SDF targets Sikkim University VC

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     July 13, 2011

SDF targets  Sikkim University VC

“Lama root cause of all controversies”

Himalayan News Network

Gangtok, July 12: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s (SDF) Lok Sabha MP, P D Rai, has accused the Sikkim University Vice-Chanceller, Mahendra P. Lama, of failing to work in cooperation with the State Government in the speedy completion of the university campus in Yangang, south Sikkim.

Briefing reporters here last week, Rai and former Sikkim Lok Sabha MP and SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal said the delay in transfer of university campus land in Yangang is mainly due to failure of the authorities to meet the rehabilitation demands of the land oustees.

“The process of rehabilitating 57 families is yet to be completed. The oustees will not vacate until they are rehabilitated,” Rai said.

The two SDF leaders are also not too happy about non-involvement of Sikkimese in the University’s academic and governing council. The two have also taken a serious view of Lama’s alleged delaying tactics to allow a B. Ed College in Soreng and a degree college in Geyzing, west Sikkim, to get affiliation.

“Has he come to stop or bring education in Sikkim? Is he for the growth of students or to put obstacles in every path?” questioned Rai.

The two not only accused Lama of behaving more like a politician than an educationist, but have also questioned the manner in which the University spent Rs 1.3 crore in the admission process this year. They alleged that out of the total of 225 students who got admission into the University only 25 students are from Sikkim.

Reacting to the allegations, Lama said he was merely “stating the facts” when commenting on the slow pace of land transfer at the University campus.

“We are stating the facts of these two issues and we don’t want to enter into any controversies,” Lama said while also referring to allegations that he was delaying the affiliation process. 

“The norms for affiliation are clear and we have to go by the UGC norms. We communicated these requirements with the State authorities and they were nil on these norms,” Lama added.

Referring to his frequent visits abroad and outside the State, Lama said, “They should be happy that whenever I go to Delhi or abroad, I am promoting Sikkim along with the university free of cost. These questions are beyond the purview of those who are asking such questions.”

Lama was clearly reacting to Rai, who is close to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who alleged: “The VC has failed to build the institution as you need to spend a lot of time to nurture a brand new institution but he spends most of his time touring foreign countries and works with a political agenda which is evident from the speeches he gives in the neighbouring region.” Rai added, “He spends around 90 days only in a year in the university.”

Observers said Lama, who hails from Darjeeling, has fallen out with Chamling, who initially patronized him. Chamling is originally from Yangang and is keen to develop his native village. About 300 acres of land has been acquired for the university in Yangang.

     Meanwhile, Rai and Dahal in yet another press conference held here on Monday said Lama was the “root cause” of all controversies at the university.

They also accused the Opposition of making “anti-people” and “politically-motivated” statements on the SU controversy.

CONG, BJP JOINS SIKKIM UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY

Rahul Gandhi wants update on SU: Bhandari

Gangtok, July 12: It is not only the Chamling Government which has focused its attention on the alleged lapses at Sikkim University the Opposition, too, has joined the tirade against the authorities on slow pace of construction work at the university campus.

According to former Chief Minister and SPCC President N B Bhandari, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has sought the party’s report on Sikkim University. Bhandari said the spat between Lama and the ruling party was “unfortunate.”

While Vinod Chettri, President of the Congress party’s students’ wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), has been asked to submit a report on the controversy shrouding the university, State Youth Congress leader Avinash Yakha, who is from Yangang, is likely to lead a delegation of youths to New Delhi to brief the party high command on the issue.

Meanwhile, Sikkim BJP President Padam Chettri in a press statement said the present stalement at the university reflected the Chamling Government’s incompetence and lack of concern for the student community.

Chettri said the central party leadership is likely to seek President Pratibha Devi’s intervention to resolve all contentious matters of the university.

Dissident ruling party leader and former MLA, Bhoj Raj Rai, who is a close confidant of former minister and SDF MLA PS Tamang, looked upon by many as the chief-minister-in-waiting, in a press statement said the Chamling Government is not at all serious about providing land to the university in Yangang and thereby causing unnecessary delay in completion of the university campus.

editorial

BIG DAMS

Concern Over Brahamaputra

The new Chinese anti-drought project, which envisages the diversion of the Brahmaputra to the arid Xinjiang region, is raising serious concern in India and Bangladesh. Although Beijing has assured that there will be no negative impact on the ecosystem in the central basin or downstream of the river, the two countries instead fear for the people who live along its course.

China had already announced a first project concerning the construction of a dam on the Tsangpo (the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra), with a view to creating the world's largest hydroelectric plant with a capacity of 510MW. But this new plan is causing concern in India and Bangladesh. Some Indian satellites have photographed the construction of several dams along the tributaries of the river. According to some experts, the very minor deviation of these courses will slow the flow of the Brahmaputra, causing damage to local populations as in the case of dams on the Mekong.

The Brahmaputra, one Asia’s major rivers, has its source in south-western Tibet. Nearly 3 thousand kilometers long, it winds its way through the Himalayas, and then through India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam) to Bangladesh where it flows into the Bay of Bengal. India and China, therefore, has the shared responsibility to act wisely and tread cautiously in dealing with Brahmaputra.

Fifth Schedule safeguards Darjeeling hill people

          The Gorkhaland shadow boxing is proved a sham and farce, peculiar but normal to politicians of the day. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership has accepted a setup within Bengal, outside the “safeguard” of the Fifth Schedule - Article 244(1). The Fifth and Sixth Schedules seems to be the only two legality for new state formation conspicuously inserted in 36 numbers, “Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas”, phrased in Govt. of India Act 1935 and Order 1936.    

    The important feature of 1935 Act was to indicate E&PEA as distinct areas outside the administrative reforms, thereby governed as if the territories were outside British India under the Chief Commissionership as Scheduled Districts (Local Laws Extent Act) 1874. The 1873 Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (Inner Line Permit) was restricted to non-Regulated areas to protect the areas, now removed since 1990. Why?

The Stafford Cripps Mission 24 March 1946 British aimed to discuss and finalize plans for transfer of power from British Raj to Indian leadership. Before independence, in a statement on 16th May 1946, “the Cabinet Mission reiterated need for special attention of the Constituent Assembly to these excluded and partially excluded areas and tribal areas while drafting the new Constitution of India.”  In the draft Constitution 1946-48 the E&PEA were transferred into Fifth Schedule -Article 244 (1) and Sixth Schedule - Article 242(2) and Art. 275 (1) with their safeguards intact forwarded by A.V.Thakkar Sub Committee 1947 deliberating on “Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (other than Assam)”.

   Darjeeling District as Partially Excluded Area “was felt safeguards were necessary in the interest of the hill people.”  In West Bengal 1952-56 “under Rule 4 (1) of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution” Tribes Advisory Council was formed. The State has denied the ‘hill peoples’ safeguard. (Kayteepee)

Draft pact on Gorkhaland Territorial Administration signed

Tripartite meet to be held soon

Himalayan News Network

Darjeeling, July 12: The West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha on Friday signed on a draft of an Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), which was forwarded to the Centre to lay the grounds for a tripartite meeting to be held either in Delhi or Darjeeling soon.

According to the agreement, signed by Home Secretary G D Gautama and GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, the new administrative body will be known as the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

West Bengal chief secretary Samar Ghosh said they have sent the MoA to the Centre which will study it and take a decision about holding the tripartite meeting. "The chief minister wants the tripartite meeting to be held in Darjeeling. She also wants the Centre to hold the tripartite meeting as early as possible," Ghosh said.

The State government has requested the Centre for holding tripartite talks to put a seal on the final memorandum of agreement at the earliest, preferably on July 12 or 13.

 “We forwarded the draft of the MoA and the papers of the financial package to Delhi. The Centre will scrutinise the draft and offer the financial package,” Ghosh added.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will not have any legislative power and won’t be authorised to collect taxes, according to the Chief Secretary. “But it will be authorised to collect levy from the tea gardens,” he added.

The sensitive territory issue of the GJM has been referred to a nine-member joint verification committee, which will submit a report before the elections are held in the hills this year.

A Bill will be moved in the State Assembly after the signing of the memorandum of agreement. The Board of administrators set up for the Darjeeling hills will run the administration till elections to the new body are held.

 “The outstanding areas of dispute have been settled,” Giri said after a meeting with the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary.

He was accompanied by a senior member of the Studies Forum from Darjeeling, L. B. Pariyar.

 “The tripartite meeting to finalise the memorandum will be held within seven to 10 days,” Giri added.

INTERVIEW/Jonathan Glancey

‘Most Nagas do not want the Indian state of Nagaland’

One of India’s smallest states is also among its biggest conundrums. With a history as chequered and intriguing as its topography, Nagaland is a bewildering mosaic of social and geopolitical complexities. In his book Nagaland: A Journey to India’s Forgotten Frontier, British journalist Jonathan Glancey tries to take a closer look at Nagaland. He shares his findings with Harsh Kabra:

cut out the black portion, pix one col

Q: Why a book on Nagaland?

A: Because Nagaland is such a forgotten corner of the world. It isn’t at all well known even in India, and it is much misunderstood. I had known about the Naga Hills from childhood. For me, at that stage of life, and as someone with a great love for India, this was a Secret Garden or Lost Kingdom, a land from a Kipling story. As I grew up, I remained curious. When I finally went to Nagaland in the early 1980s, I had the opportunity - not as a journalist - to tell the story of a people and a place that deserve recognition. I have been astonished by how little people in India know about Nagaland and its extraordinary history. Here, aside from a fascinating people with a rich culture, is a land that has been a junction box for political ambitions that have shaped the world. This is where the Japanese nearly invaded India in 1944. This is where China might have invaded in 1962. For any number of reasons, Nagaland matters.

Q: Didn’t you come across varying, even contradictory, narratives of history?

A: I would say that the vast majority of Naga people want independence from India. Being forced into Indian citizenship when the state of Nagaland was created in 1963 only strengthened the resolve of most Nagas. From then on, to fight for Nagalim - the dream of a greater Nagaland embracing all Naga tribes across state and international borders - meant being a subversive or traitor. This has not gone down well with Naga people. Of course, there are those who do well working with the federal government and in modern business, and these people - a small minority - do have a less intransigent view of where Nagaland stands in relation to India.

Q: What is at the root of the Naga scepticism towards India?

A: Nagas were promised their freedom by Mahatma Gandhi. This offer was revoked, and brutally so as events proved, by Jawaharlal Nehru and his successors. So there is a lack of trust. Nagas come from a very different background and culture. They still want their own country, much, perhaps, as the Irish did when ruled by Britain.

Q: Isn’t Nagaland more at peace now with its current identity?

A: Nagas are very happy with the idea of being Nagas; their attachment to their beautiful hills is profound. India cannot truly understand Nagaland because most Nagas do not want the Indian state of Nagaland. If more Indians were able or willing to travel through Nagaland, I think they would understand. After all, Indians worked hard for their independence. They, of all people, should understand the dream of an independent Nagaland.

Q: Can modern India’s economic might counterpoise the Naga desire for independence?

A: The desire for independence is deep-rooted. The Look East policy, driving economic development into Nagaland and the northeast generally, has helped many people in a matter-of-fact way. Yet, whenever I speak with Naga people, no matter how seemingly integrated into modern Indian life and even the global economy, I hear a longing for an independent Nagalim. And, as Nagas, whether villagers or professors in North America, told me, Nagaland is not for sale.(Times of India)

Amazing Nepal: Natural & Cultural diversity

Yangchen Namgyal

Nepal may be passing through a long phase of political instability but the richness of the country’s natural and cultural diversity is the former Hindu kingdom’s main strength and a source of economic sustainability of the people.

For the ordinary Nepali people who live in the countryside it does not matter who rules or misrules in Kathmandu. They continue with their traditional farming and trading activities which is a constant source of their revenue. Despite two decades of political instability and bloody revolution of the Maoists tourists still continue to flow in giving the people an opportunity to increase their earning.

Its majestic snow-peaked mountains, rugged terrains, deep valleys, and the fertile terai region, coupled with renowned pilgrimage centres for both Hindus and Buddhists, give Nepal an edge over other Himalayan region as far as the tourism sector is concerned.

Added to these natural attractions is the ethnic diversity of its people who still have a simple lifestyle like their ancestors. The fear is that the invasion of ‘progress’ in all its diversity may deprive ordinary Nepalese of their rich and unique cultural heritage.