tajikistan during the final of the AFC Challenge Cup in New Delhi on Wednesday. In a rare achievement for an Indian playing an international final, East Bengal`s recent acquisition Chhetri hit three goals as India qualified for the Asian Cup after a 24-year gap with a fluent 4-1 victory over Tajikistan in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup summit showdown here tonight. The diminutive but nippy player`s strike was complemented by a goal from skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, throwing some 13,000 spectators at Ambedkar Stadium into ecstasies. Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev pulled one back for Tajikistan, who allowed themselves some crucial – and costly – crucial defensive errors. [The Statesman]

Big cat on way out – Breeding shadow on Rasikbeel

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

One of the leopards at the Rasikbeel rescue centre. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Cooch Behar, Aug. 13: A male leopard born at Rasikbeel one-and-a-half-years ago may have to be shifted soon as the rescue centre does not have permission to breed the animals.

The forest officials fear that the growing leopard may soon have breeding capabilities. Among the seven leopards at the centre, five are females and the only adult male is neutered.

Forest sources said after the rescue centre was opened in 2005 with two female leopards, Kali and Gouri, a male named Shankar was introduced. When both the females gave birth, it embroiled the centre in a controversy. The forest department was hauled up for allowing the breeding to take place without the clearance of the Central Zoo Authority.

Faced with criticism from many quarters, the forest department shifted Shankar to the Darjeeling zoo and replaced it with the neutered Raja. Kali and Gouri’s litter included three females and one male, which is now in the eye of a storm. A senior forester said the “new male” would have to be shifted out of the rescue centre as it is approaching adulthood. One of the young females would also be taken to some other zoo, he said.

Zoo lines up events for jubilee year

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The zoological park in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Aug. 13: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park here will flag off its year-long golden jubilee celebration tomorrow.

“We will hoist the zoo flag and present awards to our workers tomorrow. There will be a cultural show as well. We are also planning a major function in November as part of the celebration,” said A.K. Jha, the director of the zoo.

In the jubilee year, the Bengal Natural History Museum will be shifted from Chowrasta here to the zoo premise.

The director said there were plans to bring in two more red pandas from Australia and New Zealand to the zoo.

The park, which was classified as the best in the country by the Central Zoo Authority, is the first to have a programme for conservation breeding of wild animals – first of snow leopard and then red panda.

Plans for colourful I-Day fest

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Paintings being arranged for the exhibition at Town Hall in Kalimpong. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Aug. 13: An exhibition-cum-sale of paintings by artists from the hills and Sikkim is expected to make the Independence Day celebration here a colourful affair this time.

Though not part of the Independence Day programme, the organisers of Kalimpong in Colours that starts in Town Hall tomorrow are hoping that at least some among the thousands of revellers, who will come down here for the extended celebrations of the day, will make it to the show.

The five-day-long exhibition is being organised by the Kalimpong Artists’ Association (KAA). “An affair involving so many artists is being organised for the first time here. Although the town does not have a gallery to stage such an event, we chose not to compromise on the scale of the exhibition,” said Tika Pradhan, the association secretary.

Over 200 paintings by artists from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Siliguri, Sikkim and Kalimpong will be on display at the show. Some of the names whose works will be exhibited include Mahendra Thami and Hemu Subba from Darjeeling, Pasang Sherpa from Namchi, Suraj Pradhan from Rhenock, Bapuji from Siliguri and Sunil Pradhan and Tika from Kalimpong.

Serow death fine on hydel plant developer

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Gangtok, Aug. 13: The developers of Teesta Stage III project in North Sikkim, where a rare mountain goat was found dead two months ago, have been let off with a fine of Rs 25,000 and a warning that serious action will be taken against it if such an incident recurs.

Teesta Urja Limited must also commit to take up development measures inside the wildlife area around the project site of the upcoming 1,200mw hydel power plant.

The animal found dead at the project site was a Himalayan Serow, which is an endangered species included in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1971.

The decision to haul up Teesta Urja was made at a meeting convened by the chief wildlife warden of Sikkim here today.

Members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), an NGO, and sectoral officials of the state forest, wildlife and environment management department attended the meeting, as did the principal chief conservator of forests-cum-secretary, S.T. Lachungpa.

Recently, ACT expressed concern after no action was initiated despite the lapse of two months since an FIR on the serow’s death was lodged.

Cotton wool doctor gets bail after surrender

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling District Hospital

Darjeeling, Aug 13: A doctor of Darjeeling District Hospital, who has been accused of leaving cotton wool inside a patient following a curettage wash-up of the uterus, today surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate after police started a case of negligence.

Dr N.K. Gorai has been granted bail.

The husband of the patient, Prerna Gurung, today filed an FIR with the Darjeeling Sadar police station. “We have started a case under Section 338 of the IPC after receiving the complaint,” said a police official. Section 338 deals with negligence (causing grievous hurt by an act, which endangers the human life) and is bailable.

“The judge granted bail on a surety and a bail bond of Rs 300. The next date of hearing has been fixed on August 27,” said Roshan Pariyar, the defence lawyer.

Sandu Gurung, Prerna’s husband, had accused the doctor of leaving cotton wool inside her body following the curettage wash-up on August 8. Although Prerna was discharged the next day, she complained of pain following which she was admitted to the Army Hospital in Lebong where the cotton wool were allegedly removed on August 11.

Gorai today said he had “intentionally” kept the cotton wool inside to stop the bleeding. “The next day, she appeared to have recovered well. Moreover, since the ward was crammed and also because some cracks had appeared on the building there was commotion all around. However, even in the confusion I think I had told them (patient and her family members) that the cotton wool had to be removed after 48 hours,” said Gorai.

Kashmiri hug in football’s 24-yr moment – INDIA SHOOTS DOWN ANOTHER JINX

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY JAYDEEP BASU

Bhaichung Bhutia hugs Sunil Chhetri after the final. Picture by Prem Singh

New Delhi, Aug. 13: A baby-faced star fired in three goals and a young Kashmiri played like a man possessed as India tonight stormed into the final rounds of the 2011 Asian Cup football championship after 24 years in the wilderness.

“It’s a great moment for Indian football,” said midfielder Mehrajuddin Wadoo, unshed tears glistening in his eyes under the floodlights, far away from his bloodied land now teetering on the edge of a separatist precipice.

“For the past few months, we were like a cohesive unit,” Mehraj, Jammu and Kashmir’s lone representative in the team and the first to embrace captain Bhaichung Bhutia, added. “You can see the result for yourself.”

The victory on the soccer field came a few hours before Abhinav Bindra, who won for his medal-starved nation an Olympic gold and shot down a jinx, landed in Delhi.

Delhi boy Sunil Chhetri, who had said before the match the summit clash would be the most important 90 minutes of his career, scored thrice as India strolled past defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 in the final of the AFC Challenge Cup for a direct entry to Doha, Qatar.

The last time India had made it to the finals of the Asian Cup – whose winner automatically qualifies for the Fifa Confederations Cup – was in 1984 under Yugoslav coach Ciric Milovan.

This time, too, another foreign coach was at the helm – England’s Bob Houghton.

“Tonight, I am going to take a glass of wine and sleep peacefully,” Houghton said after the triumph that followed the Nehru Cup win against Syria last August on the same ground, Ambedkar Stadium. “Then I will think about what next.”

India wins AFC Challenge Cup, qualify for 2011 Asian Cup

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

New Delhi (PTI): Riding on a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick, India on Wednesday thrashed defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 in the final of AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here and qualified for the Asian Cup after a hiatus of 24 years.

Playing one of their best matches in the recent times, India outplayed its Central Asian rival in all departments of the game in the thrilling summit clash of the eight-nation Asia’s second tier competition whose winners get a direct entry to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha.

Chhetri, who had said before the match that the summit clash would be the most important 90 minutes of his career, stole the show today by scoring in the ninth, 19th and 75th minutes, and giving opposition defence a torrid time with numerous solo runs.

Inspirational India captain Baichung Bhutia added another goal for the hosts in the 23rd minute under floodlights at the Ambedkar Stadium to give India their third entry in the continental elite stage.

India last played in the Asian Cup in 1984 under Yugoslav coach Ciric Milovan with players of calibre like Shabbir Ali, Subrata Bhattacharya, Krishanu Dey and Prasanta Banerjee in the team.

AFC Challenge Cup ‘08: Chhetri: A New Era For Indian Football

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

India’s hero Sunil Chhetri praised Coach Bob Houghton for his and the team’s success at the AFC Challenge Cup ‘08.

The one person who gets all the credit is Mr.Bob Houghton. It’s his efforts that have brought dividends,” said an exhilarated Sunil.

The Delhi boy further said, “I am happy for everyone in the team and myself. Bhaichung has been a great leader.”

The East Bengal forward thanked the crowd for showing their support and turning out in great numbers at the Ambedkar Stadium.

“I want to thank the crowd at Delhi for supporting us tonight. This is a new era for Indian football.”

Seminar on Contribution of Gorkhas for development in North East/India

FROM ASSAM TIMES

NEWS SHARED BY Y K SHRESTHA

“Nation needs to identify Gorkhas as Indian” – this was the opinion by Manash Choudhury, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Govt. of Meghalaya while releasing a book titled  ‘The Gurkhas’ at the seminar on ‘Contribution of Gorkhas for development in North East/India’ at Marwari Vishram Bhawan organized by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (Meghalaya State) in Shillong. Mr. Choudhury outlined that the main stream Indian policy makers should accept and recognize Gorkhas as first class Indian citizen and give due respect to the infinite contributions made instead of treating them step brotherly.  Prof Munish Tamang of Delhi University, Joel Rai Deputy Editor India Today, Swaraj Thapa, Bureau Chief The Financial Express all core committee members of Central Progamming Cell BGP expressed views on behalf of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha. They put forward authentic datas of Gorkhas and outlined the contributions of Gorkhas in various fields in the nation building process. The speakers spoke on possibilities of Gorkha’s contribution in Vision 2020 India and the magnitude of their abilities. They recalled the sacrifices for the cause of the nation by Gorkhas since 200 plus years now. Unanimously the speakers lamented on the conspiracy of the administrators and bureaucrats who made a blue print to isolate the existence of Gorkhas.

Papers were represented by Prof Imdad Hussain of North Eastern Hill University(NEHU) who is an acclaimed anthropologist of the region and Dr. Purushotam Bhandari, an academician and research fellow of repute. Dr Bhandari in his paper mentioned about the indigenousity of Gorkhas in the Brahmaputra valley – Limbu a constiuent tribe of Gorkhas lived in bank of Barak and Brahmaputra valley who proves that Gorkhas are the real Son of Soil. He made a consensus appeal that more research work has to be done on it and presented before the people so that it can be debated.

Unrest forces Dabur to rethink Pak, Nepal plans

FROM THE INDIAN EXPRESS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

By Suvi Dogra

New Delhi:Following political disturbances in the neighbouring markets of Pakistan and Nepal, homegrown FMCG company Dabur India is now rethinking its strategy for the sub-continent. The company currently operates in Nepal through a subsidiary, while in Pakistan it has trading operations through its Dubai subsidiary.

Dabur’s international business stands at around Rs 380 crore, out of which Nepal accounts for Rs 40 crore, while Pakistan contributes around Rs 10-12 crore.

Dabur is in the process of setting up a manufacturing facility in Pakistan which will start functioning from the third quarter of the current fiscal.

“What we are doing in Pakistan is to have a simple packing operation first for packaging and assembling the products shipped into Pakistan and later evolve it to a fully functional manufacturing unit,” Sunil Duggal, CEO, Dabur India, told Business Standard. Bulk products will be shipped out of Dubai and other markets and will be assembled at the new facility in Pakistan.

Last year Dabur saw flat sales in Pakistan largely due to political instability and the change in the import policy which led to higher duties, which in turn impacted both the revenue and the margins.

India eyeing elite Asian stage by winning AFC Challenge Cup

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

NEW DELHI: Back at a venue where they tasted success last year, a confident India team will seek to put aside Tajikistan’s challenge and grab the coveted prize of 2011 Asian Cup qualification when the two sides take on each other in the final of AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here on Wednesday.

After incessant rains at Hyderabad forced the Asian Football Confederation shift the summit clash and the third place play-off here, the home team is upbeat that they will play at the Ambedkar Stadium where India won the Nehru Cup in August last year, a major international title after a long time.
Bob Houghton’s charges have also shown immense fighting spirit in all the matches till the semi-finals and they realised they are just one match away from their goal of joining the elite stage of the continent by qualifying for 2011 Asian Cup after 24 years.

India last played in Asian Cup in 1984 in Singapore where they finished last in their group. Before that they finished runners-up in Israel. A win on Wednesday will arouse hopes of beginning of a turnaround and awakening of a “sleeping giant” after years of slumber and will go into record books of Indian football which does not have much to write about in terms of recent achievement.