HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday Jan 2-8, 2013  

SIKKIM-DARJEELING MERGER ISSUE LEADS TO CALL FOR ‘GREATER SIKKIM’

Restore Chumbi Valley & Ha: NASBO

The map of ‘Greater Sikkim’ shows Illam in eastern Nepal, Chumbi Valley in Tibet (China), Ha in western Bhutan, Darjeeling and part of Bihar as part of the former Kingdom of Sikkim.

Gangtok, Jan 1: Anti-merger champion and veteran politician Nar Bahadur Bhandari once said: “We have been merged; we shall not be submerged.” Now, Sikkimese nationalists are rallying behind this dictum in their opposition to the reported move to merge Darjeeling with Sikkim. Realizing that they have nothing to lose if New Delhi is angered by their frustrations and feelings  the Sikkimese people are now bracing up for prolonged fight to the finish.

The first one to fire the salvo is a Sikkimese nationalist organization, which has strongly urged New Delhi to restore Sikkim’s territories lost to its neighbouring countries – Nepal, China (Tibet) and Bhutan – in the past.

The National Sikkimese Bhutia Organization (NASBO 371F) in a strongly-worded press statement demanded: “We want our rightful claims of Ha in Bhutan and entire Chumbi valley (in) China be restored back to us.”

NASBO has claimed that “these territories belong to us, culturally, historically and politically.”

Sonam Kaloen Lama

Reacting to reports that the Centre is keen on affecting Sikkim-Darjeeling merger – a demand raised by a section of the political leadership in neighbouring Darjeeling – NASBO said “Indian leaders” like Gulam Nabi Azad and Oscar Fernandez, who are believed to be backing the merger demand, and other “like-mind politicians have no authority and rights to play with the fate and destiny of the Sikkimese people.”

NASBO has urged New Delhi to “immediately initiate necessary actions” and restore to “the Sikkimese people our illegally encroached territories from China, Nepal and Bhutan.”

 “We have already lost Miwang Palden Thondub Namgyal (Chogyal of Sikkim) in the course and cannot afford to loose anything more,” NASBO President Sonam Lama (Kaloen) said.

He added, “Indian authorities must now timely realize the fact that it always cannot be the fortune maker of Sikkimese people or can any longer falter or belittle our fate to suit its convenience.”

Editorial

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

From Telangana to Gorkhaland

The UPA government is likely to come out with a proposal to constitute an autonomous Telangana on the lines of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) as an ad hoc solution to the contentious Telangana issue. This was indirectly hinted at by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde during the all-party meeting. "We could take a bold decision on the Darjeeling Hill Council to end the Gorkhaland issue. Similarly, we are confident of finding a solution to the Telangana issue as well with the support of all the political parties in Andhra Pradesh," Shinde is learnt to have told the representatives of eight political parties who attended the meeting.

Sources in the Congress said the Centre would not dare take a decision on the bifurcation of the State at this stage as it could stir the hornet's nest elsewhere in the country. The Congress high command is said to be of the view that a regional autonomous council proposal would be sort of a face-saver for the party which faces a threat of getting wiped out in Andhra Pradesh in the general elections unless it gives some commitment on the Telangana issue. Howwever, Telangana campaigners are not ready to accept any proposal that does not result in a separate state. The enraged Telangana activists, who have waited for so long to resolve the issue, are ready to oppose any compromising suggestion.

Opposition to take scrapping of old laws issue to New Delhi, wants backing of MPs

Rai

Gangtok, Jan 1: Opposition leaders in the State have decided to approach their MPs and party high command to oppose the scrapping of old laws with the passing of Companies Bill 2012 in the Lok Sabha recently.

This was made public during a press conference of an all-party meeting held here on Monday under the banner of Democratic Alliance of Sikkim (DAS). The press meet was called to let the people know of DAS’s collective approach on the touchy issue.

Former chief minister and State Congress President N B Bhandari said the passing of the Companies Bill was a “conspiracy” hatched by the Centre and State Government. Bhandari said he would soon hold a party meeting on the subject and then apprise the party high command about the matter.

Both Bhandari and former Lok Sabha MP Nakul Das Rai, who is the convenor of DAS, questioned Sikkim Lok Sabha MP PD Rai’s silence when the Bill was introduced and passed in the Lower House.

State CPIM leader Anjan Upadhyaya, too, will be approaching his party high command and MPs to oppose the Bill when it comes up in Rajya Sabha.

Bhandari

The Bill when it becomes an Act will replace Sikkim’s two old laws – Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1061 and Companies Act 1965.

Leaders of Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP), Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP), Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) and All Sikkim Educated Self-employed & Unemployed Association (ASESUA) participated during the press conference.

Curtain raiser of 2nd international flower fest

Gangtok, Jan 1: Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh formally unveiled the curtain raiser to the 2nd International Flower Show, to be held here next month, at a function in New Delhi last week.

The Governor shared his impression of the State’s natural beauty and the joy that he derives from nature in Sikkim. Sharing his views from the historical perspective, Sikkim itself was a mystery till the publication of book on Sikkim’s natural beauty by botanist Dr JD Hooker which helped the outside world to see the beauty that Sikkim is endowed with.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, while addressing the gathering, informed that Sikkim is one of the biodiversity hot spots of the world.

Chamling said the State is promoting floriculture as an alternative livelihood in the state among educated youth with "free infrastructure, planting material and technology to cultivators to develop cut flower varieties".

"Sikkim is investor-friendly and is looking for investments in horticulture and floriculture. We want to take their expertise, technology and devise ways to develop the market," he said.

The first international flower festival in the State was held in March 2008. It had the participation of experts and flower growers from countries such as Netherland, France, New Zealand and Germany.

A BRIEEF HISTORY OF DARJEELING

The history of Darjeeling is closely intertwined with that of Bengal, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Great Britain. Once a part of Sikkim and home to several aboriginal tribal communities, much of the history of Darjeeling is soused in combats with neighboring ethnic groups. Darjeeling has always been a soft target for the powerful forces of Bhutan and Nepal. In 1780, Nepal army seized a major portion of Sikkim's boundaries and established their dominance over the land. The victory of the British in the Anglo-Nepal played a significant role in shaping the history of Darjeeling and driving out the Gorkhas from the land. Under the British rule, a major part of Sikkim's lost precincts were recaptured and reinstated. Over the years, Darjeeling developed with the establishment of medical centers and tea plantations. During this time, the region served as the summer capital to several British officials, high ranking administers, princely dignitaries, rich merchants, and landlords.

Early Settlers

Prior to the rule of the royal leaders of Sikkim, the place was inhabited by Lepchas, Limbus, and Bhutias who are considered to be the original settlers in the region. It was only in 1642 that Darjeeling came under the governance of Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal, the first ruler of Sikkim who is said to be the descendent of Guru Tashi. Guru Tashi is believed to be a member of the royal Minyak house of Kham in eastern Tibet. After the death of Phuntsog Namgyal, the province came under the rule of his son Tensung Namgyal, who failed to protect the region from the invasion of Bhutan army. Towards 1780, the Gorkhas annexed a portion of south and west Sikkim. Despite constant efforts by the Chogyal leaders to recapture the place, the leaders of Sikkim remained unsuccessful until they availed the help of British.

East India Company

     Chowrasta, Darjeeling (1897)

With the combined efforts of the colonial rulers and Sikkim's chief, Nepal army was defeated in the Anglo-Gorkha war and the Nepal regiment was forced to sign the treaty of Sugauli in the year 1815. According to the treaty, Nepal had to relinquish almost one-third of the land, which they had occupied. After the treaty, the British officially commanded a politically higher position in the region. Two years later, in the year 1817, the East Indian Company signed another treaty with the Sikkim rulers known as the Treaty of Titalia. As per this treaty, the Sikkim rulers were given the right to rule the lands, which the British had acquired in return of trading rights. In 1835, the British entered into a lease contract with them in order to commence trading activity. Over the years, Darjeeling progressed at a fast pace with improved medical services and profitable tea estates that were most sought after in Europe. During this period, the Chogyal and Sikkimese leaders were unhappy with the growing migrant population that entered the place due to the potential growth in Darjeeling's economy. This caused uproar among the reigning rulers of the hill-station. With deteriorating relationships between the two parties, the district of Darjeeling soon fell into the hands of the English rule. In the following years, Darjeeling saw a major development in the educational sector, infrastructure, and tourism.

After-Independence

After India gained its independence, the district of Darjeeling was merged with the state of West Bengal. In 1980, differences between numerous ethnic communities gave rise to the internal disturbance in the region. This in turn led to several protest and claim for a separate Gorkhaland. The formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council reduced political pressures in the province. The DGHC, which enjoyed semi-autonomous powers to administer the district, was replaced by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2011. (India Guide)