Ludmilla Tüting: “My Heart Is Nepali”

FROM AMERICAN CHRONICLE

By Satis Shroff

September 01, 2008

Ludmilla Tüting is a robust, well-read, emancipated, bespectacled Teutonic woman who makes no secret of the fact that she lives in a Berlin Hinterhof (backyard) in Kreuzberg (West Berlin) and yearns to see a horizon, especially with pagoda-silhouettes in the distance. It almost sounds as though Berlin is a city with the lost horizon.

She oscillates between Kathmandu and Berlin, and is very much active in the field of ´sanfte´(soft)-tourism, which means tourism with insight. She spent her 50th Birthday on 27th of May 1996 with her Nepalese friends in the monastery of Thangpoche. She is concerned about the negative aspects of tourism and write the information-service ´Tourism Watch´. To potential tourists in the German-speaking world, she´s a Nepal-specialist, who cares about Nepal´s cultural and natural heritage, as is evident through her travel books.

I met her at the Volkerkunde Museum in Freiburg, the metropolis of the south-west Black Forest, and the occasion was one of a series of talks held under the aegis of ´Contemporary Painting from Nepal´ to promote cultural and religious development in Nepal.

Man May Go Extinct

FROM GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN

BY BUDDHI GAUTAM

Conservation Area Project caught my attention. While it was supremely pleasant to know that there were 862 species (one of the greatest in the world) of birds in Nepal, it was equally disheartening to discover that at least half a dozen species of birds were already extinct.

The ‘tiger tale’ (or trauma?) is even more alarming. When the British left India in 1947, there were more than 20,000 tigers roaming in the Indian jungles alone. Today, the number of this graceful feline beast – the national animal of India – hardly exceeds 2000! And in Nepal, too, the number of tigers is fast dwindling. On top it all, there is an irksome fact: currently, there are hardly 5,000 tigers in the world!

Dinosaurs disappeared some 65 million years ago from the face of the earth. The most widely accepted rationale behind their extinction is that they failed to adapt themselves to the changing environment. Many species of living beings might have similarly gone extinct. Currently, more than 12 million species of living beings inhabit the planet. Sadly, many of them are on the verge of extinction, and likely to suffer the same fate as the fossil reptiles like dinosaurs.

Postgraduates, graduates apply for sweepers’ jobs

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Greater Noida (UP) : Such is the high level of unemployment that graduates and even postgraduates – including an MSc in agriculture – are queuing up to apply for jobs as sweepers in in this satellite town of the national capital – and even wielding the broom to clean dirty roads and drains as part of the practical test.

Following an advertisement for 397 sweeper posts by the district administration of Gautam Budh Nagar, 1,076 applications were received. Among the applicants are more than a dozen postgraduates and graduates. Those selected would get jobs as sweepers in the villages of Gautam Budh Nagar.

Though the district administration is surprised with such applications, they maintain that no preference would be given to those who are more qualified for a job whose minimum requirement is to have passed class 5.

Farmers urged for “gold revolution”

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: “Rabi campaign 2008″ was launched here at Sikkim Government College auditorium on Sunday by agriculture minister Mr. Somnath Paudyal. The campaign, organized by Food Security & Agriculture Development Department, aims at a ‘gold revolution’ in agriculture in the state.

In his address, Mr. Paudyal said in the last four years there has been tremendous development in the field of agriculture in the state.

“As per the direction of chief minister Dr. Pawan Chamling I as the concerned minister wanted to bring about massive development in agriculture and horticulture. Our sustained effort has given results”, he said. Farmers of the state now look happy, he said, citing example of Sumbuk, South Sikkim, where the farmers have produced 15000 metric ton tomato this year. He said there is much progress in the field of horticulture and now we should turn to agriculture. “The new generations are more interested government jobs, he said, while stressing the need “to attract them again in agriculture”.

Dalai Lama observes fast for Tibet crisis

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Dharamsala: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile Samdhong Rinpoche today observed fast and offered prayers to protest against the “Chinese oppression” in Tibet and for world peace.

The Tibetan temporal head, undergoing treatment at Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, participated in the protest from his hospital bed itself, his secretary and spokesman Tenzin Takhla told PTI here.

In Dharamsala – headquarter of the Tibetan government in exile, thousands of Tibetans gathered at ‘Tsuglagkhang’ (the main local temple of Buddhists) to observe fast and offer prayers. The 12-hour protest fast has been organised by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee. Rinpoche, ‘Speaker’ Karma Chophel, and his deputy Dolma Gyari were among others who participated in the protest fast.

Nepali language uniformity exercise to begin from today

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 31: A four day workshop on ‘Standardization of spelling and vocabulary in Nepali language’ is set to be conducted by Sikkim Akademi in association with North Eastern Regional Language Centre, Guwahati.

The workshop is slated to begin at MLA hostel, Gangtok from tomorrow and will continue till September 14.
North Eastern Regional Language Centre, Guwahati is a branch of Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore while Sikkim Akaemi is an autonomous body under Cultural Affairs and Heritage department, Government of Sikkim.

The upcoming workshop is a part of the national programme initiated by CIIL for the overall development of all Indian languages. The four day exercise at Gangtok will have intensive discussions and deliberations besides presentation of papers, informs a press release.

Reliance blanked out, subscribers switched on to alternative modes

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 31: Thousands of people in Sikkim, Darjeeling and Siliguri were rendered virtually ineffective in the past 48 hours as an indefinite strike called by the operators blanked out Reliance telecommunications services in the region.

The strike was called by Gorkha Janmukti Reliance Employees Association had begun from Saturday and by afternoon, all the Reliance subscribers in the region had lost their network.

Many of them missed urgent calls or frantically making arrangements for alternative telecom service providers.

“I had to make an important call but could not do so as the person I was calling has a Reliance number”, was the common talk doing rounds everywhere.

With no solution on cards, most of the subscribers are or already switched on to alternative mobile service providers. “I am getting another connection for myself and my family”, said one frustrated Reliance subscriber.

Internet connections powered by Reliance are also suffering from the blackout. Ironically, Reliance officials could not be contacted in this whole period as they all have Reliance numbers.

GJM relief drive for Bihar flood victims

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, August 31: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation works for those affected by massive floods at Bihar.

GJM supporters and students will be raising funds through collection boxes in different parts of Darjeeling hills.

The fund raising drive will being from Tuesday and will continue till September 9 and the funds raised will be handed over to the GJM central body.

After the collection, a GJM team will be going to Bihar to hand the relief funds.

Meanwhile 100 rafting persons and volunteers will be going to Bihar tomorrow with 20 water rafts to participate in the relief and rehabilitation works.

Sikkim announces Rs.1 crore aid for Bihar floods – Council of Ministers to contribute 1 month’s salary each

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 31: Sikkim government has decided to contribute an aid of Rs.1 crore to relief and rehabilitation works of those affected by the massive floods at Bihar. This decision was reached during a Cabinet meeting held yesterday where deep and heartfelt sympathies towards all the families of those who have lost their lives, properties and homes was recorded on behalf of Sikkimese people and the State government.

The Cabinet, which observed two minutes’ silence in memory of those who lost their lives during the floods has also decided to contribute an amount of Rs.1 crore on behalf of the people and Government of Sikkim towards the relief and rehabilitation of those affected by this tragic catastrophe, informs a press release from the Chief Minster’s Office.

Ranka slide victims provided with relief amounts

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 31: Compensation was provided to the 20 families of Luing Pabring GPU who have been affected by slides by the Ranka Block Development Centre yesterday.

Ranka BDO Urvashi Poudyal informed that compensation money ranging from Rs.1200 to a maximum of Rs.20,000 to the affected families as per the damages they suffered.

It may be recalled that 25 families from the GPU in Ranka had suffered damages to their properties during a recent slide.

The remaining five families will get their due relief money after completion of a survey report, informed the BDO. She informed the survey to record the damages suffered by the landslide victims has begun and the full relief distribution will take place after completion of the report.

Series on Sikkim heroes under process

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

By Shashibushan Diwedi

SILIGURI, August 31: The State government is ‘studying’ various aspects of reproducing a series of books on those Sikkimese personalities who have played memorable roles in the reconstruction of Sikkim.

Scholars from various parts of the country are being approached to accept the assignment to write the series, sources from HRD department informs.

It is informed that this ‘good idea’ was struck upon after the recent release of a book on those personalities who have contributed to the State. Some prominent people have found no mention in the book without whom the history of Sikkim is not completed.

The book in question had been released by former Chief Minister S.M.Limboo recently. During the release ceremony, talks on those left out in the book were made and the concerned minister had said that ‘other such volumes’ are also on the cards.

558 houses, 17 church/prayer houses torched during riot: Govt

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Bhubaneswar, Sept 1 (PTI) Claiming that the situation in Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa was well under control, the state government today said at least 558 houses and 17 places of worship were burnt in communal riots after VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s killing on August 23.

While 543 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district, 15 houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district, said Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

All the torching of places of worship were reported from Kandhamal district where over 185 people were arrested on charge of rioting, arson and other offences. A total of 35 people were injured in the riot in Kandhamal, he said.

Though Tripathy did not mention how may were killed during the riot, official sources today put the figure at 16, with the recovery of two bodies in Kandhamal district.

Aarushi murder accused may be turned approver – CBI sources admit they have failed to unearth any material evidence in the double murder

FROM MSN HOME PAGE/ INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

New Delhi, Monday, September 01: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to get an accused in the murders of teenager Aarushi and her family help Hemraj to turn approver as it nears the September-10 deadline to file chargesheet in the case it claimed to have cracked over 50 days ago. [Inset: Aarushi and the accused. Photo: Zee news]

CBI sources admit they have failed to unearth any material evidence in the double murder that took place at the home of 14-year-old Aarushi, daughter of a reputed doctor couple in Noida.

The CBI is thus trying to get one of the accused to turn approver so that the case does not fall flat in the court.

“At present, there is no progress in terms of material evidence. We have the confessions of the accused in the form of the narco-analysis tests. So we are working (to see) if one of the accused agrees to turn approver as the chargesheet needs to be filed soon,” a CBI officer said.

Signature Campaign for support of Gorkhaland

FROM ASSAM TIMES

By Nanda Kirati Dewan 31 August, 2008 08:49:00

NEWS SHARED BY YK SHRESTHA

A mass signature campaign for support of Gorkhaland in West Bengal has been started off by Sahitya Akademi awardee Prof. Lil bahadur Chetri  signing in the flex of map of Gorkhaland at  All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) office, Guwahati. Activists of various Gorkha organizations of Assam were present at the event.

An important public service notice

BY JOSEPH CHAMLING

Dear Friends/Family,

The below 4yrs baby name POOJA was kidnapped by a person at some place and now she is under Kerala Police custody. Since the baby could not communicate her identification clearly, Police is struggling to find her parents. The flg information was given by the baby which may or may not be correct also. Requesting all to forward her photograph to the maximum people in India to identify her parents / relatives.

Hope this will cost only your time and will help one life.
Information given by the baby:

Father’s Name : Mr. Rajkiran
Mother’s Name : Mrs.. Munny Devi
Language : HINDI
Place : Nagaluppi (this was pronounced by the baby which Police could not find such a place. The place must be related to the mentioned name). She is having one younger Brother & Elder Sister.

[Dear Friends, if you have any information please do let us know!]

Indian boxing gets ready for prime-time punch

FROM SUNDAY INDIAN EXPRESS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

By Bharat Sundaresan

Mumbai, August 30: After its knockout performance in the Olympics, Indian boxing gets ready to step into a league of its own. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) plans to launch its own professional boxing league-based on cricket’s Indian Premier League franchise model-with team owners bidding for boxers around the country and prizes for both individual and team events up for grabs.

This league, likely to come up in a year, will be an off-shoot of the International Amateur Boxing Association’s (AIBA) planned professional league, called the ‘World League of Boxing’. While the international body’s key interest in launching a professional league is to try and cut down on the number of defections to similar leagues in the US and UK, in India a league of this kind could go a long way in generating public interest in the sport. Also, since India has no professional league, amateur boxers had no option but to hang their gloves if they couldn’t make it to international meets.

“The IABF will have complete control over the domestic league,” General Secretary Col. Murlidhar Raja told The Indian Express. The rules, he said, would be similar to those followed by US and UK leagues, where boxers contest without headgear and bouts last between 12 and 16 rounds. He also said these bouts would be scheduled for prime-time TV on Fridays and Saturdays and that ‘challenge bouts’, involving foreign guest boxers, were also being planned.

KRIPA – A HOME, AWAY FROM HOME

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

BY JYOTI BHANDARI

Jyoti Bhandari is IInd Year Mass Communication and Journalism student of Southfield College, Darjeeling

When I was taking my steps down towards mall villa I perceived a beautiful house. I closed my eyes and I wondered for a while whether it was a heaven for the misguided people. If this was the way to see a heaven I wish my eyes be closed forever….

“Kripa is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Grace’. Most of the experiential staff are made aware of the gift of life that Kripa has been to them. It reminds us of the miracle of new life,” said Brother Gabriel Gurung, in-charge of the institute. [Inset: Kripa Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Photo by Jyoti Bhandari]

Emmanuel Moktan inaugurated with Kripa said, “Father Joe was the first person to bring out this institute in India and of course in Darjeeling. A group of citizens invited Fr. Joe to Darjeeling, with his advice and guidance this institute was established in the year 1992. Lt. Eric Benjamin inaugurated this institute”.

Kripa in Darjeeling is one of the well renowned institute. The rehabilitation centre is a place where drug addicts / alcoholics are kept or given treatment.

Wild Animals Damages to Agrarian Economy

The paper describes the damages caused by wild animals on agrarian economy. This study looks into various aspects of damages by elephants, birds and other species. Introduction:

Wild animal-human conflicts have started since beginning of human era from Adam and Eve. This conflict of wilderness made man to hide in caves and he was called as “Cave man”. Slowly, with his advancement it is he who invented Axe and other weapon in stone and iron ages to frighten the wild animals, initially. Later on he hunted them to save himself. This feeling of uncertainty and fear of wild animals and wilderness reduced with the invention of fire. He made sharp weapons of bones and iron. These initial weapons were the beginning of this conflict, Animal human conflict.

Thirty thousand years ago, the human population rose to 6 million. They were still hunters. With the invention of fire, he set fire a vast majority of sanctuaries, which scared wild life and they migrated from his neighborhood. Many forests, hills and difficult terrains were still beyond the reach of man three thousand years before, although human population has increased to 60 million. Man has already started primitive agriculture. He had made his terrains and wild life scared by him left his close habitats and searched for fresh abodes. Man by now had lust for fur, horns, ornaments and other forest resources. He invented many means to frighten whole wild life. He became a “Danger “not only for wild animals but for his own species, environment and eco-biodiversity.

Three hundred years ago he industrialized crop production and produced enough food, for nearly 600 million people. This continued and from 30 year now he is feeding 6000 million people. Today we have a global food security for 7.5 billion. Human food security gains resulted in reduction of all other wild species, thus, the origin of wild- life- human conflict is the lust of man for more food, more luxury or sometimes fun for hunting or fur. This reduced wild life reserves and now a open conflict came into existence.

The loyal Gurkha who’s been refused medical treatment in Britain… because he can’t afford the £500 visa fee

FROM MAIL ONLINE

He served Britain loyally for 24 years as a solder in the Gurkhas, and was awarded the Military Cross by Prince Philip.

He was also chosen to meet the Queen when she visited Nepal in 1986 because of his exemplary record.

But now, in his hour of need, Britain has turned its back on 81-year-old Lalit Bahadur Gurung.

Gurkha Lalit Gurung lies bed-ridden at his home in Nepal and cannot get medical treatment in Britain because he can’t afford the £500 visa fee

After a massive stroke left the retired Army Captain paralysed, he has been prevented from coming here for medical treatment because he cannot afford the £500 visa fee.

Mr Gurung’s son carried him to see British officials in Kathmandu . But they said they could not consider his request to waive the visa fee unless he was officially declared destitute. Lawyers for the former Queen’s Gurkha Officer are now seeking a judicial review of that decision on compassionate grounds.

Mr Gurung’s case is the latest to be taken on by campaigners who believe that Britain has betrayed its most loyal soldiers, who risked their lives for a country many had never even seen.

There is mounting public anger that the Gurkhas, who have served alongside British troops since 1815 and won 26 Victoria Crosses, are denied the rights given to their British counterparts, and even to thousands of migrants every year.

Mr Gurung, who lives in the remote Nepalese town of Pokhara, joined the Gurkhas on his 18th birthday in 1944 and served in India and Singapore during the Malayan Emergency uprising.

In 1964 he was presented with the Military Cross, Britain’s third highest military honour, for his bravery in fighting insurgents in Borneo and Brunei.

Journos injured in clash with cops

FROM GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN

KATHMANDU, Aug. 31: Police has arrested journalists after interfering in the sit-in staged at the Singha Durbar south gate this morning by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists on the problems created in Nepal 1 TV run in Indian investment.

The arrestees are FNJ Secretary Ramji Dahal, Central Member Ujir Magar, Journalists KP Gautam, Manarhishi Dhital, Raj Kumar Regmi, Rabi Dhami, Yubaraj Bidrohi, and Rhishi Dhamala.

Police arrested them saying they staged the sit-in at a prohibited zone and kept them at the Metropolis Police Sector, Singha Durbar.

The FNJ staged the sit-in under the first phase programme.

The representative of UNOHCHR in Nepal acquired information on the situation of the arrested journalists.

Central Member of FNJ Ujir Magar has injury on the leg as police used force.

Prachanda: we believe in democracy

FROM THE HINDU

By Prerana Marasini

KATHMANDU: Two weeks after the prime ministerial election, the coalition government headed by the CPN (Maoist) has taken a full shape with the expansion of the Cabinet with 24 Ministries, including three Deputy Prime Ministers.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) administered the oath of office and secrecy to six Maoist Ministers, six UML Ministers and three Ministers representing smaller parties of the Constituent Assembly.

After assuming his office, Bam Dev Gautam, who holds the second position in the government as the Deputy Prime Minister, said his focus would be to maintain peace and security. “I want people to feel the difference from tomorrow itself,” he told reporters.

Baburam Bhattarai and Upendra Yadav are the other two Deputy Prime Ministers. They are yet to take the oath.

Media boycott

For the first time in the history of Nepal, the swearing in was boycotted by the media citing discrimination, as a number of reporters were denied media passes. Even the state-owned Nepal Television did not shoot the oath-taking.

Curfew in Nepal town as Maoists-UML cadres clash

FROM CENTRAL CHRONICLE

Kathmandu, Aug 31: Indefinite curfew was clamped in an eastern Nepal town on Sunday, after some two dozen people were injured in police firing, following a violent clash between youth activists of country’s two main political parties.

The police opened fire to control the situation as the activists of CPN-Maoist affiliated Young Communist League and the Youth Force of CPN-UML clashed over the issue of fund raising in Dhankuta town, police said.

Nearly two dozen activists from both of the groups injured during the incident, the police said. The administration imposed indefinite curfew in the municipality area when the situation turned uncontrollable.

The CPN-UML’s Youth Force accused the members of Maoists’ Young Communist League of preventing them from raising funds for their organisation.

“The Maoists were raising donation from vehicles plying the Koshi highway, but they did not allow us to raise the fund which resulted in fighting,” said Govinda Bhattarai, office secretary of the Youth Force.

Flying down for tea, tips – Team from US & Canada to visit Hills, Terai

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Visitors at a garden in China’s Qingcheng Shan during a tour organised by The Tea House

Siliguri, Aug. 31: A team from the US and Canada will tour the brew belts of India, Sri Lanka and Nepal next month to improve and share knowledge on the tea trade in the subcontinent.

The nine-member team, comprising people related to the tea sector like buyers, shop-owners, writers and also drinkers of quality brew, will start the tour from October 10.

“There is no substitute for actually being in a tea estate, plucking and making tea with own hands, talking directly with planters, workers and business executives,” Dan Robertson, who owns The Tea House, a firm in Chicago, wrote in an e-mail.

“Smelling the fresh tea and tasting the best teas of the world right at the place where these were made, are added attractions for any tourist in this tea tour. Those associated with the industry can improve their knowledge of the trade and in turn, can share with the clients and customers back home,” Robertson, whose firm conducts world tours, added.

The Tea House has been hosting tea tours for over a decade. “This is however, the first tour we are organising in India. We have started with the China tea tour and are eventually expanding out to other Asian countries,” he said.

The team will reach Colombo on October 10 and fly to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu the next day. “On October 13, it will reach Calcutta,” said Ankit Lochan of the Lochan Tea Limited that is managing the team’s itinerary in India.

In Calcutta, the team is scheduled to meet Tea Board officials and a few brokers before leaving for Bagdogra on October 15. “The members will meet stakeholders of the tea industry in north Bengal, see auction at the centre in Siliguri and head for Darjeeling,” Lochan said.

Strike disrupts cellular service

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, Aug. 31: The mobile phone service of Reliance Telecom has been disrupted across the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim since yesterday morning following an indefinite strike by its security guards demanding that they be made permanent employees.

A company official said the service was hit as the guards switched off the power connection to the towers.

The Janmukti Reliance Employees’ Association has put forward 11 demands, most of them pertaining to a better service package for the guards.

“We have demanded that all guards (who are appointed on contract) should be given job security. We want uniforms, shoes, winter wear, umbrellas and raincoats for the guards,” said Rakesh Pradhan, the president of the association. “We also want yearly increments. Salary should be given directly from the principal company,” said Pradhan.

It is learnt that although the jobs of the security staff are leased out to private contractors, the guards want identity cards and appointment letters from Reliance.

The row between the association and the company has been going on since May this year. “On May 16, a meeting was held in the chamber of the assistant labour commissioner in Darjeeling to resolve the issues, but the talks remained inconclusive. Although one more meet was convened, our demands have not yet been fulfiled. This has left with us no other option but to go on the strike,” said Pradhan.

Hill rafters to help Bihar

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

VIVEK CHHETRI & RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Darjeeling/Kalimpong, Aug. 31: Television images of a woman trying to wade across the rising Kosi river in north Bihar with a baby girl strapped on her back have urged a group of rafters from the Darjeeling hills to plan a voluntary rescue mission to the flooded region.

The 100-member Gorkhaland Rescue Team, as it has been named, will leave tomorrow. The members, who earn their living by taking tourists on white water rafting on the Teesta and the Rangit, have decided to forgo their business for 11 days for a greater cause.

“When we saw the images (of the mother and daughter) on TV, we could not sit back and watch any longer. Our rafters will leave for Bihar on Monday,” said Prakash Bomzom, the coordinator of the mission and a resident of the Teesta area, about 40km from Darjeeling.

“We think we will be able to help because we have been rescuing people every year from the Teesta when there are accidents,” Jiden Sherpa, the vice president of the Teesta Rangit Rafting Association. National Highway 31A, which connects Bengal to Sikkim, runs along the Teesta and whenever cars skid off the road and plunge into the river, the rafters are pressed into service for search and rescue.