SIKKIM OBSERVER         Aug 4, 2012

Youth body threatens mass movement on fake Sikkim Subject Certificate issue

Will seek help of social organizations, political parties

Gangtok, Aug 3: The issue of fake Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) and Certificate of Identification (COI) is unlikely to get a quiet burial even if vested interests want it. A former Sikkim MP and a former minister are behind the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Un-employed Association’s bid to begin a mass movement on this vital issue that has great relevance to the identity and unity of bonafide Sikkimese hailing from three ethnic communitiesFormer Lok Sabha MP Pahalman Subba chaired a meeting of the Association here recently where the issue of fake ‘Sikkim Subject Certificate’ was discussed and a tentative strategy was chalked out to get to the truth of the matter.

Former Minister and Convenor of Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Tseten Tashi Bhutia was also present during the meeting. While Subba is looked upon as one of the main backbones of the OBC community, particularly the Limbus, Bhutia has been leading a steady campaign on behalf of the minority Bhutia-Lepcha tribals in the State. The Association President Nawin Pradhan was also present during the meeting.

The Association’s resolution passed during this crucial meeting said it would give top “priority” to the issue of fake SSC/COI and would urge the establishment to take the issue “seriously” and “act” on it, a release of the Association said.

It has threatened to “initiate a mass movement” with the help of social organisations and political parties if the authorities fail to initiate serious steps on the issue.

PM Subba

Nawin Prahan

According to sources, of the around six lac people in the State only about three lac possess Sikkim Subject Certificates. Sources also said more than 30,000 people in the State possess fake Sikkim Subject Certificates. Holders of fake SSCs are enjoying benefits and facilities which are meant for bonafide Sikkimese who possess genuine SSCs.

It may be mentioned that the SSCs were issued during the Chogyal era when Sikkim was ruled by the Chogyals (kings). After Sikkim became a part of India in 1975 the government has stopped issuing the SSC. However, thousands of fake SSCs have been issued by the authorities after the merger in 1975.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia

‘Third force’ only alternative to ‘unresponsive govt’: Anna

New Delhi, Aug 3: Social activist Anna Hazare and his team announced on Thursday they would call off their indefinite fast against corruption at 5 pm on Friday and proposed forming a "political alternative" as an answer to an "unresponsive" government.

 Making the announcement to thousands of flag-waving cheering supporters, Hazare had said he and Team Anna, as members of his civil society followers are known, were calling off their fast on Friday 5 pm. The condition of three of the team, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai, who have been on fast for the past ten days, has worsened causing concern among supporters and the authorities.

Hazare's announcement of a political alternative got an immediate response on social networking sites, with most welcoming the move while some wondered how the apolitical movement was suddenly changing colours. India's next general elections are due in 2014 and political maneuvering has begun keeping the polls in mind.

But the government was quick to react, with Congress minister Ambika Soni saying "we had always held that Team Anna was goaded by politics, and it is a good thing that they have come out in the open with their intention".

As Team Anna's plan to form a political alternative on Thursday created a buzz, the government and Congress took a jibe at them saying their "real intention" has come out in the open while BJP said the civil society group has every right to form a political party.

"We have always said that these people seemed inspired by politics. It is good that whatever the intention was has come out clear. Many of the stances they took seem to suggest this. I am glad that they have gone ahead," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters in New Delhi.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, a bitter critic of Team Anna, said his opinion about their "real intentions" has now been confirmed.

BJP demands CBI probe on SMU in Sikkim    

Sikkim BJP President Padam B. Chettri

Gangtok, Aug 3: The BJP has demanded CBI investigation in the State into the alleged irregular functioning of the Sikkim Manipal University, which allegedly made huge sums of money running into crores by running illegal distance learning courses.

Sikkim BJP unit chief Padam Bahadur Chettri said CBI probe into the matter in the State was required as the SMU has “jurisdiction only in Sikkim; it has no meaning across Sikkim border.”

Chettri said on July 27 the CBI registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against V N Rajshekharan  Pillai, former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, for allowing two private universities  -  Sikkim Manipal University (SMU)  and Punjab Technical University (PTU)  -   to run distance learning courses in violation of laid down procedures by abusing official position and by committing criminal conspiracy.   

Quoting CBI’s FIR, Chettri said, “the two universities made close to Rs 470 crores by running distance learning courses at their centres in five years.”

He said SMU admitted 17.6 lakh students in its 728 study centres all over India between 2004 and 2011 and made a profit of Rs 85 crore.

According to the BJP chief, the FIR said: “SMU is a self-financed state university established in 1995. It had approached DEC in 2004 for approval of conducting 51 courses/ programmes in distance mode. The experts of DEC examined the study materials and observed discrepancies which were communicated to SMU on July 3, 2006. Without any examination of the response of SMU, Prof  Pillai allowed a provisional approval for a period of one year, i.e., for 2007-2008 and post facto recognition was given on August 29, 2007 by manipulating minutes of meetings of the third meeting of the joint committee held on August 7, 2007.”

Both the  universities reportedly did not get the approval of the  joint committee of AICTE, UGC and IGNOU but Pillai still gave approval for the courses setting aside the laid down guidelines, CBI sources said. 

 “Since the main Headquarters of the SMU are in Sikkim, the CBI may conduct investigation in Sikkim,” Chettri said.

Power panel to submit report by August 10

Gangtok, Aug 3: A high-powered committee has been constituted by the Sikkim government to look into the implementation of the under construction hydro-electric projects in the State.

The committee constituted recently under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso has been asked to submit its report by August 10, official sources said.

Besides looking into various issues of projects under construction, the committee will also seek to resolve such issues with a view to expedite their implementation, PTI reported.

In November last, the government had constituted a high- powered committee to look into issues concerning the three hydel projects proposed on the Rathong Chu in West Sikkim.

The committee had recommended the termination of two of the projects, namely, Lethang and Tashiding. Subsequently, the government, accepting the committee’s recommendations, had issued a notification for their termination.

There are several under-construction projects in the State. After the termination of the 2 projects in West Sikkim and another 4 in north Sikkim recently by the government, the projects number about 23.

The issues range from erosion of traditional lifestyles of the people to influx (mainly of labourers) required by the project developers.

A major issue of concern is the environmental impact of such projects on small States like Sikkim.

CM stresses on quality education

Gangtok, Aug 3: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling stressed the importance of value-based education in order to make students successful in their future ventures. He said his government continues to give top priority to quality education in the State, where 20 per cent of the budget is set aside for education sector.

While addressing a mammoth meeting of students and teachers here at the Tenzing Namgyal Memorial Ground (Guards Ground) recently, the Chief Minister said the State Government has decided to award a cash of Rs one lac to class 12 toppers, followed by Rs 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 to those who came second and third respectively.

The orientation programme on quality education and development organized by Human Resource Development Department, Government of Sikkim was witnessed by 12,269 students from class eight to twelve and 2,312 teachers from six constituencies from in and around Gangtok, an IPR release said.

HRDD Minister NK Pradhan while addressing the gathering talked about holistic development of human resources in the State.

Editorial

MARCH FORTH

Third Alternative A Must

The decision to join electoral politics by Team Anna is a welcome move. There can always be another national anti-graft organization to fight corruption in high places. Team Anna, working under the banner of India Against Corruption, has generated a nationwide awareness of the growing menace of corruption in the political system in India. An insensitive and unresponsive establishment in a democracy is not worth fighting against. It must and should be speedily replaced by a more democratic and pro-people government. Team Anna’s decision to join politics and fight elections is a fitting reply to the political elite – ruling and opposition – which wants to preserve status quo and carry on looting the nation all the time and everywhere. Right thinking individuals from all over the country must rise up to the occasion to provide a third alternative to the Congress and BJP. The so-called ‘third front’ of non-BJP and non-Congress forces should also be kept aloof as most of its leaders are fence-sitters and rank opportunists.

If the elected representatives of the people fail to pay heed to the voice of the people as has been seen in the anti-graft campaign despite enormous pressure from the people it is a signal for right-thinking Indians to chalk out a new course for the country.

In Manipur, social activist Irom Sharmila has been on hunger strike for a good cause for more than a decade and no one, including the government, has responded to her call. In Sikkim, the Lepchas staged a prolonged anti-mega dam hunger strike a few years back which lasted for more than a year but the State Government remained unresponsive. Finally they had to pack up their bags and go home quietly. In Assam, social activist Akhil Gogoi, who is leading another anti-mega dam agitation, was recently beaten up allegedly by Congress workers. Former Lok Sabha Speaker projected himself as a tribal leader and fought the recent presidential polls. Not only his own party (NCP) dumped him but tribal legislators from his own Northeast region failed to back him. Why? No one wants to displease the UPA government at the Centre which controls the purse. Greed binds those in power and fear of losing power keeps the flock together. Both Sangma and Hazare has done the right thing by deciding to form their own political outfit and march ahead.  Those in power will respect only those who have power and it is time that right-thinking Indians come together and capture power at the Centre and in the States. This may take a long, long time but any journey must begin with a step even if it is a faltering one.

SACRED SIKKIM- III

Natural and cultural heritage of Beyul Demajong

By Sonam Yongda

Dzongu has one of the largest congregations of monasteries in Sikkim some of which house priceless relics. Two significant ones are Tholung and Lingthem monasteries. Aptly named ‘stoney valley’ the Tholung Gompa is the most inaccessible monastery in Sikkim and can be accessed only after a three-day trek through dense forests and across steep ridges. The monastery houses many antique treasures like thankas, horse saddles and thigh bone trumpets. It is said that Lhatsum Chempo, Sikkim’s patron saint, had an intuition about the foreign invasion and sent the most precious of the sacred objects of various monasteries in Sikkim to Tholung for safe keeping. All the relics are kept in 13 sealed boxes that are opened for public once every three years.

Because of Dzongu’s exclusive nature among the pristine natural settings, traditional rituals and worship of the natural deities like mountains, hills, lakes, groves, caves, spring etc still continue to be practised in every village. Each village has its own local mountain or hill deities to propitiate. Mount Kanchenjunga is the most important deity of them all. Known for their deep knowledge of ecology and botany, the Lepchas have a history of coexistence with nature and their religious beliefs restrain them from cutting trees, polluting lakes, destroying hills and cliffs. They believe that such activities would have unpleasant consequences and result in calamities or bloodshed. Sacred landscapes such as Kabi and Tholung’s sacred groves embody Lepcha culture and indigenous knowledge systems.

Therefore, every year the Lepcha’s pray to propitiate gods and spirits to ensure fertility of the land and maintain peace and environmental balance. This myth has a renewed ecological relevance as it encodes an environmental wisdom that has sustained the Lepchas in this shifting, precarious landscape for centuries. The main livelihood activity of the Lepchas is a mixed farming system which includes agriculture, home gardens, horticulture, livestock rearing, and agro-forestry which provides sustenance to the local communities while preserving the biodiversity of the region.

Sikkim as Mahaguru Padmasambhava’s most sacred hidden country Bay-yul Dhebu Phunsum Chopei Jong (Demo Jong) has a very long tradition of Buddhism which has been its official religion (Gazetteer of Sikkim, 1883 by HH Risley, Page 172). It was Mahaguru Padmasambhava who actually introduced Buddhism in this hidden ocuntry in the 8^th Century A.D. and has since been deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Sikkimese people. He also hid a large number of both major and minor Treasures for the benefit and rejuvenation of dharma when the same is uprooted in Tibet. More of these sacred hidden treasures such as Denjong Neyig (guide to the sacred locations of Demo Jong), Nesol (Offering to the local guardian deities of Demojong), Rigzin Sog-drub, etc. were later discovered by Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo in the late 16^th century. It was Lhatsun Chenpo who institutionalized Buddhism in Sikkim. The first Denjong Chogyal (Dharma Raja) soon after his enthronement proclaimed Buddhism as the national religion of Sikkim and appointed 18 Ministers from monks out of the total of 36.

It is  submitted  here  that  the  entire  area  below  Mt. Khangchen Dzonga in West Sikkim  is enunciated  as  most  sacred  areas  of  Sikkim though Sikkim as a whole is considered very sacred. It is mentioned that Khangchen Dzonga, the abode of the guardian deity of Sikkim, is surrounded by other deities of Sikkim, identified in the form of mountains, rocks, waterfalls, lakes, trees and sacred caves like the Great Four Caves and Lakes. There is a mention of most of the places within the vicinity of the Khangchen Dzonga such as Dubdi, Thragmo Rong, Phamo Rong, Tashiding, Sangha-Choeling, Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Rathongchu, etc., as abodes of deities guarding the land from all directions. It is also, mentioned in the text that burning of any undesirable things like meat, killings, destructions of objects of worship like stupas, cutting down of trees and plants, misuse of lakes, destruction /

 defacement of hills and rocks of the sacred areas of Sikkim would directly affect the deities of Sikkim and will invite disasters and natural calamities.

   The region also has a number of glacial lakes in the higher reaches which are very sacred. The Rathongchu, itself sacred, has its source in nine holy lakes at the higher elevations, very next to the grand Khangchen Dzonga peak. Besides, the river in the Yuksam region itself is considered to have 109 hidden lakes. These visible and hidden lakes identified by Treasure Revealer (Ter-ten-pas) are presiding deities, representing wrathful and compassionate as well as positive and negative. During the annual Bumchu Festival of Tashiding (being observed since many centuries back), Rathongchu River remains the focus of all which turn partly white at the exact portion where it meets River Rangeet and from where designated quantity of water is collected for the Holy Vase, thereby attracting thousands of devotees from far across including Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan etc.

Pang Lhabsol is the most important Sikkimese prayers in veneration of the guardian deities of Sikkim. Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo prescribed prayers for deities of Sikkim and to propitiate them is indicative of the widespread respect of the Sikkimese people towards these entire sacred regions. In fact, the very cultural fabric of Sikkimese society is obviously dependent upon the conservation of the whole landscape within the sacred Khangchen Dzonga without which, the very identity and charm of the Demo Jong is lost or is worthless to mention or identify. (concluded)

Provide CCTVs for media safety: Sikkim Press federation

Gangtok, Aug 3: While welcoming the Arunachal Pradesh Government’s  decision to install CCTV cameras in all media houses in Arunachal Pradesh to ensure protection for working journalists and media houses in that State, the  Sikkim Federation of Working Journalists (SFWJ) has urged State governments in the Northeast, including Sikkim, to  “provide CCTV cameras to all media houses so that journalists and media houses in the region work in a safe and secure environment to carry out their professional duties.”

A press release by the Federation’s General Secretary Khagendramani Pradhan said this was necessary as Northeast and Sikkim have “a history of threats and assaults to mediapersons and attacks on media houses.”

This appeals comes following the recent attack on Tongam Rina, Associate Editor of Arunachal Times, an English daily published from Itanagar. Rina was shot at near her work place by unidentified gunman.

 The SFWJ, which is affiliated to the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ), has also urged “all journalists in the region to stay united and to speak up unitedly and effectively if the Press is under any kind of assault or pressure.”

The Federation has also demanded the speedy arrest of the culprit who was responsible for attack on Arunachal journalist.

Several regional, national and international media organizations, including

Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), Arunachal Press Club (APC), Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC), National Federation of Newspaper Employees (NFNE), South Asia Women in Media (SAWM) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have also strongly condemned the attack on Rina.

Appointments in govt departments illegal: ASESEUA

Gangtok, Aug 3: The All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Un-employed Association has urged Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso to ensure that employments in the State Government departments adhere strictly to the rule of law and orders of the Supreme Court.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the Association has alleged that non-transparent and haphazard appointments in various departments have not only caused unnecessary burden on the State exchequer but are also against the rule of law and judgement of the Supreme Court.

The Association has alleged that many appointments have been made “through the back door” and subverting the rule of law to accommodate candidates of influential politicians. Such practices have “resulted in imposing a considerable financial burden on the State exchequer besides depriving a large number of qualified, competent and meritorious citizens from competing for the numerous vacancies in the departments,” the letter said.

  Citing the verdict of the constitution bench of the  Supreme Court, dated: 16/4/2006,  in Secretary, State of Karnataka v. Uma Devi and others, which overruled numerous judgments of the High Courts and the Supreme Court itself in matter of public employment and laid down the laws to enable the State to enforce  judicial precedent in letter and spirit, the Association said, “Even after the six years of Uma Devi judgment, the State of Sikkim has failed to be a model employer and the haphazard and clandestine method, and the manner of public employment continuous unabated to the detriment of large a number of qualified, competent and meritorious applicants from within the State.”

The Association gave examples of alleged illegal and arbitrary in three cases involving Lawrence Lepcha, Pritam Gurung and Dr. Ashim Anand Pradhan. The Association has demanded that appointments to these three persons be set aside.

‘Save Sikkim’ lambasts govt on “illegal appointments”

Gyalshing, Aug 3: ‘Save Sikkim’, a non-political organization, has lambasted the State Government for its “illegal appointments” to government services.

In a press statement, Yapchung Bhutia said the appointments were made in total disregard to the Supreme Court order and State Government rules on recruitment.

“It is not a new phenomena in Sikkim to recruit near and dear ones of ruling politicians and top bureaucrats in the Government service. But now enough is enough,” the release said.

“We have to fight against this practice and as an organization fighting for the Sikkimese interest, SAVE Sikkim is with ASESE&UA in eradicating this system,” the release added.

 Sex education in schools vital: Pradhan

Gangtok, Aug 3: A State-level advocacy-cum-co-ordination meeting was held here recently to deliberate on the introduction of Adolescence Education Programme in schools in the State.

In his power point presentation, Dr. Uttam Pradhan, Project Director of Sikkim State AIDS Control Society highlighted the importance of introducing AEP module in school syllabus, through life skills development, an IPR release said.

He explained the gathering about the four main components of the AEP, namely Adolescence Reproductive Sexual Health (ARSH), HIV & AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)/Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI), and Drug/Substance Abuse.

Pradhan called on the authorities at HRDD, senior health officers, heads of schools, and civil society to realize the complexities of the issues faced by adolescents and the consequences. He reiterated that the correct intervention at school level will ensure a safer and healthier society.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN        Aug 1, 2012

 74% turnout for peaceful GTA polls  

Darjeeling, July 31: At least 74% turnout was recorded in the first Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) polls in the hills on Sunday. Voting in the 17 of the total of 45 seats was peaceful and at least 74% of the electorate participated in it, said Darjeeling District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan.

Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said there had been no untoward incident from any part of the hills.     

There are a total 45 seats in the GTA, 28 of which have been won uncontested by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The CPI-M and Trinamool Congress had withdrawn from the contest. An independent also contested in the polls in Nimdong constituency in Kalimpong.

Despite TMC’s withdrawal from the polls, some of its nominees took part in the polls. While some TMC candidates say that the party failed to inform them of its decision to withdraw from the polls others say since they could not withdraw from the race since they had already decided to contest.

Several opposition parties in the hills boycotted the polls as they feel that the GTA was a sellout to the statehood demand.

Voters of Belgachi and Panighata did not participate in the polls as they do not want to join the GTA, PTI reported.

 People in Sukna boycotted the polls as they felt there had been no development in the past few years.

CBI books ex-IGNOU Vice-Chancellor

Permission to Sikkim Manipal University illegal:CBI

New Delhi, July 31: Rajasekharan Pillai, former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, has been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation for allegedly misusing his position to grant approval to two universities to run distance learning courses in 2009 despite certain deficiencies highlighted by an expert committee.

Pillai, who was also holding the post of Distance Education Council chairman, granted permission to Punjab Technical University and Sikkim Manipal University for running two distance education courses for which he was allegedly not authorised.

The CBI suspects that Pillai had received some sort of illegal gratification in lieu of granting permission to the two universities.

Following registration of the case, the CBI on Friday conducted searches at the residence of the former Vice-Chancellor at Thiruvanthapuram. The role of the two universities’ managements is also being probed.

Pillai has denied charges leveled by the CBI.

"All guidelines and procedures were followed while granting permission to Sikkim Manipal University and Punjab Technical University to offer IGNOU's distance education courses," he said in a statement.

CBI, which booked Pillai, said that during his tenure as IGNOU VC between 2006-11, Pillai had allegedly misused his official position to allow Sikkim Manipal University and Punjab Technical University to run distance learning courses in violation of laid down procedure.

China presses Panchen Lama to address unrest in Tibet

Beijing, July 31:  As suicides continued unabated in Tibet, China for the first time pressed Panchen Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist monk being groomed to counter the Dalai Lama's influence, to campaign against the self immolations, especially among young monks.

22-year-old 11th Panchen Lama, who was appointed in 1995 by China replacing his Dalai Lama appointed "predecessor" Choekyi Gyaltsen at the age of six in a controversial circumstances, began taking active role in the recent months with high-profile publicity from the state-owned media, PTI reported.

Mostly based in Beijing, the young Lama, who is also the Vice President of Buddhist Association and nominated member of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, for the first time stepped out of main land China in April this year and attended a Buddhist conference in Hong Kong.

Since last week he is touring Lhasa, the provincial capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, making high-profile visits to Buddhist temples and monasteries and urging monks to safeguard China's interests and work for social stability.  

Described by China's official Xinhua news agency as "a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism", the young Lama on Thursday visited the Tibet Buddhist Theological Institute in Lhasa and called on monks to "love their country and abide by laws".

Opened in October 2011, the institute hosts 150 students, including monks from various Tibetan Buddhist sects.

After performing the rituals, Panchen Lama, regarded as the second most highest monk after the Dalai Lama, asked students to abide by national laws and serve the country and its people.

"I hope you can make good use of the sound learning conditions that the institute provides to learn the essence of Buddhism and safeguard our country and serve its people, so as to be true Buddhists," he said.

In his meeting with local leader on July 24, the Lama said it is both the "basics" and responsibility for a religious person to help people do good deeds, and promote harmony and social development by religious preaching.

His comments were made in the back drop of 44 self immolations by monks and other Tibetans in different parts of Tibet but mostly in Abba county in Sichuan province.

The suicides were stated to be aimed at protesting high security as well as to demand the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

China against Indian influence in Nepal in the name of federalism: Baidya

Baidya

Kathmandu, July 31: “Foreign influence in Nepal in the name of federalism is not at all acceptable to China”.

This is the Chinese message communicated through the courtesy of Chairman Mohan Baidya Kiran of Nepal Communist Party-Maoist. Baidya returned home after a ten-day trip to China.

 “As a friendly neighbour China has expressed that growing foreign influence in Nepal in the name of federalism is not acceptable,” Baidya told media persons at a press meet here on Thursday.

“It is true that China is not in favour of ethnicity based federalism. However, they do not want to dictate their terms. They are worried if Nepal being influenced by foreign forces will undergo disintegration while adopting the federal model”.

 “I found the Chinese quite concerned over the present state of peace and constitutional processes”, he said and added, “I found the Chinese leaders concerned whether we will be able to restore peace and draft our constitution.”

“The Chinese leaders told me that we should not have divided the party”, Baidya told reporters.

 “I told them that since the leaders of Unified Maoists Party were on the verge of surrendering all the achievements of decade long revolt, I told them that to preserve those historical milestones the party split was a needed move”.

He also claimed that China takes his party as a strong nationalist political force.

“I was assured that China will never interfere in the internal matters of Nepal whereas it will continue extend supporting for the prosperity of Nepal”.

JK ‘stateless’ face uncertain future

 Jammu, July 31: It's a trauma that has lingered for 65 years. Some 2,000-3,000 Hindu families had migrated to Jammu and Kashmir from West Pakistan when the sub-continent was partitioned in 1947. Many of the elders have died, but their descendants, who have swelled to 2,00,000, are yet to get citizenship rights because the State's constitution does not permit this.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured them some four years ago that he would have their case examined. In spite of this and despite petitions in the Supreme Court and the State High Court, there has been no movement forward, IANS reported.

Sixty-year-old Mela Ram Bhagat put it poignantly: "Manmohan Singh is also a refugee but he has become the prime minister. We are still where we are.”

The villian of the piece, as it were, is article 370 of the Indian Constitution by virtue of which Jammu and Kashmir has a special status. Those originally from the State have citizenship rights and are called ‘State Subjects.’ These State subjects can own property, get government jobs, free higher education and the like.

This is not so for the refugees as their ancestors were not original residents of the State. Thus, even though they have access to government healthcare they don't have the rights of the other citizens. Curiously enough, they can vote in the Lok Sabha elections but not in the State Assembly elections.

They are not even entitled to ration cards, as a result of which they have to buy their provisions from the open market. This is quite a tall order as most of the refugees are daily wagers and barely manage to eke out a living. The others run small shops, tea stalls and the like.

The original families had realised way back in 1947 what they were in for and wanted to shift to neighbouring Punjab but were disuaded from doing so by then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who assured them of justice.

"We do feel bad about this, but what can we do now? At the time of partition even some of us wanted to shift to Punjab from Digiana (on Jammu's outskirts) but Sheikh sahib (Abdullah) promised that we will get all rights. Now we are children of no where and no one," Bhagat lamented.

"Although we are human beings, yet we are living the life of an animal. This is our fourth generation here. But still we are aliens here," added Bhagat, who lives with his family in a mud house in the Niki Tawi area on the western outskirts of Jammu. The small house is on a rented piece of land as the refugees cannot buy property in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The worst part is that we are not even entitled to government scholarships. They (the school authorities) ask for a state subject certificate if we want to pursue higher education. And we cannot pay for private education. We are three sisters and a brother and our father is a labourer. What do we do?" Sunita Rani, 17, who just finished her Class 10, asked while speaking to IANS, tears in her eyes.

She wants to study further but the situation does not permit her to do so as one

In all this, the politicians are fishing in troubled waters, says Labha Ram Gandhi, a leader of the refugees.

"The Kashmir-centric political setup does not want to take this decision in favour of us (refugees) living in Jammu as it would amount to losing the Kashmiri vote bank. This has become a political issue," Gandhi said.

Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla of the Congress speaks for the political spectrum: "There is a technical problem in making them state subjects as Article 370 does not permit this. But we are thinking of providing them basic facilities.”

Editorial

ETHNIC TENSION

Locals Fear Illegal Migrants

Ethnic tension in ‘Bodoland’, which has now erupted in a violent manner, is not an isolated event in Assam, a State that has faced many communal violence and political upheavals in the past so many decades. In 1971, after the Pakistani crackdown in East Bengal, more than one million refugees sought shelter in Assam. Most of them went back after the creation of Bangladesh, but nearly 100,000 remained. After 1971, there occurred a fresh, continuous and large-scale influx of land-hungry Bangladeshi peasants into Assam. But land in Assam had by now become scarce, and Assamese peasants and tribals feared loss of their holdings. However, this demographic transformation generated the feeling of linguistic, cultural and political insecurity, which overwhelmed the Assamese and imparted a strong emotional content to their movement against illegal migrants in the eighties.
Migration of outsiders into Assam has a long history. The British administration had encouraged migration of thousands of Biharis to work on the tea-plantations and of hundreds of thousands of Bengali peasants to settle on the vast uncultivated tracts of Assam. Till recently, Assamese landlords had welcomed the hardworking Bengali tenants in the sparsely populated Assam. Between 1939 and 1947 Muslim communalists encouraged Bengali Muslim migration to create a better bargaining position in case of partition of India. Partition led to a large-scale refugee influx from Pakistani Bengal into Assam besides West Bengal and Tripura. 
Though illegal migration had surfaced as a political matter several times since 1950, it burst as a major issue in 1979 when it became clear that a large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had become voters in the State. Afraid of their acquiring a dominant role in Assam's politics through the coming election at the end of 1979, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (Assam People's Struggle Council), a coalition of regional political, literary and cultural associations, started a massive, anti-illegal migration movement. The current Bodo-Muslim violence in Kokrajhar and its adjoining areas showcase the undercurrents of ethnic tension in Assam and many parts of the volatile northeast region of India.
Assam violence: A history of conflict rooted in land

By Kishalay Bhattacharjee and Sandeep Phukan

Guwahati: At 3 pm on Thursday (July 26), 100 soldiers carry out a flag march - an exercise to demonstrate the Army is on hand and working to revive law and order - in Jurigaon, a small village in Kokrajhar district of Assam. There is no civilian in sight. There are the remains of homes set on fire.  Some cattle deserted by its owners strays aimlessly.

Jurigaon is one of the villages defeated by the ethnic conflict that has ripped through the lower Assam in the last week. 42 people have been killed. Two lakh people are homeless - some among them have found room in refugee camps in places like Bijni and Bongaigaon; others wait in line.

The violence was triggered when four young men from the indigenous Bodo community were killed in a part of the Kokrajhar district inhabited mainly by Muslims. Those killings - and the ones that followed - are the unforgiving manifestation of the multiplying pressures on the land in this part of the state. The Bodos - the indigenous advidasis - have sustained their community through agriculture for decades. But in recent years, wave after wave of Muslim immigrants - some from across the border in Bangladesh - has convinced them that they are being robbed of their land.

The conflict began when the British ruled India and brought Adivasis from the Chhota Nagpur plateau to Assam, putting them to work in tea gardens, and assigning them small pieces of land in exchange. In mid-30s, settlers from East Bengal (what is now Bangladesh) started arriving here. They were hard-working and they were cultivators, who knew how to make the land work for them. The local tribals - the Bodos - now found themselves up against the adivasis brought in by the British, and Bengali-speaking Muslims from East Pakistan or Bangladesh. By the mid-70s, the lines were so clearly drawn between the communities that neighbours were undisguised enemies.  The tension between the communities rode out through student politics, spawning militant outfits with conflicting agendas.

One of those groups - the Bodo Liberation Tigers or BLT - decided to fold into the Congress government in 2003. The Bodoland District Territorial Council was set up to govern four areas. Non-Bodos in this part of Assam argue that political power at the hands of Bodos has altered the dynamics on the ground and that's a source of constant fear among non-Bodos.

Since the 90s, clashes have erupted with such frequency and force that Bodoland has become home to one of the highest internally-displaced people.  The changing demographics forge violent assertions of identity.

The All Minority Students Union, which has been protesting against the attacks on non-Bodos, says it has been writing to Congress Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for two months, warning of the increasing tension. The government refutes charges of indifference.

Through the crisis, the Congress has to balance political equations. It needs the vote of both Bengali Muslims in the area, as well as its Bodo coalition partner. (NDTV)

China needs to be sensitive of India's concerns: Analyst

Gasa Dzong at the Bhutan-Tibet border in Northern Bhutan
As Bhutan, India's closest ally is all set to establish diplomatic ties with China, a Chinese strategic analyst said Beijing should be sensitive to New Delhi's anxieties while improving its relations with South Asian states.

"With the increasing impact of China in South Asia, Bhutan has begun to enhance its ties with China, as the two countries agreed to establish diplomatic relations, stirring a new round of geopolitical concerns for India - the traditional power of the sub-continent," Chinese state-run Global Times said.

The understanding was reached between the recent meeting between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Bhutanese counterpart Jigmi Y Thinley on the sidelines of UN Conference on Sustainable Development at Brazil.

Bhutan is the last of the South Asian states to open up to China, after Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, besides Pakistan which has developed "all weather relations" with Beijing decades ago.

Yang Xiaoping, an expert on Indian studies at the state run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said India's concerns about growing influence of China in South Asia are understandable, but unnecessary.

"Historically, India has wielded a strong political influence unmatched by any other county in this region, so it is worried that China's involvement will shake its status," she told Global Times. China's expansion is focused only on financial cooperation. China loaned money for the construction of Sri Lanka's (USD 1.5 billion) port, but the facility is managed solely by Sri Lankans, she said.

South Asia will not be focus of China's diplomatic agenda in the coming decades, because most of the conflicts between China and the US occur in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, she said.

Yang also said that China should understand India's concerns, saying that the two sides have complementary strengths, and they can help ensure regional stability.

Chinese official strategic analysts are taking more favourable view of China-India ties in the recent months as India too has begun making forays into China's backyard with its 'Look East Policy' firming up its ties with Vietnam, Japan and South Korea besides consolidating its linkages with ASEAN countries.

A number of write-ups by analysts here in recent times have asked Beijing to take note of India's independent stance in foreign policy despite being wooed hard by United States.

Some have argued that China's push into South Asia also made India to focus on improving its relations with neighbouring countries.(The Economic Times)

Sikkim, Northeast join Team Anna on graft campaign

Anna to visit Sikkim: Sikkim team

YT Lepcha during a hunger strike in Gangtok (file pix: Sikkim Now)
New Delhi, July 31: Supporters from the northeastern states can be spotted more often at Team Anna's fasts now. At Jantar Mantar, several from Sikkim are keeping fast with team members and youths from the northeast studying in the city have also begun to drop in.

"We are five of us," says Y T Lepcha, who runs the Swatantra Sramik Sangathan in Sikkim. His companions come from south and east Sikkim. He wears a straw cap with peacock feathers, traditionally worn by the Lepcha community, and carries a sheet of paper with its various features explained in Hindi.

"I thought people might ask about the cap," he says. "I want to request the group to visit the State. Our leaders only make speeches. None of that is translated into action." He has brought with himself a 2011 CAG report with the sections dealing with issues like roads and garbage disposal highlighted, a national daily reported.

Padam Sharma, who accompanied Lepcha and spoke during the rally, said team leader Anna Hazare has accepted their invitation to visit the State.

"Our support here is directly related to our backing for Irom Sharmila," says Imphal-based student Bob Wiju. He is in the city to write an entrance exam and has spent his free time at the protest. "Manipur is one of the most corrupt states, all funds are misused. The issues are the same as here."

Wiju admits that northeast locals don't relate to the movement here but he says, "If such protests are held in Manipur, they will find a lot of support." He also adds that the language barrier — most of the speeches at the fasts have been delivered in Hindi — may also have been a reason for the large number of students from the northeast in Delhi not joining in.

Brothers, Tridib and Bijoy Bordoloi, attended the protest on Wednesday for the first time. Though they are not fasting, they explained that they support Anna in his cause. "Anna is speaking about issues that affect us all. Right now he seems our best bet," says Tridib, elder of the two, who works in finance.

But Jamia student Bijoy said, "The issues Anna speaks about might affect all, but they are discussed in a general manner. The problems of the northeast require more careful handling."

Don’t fool people, Upreti tells govt on student scholarship

Congress leader KN Upreti

Gangtok, July 31: Senior Congress leader KN Upreti has urged the HRD Department to immediately clear all dues to students who have been assured scholarships by the State Government.

The former HRD minister came down heavily on the government for its alleged failure to make payments to students who were awarded scholarships on the basis of ‘merit’ or their poor economic condition.

Upreti’s remarks come at a time when Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has made promises to reward students who performed well in their school leaving exams.

The government is merely fooling the people, said the Congress leader in a press statement.

“If the government and for that matter the department of education has no resource to make payment then why are they fooling the student communities by their commitment to pay scholarship and all high talks on the welfare of the student communities,” Upreti said.

 “As we all know, a great number of parents from poor section of the society send their children outside for further studies sincerely believing that the government would award scholarship to their wards, are now feeling cheated by the government as the department of education which is responsible for payment has failed to pay even once when the course for which the candidate was sent has almost been completed,” Upreti said in his press release.

“We express our extreme displeasure on the matter and demand that all dues be cleared by the concerned department immediately so that the students suffer no more,” he added.

HC refuses stay on GTA poll results

Ghising

Kolkata, July 31:  The Calcutta High Court Friday refused to pass any interim stay on the declaration of results of Gorkhaland Territorial Authority (GTA) election and oath-taking of the elected members.

Justice Dipankar Gupta refused to pass an interim order on a plea by All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and directed that the parties in the case would abide by the final outcome of the case. The AIGL had moved the petition earlier this month seeking a stay on the GTA election and its counsel Bikash Bhattacharya prayed for an interim stay order, PTI reported.

Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) President Subash Ghisingh's counsel Arunabha Ghosh submitted that as the matter involved the future of lakhs of Darjeeling residents, it be taken up at the earliest. Justice Gupta directed that the matter would come up for hearing on August 10.

The oath-taking of elected members of the first GTA, which replaces the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, is scheduled on August 4. Ghisingh had on June 14 filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging the GTA Act 2011 claiming that it was ultra vires to the Constitution. The petition claimed that the GTA Act could not come into force in Darjeeling Hills without amending the Constitution.

The Constitution provides that if the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Act, 1988 (DGHC) was repealed, the entire area would come under the purview of the Indian Panchayat and Municipalities Act, the petition stated. If the DGHC was scrapped, the new act could not come into force without amending the Constitution, Ghising's petition claimed. The court directed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung, who has been made a respondent in the case, to file his affidavit in opposition to the petition within August 4

Cong banked on illegal migrants for vote-bank politics in Assam:BJP

Guwahati, July 31: Blaming the Congress government for illegal immigrants for Assam violence, BJP has charged the Congress with "inaction" in checking their entry into the country for vote-bank politics and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The BJP pressed that Indo-Bangladesh border be sealed immediately and sought more deployment of army and para-military forces to check the spread of violence that had so far claimed 45 lives in the State.

"The government did not take appropriate action in time to prevent the Assam violence.... Illegal migrants are behind the problem. But the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government is not doing anything on the issue.... It is only doing vote bank politics," BJP general secretary Vijay Goel said.

Goel, who is incharge of party affairs in Assam and headed a fact-finding team that visited the violence-hit areas of Assam, charged the State Government with not being "sensitive" to the problem.

"They are not sensitive to the problem. If they do vote- bank politics, they will get such results," Goel said, demanding that "Tarun Gogoi should immediately resign as Chief Minister, as he has failed to take appropriate steps to stop the violence."

Goel said the situation in violence-hit areas of Assam was still tense and people will not go back to their homes unless the Army deployment is done in the interiors of affected areas in the state.

"The deployment of Army and para-military forces is still very low.... It is only doing flag marches on main roads and not visiting the interiors. If that does not happen, confidence will not be built and people will not return to their homes," Goel said.

Arunachal govt to provide CCTVs to media houses

Tongam Rina

Itanagar, July 31: The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to install CCTV cameras in all media establishments of the State to instill confidence in the working journalists. Political secretary to CM Bamang Tago on Thursday visited all media houses in the capital complex with experts and technicians to survey and finalize installation of CCTV cameras, sources said.

The media fraternity, represented by the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Arunachal Press Club (APC), met Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on July 20 and expressed concern on the safety and security of working journalists. They also sought fast-tracking of all pending cases related to assault, manhandling and threats to mediapersons and media houses in the past, The Times of India reported.

Assuring cooperation and immediate steps, Tuki had issued specific directions to concerned authorities to fulfill the demands placed by APUWJ and APC in order to instill confidence amongst the working journalists as they were shaken after the attack on Tongam Rina, associate editor of Arunachal Times on July 15.

The chief minister had emphasized on installation of high resolution CCTVs in all mediahouses as it is a necessity for investigation and identification of criminals. He had also mooted the idea of CCTV installation in all important public places and market complexes.

"Some media houses have already installed CCTVs, which are, however, of poor resolution. We will replace these with high resolution CCTVs and install CCTVs in all media houses, which do not have one. Poor resolution hampers speedy investigation. The installation process will be completed within a few days," said Tago.

As in Sikkim, a vote to Sangma hits Tripura politics

Sangma

Agartala, July 31: A vote against Pranab Mukherjee in the just-concluded presidential election has triggered a controversy in Tripura. Both the ruling CPI-M and opposition Congress are blaming each other for cross-voting despite committing to support Pranab.

The election result reveals that out of 57 votes cast in Tripura, Pranab got 56 and one went to P A Sangma. However, both the parties opposed to Sangma.

The ruling CPI-M has pointed fingers at lone INPT legislator Bijoy Kr Hrankhwal for voting in favour of Sangma, indicating that the issue of tribal sentiment and political differences with Mukherjee was the reason of cross-voting. Both Congress and INPT have denied the claim and stated that CPI-M had hatched a conspiracy to scrap the political alliance in anti-Left forces.

Leader of the opposition, Ratan Lal Nath, said, "Voting was done in secret ballots. How can the CPI-M allege that Sangma got Hrankhwal's vote. Rather, I believe, it is a planned conspiracy of CPI-M and may be Chief Minister Manik Sarkar himself cast his ballot for Sangma for politics."

Hrankhwal said, "This is an attempt of the ruling party to malign me for its narrow political interests in the coming assembly elections." He added that political activities of Congress and INPT have put Manik Sarkar in trouble in all 20 tribal reserve seats and it was nothing but an attempt to breach INPT's relation with Congress.

Sikkim, too, faced a similar situation recently when one vote of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, which has all 32 seats and backs the UPA at the Centre, went to Sangma. Dissident ruling party legislator PS Golay abstained from voting. Golay’s aide and former MLA Bhojraj Rai alleged that the ruling party conspired to cause misunderstanding between the rebel leader and the UPA.

 INTERVIEW Mary Kom

Hurt at missing out on a medal at the World Championships for the first time, MC Mary Kom (29) tells Harish Kotian she's looking for revenge at the upcoming London Olympics

For Manipur’s Mary Kom, her first bout at the 2012 London Olympics is going to be doubly special. Firstly, it will be the realization of a long-cherished dream to compete on a big stage like the Olympics. Second, the bout is on the fifth birthday of her twin sons Raengpe and Naidong.

Mary Kom speaks to rediff. com in an exclusive interview. Excerpts.

ON HER TWIN SONS:

I will be fighting my first bout at the Olympics on August 5th, which is also the fifth birthday of my two sons. It is both a good and bad thing for me. The good thing is that I feel it will be a lucky day for me, but the bad thing is that I will miss both my children. I want to win that bout; it will be the best present for my two sons. It is very difficult for me as a mother, because I miss them a lot. They keep calling me a lot everyday.

PREPARATIONS:

The preparations are going on well. I was able to analyse my opponents during the World Championships. Even though I did not win the gold, I was able to take a lot of positives from the event which will help me in preparations for the Olympics.

(Having won a gold in the 45kg at the 2002 World Championships, three gold in the 46kg at the 2005, 2006 and 2008 editions and a gold in the 48kg in the 2010 event, Manipur's 'Mother Mary' was disappointed.)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS & OLYMPICS:

I was very hurt that I didn't win the gold medal at the World Championships. I was very upset that I didn't win a medal, because in every championship before this I won a gold medal on five previous occasions. I think I was unlucky to not get a medal, but, at the same time, I am happy that I qualified for the London Olympics.

I am very, very angry and I hope to remove this anger on all my opponents at the Olympics.

GOD & ALI

I don't believe in mental training. I just do the normal physical training and my normal boxing training. The only mental training for me is praying to God.

I am a big fan of Muhammad Ali; I took up boxing when I was small because of him. I love his style, his footwork in the ring and everything else that he did.

ON HER FANS

I think getting so much support from Olympic Gold Quest and love from all the Indians fans is a big motivation for me to do well at the Olympics.

SIKKIM OBSERVER July 26, 2012

Golay places it safe, abstains from voting

‘Conspiracy’,says Golay aide Bhojraj Rai

Rebel leader and dissident MLA PS Golay

Gangtok, July 24: Dissident ruling party legislator PS Tamang (Golay) did not cast his vote for the presidential polls. He was not in the House to cast his vote on July 19.

However, one vote from the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front went in favour of PA Sangma, the candidate of the BJP. Two votes were declared invalid.

Golay’s aide Bhojraj Rai alleged that the ruling party had conspired against Golay to create misunderstanding with the UPA. By casting one vote in Sangma’s favour, the SDF, which supports the UPA, tried to implicate that it was Golay’s vote that went against the UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, Rai, a former MLA, said in a press statement.

Rai said the rebel leader, who was ready to take part in the polls, was aware of the conspiracy and abstained himself from voting. This has exposed the conspiracy and cheap politics of the ruling party, Rai said.

Pranab got 28 votes valued at 196 while Sangma got one vote valued at 7.

Teachers must know fundamentals of law: Justice Wangdi

Justice SP Wangdi

Gyalshing, July 25: Justice SP Wangdi of the High Court of Sikkim highlighted the importance of teachers to be well-equipped with the fundamentals of law. This would not only benefit them in their teaching career but would also help students to know the value of legal knowledge.

Justice Wangdi, who presided over the valedictory function of a two-day held here this week, handed away certificates to fifty government teachers of schools in the west district who attended the workshop.

The two-day programme on basics of law and para-legal volunteers was organized jointly by Sikkim State Legal Services and Human Resource Development Department (HRD) here at the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan.

Local scribes form Journalist Union of Sikkim, gets affiliated to national body

Members of the newly-formed Journalist Union of Sikkim (JUS) with representatives of Indian Journalist Union (IJU – seated) at the Press Club of Sikkim, Gangtok, on Sunday.

Gangtok, July 25: Local scribes have formed the Journalist Union of Sikkim (JUS) under the presidentship of Bhim Rawat. The new body will be affiliated to the Indian Journalist Union (IJU).

IJU President SN Sinha was here to form the Sikkim unit of the national body at a function held here at the Press Club of Sikkim office on Sunday, according to a press release of the JUS.

President of Assam Journalist Union, Geetartha Pathak, was also present during the function.

The Executive Committee of the JUS are: Bhim Rawat (President), Neeta Nirash, Vishnu Neopaney and KK Chettri (Vice-President) Joseph Lepcha (General Secretary), Nirmal Manger, Shekhar Khawas and Pradeep Mizar (Joint-Secretary), Prabin Khaling (Treasurer), Samir Subba (Assistant Treasurer), Bishal Gurung and Chewan K. Dahal (Publicity Secretary).

15 executive members of the committee are: Roshan Chettri (The Sikkim Daily Encounter), Rupesh Sharma (Himalibela), Menuka Pandey (Samay Dainik), Prakash Adhikari (News Live), Anusha Gurung (Sikkim Now), Chandra Prashad Dahal (Hamro Prajasakti), Amber Lachikathi (Himalaya Darpan), Bijoy Gurung (Sikkim Express), Arjun Piyush (Himilibela), Sandeep Rai (Himalayan Mirror), Homnath Dabari (Samay Dainik), Sanjay Agrawal (District  convener, East ), Wangchuk Bhutia (District convener, North ), Namo Dixit (District  convener, South) and Madhu Sharma (District  Convener, West) .

The new body will raise issues and problems pertaining to the working journalists in the State, the release said.

The first meeting of the new body will be to hold a two-day national seminar on the problems of journalists and newspapers in the country in Gangtok on October 6-7 this year.

The IJU will also hold its convention of the national executive committee during the two-day meet. The IJU has its state units in 24 states, including Sikkim.

SACRED SIKKIM: II

Relics of Buddha preserved at Norbugang Chorten in Yuksam

By Sonam Yongda

The sacred landscape consists of a large congregation of gompas or monastries such as Dubdi, Pemayangste, Tashiding, Ralang, Norbugang Sinon, Melli etc. Dubdi is the first Buddhist monastry in Sikkim and can be reached after an arduous climb being located on a hill in a verdant forest- a sacred grove near Yuksam. A stone throne shaded by a three hundred year old Cypress tree still stands here today. A footprint on the stone in front of the throne is said to belong to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme and is worshipped by the Sikkimese people.

Norbugang Chorten in Yuksam, West Sikkim

Opposite this throne is the Norbugang Chorten (stupa), which contains soil and water from all over Sikkim. Norbugang is the oldest chorten built in Sikkim and is believed to contain the conch shell, hair and cloth of the past and present Buddha and also the cloth of Maha-Maudgalaya and Sariputra (two disciples of Lord Buddha). It also contains the left shoe of Lord Padmasambhava and hair of Khandu Yashe Chogay (Consort of Lord Padmasambhava.)

The Pemayangste monastery commands a magnificent view of the Khangchen Dzonga and houses priceless religious idols and icons. Its interiors are covered with brightly painted murals of the Tibetan Buddhism pantheon. The site of the Tashiding monastery at the junction of the great Rangit and Rathongchu rivers is believed to have been miraculously raised up by Guru Padmasambhava. The holiest chorten of Sikkim, the Thongwa Rondol is situated here and it is said that a mere glimpse of this chorten is enough to cleanse all sins.

Premier Lama Ngadag Senpa Chenpo, after reciting 'vajra guru mantra' a hundred thousand times filled the precious vase with holy water which is regarded as very auspicious. The water of this vase is kept inside Tashiding monastery and taken out once every year. The level of water is predictive of future events and natural calamities. Apart from these important sacred sites which attract a large number of devotees during festivals, the landscape also consists of numerous monasteries and sacred sites of local significance, each village in the region having its  own a monastery and places of worship.

Tashiding Monastery, Tashiding, West Sikkim.

     During the annual Bumchu Festival of Tashiding (observed since many centuries ago), the water of the Rathongchu river is mixed with the holy water of the vase in Tashiding monastery. The Rathongchu River turns slightly white at the exact location where it meets River Rangeet. It is from this place that a designated quantity of water is collected for the holy vase, and distributed among thousands of devotees who come to this place not only from Sikkim but from the farthest regions of the Himalayas such as Nepal, Bhutan and West Bengal.

In the month of August during the Pang Lhabsol festival, Buddhist monks perform rituals and prayers in the name of the Khangchen Dzonga deity. The monks and devotees go all the way up to Dzongri, 'Dhaplha Gang' to offer prayers ánd offerings to the Khangchendzonga deities for a good harvest and to free the whole country from disease, hunger, famine war etc. Kathog, Khecheopalri lakes, etc. are important lakes in this area. Yuksam is considered as 'Lhakhang' or altar for offerings to the Khangchendzonga deities.

The seven holy lakes surrounding Khangchendzonga viz Khecheopari, Katok, Tso, Bar Cho Marpu, Phu Cho Karpu, Ka Bur La Tso, Sume Ten Tso and Darfuk Yum Tso are the seven offering bowls to the Khangchendzonga deities. Every landscape of highland, midland and low land and every river, stream, cave big trees have guardian deities (Yulha Zibda) of their own and therefore during the morning ritual in every monastery these deities are worshipped.

There are two monasteries in Dubdi, and the smaller one is dedicated to the protector deities of the region. The people of Yuksam make an offering of newly harvested food crops every season to thank these deities for their blessings. The head monk has the power to divert hailstorms, cyclones and other natural calamities with the recitation of mantras. This helps in preventing the crops from getting destroyed.

The region has many forested areas recognized as ‘sacred groves’ that are associated with the monasteries managed by the Lamas. Sacred groves, are sometimes also referred to as gynas (an ethnic Bhotia word meaning ‘forest garden’) They may either be stand-alone entities or part of a larger ‘sacred landscape’, as is the case of the entire forested region of the ‘sacred’ cultural landscape of Demojong.

Khecheopalri lake in West Sikkim

It is also, mentioned in the text that burning of any undesirable things like meat, killings, destructions of objects of worship like stupas, cutting down of trees and plants, misuse of lakes, destruction or, defacement of hills and rocks of the sacred areas of Sikkim would directly affect the deities of Sikkim and will invite disasters and natural calamities.

Khecheopalri known as the 'wishing lake' is one of the most sacred lakes of Sikkim. According to legend, Khecheopalri lake was originally situated at Yuksam, where people dumped carcasses of animals and other dirty things desecrating and polluting the sacred waters. This annoyed the deities of the lake which got shifted to its current location at Khecheopalri.

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the Sikkimese calendar a special puja is offered by the monk of Khecheopalri monastery and the community of Kecheopalri village in order to propitiate the lake deities to avert disease, natural calamities and personal harm. It is believed that any large scale destruction induced by human being within these areas will destroy these hidden treasures and will harm them. (to be continued)

PRIDE OF SIKKIM Padam Singh Gurung

By Shital Pradhan

The late Padam Singh Gurung (seated) with his grand children and great grand children.
Rifleman Padam Singh Gurung was a war veteran

It has been just thirteen days since he left this world but for those who knew him his legacy will live for forever. This World War II veteran was in his 100^th year when he passed away at Singtam, East Sikkim, recently after prolonged illness.  

 Recipient of Burma War Medal, Jammu and Kashmir Medal, Independence Medal (India) and Republic Day Award (Sikkim), Rifleman Padam Singh Gurung, born in 1913, was indeed the pride of Singtam and we are proud to be associated with this legend.

Popularly known as Singtam Thakurbari Mandir’s ‘Gurung Bajey’, Rifleman Padam Singh Gurung joined the 58 Gorkha Regiment, then known as the 3rd Battalion of Second Gorkha Rifles (3/2 GR), at a tender age of 19 as a rifleman.  The year was 1941 and the World War II had already started.
Gurung did his initial military training at Dehradun and later his unit was shifted to Loralai, Baluchistan (Pakistan), for further training that suited the mountainous terrains in Burma, where they were to be sent.
The 3/2 GR moved from Baluchistan to Quetta and then to Lahore by road. Thereafter, the unit moved to Tiruchinapalli (Tamil Nadu) through rail route and from there to Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram), capital of Kerala State). The unit was then dispatched to Burma through sea route. The Battalion landed at the southern tip of Burma and immediately joined the fight against the Japanese. The year was January 1942. The 58 Gorkha Regiment stayed for over three years at Burma where Gurung had participated in all the War Operations till Japanese army surrendered in 1945.
Mohan Pradhan ‘Neeraj’, noted Nepali literary writer from Singtam, remembers Gurung as a legend and a pilgrim of his generation. Pradhan recalls having a talk with the late Rifleman a few months back about his days at Burma during the WWII.
Gurung had said, “Japanese troops had invaded Rangoon and most part of Burma (now Myanmar) then. Our battalion was part of British Indian Army that fought the Irrawaddy River Operation against the Imperial Japanese Army. Every day for several hours heavy artillery firing was done from both sides along the Irrawaddy River.
“The situation there was such that we never knew that we would be alive to see our families back home. Bullets were passing through us.  In another instance, at Arakan Mountains, the Japanese troop had made captive Indian Army soldiers in their bunkers. It was here that 58 Gorkha Regiment showed their bravery and attacked the enemy post and released the Indian Army soldiers unhurt.”
Bhaskar Gurung recalls his grandfather talk about those army days when they did not possess well-equipped weapons as today but the sheer determination, courage, patriotism and the love for their country ultimately made them victorious. Bhaskar proudly says his grandfather always felt proud and honoured to have fought for the country. He believed that success comes through hard work and sacrifice and there is no short cut.
In his short stint of 13 years in the army he went on to win Burma War Medal, Jammu and Kashmir Medal, Independence Medal (India). Gurung was 31 when he retired from his service in 1953.
Married to Bhim Maya Gurung, who passed away in 1997, Gurung left behind three sons: Mani Kumar Gurung, Prem Kumar Gurung and Santosh Kumar Gurung and a daughter Sarda Gurung and half a dozen grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The Government of Sikkim honoured Gurung with the Republic Day Award in 2011 at the Republic Day function in Gangtok. Singtam Basibiyalo, a monthly literary, had also felicitated him last August. Gurung was an active member of the All India Ex-Serviceman Association of Delhi. He donated his land for the construction of Rajya Sainik Aaram Ghar at Singtam, which is used by ex-serviceman today.

He was also the land donor and the founder of Singtam Sai Samiti way back in 1970s. Gurung Bajey was also closely associated with the construction and development of Government Fruit Preservatory Factory, Singtam.  His involvement towards the construction of Singtam Nepali Dharamsala in early 2000 is also well-known.

Northeast ditches Sangma, sides with Pranab

New Delhi, July 25: Though the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno Agitok Sangma, who was fielded by the NDA-AIADMK-BJD in the recent presidential poll, claimed that he had the backing of the All India Tribal Council, he was able to manage just 9.64 per cent of the total votes from the MLAs of the eight northeastern hill States.

His rival and UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee, who was declared elected as the President on Sunday, got as much as 87.75 per cent of the votes. There were around 2.61 per cent invalid votes (total 13 votes).

A quick look at the voting pattern showed that Sangma was able to get the support of 48 of the 498 MLAs in the region, whereas Mukherjee received 437 votes.

While Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura Legislative Assemblies have a strength of 60 members each, Assam has 126 members. Sikkim (32) and Mizoram (40) are the other States.

The only consolation is that in Meghalaya, where Sangma and his son are MLAs, he received the support of 23 of the 60 members. In Tripura, Sikkim and Manipur, he got one vote each; in Aunachal Pradesh, two votes, and in Mizoram, 7. In Nagaland, he drew a blank and in Assam, Sangma obtained the votes of only 13 of the 126 members in the Assembly.

 Sangma obtained the highest votes of MLAs of Madhya Pradesh — 156, against Mukherjee’s 73 votes (total membership 230). This was followed by Tamil Nadu, which gave Sangma 148 votes against Mukherjee’s 45 (234) and Gujarat — Sangma, 123, Mukherjee, 59 (182).

In Mukherjee’s case, he got the record-breaking support of 351 members of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, against Mr. Sangma’s 46 (total membership 403).

This was followed by West Bengal, where the President-elect got 275 votes and Sangma, just three votes (294), and Maharashtra —  Mukherjee, 225, Sangma, 47 (288).

Editorial

MONEY POWER

Demand For Code Of Conduct

Allegations against the establishment for using threats and money power to wean away votes to get Pranab Mukherjee elected as the next President of India cannot be taken as a mere outburst of a frustrated loser, PA Sangma, who even failed miserably to get the much-needed votes from his own Northeast region. A large section of legislators in the Northeast would certainly have backed Sangma as he is a member of their clan and they would certainly want a tribal in the top post of the country. To say that caste politics in the polls to the highest office of the land is demeaning of the post is hypocritical and naïve.

 Who are the legislators who are ruling the states and the country? Many of them not only have criminal background but are well-known for their corrupt deeds. This is not say that Pranab would have lost the polls if the whole system in the entire country is neat and clean. But the reality – something many people pretend not to know – is that threats (CBI) and money power which come in the form of financial packages do work. In fact, the whole system in the country is corrupt to the core and this has a direct bearing on political activities such as the presidential polls. It is worth noting that Rs. 57,000 was given to Uttar Pradesh and Rs. 27,000 crore to Bihar as financial packages recently when Pranab was the Union Finance Minister. Many former CMs and prospective CMs are also under the CBI scanner. Therefore, Sangma’s suggestion that elections to the post of president and vice-president must come under the code of conduct is valid and reasonable.

Teesta III hydro project likely to be ready by Dec 2013

Gangtok, July 25: The 1,200 MW Teesta-III hydro project in Chungthang in North Sikkim, delayed by natural calamities and legal hurdles, is likely to be commissioned by December 2013. The project, which would supply power Sikkim, Haryana and Rajasthan, among others, is being developed by Teesta Urja, where four entities, including Sikkim government have stakes.

Power trading solutions provider PTC India, which holds 11% stake, said the project is expected to be ready by the end of next year, PTI reported.

"The construction activity of Teesta III project got affected due to the earthquake of September 2011. The project is now expected to be commissioned in December 2013," PTC India chairman and managing director Tantra Narayan Thakur told PTI.

Singapore-based Asian Genco Pte holds 50.1% stake in Teesta III while Sikkim government and Athena Projects Pvt Ltd has 26% and 11% shareholding, respectively.

Going by initial schedule, first unit of Teesta III was to be commissioned in August 2011, as per Teesta Urja website. The project would have six units of 200 MW each.

Sources said that more than 70% of work at Teesta III has been completed.

Apart from last year's earthquake that affected the project site, differences between Teesta Urja Ltd and Sikkim government have also delayed the implementation of Teesta III.

A Teesta Urja official said that delays have escalated the project costs, which is now estimated to be around Rs. 8,000 crore. Initially, the project expenses were projected at about Rs. 5,700 crore.

Earlier this month, issues regarding transfer of 26% stake to Sikkim government were resolved, sources said.

The Sikkim government had resorted to legal action on the issue of transfer of 26% stake in the project to itself.

On July 13, Rural Electrification Corp -- one of the lenders for the project -- had convened a meeting of Teesta Urja stakeholders. REC has proposed to take up cost over run funding to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Sikkim government officials assured support on all project-related issues, including infusion of equity and issue of no objection certificate (NOC), for bridge construction.

The run of the river project was awarded by the Sikkim government to Teesta Urja Ltd on BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) basis for a period of 35 years.