Saturday, April 21, 2018


GURUDONGMAR-GURU NANAK CONTROVERSY
The latest story on the Gurudongmar-Guru Nanak controversy in Lachen, North Sikkim, carried in The Week this week gives a distorted picture of the issue that refuses to fade away.
There is no Chinese hand in the controversy. The issue needs a fresh look if the authorities are keen on maintaining peace and tranquility in this strategic and sensitive border State.
The authorities have failed to take note of what I said in my book, "The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland" (published in 2014), where I quoted the statement of the Green Circle (NGO) on the issue:"As you are aware, the Gurudongmar lake is not only one of the most beautiful lakes of Sikkim but also held sacred by the locals. The army, because of its proximity and influence over these area cannot go about misrepresenting facts. Such gradual and systematic distortion of history only serves to sow the seeds of discontent and tension for the present and future generations...
Construction of a permanent structure at 17,200 feet with marble, chandeliers and works is totally uncalled for and changing the surface of the lake by moving earth to create parking space is most deplorable.
In an extremely sensitive ecosystem where even footprints stay for months, the army, we hope will take more responsibility and care of their environs which would be better served than find itself championing chauvinistic cultural imperialism."



Wednesday, April 11, 2018


RAI BAHADUR LAMA UGYEN GYATSO OF YANGANG
This is the residence of Rai Bahadur Lama Ugyen Gyatso of Yangang. Here he is seen with his wife Chum Changchub Dolma at Yangang Kothi in 1900.
My grandfather Lobsang Gyaltsen and grandmother Chum Seden Kazi of Libing House, who inherited the Yangang Estate, is seen here in front of Yangang Kothi in the 1960s.
The third photo of my wife Tsering T. Namgyal and I were taken at Yangang Kothi during a family wedding in the early 2000.
The Sikkim University is located around Yangang Kothi, Yangang, South Sikkim. Progress means change. And yet there is the need to preserve the sanctity of the past. 
“Take from the altars of the past the fire - not the ashes.”
                                                                ―Jean Jaures