SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday Feb 21-27, 2015

Bimal Gurung moots for joint movement on tribal status for Gorkhas

Darjeeling, Feb 20: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief Bimal Gurung  last week said he would approach Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling to jointly move the Centre for according tribal status to Gorkhas in the country.

"I'll soon meet Chamling to press the demand jointly for giving tribal status to Gorkhas. The movement for tribal status would be more effective if fought jointly," Gurung told reporters here.

 “I’ll soon meet Chamling to press the demand jointly for giving tribal status to Gorkhas. The movement for tribal status would be more effective if fought jointly,” Gurung told reporters in Darjeeling.

The tribal status should be for all the Gorkhas residing in the country, he said, PTI reported.

Gurung said he had already approached the Union Government on the issue and the voice would be strengthened if Chamling joined the force.

In Sikkim, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front government has  been demanding ST status for all Sikkimese, including Sikkimese Nepalese.

Presently, only Lepchas, Bhutias, including Chumbipa, Dopthapa, Dukpa, Kagatey, Sherpa, Tibetan, Tromopa and Yolmo, Limbus and Tamangs have been declared scheduled tribes.

While the Bhutia-Lepchas were declared STs in 1978, Limbus and Tamangs obtained ST status in 2003.

In Darjeeling, among the scheduled tribes are Lepchas, Bhutias, Drukpas, Sherpas, Yolmos, Tamangs and Limbus.

Intelligence Bureau sets up China desk

New Delhi, Feb 20: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has now set up a desk dedicated just to China that will be headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

According to the Indian Express "Though the main task of gathering information regarding China rests mainly with the Research and Analysis Wing, the creation of a separate desk for China speaks of the heightened importance the NDA government puts on activities of the neighbouring country, including incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)."

This comes a week after a state-run Chinese daily called on India to adopt a more "pro-active approach" to resolve the boundary issue before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected May visit.

The plan for a separate China desk was reportedly on NDA's agenda since they came to power.

On the need for creating this new desk, a top IB official told The Indian Express, "In some places along the LAC, we are the only (official presence). Though there are security forces present, we wanted to create a robust intelligence gathering mechanism."

It was only late last month that Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said, that India had "honest intentions" for an amicable resolution of the border dispute with China and has asked it to come forward to end the differences.

"There is a perceptional difference along the Sino-Indian border. China says here is the border. We say no, here is the border. We have been trying to resolve the border problem. China should come forward. India wants a peaceful resolution of all disputes," he had said.

First batch of pilgrims to Mt. Kailash to pass through Nathula, Shigatse on June 21

Gangtok, Feb 20: The first batch of 50 Indian pilgrims to take the new route via Nathula in Sikkim to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan Autonomous Region will cross over on June 21 this year.

The 14,400 feet high Nathula pass  at the Sino-India border in east Sikkim  will be formally opened for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on June 20 and pilgrims would be allowed to move through it a day later, Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary C Zangpo said, PTI reported.

"The batch of 50 pilgrims will be accompanied by five support staff and one liaison official. Things have progressed at a very fast pace for this alternative route. Both the Centre and the Sikkim government are prepared to handle the pilgrims," he said.

The dates were finalised at a recent meeting here chaired by Chief Secretary R Ongmu .Tourism officials said online bookings for application for the pilgrimage would be done through the website of the Ministry of External Affairs from February 22.

The Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) has been entrusted to carry out and coordinate the yatra within the State. China will guide the pilgrims on its side, officials said.

Being motorable, the Nathula route is considered easier compared to the existing ones through Nepal and Uttarakhand which involve long treks.

The new route will allow pilgrims to be driven all along, travelling first from Gangtok in Sikkim to Shigatse in Tibet from where they can take vans and buses on the existing road to Mansarovar and Kailash directly.

SNPP demands ‘White Paper’ on fake identity certificate issue

31,000 with fake Sikkim Subject Certificate

Adhikari 

Gangtok, Feb 20: The Chamling government, which has finally taken several steps to safeguard the rights and interests of bonafide Sikkimese possessing genuine Sikkim Subject Certificates, has been asked to take steps to annul fake identity certificates held by over 30,000 residents of the State.

Pressuring the authorities on the issue, the Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) has demanded a ‘white paper’ on fake ‘Certificate of Identity’ (COI) issue.

 “The white paper should detail the effort put in during the last five years to identify these false documents and cancel them. The paper should also detail the punitive action, if any, which is being considered against the holder of these documents," SNPP President Biraj Adhikari said.

    Unless these questions are answered, the SNPP is suspicious of the motives of the government in suddenly talking about the Sikkim Subject after twenty years, the SNPP chief said.

He and his colleague Delay Namgyal while briefing the press on the issue said there were 31,000 persons in the State holding fake identity certificates. They said the Land Revenue Department had openly stated that there were 31,000 fake identity certificates five years ago.

Namgyal

While most so-called pro-Sikkim parties and social organizations have maintained a discrete silence on the issue the Bhutia-Lepcha Protection Force (BLPF) has supported the demand for a White Paper on the issue.

Appealing to all sections of Sikkimese society to come together on this issue, BLPF welcomed the recent notification giving preference to locals possessing Sikkim Subject Certificate but asks, "Has this come too late or is it just a political gimmick by the government?"

The BLPF believes that all these exercises would be futile unless legal action is taken against those possessing fake identity certificates.

Golay threatens to reveal graft ‘evidence’ against Chamling

Gangtok, Feb 20: Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) President PS Golay recently threatened to reveal corruption ‘evidence’ against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his colleagues.

He said his long absence from the State was spent on gathering ‘evidence of corruption’ of the Chief Minister and his ministers. He said he would reveal his findings in due course.

However, as of now the SKM is yet to reveal its chief’s findings on charges of corruption against the ruling dispensation.

While addressing the party’s third foundation anniversary on February 4, Golay assured members of his party that he would re-activate the party which has 10 MLAs in the 32-member house.

Most of the seats won by the SKM are from the east district. Significantly, the SKM chief said his party would contest the forthcoming municipality polls in the State.
EDITORIAL

PEOPLE’S VICTORY

Spread Your Wings

   Aam Aadmi Party’s victory in the Delhi Assembly polls has encouraged right-thinking people all across India to take a new look at politics. If good people continue hiding in their small corner they should be willing to be ruled by bad people. However, the good news is that ordinary people can make a huge difference if they come together and fight against the bad guys. This has been the message of the outcome of the recently-held Assembly polls in Delhi. Both the Congress and the ruling BJP deserve the thrashing they got.

  While Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his team has assured that they would not make the mistake of trying to go national in electoral politics they must give serious thoughts to ensuring that the aam aadmi in the entire country are united under a single platform to fight against vested interests.  The editor of this paper in an article on its editorial page in the late ’80s, while lauding Anna Hazare’s efforts to fight corruption and provide good governance to the people, appealed for all Anna Hazares in the country to come together and provide a national alternative. The time for this has finally come though it has taken a long, long time. Therefore, AAP must gradually spread its wings throughout the length and breadth of the Indian sub-continent.

Vodafone launches 3G service in Lachen

Gangtok, Feb 20: Private mobile telephony major Vodafone recently announced launching of its 3G services in remote border region of Lachen, North Sikkim.

A company statement said Vodafone had earlier announced its network expansion to Lachung, North Sikkim and with this move, the company would now cover approximately 665 Census Towns, 4,135 Market Towns and 35,354 villages in the Rest of Bengal (RoWB) circle.

 "We are now fully equipped to provide the finest connectivity and service to our valued customers in North Sikkim. Vodafone now covers more than 94 per cent of population in the RoWB circle," Vodafone business head Kolkata and RoWB Anand Sahai said.

Located near the Indo-China border in North Sikkim tribals living in Lachen and Lachung often get cut-off from the rest of the country due to frequent landslide during the monsoon. The Vodafone initiative is, therefore, a welcome move for people’s connectivity in this backward region.

Sikkim gets award from ECI for best electoral practices

Gangtok, Feb 20: The Election Commission of India has conferred Sikkim the Best State Award for following Best Electoral Practices in the General Elections 2014.

D. Anandan, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim, received the Award from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, on the National Voters Day Celebrations held in New Delhi on 25th January 2015.

Sikkim has been chosen for this Award by the Election Commission of India for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the General Elections 2014 in the State. Sikkim also has the distinction of highest women voters turnout in the entire country during the General Elections 2014.

The Shield and the Citation were presented to the Chief Minister of Sikkim by the Chief Electoral Officer and officials of the Election Department, Government of Sikkim on 28th January 2015. While congratulating the Election Department for this achievement, the Chief Minister attributed the Award to all the voters of Sikkim for the smooth conduct of the General Elections 2014.

Significance of Sikkim’s Bhum-Chhu Festival

By Sonam Gyatos Dokhangpa

Bhum Chhu festival of Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim, is an unique festival of Sikkim. It is not simply a festival but a sacred blessing for the devout pilgrims, Bhum Chhu, the festival of the holy water is held annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Dawa Dhangpo) corresponding to the month of February –March.

This is indeed a precious gift of the Great Saint Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo (1592-1656), one of the three pioneer Lamas who then arrived in ‘the land of rice’ in 17th century A.D. and founded Buddhism in Sikkim and acted as instrumental in establishing the kingdom of Sikkim’s first Chogyal (Dharma King) Phuntsog Namgyal in 1642 A.D.

Legend has it that the Great Guru Padmasambhava during his sojourn in Tibet, introduced this sacred holy water ceremony as “Bhum Chhu’’ dedicated to Lord Avalokitesvara, Tibetan King Chogyal Tri-song De-tsen (730-788) and his devout followers in 8th century A. D.

 During the commencement of this ceremony, the protective Deity-‘Damchen Dorjee Lekpa’ appeared and offered this precious vase to Guru Rinpoche for this noble task. The weeklong prayer was offered by the Great Guru Rinpoche for consecration of the holy water and on the closing day there sighted a miraculous phenomenon. The whole set of Lord Avalokitesvara appeared in the air and thereafter twisted like tornado and gradually it entered into the ceremonial vase.

The annual Bhum-Chhu festival at Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim. (pix courtesy: questhimalaya)

After a short while, the water inside the vase boiled itself causing earthquake and thereafter five coloured aura rays radiated from the ceremonial vase and flashed up to different directions, The great Guru was overjoyed to see the fruition of his spiritual task and praised Lord Avalokitesvara and prayed for his special blessings. His followers, after witnessing this divine phenomenon, were deeply moved and tears welled up their eyes.

Thereafter, the Guru gave blessing of the sacred water to the devotees and followers. Indeed the blessing of the holy water displayed its power by healing oral disease, curing physically- handicapped persons and some of them regained their eyesight.

 Many others felt themselves soothing peace in their minds as if they were in deep meditation. Having seen such virtuous deeds of the Great Guru, the Gods sent down a shower of flowers and praised Guru Rinpoche.

Later, the Guru concealed the holy vase in the form of “gTer” in a sacred rock for the sake of his future practitioners and entrusted it to a Guardian Demon to be the keeper till a spiritual man comes and reveals it for the sake of the fortunate beings of that era.

Many centuries later, there was born a lama in 1524 A.D. who was renowned as “gTer-ston Gar-Gharwang Shigpo gLingpa). He was one of the famous treasure finders in Tibet. As he foresaw the appropriate time to reveal the sacred vase for the benefit of fortunate beings of that era, he formally unearthed the vase and put into practice. Later, he handed it over to another Lama called –“Chogyal Takshamchen”, who imparted its blessing to the devotees and kept it under his custody for many years,

Later, Chogya Takshamchen thought that the dark age was casting its shadow over Tibet and it was not safe to keep the sacred vase in Tibet. After much thought on the safekeeping of this precious vase he decided to hand it over to his disciple Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo since he had prepared to go to the Hidden Land of Demojong, as he deemed it to be a proper place for the holy vase. That was how Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo brought this sacred vase to the Hidden Land “Demojong” in 17th century A.D.

As per Sikkim History, authored by Chogyal Thutob Namgyal (1860-1964) and Queen Yeshey Doma, it is recorded that the first historic Bhum-Chhu ceremony in Sikkim was held at “Lhakhang Marpo” in Yuksam. Specific year has not been mentioned but Khenpo L. Tshering, in his book “ A Saga of Sikkim - four pioneer reincarnates”, indicated the year as (Mekhyi) the fire dog year which corresponded to 1646 A.D.

 The  second and third Bhum-Chhu ceremonies were held at Rinchenpong (West Sikkim)  and Barphung (South Sikkim). The fourth and fifth Bhum-Chhu ceremonies were orderly held at Tashiding, West Sikkim. The dates were not mentioned in the record. However, it is said that each time one billion mantras of “Om MANI PADME HUNG” had been recited to aggregate the blessings. At the completion of five billion mantras, unusual signs were observes i.e. Bhum Chhu never dried up, did not get spilt and continues to give fresh odor.

Tashiding Monastery

Later, Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo shifted his seat from Yuksam to Tashiding and there he built a temple called “Jhmpa Lhakhang” (the temple of Maitriya Buddha) during Iron-Rabbit year i.e. in 1651 A.D. and as a “kuten’’ he installed a statue of the Future Buddha ‘Jhampa Gonpo’ and it might be the reason for naming the temple as “Jhampa Lhakhang’’.

It is presumable that he deposited the Bhum-Chhu vase in this Lhakhang and in the course of time the monastery was rebuilt and the vase  enshrined in the main Gonpa. Later, it became an annual feature to conduct the Bhum-Chhu ceremony for the larger interest of the devotees and followers.

Nowadays, Bhum-Chhu festival has reached its zenith of popularity and attracts not only the Buddhists but the followers of other faiths as well who flock to Tashiding Monastery with devotion to get the sacred blessing of the Bhum-Chhu.

The sacred Bhumpa of the holy water is kept under lock and seal by the monastery authority. The opening ceremony is strictly conducted by unlocking the lock and seal under the observation of the kutshab, deputed from the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department on behalf of the State Government at midnight of “Tshepa Chuzhi” or the 14th night.

The vase normally contains 21 cups of holy water which is measured every year in presence of kutshab to examine its quantity and quality. Each sign has its own significance to indicate good or bad omen. As per customary belief, if the water is less than the actual quantity it signifies famine and drought; if found more than the actual quantity, it signifies flood and landslide. Water which is ‘clear’ signifies peace; ‘murky”  water signifies epidemic, unrest or war.

In this context, the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs consults  high incarnate lamas for ‘thutak’ for performing remedial rites or ‘shabrim’ to defuse bad consequences and accordingly the Department provides fund to the Lamas for performing necessary pujas.

As per the public sentiment and belief, this vase is the wish fulfilling gem for Sikkim. Since the commencement of first Bhum-Chhu ceremony in Sikkim, the holy water for refilling the pot is always collected from the Rathongchu river. The reason as per religious point of view is that this river receives tributaries of many sacred lakes and streams of the high mountains which were sanctified by the Great Guru Padmasambhava. Therefore the water of the river Rathongchhu is treated like the water of the river Ganges, complete with all the eight supreme qualities of water i.e “Chhuwo-Yanlag rGyad_1Dan’’.

Modern studies also show that the water from Rathongchhu is very pure and rich in healthy minerals. Not only the Rathong Chhu but all the sacred springs in Sikkim which were sanctified by Guru Padma Sambhava, have healthy minerals as they have been scientifically tested.

As an example, the sacred spring- known as “Chhumig Gyatsa (hundred springs of nectar) of Chhodten Nyima pass situated along the Tibet – Sikkim border in Northern Sikkim is very famous and requested by lot of pilgrims from nearby countries. The pilgrims flock to this place to drink a mouthful of sacred water. This made the local authorities curious and sent water sample for scientific testing in 1990 and later in August 1992, the Chinese Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources announced that this water conations rare elements beneficial to health that enhance the appetite, favors bone development, improve blood circulation, strengthen the heart and have curative effects on goiters. (source:-Bulletin of Tibetlogy Vol. 39-No.1).

IN MEMORIAM Subash Ghisingh

Home They Brought The Warrior Dead

By ASHIS CHAKRABARTI

Gorkha National Liberation Front’s chief Subash Ghisingh's struggle for Gorkhaland was seen by many in Delhi as a Himalayan conspiracy for a "Greater Nepal", which aimed at creating a confederation of mountain kingdoms and states away from India's control.

Ghisingh died as he knew he would – in exile, far away from the kingdom that had once been his and that he had lost to a onetime vassal.

Then they praised him, soft and low,

         Call'd him worthy to be loved,

Truest friend and noblest foe;

         Yet she neither spoke nor moved.

-           Alfred, Lord Tennyson

So he died as he knew he would - in exile, far away from the kingdom that had once been his and that he had lost to a onetime vassal. But in death, he may be luckier than his wife, who was denied the privilege of having her last rites performed back at her long-lost home in the hills.

Subash Ghisingh, who died in distant Delhi this evening (Jan 29, 2015), may well be back in Darjeeling for one last time - only to be cremated there. But that is only because he no longer matters in the politics of the place that he ruled as its undisputed leader for nearly 20 years.

Even the memory of his rule and his times seem to have become something like the mist in the Darjeeling hills.

For those who remember, though, the life and times of Ghisingh were unlike those of any other political leader not just in Bengal but anywhere else in India in the past few decades.

There have been other leaders who have risen, fallen and been forgotten soon after they had left the stage.

Ghisingh's story was different. One important reason was the location - what happens in Darjeeling reverberates far beyond those hills. The echoes, political and strategic, travel to Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and also to the distant capital cities of Delhi and Beijing. So when Ghisingh's call for a Gorkhaland state spread like wildfire in the Darjeeling hills in the mid-1980s, it wasn't just a local political affair.

There had been other calls for local self-rule in Darjeeling. Other leaders before him rose in local politics by asking for a new deal for the "Gorkhas". They did not quite shake the political masters in Calcutta, let alone in Delhi.

Ghisingh's struggle for Gorkhaland was a very different affair, not just because of the scale of its violence, but also because it was seen by many in Delhi as a Himalayan conspiracy for a "Greater Nepal", which aimed at creating a confederation of mountain kingdoms and states away from India's control.

That Ghisingh's crusade drove Bengal's communists down the hills was only a minor result of what was believed to be a larger battle plan. It was thus a more complicated matter than the older ethnic insurgencies in India's Northeast. Or so the conspiracy theorists believed.

Ghisingh himself added much to the making of the conspiracy. He talked of historical "wrongs" committed in the region and wanted to rewrite its history. Not content with questioning why Darjeeling should be part of Bengal, he raised the issue of the legality of the Sugouli Treaty of 1815 between East India Company and Nepal and of India's treaties with Nepal and Bhutan. Darjeeling and Kalimpong, he said, were like "kites set loose" and no one knew where they would land.

He was proving to be too dangerous a loose cannon for Delhi. Soon he would be taken under the wings of the Indian political and security establishments. So much so that Jyoti Basu and the then ruling CPM would accuse him of being a pawn in Delhi's hand in the game to drive the communists out of the sensitive border region.

And he set the hills ablaze for nearly three years before settling for the autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which he then ruled unchallenged until he was dethroned by a former comrade and the current lord of the hills, Bimal Gurung.

For all the bloodletting that he organised and the destruction that he wrought in the old society in the Darjeeling hills, Ghisingh's personality was a strange mix of naivety and cruelty. With the slightest hint of a threat to his authority, he would stop at nothing to finish off old, trusted comrades.

So many of them were ruined and even killed for daring to show even the smallest signs of revolt. When Gurung's big revolt hit him, Ghisingh found himself rather friendless and too weakened to defend his fort.

Banished from the hills, he waited his chance to regain his lost kingdom. That was not to be, though old faithful still flocked to show their loyalty on the few occasions when he sought to reclaim Darjeeling one more time.

But history, he slowly came to accept, does not repeat itself. Once that realisation sank in, the man, who would start all his political programmes with some religious rituals at Darjeeling's Mahakal temple, turned increasingly to Buddhism.

Perhaps, as he saw the end coming during his recent illness, Ghisingh stopped caring if he would finally lie near the orange orchard at his native village of Manju, some miles below Mirik, or anywhere else in the Darjeeling hills.

But no matter where he has his final resting place, Ghisingh's legacy may live on to shape other moments in Darjeeling's political history. (The Telegraph)