SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday Sept 26-Oct 3, 2014

Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

     Darjeeling Das Studio’s Mohan Das Pradhan taking a walk near Chowrasta, Darjeeling.

Get ready to win ‘regional war’, Xi tells army chiefs

Beijing/New Delhi, Sept 26: Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted three People's Liberation Army (PLA) generals known to be close to him and also asked his troops to "improve their combat readiness and sharpen their ability to win a regional war in the age of information technology".

The move might help him achieve greater loyalty within the military forces, something he has also demanded from army chiefs, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday.

"The headquarters of all PLA (People's Liberation Army) forces should improve their combat readiness and sharpen their ability to win a regional war in the age of information technology," Xi said at a meeting with the country’s military elite, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

    "The headquarters of PLA forces must have absolute loyalty and firm faith in the Communist Party of China, guarantee a smooth chain of command and make sure all decisions from the central leadership are fully implemented," Xi said.

Reports said the promotions were ordered after Xi summoned 15 top generals to Beijing on Sunday and spoke to them in PLA chief Fang Fenghui's presence. Significantly, Xi also said military commanders should "have a better understanding of international and domestic security situations".

"All PLA forces should follow the instructions of President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the central military commission (CMC), and update their operations to meet new goals and missions set by the CMC," Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying.

The call for loyalty and combat readiness comes as China’s border confrontation with India escalates. Chinese troops have several times crossed the so called Line of Actual Control (LAC) – a demarcation line between Indian and Chinese territory – in the Ladakh region over the last week. The standoff has prompted questions about whether the Chinese army at the border was following instructions from Beijing or acting on its own.

On Monday, the press office for China's Defense Ministry dismissed the confrontation as a by-product of a longstanding misunderstanding over where the border between the two countries should lie.

"The China-India boundary dispute is an issue left over from history,” the military’s statement said. “The boundary between the two countries has not been demarcated until now and there are differing perceptions with regards to the line of actual control (LAC)."

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunyin separately insisted on Monday that there was no need to have "unnecessary suspicion" on both sides on the border issue.

She said the leaders of the two countries have reached an important consensus on politically resolving the border issue through friendly mechanism, The Times of India reported.

"China and India have sufficient capacity and confidence to maintain peace and tranquility in the boundary areas," she said.

BJP demands Chamling’s dismissal for misleading PM on ‘Organic State’ claim

Raises corruption issue with Governor

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently.

Gangtok, Sept 26: The BJP has sought the ‘dismissal’ of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for lying to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ‘misleading’ the people on the ‘organic State’ issue and for his refusal to allow the CBI to investigate into corruption charges leveled against him.

In its memorandum submitted to the Governor, the BJP said the State Government’s refusal to allow the CBI to probe into charges of corruption against Chamling will lead to ‘disturbance of peace and tranquility’ in the State.

A delegation of the Sikkim unit of the BJP, led by party President Palden Wangchuk Khangsarpa and Jayananda Kumar Singh, chief of BJP’s Kisan Morcha, submitted the memorandum to the Governor here on Wednesday.

“The Chief Minister of Sikkim, besides claiming funds from the Government of India, he personally appraised the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India that Sikkim has attained the organic mission started from the year 2003 and has been declared to be the only organic State in the Country,” the memorandum said.

Based on the Chief Minister’s claim Kisan Morcha chief and a team of the party’s State unit conducted a “study and fact-finding mission” in the State and found that “Sikkim has not attained the organic mission as claimed” by the Chief Minister, a release of the party said.

The BJP has claimed that “130 produce of Sikkim had been sent to European agencies for testing and that only three of these Sikkim produce had been accepted as organic,” the release said.

Singh said “he was not aware that Sikkim had been officially declared nor certified as an organic state and it was wrong of the Sikkim CM to have lied to the Prime Minister in this regard.”

It added that “farmers are still using the inorganic materials, pesticide including other insecticides and inorganic insect repellant in their farms.” It also added that the State Government’s reply under the Right to Information Act (RTI) also confirmed their finding that Chamling had been “misleading the people of Sikkim” and “constitutional authorities”   like the Prime Minister on “organic mission”.

The Chief Minister should “resign on moral grounds for having made the Prime Minister of India make statements which were not true,” a party release said.

It added, “The false statement of the Sikkim CM had caused the Prime Minister of India to make untrue declarations at the international level at Nepal and Bhutan. This, said Shri Singh, is enough reason for the Sikkim CM to tender his resignation.”

In its memorandum, the BJP has alleged that despite charges of corruption pending against Chamling he has not allowed the CBI to probe into the charges.

“The Chief Minister who himself is involved in corruption cases cannot at any cost cause to issue Notification to stop investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation more so when the prima facie case has been established after conducting preliminary investigation and inquiry,” the memorandum said.

While stating that “non grant of permission” by the State Government for CBI probe into corruption cases “may lead to disturbance of peace and tranquility in the State”, the BJP has demanded that the Governor exercise his constitutional powers and “dismiss the Government headed” by Chamling.

Flag meet in Ladakh held, but standoff is yet to end

New Delhi, Sept 26: To end the standoff along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, China has demanded that the Indian Army give up construction of a road, which they have planned to build along the undefined border. Sources said China has also asked India to destroy the canals which are being constructed from NREGA funds in Demchok sector of Ladakh, The Indian Express reported.

India has also objected to a bridge, which China has constructed on their side in Chumar over the past six months. Hours before a flag meeting was to be held on Thursday between India and China, two face-offs were reported in Chumar, a source said.

The two issues were raised during the flag meeting held on Thursday on request of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The stand-off, which started on September 10, has refused to die down and the buildup has increased at least at eight locations in Ladakh.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in New York on Thursday said India and China have resolved the standoff at the Ladakh border. The withdrawal of troops will begin on Friday and be completed by September 30, Swaraj said, describing the resolution of the issue as a "big accomplishment”, PTI reported.

Swaraj's statement came after she discussed the border standoff issue with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi at the United Nations.

Earlier, Indian soldiers were deployed in the stand-off zone, while 15 battalions and reserve units in eastern Ladakh have been kept at high alert.

Amid continuing standoff on the borders, India on Tuesday said engagements with China were underway at "different levels and different places" and made it clear that the country's border security was in safe hands.

India's response came a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping asked the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be combat ready to win a "regional war".

Meanwhile, New Delhi is working on naming a Special Representative as demanded by China during President Xi Jingpin's visit to India last week to hold talks on the border issue and demarcation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), they said.

Nepal parties threaten agitation if federal structure demand ignored

Kathmandu, Sept 26: Fearing that the ruling parties might attempt to frame a new constitution on the basis of numerical strength ignoring consensus, the Federal Republican Alliance has stepped up efforts to seek support of fringe parties.

The Federal Republican Alliance comprising Unified CPN-Maoist, Federal Socialist Party-Nepal and five Madhesi parties has pledged to fight for identity-based federalism.

The Federal Republican Alliance held a meeting with United Front for Common Agendas (UFCA), an alliance of nine fringe parties that supported Sushil Koirala’s candidacy for premiership and solicited their support for identity-based federalism, The Himalayan reported.

Sadbhavana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna said the parties united under UFCA agreed to collaborate for a consensus-based constitution.

FSP-N Chair Ashok Kumar Rai said they told the constituents of UFCA that a new constitution should be based on the spirit of people’s war, popular movement II, Comprehensive Peace Accord, Madhes uprising and various movements launched by Janajatis, Muslims, Dalits and other marginalised groups.

Unified CPN-Maoist Secretary Barshaman Pun on Wednesday warned his party would hit the street if the ruling coalition partners tried to promulgate the constitution through voting process on the basis of numerical majority.

Speaking at an interaction in Bharatpur, Pun warned, “If the ruling coalition partners — the NC and UML — try to deliver the constitution through mathematical numbers bypassing the Maoists, Madhes-based parties and ethnic communities, we shall take to the street.”

BOLD INITIATIVE

To Tibet Through Sikkim

While not much headway has been made in terms of volume and frequency of trade at the Indo-Tibet border at Nathula in east Sikkim the fact that resumption of the border trade at Nathula in 2006 has not caused any hindrance to Indo-China relations is an indication that Asia’s two giants are opening up and coming closer. Last week’s historic decision by visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open the Nathula route for pilgrims to visit Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar in western Tibet is indeed a step in the right direction. Hopefully, the route will be opened at the earliest. The move to open the Himalayan frontier for trade and pilgrimage will surely pave way for tourism and people-to-people contact between the two growing economies.

 At a latter stage decisions should be taken for Tibetans in Tibet and Chinese Buddhists to visit Buddhist pilgrimage places in India. If the Nathula experiment is successful Lachen, Lachung and Jelepla routes should also be opened for trade, tourism and pilgrimage. For centuries the nomadic highlanders of Lachen and Lachung valleys in north Sikkim traded with Tibet through North Sikkim. This came to an end after the 1962 Chinese invasion of Sikkim. India was then protecting Sikkim, whose defence, communication and foreign affairs were with New Delhi. Having embarked on a courageous journey towards friendship and development Beijing and New Delhi must now give top priority to gaining the trust and confidence of the peoples of the Himalayan region, including Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal. Security ultimately lies with the people and not territory.

PEOPLE&PLACES Mt. Kailash

Mt. Kailash: Myth and Mystery

Mt. Kailash or Mt. Kailas (Tibetan: Gang Tise or Gang Rinpoche; Chinese: Gangdisi Shan) is a striking peak in the Himalayan mountains of western Tibet. The source of some of the longest rivers in Asia, Kailash is a sacred mountain for four faiths: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and followers of the indigenous Tibetan religion of Bön. Next to the mountain are two sacred lakes, the most important of which is Lake Manasarowar.

Myth and Mystery

According to Hindu mythology, Shiva, the god of destruction and regeneration, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kailāśā. Mount Kailāśā is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as Paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world.

According to a description in the Puranas, Mount Kailash's four faces are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli; it is the pillar of the world; rises 84,000 leagues high; is the center of the world mandala; and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus. From it flow four rivers, which stretch to the four quarters of the world and divide the world into four regions.

This legendary mountain has long been identified with the striking peak in the Himalayas that now bears its name. Shiva is therefore believed to dwell at its summit. Some traditions say the mountain is Shiva's linga, while Lake Manasarowar is the yoni of his consort.

The importance of this holy mountain in Hinduism is reflected, among other places, at the famous Ellora Caves in India, where the largest and most important rock-carved temple is dedicated to Mount Kailash.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok (also known as Demchog or Chakrasamvara), who represents supreme bliss. They also say it was on this sacred mountain that Buddhism displaced Bön as the primary religion of Tibet.

According to legend, Milarepa, champion of Tantric Buddhism, arrived in Tibet to challenge Naro-Bonchung, representative of Bön. The two magicians engaged in a great sorcerous battle, but neither was able to gain a decisive advantage.

Finally, it was agreed that whoever could reach the summit of Kailash first would be the victor. While Naro-Bonchung soared up the slope on a magic drum, Milarepa's followers were dumbfounded to see him sitting still and meditating. Yet when Naro-Bonchung was nearly at the top, Milarepa suddenly moved into action and overtook him by riding on the rays of the sun, thus winning the contest and bringing Buddhism to Tibet.

In Jainism, Kailash is known as Mount Ashtapada and is the site where the founder of their faith, Rishabhadeva, attained liberation from rebirth.

In Bön, the religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, the mountain is believed to be the abode of the sky goddess Sipaimen.

What to See at Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash rises to 22,028 feet (6,714 m) in one of the highest and most rugged parts of the Himalayas. Made of black rock, the symmetrical peak has a distinctive diamond-like shape with four steep facades. The south face has a vertical gash across its horizontal layers, creating the appearance of a swastika - an ancient symbol of good luck in this part of the world.

The landscape around the mountain is rugged and dry but crossed by crystalline blue streams and other bodies of water. Near the sacred mountain is the source of the Indus, Sutlej and Bramaputra rivers and on its south side are two freshwater lakes, the easternmost of which is the highly sacred Lake Manasarowar (Mapam). With an altitude of 14,950 feet, Mansarovar is the highest body of fresh water in the world. The other lake, Rakshastal, also has legendary significance.

Pilgrimage

Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating (walking around) Mount Kailash will remove sins and bring good fortune. The pilgrimage around the sacred mountain is called the Kailash Kora.

It is said that one trip around the sacred mountain will wipe away all the sins (bad karma) of one's current lifetime; 108 revolutions will remove the sins of all one's lifetimes and bring salvation from reincarnation (moksa). Alternatively, pilgrims who complete one circumbulation of Kailash and bathe in the frigid waters of Lake Mansarovar will also bring salvation.

No pilgrims climb Mt. Kailash; all four religions believe it would be a serious act of sacrilege to set foot on its slopes. Legend has it that the only person to have reached the summit is the Buddhist champion Milarepa (who flew to the top in the 12th century) and that all others who have ventured to defy the taboo have died in the process.

     A drive to Mt. Kailash from Shigatse, Tibet. (Pix:Mohan Pradhan - The Trekking Company – Australia)

The rugged path around Mount Kailash is 32 miles (52 km) long, following a blue mountain stream much of the way. Altitudes range from 15,000 feet at the start to 19,000 feet at the Dolma Pass. The circumambulation is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists but counterclockwise by followers of the Jain and Bön religions.

A typical journey lasts about three days, but some try to earn extra merit by completing the entire walk in a single day. Braving the uneven terrain, high altitudes and variable weather, these hardy souls can complete the trek in about 15 hours.

Other pilgrims seek special merit by taking much longer to circle the holy mountain: instead of walking, they perform body-length prostrations for the entire 32 miles. The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four days of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation this way.

The mountain is located in a particularly remote and inhospitable area of the Tibetan Himalayas. Only those in the best health are able to undertake the journey even to the starting point of the circumambulation, let alone walk 52 km in a single day. A few modern amenities, such as benches, resting places and refreshment kiosks, exist to aid the pilgrims in their devotions.

Shigatse, Tibet                                                                           (Pix:Mohan Pradhan - The Trekking Company – Australia)

Most pilgrims and trekkers take three days to complete the journey around Mount Kailash from the city of Darchen, aiming for Drirapuk Monastery on the first night, crossing Dolma La Pass and arriving at Zutrulpuk Monastery the second night, and finally returning to Darchen on the third day.

Monastery accommodation is not always available, so travelers must carry tents and food. To help with the burden, yaks and porters can be hired in Darchen for about ¥100 per day. The path frequently crosses mountain streams, so waterproof boots or an extra pair of shoes is essential.

Getting There

Most pilgrims begin their journey overland from Kathmandu or Lhasa. From there, they travel over the Tibetan plateau (ranging 10,000-16,000 feet in elevation) in a rented Jeep. It is a long journey with four night stops in camps, finally arriving at Darchen (elevation: 4600 m).

Western visitors usually need a guide, vehicle, driver, and a military permit to visit Kailash, all of which are arranged on tours from Kathmandu or Lhasa. The short version of the tour takes 14 days and cost around ¥15,000 ($1,950), which can be split among four travelers. The longer 21-day tours run about ¥17,000 ($2,210).

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Liar’s Dice’ starring Sikkim’s Geetanjali Thapa seleted for Oscars

(Left) President Pranab Mukherjee presents best female actress award to Geetanjali Thapa for her role in Hindi film ‘Liar’s Dice’ during the ‘61st National Film Awards 2013’ function in New Delhi in May 2014.

 Mumbai, Sept 26: Hindi film ‘Liar’s Dice’, a road drama about a tribal woman’s journey to find her missing husband, has been selected as India’s official entry to the upcoming Academy awards in the best foreign film category.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles, ‘Liar’s Dice’ beat 29 other films to represent India at the Oscars 2015, Supran Sen, secretary general of the Film Federation of India (FFI) told PTI.

Sen said FFI, which nominates the Oscar entry from India every year, had received a record submission of 30 films.

Set in a village near the Indo-Tibetan border, the film’s story follows a young tribal woman whose husband has failed to return home after leaving to work in Delhi many months ago.

She decides to go to Delhi with her young daughter to search for him and on the way meets an Army deserter, Siddiqui, who realizing the perils of the journey ahead for them, decides to accompany them to their destination.

’Liar’s Dice’, Mohandas’ feature debut, was critically acclaimed in the festival circuits. It was selected at the Sundance Film Festival and International Film Festival Rotterdam.

The film won the National award for best actress to Thapa and best cinematography award to Mohandas’ cinematographer husband Rajeev Ravi.

India has never won an Oscar in the best foreign film category. The last Indian film that made it to the final five nominees at the Oscars was Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Lagaan’.

’Mother India’ and ‘Salaam Bombay’ are the only other two Indian films to have made it to the top five. The 87th Academy awards will take place on February 22.

SPORT

Kalimpong’s Taekwondo Master Manoj Yonzone gets global recognition

Kalimpong, Sept 26: International Master Instructor, Manoz Yonzone, of Kalimpong recently returned from Korea after undergoing further advanced training in the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo. He attended the 36^th  Foreigner’s Taekwondo Masters Course during the month of July. The internationally recognized course was attended by more than 130 Master Instructors from over fifty countries.

            It was conducted by the World Taekwondo Academy (Kukkiwon) at its swanky and world class modern sprawling complex located in Taekwondowon, Muju, Korea. This was the first time the course was held in/shifted to its recently opened new training complex. On previous years, the course was held in Kukkiwon, Seoul.

            On the successful completion of the intensive course, he was issued a Global Taekwondo Teaching License by the World Taekwondo Academy.

            Master Manoz Yonzone (5th Dan Black Belt, WTF) then travelled to Seoul, Korea where he again did an intensive month-long training in Taekwondo at the Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy under the personal guidance and instruction of his Korean Grand Master Chang Seong Dong (9th Dan Black Belt, WTF).

            He has been a practising student of Grand Master Chang Seong Dong since 1996. At the conclusion of this year’s Taekwondo training, Grand Master Chang Seong Dong designated Master Manoz Yonzone as the Certified Chief Instructor (West Bengal, India) of the Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy which is recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation. Furthermore, as per the rules and regulations of the Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy, Master Manoz Yonzone was also promoted to 6th Dan Black Belt.

            A B.Com graduate, Master Manoz Yonzone lives in Kalimpong and Mumbai. He is an alumnus of Mt. Hermon School and St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling. He continues to share his Taekwondo and martial skills and vast experiences of over 38 years with his extended Taekwondo family of students and fellow instructors.

Master Manoj Yonzone’s Martial Arts Details:

Number of years trained: 38 years

Styles Learnt: Budokwan Karate / WTF Taekwondo / Choi Kwang Do

Instructors:

BudokwanKarate :

– Sensei Puran Pal Nepali (4^th Degree Black Belt – India)

WTF Taekwondo:

-          Master Pasang FoningLepcha (4^th Dan WTF Black Belt - India)  

-          Grand Master Chang Seong Dong (9^th Dan WTF Black Belt – Korea)

Choi Kwang Do:

-          Founding Grand Master Choi Kwang Jo (9^th Dan Black Belt – USA)

Martial Arts Certified Rankings:

-          Brown/Black Belt (Budokwan Karate – India)

-          3^rd Dan Black Belt (Choi Kwang Do International – USA)

-          5^th Dan WTF Black Belt (Taekwondo –World Taekwondo Federation, Korea)

-          6^th Dan Black Belt (Taekwondo – Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy – Korea)