SIKKIM OBSERVER Aug 11, 2012
Sikkim OBSERVER
enters
27th YEAR
of publication
THIS WEEK
I’m not in toppling game: Ramdev
“Bring back black money”;
demands independent CBI
New Delhi, Aug 10:
Yoga guru Ramdev yesterday launched a three-day fast along with his supporters
demanding immediate action to enact a strong Lokpal and steps to bring back
black money stashed away in foreign banks failing which he will announce his
future strategy.
Returning to Ramlila Maidan in the heart of the capital from
where he was bundled out in the middle of night in June last year after a
police crackdown, the yoga guru claimed his agitation was neither against any
individual nor targeted at any political party.
Taking his supporters by surprise, Ramdev announced he would
go on a fast for three days over demands that also include an independent CBI,
PTI reported.
"We will go without food and water for three days.
After that, we think about our future strategy," he told his supporters.
Offering to talk to the government on the issues, Ramdev
also demanded a change in the process of appointing Election Commissioners,
CAG, CVC and CBI director.
He also shed some light on his association with the
erstwhile team led by Anna Hazare, saying he was supportive of the agenda being
pursued by the social activist but was not part of the team.
"The fight for Lokpal has not ended but we will take it
forward. All corrupt people have to be punished," he said and demanded
that a strong Lokpal Bill be passed in the ongoing monsoon session of
Parliament.
Ramdev's comments assume significance as they come days
after Hazare called off his fast and disbanded his team which has decided to
take a political plunge.
"We are not against any individual or party. Our
intention is to make India a great nation. This is not to overthrow someone
from power," he said.
Ramdev said he has no political agenda and the second phase
of his protest will be announced if the government does not agree to his
demands on blackmoney, Lokpal Bill, appointment procedures and making CBI
independent.
Youth body condemns dual citizenship allegation
against Sikkim varsity VC
Gangtok, Aug 10:
The All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Unemployed Association has
condemned the dual citizenship made against Sikkim University Vice-Chancellor
Mahendra P. Tamang by Dr. Shiva Sharma.
In a press statement, the Association President, Nawin Kiran
Pradhan, said Sharma’s “controversial statements” against “outsiders” and
Tamang in particular was “irresponsible” and “won't do good for anyone.”
Pradhan has also cast doubts on who is backing Sharma to
make emotive charges against Tamang in the Facebook.
“We don't know on whose behest interest Dr. Sharma is
working, but we know these kind of irresponsible statements and perceptions
won't do good for anyone,” Pradhan said.
“As an association we
view the rights of the Sikkimese must never be diluted and have always stood by
it. We will never compromise in Sikkimese issue and will never tolerate the
remaining rights of Sikkimese being diluted but at the same time we truly
acknowledge the service and efforts of all those be it teachers, journalists,
governments, employees, businessmen, lawyers etc. who came to Sikkim and served
the Sikkimese,” Pradhan added.
Tamang, who is the founder-vice-chancellor of the Sikkim
University since its inception in 2007, is a Nepali from the Tamang community
and is originally from Darjeeling. Sharma accused him of holding Indian as well
as Nepali citizenship.
Alleging that Tamang has “deceived” the Central Government,
Sharma has urged the Central and State governments to probe into the
allegations failing which he will be forced to approach the court.
Ramdev supporters hold rally, dharna in Gangtok
Gangtok, August 10:
Joining hands in the national movement against corruption and black money
spearheaded by Baba Ramdev and his Bharat Swabhiman Trust (BST) at Ram Lila
Maidan, New Delhi, the Sikkim chapter of the Trust also staged a dharna here in front of East District
Collectors office yesterday.
A total of 60 members of the BST from across the State took part
in the dharna.
Briefing the media, General Secretary of the Trust Pushpa
Devi Poudyal stated that the dharna
is staged in the State to support the twin issues of corruption and black money
raised by Baba Ramdev. The dharna is
indefinite and based on the direction of the high command, Poudyal said.
Apart from the dharna
the Trust also organized a candlelight rally from Bansilal Petrol Pump to Zero
Point in the capital yesterday.
Hum Kisi Se Kom Nahi
“Our face is different but
our heart is Indian”
Mark Twain said, only half in jest, that Americans learnt
geography through the wars their country waged.
In India, it appears, it takes an occasional Olympic hero –
like the pint-sized pugilist Mary Kom – to impart a similar lesson in the
geography of places that exist outside of our normal range of vision.
On Twitter on Monday, @tonytongbram used the upsurge in
national interest in the sporting fortunes of Mary to conduct a pop quiz – and
elevate the cartographic awareness of many Indians. On a map of India’s
northeastern region, he asked Mary Kom’s many fans to try and identify Manipur,
the State from which she hails.
Many of those who responded said they didn’t earlier know
where Manipur was, but now they did. That, he said, was his “humble goal”.
The northeastern States are endearingly referred to as the
“seven sisters”, but the familial collective also masks a failing in many of us
“on the mainland”: an inability to tell all the ‘sisters’ apart on a map – and
a deeper incuriosity about the region. Amitabh Bachchan may not be guilty of
any of these, but he too erred momentarily, while saluting Mary Kom, in
referring to her as being from Assam. And although he quickly rectified his
error of geography, he illustrated a common-enough mental lapse.
If it takes a Mary Kom to advance the frontiers of our
understanding, it’s a consummation devoutly to be desired. Manipur is, of
course, a State that, like much of the northeastern region, has fallen off the
map of our collective consciousness – to the point where even the periodic
economic blockades (which compels Mary Kom to cook on woodstoves) and Irom
Sharmila’s hunger strike of 11-plus years don’t make it to media headlines.
So, if it takes a Mary Kom to advance the frontiers of our
understanding, it’s a consummation devoutly to be desired.
But Mary Kom isn’t just teaching us to mark places on a map.
Typical of someone who punches above her weight, she also subconsciously holds
up a mirror to another duplicitous side of our mental make-up.
The effusive readiness with which many Indians have embraced
Mary Kom contrasts sharply – and hypocritically – with the racist stupidity and
ethnic stereotyping that is inflicted on many of those from the northeastern
States in the big cities in “the mainland”.
Mary herself knows what it is to be mocked in Delhi’s mean
streets. In a recent expansive profile of Mary Kom in Intelligent Life, Rahul
Bhattacharya writes: “When (Mary Kom) walks the streets of Delhi with her
fellow north-eastern athletes, they are sometimes mistaken for Nepali domestic
help. ‘I tell them we are not Nepali, we are Manipuri, so don’t speak like
that, this is very bad manners.’ At other times they are taunted with the
gibberish dispensed to those with oriental features: ‘Something ching ching
ching ching they start speaking, I don’t know what. Even they don’t know what!
We are feeling bad. We are Indian.Ya, the face is different. But heart is
Indian.’”
On occasion, the latent racism goes too far, as some recent
tragic instances involving students from northeastern States – Richard Loitam
(in Bangalore), amchanphy Hongray (in New Delhi), and Dana Sangma (in Gurgaon)
– illustrate.
But even when it is not lethal, expressions of racism,
whether directed at one of our own or of foreign extraction, shame us all.
For instance, during Saina Nehwal’s matches with Chinese
players at the Olympics, The Hindu’s
China correspondent Ananth Krishnan observed a stream of racist public
outpourings from Indians directed at the Chinese.
Such racist name-calling was again shamefully in evidence
during a recent visit to China by an Indian youth delegation made up of youth
representatives from various political parties. Media accounts of their
indecorous conduct recall that the male members of the youth delegation “made
lewd remarks of the dressing style of some Chinese girls and called them
‘chinkis’.” Subsequently, they picked on girls from northeastern India who were
part of their own delegation as well.
As Ananth Krishnan observed, “For people who love to play
victim abroad, we unashamedly tolerate racism to Asians and Africans.”
Perhaps someone needs to put the fear of Mary Kom into those
who would resort to such racist name-calling. As this blogger observed: “Next
time you use insulting slang for people of North East, remember… Mary Kom, the
Olympian boxer, is from Manipur. She’ll whack you.” (The Hindu)
Editorial
ASSAM DISCORD
Lack Of Political Will
The editor of this paper wrote in his monthly magazine, Spotlight on Sikkim, which he edited: “…the Centre must accept the fact that
citizens of any country have the right to resist foreign domination be it in
the form of military aggression from without or mass infiltration to capture
power from within.” The editor also warned: “A country which aspires to follow
the democratic principles in all fields of human development cannot for long
endure if it encourages a government of foreign nationals, by foreign nationals
and for foreign nationals.” Do these words sound like the statements made in
the Parliament by opposition leaders on the present situation in Assam? This
was written in 1983 and the focus was on Sikkim’s ‘stateless’ vis-à-vis
citizenship issue. The anti-alien issue in Assam led by the All Assam Students
Union (AASU) in the early 1980s led to the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985
when the Congress party led by Rajiv Gandhi was in power at the Centre.
It is most unfortunate that after AASU leaders formed the
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) government in Assam on the emotive foreigners’ issue
the issue was given a quiet burial. Both the Centre and State governments of
the day are to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs. The root cause of
ethnic violence in Assam over the years lies on the unresolved problems of illegal
immigrants. That the Congress party banked heavily on Muslim migrant vote-bank
from Bangladesh in Assam is an open secret. Congress leaders in both Houses of
the Parliament had no answers to BJP leaders’ clear cut charges that the
ongoing violence in lower Assam is not an ethnic issue but a foreigners’ issue.
"Assam violence is not about ethnic riots. It is neither Hindu versus
Muslim problem. It is an Indian versus illegal migrants issue," BJP leader
LK Advani rightly informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday on the inaugural day of
the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The 1985 Assam Accord signed between Rajiv Gandhi, the then
Prime Minister, and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, chief minister of Assam at that
time, states that those immigrants who came to Assam from Bangladesh till 1966
will be given citizenship, those who came between 1967 and 1971 be allowed to
settle down but not given voting rights and those who entered after 1971 should
be deported. Just before the Assam Accord the Central Government established a
tribunal in Assam to detect foreign nationals. However, the Supreme Court in 2005
declared the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, as
violative of the Constitution of India. The apex court held that the IMDT
provided protection to illegal migrants and was not in accordance with the
spirit of the Assam Accord.
The Supreme Court observed: “There can be no manner of doubt
that the State of Assam is facing external aggression and internal disturbance
on account of large scale illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals and it
becomes the duty of the Union of India to take all measures for protection of
the State of Assam because it poses a threat to the integrity and security of
the North-Eastern region.” The apex court had directed the Centre to constitute
adequate tribunals to detect illegal migration in accordance with the
Foreigners Act, 1946. The failure to follow the apex court’s directive has led
to the present crisis in Assam. The BJP rakes up the alien issue when it is in
power but remains silent when it is in power. The Congress may have to pay a
big price for its vote-bank politics in Assam. However, at stake for failure of
the authorities to deal with the root cause of the crisis in Assam on a
long-term basis will be the country’s security interest in a strategic and volatile region. When the volcano of ethnic
tension erupts in the Northeast it will be too late.
OBSERVER Archives
Pandit Nehru’s visit to Sikkim in December 1957
By Rajen
Upadhyay
 |
| Pandit Nehru at Paljor Namgyal Girls' School, Gangtok on Dec 28, 1957 |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent
India, also known as Chacha Nehru, had a great admiration with the erstwhile
Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim. During his
tenure as the Prime Minister of India he has visited the tiny Himalayan Kingdom
of Sikkim and had received approbation from its subjects.
As per the report of Kanchenjunga,
the first news based Nepali journal of Sikkim, the late Indian Prime Minister
reached Rangpo, a bordering town (that bordered Sikkim with India) in the
morning of 28th December 1957 on his way to Gangtok, the Capital of Kingdom of
Sikkim.
He was warmly welcomed by then Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal, the
heir apparent Palden Thondup Namgyal, Nari K. Rustamji the Indian Dewan and the
Executive Councillors of Sikkim Assembly. The journal further informs that the
Indian Prime Minister was greatly welcomed by the people of Rangpo.
“A crowd, busy in
watching football match get into the town after hearing his arrival to wave
their hands to the Prime Minister,” the journal reports. After the grand welcome at Rangpo Dak
Bunglow, Pandit Nehru inspected the working at Rangpo copper Mining. He further
insisted for the creation of own Indian machines for the development of such
mines in Sikkim. After his brief visit to Rangpo Copper Mining the Indian Prime
Minister visited Singtam Bazar and acknowledged the greetings made by the
people of Singtam at School Phatak. At Singtam, he visited food preservation
factory, constructed under the Seven Years Plan adopted by the Royal Government
of Sikkim.
He was also warmly welcomed by the people at 32 NO Ghattey
School (now Brihaspati Parsai Sr. Sec School) Ranipool Golai, Deorali and
Gangtok Bazar. The jeeps accompanying the Indian Prime Minister made several
rounds of the capital clamouring the slogan of Panchseel Zindabaad. On the same day, the Indian Prime Minister
also visited Technical Institute, Tashiling Secretariat and STNM hospital and
made a round of the Capital Town. In the evening, Pandit Nehru attended Garden
Tea Party at Sikkim Palace hosted by the King Shree Panch Maharajadhiraj Sir
Tashi Namgyal.
The Report of Pt. Nehru’s visit was published in Kanchenjunga,
(Vol.5 year 1957) the first News based journal of Sikkim. A copy of this
journal is preserved by Shree Ganesh Kumar Pradhan of Rhenock at his private
museum Ramgauri Sangrahalaya Rhenock East Sikkim) (Sikkim-history hunter blog)
It’s locals vs. outsiders in Assam, says Gadkari
Guwahati, Aug 10:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President
Nitin Gadkari has accused the Congress party of using Bangladeshi intruders for
vote bank politics in Assam following the recent ethnic clashes.
"Don’t give the
ongoing violence in Kokrajhar and other districts a communal colour"
The ongoing violence in Kokrajhar and neighbouring districts
of Assam was not a Hindu-Muslim issue but a fight between people of Indian
origin, including Indian Muslims, on the one side and “illegal Bangladeshi
immigrants” on the other and should thus not be given a communal colour,
Gadkari said here on Tuesday.
Gadkari, who was speaking at a discussion on “Bodo Hindus —
Refugees in their own land: Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators — the new
kingmakers in an Indian State?” organised by the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Research Foundation here, said the fact that Congress Chief Minister Tarun
Gogoi had said the Centre was late in deploying the Army and Bodo leaders
indicated that directions had been issued to the Border Security Force not to
fire live ammunition at “Bangladeshi infiltrators” exposing the Union Government’s
stance.
Accusing the Congress of playing vote-bank politics in the
region since Independence, Gadkari said
the present flare-up was a manifestation of this flawed policy. He said 50 km
of the 272-km border with Bangladesh was still porous and people were entering
through this open area with weapons, attacking locals and grabbing their land
while the government was not doing anything.
“We had a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance
partners today [Tuesday] and would be raising this issue in both houses of
Parliament on Wednesday. A protest has also been planned at Jantar Mantar and
BJP MPs would be donating a month’s salary for the victims of the Assam
violence.”
Describing the violence, as “a big national problem” and not
one of Bodo people or Assam alone, Gadkari said it is not a political issue and
the BJP would not allow it to be made one.
“It is a simple question of infiltration in the area by
people of foreign origin. Will we keep our doors open, allow them to attack
people of Indian origin, and grab their properties just because of vote bank
politics?” he asked.
Kokrajhar MP S.K. Bwismuthiary made a fervent appeal to all
Indians to stand as one in saving the indigenous people. “If India is really
our country, it should stand up for us now. It is not a problem of Bodo or
Assamese people, but of the whole country.’’ Darjeeling’s
Mt. Everest Hotel may be reopened soon
Darjeeling, Aug 10:
Darjeeling’s famous Mt. Everest Hotel, which has been shut down since early
1970s, is likely to be opened soon.
The Oberoi Group, one of the leading hospitality firms in
India, is toying with the idea of reopening the hotel in Darjeeling after a gap
of more than three and half decades.
"We are keeping a close watch on the situation in
Darjeeling. Our group has a property on five acres in the hill town. It was
closed in the late Seventies. If we want to reuse the property, then we have to
reconstruct the entire structure. It is not in a good shape," the
vice-chairman of EIH, S S Mukherji told reporters in Kolkata earlier this week.
Oberoi Mount Everest Hotel in Darjeeling was started in 1914
by Aratoon Stephen and named 'The Darjeeling Family Hotel'. In 1950, it was
leased out to Oberoi group for a period of 100 years.
Milk Union team on Denmark visit
Gangtok, Aug 10:
The Board of Directors of the Sikkim Milk Union is on their Exposure Tour to
Denmark and Switzerland from 5th of August 12 to 13th August 12.
The team consists of nine elected board of directors (4 from
West Sikkim, 2 from South Sikkim and 3 from East Sikkim Village milk
cooperative society) and the Managing Director.
The objective of the tour is to expose the dairy farmers of
Sikkim to the developed economies in order to understand and practically see
the practice of dairy farming and dairy enterprise, according to Managing
Director of the Union Dr.P.Senthil Kumar.
Denmark is one among the leaders in global dairy sectors,
especially in organic dairy farming, Kumar said.
Denjong Tsogpa performs puja
of late Khenpo Dechen
Gangtok, Aug 10: The
Denjong Nangten Sungkyob Tsogpa offered Monlam prayers with butter lamps at Ray
Monastery in east Sikkim on the fourth week on the passing away of late Khenpo
Dechen of Phensang Monastery.
The monks performed
rituals befitting the weekly puja Duen-tsig for the late Rinpoche amid the
presence of the members of the Tsogpa, according to its General Secretary
Khandu Lhamu Chingapa.
The Tsogpa has also made a contribution of one Mani Khorlo
for the Rau-Mani Lhakhang in memory and honour of the late Khyen Rinpoche.
Another Gyamtsoe (butter lamps) were also offered in memory of the Venerable
Tashiding Gomchen Lama.
Top priority to sports: Rai
Namchi Aug 10: The 66th Independence Day Knock-out Football
Tournament got kicked off here in Veterinary Ground at Singithang on Monday.
K.N Rai, former
Minister and now Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Government of
Sikkim, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Organized annually by South District Football Association
(S.D.FA), in the first match of the tournament Central Pandam Academy humbled
Dalam Sports Association Sombaria, by 3 goals to 1.
In his inaugural address, Rai urged the youth to channelize
their energy and potential in sports and in productive and creative things and
also informed them how the State Government has given top priority to sports
and sports persons in the State.
14 teams which also includes a team from neighbouring
Darjeeling will be fighting for the
coveted trophy.
Bhaichung places Sikkim in football map of India
By Bhargab Sarmah
Located at the altitude of 1800 metres, Gangtok’s Paljor
Stadium is one of the highest football stadia in the country. This beautiful
stadium, which traces its origin back to 1939, has more often than not remained
stagnant during the past few decades when it comes to sports activities.
However, when the Sikkim Football Board, with the help of the legendary
Baichung Bhutia, founded the United Sikkim Football Club, things took a turn
for the better for the scenic stadium in Gangtok.
The birth of the ‘Snowlions’ has turned the stadium into a
hotbed of football activities during the past eighteen months. With United
Sikkim now having qualified for the I League, the country is all set to get a
taste of top division football at the Paljor Stadium. Despite expectations not
being sky-high from the fans regarding United Sikkim, considering it being the
club’s first ever season, the football aficionados in the state would be hoping
for a strong season in the league and in cup competitions from their boys. The
club’s co-owner Bhaichung Bhutia, also a member of the announced squad, has
already underlined survival from relegation as the club’s primary target.
Paljor Stadium, Gangtok
United Sikkim coach Philippe de Ridder is a popular name
among the Indian football fraternity. During his time in this country, the Belgian
manager has managed a few Indian clubs, East Bengal being the most notable one.
When De Ridder took over as the coach of the United Sikkim
side, it was quite a different challenge for him. His first task was to help
his boys in clearing the hurdle of I League Division 2. ‘Indi’, as De Ridder is
popularly known, didn’t disappoint the fans of the club. Inspite of losing
Renedy Singh and Sushil Kumar Singh, two important players of the club, to
Meghalayan top division club Shillong Lajong FC, De Ridder helped United Sikkim
wade through the waters of I League Division 2. Playing the final rounds in
front of their own fans at the Paljor Stadium, United Sikkim FC topped the
final standings with 22 points to their name, thus ensuring that the Bhaichung
Bhutia co-owned club plies its trade in the I League for the 2012-13 season.
Once their I League qualification had been guaranteed,
Philippe de Ridder set about making wholesale changes to his squad. The club
held various trials for youngsters, thus leaving no stone unturned in their
search for the best possible side. The Belgian coach has, over the course of
the past few months, put together a side blended with talented youngsters and
seasoned professionals.
With the signings of experienced campaigners like Anwar Ali
and Zenith Mashangva, and the presence of the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, the
youngsters will surely find little problems in settling into the United Sikkim
squad. Taking a look into the side, De Ridder seems to have cleverly put
together a very bright side, certainly capable of challenging for a spot in the
top half, although aspirations of winning the league title seem a bit
far-fledged at the moment. It is in the cup competitions, i.e. the Federation
Cup, Durand Cup and the IFA Shield, where United Sikkim can realistically look
forward to challenging for silverware.
Bhaichung Bhutia
United Sikkim has already brought in a couple of foreign
players in the form of goalkeeper Tae Yoon of Korea and Nigerian midfielder
Salao Nuruddin. Two slots for foreign players still remain to be filled. Among
defenders, Anwar Ali stands out as the most experienced whereas the club can
also rely on the services of local lad Nim Lepcha, among others.
The midfield looks fairly strong with the likes of
Beikhokhei, Zenith, Debnath , local player Nima Tamang, etc. Bhaichung Bhutia,
Budhiram Tudu and Nadong Bhutia are the three forwards named in the squad. With
Bhaichung past his prime, the mantle will lie on Budhiram Tudu to come up with
the goals. The former East Bengal striker, who failed to make it past five
league appearances with the Kolkata giants, would surely like to prove a point
with United Sikkim. The club also has a few talented players in its reserve
team to pick from, when the right time arrives.
Despite being a home to thousands of football lovers, Sikkim
has never had one of its clubs locking their horns against the country’s best
sides at the top level. This has all changed in recent times with the emergence
of United Sikkim Football Club. The State that has gifted the nation with one
of its best ever strikers, can finally have top division football in its own
backyard. It is now in the hands of Indy’s boys to weave their magic with their
feet against the best players in the country.
SIKKIM People & Places
GURUDONGMAR CONTROVERSY REVISITS LACHEN VALLEY
A Sikh Gurudwara at the
sacred Gurudongmar lake in North Sikkim irks local people
J. Kalzang
Buddhist prayer flags at
Gurudongmar lake in Lachen, North Sikkim.
Gurudwara Gurudongmar Sahib temple at Gurudongmar lake premises in Lachen, North Sikkim.
Ever since the 8th century when Guru Rinpoche
(Lord Padmasambhava) visited Sikkim while he was on his India-Tibet journeys
the local people in the former Buddhist Kingdom of Sikkim have regarded the
holy lake of Gurudongmar in Lachen, North Sikkim, as a sacred pilgrimage centre
for Buddhist devotees. Gurudongmar (17,100 ft), located in the upper reaches of
the picturesque Lachen Valley, was unknown to most people in the State before
1962 when China invaded India through Sikkim. But the only migratory
highlanders (Lachenpas) of Sikkim have always maintained the holy sanctity of
Gurudongmar lake as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre.
However, with the advent of ‘progress’ and ‘development’
more people got interested in the holy lake so much so that a zealous group of
army personnel turned the lake into a
Sikh pilgrimage centre in the 1990s. A section of the Sikhs believe that
the holy lake was visited by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, in the 16th
century. This view led to construction of a Gurudwara at the lake premises
which evoked sharp reactions from the Lachenpas, who took up the matter with
the State Government.
When the controversy took a political turn the Chamling
Government set up a panel to look into the matter. The high-power panel
recommended that the entire lake area be restored to its pristine glory. Unlike
many other faiths most holy places of the Buddhists in Sikkim do not have
artificial constructions. Locals prefer to worship the sanctity of the area in
its natural settings.
Unfortunately, due to many reasons, which remain
unexplained, construction works at the lake premises have remained the same,
leading to further claims that the Gurudongmar lake is also a religious centre
for the Sikhs.
The anger of the Lachenpas on the controversy resurfaced
recently when websites, including wikipedia, associated Gurudongmar lake with
Guru Nanak. “The wrong information/misinterpretation has not only confused the
people who read the accounts, but also hurts the sentiments of the peace loving
and innocent people of the area,” said a statement of the Lachenpas which is
being circulated. It said until the Indian Army was posted in North Sikkim in
the 1960s there was no record or claim that Guru Nanak visited Lachen and
Lachung valleys in North Sikkim.
“It is a historically known fact that Guru Padmasambhava
visited Sikkim in the eighth century and had blessed its land, lakes, rivers,
caves, rocks and trees,” the statement said, while adding, “Guru Padmasambhava
had also hidden many treasures and texts for the benefit of future generations.
These are clearly mentioned in the dialogues between Tibetan king King Trisong
Duetsen and Guru Padmasambhava texed by many eminent scholars.”
