SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday Oct 26-Nov 1, 2013
Bengal and Darjeeling are inseparable: Mamata
“There should be peace and
development, not bandhs and strikes"
Darjeeling, Oct 25: In a strong message to the GJM, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday
said that West Bengal and Darjeeling were inseparable.
"Darjeeling is the heart
of Bengal. I am not against anyone. I am with the people of the hills. It is
the motherland. Bengal cannot stay without you, nor can you stay without
us," Banerjee told the first rally in the hills of the ruling Trinamool
Congress at the Mall here.
Without naming the GJM which
has recently backtracked from its politics of shutdowns and violence to demand
Gorkhaland, the Banerjee said her government would not allow disruption of
normal life in the name of bandhs which, hindered peace and development, PTI
reported.
"My government's policy
is that there should be no bandhs and strikes," the Chief Minister said
pointing out that there was also a court order against it.
"If there are only
bandhs, how can development take place? If Kanchenjunga smiles I feel great.
But if Kanchenjunga cries, then I feel pain," Banerjee said.
Stating that students lost a
year if the educational institutions in Darjeeling remained closed for a month,
she said "I want peace, progress and development in Darjeeling.
"Let us live together.
Let us forget quarrels and let us work together for the development of
Darjeeling," Banerjee appealed.
"If there is peace
tourists will come and the tourism industry will get a boost and there will be
creation of jobs."
Urging the hill people to
make Darjeeling more beautiful than Switzerland, she sought the support of the
Gorkha Territorial Administration, the hill council.
"Whatever is built,
don't destroy," she said.
At a programme of Lepcha
Development Board in Kurseong on Wednesday, Banerjee announced a package of Rs
2 lakh for 1,000 Lepcha women who do not have houses. She handed over cheques
of Rs 1 lakh to 1,000 Lepcha women as the first instalment.
Giving an account of
development works of her government, Banerjee said the budgetary allocation has
been increased for Darjeeling with emphasis on upgrading of roads, power and
infrastructure.
She said her government has
sanctioned Rs 103 crore for developing power and Rs 29 crore for national
highways. Banerjee further said that a 300MW hydel power project has also been
sanctioned in the hills.
She
said 35 new schools have been set up in last two years. Two new colleges would
come up with one at Pedong already announced.
Golay for Sikkimese
unity, against division of Nepalese
(Left) SDF leader Devi Prasad
Kharel and his supporters join PS Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.
Gangtok, Oct 25: Realising that the
tribals of the State, including the indigenous Bhutia-Lepchas, are leaning
towards him, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) chief Prem Singh Golay, blamed
Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) President Pawan Kumar
Chamling of creating his vote-bank by dividing the Nepalese community in the
State to come to power in 1994.
Circulation
of a CD by Nepal’s writer-politician Gopal Gurung close to Chamling during the
SKM’s public meeting here on October 6 and reading of a letter written by
Chamling to Gurung on racial divide among the Nepalese, Golay sought to wean
away the upper-caste Bahun-Chettris (BC) towards the SKM. Referring to the letter,
Golay said his objective was to heal the wounds and preserve Sikkimese unity
and identity. “Bhutias, Lepchas, Nepalese and purano byaparies must live together in peace and harmony,” Golay
said during the meeting.
Ever
since the historic meet, a large section of the people, particularly the
Bahun-Chettris, have joined the SKM.
SDF
adviser Devi Prasad Kharel and nearly 400 of his supporters, mainly
Bahun-Chettris, have joined SKM. A large section of this community have left
the NB Bhandari-led Sikkim Sangram Parishad and SDF and joined Golay.
“Bhandari
should have sided with Golay and not revived SSP. It will only help Chamling,
not Golay,” said an influential member of the upper-caste community from east
district.
Repeal
of old laws betrayal of SDF govt: SKM, BJP
Jacob
Khaling
Gangtok, Oct 25: Political parties and social organizations in the State have
vehemently opposed the State Government and Centre’s bid to do away with
Sikkim’s old laws protected by Article 371F of the Constitution.
Reacting to the recent
enactment of Companies Bill 2013 in the Parliament, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha
(SKM) has alleged that the Chamling Government has betrayed the Sikkimese
people and failed to preserve their rights and interests guaranteed under
Article 371F.
SKM leader Jacob Khaling
alleged that the State Government had consented to repeal of old laws under
Companies (Sikkim) Act of 1961.
(Left) Sonam Lama Kaloen
Padam Chettri, BJP State unit
President also alleged repeal of old laws was an act of betrayal on the part of
the Chamling Government and its two MPs.
The Companies Bill 2013
became an Act after the President, Pranab Mukherjee’s endorsement on August 29,
2013.
The National Sikkimese Bhutia
Organisation (NASBO) President, Sonam Lama Kaloen, has demanded the immediate
resignation of Sikkim’s MPs, PD Rai and Hissey Lachungpa.
While rejecting the “design and act of the
Indian Government,” Kaoen also condemned
Chamling’s “reluctant approach and attitude in preserving Sikkim’s
ever-facing unique identity.”
 |
| Padam Chettri |
The “State
government’s recent cowardice act to enforce AADHAR card, etc followed by the
repealing of Sikkim’s old laws (Companies Act) has already revealed the hidden
agenda of the policy makers that ultimately aims to do away with Article 371 F
of the Indian Constitution vis-à-vis Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Union. We call upon authorities in Sikkim to get
wary of such low-graded politics at the stake of our very identity and posterity,”
stated Sonam Tashi Bhutia, President, Save Kabi Longtsok Committee, in a press
statement.
SKM ropes in SDF’s
Chumkee Saring
Gangtok, Oct 25: After roping in
renowned social activist Dawa Lepcha of Dzongu, the Sikkim Krantikati Morcha
(SKM)’s next prized catch in the Bhutia-Lepcha tribal-dominated district of
North Sikkim is Chumkee Saring, a former North District President of the ruling
Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and ex-chairperson of the Chamling Government.
Chumkee
Saring is not only the sister-in-law of former Rajya Sabha MP and senior
Congress leader Leonard Solomon Saring, an influential Lepcha leader, she is
also the youngest sister of former MLA, Late Tenzing Dahdul of the
politically-conscious Tholung family. One of Saring’s brothers, Sonam Dorjee,
is also an ex-MLA and belong to the ruling party.
(Left) Chumkee Saring at SKM party office in Tadong, Gangtok, recently.
Saring’s
joining the SKM was announced during SKM’s grand public meeting at the Paljor
Stadium on October 6. She subsequently joined the party at its meeting held
here at the central head office in upper Tadong.
Based
in Mangan, headquarters of North Sikkim, Saring has family connections in
Dzongu and Lachen, North Sikkim. Her late father Tholung Pipon, an influential
person in the State, is closely related to late Cho Ledon, Pipon of Lachen.
She, therefore, is well-connected to Lepchas and Bhutias of North Sikkim and
her presence in SKM would mean a lot for the party, which is trying its best to
woo the tribal community.
NE regional parties form common platform, to participate in ‘third
front’ meet
New Delhi, Oct 25: Just two days after the formation of the North
East Regional Political Front (NERPF) in Guwahati ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections, another forum, an anti-communal formation is on the anvil with
several regional political parties and Left, joining forces to fight the
communal menace.
A national ‘Convention
Against Communalism and For Unity of People’ would be held here in New Delhi on
October 30 where at least five chief ministers-- Nitish Kumar from Bihar
(JD-U), Akhilesh Yadav from Uttar Pradesh (SP), Neiphiu Rio from Nagaland
(Nagaland People’s Front), Pawan Kumar Chamling from Sikkim (SDF) and Manik
Sarkar from Tripura (CPI-M) are likely to attend the meet.
Four Left parties have
united with AIADMK, JD (U), SP, BJD, NCP, JD (S), NPF, SDF, Jharkhand Vikas
Morcha and RPI (Prakash Ambedkar) to participate in the October 30 ‘Convention
Against Communalism and For Unity of People’, JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav and CPI
(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told a news agency here.
Accusing the RSS-BJP of
“sharpening communal divide” ahead of elections, Yechury said, “This cannot be
allowed and that is our primary objective,” he said.
Yadav said they would
make an effort to bring together all non-BJP and non-Congress parties, who are
against price rise and corruption of the present government and communalism.
Yechury said the main objective was to “safeguard our secular and democratic
foundations which are undergoing strain at this moment.”
Tamil Nadu chief
minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday wrote a letter to Yechury expressing her
inability to attend the gathering, but said she had deputed AIADMK
parliamentary party leader M. Thambidurai to attend and address the meeting.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik may also not attend the meet but depute a
senior BJD leader.
Although Nitish
Kumar and other leaders of this grouping have ruled out a third front
ahead of the 2014 general elections, the convention is being seen as a show of
numbers currently positioned against the Congress-led ruling coalition and the
BJP-led opposition alliance.
Meanwhile, on Sunday,
10 regional political parties of the Northeast formed the North East Regional
Political Front with Nagaland chief minister and senior leader of the Naga People’s
Front, Neiphiu Rio as the Convenor and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as the Chief Advisor.
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and
former Mizoram CM Joram Thanga and former Meghalaya CM Donkoper Roy are
advisers of the Front.
The Front will include all major regional
parties—AGP, Nagaland People's Front (NPF), Mizo National Front (MNF), Sikkim
Democratic Front, Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and several other parties
from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
In a show of solidarity, Akali Dal leader and
former chief minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala attended the meeting of
the NERPF on Sunday. Telugu Desam Party chief Chandra Babu Naidu is also likely
to visit Guwahati to attend an AGP meeting.
The timing of formation of the regional
alliance is significant with the Lok Sabha election coming up in a few months,
especially considering that the northeastern states together have a strength of
25 MPs in the lower house.
Editorial
BREAKTHROUGH FOR GOLAY
Live Up To Expectations
PS Golay seems to be on the right track when he declared
before a packed crowd of about 30,000 supporters of his Sikkim Krantikari
Morcha (SKM) in the State capital recently that his main goal was to restore
Sikkimese unity and preserve the distinct identity of bonafide Sikkimese within
the framework of the Constitution of India. But the SKM leader must note that
his former mentor Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, too, promised the same thing
when he rebelled against his predecessor NB Bhandari in mid-1990s. One of the
main reasons for people supporting Golay is that they feel let down by Chamling
and want to take their revenge against him through Golay. Many Sikkimese now do
not have high expectations from politicians as they have been betrayed time and
again. In that respect Golay’s work becomes much easier.
However, he has the added burden of being the last leader
from the Nepalese community to reverse the situation and save Sikkim from being
extinguished forever. It has been said that while LD Kazi, Sikkim’s first chief
minister, ‘sold Sikkim’, Bhandari ‘registered’ it and Chamling has now ‘destroyed’
Sikkim completely. Golay’s main test of his integrity and commitment for the
Sikkimese cause would be reflected in the team he forms and candidates he
chooses for the coming Assembly polls. People’s hopes for Sikkim’s future are
now on credible, committed and competent people. Unfortunately, there aren’t
many people who would fit the bill as most Sikkimese, including their so-called
leaders, are a bunch of opportunists.
Taktse Nyingma Institute celebrates silver jubilee
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Nyingma Institute,
Taktse, Gangtok.
Gangtok, Oct 25:
The Nyingma Institute at Taktse in Gangtok, founded by the 13th
Chogyal of Sikkim, Wangchuk Namgyal, and His Eminence Khenchen Ringzin Dorje Rinpoche
on Friday celebrated its silver jubilee.
Chhams (mask
ritual dances by lamas), cultural shows, prayers and pujas were part of the
three-day celebrations.
Former Minister RB Subba and Sangha MLA PT Lama were special
guests for the occasion.
Founded in 1988 on the initiative of the Chogyal and
Khenchen Ringzin Dorje Rinpoche, the institute’s 350 lamas are mostly of
Sikkimese origin. According to Khenpo Rigjin Chojor Lama, Principal of the
Institute, the institute has
produced 5 Sikkimese Khenpos, 25
Acharyas, 15 Tshampos, and another 150 Sikkimese students.
It may be noted
that Sikkim, a former Buddhist Kingdom ruled by the Chogyals since 1642,
basically caters to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism although the State
has numerous monasteries and Buddhist institutes catering to Kargyu, Sakya,
Geluk and Bon sects.
The present institute was originally founded in Nepal by
Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche and was later established in Sikkim under the guidance
and patronage of the Chogyal, whose sphere of activities is confined to
religious work.
 |
| Khenchen Ringzin Dorje Rinpoche |
With 20 years of pioneering commitment to its field, the
Nyingma Institute, Taktse is a centre for providing quality education in Higher
Buddhist Studies and Philosophy. The course includes Philosophy, Literature,
Metaphysics, Logic, Tantric Studies, Ritual Prayers, Meditation Practices and
English, and is dedicated to providing a wholesome education. Its education
system encompasses the whole spectrum of education right up to the research
level.
A nine year-course is
equivalent to an M.A. in secular studies. After completing the nine year-course
on these diverse subjects, students will receive an M.A in Philosophy. To
obtain a PhD students may elect to complete three more years of research. After
this, conferral of the highest degree of Khenpo will be bestowed to candidates
with outstanding personal qualities and teaching ability. While this monastic
college offers courses according to the Nyingma tradition, it resembles the
ancient monastic University of Nalanda. Monks have to master several religious
texts before they graduate.
Since it is a renowned study centre and produces scholars
and teachers of high calibre, Nyingma Institute, Taktse attracts hundreds of
students from the South-East Asian region (from countries such as Taiwan,
Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet), and also from Europe. The renowned
philosopher and Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Samdong
Rinpoche, told his western audiences: "Nyingma has two expert institutes
for higher Buddhist Studies: one in South India and one in Gangtok, Sikkim,
which are both highly regarded."
 |
| Chogyal Wangchuk Namgyal |
Through the noble guidance and prophecy of Root Guru Kyabje
Jadral Rinpoche, who also bestowed the name Ngagyur Tholop Thekgue Lekshei
Ling, the Institute was shifted to Sikkim in 1996.
Chogyal Wangchuk Namgyal invited and sponsored the
establishment of the Nyingma Institute in Taktse with the goal of preserving
and disseminating the holy Dharma in general, and particularly for the benefit
of the people of Sikkim. During the last several years many scholars from
Sikkim have graduated from this institute. It is because the monks from this
institute cater to the various spiritual needs of the people that the institute
has received much praise and admiration.
Australian runs for Sikkim’s environmental protection
Gangtok, Oct 25: An
Australian from Melbourne, Kim Shore, recently ran a half marathon in the State
to raise money and awareness of environmental protection internationally.
On 11 October 2013
Kim ran a course of 21.1kms between Rumtek and Sang, East Sikkim. The purpose
of his run is to raise money for the Environment Defenders Office, a community
environmental law centre (advice and litigation) in Melbourne.
Shore chose Sikkim to
inspire people in Australia by the ecological diversity and environmental
heritage in Sikkim. He hopes to
eventually create an international event in Rumtek, raising money and awareness
for local environmental protection in Sikkim and Australia.
Kim has historical links in Sikkim through his father, Lama
Chime, who has been a friend of Sikkim for over 40 years. Lama Chime has a long-standing relationship
between Dharma teachings in India and Australia.
Kim was visiting Sikkim with his father at a time when he
ordinarily would be running in an event called “Run for the Environment” in
Melbourne. The solution: make “Run for
the Environment” go global to Sikkim.
The event has been successful, fundraising (so far) over $500 Australian
dollars.
This event, says Kim, could become an annual event to enable
international fundraising efforts for environmental protection and awareness in
Sikkim. Environmental degradation and
the rapid onset of climate change require global efforts at the local and
international level.
With collective will
and opportunity, this small event could initiate an annual marathon event in
which Indians and Australians would run together with the object of putting the
integrity and health of the environment at the forefront of our conscience,
says Kim.
Nepal’s indigenous people demand federal system
Kathmandu, Ocvt 25:
Passang Sherpa, former President of Nepal Indigeneous People's Federation,
wants greater role of Nepal’s indigenous people in framing the country’s new
constitution.
Sherpa has urged Nepal’s political leadership to respect the
rights of the indigenous people, including the demand for ‘identity based
federal system’. In his letter to the Federation, Sherpa said the indigenous
people of Nepal must be prepared to launch
a “massive protest” before the November parliamentary polls to press for
their demand.
Sherpa sees a
“conspiracy” in the present polls process in the former Hindu kingdom. He says
that there is a “possibility that the second constituent assembly will have
majority of members who stood against
the rights of the indegenous people.”
One of Sherpa’s main demands is: “The new assembly must
guarantee that during the constitution making process in the assembly, when it
comes to the concerned subjects, the members of the indigenous people in the
assembly will not be bound by the whips issued by their respective parties.
Assembly must guarantee every member the
rights to decide independently about ones own community without being subjected
to fear, threat and greed.”
Sherpa also wants the new assembly to “form the caucus of
the indigenous people and the said caucus must be recognised by the parliament
as its branch.”
Gorkha homeland: the bigger picture
By Jigme N. Kazi
If the present statehood agitation in Darjeeling fails to
satisfy the Indian Gorkhas, then a section of Gorkha leaders in North Bengal
and Sikkim may go ahead with their demand for merger of Darjeeling with Sikkim.
The population of
the former Kingdom of Sikkim, ruled by the Chogyals (King) since 1642, consists
mainly of the Nepalese/Gorkha community. The indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha tribals
of Sikkim are less than 25 per cent of the State’s six lac odd population.
 |
| Bimal Gurung |
Over the years, Nepali leaders in Sikkim have been
consistently demanding greater economic and political role for the Nepalese in
the State. This is perhaps the main reason why after the merger with the Indian
Union in 1975 no member of the minority Bhutia-Lepcha community has been
elected as chief minister. Former chief minister, late Lhendup Dorji Kazi, who
hails from the Lepcha community, became chief minister just before the merger
after a controversial poll in early 1974.
A substantial
section of Sikkim’s Nepalese populace, belonging to Darjeeling, settled in Sikkim
during the merger period when many Nepalese were inducted in the State
administration. While they are now permanent residents of Sikkim they have
emotional and family ties with the Gorkhas of Darjeeling hills.
Though the Nepalese
in Sikkim, who are legally referred to as ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’, have the uppeBimal Gurung r
hand in the affairs of the State, the Centre is reluctant in safeguarding the
distinct identity of this community. For instance, five years after the merger
the reserved Assembly seats of Sikkimese Nepalese in the Sikkim Legislative
Assembly, which reflected their distinct status, were abolished in 1979.
Despite the demand
for restoration of these seats by political and social organizations in the
past three and half decades New Delhi has remained adamant. Unfortunately,
Nepalese political leadership in Sikkim, too, have not taken the matter
seriously. It has voiced its concern on the seat issue only during elections to
create its vote-bank in order to come to power.
.jpg) |
| Pawan Chamling |
In the past, some Gorkha
leaders from Darjeeling have been demanding merger of Darjeeling with Sikkim.
The basis of their demand lies on the fact that Darjeeling, including a vast
tract of plains area in North Bengal, belonged to Sikkim before it was ‘gifted’
to the East India Company in 1835.
Darjeeling’s former Gorkha Rashtriya
Congress (GRC) President, late D K Bomzong, pointed out: “We are not demanding a new state. We merely
want Darjeeling ’s reunification with Sikkim .”
Bomzong says the new state, after the reunification, need not be called
“Gorkhaland” as demanded by the Gorkhas. Bomzong was aware that non-Gorkhas
like Bhutias and Lepchas may not support the merger demand if the new state is
called “Gorkhaland”.
The GRC has now
opted out from the Gorkha Joint Action Committee (GJAC), which is spearheading
the movement for Gorkhaland, stating that its main demand is Darjeeling’s
reunification with Sikkim and not creation of a new state. GRC President Nima
Lama said: “We had joined the GJAC and attended its meetings. But finally we
realised this is a wrong platform for us because our demand is not Gorkhaland.
We have been fighting for unification of Darjeeling Hills with Sikkim.” Lama
pointed out that a memorandum to this effect has been submitted to Rahul Gandhi
recently by his party.
However, the Kalimpong-based
Sikkim National Front (SNF) President, R. Moktan, who had earlier proposed
creation of ‘Sikkim and Darjeeling’ State, now feels that merger of Darjeeling
with Sikkim will not satisfy the Gorkha community as their main demand is
‘Gorkhaland’. Moktan had earlier stated, “If we can have Jammu & Kashmir
State, why can’t we have Sikkim & Darjeeling State?”
Many other Gorkha
leaders believe that if the Gorkhaland statehood demand fails to evoke the
right response from the concerned authorities the call for Darjeeling-Sikkim merger
would intensify and will be welcomed by Darjeeling Gorkhas as this would be the
only alternative to creation of a state exclusively for Indian Gorkhas.
“The Gorkha
Janamukti Morcha should try to convince other leaders in the country that it is
not asking for Bengal’s division as Darjeeling was never part of West Bengal,”
Moktan had said. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung is now saying he is
not asking for division of Bengal as Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal but
once belonged to Sikkim.
 |
| Subash Ghising |
Pro-merger Gorkha
leaders in Darjeeling hope that Sikkimese Nepalese will slowly and surely come
under the bigger Gorkha umbrella when they find that their struggle for their
distinct identity under Article 371F (meant for Sikkim) leads them nowhere. The
growing non-Nepalese influx of plainspeople in Sikkim and Darjeeling will
gradually prompt the hill people to seek merger of the two regions, political
analysts say.
So far, only
personal and monetary benefits have kept Sikkimese Nepalese leaders from
directly demanding Darjeeling’s merger with Sikkim. They have, however, not
failed in backing the demand for creation of Gorkhaland in North
Bengal . However, monetary benefits are likely to be set aside when
emotional and ethnic bonds decide political events when mass consciousness is
stirred.
In his book, The Sikkim Saga (published 1983), former
Chief Executive of Sikkim, B S Das, who was “all in all” during Sikkim’s
takeover in the ’70s, wrote about the present political situation in the hills:
“The highly articulate and politicized Nepalese leadership of Darjeeling has an
eye on Sikkim. There is already a considerable Nepalese migration into Sikkim
with the increased economic opportunities available there. The Gorkha League of
Darjeeling demanding a Gorkhaland considers an
enlarged State of Sikkim with Darjeeling
as its part, a viable and attractive proposition.”
Das then goes on
to add: “If the leadership of Sikkimese Nepalese passes on to the Gorkha
League, such a demand could well be expected. The historical fact of Darjeeling
having once been part of Sikkim will be used as an additional argument. If the
mistake of 1947 in denying merger to Sikkim with India could be corrected in
1975, why could Darjeeling not be restored back to Sikkim thus fulfilling the
aspirations of a homeland for the Nepalese?”
.jpg) |
| NB Bhandari |
However, most
political parties in Sikkim have vehemently opposed Darjeeling-Sikkim merger
demand. Two former chief ministers of Sikkim – Nar Bahadur Bhandari and Bhim
Bahadur Gooroong – have categorically stated that while they support the demand
for Gorkhaland they are against the merger. “We have been merged; we don’t want
to be submerged,” is their stand on the merger issue.
In the last week of
August GJM chief Bimal Gurung said his party would now stop demanding
Gorkhaland and would demand for ‘something else’ at the appropriate time.
Political observers
feel Gurung’s reference to ‘something else’ could mean Union Territory status
or merger with Sikkim. (Talk Sikkim)
GOLAY’S PARIVARTAN SHOWDOWN
DAZZLES PEOPLE, RATTLES CHAMLING
“I will not let you down”
Disillusioned by performance of Sikkim’s political
leadership and betrayed by the ruling elite in the past four decades, Sikkim
Krantikari Morcha (SKM) leader PS Golay’s promise at the Paljor Stadium,
Gangtok, on October 6 – “I will not let
you down” – went down well with the people. Expectedly, the rebel leader
received a thunderous applause from the 30,000 gathered at the stadium for this
statement.
More than anything the overwhelming number and the manner in
which people from all over Sikkim turned up to hear Golay – his first major
public appearance for SKM – had an electrifying effect on the Sikkimese psyche.
Fear, a key factor to keep people in chains, had been conquered on that day.
And this was a major victory for the SKM, formed only on February 4, 2013.
In the numbers game
both Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and former chief minister Nar Bahadur
Bhandari must have noted that they have been defeated by the 43-year-old SKM
upstart. And those moving towards Goaly since the October 6 showdown are
rapidly increasing by the day.
SKM leaders – Jacob Khaling, Bhojraj Rai, PT Gyamtso, PT
Lepcha and Bharati Sharma – did a fine job in keeping the heat alive before
Golay called on the people for change, for Sikkimese unity to oust Chamling,
and to preserve Sikkim’s peace, harmony and distinct identity.
The Sikkimese people are more than convinced that others
before Golay have betrayed the people…but “I will not let you down,” promised
the rebel leader, who is now busy touring the State and meeting people before
his final assault on Fort Chamling.
It’s a tough call for Golay considering that Chamling is now
well positioned after nearly 20 years in power. But if Golay is able to unite
all sections of the people and choose credible leaders and candidates to
represent the people in the Assembly and out of it he could lead the people to
victory and perhaps save Sikkim for our children, grandchildren and future
generations.
Annual Sports Day at Tashi Namgyal Academy
Excited parents thronged the venue,
the school playground, during junior school events, which included potato and
sack races.
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