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

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Saturday   Nov 9-15,  2013  

    One of Tashi Namgyal Academy’s (TNA) gates – traditional and unique –which leads to the school playground, located on      the eastern side of the campus. (Pix by Leonard Lefevre)

President to visit Darjeeling, Sikkim

Prez to attend St. Joseph School’s 125^th celebrations

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee will visit West Bengal and Sikkim on November 10 and 11, an official statement said on Friday.

The President will attend the 125th year celebrations of St Joseph's School, North Point, Darjeeling on November 10.

In Gangtok, he will inaugurate the 40th Jawaharlal Nehru National Science, Mathematics and Environment Exhibition on November 11.

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan is presently on a 19-day visit to Darjeeling district from Oct 27.

A GJM delegation led by its supremo Bimal Gurung is also likely to meet Narayanan.

Sikkim Chief Secretary R. Ongmu convened a meeting on Wednesday at the Conference Hall of the Secretariat to review the progress of preparation of concerned departments for the visit of the President to the State next week.

The function is being  held here at Epica Garden, Saramsa, East Sikkim, an official release said.

Panel report on Sachdeva before Supreme Court

Gangtok, Nov 8: Senior Police officer IG Akshay Sachdeva (Law and Order), who ordered the brutal crackdown on Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) activists here at the party headquarters in February this year, has been “completely exposed,” said a party functionary.

He was referring to the report on the incident submitted by a panel before the Supreme Court. The apex court set up the one-man committee to probe into the matter after SKM’s Kala Rai approached the court’s intervention in August.

According to reports, retired DGP of Uttar Pradesh Shri IC Dewedi submitted the report on October 17. The report has termed ‘illegal’ the police lathicharge led Sachdeva.

The SKM is now keenly awaiting the apex court’s verdict on the issue.

PM apprised of ‘massive corruption’ in earthquake relief work: SKM

Gangtok, Nov 8: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been apprised of the alleged massive corruption in the utilization of earthquake relief work in the State.

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has submitted a memorandum to the office of the Prime Minister alleging huge corruption in earthquake relief fund utilization.

Vice President of the party, T. N Dhakal, personally visited the office of the Prime Minister and submitted a memorandum citing ‘massive corruption’ of the relief fund provided by the Central Government for compensating victims of the 18 September 2011 earthquake, according to a press release of the party, Talk Sikkim reported on Facebook.

SKM Working President Bharati Sharma said the memorandum reveals that out of 8000 damaged houses, not even 5% work has been completed.

The SKM alleges that the relief fund has been misused by the ruling SDF party for their political purpose rather than compensating the victims.

Sikkim: World’s No. 1 region to visit in 2014

Gangtok, Nov 8: Sikkim, the tiny Himalayan mountain state in northeast India, has come top of the Lonely Planet’s regions to visit in 2014.

The Lonely Planet said Sikkim has set new benchmarks for responsible travel in India, with sustainable community-based tourism and eco-friendly policies that have reinvigorated the state.

It added that organic farming is being promoted in Sikkim, which has a population of around 600,000, and that a new airport scheduled to open near Gangtok in 2014 will shave several hours off travel time to the region. Reaching the state now involves a winding journey from West Bengal on narrow mountain roads, which are often flooded or blocked in winter, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In September 2011, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the region, killing more than 100 people.   That year, Sikkim was one of six states and union territories to experience a decline in domestic tourists, with just over half a million visitors, down 21.1% from 2010, government data show.

But the state continued to attract foreign tourists thanks to its snow-capped mountains, Buddhist monasteries, terraced fields, agreeable climate and excellent trekking. In 2011, the number of foreign tourists in Sikkim rose 13.7% to 23,602. Foreigners need a permit to enter the state.

Growth in India’s tourism industry has slowed this year. In the first four months of 2013, the growth in foreign tourists was just 1.8%, against 9% a year earlier.  Some female tourists say they carry stun guns and pepper spray for protection in India, following reports of attacks on women in the country, including foreign tourists.

The Incredible India campaign launched in 2002 to attract tourists to the country was felt by some in the north east to have left the region behind. In response in 2012, the North East Development Council, a body aimed at promoting economic and social development in the region, began its own 10-year campaign to entice visitors.

Sikkim was an independent kingdom until it became India’s 22nd state in 1975. Along with Goa, it is one of only two states in India to permit gambling.

The state does well on some development indicators. It has a female literacy rate of 76.43%, above the national average of 65.46%, and infant mortality is 26 per 1,000 births, nearly half the national rate of 50 per 1,000 births.

The Kimberley in Australia was second on the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 rankings for regions. It was followed by Yorkshire in England, Hokuriku in Japan, the U.S. state Texas, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Spanish island Mallorca, the west coast of New Zealand, the Chinese province Hunan and the Tongan island group Ha’apai.

The Lonely Planet also lists what it deems to be the world’s top cities, countries and destinations based on other travel criteria.

Editorial

REALITY & RHETORIC

Democracy Guardian of Vested Interests

Acclaimed author Arundhati Roy once branded ‘democracy’ as “the Free World’s whore”. Roy, a social activist and critic of the United States and globalization, like another noted intellectual Noam Chomsky, has blamed the West of making a big show of ‘manufactured consent’ in the name of ‘democracy’, where vested interests, including the media and big business houses, call the shots in the name of the people. Naive citizens in developing democracies often fall prey to what The Times of India calls ‘dance of democracy’ while referring to the electoral process. Elections are often looked upon as celebrations in a democracy but the stark reality is that it is a process by which the microscopic elite literally buys consent to govern.

Governance in such a situation is nothing but a pack of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing to exploit the masses in the name of democracy. The history of modern civilization bears witness to this fact. Elected rulers in a democracy do not listen to the voice of reason. They, time and again, ignore public opinion against war, corruption and anti-people policies. Its only in name that India is called the world’s largest democracy. The reality is that it is a functioning anarchy. Roy is absolutely correct when she says free elections, a free press and an independent judiciary mean little when the free market means they are on sale to the highest bidder. Even in smaller regions of India such as Sikkim, a former Himalayan kingdom annexed by its protecting power, the evil nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and the corporate houses are in full display.

PRIDE OF SIKKIM

Army honours Victoria Cross holder Ganju Lama

Gangtok, Nov 8: In a befitting honour to a brave son of Sikkim, the Indian Army last Friday dedicated the gate of Gangtok Military Station in the name of Victoria Cross recipient Ganju Lama.

Ganju Lama, who received the prestigious Victoria Cross for his valour during the Second World War was honoured by naming Ganju Lama Dwar during a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Indian Army officials, The Statesman reported.

Late Ganju Lama’s wife Pema Sangmo and his two sons and daughter Rinchen Doma also attended the inauguration function at Gangtok Military station. The majestic gate has traditional Sikkimese design keeping in view the local ethos and heritage.

‘This gate will also be as a medium to inspire the younger generation and make them aware about the history and the courage reflected by the brave soldiers of Sikkim and the foremost in this is Late. Captain Ganju Lama’, said Lt Gen KJ Singh, GoC, Trishakti Corps.

Assuring Sikkimese people on the peaceful border conditions, Lt. Gen. Singh said: "Sikkim’s is one of the peaceful borders, where we have Indian Army ever vigilant over there, in keeping with the defence policies. And there is peace and tranquility on the border. Our operational infrastructure is also coming up very well."

Maj Gen D Anbu, GoC of 17th Mountain Division based in Gangtok also attended the function.

Ganju Lama was born on 7th July 1922 in the village of Sangmo in South Sikkim of a Sikkimese Bhutia father belonging to the Shangderpa clan.

He was admitted into the Gurkhas at the age of 18 only because in wartime the regiment let slip its usually stringent ethnic criterion. His real name was Gyamtso Shangderpa.

Subadar (Captain) Ganju Lama VC, MM, 1st Bn, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles, died on the 30th June 2000 at his home in Sikkim.

The spring of 1944 saw General Sir William Slim's offensive into northern Burma countered by the move of the three divisions of General Mutagachi's 15th Japanese Army into the Imphal Plain. Mutagachi aimed to block Slim's lines of supply through the mountain passes from Assam, but first had to take Kohima and Imphal.

In Burma, on the morning of the 12th June 1944, the enemy put down an intense artillery barrage lasting an hour on our positions north of the village of Ningthoukhong. This heavy artillery fire knocked out several bunkers and caused heavy casualties, and was immediately followed by a very strong enemy attack supported by five medium tanks.

   After fierce hand-to-hand fighting, the perimeter was driven in in one place and enemy infantry, supported by three medium tanks, broke through, pinning our troops to the ground with intense fire. "B" Company, 7th Gurkha Rifles, was ordered to counter-attack and restore the situation.

Shortly after passing the starting line it came under heavy enemy medium machine-gun and tank machine-gun fire at point blank range, which covered all lines of approach. Rifleman Ganju Lama, the No. 1 of the PIAT gun, on his own initiative, with great coolness and complete disregard for his own safety, crawled forward and engaged the tanks single-handed.

In spite of a broken left wrist and two other wounds, one in his right hand and one in his leg, caused by withering cross-fire concentrated upon him, Rifleman Ganju Lama succeeded in bringing his gun into action within thirty yards of the enemy tanks and knocked out first one and then another, the third tank being destroyed by an anti-tank gun.

In spite of his serious wounds, he then moved forward and engaged with grenades the tank crews, who now attempted to escape. Not until he had killed or wounded them all, thus enabling his company to push forward, did he allow himself to be taken back to the Regimental Aid Post to have his wounds dressed.

Throughout this action Rifleman Ganju Lama, although very seriously wounded, showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety, outstanding devotion to duty and a determination to destroy the enemy which was an example and an inspiration to all ranks. It was solely due to his prompt action and brave conduct that a most critical situation was averted, all positions regained and very heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy.

Ganju Lama was invested with his Victoria Cross by the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Lord Wavell, at the Red Fort, New Delhi, India, on the 24th October 1944.

On the partition of India in 1947, Ganju Lama joined the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the new Indian Army. The regiment had been re-raised from the soldiers of the 7th and 10th Gurkha Rifles who opted to continue their service with the Indian Army, rather than join the British Army. On his retirment the Government of Sikkim granted him a piece of land near his native village in the Ravangla District where he farmed both potatoes and the profitable spice crop cardamon.

Sikkim honoured the brave soldier with Pema Dorji, the highest civilian award in the former kingdom.

Darjeeling, Kalimpong were once part of Sikkim

Darjeeling in 1912

The area of Darjeeling was inhabited by the Lepchas,  and Bhutias as part of Sikkim from ancient times. In 1642, Phuntsog Namgyal became the first Chogyal ruler of Sikkim. Tensung Namgyal became the next Chogyal of Sikkim in 1670. It was during his rule that Sikkim lost the area of Kalimpong to Bhutan.

The Gorkha army from Nepal invaded Darjeeling in the 1790s, attacked the Sikkimese capital of Rabdentse, and annexed territories up to the Teesta River into Nepal. After the Anglo-Gorkha War, Nepal ceded one-third of it territories to the British as per the Sugauli Treaty in 1815, which included the land area between the rivers Mechi and Teesta. On 10 February 1817, the British reinstated the land area between rivers Mechi and Teesta to the Sikkimese Chogyal as per the Treaty of Titalia.

 The present disputes between Nepal and Sikkim arose regarding their borders (especially Ontoo Dara) and the then British Governor-General of India, Lord William Bentinck, sent two officers, Captain George Alymer Lloyd and Mr. J. W. Grant, to help resolve the dispute in February 1829. It was on the journey to Ontoo Dara that the two officers stayed at Darjeeling for 6 days at "the old Goorka station called Dorjeling" and were "much impressed with the possibility of the station as a sanatorium." On 18 June 1929, Lloyd communicated to the government regarding the possibility of Darjeeling serving as a sanatorium, while about the same time Grant also urged the government to possess the tract.

Lease Deed

Captain Herbert, the Deputy Surveyor General, was sent to Darjeeling to examine the area. The court of Directors of the British East India Company approved the project. General Lloyd was given the responsibility to negotiate a lease of the area from the Chogyal of Sikkim. The lease as per the Deed of Grant was granted on 1 February 1835.

This Deed of Grant, which is commendably short, runs as follows:

“The Governor-General having expressed his desire for the possession of the hills of Darjeeling on account of its cool climate, for the purpose of enabling the servants of his Government, suffering from sickness, to avail themselves of its advantages, I the Sikkimputtee Rajah out of friendship for the said Governor-General, hereby present Darjeeling to the East India, that is, all the land south of the Great Runjeet river, east of the Balasur, Kahail and Little Runjeet rivers, and west of the Rungpo and Mahanadi rivers.”

This was an unconditional cession of what was then a worthless uninhabited mountain, but in 1841 the British government granted the Chogyal an allowance of Rs. 100,000 per annum as compensation, and raised the grant to Rs. 6,000 per annum in 1846.

In 1835, a member of the Indian Medical Service, Dr. Arthur Campbell, was appointed as agent of the leased tract, and Lieut. Napier (later Lord Napier of Magdala) set to work improving the area and laying the foundations of the hill station of Darjeeling. Dr. Campbell became the first superintendent of the sanitorium in 1839. A road connecting Darjeeling with the plains was constructed in 1839.

Tea Plantation

Dr. Campbell brought Chinese tea seeds in 1841 from the Kumaon region and started growing tea on an experimental basis near his residence at Beechwood, Darjeeling. This experiment was followed by similar efforts by several other British. The experiments were successful and soon several tea estates started operating commercially.

Darjeeling, showing the Himalayan Range, as seen from St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, 1870

The rapid growth of Darjeeling led to jealousy from the Chogyal of Sikkim. There were also differences between the British Government and Sikkim over the status of people of Sikkim. Because of the increased importance of Darjeeling, many citizens of Sikkim, mostly of the labour class, started to settle in Darjeeling as British subjects. The migration disturbed the feudal lords in Sikkim who resorted to forcibly getting the migrants back to Sikkim.

Sikkim Rebellion and Annexation of Darjeeling

The relation deteriorated to such an extent that when Dr. Campbell and the eminent explorer Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker were touring in Sikkim in 1849, they were suddenly captured and imprisoned. This detention continued for weeks. An expeditionary force was sent by the Company to Sikkim. However, there was no necessity for bloodshed and after the Company's troops had crossed the Rangeet River into Sikkim, hostilities ceased.

Consequent to this trouble, and further misconduct on the part of the Sikkim authorities a few years later, the mountain tracts now forming the district of Darjeeling became a part of the British Indian Empire, and the remainder of kingdom of Sikkim became a protected state.

The area of Kalimpong along with the Dooars became British property following the defeat of Bhutan in the Anglo-Bhutan war (Treaty of Sinchula – 11 November 1865). Kalimpong was first put under the Deputy Commissioner of Western Duars, but in 1866 it was transferred to the District of Darjeeling giving the district its final shape.

The Chowrasta, Darjeeling, 1880.

Development in Darjeeling

The Darjeeling Municipality was established in 1850. Tea estates continued to grow. By the 1860s, peace was restored in the borders. During this time, immigrants, mainly from Nepal, were recruited to work in the construction sites, tea gardens, and other agriculture-related projects. Scottish missionaries undertook the construction of schools and welfare centres for the British residents: Loreto Convent in 1847, St. Paul's School in 1864, Planters' Club in 1868, Lloyd's Botanical Garden in 1878, St. Joseph's School in 1888, Railway Station in 1891, and Town Hall (present Municipality Building) in 1921. With the opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881, smooth communication between the town and the plains below further increased the development of the region. "Darjeeling disaster" was an earthquake in 1898 that caused considerable damage to the young town and its native population.

Darjeeling Municipality took responsibility in maintaining the civic administration of the town from as early as 1850. From 1850 to 1916, the Municipality was placed in the first schedule (along with Halna, Hazaribagh, Muzzaferpur and others), where commissioners were appointed by the local governments and second schedule (along with Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia, Hazaribagh and others), where the local government appointed a chairman.

Prior to 1861 and from 1870–1874, Darjeeling District was a "Non-Regulated Area" (where acts and regulations of the British Raj did not automatically apply in the district in line with rest of the country, unless specifically extended). From 1862 to 1870, it was considered a "Regulated Area". The term "Non-Regulated Area" was changed to "Scheduled District" in 1874 and again to "Back Ward Tracts" in 1919. The status was known as "Partially Excluded Area" from 1935 until the independence of India.

Tourist Destination

Darjeeling's elite residents were the British ruling class of the time, who visited Darjeeling every summer. An increasing number of well-to-do Indian residents of Kolkata (then Calcutta), affluent Maharajas of princely states, land-owning zamindars and barristers of Calcutta High Court also began visiting Darjeeling. The town continued to grow as a tourist destination, becoming known as the "Queen of the Hills". The town did not see any significant political activity during the freedom struggle of India owing to its remote location and small population. However, there was a failed assassination attempt by revolutionaries on Sir John Anderson, the Governor of Bengal in the 1930s.

Ethnic Tension

After the independence of India in 1947, Darjeeling was merged with the state of West Bengal. A separate district of Darjeeling was established consisting of the hilly towns of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and the Terai areas of Siliguri. When the People's Liberation Army annexed Tibet in 1950, thousands of Tibetan refugees settled across Darjeeling district.

The population of Darjeeling rose by leaps and bounds. The colonial town of Darjeeling was designed for a population of only 10,000. The population spurt has made the town more prone to the environmental problems in the recent decades as the region is geologically relatively new. The rise in tourism also affected the ecological balance of the area.

A diverse ethnic population gave rise to socio-economic tensions, and the demand for the creation of the separate states of Gorkhaland and Kamtapur along ethnic lines grew popular in the 1980s. The issues came to a head after a 40-day strike called by the Gorkha National Liberation Front, during which violence gripped Darjeeling. Political tensions largely declined with the establishment of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council under the chairmanship of Subhash Ghisingh. The DGHC was given semi-autonomous powers to govern the district. The issue of a separate state still lingers on with a new political party Gorkha Janmukti Morcha demanding for the state of Gorkhaland. The new party accepted the GTA (Gorkha Territorial Administration) after certain years from both the center and the state Government of India which it believes that the demarcation of land including the Tarai and Doors with three subdivision Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong are to be formed which could lead to the formation of Gorkhaland. But the issue of a separate state still lingers. (Wikipedia)