Jigme N Kazi’s blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      Sept 22, 2012

LACHEN RINPOCHE PASSES AWAY, FUNERAL IN LACHEN ON SEPT 26

Death “huge loss”: Guv; will leave “deep void”, says CM

Gangtok, Sept 21: The funeral of Lachen Rinpoche, who passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, will be held in Lachen, North Sikkim, on Wednesday (Sept 26), according to monks of Lachen monastery.

The moral remains (kudung) of Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche arrived here on Wednesday night. On arrival the Kudung was taken to Chorten Gompa to receive the blessing of Dodrupchen Rinpoche. It finally reached the residence of the late Lachen Rinpoche at Development Area here at 10 p.m.

The Kudung of the former Sangha Minister (1979-1984) was received at the Sikkim-West Bengal border in Rongpo by monks, devotees and lay people. Earlier at Bagdogra airport the mortal remains of Rinpoche was received by Health Minister DN Takarpa, Sangha MLA PT Bhutia and Ecclesiastical Secretary Tenzing Gelek.

Senior Lachen Monastery lama Cho Thisung, who led a delegation of lamas to New Delhi to receive the kudung, said they witnessed two auspicious signs during their homeward journey: a rainbow in the sky during the flight and a slight drizzle on their arrival at Rongpo.

According to another senior Lachen Monastery lama Ngodor Lachenpa, the kudung will be taken to Lachen on Sunday and the funeral will be held in Lachen on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said he remembers Lachen Rinpoche as “a friend and colleague”. Both are originally from Yangang in south Sikkim. In a message, the Chief Minister said the passing away of Rinpoche “will leave a deep void not only amongst the Buddhists” but also among all sections of “Sikkimese society.”

In his condolence message Governor BP Singh said, “Kyabje Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche was one of Sikkim’s foremost Buddhist masters.  His death is indeed a huge loss” to the State.

 Meanwhile, a large number of people from all over the State have come to the capital to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

(top and bottom) Governor BP Singh and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling offer khadas to the kudung of Late Lachen Rinpoche in New Delhi on Sept 18, 2012

A unique horse festival in Dolpa goes back to 8^th century

Upper Dolpa (Nepal), Sept 21: The clansmen and monks of the mystical land of Upper Dolpa first gathered eight centuries ago to pray, feast, fight over property and vie for the title of fastest horseman in the Himalayas.

They have met every 12 years since in the Tibetan Year of the Dragon for a festival in modern-day Nepal centred around the world's highest horse race, although these days they ride for honour rather than land.

Around 50 cavaliers who have come from tiny villages dotted all over the Himalayas prepare to run the perilous course, a narrow strip of rocky river bed 4,300m (14,107 ft) above sea level in the rarified air of the world's tallest mountain range.

A horn signals the start and men in silk head dresses, leather coats lined with yak fur, golden chains and icons of the gods of animistic folk religions swinging from their necks gallop away on their ornately adorned ponies.

Thousands of monks and other devotees who have walked for days to the Shey Dragon Festival roar on their favourites and wave the flags of their gurus.

Some are simple, hardy mountain ponies developed from Mongolian stock while other riders mount swift and agile Nangchen horses, bred pure in the Kham region of northern Tibet since the 9th Century.

Scholars believe some breeds, unknown to the West until the 1990s, may be the "missing link" between the Przewalski horse, a wild Mongolian animal with neolithic origins, and modern ponies.

The Shey Dragon Festival, ostensibly a religious affair, is among the last of the great Himalayan clan gatherings that hark back to a time when warring tribes would meet over a week-long armistice to take their disputes to the sporting field.

Under the Tibetan Yarlung dynasty there was a large migration in the 8th century towards Dolpa, which changed hands between the Purang, Guge, Mongolian and Lo kingdoms over the following 800 years before being swallowed up by Nepal.

The festival, one of the most important events for Buddhist pilgrims, has taken place under all these regimes, with around 15,000 from across the world celebrating this year, over five days straddling August and September.

"It's nice to see this year the younger generation participating. In previous years it was only elderly people. I hope it continues to grow.

"Nepal is one of the weakest, poorest countries in the world and Upper Dolpa is the poorest part of Nepal so this is definitely the most difficult, remote festival in the world to get to."

Chinese transgressions along India borders despite talks

Dharamsala, Sept 21: India has recorded as many as 550 "transgressions" by Chinese troops from across occupied Tibet since Jan 2010, resulting in some kind of a face-off in one instance, but there has been no major border confrontation or an actual skirmish between the armies of the two sides.

The transgressions had occurred in all the three sectors — western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) across the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two sides, The Times of India reported.

The report cited sources in the Indian Army as saying the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops had also stepped up their aggressive patrolling in eastern Ladakh in recent months. It added that there was some kind of a face-off between PLA troops and Indian soldiers in the Chumar area of the Nyoma sector on Jul 29 when a large Chinese patrol crossed over into what is perceived to be Indian territory.

"Our patrol, which was also in the area, did a 'banner drill' (waved banners at the Chinese troops to show it was Indian territory) ... the two sides subsequently disengaged without any confrontation," the report quoted the source as saying.

The report spoke of India’s hope that the new bilateral boundary coordination mechanism, which became operational earlier this year after being inked during the 15th round of border talks between India’s national security advisor Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo, would help prevent border flare-ups between the two sides.

The report said India routinely takes up "specific incidents" of transgressions by the PLA through hotlines, flag meetings, border personnel meeting (BPM) and normal diplomatic channels. It added that during the fourth India-China annual defence dialogue last December, New Delhi also told Beijing that military patrols along the LAC should not be undertaken at night, nor should they "surprise each other".

Provide list of corrupt officials: Himachal High Court

Shimla, Sept 21:  The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State’s chief secretary to furnish a list of government functionaries involved in corruption and moral turpitude cases over the past 10 years.

A division bench of Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice D.C. Chaudhary passed these orders on Thursday while hearing a petition filed by drug controller Sher Singh Thakur, who was convicted last year for corruption, against the state to set aside the departmental proceedings against him.

During the hearing, the court observed that since November 2011, the court has been directing the principal secretary (home) to furnish information regarding officials involved in corruption cases, IANS reported.

But the principal secretary had informed the court through an affidavit May 9, 2012, that this would take a lot of time as the information is to be consolidated by the administrative secretaries concerned after receiving it from departments, boards and corporations under their control.

The court observed “from November 2011 to May 2012 would have been sufficient enough time to call for the information and supply it to the court”.

“The court wonders what they have been doing for six months. Being a home secretary, a major part of the information could have been easily got available from police headquarters. There is no point in waiting for the report any further from the secretary (home). Therefore, the court directed the chief secretary to furnish the information within six weeks,” the judges observed.

The next hearing of the case has been listed for Oct 31.

Thakur was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in 2008 and was sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by a Solan court in June 2011 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Editorial

LACHEN RINPOCHE

Prayer For His Swift Return

Sikkim’s unique spiritual heritage dates back to 8^th century when Lord Padmasambhava, commonly referred to as Guru Rinpoche (precious master), visited the sacred land of Beyul Demajong (the hidden valley of grains) and blessed its people. Some of the leading Sikkimese Bhutia families such as the Bonpas presumably settled in Sikkim when Bonism, Tibet’s indigenous religion, was suppressed during the introduction of Buddhism in that country under the patronage of King Trisong Duetsen and other rulers of his dynasty. Five hundred years after Guru Rinpoche visited and blessed Sikkim the Bhutia ruler Khye Bumsa and Lepcha chief Thekongtek swore eternal blood brotherhood at a place called Kabi-Lungtsok, located just north of Gangtok in North Sikkim, in the 13^th century. This sacred pact led to the coronation of the first Chogyal (dharmaraj – religious king) of Sikkim, Phuntsog Namgyal, four hundred years later in Yuksam, West Sikkim, in 1642 by three holy lamas from Tibet of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism to which Guru Rinpoche belonged.

The Late Lachen Rinpoche is believed to be the 4^th reincarnation of one of the four chief disciples of Terton Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, one of the three lamas who crowned the first Chogyal of Sikkim. Unlike many other rinpoches in Sikkim, who do not have much association with Sikkim and the Sikkimese people, Lachen Gomchen (great hermit) Rinpoche is a bonafide Sikkimese of the Gensapa clan and belong to a lineage whose origin is in Sikkim. Therefore, considering Lachen Rinpoche’s historical and religious connection with Sikkim the overwhelming and spontaneous outpouring of sorrow and grief at the time of his passing away is understandable. The late Rinpoche’s efforts to preserve Sikkim’s rich cultural and religious heritage and his involvement in the pro-Sikkim movement in the 1970s when Sikkim’s international political entity was being threatened must be looked upon in the right perspective to fully understand and appreciate the great contributions made by this spiritual master. May Sikkim and the Sikkimese people be blessed, once again, by his swift return to this blessed land.

“Lachen Rinpoche sought to preserve Sikkim’s unique spiritual heritage”

Gangtok, Sept 21: The Assembly of Sikkimese Monasteries (Dre-Goen Jingkyong Tsogchen) said the passing of Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche, who dedicated his life to preservation of the former Buddhist Kingdom’s “unique spiritual heritage”, is an “irreparable” loss to Sikkim

The Assembly’s Chief Coordinator Yapo Sonam Yongda in a press statement said the late Rinpoche was instrumental in reviving some of the “ever-fading tradition and dharma heritage of Sikkim.”

“His brief presence in the Government in the early 1980s witnessed the inauguration of monastic schools across Sikkim, and which now has become the nucleus to later advancement of students and practitioners in the spiritual pursuits,” Yongda said.

As the Chog-tso Kujen (Vice President) of the Assembly, Lachen Rinpoche dedicated “his everything” for the “cause of preserving Sikkim’s unique spiritual heritage.”

Referring to the rich legacy of Lachen Rinpoche’s predecessors, whose origin is connected to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Sikkim’s Patron Saint of the 17^th century, the Association has urged the government to declare a State holiday on the day of the funeral of the late Rinpoche, which falls on Sept 26.

The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) in its condolence message described the late Rinpoche as “an extremely important Vajrayana master and a senior incarnate of the Nyingma tradition.”

SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia in a press release said the late Rinpoche’s life was “extremely beneficial to the Nyingma lineage with its many monks and nuns. The institute of higher learning, retreat facilities, and the tradition of the rituals—everything was maintained perfectly in his monasteries under His dispensation.”                                     

SIBLAC has declared week long mourning in honor of the late Rinpoche.

 The Sikkim Hermonites Association also condoled the death of Lachen Rinpoche. During its brief meeting here on Thursday, Hermonite Internation President Jigme N Kazi gave a brief account of the late Rinpoche’s life and contribution made to Sikkimese society.

Moderate quake jolts Sikkim on Sept 18

Gangtok, Sept 21: Exactly a year after a powerful earthquake killed 90 people and ravaged large parts of Sikkim, a moderate tremor measuring 4.1 jolted the State on Tuesday evening, sending people out of their homes, but there was no immediate report of casualty or damage to properties.

As the quake struck at around 5:55 p.m. and lasted for about three seconds, people, with the devastation caused by last year's quake still fresh in memory, scampered out of their homes onto the roads and were reluctant to return fearing aftershocks, PTI reported.

Tuesday’s tremor came on a day when people across Sikkim performed 'puja' not only to remember those who perished in last year's quake but also praying against a repeat of the same disaster.

Candlelight processions were held in the capital as well as in Mangan, headquarters of North Sikkim, which bore the brunt of last year’s devastating quake.

“It is a warning to the people of Sikkim,” said several people in North Sikkim while referring to the quake.

Museum for Gorkha war heroes in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Sept 21: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) last week laid the foundation stone for a Gorkha War Museum near Batasia Loop, 6 km from Darjeeling town, to remember and honour Gorkha war heroes.

According to Saumitra Mohan, Chief Principal Secretary of the GTA, the project is likely to cost Rs 1.50 crores and will be completed within a year.

The 2000 square feet land that will house the two-storey museum belongs to the land and land reforms department. While various artifacts associated with Gorkha soldiers, belonging to the Indian and British Army, will be on display on the first floor, the second and third floor will house a research centre and personnel souvenirs respectively. There will also be a lecture and cinema hall, it is learnt.

Most of the artifacts, souvenirs and war collection will be provided to the museum by Hemant Pradhan, a local private collector. Pradhan, over the past forty years, has managed to collect over 200 medals associated with the Indian and British Army. His collection includes army souvenirs from 1890 till that of Kargil war, army uniforms and photographs dating back to World War I and II.

"The Gorkhas have laid down their lives on several occasions to protect the country. But the people are yet to acknowledge their contribution. We want the museum to provide information about the Gorkha community and their contributions," said Binay Tamang, GTA executive member in charge of the information and cultural department. The GTA will also undertake the beautification of the area around the museum.

Bodos fear of becoming a minority in their own land: Shinde

“Situation is still far from normal"

New Delhi, Sept 21:  The Assam government has been warned that the situation arising out of the ethnic strife between Bodos and Muslims "is far from normal" and there was fear the communal tension may spread to other districts around the Bodo areas, said Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Shinde conveyed the assessment to the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Race Course Residence here on Thursday, IANS reported.

The meeting was convened to mainly discuss the Assam violence witnessed since July 19 that has claimed 97 lives and left 4.8 lakh people in relief camps.

Shinde gave an overall assessment of the Assam violence and the situation prevailing in the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) areas of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalgiri.

The home minister's assessment, according to the sources, was that Bodos' fear of becoming a minority in their own land was the reason for the troubles in the state.

The Bodos were worried they would get marginalised as migrants from other states within the country and from outside the country settled in their territory and this was the historical background for the violence being witnessed in Assam, he reportedly told the meeting

The central government also felt that though the developments of the recent days, when people of northeast origin returned to cities like Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and other places from where they had fled last month, was encouraging, "the situation is still far from being normal".

The miscreants, the government felt, were waiting to cause trouble and that the state governments needed to maintain vigil.

They also held that indications were clear that similar sectarian tension was spreading to neighbouring districts of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) such as Barpeta, Karimganj and others.

Communal passion was still running high in some of the districts of the State, according to the central government.

It has also suggested to Assam government that to prevent such violence from recurring, a comprehensive security plan that is fool proof needs to be put in place.

Dimapur to host national seminar on oral history of Northeast

Dimapur, Sept 21: A galaxy of intellectuals will be present in Nagaland's commercial hub Dimapur at the end of October to participate in a national seminar on the theme, "Recovering the Oral Histories of North-Eastern India”.

The mega event, which  will be held on October 31 and November 1, is being  organised by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) based in Shimla in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Dr Sentila Yanger, who is the convenor of Nagaland chapter of INTACH, said about 25 resource persons from Tezpur University, North Eastern Hills University (NEHU), Mizoram University and  Manipur University will be participating in the two-day event, the Sangai Express reported.

These 25 resource persons will be presenting their papers in the seminar on the North East India region oral histories.

Arunachal media condemns attack on scribes

The office of Arunachal Times was vandalized by unknown miscreants on April 15, 2012.

Itanagar, Sept 21: Taking strong exception to unabated attacks on the media even after the deployment of security personnel in press establishments, the Arunachal Press Club ( APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) on Wednesday condemned the unprovoked assault on Arunachal Times employees on Tuesday.

The frequent attacks on mediapersons have become a major concern in the State. The two organizations have called on the state police to bring the culprits to book at the earliest.

A group of miscreants attacked two employees of The Arunachal Times, an English daily, here on Tuesday, sending shockwaves among the media fraternity. The two employees, Ranjit Sarkar and Sunando Bora, were attacked by miscreants in front of their office. The incident was, however, captured in the CCTV cameras in the daily's office. The attackers escaped on two motorcycles after other employees rushed to the entrance gate on hearing the screams of the two.

Sarkar was severely injured while Bora escaped with minor injuries. Police rushed to the spot and the duowas taken to RK Mission Hospital. A case has been registered and investigation launched.

The incident took place at the same spot, where Tongam Rina, the associate editor of the daily was shot at on July 15 last.