Sikkim Observer Feb 11, 2012

Mamata pits GJM against Centre on GTA delay

Siliguri, Feb 11: In a shrewd move Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today averted a possible attack from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and set the fuming Darjeeling outfit against the Central Government for the delay in implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) accord.

The Chief Minister, who was meeting a GJM delegation led by Roshan Giri and Harka Bahadur Chetri not only managed to convince the hill leaders that the delay was not on account of the Writers’ Buildings but the Central Government, but also empathised with the delegation for the political pressure they had to handle in the hills on account of the non-implementation of the accord.

“We have communicated our concerns to the Chief Minister and she has told us that she would take it up with the Centre when she visits Delhi later this month,” a visibly satisfied Giri said quickly reminding the March 27 deadline for the implementation of the accord set by GJM chief Bimal Gurung “stands.” Gurung had earlier warned he would tear off and burn the copy of the treaty if the deadline was not met by the Government.

“The GJM leaders have valid concerns about the delay in the implementation of the GTA accord but here I must say that the State Government is not responsible for the delay as it has done its work,” Banerjee said adding the Centre had sought certain clarifications which had already been sent by the State Government and “now it is for them to do the rest.”

The Chief Minister said she had “sought the appointment of the Prime Minister either on 23rd or 24th of February and if I get the appointment I would certainly press for quick implementation of the accord.” The Chief Minister said she would return to Darjeeling on February 27.

Guv urged to protect civil rights

Gangtok, Feb 10: The Joint Action Committee, ‘Common Platform’ yesterday submitted a memorandum to Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh urging him to safeguard fundamental civil rights of citizens in the State.

The appeal to the Governor comes after the recent incident in Singtam in South Sikkim, where two members of the

All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed and Unemployed Association were assaulted while distributing pamphlets protesting against implementation of hydel power projects in West Sikkim.

The Association President Nawin Kiran Pradhan said freedom of speech and expression were part of fundamental democratic rights guaranteed under the Constitution and urged the Governor to safeguard these rights. He said if these rights were suppressed peace in the State would be disturbed.

 “We welcome the decision of the state government of the closure of the two hydro-electric projects 99 MW Ting Ting HEP, 96 MW Lethang HEP being undertaken in Yuksom, Tashiding Constituency in West Sikkim in public interest with immediate effect,” said  JAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia at a press briefing. Bhutia also requested the State Government to scrap the Tashiding hydel project in West Sikkim.

Bhutia body to felicitate CM on closure of hydel projects

Gangtok, Feb 10: The State Government has ordered the scrapping of two controversial hydel projects in West Sikkim: 99 MW Ting Ting and 96 MW Lethang hydro electric projects.

The closure of these projects came through a notification from the Home Department, Government of Sikkim, vide number 12/Home/2012 dated 08.02.2012.

The National Sikkimese Bhutia Orgnisation (NASB0), which is one of the social organizations agitating against projects on historical and religious grounds, has welcomed the closure of these projects and has thanked all those responsible for opposing these projects.

The Organisation said it would felicitate Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for the “historic decision”. It has also urged the State Government to scrap the Tashiding hydro electric project in West Sikkim.

 Sikkim press body expresses concern over Kalimpong media threat

 Gangtok, Feb 10: The Sikkim Federation of Working Journalist (SFWJ) has expressed its concern over the growing fear psychosis that has compelled the electronic news channel in Kalimpong to shutdown.

Media reports of  on the shutdown episode indicate unfavorable situation cropping in around Kalimpong for the safety and secure working environment of the Fourth Estate, Prabin Khaling, the Federation’s Vice-President said in a Press release.

  The Federation is likely to seek the immediate attention of the district administration to ensure the fundamental freedom of the media and the people at large, Khaling said.

“We express solidarity with the aggrieved Press circle in Kalimpong” and intend to “bring the state of affairs at present in Kalimpong to the notice of the Press Council of India,” Khaling said.

The Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) and Journalist Club of Sikkim (JCS) have also raised their voice against those who are threatening the media in neighbouring Kalimpong.

“The media fraternity of Sikkim is sad with this incident and records its solidarity with the mediapersons of Kalimpong,” PCS President Bhim Rawat said in a statement.

Survey for Sevoke-Sikkim rail track approved

Kolkata, Feb 10: The controversial broad gauge railway track, proposed between Sevoke in Darjeeling and Rangpo in Sikkim, has been given a survey approval.

To be conducted by the state forest department, the survey will precede the laying of the track that will run through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Once the survey is complete, the report will be sent to the Union environment ministry that will revert back to the state forest department with its feedback, The Times of India reported.

It will be followed by an environment impact assessment (EIA) that will decide whether the project will receive a go-ahead. This was decided at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board on Monday.

Editorial

CONG HOPEFUL

UP Poll Prospects

The Congress party is going all-out to regain the confidence of voters in the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh. But despite predictions of a better performance by the Congress in the Assembly elections the grand old party needs to tie up with the Samajwadi Party (SP) to form the next government. According to predictions, SP is likely retain the lead in winning most of the seats in the 403-seat Assembly followed by Mayawati’s BSP. Rahul Gandhi’s statement that the party would “go it alone” in UP and that it “is in coalition only with the poor,” is mere rhetoric as his party will find it almost impossible to form a majority on its own.

Both the SP and Congress are heavily banking on the Muslim community, which comprise 18% of the population. The Mayawati government is clearly on the back foot, with a deteriorating law and order situation and opposition parties going on the offensive. The Congress is in a campaign mode seeking to build on its surprisingly strong showing in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, with Rahul Gandhi himself resorting to agitational politics, and his pointsman Digvijaya Singh assiduously wooing the Muslim community.

KATHMANDU KALEIDOSCOPE
Politics And The Common Man

Despite the ever-changing political scenario and unfailing load sheddings, coupled with constant traffic jams and the increasing inflow of rural people into the streets of Kathmandu, this ancient city never fails to dazzle and fascinate its constant flow of visitors. Shopping at foreign tourist-dominated area of Thamel, Darbar Marg and some of the city’s many shopping malls is not only fun but interesting, too.

Kathmandu’s heritage sites are everywhere and one can do your purchases as well as visit the many pilgrimage centers  and heritage sites as you move around. Tourism and pilgrimage go together in the overcrowded streets and this is the beauty of the city. The Swoyambhunath stupa overlooking the city and perhaps the largest stupa in the world in Boudha receive constant flow of Buddhist devotees from all across the Himalaya. Politicians ought to give the Nepalese a break. Streets need to be cleaned, power restored, supply of cooking gas and petrol increased and more importantly there should be enough supply of safe drinking water. These are the needs of the common man even as politicians struggle to draft a new constitution while bickering over its federal structure.

Tibet has a friend in the USA: US Congressman

Dharamsala, Feb 10: The United States is likely to urge its Ambassador Gary Locke to raise China’s “repressive policies” in Tibet with the Chinese government.

In a statement on the recent self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet, US Congressman Frank Wolf said “The stakes are high in Tibet and the Chinese government knows it.  They are tightening their grip on the region.”

He said, “I have urged U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke to raise the government’s repressive policies in Tibet with senior Chinese party officials and publicly use his platform to make it clear to the Tibetan people that they have a friend in the United States of America.”

“I stand in solidarity with all of the friends of Tibet who today have gathered in Washington, D.C. and in cities around the globe to testify to the deepening crisis in Tibet and find common cause with the suffering people of Tibet.

You are rightly holding vigil outside of the Chinese embassy for it is the Chinese government’s brutal and repressive policies which are the source of this human rights crisis.”

Wolf said, “The free world has been horrified by the string of self-immolations of Tibetans over the last year, including several monks and nuns.  These peace-loving Tibetans have set themselves aflame in desperation at the abuses suffered by their people at the hands of the Chinese government.”

Japan funds for Sikkim quake

Gangtok, Feb 10: The Sikkim forest department will receive Rs 13.12 crore from a Japanese government agency to rebuild the infrastructure damaged in last year’s devastating earthquake.

The amount has been sanctioned by the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) that is funding a project to ensure alternative livelihood for people living on forest fringes in Sikkim, according to a national daily.

The release of the amount was announced by JICA representative Vineet Sarin during a review of the Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project (SBFP) here last week. The Rs 330.57 crore project is being executed by the forest department.

“The JICA is extremely sad about what happened in Sikkim on September 18. Although the release of Rs 13.12 crore was not in the original project, it is something which the JICA has offered to the forest department. There has been a lot of destruction and the JICA would like to support the department in whatever way possible within the parameters of the project to restore the damaged infrastructure,” said Sarin.

Farmers undergo training on organic farming in Namchi

Gangtok, Feb 10: An orientation-cum-training programme based on Internal Control System for wider and successful effect of Sikkim Organic Mission was held at the conference hall of District Administrative Centre, Namchi, South Sikkim, yesterday and today.

This two-day workshop was organized by the MR Morarka GDC Rural Research Foundation (Jaipur) in collaboration with Food Supply, Agriculture, Horticulture & Cash Crop Development Department, an IPR release said.

The objective of this programme is to train the field supervisors, panchayat members and local farmers and equip them for successful and efficient implementation of the Sikkim Organic Mission in the rural areas. They were provided with training and information based on documentation of organic farming by the resource persons and officials of the department and Morarka Foundation.

Under this programme, the field supervisors have been selected from the State Livelihood Schools who have undergone three months training in certificate course of Agricultural Management.

Lachen says no to mineral water bottles

Gangtok, Feb 10:  On the occasion of World Wetlands Day on February 2, the Lachen Dzumsa consisting of the Pipons, Gyambos, Chultimpa (representative of Lamas), along with the public of Lachen has decided to ban mineral water bottles in the village of Lachen and higher areas from the upcoming tourist season.

This decision has been made as an initiative for conservation of the holy lake of Gurudongmar situated at 5,183 metres, which over the years has been growing as a tourist destination in the State. The lake area is a biodiversity hotspot, The Assam Tribune reported.

Receiving more than 15,000 visitors annually in the form of pilgrims and tourists, one of the major threats to the holy lake is from garbage disposal.

This was clearly indicated during the cleanliness campaign organised jointly by WWF-India and Lachen Tourism Development Committee in collaboration with the Lachen Dzumsa around the lake side, on the occasion of World Environment Day last year. Thirty big sacks of tins, and plastics of which a large part was mineral water bottles were collected during the drive, the report said.

Understanding the need for having a proper garbage management and regulation process in place, Lachen Dzumsa, with assistance from LTDC and WWF, will develop a strategy for monitoring of the garbage that goes up to the lake, and ensuring that it is brought back to Lachen. A proposal for construction of a garbage segregation chamber at Lachen is also in the pipeline.

Tourists will be sensitised on the matter so that they come to realise that natural mountain water is safer and healthier than those packaged and sold in plastic bottles. With the decision, Lachen becomes the first village in Sikkim to ban the use and sale of bottled water.

The model will look into possibility of complete ban on the use of bottled water in Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake with promotion of filtered water for the tourists at these villages.

Ashit Rai to represent Sikkim at editors meet

Gangtok, Feb 10: Ashit Rai, editor of Sikkim Mail, an English daily, will represent the State at the All India Editors Conference on Social Issue at Poducherry on Feb 10-11.

The conference will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni and the Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, a PIB release said.

The Conference will enable editors to get a detailed background of the government’s  policies and programmes in the area of social and economic development and provide a platform for interaction with ministers and senior officers. The conference will also provide an opportunity to the government to get feedback from journalist specializing on these issues.

Sikkim/People & Places

Rattled Heritage: Sikkim’s Monasteries after the Quake

By CHETAN RAJ SHRESTHA

For a week after the Sept. 18 earthquake, many towns in Sikkim were cut off from the outside world. The roads slowly became passable and as they did, photographs and video clips began to circulate. Rumors traveled too, especially that the major monasteries – Pemayangtse, Dubdi, Tashiding and Ringhim – were barely standing and that some of the smaller monasteries in Khechiperi and Hongdi (Pawo Hungri)  had been obliterated.

The truth has proven more reassuring. There was damage, but not outright destruction. However, it is clear that the monasteries, chief items in Sikkim’s meager architectural heritage, were the hardest hit buildings in the quake.

After the earthquake, the Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department undertook a survey in Sikkim’s four districts. I visited some monasteries alone, some with local officials, and was given information on others. I also assisted with a report summarizing these assessments that covered 121 religious and cultural properties.

Some trends were apparent. Recent concrete and brick monasteries fared well unless poorly constructed. The older stone and mud monasteries, some of which date back to the early 1700s, were badly affected. Walls had collapsed completely, roofs detached from walls and internal murals were scarred by cracks. A gradual analysis identified four main reasons for the damages: local intensity of the quake, soil subsidence, shoddy construction and age.

Much of the damage was done by two forces – intensity and subsidence. The quake’s magnitude was 6.8, but distributed unequally in Sikkim. In the north, where it was most severe, reinforced concrete monasteries in Chungthang and Lachung were rattled enough to be declared unstable. Subsidence has the greatest potential for long-term danger. The earthquake could be seen as a 35-second repositioning of the mountains and even now reports are coming in of monasteries, such as Ralang in South Sikkim, where cracks are still widening.

What will happen during the monsoon season, when rainwater pours into a loosened mountainside, should but has not caused apprehension among the authorities and the monks.

Proportionately speaking, amateur construction appears to have contributed little to the general damage. But in terms of what it indicates and presages, it is the most worrying. In recent decades, nearly all the monasteries have been constructed or repaired by the monks themselves. “Contract lamas,’’ as they are called, are common in Sikkim. They propose projects, are paid and execute the work in between their religious duties, or sometimes at their expense. The government, anxious to please a powerful constituency, does not interfere.

Some contract lamas are perhaps thinking, with some wistfulness, of the central government’s pledge to “reconstruct’’ Sikkim with a special focus on its monasteries. This relief package is by now mythically generous. Its largesse fluctuates between 2.5 billion rupees (about $49 million) and 10 billion rupees (about $199 million) . But nothing has arrived until now; four months after the quake.

The monks will determine whether the older monasteries, so crucial to an understanding of Sikkim’s architectural history, will be restored or torn down and rebuilt. They will have to choose between demolition and conservation, with persuasions from both sides. Chawang and Hee Gyathang in North Sikkim are two monasteries whose committees have chosen to restore the masonry buildings which were damaged on September 18.

Stone masonry monasteries were the hardest hit, suffering all the effects of a crippling accident in old age. Loose stones, weak mortar and decaying wood members contributed to an overall frailty. But physical evidence and oral records testify that they were regularly rebuilt after disasters like the January 1934 Great Bihar earthquake and the June 1897 Great Assam earthquake, both of which affected Sikkim.

When rebuilding happens now, though, convenience is often the deciding factor. The obvious inflictions on the stone facades of the older monasteries – broken walls, collapsed altars – are contrasted with the relative health of the concrete monasteries and presented as proof of the older monasteries’ weakness. That some of them have stood for a few centuries means little.

A century is an eon in Sikkim. Indians sometimes seem to shrug while treating their relics with cheerful disregard; they contend there is a surfeit of history in India. But Sikkim lacks that dubious luxury. Here, mythical history is abundant, recorded history is recent and tangible heritage is scarce.

Sikkim was annexed into the Indian union in 1975, an act commonly called the “merger.’’ It brought Sikkim statehood and with it, regular and substantial funds from the central government. Most of the newer monasteries date from after 1975, either constructed on new land or to replace older structures.

The Buddhist scriptures do not provide guidelines for concrete constructions, and it is uncertain where the contract lamas acquired their knowledge. Inspections after the quake revealed absurdly bad building practices – beams larger than their supporting columns, improperly cured concrete, inadequate reinforcement. The older masonry monasteries were almost always built by the monks and laity, but they used materials – timber, stone, thatch – that they were familiar with. It is their unfamiliarity with concrete that opens the way for amateur construction and material corruption.

The monks’ fondness for concrete led them to dismantle much of their own heritage over the past two decades. The new monasteries are often built on the site of the previous structures for the opposing reasons of sanctity – the footprint of the existing monastery is itself considered holy – and convenience – the debris is often cannibalized to abet new construction.

This insensitivity is not limited to Sikkim. Tawang, a 400-year-old monastery in Arunachal Pradesh state and the largest one in India, has only one original building. The Dalai Lama reportedly admonished the monks of the ancient Dhankar Monastery, in Himachal Pradesh state, asking them to conserve rather than rebuild, a directive they heeded. His Holiness ought to turn his disapproving gaze eastwards.

Part of the present ugliness in monastic construction may have a bitter root. Sikkim has historically looked up to Tibet for political and religious guidance. After the closure of the Tibet border in 1962 following the Indo-China war, the artery between Sikkim and its cultural heart was severed, and it was isolated from discourses in monastery conservation. There is a nascent admiration for Bhutan, which shares Sikkim’s paucity of heritage items but which has shrewdly managed a sensitive conservation of its monastic heritage.

Competition is common among monasteries in Sikkim. In an attempt to upstage each other, some institutions have replaced stone with bricks, mud with cement, timber with marble. Where marble cannot be obtained, they prefer bathroom tiles, the more luridly colored the better.

If desire is the cause of suffering, as Buddhism holds, how much sadness must there be in the smaller monasteries in Sikkim, which aspire to the opulence achieved by the larger ones? It shows the monks as distressingly human, tormented by the same impulses that beset the laity.

(Chetan Raj Shrestha is an architect currently practising in Sikkim. He specializes in conservation architecture and writes in his spare time: The New York Times)