SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday January 30-31, 2015

Respect freedom and diversity, Obama tells India

New Delhi, Jan 29: In what is being seen in some quarters as a parting shot at the Narendra Modi government, in the wake of domestic controversies over religious freedom and reconversion in India in the past few months, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday talked tough on religious tolerance, saying India will succeed as long as it is not “splintered” over religious lines.

He spoke about the values of democracy that is common to both countries, and also the values of religious freedom and equality that are a vital part of the Constitutions of both nations. The US President added that “diversity” was, in fact, the strength of both nations, The Asian Age reported.

The Modi government has been facing a lot of heat from the Opposition in Parliament in the past few months over these controversies. Congress leader Digvijay Singh got into action swiftly on Tuesday and took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wondering if he would advise his “friends” in the Sangh Parivar to stop justifying the “Ghar Wapsi” (reconversion) programme.

Speaking on “India and America: The Future We Can Build Together” at New Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium, the US President said: “Every person has the right to practise his faith without any persecution, fear or discrimination. India will succeed so long it is not splintered on religious lines,” Mr Obama told the audience that included a lot of young people in his 30-minute speech.

The US President’s comments came in the backdrop of multiple controversies in India over religious conversions and the “Ghar Wapsi” programme by right-wing Hindutva outfits. President Obama also cited Article 25 of India’s Constitution, that deals with the right to freedom of religion, noting that freedom of religion was an integral part of the US Constitution as well.

“Your (Constitution) Article 25 says all people are equally entitled to the freedom of conscience and have right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. In both our countries, in all countries... upholding freedom of religion is the utmost responsibility of the government, but also the responsibility of every person,” he said. “We have to guard against any efforts to divide us on sectarian lines or any other thing,” he said. He also said there were people belonging to all faiths in both countries.

Subash Ghising: Gorkha leader who gave birth to Gorkhaland movement is no more

New Delhi, Jan 29: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subash Ghising, who gave birth to the Gorkhaland movement, on Thursday passed away at a hospital in New Delhi following prolonged illness. He was 79.

"Ghising was undergoing treatment at Sir Gangaram Hospital. He died this afternoon (Thursday). His body will be taken to Siliguri (in West Bengal) for the final rituals on Friday," GNLF central committee member Prakash Dahal said, IANS reported.

Ghising was suffering from several diseases, including liver related disorders, since September 2014 and was moved to New Delhi after his condition deteriorated.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well as the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist mourned his death and offered condolence to the bereaved family.

Ghising, a former soldier, led a prolonged violent struggle in the 1980s for a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of north Bengal's Darjeeling district, before signing an agreement on Aug 22, 1988 with the central and state governments for creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), an autonomous governing body for the hills. He chaired the DGHC till 2008.

He lived-in-exile from the hills after his GNLF was sidelined in early 2008 by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that spearheads the movement now. He, later, returned to the hills in 2011.

Born June 22, 1936 in Darjeeling, Ghising, who was vocal on issues concerning the hills, formed a political outfit - Nilo Jhanda - in 1968 to further the cause.

He raised the demand for a separate state for the Nepali-speaking people of the Darjeeling hills for the first time in April 1979. He subsequently formed the GNLF in 1980 to achieve statehood.

Mamata for development board for Sherpa community

Darjeeling, Jan 29: Signing off her three-day visit to Darjeeling, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced her government’s decision to set up a development board for the Sherpa community.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration deputy chief executive Ramesh Allay and the three hill MLAs were seated beside the Mamata when she made the announcement.

It may be mentioned that GJM leaders had not taken to it kindly when Mamata had earlier formed the Lepcha board, saying it was interference in the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

The Chief Minister chose the 119th birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to announce a Sherpa cultural board. Mamata set up Lepcha community development board in 2013 and another for the Tamang community last year.

Mamata said the state government would also soon release a fund of Rs5 crore to the Sherpa board to construct houses for poor members of the community and that other formalities would be

discussed later. Earlier, she said Rs1 lakh each would be given to 10 members of the Sherpa community.

On Thursday, the chief minister handed out Rs 5 crore to the Tamang Development and Cultural Board at Lebong, also to construct houses with a promise to give more funds.

Sikkim Express Editor Amit Patro felicitated for his contribution to print media in the region in Siliguri, West Bengal.

China slams Japan for calling Arunachal Pradesh part of India

Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (L) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj before their meeting in New Delhi January 17, 2015. (Left) 

Beijing, Jan 29: China has slammed Japan for describing Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India, saying the remarks have “seriously concerned” Beijing.

China has even lodged protest with Japan for remarks made by its Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in New Delhi recently.

Demanding a clarification, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, “China has taken note of such report.”

“We are seriously concerned about this and have lodged solemn representation (diplomatic protest) with the Japanese side, asking Japan to make (a) clarification and immediately remove negative implications arising from this,” Hong said, PTI repoted.

Replying to a question during an interaction in New Delhi on January 17 about Japan’s indication that it may not be involved in infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh and whether this was due to China’s position, Kishida had said though his government wants to improve connectivity in Northeast India, there was no plan to provide any aid to the state.

“You specifically pointed out the state Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India which is a territory of India which is pending in terms of its dispute with China and for the moment to my understanding there are currently no plans of Japan to provide aid to this state,” he had said.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of Southern Tibet.

Hong said Kishida’s remarks are contrary to previous stand taken by Japan on this issue in the past.

“Japan has said explicitly to China that it holds no position and it will not intervene in the disputed area between China and India. Japan has also made public clarifications on this,” he said apparently referring to Japan’s stand expressed in November last year that it would not involve itself in infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

China said in November last year that Japan had clarified when it sought Tokyo’s reaction to reports that India’s Border Roads Organisation had given ‘strategic’ projects to the Japan International Cooperation Agency along the China border.

Hong said, “China’s position on the eastern part of China-India boundary is clear and consistent.”

The issue is being addressed through talks between Special Representatives from both sides, he said.

“China and India are seeking the solution to resolve the boundary question that is fair, reasonable and acceptable to both sides. We hope the Japanese side can understand the sensitiveness of China-India border question and respect China and India’s efforts to resolve dispute through negotiations and be prudent in its words and actions,” Hong said.

Why the mighty Teesta runs dry

The government of West Bengal has diverted almost all of Teesta’s water, leaving little for Bangladesh

By VIMAL KHAWAS

The Teesta river, often regarded as the lifeline of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas, is one of the major rivers flowing across the Eastern Himalayan landscape. It is the fourth major river after the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna in the Eastern South Asian region. The Teesta originates in the Sikkim Himalaya as Chhombo Chhu, from a glacial lake Khangchung Chho at an elevation of 5,280m in the northeastern corner of the state.

The lake lies at the snout of the Teesta Khangse glacier descending from Pauhunri peak (7,056m) in the northwestern direction. Many scholars consider Teesta Khangse glacier and Chho Lhamo as the source of Teesta river – it flows along the entire length of Sikkim and carves out some of the profuse and verdant Himalayan temperate and tropical river valleys. As it flows down, the river forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal.

Teesta flows about 172km in the hilly region of Sikkim and Darjeeling (India); the river runs for about 98km in the plains of West Bengal (India) and another 134km in Bangladesh before joining the great Brahmaputra in Bangladesh. The river drains a total geographical area of about 12,159km. Around 2,004 sq-km of the basin (or about 17%) lies in Bangladesh with the rest of the basin area being in India.

Its river basin has been home to several social groups in Sikkim, Northern West Bengal (India), and Bangladesh since its historic past. Starting from the Lepcha Tribe, Ethnic Bhutias, and the Ethnic Nepalis in Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya, to the agrarian communities of North Bengal and Bangladesh, Teesta Basin is the source of livelihood for several socio-cultural groups.

Furthermore, Teesta has been the source of ethno-cultural and ethno-religious basis of many social groups in the Darjeeling-Sikkim region. Teesta river is the only source of water to agricultural crops of the thirsty Northern Bengal and North Western Bangladesh.

However, the historic symbiotic and intimate human-environment relationship between people and natural resource bases including water in the Teesta Basin has been increasingly put to danger by diverse undercurrents of development in recent times.

This has resulted in imbalances in the environment and various ecological systems there. This is a very serious issue both to the coming generations and ourselves. It is important to understand that all the parameters of the environment are intimately interrelated, and a change in one will negatively affect the other.

Besides other forms of development, including expansion of agriculture and irrigation, construction of roads and buildings, urbanisation, etc, the central and provincial governments of India are forcefully underway with a series of hydropower dams within the Teesta river basin. Consequently, the Sikkim-Darjeeling catchment of the Teesta basin is expected to produce over 6000MW of electricity within the next few decades.

Ironically, the first Human Development Report (HDR) of Sikkim (2001) authored by Mahendra P Lama, the then Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, strongly advised Sikkim to harness the rich water resource of the Sikkim Himalaya. The report further recommends the state government to take the help of the private sector towards this end.

The State Development Report of Sikkim (2008) takes similar stand as taken by HDR, 2001. Both reports cite the success of Chukha Project of Bhutan as an example for the development of hydro resource of Sikkim.

There are concerns that building hydro-dams may lead to river-induced seismicity in this geologically young and tectonically active region, besides several other environmental, socio-cultural, and socio-economic fallouts because of their little scientific basis.

There have been serious issues on the table with regard to sharing of Teesta waters between India and Bangladesh. Besides several existing and proposed hydro-dams in the Sikkim-Darjeeling Catchment, the government of West Bengal has diverted almost all of Teesta’s water via an artificial canal at the Teesta (Gajoldoba) Barrage in Jalpaiguri to irrigate its thirsty North Bengal, leaving little or no water for Bangladesh.

As a lower riparian country of the basin, Bangladesh has been regularly voicing its concern for the equitable sharing of the Teesta river. But it is still to be achieved, despite several meetings between the Bangladesh and Indian governments.

Experts often project that the next 10-15 years shall witness depressing intra and inter-state water disputes if policymakers of both India and Bangladesh do not come up with solutions for the sustainable management and sharing of Teesta water. There is an urgent need to go through our neighbourhood policy once again.

It is sad to learn that the National Geographic has listed Teesta river among the eight mighty global rivers that run dry from human overuse. (Dhaka Tribune)

Ghising’s death loss to hill people: Gurung

Kolkata, Jan 29: West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condoled the death of Gorkha National Liberation Front founder Subhas Ghishing.

The Gorkha Janmukti President Bimal Gurung also condoled the death of Ghishing saying that his demise was a political loss to the people in the Hills, PTI reported.

The governor said in a message, "Mr Subhas Ghishing was a man of determination and had good support. He made a great contribution to the uplift of the hills."

The Chief Minister tweeted, "On the passing away of Subhas Ghising, I offer my deepest condolences to members of his family. May his soul Rest in Peace."

Gurung, currently the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration said in a facebook post, "The sad demise of Ghishing is a political loss to the hill people".

"His contribution towards the development of the Hills will always be appreciated. I extend my heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and pray that God give them the strength to bear the loss," Gurung said in a facebook post.

The GJM central committee member Harka Bahadur Chettri told PTI from Darjeeling, "He was able to make the people of Darjeeling accept the concept of Gorkhaland".

"He had some administrative weaknesses but since he is no more his absence will leave a vaccum in the political life of Gorkhas," Chettri said. 

RBI raises concerns over SBS functioning

New Delhi, Jan 29: The Reserve Bank of India has raised concerns over the State Bank of Sikkim (SBS), which does not come under any regulation or jurisdiction since the Banking Regulation Act 1949 and the Companies Act do not extend to it.

In a letter to the central government, RBI has expressed serious reservations about the regulatory vacuum that the State Bank of Sikkim is allowed to function in, said a government official, who did not wish to be named.

"RBI has pointed out that since the bank does not come under any jurisdiction, financial and operational issues have arisen," the official said, adding that the banking regulator is concerned about protecting the interest of depositors. The State Bank of Sikkim's balance sheet has not been audited for the past five years and the RBI has pointed out in the letter that the bank's name could mislead depositors since it sounds as if it is an affiliate of forming loans (NPAs) or bad loans are high," said another official aware of the issue, The Economic Times reported.

State Bank of Sikkim's managing director and chief executive HK Chhetri refused to comment on the bank's financial status although he confirmed that talks are on between the state and the central government to resolve the issue.

"It is because of the legacy issues. State government is the majority shareholder and they are in talks with all parties concerned," he said.

 Set up in 1968, State Bank of Sikkim has 35 branches. A bank official explained that since Sikkim joined the Indian Union in 1975, it has been granted special status under Article 371 F of the constitution. "If tomorrow there is a bank run, we will not be able to do anything. Since no rules apply, there is no DIGC (Deposit insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation) cover," added the official

PEOPLE&PLACES  Dotsuk Gompa

The Bhutia Busty monastery in Darjeeling was originally located at Mahakal hill

By SONAM  DEKI

Dotsuk Gompa at Bhutia Busty in Darjeeling. (Right)

The Dotsuk Gompa at Bhutia Busty, the oldest monastery in Darjeeling, was first located on Observatory Hill, located above Chowrasta.  It was built in 1765 by Lama Dorje Rinzing when Darjeeling was still a part of the Kingdom of Sikkim. The name Darjeeling is believed to have originated when monks of the monastery referred to the region as ‘Dorje-ling’, meaning the land of the thunderbolt.

 Another school of thought believes that it was named after Dorje Rinzing. The monastery was destroyed by the invading  Gurkha  forces in 1815. It was rebuilt in 1861 and was moved to its present location in 1879.  After Darjeeling was ‘gifted’ to the British Raj by the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835 it was annexed by the Britishers in 1861. The ill-fated monastery was again destroyed by a 1934 earthquake and owes its present existence to the Chogyal of Sikkim.

Spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga can be had from the Bhutia Busty Monastery (also known locally as Do-tsuk Gompa, meaning Do (stone) tsuk (erect). This was originally a branch of the Phodong monastery in North Sikkim.

Observatory Hill (locally referred to as Mahakal dara (hill) dates back to the 18th century when a monastery was built here. Its significance increased under British rule as many British officials and affluent local families chose to reside in the locale. It now houses the temple of Mahakal and is the religious centre for all local inhabitants.

Earl of Ronaldshay (erstwhile president of the Royal Geographical Society) says, “In the interests of historical accuracy I should, perhaps, add that I believe the commonly accepted explanation to be incorrect. A derivation seldom heard, but which I have the best of grounds for believing to be correct, is that which attributes the word Dorje in the first half of Darjeeling to the name of a lama, Dorje Rinzing, who founded the monastery which once stood on Observatory Hill.”

The Bengal Gazeteer of 1947 says that Darjeeling and its neighbouring areas were originally a dominion of the Sikkim kingdom. During the reign of Sikkim’s Chogyal Chagdor Namgyal (1700-16), the area to the south-east as well as Kalimpong and Rhenock were lost to Bhutan. Though reclaimed briefly, towards the end of the 18th century (1788-89), the Gurkhas of Nepal over ran Sikkim as far east as Teesta River and annexed the Terai grassland region. After the termination of Anglo-Nepalese War (1816) tract which Nepal had wrested from Sikkim was ceded to East India Company in 1835.

PRIDE OF SIKKIM  Raman Shresta

Bookman Raman Shresta receives a Letter of Appreciation from the Honourable Governor of Sikkim at a state function during last year’s  Republic Day celebrations at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok for "commendable entrepreneurship and remarkable contribution made towards Sikkimese society".

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Saturday January 10-16, 2015

GORKHA PARTY TO PRESS FOR SIKKIM-DARJEELING MERGER

Darjeeling-Gangtok march in January

Gangtok, Jan 9: Focusing on its demand for separation from ‘Bengal’ Darjeeling’s Gorkha Rashtriya Congress (GRC) is expected to raise its pitch for Darjeeling’s unification with Sikkim.

  To pressure the concerned authorities and with a view to creating public awareness on the issue of Sikkim-Darjeeling merger GRC has plans to lead a padayatra to Gangtok this month.

Declaring its intentions on the issue GRC leaders said in Siliguri earlier this week that the Sikkim Government had already issued a white paper stating that Darjeeling belonged to Sikkim.

“Since 2004 we have been demanding the unification of Darjeeling district and Sikkim. But to press for demand for the first time we are going to organize ‘padayatras’ this month,” GRC spokesperson Pramoskar Blone said.

The route of the march from Darjeeling to Gangtok is through Rongpo and Singtam, the organizers said.

GRC’s focus on its merger demand comes at a time when Darjeeling politicians have given a call on formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Amit Patro, Anita Niraula get ‘Investigative Journalism’ award

(L to R) Santosh Bardewa, Amit Patro, CD Rai and Rudra Poudyal.

Gangtok, Jan 9: Sikkim Express editor Amit Patro and senior All India Radio (AIR) newsreader Anita Niraula bagged the Investigative Journalism Award, constituted by Himalchuli Group of Tourism Industries (HGTI) in the name of Late Shova Rai (Bardewa).

CD Rai, advisor of the Press Club of Sikkim, presented the award comprising citation, shawl and cash at a function held here on Tuesday. This is the first time the award has been conferred.

The award was constituted in memory of Late Shova Rai, the wife of HGTI Chairman, Santosh Bardewa. HGTI Chairman, who was present on the occasion, said his late wife was a source of inspiration to him in his writing career.

(L to R) Santosh Bardewa, Anita Niraula, CD Rai and Rudra Poudyal.

While Niraula was conferred the award for her recent book, Black and White Sikkim-ma Sangeet Bhitra-Haru, the award went to Patro for his paper’s report on drug trafficking in the State.

Prominent among those present during the function were former chief secretary Sonam Wangdi, senior advocate Udai P. Sharma, Dr. Uttam Pradhan (STNM), Chunilal Ghimiray, President of Sikkim Kalakar Sangh, and noted Nepali writer Rudra Poudyal.

High-level panel on NE border vigil

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Centre has decided to constitute a high-powered committee to review border security and management following last month's massacre by the NDFB (Songbijit) in Assam which has brought international borders into sharp focus.

The BJP government proposes to set up a six-member committee, headed by secretary (border management) Sneh Lata Kumar. Top home ministry and intelligence officials, including joint intelligence committee chairman R.N. Ravi, will be on board.

The committee's role will be to recommend measures to prevent infiltration and suggest methods for better border management, The Telegraph reported.

Each of the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, has an international border with Tibet (China), Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.

Nepal party demands country’s return to Hindu nation

Kathmandu, Jan 9: Nepal's pro-Hindu party last week asserted that no one could stop the country from turning back into a Hindu nation and accused politicians of advocating secularism under the influence of the West.

"No one can stop from turning the country into a Hindu state," claimed Kamal Thapa, the president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), while addressing a rally of about 10,000 people in Kathmandu. The rally was organised on the conclusion of a nationwide 10-day-long 'rath yatra' for reinstating Nepal as a Hindu nation, PTI reported.

The party concluded the 1,900-km-long Mechi–Mahakali Rath Yatra that began on December 25 from far-east to far-west region of the country. He claimed that the political leaders have been advocating secularism under the influence of western money by misleading the people. Nepal was converted into a secular state from a Hindu nation in 2008 through a Parliament declaration following the abolition of monarchy from the country.

"The new constitution should ensure the identity of a Hindu nation for Nepal," Thapa said.

"When there are more than 40 Muslim countries and over 70 Christian countries, why can't Nepal become a Hindu state in today's world which is home to over 1.8 billion Hindus," asked Thapa. He also asked political parties to make serious efforts to promulgate the new constitution within the stipulated date of January 22.

The RPP-N organised the nationwide 'rath yatra' to exert pressure to reinstate the nation as a Hindu state. He also demanded a provision be made to ban cow slaughtering in the new constitution.

Sikkim’s Chewang Lama aims high in motorsport race

“Car racing has been my passion since childhood”

Gangtok, Jan 9: Sikkim’s Chewang Lama has been selected by Buddh International Circuit (BIC) to undergo training in car racing in New Delhi.

If the training goes well Chewang (25) could be selected for this year’s Polo R Cup tournament. He is already in touch with  the organizers, Volkswagen Motorsport,  for the tourney and the response is “overwhelming”, says Chewang, son of Udai Lama and Rahna Rai of Gangtok and an alumnus of Tashi Namgyal Academy (TNA).

What impressed BIC officials and trainers was the manner in which Chewang performed during his training session. Doing a lap timing of 2.44 flat at BIC is something unusual for a guy who had no formal training. He drove like a pro and this stunned BIC officials.

Chewang is currently under training at BIC (Delhi), the only Formula1 track in India, under the guidance of Anmol Rampal, who is a pro-racer and test driver for Honda, Mahindra etc to foreign companies s like Mercedes, BMW etc.

The Buddh International Circuit is an Indian motor racing circuit in Greater Noida near Delhi.

The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Formula One Indian Grand Prix, which was first hosted on  October, 30, 2011.

Selection for Polo R Cup 2015 is likely to take place in February-March this year and going by his current performance Chewang’s chances are high. "This guy can do wonders,” is what his coach had to say when asked for a feedback.

The organizers saw at least 20,000 spectators turn up for the event last year and are hoping to increase that number this year. The champion of the season this year also gets to participate in international motorsport at the Volkswagen Scirocco-R Cup in Germany.

One of the main objectives of Volkswagen Polo R Cup competition is to groom a grid full of Indian drivers, select the best of them, and chart out a clear career path for him or her internationally.

“Car racing has been a passion, a dream since childhood,” says Chewang.

His turning point was when he did the Chennai's kart track in 20.50 sec without any prior experience. It was his first race in a proper track. The record of the track, set by a professional race car driver, stands at 19 sec.

 Chewang also recently attended Raymond Banerjee's race session in Pune, where he impressed the officials as well as the owner.

Kolkata college student trekker missing in West Sikkim

Kolkata, Jan 9: A 23-year-old student of South City College in Kolkata has gone missing during a trek in West Sikkim. Biswadeep Acharya was on his way from Yuksom to Dzongri when he went missing somewhere near Bakhim.

Acharya reached Yuksom on December 25 and tied up with a group that included three other trekkers — one from Rajasthan and one each from Germany and Italy. Acharya, who lives in Rajdanga, left Yuksom on December 27 and went missing after trekking for nearly 15km. His relatives have reached Yuksom to search for Acharya. His sister Debashree appealed to the governments of West Bengal and Sikkim to send in better-equipped rescue teams.

According to Dhanraj Gurung, managing director of Red Panda Tours and Travels that organized the trek, Acharya sounded very confident and refused a guide. "He claimed that he had trekked the route in 2012 and could find his way. However, as per rules, I sent a guide along. Before he started, Acharya also submitted a written undertaking to the police that he is fit enough to trek. From what I have gathered, Acharya crossed the Prek Chu (River Prek) with the group and reached Bakhim. There, he told the others to proceed as he knew the route well and would catch up with them easily. He has been missing since. We have sent out rescue teams for the last four days but there is no trace of Acharya," Gurung told The Times of India from Yuksom.

Acharya's mother and eldest sister live in Sahibganj in Jharkhand. Debashree, who stays in Kolkata with him, said Acharya told her that he would start his trek from December 26. "He last spoke to me on December 25. After wishing me, he said that he would start his trek early the next day," Debashree said.

Sources revealed that the last phone call Acharya made to the guide on December 27 was from Tshoka, a few kilometres beyond Bakhim. He apparently told the guide he had lost his way. The guide reached Tshoka, but could not find Acharya. The phone was also switched off. This bit of information has foxed a senior officer of the Kolkata Police, an ace mountaineer himself, who has been assigned the case. According to the officer, Tshoka is a hamlet where people are extremely helpful. There is no way Acharya could have got lost had he managed to reach Tshoka, he feels.

Editorial

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER

Khangchendzonga, Take Care Of Him

 “Elsewhere, protectorates are graduating to independence and colonies are marching to freedom. In Sikkim, a protectorate is moving to "freedom within India" by annexation through constitutional legerdemain?” These words of BG Verghese in the editorial (entitled ‘Kanchenjunga, here we come’) column of The Hindustan Times, which he edited in 1974 cost him his job. It was during Indira Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister that Sikkim was “swallowed up in silence”. After backing anti-Sikkim and pro-India forces in Sikkim from early 1973 India’s influence in the internal affairs of the tiny Himalayan kingdom paved the way for Sikkim’s integration with the Indian Union from a protectorate to an Associate State in 1974 and finally as a full-fledged State in 1975.

   Verghese’s eloquent defense of Sikkim’s distinct international status did not stop those who were hell-bent bent on annexing Sikkim. But the truth about the ‘merger’ was made known to the world through the upright stand of one man. Noted journalist Sunanda K.Datta-Ray’s masterpiece, Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim, first published in 1984, confirmed Verghese’s critical views on Sikkim during this controversial period. The fact that even after four decades since the takeover the Sikkim issue is still alive confirms Verghese’s prediction: “No country or people voluntarily choose self-effacement, and the Indian Government is not going to be able to persuade the world that Sikkim's "annexation" to India represents the will of the Sikkimese people.”  He is no more now but today leading national dailies in India have showered praises to his principled stand on Sikkim. Khangchendzonga, take care of him.

After revision, Sikkim’s total voters is 3.77 lac

Gangtok, Jan 9: The electoral rolls of all the 32 Assembly Constituencies of Sikkim have been published by the District Collectors cum District Electoral Registration Officers of all the four districts on January 5, 2015, after the completion of the special summary revision of the electoral rolls with reference to 1.1.2015 as the qualifying date.    

    During the summary revision new eligible voters were enrolled in the voter list, names of dead/shifted voters were removed from the voters list, errors in the rolls were corrected and transfer of names from one location to another was also carried out by the Electoral Registration Officers.

After the disposal of all the applications received for addition/deletion/correction/transfer of names the final rolls as on 1.1.2015 have been published on 5.1.2015, an official release said.

As per the final rolls published, the total number of voters in Sikkim stands at 3,77,027, consisting of 1,93,758 male voters and 1,83,269 female voters. While the number of voters at the time of General Elections 2014 was 3,70,065, there has been a net addition of 6962 voters during the special summary revision  conducted in the months of October-November’2014.

BG VERGHESE A Tribute

‘Verghese was a man with the right blend of intellect, integrity’

He lost his job for criticizing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Sikkim’s annexation

New Delhi, Jan 9: Family members and friends remembered the life and values of renowned author and journalist B G Verghese, who passed away last week, at a condolence meeting held at the India International Centre here on Sunday.

The meeting, attended by eminent personalities like Kuldip Nayyar, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Soli Sorabjee, saw different people reflect on different facets of Verghese, former editor of The Indian Express and The Hindustan Times.

“I knew him well and for long. He was the right blend of intellect and integrity, and never compromised on his principles. He was a champion for the poor and downtrodden, and a man given to many causes,” said Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India, the Indian Express reported.

Calling him a “man of conviction”, veteran journalist H K Dua fondly remembered Verghese as a man “for the lost and the lonely”. “For him, people mattered more than boundaries and countries. He wasn’t as concerned about physical boundaries as he was for the lost and the lonely. Lately, two things bothered him the most: the climate of intolerance that seems to have gripped this country, and the phenomenon of paid news,” Dua said.

   Aged 87, Verghese died at his Gurgaon house on December 30. He was diagnosed with dengue a month ago and was suffering from low-grade fever and weakness for the last couple of weeks.

Verghese’s family, including his sons and grandchildren, also remembered his life and times. “He was a quiet man, and a humble one, and we probably learnt more about him from his books, than himself. He taught us that the pen is mightier than the sword, and that actions speak louder than words,” said Rahul, Verghese’s son.

“He was a man given to larger causes, and most of the time, he was out saving the world. He was unassuming, quiet, intelligent — a gentleman with a gentle spirit, and that is how we will always remember him,” said his other son Vijay.

A Magsaysay Award winner and Information Adviser to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Verghese was born in Maymyo, Burma, now known as Pyin U Lwin, Myanmar, in 1926. He studied at Doon School, Dehradun, and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, before getting a Master's Degree from Trinity College, Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He began his journalism with The Times of India.

He is remembered for his editorial titled “Kanchenjunga, here we come” in Hindustan Times after Sikkim merged with India in 1975. In the editorial, Verghese had called the operation “less than proper.” He had to leave Hindustan Times after that due to his criticism of Gandhi.

In the wilderness, he worked with the Gandhi Peace Foundation. He was Gandhian in many ways; he worked for the downtrodden, Dalits, tribals, children and all those neglected by the society.

In his later years, he was associated with the Centre for Policy Research and The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

He began his career as an assistant editor at The Times of India soon after he returned on graduating from the University of Cambridge. He rose in his career and became the editor of two leading national dailies - The Hindustan Times and later, The Indian Express.

In both, he shone as an editor, where he built his reputation as an independent-minded editor-- a man of integrity and character.

Then he joined the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi’s premier think-tank, and wrote several books after diligent research that he was famous for.

One of his seminal books was titled, Waters of Hope. His view was that if waters of South Asia’s rivers are used by all countries in the region, then one-fifth of humanity in this part of the globe will no longer have to live in poverty.

He loved India’s Northeast and wrote about its neglect by the rest of the country; leading to the alienation of its people, anger and insurgency there.  His book called, Resurgent North-East, became an authentic study of the region’s problems. (also see edit on page 2)

Kanchenjunga, here we come

By B. G. Verghese

On the occasion of his passing away Sikkim Observer reproduces the full text of BG Verghese’s controversial editorial in  The Hindustan Times (‘Kanchenjunga, here we come’, August 30, 1974), which while speaking up against India’s annexation of Sikkim cost him his job as Editor of The Hindustan Times:

   If it is not outright annexation, it comes close to it. To suggest anything less would be self-deception and compounding dishonesty with folly. Sikkim is to be reduced from a protectorate to a colony through nominal representation in the Indian Parliament. To what end? What deep seated urge of the Sikkimese people is this intended to satisfy? Sikkim is not territorially part of India (Article 1(2). Constitutionally it is a foreign country which cannot be represented in the "Parliament for the Union (of India)" as specified in Article 79. It can only seek such representation if it merges with India under Article 1(3)(c) and becomes an integral part of the Union. If this is ruled out, as suggested for the time being, then the Constitution will have to be amended to provide for extra-territorial Sikkimese representation in Parliament, wether as members or as an inferior species of "observers". And what will these two Sikkimese "observers" in either House do? Will they vote? And will their "representation" entitle the Indian Parliament to debate and discuss and vote on any or every aspect of the governance of Sikkim? If it does, then what happens to the separate "identity" and "personality" of Sikkim which the Government is rumoured to wish to defend? If it does not, then what purpose from the Indian side does Sikkimese "representation" serve, unless it be a thin cover for genteel annexation without representation - to be followed by annexation later if necessary. Elsewhere, protectorates are graduating to independence and colonies are marching to freedom. In Sikkim, a protectorate is moving to "freedom within India" by annexation through constitutional legerdemain?

    Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal (file pix)

  The worst suspicions about the manner in which the protector has seduced his helpless and inoffensive ward, with some genuine and much synthetic drama, will now find confirmation. No country or people voluntarily choose self-effacement, and the Indian Government is not going to be able to persuade the world that Sikkim's "annexation" to India represents the will of the Sikkimese people. Indeed, this issue has never been placed before them. It was not the basis of, nor did it even have any remote connection with, the movement against the Chogyal which was aimed at democratisation of the local administration. Nor was it subsequently an election issue. The reference to Sikkim's desire for closer political association with India was written into the recent Government of Sikkim Act, drafted with Indian assistance under Indian supervision and, who can blame the critic for assuming, possibly not without some little Indian blandishments or tutoring.

   The Government will no doubt argue that it is responding to the "popular wishes" of the people of Sikkim. This can be dismissed for the nonsense it is. The extraordinary haste with which the proposal is sought to be rushed through Parliament and the country in the form of a major and fundamental constitutional amendment, without any prior preparation or consultation, itself suggests some hidden motive. Others will defend the decision in terms of realpolitik. It will be urged that Sikkim was no different from the former Indian princely states; that the Maharajah of Sikkim took his seat in the Chamber of Princes and was entitled to an appropriate gun salute; that he even thought in terms of accession to India in 1947; and that it was Nehru's foolish romanticism that prevented integration at that time. And even if he thought idealistically of a series of buffer states (including Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet) along the Himalaya, the basis for that policy collapsed with China's annexation of Tibet in 1950-51. Therefore, this argument runs on, there is every reason for India to seize the present opportunity to accomplish in a manner of speaking in 1974 what it failed to do in 1947. Security considerations and largely inaccurate factors of history and kinship might be evoked to gild this "historical" justification. But this is hardly likely to carry conviction outside South Block though some chauvinistic elements in Indian society, loyal Congressmen under a three-line whip and some others may dutifully applaud. The strengthening of the "Sikkim connection" may be held up as a triumph of statesmanship and diplomacy. But this would be without counting the cost.

   What does India gain from this? Security? But this is already ensured by the Indo-Sikkim Treaty of 1949. Goodwill? Whose? The Bhutia-Lepcha population quite clearly does not want integration with India; and it would be an extraordinary quirk of human nature if the Nepali majority in Sikkim is agitating to subordinate its natural and native Nepali nationalism to a more distant and alien Indian nationalism. Those resentful toward full integration with India will now have no choice other than to turn to China which has already given notice of its disinclination to accept any change in the principality's "separate identity and political status" through any form of "Indian expansionism." Do the Indian people want this union? It is utterly presumptuous on the part of the Government to bring forward a Constitutional Amendment Bill a few days before the conclusion of a fortuitously extended session of Parliament without any prior notice or move to elicit public opinion. The matter was not even mentioned in passing when both Houses debated foreign affairs only a few weeks ago. The Nepalese Foreign Minister expressed concern over developments in Sikkim barely a fortnight ago and the Government of Bhutan and even the ethnic minorities inhabiting the peripheral regions of north-eastern India may have cause for anxiety and concern over the de facto political extinction of a small but established principality. The country has a right to know whether the "annexation" of Sikkim is part of a larger frontier policy that is proposed to be spelt out or whether it is an isolated aberration.

   Far from doing it any good, this decision - and the underlying tendency it represents - is going to bring India insecurity, unrest and international opprobrium. Congressmen as much as members of the Opposition have a duty to question and oppose the betrayal of the true long term interests and ideals of the nation for illusory gain. Only the most blind or cynical will derive any satisfaction over the sorry progression of the Indian presence in Sikkim from that of friend to master. The crusading zeal and decisiveness that the Government displays over Sikkim has not been available for tackling the far more urgent problems and mounting crises at home. Perhaps no need for the common man to ask for bread. He's getting Sikkim. (The Hindustan Times August 30, 1974)

            

SIKKIM OBSERVER

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(Jigme N.

Kazi)

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