SIKKIM OBSERVER          July 21, 2012

BRO for tunneling on Nathula road

Gangtok, July 20: The Border Roads Organisation, which maintains roads along the national highway in the State, has suggested tunneling along some parts of the Gangtok-Nathula road to avoid frequent road blockades due to landslides.

BRO officials have  suggested a one-kilometer tunnel at most problematic spot at 17th Mile on Gangtok-Nathula road as a permanent solution, All India Radio reported.

The Nathula border trade route, which was closed since last week following severe landslides, has now re-opened for vehicular traffic.

The route is used by the tourists and traders to reach Indo- China Border. Continuous rain across Sikkim in the last few days also affected the National Highway 31-A, the only route connecting the state to the rest of the country.

The Border Road Organisation said that landslides occurred at five places between Singtam and Melli about 65 kilometers away from Gangtok.

BRO officials said though landslides in the State during rainy season are normal, last year’s devastating earthquake in the State has affected the soil making it more soft and loose and more prone to landslides.

Press rewards Kazi for three-decade contribution to journalism

Honour ‘merger terms’, Kazi tells Centre

(L to R) IPR Secretary KS Tobgay, CK Shrestha, Jigme N Kazi, CD Rai and Joseph Lepcha at the Press Club of Sikkim function in Gangtok on Tuesday.

Gangtok, July 20: Senior journalist Jigme N Kazi said his acceptance of this year’s Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar award, conferred by the Press Club of Sikkim here on Tuesday, was proof enough that the Fourth Estate in the State is trying to set itself free and improve its image as a strong and independent institution.

Kazi, also a writer, was conferred with the award in recognition of his “significant contribution” towards “development of journalism” in the State in the past three decades.

Kazi, editor of Sikkim Observer and Himalayan Guardian,  was conferred the award for his “outstanding contribution and dedication made during last three decades in the field of journalism,” according to Press Club Working President Vishnu Neopaney’s letter to Kazi informing of the Press Club’s “unanimous decision” to confer the award on its decadal foundation year.

The “Most Promising Journalist” award went to Bishal Gurung while Mohan Lama, Darjeeling correspondent of Sikkim’s Samai Dainik, was also felicitated by the Press Club. Gurung is the State correspondent of Hindustan Samachar news agency.

Theatre activist and senior journalist CK Shrestha of Kalimpong, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion, urged the media in the State to remain united in “thought” and side with the people in all situation. “Merely reporting will not do. You must tell the truth,” Shrestha said.

While IPR Secretary KS Tobgay assured the Press that the government would positively look into all the problems faced the media in the State, Press Club advisor CD Rai, who was the chairman of the function, said Kazi not only deserved the award but his writings were “balanced.”

While urging the media to remain strong, free, united and independent, Kazi called on the people, including the authorities, to respect and respond positively to the urges of the media to remain  free and independent.

“I believe that by conferring this award to this long-time black-listed man, who is forced to live in self-imposed exile in his own homeland, the Press in Sikkim is sending a clear message to those who care to listen. And that message is loud and clear: the Press in Sikkim wants to be more free and independent and those in power and the people at large should take note and respect this stand,” Kazi said in his acceptance speech.

Kazi, who has authored two books, “Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide,” and “Sikkim for Sikkimese”, also appealed to the Centre not to ignore the “hopes and aspirations” of the Sikkimese people and honour the terms of Sikkim’s ‘merger’.

“Even if our political leadership has failed us time and again, India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people. If it continues to ignore the hopes and aspirations of those who sacrificed their country so that this nation may live in peace and security there may come a day when Sikkim will become a hot-bed of international politics,” Kazi warned.

SIBLAC, NASBO pat for Kazi, Press Club

Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Jigme N Kazi

 Gangtok, July 20: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has congratulated writer-journalist Jigme N Kazi for being conferred with this year’s Khangchendzonga Kalam Award by the Press Club of Sikkim.

This is “an honor overdue since long back,” SIBLAC General Secretary Pem Tshering Lepcha said in a Press statement.

The organization, which represents the indigenous Bhutias and Lepcha tribals in the State, also thanked                                                                                                         

the Press Club of Sikkim for “rightly nominating” Kazi for the award.

It said Kazi’s “spirit and quality” of “fighting with wisdom” was “outstanding and simply awesome.” SIBLAC Convenor and former Minister Tseten Tashi Bhutia and National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO - 371F) President Sonam Kaleon met Kazi, who received the award at a function here on Tuesday, at his residence here and offered traditional khada to congratulate him.

The Sikkim-Darjeeling Unification Forum (SDUF) General Secretary Shankar Hang Subba also offered a khada and congratulated Kazi here last week.

Padam Chettri, President of Sikkim unit of the BJP, also complimented Kazi for his achievement.

Editorial

LEADERSHIP CHANGE

Take The Lead, Rahul

Now that Rahul Gandhi has decided to play a greater role in the Congress party and UPA government Congress workers can heave a sigh of relief. While Rahul’s role in the party would be decided by his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, with the consent of the party leadership, it is quite certain that whatever portfolio Rahul takes in the government he will surely be projected as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. That these developments should take place at a time when two senior UPA leaders – Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar – are either elevated or almost sidelined is significant.

   Rahul’s decision to play a more proactive role in the party as well as the government comes a day after Sonia Gandhi said that it was for Rahul to decide for himself on playing a larger role in the party. Sonia has been taking this stand as far as her children’s decision on politics is concerned. She must now act more like the party President than a mother in deciding Rahul’s future role in the party and the government. Rahul’s performance in the UP Assembly polls was far from satisfactory but his sincerity and eagerness to build up the party from the grassroots all over the country must be appreciated. Hard work and sincerity will pay in the long run. All said and done Rahul is a potential youth leader in the country and if given the chance he most probably will prove his critics wrong.

Congress leaders and workers, too, must play their role in shaping the direction in which they want the party and the country to go under Rahul. The old-timers in the party as well as the government must be replaced by young and new faces. Rajiv Gandhi brought with him his own team when he became prime minister. Rahul, too, must be given the same right to do this. The young Gandhi needs to set aside the culture of sycophancy within the Congress, encourage inner party democracy, collective leaders – and not centralized – and build up regional leaders. There must be a fine balance between the powers of regional leaders and the party high command. Rahul’s decision to take greater responsibility in the party and the government is well-timed. Two years is more than enough to test his mettle in the general elections in 2014.

SACRED SIKKIM-I

Demajong: The Sacred Land of Hidden Treasures

 Introduction

Sikkim as Mahaguru Padmasambhava’s most sacred hidden country Bay-yul Dhebu Phunsum Chopei Jong (Demo Jong) has a very long tradition of Buddhism which has been the official religion. It was Mahaguru Padmasambhava who actually introduced Buddhism in this hidden country in the 8^th Century A.D and has since been deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Sikkimese people. Sometime in the 7th 

      SONAM YONGDA              century A.D.

Lord Padmasambhava was invited to Tibet by King Trishong Deutsen to establish and introduce Buddhism. It is believed that on his way to Tibet, he went via Sikkim and is said to have hid a large number of both major and minor Treasures (Ters) in a region below Mount Khangchen Dzonga for the benefit and rejuvenation the dharma when the same would be uprooted in Tibet. More of these sacred hidden treasures such as Denjong Neyig (guide to the sacred locations of Demo Jong), Nesol (Offering to the local guardian deities of Demojong) Rigzin Sogdrub, etc. were later discovered by Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo in the late 16th century who institutionalized Buddhism in Sikkim.

Ney-Sol the directory of holy places kept in monasteries and referred to as a guide book has prophesied that Sikkim will become a Buddhist country one day. Accordingly to the year 1642, three great monks from Tibet came to Sikkim via north south and west gates and met at Norbugang, (Yuksam.) Yuksam in the Lepcha language translates as the meeting place of the three learned ones. After consulting the 'Ney Sol', these three monks consecrated Phuntsok Nymgyal as the first Dharma Raja. The first Denjong Chogyal (Dharma Raja) soon after his enthronement proclaimed Buddhism as the national religion of Sikkim and appointed 18 Buddhist monks as ministers out of the total number of 36. Buddhism was a State religion until Sikkim became a part of India in 1975.

Dedicated to the ruling deity Padmasambhava, an incarnate of Lord Buddha, Demojong which translates to “hidden valley full of treasure fruit and flower”, is considered as a sacred land blessed by lord Padmasambhava. It extends from the peak of Kanchendzonga, down to areas of lush tropical rainforest and is part of the Khangchen Dzonga Biosphere Reserve.

It is mentioned that Khangchen Dzonga, the abode of the guardian deity of Sikkim is surrounded by other deities of Sikkim, identified in the form of mountains, rocks, waterfalls, lakes, trees and sacred caves like the Great Four Caves and Lakes. There is mention of most of the places within the vicinity of the Khangchen Dzonga such as Dubdi, Thragmo Rong, Phamo Rong, Tashiding, Sangha-Choeling, Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Rathongchu, etc, as abodes of deities guarding the land from all directions.    

    The region also has a number of glacial lakes in the higher reaches which are very sacred. The Rathongchu, itself sacred river, has its source in nine holy lakes at the higher elevations, next to the grand Khangchen Dzonga peak. Besides the river, the Yuksam region itself is considered to have 109 hidden lakes. These visible and hidden lakes identified by treasure reveler (Ter-ten-pas) are presiding deities, representing wrathful and compassionate forces which could be both positive as well as negative. The Demojong is viewed as the land of happiness and, according to the sacred text Neysol, the abode of an assemblage of female divinities known as Mamo Khandos. Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo prescribed prayers to appease and propitiate the deities of Sikkim. (to be concluded)

Khenpo Dechen Dorje’s last journey: Phensang to Tashiding

Chorten Gompa, Gangtok

Tashiding (West Sikkim), July 20:  The mortal remains of the late His Eminence the Dorje Lopen of Phensang Monastery, Khyen Rinpoche Dechen Dorje, was consigned to flames here at the Tashiding monastery complex on Wednesday.

Purified by the chanting of prayers and mantras by Rinpoches, Tulkus, Khyenpos and Udor-Choe-Sum of Sikkim at Drakar Tashiding, the mortal remains was consigned to flames at round 1.00 pm on a specially built ‘Phurkhang’ amid chanting of prayers by monks in the presence of  an impressive gathering of mourners.

The Kudung of the late Rinpoche, which reached at Tashiding Monastery at mid-day, was taken to the monastery where short prayers were offered. The Kudung procession began from Phensang monastery early in the morning and was brought down to the Guru Lhakhang at Chorten monastery in Gangtok for prayers and for local residents to pay their last respects.

 When the Kudung arrived at Tashiding, it was accorded supreme Sikkimese Buddhist honor and protocol reserved for very high and accomplished Buddhist lamas, according to Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

Reverently called ‘Phensang Khyen Rinpoche’ by his disciples, the entire rituals and prayers were presided over by Kyabje Denjong Lhatrul Terchen Rinpoche (Yangthang Rinpoche).