DARJEELING HILLS: GJM suspends indefinite bandh till August 17

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Kolkata, July 27 (PTI) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, spearheading a campaign for a separate state, today suspended its indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills till August 17 to create a ‘cordial atmosphere’ ahead of the tripartite talks on August 11 in Delhi.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI over phone from Darjeeling that the decision to suspend the bandh, announced by its president Bimal Gurung, was taken in response to the request by the Centre, state government and other quarters.

“We will see the outcome of the talks and act accordingly,” Giri said.

He said their demand for the transfer of senior police officials, including IG (north Bengal) K L Tamta, for the lathicharge and ‘police highhandedness’ on GJM supporters at Panighatta on July 10 still stands.

SIKKIM: Chamling presents budget for 15th time

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Gangtok, Jul 27 (PTI) Setting up a personal milestone, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today presented the annual budget for a record 15th time in succession since 1994.

He has been presenting the budget since 1994 ever since the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) under his leadership was elected to power defeating the then Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari’s party Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP).

Chamling has never let go the charge of the finance department during his uninterrupted run of power since 1994.

Earlier, the 59 year-old SDF President had become only the second political leader after the CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu to lead his party to the electoral victory for the fourth successive term in the assembly polls held in May this year.

DARJEELING HILLS: Gorkha outfit calls off indefinite Darjeeling shutdown

FROM IANS

SILIGURI: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), fighting for a separate Gorkhaland state, Monday withdrew its indefinite shutdown in the three hill sub-divisions of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district ahead of tripartite talks with the government.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung announced the withdrawal of the shutdown at a public meeting in Chowrasta of Darjeeling town.

GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri said the outfit would wait for the outcome of the third round of tripartite talks Aug 11 with the state and central governments on its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of parts of northern West Bengal.

“We will review our stand on Aug 17 in the light of the developments during the Aug 11 tripartite talks,” he said.

OPINION: British Gurkhas – A disowned biotic community

FROM MYREPUBLICA.COM

BY PETER J KARTHAK

SHARED BY PRANAVESH J PRADHAN

I had thought the British Gurkha issues were finally cremated for good because the GAESO (Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organization) had its British residency rights campaign office closed, and its President Major Padam Bahadur Gurung declared, “Our mission is accomplished, and there’s no reason to continue the movement; so we’ve packed up.” No Nepali association has been so short-lived and so successful in its aims and objectives: To obtain for its officers, men and their families no less than the rights to fully enjoy the legal provisions of once-Great Britain, including the right to reside in the rainy island nation for which many Gurkhas have shed their blood, sweat and tears and lost their lives, limbs and hearing for nearly 200 years.

Therefore, I, too, buried my Gurkha themes for possible write-ups in this daily. Some weeks thus went by. But then there appeared yet another article on the dear subject on this page on Thursday, July 23, this one by an accredited British immigration officer called Alex McPherson, possibly a Scotsman, about whose people some compliments later. So I retrieved my notes to write this missive, with hope the final one, on my fellow Gurkhas. I have my own contexts.

IDENTITIES AND DEFINITIONS

All Gurkhas – including the Gorkhas in the Indian Army, Brunei and Singapore Police – are Nepalis, but not all Nepalis have the honor of being Gurkhas. These major “martial” races are the ethnic members of the Gurung, Magar, Rai, and Limbu nations of Nepal: a country of many nations, but unable yet to become a state. To be fair, there have been sizeable smattering of Yakhas, Dewans, Sunwars, and Tamangs in the forces strictly reserved for non-Hindu and non-Indo-Aryan Nepalis.

BREAKING NEWS: INDEFINITE STRIKE LIFTED OFF

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

INDEFINITE STRIKE LIFTED OFF!

DARJEELING: According to unconfirmed report the indefinite strike has been lifted off. A party spokesman speaking to Beacon Online said the ’strike will be lifted of from tomorrow and will continue until August 17th. The announcement will be made by the evening.’ Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has announced for 24 hours break on the occasion of ‘Martyrs Day’ today. The news of the indefinite strike being lifted off has lead to relief among the people especially the students and businessmen.

NEPAL: Nepal to import 30 MW of power from India

FROM THE ECONOMIC TIMES

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Government will import 30 MW of power from India to meet its current electricity demands.

“The Government has taken initiative to import 30 MW power from India to meet the current electricity demands,” the country’s Minister for Energy, Prakash Sharan Mahat said.

Talks in this regard have already been started with the authorities concerned in India, he said.

The Minister said that the government is also planning to generate 50 MW power from thermal plants with the assistance of World Bank and upgrade the capacity of its existing power projects to meet the short-term demands.

The Government is also planning to declare its oldest hydropower project as museum, Mahat said.

The 500 KW Pharping hydropower project was built by ruler Chandra Shumsher Rana in 1908.

The project, the second oldest in South Asia, is second only to Darjeeling’s power project.

He said the government is also planning to observe the centenary of the power project by organising an energy festival in Pharping area situated in the south of Kathmandu.

TEA TALK: Re-plantation a must to keep tea demand-supply balance

FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS

BY RAJESH RAVI

SHARED BY AARDEE

Kochi With tea plantations responding poorly to the re-plantation and rejuvenation programmes, India could end up as a net importer of tea given the robust domestic demand, experts said. Plantation owners cite reasons like poor incentive, labour shortage, high level of tea prices and loss of yield in the shorter period for not opting for re-plantation.

While the annual production in India is approximately 925-975 million kg, the domestic demand is seen at around 800 million kg with the rest being exported. Any increase in production is absorbed quickly by higher demand, which is reported to have growing at a rate of 3-4% per annum, according to the state-run Tea Board.

Reports suggest that India consumes about 23% of total tea production in the world, and over 75-80% of its own output. “With the economy growing at 8-10% for the past few years, it would not be surprising if the domestic demand growth reaches the rate of 5-6%, given the income elasticity of tea,” a commodity expert told FE.

It is in this context that the efforts of the Tea Board and the various state governments to increase productivity of the existing tea estates assume significance. “Bringing new areas under tea plantation is impossible in the Indian situation. The only way to keep a healthy balance between supply and demand is to increase productivity through re-planting,” Pankaj Kapoor, managing director of Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) told FE.

The government efforts have not yielded good results, Ullas Menon of the United Planters’ Association of South India (UPASI) said. “The government subsidy is not encouraging and there is not really an incentive for re-planting,” he added.

TEA TALK: We have built largest tea plantation firm in the world – Deepak Khaitan

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

SHARED BY AARDEE

The eldest son of the legendary tea baron Brij Mohan Khaitan, Deepak Khaitan, has inherited his father’s passion for tea and sports, but hasn’t quite stuck to the same protocol. In Eveready Industries India, Deepak has the country’s largest battery manufacturing facility as well, while in tea, the group’s flagship company, McLeod Russel India, is now the world’s largest tea conglomerate. n a interview with Anuradha Himatsingka of ET NOW, Deepak Khaitan dropped his guard and talked exclusively about his group, his passions and his family.

How has your group fared over the last five years and more recently, during the economic slowdown?

We have had a tough five years. We had to go through a massive restructuring. The change took place in 2005 when we demerged Eveready and formed two large businesses, battery and tea plantations. That gave a great a fillip to both the companies. Both grew. We went and bought BPL Power Cell. Battery grew to be the fourth-largest brand, pushing up our market share to about 55%.

Simultaneously, McLeod Russel went and acquired the Magors, Doom Dooma Tea and Moran Tea. Recently, we’ve gone and acquired 40,00,000 kgs in Vietnam. With these acquisitions, we have become the world’s largest plantation company with near 80 million kgs of tea, employing over 30,000 people and exporting about 25 million kgs. The second company is a very far second.

We have always believed in tea. Our family virtually grew from tea. We feel it is the cheapest drink in India after a glass of water, which is free. A poor man wakes up in the morning and drinks a small cup of tea. We feel as the country grows and as GDP grows, more wealth goes into the hands of the poor man. Tea consumption, which had been growing at 1.5-2 % for many decades, has suddenly picked up to about 3.5%. I feel that over the next five years, tea consumption will go up to something like 5% per annum on a consumption pattern of about 850 million kgs.

SILIGURI: Radio Misty partners with Musical event with star jalsha

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

Radio Misty 94.3 fm, the first and Number one fm station of North Bengal partnered with Star Jalsha for Mega Musical event Shobar Shera Superstar at Indoor stadium at Siliguri. People danced on with tunes on popular Hindi and Bengali numbers sang by Indian Idol fame Emon chatterjee and Saregama pa L’il champ winner sanchita.Beside this Tota Roy choudary, Deboleena, shaan and arpita also performed at the show.

There was huge crowd at Indoor stadium to listen to their popular stars. Saregama pa L’il champ winner sanchita was also at studios of Radio misty .She talked about her studies, fame and musical journey. She also shared her favourite dish with Misty Duphur RJ Anandita.Emon chatterjee also talked about his life and music with Radio Misty.

Says Radio Misty chief executive officer Nishant Mittal we always are associated with all events in North Bengal. We made a big buzz around this show. We gave our listeners free passes to see this show. Apart from this live feed was given from the show. Sanchita was at our studios talking about her musical journey and life.

NEPAL: Nepal PM Thanks Lumley For ‘Gurkha Justice’

FROM SKY NEWS

Lumley and Madhav Kumar Nepal

Nepal’s prime minister has thanked actress Joanna Lumley for bringing “justice” to Gurkha soldiers who served in the British army.

Madhav Kumar Nepal said all Nepalese people recognised the achievements of the star, who spearheaded a campaign for Gurkha veterans to be allowed to settle in Britain.

“I think the Gurkhas have got justice, whether complete or just to some extent I cannot see,” he told reporters after meeting Lumley, famous for her role in TV show Absolutely Fabulous.

Lumley, who arrived in Nepal to a rapturous welcome on Sunday, presented the PM with a scarf from Scotland, saying she had heard that the winters were cold in Nepal.

“We are just so proud to be here and to have it recognised at such a high level,” she said.

“It’s just such a tremendous privilege to be here today consolidating the bond (between Britain and Nepal).”

Later Monday, Lumley will meet the country’s president and address a rally at Kathmandu City Hall before laying a wreath at a Gurkha memorial inside the British embassy.

The 63-year-old actress has been hailed as a heroine by the Nepalese fighters, who are expected to turn out in their thousands to greet her as she travels around the country.

SIKKIM: Landslides block Mangan-Singtam stretch at 4 Mile

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY DEEPAK SHARMA

MANGAN, July 26: Landslides triggered by heavy rains hit an iron bridge over Bar Khola at 4th Mile, Lower Mangshila in North Sikkim this morning following heavy rains, a senior GREF official said here today.

The bridge has been damaged blocking Mangan-Singtam road for the second time this monsoon.

The incident occurred this morning at around 5:40 am.

At present, both Siliguri and Singtam taxi services have started plying from Gangtok as Sankalang via Pheedang road is also closed as few of the bridges in Dzongu are under renovation.

“It will take another two to three days to clear up the boulders deposited on the highway as well as to maintain the bridge,” GREF staff said. They added that works of clearing the slush will speed up from tomorrow to open the stretch as soon as possible.

However, there are indications that price hike may take place as goods carriers have started taking a detour via Gangtok. On the other hand, the general people are of the opinion that back cutting works along the North District highway has to be stopped for few months.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Commenators be warned!

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Darjeeling!

It has come to my notice that some commentators are simply using the forums to make generalized allegations and have fun at the expense of other communities. This cannot be tolerated. Such commentators will be immediately banned and their comments deleted.

Commentators are requested to be responsible about what they say.

Regs

Barun

DARJEELING HILLS: GLP seizes drugs meant for Sikkim

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY SANJAY AGARWAL

RANGPO, July 26: In a commendable job, the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) unit deployed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) along the Kalimpong subdivision side of National Highway 31A has done a good turn for Sikkim by intercepting drugs meant to be smuggled into Sikkim.

The GJM had deployed a batch of GLP members along the NH 31A during the ongoing Darjeeling bandh period to provide assistance to the Sikkimese people and inbound and outbound traffic. The GLP has set up a camp at 10th mile along the National Highway, 10 kms from Sikkim side of Rangpo.

During a routine checking yesterday night along the Highway, the GLP recovered a batch of drugs from three trucks.

It is informed that the GLP camp in-charge Arun Sharma and Kipa Tshering and other 40 GLP members were checking the vehicles on the Highway where they recovered 25 bottles of Recodex Syrup and 10 files of Spasmo Proxygon from three trucks carrying food grains and hardware materials.

The GLP then detained the trucks and the drivers along with the handy-boys. The GLP today handed over the trucks, seized drugs and the drivers to the Kalimpong police.

PHOTO FEATURE: Rice and lentil distributed free by GJM

People gathered at Chowrasta during a GJM meeting. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Rice and Lentils being distributed by GJM Party workers at Gymkhana Hall for free. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

DARJEELING HILLS: Ahead of road blockade, GJM doles out food

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Even as the threat of road blockade leading to Darjeeling by anti-Gorkhaland groups looms large, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha signalled that it had sufficient supplies for the people of the Hills by launching a food distribution drive on Sunday.

The GJM leaders said the ongoing indefinite bandh would be relaxed for 24 hours beginning Monday to enable people to attend “Shahid Diwas” in various parts of the Hills and Dooars. The GJM will be observing the Shahid Diwas to pay respect to around 1,200 people who lost their lives in the struggle for Gorkhaland.

The GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri, said the bandh would be re-imposed on Tuesday morning and ruled out the possibility of calling off the bandh.

According to Giri, around 7,000 families in Darjeeling alone had been given foodgrain. “Everyone who came to the distribution centres at the Darjeeling Gymkhana and Chingmari Church were given 15 kg rice and 2 kg pulses,” said Giri.

“At the Gymkhana, 6,000 people received essential supplies. We are closely monitoring to prevent blackmarketing. This responsibility has been entrusted to the Gorkhaland Personnel. They will check price hike,” he added.

Similar food distribution centres had been set up in other places, including Takda and Soureni, but figures were yet to be released.

Asked about the source of the foodgrain being distributed, Giri said party president Bimal Gurung had ordered that enough supplies be stocked up before the bandh was declared.

DARJEELING HILLS: Reports of Lepcha houses vandalized

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

[PLEASE NOTE: This report has been legitimately submitted to Beacon Online. The report contains names of the victims and the alleged perpetrators. However, the magnitude of the report and the specific targeting of the Lepcha houses at a certain locations in Kalimpong  could lead to communal tension. Beacon Online taking the same into consideration has not published the names of the victims. The names of the perpetrators have also not been published since at this moment they could at best be said to be 'unconfirmed and unproven''. Beacon Online, however, feels that it is important that the people comes to know of the fact certain people are trying to target the minorities and thus create a sense of fear among them. The report has not been edited for its content including grammar except for the names of the victims and alleged perpetrators]

Vandalized window panes of a house.

The belongings of a family including the national flag scattered all over the floor

The belongings of a family including emptied lockers of a family

1} Report on Ren. XXX Lepcha’s house being vandalized on 22nd July 2009 at Shantinagar, Suruk, Kalimpong.

On 22nd July 2009 at about 5:30pm, a group of about 30 to 40 people attacked the house of Ren Lepcha. They were brandishing khukri, 16mm rod, lethal weapon and clubs. They cut the GI sheet roof with Khukri. Ren Lepcha was returning from a meeting at Samthar, Kalimpong Sub Division the same day. His relatives informed through his mobile phone to avoid coming back to his home as his life is in danger.

The group entered his house and cut four plastic chairs and a dining table. In doing so the little child in the cradle was rescued by the neighbors as they ran away with him. They vandalized kitchen, gas, utensils, looted shops. Broke into kitchen. They broke open bedroom and broke open Godrej almira. Even cut the child’s cradle. Stole new clothes and threw the clothes in the entire room. They even broke wooden showcase and stole crockery.

Bedroom window is cut and window pane is broken. Two table clocks are also broken.

They looted

• Cash Rs. 11,200
• A purse with Rs. 3000 and driving license
• 2 rings
• 2 earrings
• 1 ring child =value of 1 tola 5 anna
• 3 mobile phones that was brought to charge was stolen.
• 3 khukris were stolen
• 2 banphok (Machete) were stolen
• One attaché was broken and all new clothes were taken away.
• 2 flasks were broken.
• 1 mixer was broken
• 1 kantor was broken
• New coat and pants were taken away and others were torn to pieces

Although he had GJMM membership ticket bearing No. Central Committee Darjeeling in the name of  his wife XXXXXXXXXXXX

GJMM Suruk membership XXXXXXx

He was alleged to have bought a pick-up truck financed by Mr. Tshering Sherpa, Ex-councillor. But he had bought second hand truck from Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd. Turner Morrison Building, 1st Floor, 6 Lyongs Range Kolkata 700001 Room No: 23.

Report on Vandalism of Ren. YYY  Lepcha’s residence and ancestral residence of ***************.

On 22nd July 2009, time 6:00pm, a group of nearly 30 to 40 attacked the house of Mr Lepcha.

DARJEELING HILLS: GJM to suspend bandh today

FROM THE HINDU

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA: People in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal will on Monday get a reprieve from the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which observes the day as “Martyrs’ Day” in memory of those killed in the 1980s during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland State.

The victims include those who died in police firing at Kalimpong on the day in 1986. The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) — now an adversary of the GJM — was spearheading the Statehood agitation then. A large section of its leadership broke away from the GNLF to form the GJM in October 2007.

The GNLF had also been observing July 27 as Martyrs’ Day during the years it was the principal political force in the Darjeeling hills.

“The decision to suspend the bandh for a day has been taken in view of the Martyrs’ Day. Shops and banks will remain open, though government offices will stay closed. Vehicles will be allowed to ply the roads,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling on Sunday.

The bandh — called by the GJM in support of the Statehood demand — that entered its 14th day would resume on Tuesday, Mr. Giri said.

NEPAL: Nepal Maoists criticise arms purchase plan

FROM THE HINDU

BY PRERANA MARASINI

KATHMANDU: The major Opposition party in the Himalayan nation, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), on Sunday obstructed the House proceedings, criticising the government’s plan to resume purchase of arms from India.

Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha said Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal should clarify the matter.

“We’ve understood the purchasing of arms as an announcement of war, and as a conspiracy to dissolve the Constituent Assembly,” he told the House.

Mr. Shrestha said it was meaningless to allow the House proceedings to continue until the Prime Minister clarified the issue which, the Maoist leader claimed, could derail the peace process.

The Maoists have called an all-party meeting on Monday to discuss the arms issues.

NEPAL: Lumley greeted as ‘daughter of Nepal’

FROM BBC

Joanna Lumley found herself mobbed by Nepalis and swathed in scarves

A high profile campaign led by the actress Joanna Lumley in May won many Gurkha veterans the right to settle in the UK.

The case was followed keenly by their families in Nepal as the BBC found out when the actress arrived in Kathmandu.

Joanna Lumley found herself mobbed by Nepalis and swathed in scarves

Joanna Lumley’s visit to Nepal was originally intended to be a private affair.

But such was the level of gratitude towards the former model and actress, her imminent arrival in Kathmandu fast became the main event in town.

“We’re so excited to meet her, she’s been so good to us,” said Sorala Thapa, 42, wife of a former Gurkha soldier who was one of hundreds of Nepalis travelling to Kathmandu’s airport to welcome Joanna Lumley.

Sorala arrived with forty other Gurkha wives, all wearing traditional green saris bearing the Gurkha emblem of two crossed Khukuri knives.

As they waited for Ms Lumley’s plane to touch down, they handed out placards bearing the slogans “daughter of Nepal”, “goddess” and “thank you”.

Prem Rai, chairman of the United British Gurkha Ex-Servicemen Association Nepal, said: “Gurkha wives and Gurkha widows are especially grateful to Joanna.

“They can now qualify for British settlement visas.”

SIKKIM: Sikkim University turns two

FROM THE STATESMAN

GANGTOK, 26 JULY: A month-long socio-cultural and academic programme starting from 27 July is slated to mark the second anniversary of Sikkim University. The programme would involve participants from schools and colleges from both within and outside Sikkim .

The Sikkim University is a central institution established and funded by the Government of India under an Act of Parliament. It has nine affiliated colleges spread over the state and was set up on 2 July 2007.

A debate on the topic: “Economic Development is more important than protection of the Environment” would be arranged to kick off the celebration on 27 July and students from the affiliated colleges would participate in the programme. This would be followed by a “Spic Macay” programme on 2 August, where Ms Malabika Sen, the Kathak exponent, would perform. A day long seminar on “Higher Education: Problems & Prospects” would also be organised on 10 August.

SILIGURI: LF lays hopes on women candidates

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 26 JULY: To take on the expected Opposition alliance between the Congress and the Trinamul in the ensuing Siliguri Municipal Corporation elections, the Darjeeling district Left Front is banking on new faces and female candidates. The Left Front has now declared its 47 candidate list, which features 22 women candidates.

Four members of the Mayor-in-Council (MIC) and 19 sitting councillors were denied places on the ticket list. Though the Left Front leaders attributed this to the new reservation arrangements, some leaders have expressed their unhappiness.

“They are senior and experienced leaders. But we could not accommodate them in the list due to the new reservation arrangements for the municipal wards,” senior CPI-M leader and state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya said. The Mayor of SMC, Munshi Nurul Islam, a councillor from ward No. 28, which is reserved for woman (SC), will contest ward no 47. For the 47 wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, the CPI, the Forward Bloc and the RSP have fielded four, three and two candidates respectively, while the CPI-M has fielded candidates in the remaining 38.

DARJEELING HILLS: Bandh relaxation today

FROM THE STATESMAN

KURSEONG, 26 JULY: The GJMM leadership would relax the indefinite shutdown tomorrow to facilitate observance of the Martyrs’ Day.

“Life would be normal from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. We hope, the people would pay obeisance to the Gorkhaland martyrs who laid down lives in Kalimpong in 1986 for our paramount cause,” said the GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri today.

Notably, the hill-based outfit has given relaxation to the strike on three different occasions for three reasons since it has started on 13 July.

Mr Giri affirmed that the observance being over, the bandh would come into force again and it would continue till their demands were met. “We would relentlessly continue with the shutdown agitation come what may until the inspector general of police, north Bengal Mr KL Tamta is removed from his post,” he said.

Recounting the saga of sacrifice for the statehood cause, Mr Giri said that nearly twelve hundred people had died since the movement was launched in the 1980’s.

SILIGURI: DHR origin on display

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 26: Come August 23, schoolchildren will explore the technical nuances that went into making the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) 128 years ago.

The DHR, along with the North Bengal Science Centre, is planning to launch a week-long exhibition of century-old artefacts, photographs and technical details of the construction of the heritage railway for the students on August 23.

The programme is being organised to mark the hill railway’s 128th anniversary.

“The proposal for the exhibition came from the DHR authorities. As the DHR is a technical marvel, we would love to showcase its details to the schoolchildren at the science centre. We will sit together and finalise the details of the programme soon,” said Rajib Nath, the project co-ordinator of the science centre.

To make it more interesting, films on the DHR would also be screened at the science centre for the children to know the toy train service better.

“For many students, especially those from the plains, the uphill ride to Darjeeling on the toy train is attractive but little do they know about the DHR’s history. The exhibition is intended to arouse their interest in the heritage property,” said Subrata Nath, the DHR director.

KALIMPONG: Hill girl among 15 chosen beauties

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Lengshong in Kalimpong on Sunday. Picture by D.K. Waiba

Kalimpong, July 26: Lengshong Huang from Kalimpong has charmed her way into the first 15 of the nationwide Fact Universal Teen Pageant that will go on air on a private television channel from August 1.

Organised by the Mumbai-based Fact Enterprises, the auditions for the pageant were held in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi and Ahmedabad in May. Twenty-six of them were selected and groomed under the watchful eyes of former Miss World Diana Hayden in Mumbai, where the 15 finalist were eventually picked.

The petite Lengshong, who has just cleared her school-leaving examinations, had entered the contest in Calcutta on a lark. “I had gone to Calcutta on a holiday. When I heard about the pageant, I decided to go for the audition,” she told The Telegraph here, while sitting alongside her visibly proud mum Pintsho and a rather reticent father John at their B.L. Dixit Road home here.

Once the episodes of the pageant start going on air on 9X, viewers, Lengshong said, can vote for their favourite contestants. In all, 10 recorded episodes will be telecast. According to the official website of the event, the grand finale will be telecast live, but the date is yet to be announced. It is, however, not clear from the website how the winner will be selected.

However, the website promises that the pageant will be grand in terms of scale, reach, vision and purpose. “The event will be a launch pad for beautiful, talented and aspiring teenage girls across India,” said the organisers. The winner will take home Rs 3 lakh, sponsored gifts and a year’s modelling contract. The second runner-up will receive Rs 2 lakh, gifts and a year’s modelling assignment, while the third runner-up will get Rs 1 lakh and sponsored gifts. Lengshong said barring dancing lessons she has not been doing any extra preparation. “During the grooming lessons in Mumbai, we were taught to walk the ramp and went through dance and gym sessions,” said the 15-year-old, who idolises Sonia Gandhi, Katrina Kaif and her grandmother, but not necessarily in that order.

SILIGURI: Parishad warns against state cry in plains

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 26: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today said it had nothing against the August-11 tripartite meeting, but would counter any move by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to include the Terai and Dooars in the separate state the hill party had been demanding.

Birsa Tirkey, the state president of the Parishad, said: “We are not concerned about the tripartite talks involving the Morcha and central and state governments in Delhi on August 11. But we want to say clearly that those who have been living in the Dooars and the Terai for decades will not allow the regions to be parts of Gorkhaland, as demanded by the Morcha.”

Tirkey was here to attend a meeting of the state executive committee of the Parishad.

The outfit also demanded an alternative road to the Dooars from Siliguri as the existing NH31 through Sevoke often gets blocked because of frequent strikes by the Morcha or landslides.

So, a new road in the plains, crossing the Teesta, is necessary for the development of the Dooars, said Tirkey.

Parishad leaders said they had discussed several issues related to the development of the community at the meeting. “Our struggle to improve the socio-economic conditions of the tribal population has started bearing fruit.