DARJEELING ISSUE SETTLED:MAMATA

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page1 June 8, 2011

We are happy with the talks: Giri

DARJEELING ISSUE SETTLED:MAMATA

“Tripartite meeting will be held in Darjeeling”

Kolkata, June 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.

"Today is a historic day. Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed. It has been decided at the official level. Rest of the details will be given to you soon," said Banerjee, with GJM leaders, including its secretary general Roshan Giri by her side.

Asked about the 'magic formula' that clinched the agreement, Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, "It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development."

      "We will visit Darjeeling very soon. We want the tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM) to be held in Darjeeling only. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only," she said.

Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, "I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present."

"Today's meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy," Giri told reporters.

However, GJM legislator and party spokesman Harka Bahadur Chhettri said his party has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaland.

Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.

Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee to come out with road map

L. Verma

Srinagar, June 7: Ram Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee (KC) will prepare an extensive document about the solution of Kashmir issue which will be presented to governments of India and Pakistan besides the separatist and mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir.

Quoting sources, a local news agency said Jethmalani, former union minister and senior advocate considers solution of Kashmir issue as an important mission of his life and intends to come out with a solution acceptable to India, Pakistan and people of the State.

Continuing its meeting with people from different walks of life, the KC today met PCC chief Saif-u-Din Soz, Hurriyat Conference (M) leader Moulana Abbas Hussain Ansari, separatist leader Yasmina Raja, former vice chancellor of Islamic university Dr Sidiq Wahid and families of the arrested youth.

Jethmalani is also intending to get some sort of support to his mission from Pakistan. Prior to his visit to Kashmir, he had met the ruling and other parties’ leaders in Pakistan. To his plea that the Pakistani government must support his efforts, Jethmalani was told in Islamabad that his roads map can get support if it is as per the aspirations of Kashmiris.

He had recently stated that a mixture of Gen Pervez Musharraf’s four point formula, PDP’s self rule and National Conference’s autonomy proposal can lead to a peaceful and final settlement.

During their four day long stay in Valley, KC met separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Shabir Ahmad Shah besides mainstream leaders. However, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik refused to meet the committee on the grounds that its activities were against the interests of Kashmiris.

PCC chief told the delegation that UPA government at centre is very serious for a solution of Kashmir issue and that any move by union government would get support from the state government. He viewed that for peace in south Asia, and solution of Kashmir dialogue with Pakistan is imperative.

Talks begin on new hill council in Kolkata

Himalayan News Network

Kolkata, June 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the West Bengal government on Monday took the first steps towards formation of a new hill council for Darjeeling, replacing the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council that had been formed in 1988. It is expected that a new council would pave the way for return of normality in the Hills.

A GJM delegation led by its general secretary Roshan Giri and including four MLAs of the party had a meeting with state government officials led by Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and Home Secretary G D Gautama where the details about the formation of a new council were discussed. The meeting would continue on Tuesday to thrash out the the issues that needed to be settled before a council could be formed, the Times of India reported.

Giri said the talks focused on two main issues — the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed council and the transfer of the office of land (locally called "tauji") under the jurisdiction of the council. "Today's meeting was held under a cordial atmosphere. Our points are on the way to be solved," he said. The delegation raised seven points, he said. The GJM general secretary made it clear that while they were not giving up the Gorkhaland demand, they were not pressing the issue either.

GJM wanted inclusion of areas in the Terai and the Dooars, besides the three Hills subdivsions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. If the discussion progresses satisfactorily, the formula worked out would be taken up in a tripartite discussion at the political level in which representatives of the Centre would also be present.

The state government would have to take into account the feelings of adivasis living in the Dooars and the Terai before a deal is concluded.

The GJM has been demanding the inclusion of those areas in the Terai and the Dooars where the Gorkhas are predominant within the jurisdiction of the new set-up. “The issue of territorial jurisdiction is the most important demand at this stage”, GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri told The Hindu after the meeting.

“We have already scaled down our demand on the territorial issue. Unlike earlier times when we had been demanding the entire Dooars and Terai areas be brought within the purview of any new body being considered for the region, what we are now looking at is the inclusion of 196 mouzas in the Dooars and 106 in Terai”, senior GJM leader, Harka Bahadur Chettri, said.

Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and were among those present at the talks.

DARJEELING’S HERITAGE

Lt. Gen. George Llyod lived in ‘Mount Pleasant’

RAJENDRA BAID

Darjeeling long recognized as “Queen of the Himalayas” can also boast of a number of historical buildings, manifestations of the British Raj’s interest in this hill station.

In 1839 there were only ten huts and a hundred people in Darjeeling. But as the British realized its potential as an ideal summer retreat and health resort, things began to move fast. The Lt. General GA Lloyd recommended that a building project be undertaken to develop Darjeeling into a home away from home, complete with snow and mist.

Lord Napier of Royal Engineers laid out architectural plans and by 1843 Darjeeling flaunted thirty grand buildings. There was ‘Mount Pleasant’ the house of Lt General Llyod, ‘Bryan Stone’ where Sir Joseph Hooker lived, ‘Oak Lodge’, ‘Vernon Lodge’ etc. the Town Hall, which now hosts the present municipality of Darjeeling, was established in 1850.

The 19th century indeed saw hectic constructional and engineering activity in Darjeeling and some of the most beautiful heritage buildings date from that era. The Renaissance philosophy and Greek-Roman architectural designs dominated, skillfully adapted to local geographic and climatic conditions.

The public works department, formed in 1862, started constructing with new zeal. Among its best achievements were the Secretariat Building, Thorn Cottage, Raj Bhavan, Kutchery, Richmondhill, Rivershill, Old Kutchery Building, The Natural History Museum, Bloom Field Barrack, Eden Hospital Louis Jubilee Sanatorium, Dowhill and Victoria School.

Many of these buildings though recognized as heritage sites are still in use.

Take for example the Bengal Secretariat Building. It is easy to locate this three-storied building west of the Bandstand on the Chowk. It was erected in 1898 and houses the following offices: Ground floor – Offices of the chief secretary to the government, under secretary of political appointment departments and secretariat library. First Floor – offices of secretary of consulting architect to government and revenue department. Second Floor – offices of secretary and under secretary of financial and municipality department.

The Thorn Cottage, built in 1868, initially formed a meeting spot for the Planters Club. Later for a while it functioned as a PWD office. It now serves as staff quarters of various government departments.(The writer is Editor of Janpath Samachar, Siliguri)

Darjeeling looks back, remembers its founder

Himalayan News Network

Darjeeling, June 7: Darjeeling on Sunday paid homage to its discoverer Lt. Gen. George W. Aylmer Lloyd for the first time ever.

None in Darjeeling remembers any organisation or an individual ever paying homage to Lloyd till date. A group of school students and members of the civil society paid homage to Lloyd on his 146th death anniversary, The Telegraph reported.

Ajay Tamang, one of the organisers of the event, said: “We had forgotten the person who discovered the place. Despite Lloyd being buried in Darjeeling, few here have cared about this gentleman. This is an effort to safeguard our history.”

Historically, Darjeeling belonged to the Sikkim king, whose area had extended till eastern Nepal. The British sent two officers, Captain Lloyd and J.W. Grant, commercial resident of Malda, to broker peace between Nepal and Sikkim in 1828.

Captain Lloyd arrived near Ghoom, also known as the Old Gurkha Station, and immensely liked Darjeeling. The British East India Company gave him the responsibility to negotiate a lease of the area with the Chogyal of Sikkim. The deed of grant giving possession of the hills of Darjeeling to the East India Company was signed on February 1, 1835.

In 1841, the East India Company granted the Sikkim monarchy an allowance of Rs 3,000 as compensation and raised the amount to Rs 6,000 in 1846. While Lloyd continued to stay in Darjeeling, Arthur Campbell was given charge to establish a sanatorium and develop the area. Campbell, the first administrator of Darjeeling under British rule, also introduced tea to the hills.

The British in 1861 annexed Darjeeling after the Sikkimese people objected to British intervention in their country.

Lloyd died here at the age of 76 in 1865 and his body was laid to rest near the old cemetery along 18, Lebong Cart Road. Although the site was declared “to be of national importance” by the ASI (Calcutta circle) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Acts, 1958, due attention has never been given to the place.

“We would want Lloyd’s burial site to be converted into a tourist spot and more attention should be paid to make it attractive. The entire cemetery should be well persevered,” said Udayan Rai, another person who came to pay homage to Lloyd.

BHAICHUNG BHUTIA

RETURN OF THE NATIVE

Coming home to spread the sunshine

Bhaichung Bhutia has returned to his roots at 34, after 18 years on the road, to develop football in his own backyard in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Dubai: Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia has pledged his future to his newly founded home-town team United Sikkim with the news that he will never feature in any other club colours, an interview with the-aiff.com has confirmed.

The "Sikkimese Sniper" has returned to his roots at 34, after 18 years on the road, to develop football in his own backyard in the foothills of the Himalayas, with part-ownership of the division two minnows, Gulf News reported.

With an illustrious career which jettisoned him from his simple beginnings in Gangtok, Bhutia has paid fond adieu to his days representing East Bengal, JCT Mills, Mohun Bagan and English League Two side Bury, with this latest statement. But in the same breathe he stresses he hasn't retired from the national team.

"My playing career is committed solely to United Sikkim. I'll never play for any other Indian club. I'm getting offers but I will not move out anymore. Even if USFC doesn't qualify for next season's I-League, I won't change my mind," said Bhutia.

On his national ambitions for India, with whom he has a record 109 caps, Bhutia added: "I'm yet to reach peak fitness. The injuries have been troubling me. I will wait for some time and see how my body responds. I haven't retired as yet. Wearing the National Jersey is something I have always relished and I'm up to the challenge."

Asked what prompted his launch of USFC, Bhutia added: "The game needs to spread. Let's not forget India is a vast country and football has a huge fan following. But there are certain parts which haven't had representation as far as the I-League is concerned. I thought we should have a local team from Sikkim which should serve as a role model to others."

Tenzin Yangkyi is Miss Tibet 2011

Himalayan News Network

Dharamsala, June 7: Tenzin Yangkyi (19) was crowned as Miss Tibet-2011 on late Sunday evening here on the 10^th anniversary of the beauty pageant.  Yangkyi, a student from Zurich in Switzerland, has just completed her class-10. She was the youngest among the six competitors.

“In my opinion, Miss Tibet can help the Tibetan issue in a great many ways. Being Miss Tibet means representing Tibet, and the name itself only gets the attention of the media. The media is the ultimate way to raise Tibet's voice to the world. Specially, Miss Tibet can help raise awareness of the Tibetan issue within the youngsters,” said Yankyi.

She added, "Winning the title of Miss Tibet would draw the attention of the international media and I could use the platform thus given to highlight the freedom issue by creating more awareness about the cause."

Yangkyi, who can speak fluently in Tibetan, German and English, is interested in fashion, acting and modeling. She wants to make modeling her career.

Unlike other beauty pageants where winners get huge cash awards besides modelling assignments, the winners of the Miss Tibet contest would hardly get anything in comparison. Having gone through the anguish of forced migration and of living in exile, it was the sheer determination of raising the Tibet issue on the international platform which made these six girls enter the contest.

One of the contestants, Ngodup Dolma, a nurse working in Australia said she escaped from Tibet when she was 8. She passed through the Himalayas on foot. Recalling her escape Dolma said, "My sister and I accompanied by 25 other monks used to take shelter under rocks during the day and we walked only at night." She said time has come for Tibetan women to make their voice stronger and speak for Tibet's cause through such events.

Another participant, Tenzin Khecheo from Minnesota, US, a college student said that elders from the exiled community are opposed to the idea of holding beauty pageants but they are still participating for the cause of their motherland.

The three other contestants are Chemi Lhazom (Delhi), Tenzin Sangmo (Dharamsala) and Dolma Tsering (Bangalore).

The 3 rounds of contest that includes a swimwear round on June 3, talent round on June 4 and finale night on June 5.

When the first ever Miss Tibet pageant was held here in 2002 it instantly became a hit with media from all over converging on this north Indian hill town to get the ‘interesting’ story.

Only 32 girls have competed for the crown since it was first started in 2002 by Lobsang who drew criticism from some sections within the Tibetan society including the Tibetan prime minister Samdhong Rinpoche who said the pageant was ‘un-Tibetan’ and ‘against Buddhist principles’.

"We want to convey the message to the community that beauty pageants are not going to ruin our traditional culture but such events are the need of the hour for highlighting the issue," she said.