Sikkim Observer Dec 6, 2011
Road construction work unsatisfactory: High Court
GANGTOK, Dec 5: The Sikkim High Court is not pleased with the slow pace of work along the national highways in the State.
During a hearing of a case pertaining to widening and maintenance of roads in the State, including NH 31A, Acting Chief Justice SP Wangdi said construction work undertaken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Swastik in the State was “far from satisfactory.”
The court noted that report filed before it by central agencies undertaking road construction work in the State showed little progress despite the fact that the issue also involved national security concerns in the strategic border State.
The delay, it appears from reports, is largely due to non-availability of funds and slow process in acquiring land for construction works.
The High Court has directed the Ministry of Surface Transport for early release of funds and sanction of funds for compulsory afforestation to enable speedy construction of national highways.
Realising the need to complete construction of roads before the next monsoon sets in, Justice Wangdi has observed that all respondents “…shall take up the matter by according it the priority it deserves so that optimum amount of work can be completed during the working season which normally extends only up to the month of May each year”.
Only 15 of the total of 37 proposals for widening and maintenance of roads in the State have been officially approved. These include NH31A, JN Road and North Sikkim Highway.
In May this year, the Sikkim High Court had issued suo motu notices to several Union ministries and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and sought responses on the bad condition of three strategically important roads in the State.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice S.P. Wangdi acted on media reports on the inferior widening work and poor maintenance of the three national highways, posing inconvenience to residents in the State and tourists.
The judges also pointed out the strategic and security aspects of the three roads passing near the borders with Nepal, China and Bhutan.
Referring to the North Sikkim Highway, Justice Wangdi had said though the widening of the road had begun more than seven years back “surprisingly, the work is yet to be completed and its progress is manifestly slow”.
All the three widening projects are looked after by Project Swastik of BRO. While Rs 600 crore has been earmarked for the widening of 180km-long North Sikkim Highway, the 66 km-long Gangtok-Nathula road’s work costs Rs 495 crore. According to the BRO schedule, both the projects will be completed by 2015.
Nathula border trade: zero import, exports decline
Hill Media Network
Gangtok, Dec 3: Despite the initial enthusiasm and media-hype over resumption of the traditional Indo-China border trade at Nathula in east Sikkim nothing worth mentioning happened during the just-concluded border trade.
In fact, the sixth border trade was a damp squib: imports were nil and exports declined by half. Last year, the export figure was Rs 402.54. This year it has gone down to Rs 218.95, according to official sources. The trading period was between May to November.
Border trade through Nathula (14,000 ft) resumed in July 2006 after the 1962 Indo-China war.
Read Against the Tide, ex-CM tells local scribes
Jigme N Kazi
Gangtok, Dec 3: The man who always supported the status quo and became a part of it in a political career spanning more than fifty years surprised me again when I learnt that he remembered me during a media function here recently.
Bhim Bahadur Gooroong urged mediapersons in the State to read my first book, Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide, during a recent function where he awarded five local journalists with “Positive Journalism” grant. The grant came from the State Government.
Would Chief Minister Pawan Chamling approve Gooroong’s reference to my book during such an occasion when IPR Secretary KS Tobgay was also present and when I’m still in the bad books of the authorities? I really don’t know, but I feel that the former Chief Minister was freely expressing his views not caring for anyone’s views on his remarks, which the local media purposely ignored for reasons best known to them. Though Against the Tide was looked upon by many as an anti-Bhandari book the establishment has been treating me as one indulging in “negative journalism” in the past one decade or so. So, Gooroong, a former journalist, did a brave thing by asking the local media to read my book. But will they ever read and go against the tide? I won’t blame them if they don’t. There’s a big price to be paid for exercising one’s freedom in Sikkim. Everyone knows that but pretend not to.
Another credit due to Gooroong from me is when he was the Chief Guest during last year’s function of the Sikkim Federation of Working Journalists (SFWJ), which I still head. During the function, six local journalists, including myself, were felicitated by the Federation, an affiliate of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ), with “Press Freedom” award for taking part in a press freedom protest rally in Gangtok on June 19, 1993, when the political situation was unfavourable towards freedom of expression and movement in the State.
When Chamling launched my book in Gangtok in February 1994 I was lucky. Within three months (it has nothing to do with my book) Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who was in power for nearly fifteen years at a stretch, was eased out of power. Dissident legislators within his party (Sikkim Sangram Parishad) used the income tax issue to throw him out. He never came back to power since then.
In May 1984, Gooroong, who earlier defected to the Congress (I) government headed by Bhandari, sided with dissident Congress legislators to go against Bhandari. The dissidents were successful and Gooroong became the Chief Minister – but only for 13 days!
In February 1982, Gooroong, then an MLA representing RC Poudyal’s opposition Congress (R), led ten legislators – six from the ruling Congress party and four from the opposition – in a revolt against New Delhi by acknowledging former Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal’s second son Prince Wangchuk Namgyal as the 13th “Chogyal of Sikkim.” The revolt took place on the day of the Chogyal’s funeral on February 19, 1982.
The sad thing with the old man is that the opportunistic tendencies in him got the better of him than his rebellious streak. Otherwise Sikkim would be a better place to live.
BORDER ROADS
Give BRO A Long Break
If you take an hour’s drive from Gangtok towards North Sikkim along the North Sikkim Highway you will know what Acting Chief Justice SP Wangdi has been saying in the Sikkim Court. Instead of the usual black or semi-black tarred road much of the road leading to Kabi-Longtsok, an important landmark in Sikkim’s history, is covered with thick mud and very bumpy, too. During the winter when there is less rain the slush along the highway is less but one can imagine what the people, including tourists, have to go through during the coming monsoon. And beyond Kabi the road does not get any better not to speak of the condition of the highway from Mangan to Chungthang and from there to Lachen and Lachung after the recent earthquake.
Lack of funds and the tardy manner in which files are processed for land acquisition for road construction work are not the only reason for delay in road construction and maintenance work. The fact is that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is simply unable to do the job entrusted to it due to many reasons which the authorities should know by now. It is, therefore, high time that the authorities give the BRO a long break and allow private firms to do the job. Trying new initiatives to tackle long-standing problems for a change is the only alternative left now. It will do a lot of good to residents of the State and the country’s security concerns in a vulnerable region such as Sikkim, which has international borders with three countries.
INDO-CHINA RELATIONS
India Needs To Be More Assertive
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s observation that India is not at all firm in dealing with China on violation of its territorial integrity in the Himalayas is shared by many who want India to be more assertive in tackling with China on various contentious issues, including the border dispute. Unlike the Dalai Lama who says India is too cautious in dealing with China on the Tibet issue Abdullah has gone one step further. He wants India to show “some spine while dealing with China.”
"Why is it that China wants us to follow 'One China' policy for them but it won't follow a 'One India' policy for India," Abdullah rightly asked. "China seems to have no problem in calling Kashmir a disputed region. But we are expected to follow a 'One China' policy and not call into question Taiwan's status, or not call into question Tibet's status," he added. The need for India to deal with China on such issues on an equal footing and to take a more assertive stand like it did when it refused to accept China’s request to postpone the Dalai Lama’s religious function in Delhi recently must be reflected in all avenues of Indo-China relations. However, there was no need for India’s President and Prime Minister to skip the international Buddhist function where the Tibetan spiritual leader was present. Aren’t we showing that we are apologetic and somewhat spineless?
South district villagers raise concern on tunnel blasts
By A Staff Reporter
Jorethang, Dec 5: Local residents from several villages in south district have expressed concern over the manner in which big companies from outside the State are carrying out their construction work in their area.
Villagers of Zoom-Salghari, Majhitar, Goam, Chisopani and Daragaon near here said construction companies such as Dans Energy and Sew Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd are carrying out “illegal” work inside the tunnels.
According to the Industrial Belt Dev Company (IBDC), heavy machines are being used the in the tunnel premises and locals feel that construction workers are not only not heeding to the suggestions and grievances of local residents but are involved in activities that are harmful to them and the environment.
Heavy blasting are also taking place inside the tunnel which are creating a sense of panic among the villagers, local youths said. They said the concern of the villagers has been reported to State Government officials.
DR. TSEWANG Y. PEMBA TSERING/ A Tribute
Remembering Dr. Pemba of Darjeeling
BY KC PRADHAN
A doyen among the medical fraternity in the Hills of Darjeeling, and the first to become a doctor in western medicine from his community, is no more. A distinguished medical surgeon who made a mark not only in Darjeeling but also in faraway London and more importantly in the Kingdom of Bhutan where he was highly revered. But he treasured most his association with Planters’ Club Hospital in Darjeeling where he was the Superintendent for many years and many sons and daughters of eminent families from Sikkim were born under his, and eminent Matron Phulmati Rai’s, able watch.
He was a quite man of few words and highly dedicated in his profession. His association with Sikkim goes back to the early 1940s when his distinguished father Rai Saheb Pemba Tsering was a prominent member in British Political Office having served as British Trade Agent first at Gartok in western Tibet and then at Yatung and finally Head of the British Mission in Lhasa - a post next only that of Political Officer in Sikkim. But the family had made Gangtok their home, living in the residence of late Tashi Tsering of Sikkim politics fame. If I remember correctly, it is now Students’ Shop.
If his sister Nozenla was my kindergarten friend at Mazong House (Gangtok), his younger brother Tsewang was my hostel mate at the old Santosh Villa at North Point (Darjeeling). A brilliant family which persevered and made a mark in their respective fields despite having lost their parents to the Gyangtse flood on that tumultuous night of 17 July 1954. As Nozenla writes, “My parents were washed away suddenly in Gyantse, Tibet floods of 17-7-1954. So, we were left as orphans overnight and had to fend for ourselves independently. God has been good as we managed to survive”.
Tsewang Norbu was a brilliant student with Dawa Tsering, later Foreign Minister of Bhutan, all of us staying as pals in Santosh Villa. Alas, the rickety building, our home away from home is no more. Tsewang did his civil engineering from Imperial College in London and was working in Manchester till his retirement and is now settled in the UK. His youngest sister Norden lives in Germany
Sir Basil Gould, the Political Officer of Sikkim, was very fond of the family and always tried to help. He has written eloquently of Rai Saheb Pemba in his Memoir “The Lotus in the Jewel” and narrates hilariously how the task of handing over two pairs of birds (budgerigars- Australian parakeet) to the four year old HH the Dalai Lama was entrusted to him as the Dalai Lama was very fond of birds.
Dr. Pemba (as he was called and known) was an eloquent writer. His book, “My Young Days in Tibet” is an interesting read – written with simplicity and yet gives insight of Tibet and the society at large at that given time of Tibet’s glorious past.
An extract of his days at Victoria School is apt to share here:
No, unfortunately, I was not a school girl during the above years, I was fortunately or otherwise a school boy at Victoria Boys' School, rather than a stone's throw away from Dow Hill School. In those days and I suppose even now, Dow Hill was the sister school to Victoria. By that it was meant that if one was a student at Victoria and had a sister, she was expected to go to Dow Hill, and vice versa if a school girl at Dow Hill had a brother at home. It was expected that the students of the sister school never had boy friends except at Victoria, and the latter was in turn expected to maintain a mutual fidelity. Dow Hill always cheered Victoria during sports and games competitions and we did the same for our sister school when she raced against their rivals St. Helen's Convent, Kurseong. Every now and then boys having sisters in Dow Hill were allowed to visit them but these visits had a sinister or romantic purpose, for the boys served as decoys to smuggle in heart rending messages to girl friends, and for every Romeo at Victoria there was willing Juliet in Dow Hill. I remember that these episodes of gun running or rather letter running got to such a pitch that the academic staff of both the schools were concerned that such distractions would greatly harm the scholarly achievements of the two schools, and there resulted much persecution.
I have begun this article in a light vein, and even to-day Dow Hill somehow brings to mind such associations - socials where we primmed and scented ourselves and with much heart thumping and shyness took our first manly steps into the social world, dances where we clumsily put into practice the steps of the fox trot and waltz that we had rehearsed so assiduously for weeks. But of course there must have been the deep serious changes that were taking place beneath the light hearted gaiety and superficial world of our boyhood and girlhood dreams. The years 1941 - 1948 were momentous years, years of the second world war, the year of Indian Independence 1947, and the end of the British Raj. Dow Hill then was almost full with British and Anglo-Indian girls, and most of the staff were from these categories.
I particularly remember Miss Harley who was the Headmistress at that time, a large slightly grey haired Australian lady (She was a British and made Kent as her home after retirement), whose speeches during Speech Day were always something to be listened to. She ran the school extremely well and maintained a very high degree of academic and social excellence. Dow Hill used to produce some very entertaining and polished plays and concerts, and to these many British and Allied soldiers vacationing or convalescing at Darjeeling or Kurseong, used to come. Teas would be served for the troops and money collected for the Red Cross and other war societies. I remember a concert where the attire of the performing girls were a little on the scanty side, and raised eyebrows from certain prudish members of the audience, but the whole thing was done in great taste, and I am sure the troops enjoyed the show. Anyway Dow Hill was not a frumpish institution but took the lead in everything that was changing and modern.
I also remember Mrs. Siddons (I believe she lives in England now, and hope she will blush pleasantly in reading this) who was probably the most chic and fashionably dressed school teacher I have ever come across. She always managed to look social and once again chic, whenever she visited Victoria, no doubt on scholarly matters, we used to find it difficult to keep our eyes off her. She always appeared to be discussing something controversial judging from her vigorous graceful gestures and the awed manner in which her audience of young school masters listened. We of course dared not approach within hearing distance to listen.
Dow Hill was good in hockey and in the inter-school sports, she did well. Dow Hill also used to have some marvelous fetes where we ate and played with relish and then there was a concert to look forward to after the fete or better still a dance, where Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Victor Sylvester tunes CHARMED our hearts and feet. The jitterbug was then in fashion, and I believe the Samba was just coming in.
Dow Hill also served as a fillip to our physical efforts. We used to have a burly games master named Mr. C. J. Hill, who while we groaned agonisingly having done a score of 'dips' used to berate us with words such as 'You, chaps, should get your girl friends at Dow Hill to see you now. Never seen such a lot of weaklings in my life before'.
I also remember Dow Hill before Independence putting on a play done entirely in Bengali. This was quite a startling novelty, against Raj traditions but Dow Hill had the temerity to put it on. In such matters she took the lead amongst the English speaking hill schools. Am I wrong in thinking it was a Tagore play, Rabindranath Tagore who died in 1941, and we had a holiday that day to mourn his death?
I'm afraid this article is a bit brief, but in conclusion I must say that my memory of those days of Dow Hill is of a lively modern institution, taking the lead in many fields, giving the girls an excellent education, stressing not only the academic side of life - an institution charming, attractive, very British, but at the same time keeping up with the times, and educating the girls to face up to and live in a new India, where the British political control would be no more, but where certain British traditions would still survive to play an important role. I'm glad Dow Hill has flourished to celebrate its Centenary, and wish it well for the future, a future in which its part in the education of young ladies will continue to be vital and prominent.
May his soul be rest in peace.
With thanks and gratitude…
Dr. Pemba was our school (Mt. Hermon School – MH) doctor. He used to come to the school frequently (two-three times annually) to do our medical check-ups. He not only ‘repaired’ my fractured left hand after a football match at North Point on July 27, 1976 but surprisingly knew me quite well. Once when I went for a medical check-up at the school infirmary for my heart that was paining Dr. Pemba laughed it off and without doing any examination said, “You are a footballer; nothing can go wrong with your heart!!,” and then added, “How are the apples in Lachen?” How did he know that I was from Lachen in North Sikkim?
Those who knew him well will surely miss him. After the successful operation of my hand at the Planters’ Hospital I was back on the playing field, including North Point ground, for a long, long time and with considerable success. And, therefore, it is not so difficult to remember him with heart full of thanks and gratitude now that he is no more.
St. Joseph’s Father German (see pix) taught us ‘speech’ while I was doing my two-years’ teachers training at the TTC (Teachers Training College), which was located at MH premises and basically run by our staff members. How can we ever forget his “Haba-Haba” shouts during football matches at North Point.
Dr. Pemba and Father German are among those unforgettable landmarks of Darjeeling during my schooling and teaching days – the golden era – in Darjeeling. - Jigme N Kazi)
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