UNDER PRESSURE Chamling Raises Gorkhaland Issue

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Jan 22, 2011

EDITORIAL

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s support for statehood demand by Gorkhas in neighbouring Darjeeling comes at a time when he himself is faced with a pressing political situation in the State. Sikkim Opposition’s tirade against Chamling for doing away with the special status that bonafide Sikkimese, who were earlier known as ‘Sikkim Subjects’, enjoyed under the Constitution (Art 371F) by deciding to issue ‘Pink Idenity Card’ to  bonafide Sikkimese and Residential Certificate to others who were settled in Sikkim before April 26, 1975,when Sikkim was merged with India, comes at a time when the Chief Minister is faced with a multi-crore corruption charges leveled by the Congress leadership in Sikkim.

Nepali/Gorkha leaders in India never fail to play the Nepali/Gorkhali card when they are in trouble. Perhaps Chamling is trying to do the same when he raised the statehood issue for Gorkhas in India in the Assembly this week. If the going gets tough Chamling may even pass a resolution on Gorkhaland in the Sikkim Assembly. He is capable of doing this and much more. Unfortunately for Chamling, it is not just a bunch of ‘frustrated’ politicians who are tired of the growing corruption and mis-governance in the State; the people are fed up and want change.

No one is going to believe that the proposed Patra Commission will nail the corrupt in the State. The State unit of the BJP, which has demanded CBI probe into corruption charges against Chamling, has rightly pointed out that the objective of the Commission is to shield the corrupt and not to expose them. Which government would form a commission of enquiry to probe into its misdeeds? The anti-Chamling campaign, which focuses on rampant corruption, restoration of freedom, democracy and rule of law in Sikkim, is gaining momentum even as the Opposition is united under the banner of ‘Sikkim Subject Bachao Committee.’

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Jan 8, 2011

 EDITORIAL

CREATIVE TOURISM

The Mystic Adventurer

Lachen Valley in North Sikkim occupies a significant portion of Sikkim’s territory. Not only does its northern and western borders touch Tibet (China) and Nepal, Lachen Valley, yet unexplored and undefiled by visitors, is perhaps the most enchanting region which could be carefully nurtured for growth of tourism industry. Besides its scenic beauty it is also a sacred place where Guru Rinpoche (Lord Padmasambhava) in the 8^th century once trod and blessed the land.

His Holiness Sakya Trizin, Head of Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, a Sakya Lama who is held in high esteem by all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, chose the Lachen route to flee Tibet after the Chinese occupation of that country. In the early 20^th century a French lady, Alexandra David-Neel, spent around two years in a cave in Dewthang in Lachen to seek the blessing and guidance of Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche in matters spiritual.

It is indeed heartening to know that some film makers from India and France are presently engaged in making a film on David-Neel. Efforts were made by a France-based trust of David-Neel to revive the French lady’s connection with Sikkim but so far it has largely gone unnoticed. The authorities in Sikkim seem to be engrossed only in big, multi-crore projects such as construction of huge statues of religious figures to attract tourists. Both the local people and the authorities need to apply their mind and do some real re-thinking and be more creative in making Sikkim truly a tourist-friendly destination. Preservation and promotion of Sikkim’s natural and cultural history demands deft handling if we are to promote the region as a Buddhist circuit in the tourism sector.