Filming of Alexandra David-Neel in progress in Lachen
R. Namgyal
Lachen, Jan 7: The life and times of French adventurer and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism Alexandra David-Neel who visited Sikkim early last century is currently being filmed in Lachen, North Sikkim.
The ‘tele-film’ is being made by Indian and French film makers who have come to Lachen to film her life in a cave at Dewthang near the village of Thangu where she spent her time in deep meditation.
David-Neel was born in Paris on October 24, 1868. By the age of fifteen she had already begun to study music and also obtained her first occult reading matter, an English journal produced by the Society of the Supreme Gnosis.
An opera singer and a scholar of eastern religion, David-Neel became the first Western woman to reach Tibet's forbidden city of Lhasa. Disguised as a pilgrim, and accompanied only by a young Sikkimese lama, she travelled by mule, yak and horse.
David-Neel first came to Sikkim in 1911-12 on the invitation of Crown Prince Sidkeong Tulku.
In the period 1914-1916 she lived in a cave in Dewthang near Thangu in Lachen in North Sikkim near the Tibetan border. The young Sikkimese lama Aphur Yongden, who looked after her in Sikkim, also became her lifelong traveling companion.
During the 2 years in Sikkim she came under the spiritual guidance of Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche of Lachen Monastery, whose meditation cave was just above hers at Dewthang.
Resign and face probe, former Sikkim Guv tells ex-CJI
New Delhi, Jan 7: Former Sikkim Governor Sudarshan Agarwal has urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman KG Balakrishnan to resign and face probe following allegations that his relations are involved in multi-crore corrupt practices.
Agarwal, who is also a former member of the NHRC, in a letter written to Justice Balakrishnan on December 29, 2010, said: “It is with deep pain and anguish — nay, with a deep sense of shock — that I read in the national dailies a news item about your son-in-law's assets growing over 120 times in a short span of four years — ironically during the period you served as Chief Justice of India.”
He said: “Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, who is a role model for probity in public life, has appealed to the President of India to politely advise you to resign as chairman of the NHRC and offer yourself for an inquiry to be conducted by a panel of three eminent judges. This is the only way you can redeem your reputation. The litigant public would take this news with a sense of shock.”
Agarwal said rumours afloat in the corridors of the Supreme Court and elsewhere were indeed disturbing.
“Corruption to my mind is a serious violation of human rights, and surely the chairman of the NHRC must not be perceived to be a violator of human rights. It is therefore necessary to clear your name,” he said in the letter to Justice Balakrishnan.
Agarwal said: “I have served with three former Chief Justices of India, all of whom have brought added glory, dignity and respect to the highest judicial office. One of them is the late Justice M. Hidayatullah, who served as Vice-President of India when I served as Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha. The other two were Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah and Justice J.S. Verma, both of whom served as chairman of NHRC while I served as a Member of the Commission.
“All three were role models of probity in public life apart from their exceptional erudition. If people lose faith in the judiciary, it will be a sad day for the country and a big blow to our democratic polity.”
He said: “I am a strong votary of probity in public life. When you were Chief Justice of India, I had written to you expressing my concern about retired Supreme Court Judges engaging in arbitration cases while holding office as chairman of various commissions, as also appearing in foreign courts on behalf of private parties. I did not receive any reply even though two of your predecessors did write back to me agreeing with what I said, but they too did not take any steps to stem this unhealthy practice.
“I would earnestly appeal to you to consider resigning from your present office and offer to face an inquiry to clear your name from any whiff of wrongdoing. This will restore your credibility and also strengthen public confidence in the institution of judiciary — the bulwark of democracy,” the letter added.
Bhandari meets CBI chief, demands speedy probe into Chamling’s corruption charges
BJP meets Chief Secy, demands CBI investigation
By A Staff Reporter
Gangtok, Jan 7: The State Government’s reported refusal to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into charges of corruption against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his Cabinet colleagues is proof enough that the accused are guilty and are trying to save their skin, according to former chief minister and Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) President Nar Bahadur Bhandari.
Bhandari now wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the initiative and grant permission to the CBI to investigate into the corruption charges.
“The State Government is not allowing the CBI to investigate. This proves that the Chief Minister is trying to save himself,” the former chief minister said here before leaving for Delhi to pressurize the UPA Government and the party high command to give green signal to the CBI.
On his return from Delhi on Thursday, Bhandari said he met the CBI Director, who has sent another reminder to the State Government to allow the CBI to come to Sikkim for investigation. Bhandari threatened to bring the State under President’s rule if the Chamling Government refuses to oblige the CBI.
The CBI recently approached the State Government to allow it to probe into corruption charges against Chamling and others after it found prima-facie case following its preliminary investigation.
Bhandari also appealed to Governor BP Singh to use his special power under Article 371F of the Constitution and dismiss the Chamling Government for gross economic misconduct and also to ensure free and fair investigation.
State Congress leaders approached the CBI against Chamling after the Supreme Court dismissed their petition in March 2010. The apex court directed the petitioners to approach investigating agencies with the “incriminating material.”
State Congress leaders have threatened to move the Supreme Court if the authorities are not responsive.
BJP for CBI probe
On Tuesday, the State unit of the BJP approached the Chief Secretary TT Dorji to allow the CBI to begin investigation against Chamling and others, including former ministers.
Meanwhile, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front said corruption allegations against Chamling was “baseless.”
Defending the Chief Minister, State’s Lok Sabha MP P D Rai and former LS MP Bhim Dahal said corruption charges against members of the ruling party were “politically motivated.”
