Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts

AM I FROM NEPAL ?

8:20 PM
AM I FROM NEPAL ?
मैले तीनपल्ट सोधें गोवामा...

“POET SUBASH RAI SOTANG FROM NEPAL”  भनेर मलाई दुइपल्ट भनिएपछि मैले “AM I FROM NEPAL? “ भनेर तीनपल्ट सोधें गोवामा | साहित्य अकादमीद्वारा पणजीको कला अकादमी सम्मेलन कक्षमा सम्पन्न भएको ‘Symposium On Contemporary North-East Indian Literature and Poet Meet’ कार्यक्रममा म पनि Indian Nepali Poet को रुपमा उपस्थित थिएँ | तर जब कार्यक्रम शुरु भयो तब उपस्थित कविहरूलाई मंचमा बोलाउने क्रममा कार्यक्रमकी उद्घोषिकाले मलाई “Poet  Subash Rai Sotang  from Nepal” भनेर बोलाइन् | त्यतिमात्र होइन फेरि पछि कविता वाचनको निम्ति बोलाउँदा पनि त्यही ठेगाना दोहोराइन् |

आयोजकवर्गले भनेअनुरूपनै आफ्नो सम्पूर्ण ठेगाना लेखिएको बायोडाटा अघिबाटै उपलब्ध गराउँदा – गराउँदै पनि आफुलाई ‘नेपालबाट आएको कवि” भनिँदा चुप लागेर नूनको सोझो बन्नु मलाई मेरो मनले दिएन र नै हामी भारतीय नेपाली कविहरू धरीलाई लाग्ने ‘मेड इन् नेपाल’-को छाप हटाउन तथा आफ्नो असली परिचयबारे उनीहरूलाई अवगत गराउन मैले आफ्नो बोल्ने पालो आएपछि आफू नेपालबाट आएको लेखक नभएर भारतीय नेपाली लेखक भएको कुरा स्पष्ट पार्ने सक्दो कोशिश गरेको थिएँ | जुन कुरा त्यहाँ उपस्थित ‘Times of India’ (TOI)-की रिपोर्टरले गोवा पेजमा अलिक अधमरो रुपमा प्रकाशित गरिछिन् अनि त्यही खबर यता ‘Darjeeling Times’-ले पनि आफ्नो वालमार्फत प्रचारमा ल्याएपछि आफ्नो-आफ्नो बुझाइअनुसार विभिन्न प्रतिक्रियाहरू पनि हुँदैरहेछन् | आफ्नो मोबाइलमा भने आफ्नो स्टाटस मात्र हेर्न सकिने सुविधा हुँदा बाहिर के हुँदैछ समयमा थाहै भएन | आज घर आइपुगेपछि त्यो अपुष्ट खबर र त्यसमाथि भएको बुझाइको बाझोलाई ध्यानमा राख्दै त्यहाँ मैले आपत्ति जनाएको सत्यताबारे स्पष्ट पार्न बसें |

जानेर हो कि अन्जानमा हो उद्घोषिकाले मेरो ठेगाना स्पष्टरुपले ‘नेपाल’ बताए पछि प्रतिक्रियास्वरुप मैले मेरो कुरा मंचबाट यसरी राखेको थिएँ –
“Seeking your prior permission, First of all I would like to clarify regarding my address. (यतिबेलै मसितै मंचमा आसीनहरूमा कसैले ‘Yes Yes address was wrong’ पनि भन्दै थिए, म बोलिरहें)-  It was announced from here that I m from Nepal. Am I from Nepal  ? Am I from Nepal ? Am I from Nepal ?  (यसरी मैले तीनपल्ट सोधें, यसबेला मंचमा आसीनहरूमध्ये केहीले भन्दै थिए – “No, No, No”)

Is  Nepal a part of India ?
Is Nepal a part of India ?

(मैले दोस्रो प्रश्न यसरी दुइपल्ट गरें अनि आवाज पनि सुन्दै थिएँ –“No, No, No.” म बोलिरहें)- Here we are talking about ‘Contemporary North-East Indian Literature’ (दोहोर्याउंदै फेरि भनें)- ‘Indian Literature’ And I have been invited here as an Indian Nepali writer. Then how could you say that I am from Nepal? Of course, I speak Nepali, My own language Is Nepali. But I am a Nepali speaking Indian Citizen, and my country is India. Please don’t make me a Nepali foreigner. (यसबेला मुखैमा आयो हिन्दी, भन्दिएँ हिन्दीमा पनि) – हमे विदेशी मत बनाइए | I am from Darjeeling, which falls in India under West Bengal State. (फेरि हिन्दीमा भनिदिएँ)  “ कृपा करके इंडिया का हिस्ट्री, जोग्राफी, राजनीति मत बिगारिएगा, प्लिज |”

त्यसपछि ती उद्घोषिकाले धेरैचोटि मंचबाटै माफी मागिन् अनि आफ्नो उद्देश्य तेस्तो नभएको बताइन् | वास्तवमा प्रोग्राम लिस्टमा नामको पछि ब्रेकेटमा ‘नेपाली’ लेखिएकोले गर्दा तेसो हुनगएको भन्ने आलटाले जवाब दिनथालिन् | मैले प्रतिक्रियामा भनें – “What people think and speak about us in the market because of their misconception, We don’t care but this is an official programme, So this type of error should not  happen.”

कार्यक्रमपछि पनि तिनले व्यक्तिगत रुपमा भेटेर मलाई स्पष्टिकरण दिने कोशिश गरिन्, क्षमा मागिन् | असम, मणिपुर, बोडो साथीहरूले पनि राम्रो जवाब दिएकोमा धाप मार्दै बधाई दिए | उत्तर-पूर्वी राज्यवासीहरूलाई देशले हेर्ने दृष्टिकोण अझ पनि सही नभएको कुरा गरे तिनीहरूले | त्यसरी नै कविगोष्ठी सत्रका अध्यक्ष तथा सुप्रसिद्ध कोंकोणी लेखक पुंडलिक नायकले त मेरो भनाइलाई आधार गर्दै यो देशमा कतिपय जातिलाई घरी घरी आफूहरू राष्ट्रवादी भएको प्रमाण दिइरहनु पर्ने बिडम्बना रहेको प्रसंगको उल्लेख गरे | उनले देशलाई टेरिटोरी मात्र चाहिएको तर त्यहाँको मानिस नचाहिएको झैँ लाग्छ पनि भने | यस्तो कुरा लिएर पनि उत्तर-पूर्वी क्षेत्रका कलमकारहरूले कलम चलाउनु पर्ने उनले बताए |
“समकालीन नेपाली साहित्य”- माथि वार्ता दिन आएका असम तेजपूरका लेखक ज्ञानबहादुर छेत्रीले पनि खुसी हुँदै मलाई भने –“ फलाम तातिएकै बेलामा प्रहार गर्नुपर्छ, अरुबेला गनगन गरेर हुँदैन | तपाईंले ठिक ठाउँमा ठिक्क बोल्नुभो |” उनले अझै भने –“ त्यो उद्घोषिकालाई त रिसाउनु होइन धन्यवाद पो दिनुपर्छ होला अब, कारण उसैको कारणले त तपाईंले हाम्रो कुरा स्पष्ट संगले राख्ने मौका पाउनुभयो |”
मैले पनि कता कता सम्झिएँ – ‘हो त’|

कुरा यसो भाको थियो | त्यसपछि ती टाइम्स अफ इन्डियाकी रिपोर्टर मलाई खोज्दै आइन् र इन्टरव्यु लिन थालिन् | उनी पनि मलाई सोध्छिन् “तपाईं कहाँ जन्मेको भनेर |” मैले म त के मेरो बाजे-बराजु जम्मै दार्जीलिंगमा नै जन्मेका हुन्” भनेर बताइदिएँ | भनिदिएँ- We are the architect of modern India. But people have misconception regarding us because of Indo-Nepal reciprocal treaty and open border.

(अरु थुप्रै कुरा भनें  क्रमश: लेखुँला |)

Note - This is what Poet Subash has posted on  Facebook 

Via POET SUBASH RAI SOTANG

Why I Am Not Bothering to Buy Stuffs From Racist Flipkart Anymore

8:52 PM
Writes: Jashoda Chettri

I am not much of a couch potato. So it was only natural that I missed the Flipkart advertisement on the telly few days back. The advertisement was racist claimed a friend who sounded upset and hurt. The Flipkart advertisement featured a kid depicted as achowkidar, wearing thebhadgaule topi with thekhukuri insignia, speaking Hindi in a funny way. But I could not jump the gun without verifying the facts. I looked up online for the ad presuming that the advertisement might have been pulled down after all the furore it created. But lo! It’s still there! The ad shows a boy dressed as a security guard (Gorkha). He asks “ Zootein ley rahe ho Shabzi’ The ad even has subs in English for reasons best known to Flipkart! When I tried to mimic the line, I had great difficulty in getting "zhootein" and "Shabzi:" right. Hats off to the man who did the voice-over. He pronounces those words in such a weird fashion that no Nepali will ever be able to pronounce it that way! And how come I have never come across a Nepali who says Shabzi.

Why is it is kind of taken for granted that Nepalis speak Hindi in a funny way and we look ‘different’. I have grown up watching scenes in our movies where a Nepali man comes running to the gate and says ‘shalaam shaab’. We do not; I repeat we do not speak like that.

I also dislike the way Bollywood projects the khukri like a play thing. For Nepalis, the khukuri is a symbol of our valour and courage. And of course our pride!
Why I Am Not Bothering to Buy Stuffs From Racist Flipkart Anymore
India's 1st field Marshall Gen. Sam "Bahadur" Manekshaw poudly wearing our Bhadgaule topi with Khukuri insignia

"The khukuri is the national as well as the religious weapon of the Gurkhas. It is incumbent on a Gurkha to carry it while awake and to place it under pillow when retiring."
- Maharaja Padma Shamser Jangbahadur Rana
(Prime Minister and Supreme Commander).

But our pride has been hurt over and over again thanks to stereotyping and ignorance. Why do we Nepalis have to be projected only as chowkidars and maids when we have made our presence felt in almost all spheres? From martyrs to fashion designers who dress up powerful people to internationally acclaimed writers to sportspersons who bring laurels for the country, Nepalis have gone beyond guarding your gates. I dare companies to make an advertisement which has faces of successful Nepalis.

And as far as the funny accent is concerned, when I speak in Hindi people can’t tell if I am a Nepali. I am proud that I can speak the national language with ease. We grew up hearing and learning that ours is a country of diversity. Most of us wrote at least one essay on ‘Unity in Diversity’ in school. It is time we embraced the diversity instead of making divisive comments for commercial gains. Irresponsible companies should be answerable for divisive actions, be it Nepali or Bengali or Punjabi. It divides the country subtly but surely and creates hatred and jealousy where none existed.

And trust me; we have some very good lawyers in the Nepali fraternity. So think hard and think twice before you do something irresponsible.

By the way I wanted to place an order for a mouthwash but I am looking for something stronger, something that would wash down this offending taste.

Any idea when will it be available on Flipkart?

Don't bother, I found it on Amazon.com! Amazing!
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*Jashoda Chettri, is a Gangtok based writer, poet, photographer and a social worker, she can be contacted at: chettrijashoda@gmail.com

Via TheDC


The Sishnu Chronicles – An Ode to 90s Parents and Teachers

10:05 PM
Writes: Bal Krishna

Growing up in Darjeeling today is very different than how we grew up. Today parents believe in raising their children in an environment so protected that even when they are wrong, they take a stand to protect them, and instead shift the blame on others. We didn’t have that luxury. Our parents believed in the hearts of their heart that only an anvil and a hammer can make a crooked iron straight. For them we were crooked iron that needed hammering every once in a while.

Among the very dreaded tools used to straighten us up, perhaps the “Bata ko Chapli –flip flops from Bata” was the most common, every mother would always have it “handy or feety” for they would be wearing them and whenever they felt the need, in a blinding movement, the chapli would be out of their feet and onto our head, before we even realized what happened.
Sishnu
Sishnu  
“Pani le ta chora… go fetch some water son” mom would say

And being the lazy kind, I would respond, “aaachhhh ek chin ma lyaunchu – in a bit”…

All I would see was a moment of flash, and Bata ko Chapli ko chaap on my gala.

That would sort me out immediately, my vigour recharged… I would call out truce

“Khai jarkin… khai jarkin?”

I am sure many must have lived these moments.

God forbid if anyone had family in the army, they would bring back Kohlapuri Chappal and that was more painful, cuz they were made of pure untreated leather... more painful and much more effective than Bata ko Chapli :)

But even before the Bata ko chapli, some of the most classic tools used to straighten us didn’t need any external devices. I don’t know anyone from Darjeeling who hasn’t lived through the phases of Toksing, Thappar, Ghussi, Kaan Tannu, Khatana (hair on your temple) Tannu and Laat… I am certain; my mom could have easily taught Bruce Lee a shot or two from these wide array of handy means to subdue a wayward opponent.

I remember to this day my 1st ever Mukh Chyateko – the one where Mom would put her two index fingers into our mouth and pull them in opposite directions, till our mouth was on the verge of tearing apart and we’d cry for mercy. What an ingenious way to make a mukhale chora/chori learn some manners.

I was very young, must have been 5 or 6 years old, and we had a function in our house. One Gaon ko Badi called me and I must have pretended not to hear… so she called me two or three times and finally when I looked up she was annoyed, so she said, “eta munti bhaneko suninas? bring your butt here”

I was a little dumb to begin with when it came to manners, and my mouth would shoot off stuffs, without my brain registering it till about 5 seconds later. So habitually, without realizing what I was saying, I said, “Tapai nai muntinos na eta…why don't your bring yours here...” on top of my voice.

I could hear the whole room go silent. Literally, there was a hushhhhhh in the room.

I knew, I was in trouble.

Then Mom came rushing towards me, “K hare? Badi lai K hare?” and then she Mukh Chyatus mine… I have never forgotten that incident, cuz that aligned my mouth to my brain connection and I started to think before speaking out.

What a cure that was.

Ekkai khep ma jati bhaye mo.

Today, they say “corporal punishment” is illegal. During our times, our parents would make sure to tell our teachers, “Ghar ma tyaakai terdaina, Sir alik tapai le thik pari dinu hos ta…. He doesn’t listen to us at home, please teach him some manners,” and they would say that in front of us. Imagine a parent giving carte blance – blank cheque to the teachers to “Thik Parus” us.

“Kaath ko Feet – wooden ruler” was perhaps the most common tool to straighten a crooked student in school. From anyone making noise in the class, to not completing home work, to not wearing proper uniform – three to five hits from the “Kaath ko Feet” would be the standard cure. Next day, all homework completed, proper uniform worn, no noise making in the class.

At times they would put pencil or pen between the fingers and push the fingers together, oh the horror of it. I still shiver at the sheer ingenuity of that trick.

I honestly feel our elders were geniuses in Psychological treatment of a wayward child.

Then there was this one time, I was still a kid, on a Sunday, walking towards Chowrasta with two of my friends, and as we started to walk up from Club Side (right below Keventers), someone from the road above dropped a lit cigarette butt. I picked it up, and my friends dared me. So I took a drag. The moment I did that, they said they would tell my Mom, I had smoked a cigarette, and they did (they are no more my friends).

Once we arrived at home, my Chema found a piece of Kalo Polythene ko Pipe, and the beating I got that day with it. I haven’t smoked till today, and that incident has helped me turn into an environmentalist, for I hate everything plastic. No plastic bags, no plastic buckets, and more importantly - no plastic ko pipes around.

As I grew older, my nature and extent of naughtiness spiked. One time a few of my friends, my elder brother and I ran away from school (school bhagera) to go swimming. None of us knew how to swim, but we all went to a khola nearby. When we got back to school, it had been around 5 PM. Baba was freaking out as he had come to look for us raicha, school got off at 3:30.

Man the agony of knowing you are gonna get a nice licking and waiting for that to happen.

Baba was in the Artillery and he had this ceremonial belt, which he would polish and keep “tillikkaaiiii talkeko – shiming” everyday, and being a military man he was a gentleman. So once we arrived home, he told mom to serve us food and mom gave us “dui dui ota roti – two rotis” and sabjee.

If there was a world record for taking longest time to finish two rotis, my brother and I must have broken it that day. We took over 3 hours to finish the two rotis, but Baba didn’t rush us. All he would say every once in a while was “ajjhai dhilo kha timaru… tara aju huncha toh haru ko Puja – take all the time you need, but you can’t deny the inevitable”… and he was right.

Man!! What happened that night, I cannot describe, suffice it to say, I still don’t know how to swim, and I think its overrated anyway. Let me put it this way, the shinny Artillery belt cured me of my dreams of becoming Michael Phelps forever. I am naturally allergic to water now.

Paani dekhda pani tarsine scene :)

But the mother of all tools was Sisnu (Nettle) Paani treatment… especially if the sisnu was Bhangre sisnu.

Does anyone remember using Sigaan (snot) as a handy cure to preventing Sisnu le poleko rash? To be honest, the relationship between Shisnu and Sigaan is what makes God infallible for me... So Sisnu polus you, and you cry your heart out and become siganai-sigan, and use that very sigan to ease the Sisnu le poleko pain... God is a perfectionist...

But, if I have to count the number of times I fell on Sisnu, or mom used Sisnu paani treatment on me, I would probably need a barrel full of Sigaan to subside the pain hola.

Naughty as I was, in my teenage years, I came home drunk once, and mom found out. That day she experimented for real, starting from Bata ko Chapli to Jhadu to Kuccho to Dadu Kucchin jel, she eventually landed with Bhangre Sisnu picked up from our bari.

Amamamama 15 seconds into Sisnu Pani treatment I became fresh, and a minute into it, my long dead ancestors must have become fresh too.

I didn’t touch alcohol for the next 10 years, and even now I can’t drink more than a half-bottle of beer. That Sisnu Pani treatment comes flashing back, and I would love to avoid it at any cost.

Recently, I was surfing the net and was shocked to find out that Sisnu is actually a medicinal plant raicha and it is used to cure painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, anemia, urinary issues, baldness, as well as allergies and joint pain, promote lactation, stimulate hair growth, help control blood sugar in patients with diabetes, reduce bleeding connected to gingivitis, treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract. Sisnu is even used to slow the spread of Prostate cancer raicha. All you got to do is, dry the plant and then boil it and drink it as tea for a month.

Imagine, weren’t our parent’s geniuses? Giving us medicine, without us even becoming aware of it?

Indeed, times have changed, and today people are more “sophisticated”, but thanks to our parents and teachers and their earthy sense of right and wrong, that has helped shape us into becoming who we are today.

Having said that, my Mom still tries to impart her “Bata ko Chapli” discipline on me, and I love it.... At times I just provoke her to see how she reacts, and every time her instincts guide her hand towards her feet, but now I can duck faster, while she swings slow.

What about Sisnu? You may ask…

Well as I was writing this, “Aju ta Sisnu ko Daal Khaun la Chora….” says Ama… I smile, with relief, of course, and say feebly “pakako hola ni?” unsure still :)

…and thus continues the Sisnu Chronicles…

[Dedicated to my brother Mohammed Asif whose pic, shared here, ensured that I wrote this article]
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Via The DC

SOME STRAY THOUGHTS ON – BIPUL'S SKETCHES OF DARJEELING

4:17 PM
Writes: Prabin Moktan

Back in 1998 I had accompanied a talented group of Higher Secondary boys from St. Augustine’s to Mount Hermon for the ISC Fest.

Representing SAS in the solo song category of the Western Music Competition was Bipul Chettri, then a slightly intense, almost brooding musician, respected immensely by his cohorts for his virtuosity with the guitar. Bipul’s eclectic listening tastes was reflected in his choice of the song that he was covering- Hook by Blues Traveller. Bipul belted out the song like a rock star. As a performance it was rough, patchily brilliant.

Later when the results were declared the breathless announcer got carried away and breaching MC norms went well beyond the third position to declare that Bipul Chettri of SAS had been declared… last. Perhaps the judges (names available upon request) were looking at something else - a hill diva belting out something from the Titanic or a hymn.
Bipul Chettri
Bipul Chettri
Whatever the case the disappointment amongst the SAS contingent was palpable but no one so much as raised a single decibel of protest at Bipul for marring what had been a perfect outing so far.
Then about a decade or more later I heard Dadhelo. The link to the song on soundcloud was posted by Evan Manandhar another Sasonian who had made a perceptive comment about the Nepali accent of the singer.

This song was like no other Nepali song that I had ever heard. Musically taut, with evocative lyrics and a voice devoid of the million cliches that encumber pop singers.

It was as if a powerful energy of extraordinary benevolence and freshness was being unleashed upon the Nepali music firmament. Bipul sang of the wild fires. Back in an innocent time when nights were not consumed by the TV or internet one could see nocturnal hills necklaced by rings of forest fires. It is perhaps a rare hill child whose memory doesn’t flicker with the leaping tongues of these orange offerings . Bipul gave a music and a voice to that memory.

The empathy clicked and the song became a phenomenon.

Then others followed. Asar with its simple jhaurey beat that mimed the stacatto monsoon on tin roofs. A song embedded with a subtle yet ominous hint of that another hill memory- the hissing of the jhora as it bounded downhill with the gurgling bounty of the monsoon waters. There was life and death in that churning.

If Dadhelo was a visual song about the memory of light, asar unpacked a sound.
The other songs that were released one after the other did not disappoint. Deorali Dadha was tactile. It caressed your face with the cool whiff of the mountain breeze. The song was a vivacious dance of hill vapours scented with the artemesia and the pine.

My personal favourite Mountain High, of Sketches of Darjeeling reminds me of Sun Ra’s Yucatan in terms of the organic vision of the composition. While the idiosyncratic minimalism of Ra evokes of mountain animals swaying as they ascend a Mayan mountain, Mountain High recreates in its sonics, the piety of monks as they blow on their horns and ascend heights that are both real and metaphorical.
Later when I heard Syndicate, I told myself this was a song screaming to be included in Sketches of Darjeeling.

Syndicate is a word that has been appropriated by us. It is seldom heard without the prefix Darjeeling or Kalimpong or Siliguri and refers to a place from where you catch a vehicle.
It is noisy and chaotic. But sometimes above the fumes of exhaust, the squabble over tickets, or the dread of having to ride on the chameray (rear) seat, soars a hope that a transient infatuation may lead on to something more meaningful.

Till one realizes sadly that the syndicate is a crossroad. It is not a point of termination but an intersection from where lives and journeys diverge.

This song has a horn interlude and a passage that speaks of ‘darkey pani,’ a sudden downpour that settles the dust and if its evening creates a luminous freshness.

It is perhaps Bipul’s genius that in these brief melodious minutes he recreates a universe that will be teeming with Darjeelingays who carry in the recesses of their minds their own episodes of Syndicate memories.

Memories that Bipul’s music has a given a fresh new color, sound and lease of life.
If Darjeeling life has a musical locus then perhaps it will follow the trajectory of a Bipul Chettri song.

P.S: What I have heard of the latest album has been promising. But this one is Bipul turning inwards…but more on this at another time.

Via TheDC

Of Roti, Matar, Alu Dum, Kofta, Bun, Puri, Pakora and More

12:44 PM
Writes: Bal Krishna
Nostalgia can hit in many different forms, at times it’s a song, at times a smell, may be a restaurant, or a even a bar… this pic brought back flood of memories from my childhood days, and I am sure many here must have shared similar experiences as me.

Back in the day when Darjeeling was still a not so globalized town, with no Pizza Hut or KFC to boot, every school going students would swear by three characters – Bari who was the primary source of food, Didi/Bhola who was the primary source of Alu dum and other goodies, and then there were these awesome people who walked around from school to school carrying a tin full of various food and goodies.

This may surprise some, but I knew the father of the man seen in the picture below. In St. Robert’s school circle the man whose picture is shared below is known as “Katley” raicha, sorry this is not a name I gave him, for I don’t know him… but I knew his father. We used to call him MIXEY (मिक्से) UNCLE – as in the one who mixed stuffs. He was a delightful character.
Darjeeling then and now
Darjeeling then and now
In almost every school we have had our shares of Badi the primary matriarch figure who was more of a parent then a mere food vendor for every student. In our school, Badi was revered even by our Principal, as he had himself been a student once at our school, and Badi was there seeing him grow up from a student, to a teacher to being posted as the Principal. Everyone respected Bari, and her alu dum and matar were to die for. She refused to sell in “baanki – credit,” but she couldn’t see anyone go hungry as well. If someone couldn’t pay, she would give the food for free that day. I don’t know how she made her profit, but every day of my schooling life she was as constant as the school bell. Come rain or blazing sun, at 12 when we rushed out after the school bell rang, there was Bari with her small little shop spread out in a chatai – mat, which was earlier made of straw, and later made of plastic. Such an Icon was she that once we got a Principal who was out of Darjeeling and he banned any food vendors from selling stuff outside the school gates, undeterred majority of the students headed to her home – which was thankfully nearby – for lunch. Bari sold her goodies from her tiny little kitchen everyday for almost 6 months, and eventually the Principal had to give in. Such was the clout of Bari, she would not stop from even scolding the teachers as and when she felt the need to. Most of the teachers had once been a student too, so they knew when Bari scolded someone it was for a good reason.

Then there would be didi – who was a bit more modern, and wouldn’t just sell food, but also offer tea and cigarettes to whoever bought it. Didi’s were more like a small rebellion happening right in front of our eyes. An upstart trying to undo the clout of Bari. I am sure our school ko Bari must have resented Didi, not for the competition but for the fact that she was selling cigarettes, which some of the students would buy.

Then there was “Mixey Uncle”… he would carry a tin full of goodies that Bari didn’t sell, he would have Bun and Kofta and Dal Puri and Nan Khatta and what not. It was a riot of food on display.

However, imagine around 500 hungry kids, descending upon these three food vendors during lunch time.

No one messed with Bari as we all loved her and we were partially scared of her, Didi was by reputation “chucchi – strict” too so no one messed with her too, then remained “Mixey Uncle” who was our favourite punching bag of sorts.

While he dealt with one, two others would have stolen the bun or the pakoras… day in and day out, “Mixey Uncle” would literally get robbed, but I never saw him complain. Like a valiant knight, undefeated, he would be present with his tin the next day.

Years later, I would visit my school again, only to find that Bari was no more, and in fact who we used to refer to as Didi had now become Bari and she has perhaps acquired the qualities of Bari for she no longer sold Cigarettes, but Roti, Alu Dum and Matar and other such goodies. There was another Didi giving her competition, hopeful perhaps she would one day become Bari too.

I never got an opportunity to meet “Mixey Uncle” after my school life, but his son bears his exact look, so when I saw this picture today, I felt I did owe him, and Bari and Didi an ode of sorts…. a THANK YOU note for being awesomely tolerant towards us, and for taking care of us even when they didn’t have to.

I am sure all the schools have their combo of Bari, Didi and “Mixey Uncles”… hope our younger generation refer them to as such, instead of naming them “Katley” which is not just derogatory, but also a poor reflection on the youngsters.

Via TheDC

"Endangered Species: The Darjeelingay Spirit"- A Confused man's perspective

9:39 AM
Writes: Diwas Chettri

For the past few years we have come across articles in Newspapers and Social Media as to wether we are a Gorkha or a Nepali, people giving controversial statements as well. Being a confused citizen I too often wonder wether I am a Gorkha or a Nepali, and What about the other Non Gorkhas/Nepali residing in the entire region? Do I want Gorkhaland? Do I want a District/ Subdivision or a Tribal Status. All this bombardments have made me to introspect what I want, what I am? to sum it all, what species I really am or belong to?

Then I come across Articles by people like ‪‎Bicky‬ Sharma, ‪‎NN‬ Ojha, ‪‎Dipendra‬ Dipzo ‪‎Faiyaz‬ Shafique Ansari and others and not to mention the team at ‪‎Darjeeling‬ Chronicle and Darjeeling Times.Com.

These individuals, forums and their articles remind me that I am a Species called the "Darjeelingay Spirit". This species is rare and unique and truly is a feeling forged by our forefathers our parents, irrespective of the fact that they were Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia, Bengali,Bihari, Marwari,Punjabi Muslim and others. The spirit of oneness, togetherness, jolly, kindhearted, unselfish and in totality- unified, this is what I am I believe a "Darjeelingay Spirit".
"Endangered Species: The Darjeelingay Spirit"- A Confused man's perspective.
The Darjeelingay Spirit
When I was a kid I believed Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia were the same and still I do, this feeling is still there because I was brought up or "hurkiyako" in the "Darjeelingay" way.

I still remember visiting my friend Biswajit Singh's house during my childhood, his parents were from Bihar but he was born in Kurseong- Darjeeling. The family never conversed in their native language but spoke the Darjeeling lingo, celebrated Dasain and Tihar equally alongside Chhat Puja. Same was the environment all over Darjeeling, the species called "Darjeelingay Spirit" used to play "Deusae" and "Bhailo" in Diwali irrespective of which community or religion they belonged originally, sing Carols during Christmas, have a feast during Eid, hop around the few puja pandals during Durga puja, enjoy Khapsey during Lohsar and savour the Thekua during Chhaat Puja.
Moreover these species prayed by making a cross with their fingers first in the forehead then the chest followed by the right and left shoulders and kissed his/her finger whenever it passed St. Andrews Church, the Groto at St.Marys Hill or the Statue of "Yatri haru ko Rakchak" near Whistle khola Kurseong and all over Darjeeling.

This species was not even a Christian, yet it did so, Why?
I recently came to read Article in the Darjeeling Chronicle and was pleasantly surprised that the Gorkha Library at Kurseong was founded by a Lepcha along with others and now we are saying we are different! Ahem...!!!.

I believe they were the true founders of the "Darjeelingay Spirit"

The concept of Gorkhaland is fading now and has become a hen giving golden eggs. The Teesta- Rangit Divide or simply Teesta Divide is gaining momentum now. To be more precise I recently read an article in a Nepali daily where one Mr. Politician quoted "highway villages near the Teesta should come under a different district and not Darjeeling because the income generated from the hydel projects would go to Darjeeling and they are trying to usurp these places." What on Earth! and all this time I thought Darjeeling was a feeling and not a district including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri.

This unique and rare species, as I call it the "Darjeelingay Spirit" can now be listed in the category of "endangered species" and will have to be given a "World Heritage" tag to save it. Still it could go the Toy Train way, where the general population doesn't care.

How are we going to bring this species alive once more, which is going into oblivion.
The decline and decaying which started with the advent of the 80's agitation till today's formation of so called development boards, divisions, area bifurcation and others.

Personally I am not against the formation of these boards or divisions, but what I am against is the death of our species- "The Darjeelingay Spirit".

Save it, invoke it.

*This is An Ode to guys like Dipendra, Bicky, Darjeeling Together, The Darjeeling Chronicle, The Darjeeling Times.Com. 
..................
*Diwas Chettri is originally from Kurseong and works in Balurghat as Capacity Building & Urban Infrastructure Development Specialist
[In Pics: Darjeeling Together and Darjeeling With Nepal volunteers, along with our generous donors have displayed true "Darjeeling Spirit" during earthquake and landslides...]

Via TheDC

Darjeeling Zoo to receive snow leopard from Britain

8:36 PM
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling  West Bengal will receive a two year old snow leopard as a part of an international breeding programme. Makalu born at the Black Country zoo in Britain will arrive from DZG on Friday at Kolkata airport and then will be taken to the Darjeeling zoo for conservation breeding programme. The big cat species is on the list of endangered animals. It's believed there are between 4,000 and 6,500 left in the world.

'Makalu', named after the world's fifth highest peak rising to 27,765 feet (8,463 metres), southeast of the Everest, left Dudley Zoo on Wednesday for Darjeeling zoo, almost 8,000 km away, in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.

Darjeeling is the native region of the snow leopard and the zoo is internationally recognised for its 33-year-old conservation breeding programme for the species, with 56 births to date.


Representational Image

"The breeding programme could "potentially see Makalu's descendants released into the wild," DZG curator Richard Brown said.
"We are hugely proud to be involved in this transfer, which is an incredibly exciting move for Makalu and the snow leopard species in general," Brown said.

"The international studbook coordinator in Finland has identified Makalu as a genetically important snow leopard and recommended him for the move, so we are proud to play our part in helping secure the future of the endangered species and we're thrilled with where he is going," Brown added.
The DZG will financially support Makalu for the next five years.


Sushila Sonar's low cost electric Wheelchair

12:18 PM
Writes Sanjog Chamling

23rd June 2016 Arunachal Pradesh: Sushila Sonar, an Indian Gorkha, who recently won Gold for India in the International Taekwondo Championship held at Bhutan (Read here - Gorkhas Daughter wins Gold and Bronze in International Taekwondo Championship) has given us yet another reason  to be proud. Sushila, a student of BSc Interior Design from  Arunachal Pradesh has designed low cost electric wheelchair which is the hope for the physically challenged and elderly.They will no longer have to be at the mercy of someone to move from one place to another.And they will have no reason to compromise their dignity. she said.

She did her graduation from JD Institute of Fashion Technology Guwahaty. She believes that, her low cost electric wheel chair will be of great help who cannot afford expensive wheelchairs in the market.
Sushila Sonar an Indian Gorkha with her wheelchair
Sushila Sonar an Indian Gorkha with her wheelchair
She was inspired to make such a wheelchair when she saw her friend's mother who is partially paralyzed."I call it a 'magic wheels' since it gives mobility to those who are otherwise dependent on others. I recon it gives more confidence to people." she added.

Sushila Sonar's interview
Ms. Sushila Sonar, a Gorkha resident of Arunachal from Naharlagun came up with a brilliant initiative of making low cost electric wheel chair out of  waste products for the Physically Handicapped people. The 'migic wheels' costs Rs 20,000 which is the cheapest so far available in the market.The avarage cost of the powered wheelchair in the market cost from Rs 60,000 to Rs10,00,000 Sonar said.
Sushila Sonar's low cost electric Wheelchair
Sushila Sonar's low cost electric Wheelchair
" Architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things in Life "


Most Common Habits That Damage Your Kidneys

8:18 PM
Kidneys are one of the vital body organs, as their function is to eliminate waste and toxins from the body through the urine.

Thus, they regulate the levels of minerals, such as calcium, and phosphate.

Additionally, kidneys regulate blood pressure as they produce essential hormones which are necessary for this function, as well as for the formation of red blood cells whose responsibility is to carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Therefore, it is of high importance to support the proper function of kidneys. If it is obstructed in some way, you may experience some of the following symptoms: vomiting, bad breath, changed urine in color and quality, dizziness, itchy skin, breathing issues, sudden pain, anemia, fatigue or tiredness, or feeling cold most of the time.
Most Common Habits That Damage Your Kidneys
Symptoms of kidney disease
If you notice some of these warning signs, you should visit your doctor and check the situation. Kidney issues may often be a result of different factors, but some of the following most common habits contribute to their damage as well:

Pain-killer abuse  
Way too often we take medications too fast, in too big doses and not in the right way. When pain occurs, it’s so easy to just swallow the pill. But, you should think twice. All pharmaceutical drugs come with side effects, and many cause damage to the kidneys. Having said that, there are some drugs that you should be taking. See the next point.

Research has shown that over-the-counter analgesics can reduce the blood flow to the kidneys and obstruct their function. Thus, the long-term use of these drugs leads to chronic kidney diseases, such as acute kidney injury or interstitial nephritis.

Note that you should consult your doctor before using any of these drugs, and make sure you take analgesics shortly, as they can cause damage to the ones with normal kidney function as well.

The Sugary Soda Habit 
A study carried out on employees at Osaka University in Japan suggested that drinking two or more soda drinks a day (diet or regular) may be connected with a higher risk of kidney disease. 12,000 employees were included in the study, and those that consumed larger amounts of soda were more likely to have protein in their urine. Protein in urine (proteinuria) is an early sign of kidney damage, but, when discovered at that stage, the disease can still be reversible.

Vitamin B6 deficiency
A healthy diet is important for good kidney function. According to the studies performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B6 deficiency increases your risk of kidney stones. For optimal kidney function, you should consume at least 1.3 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily. The richest sources of this vitamin include fish, chickpeas, beef liver, potatoes and starchy vegetables, and non-citrus fruits.

Lack of exercise
Exercise is another good way to protect your kidneys. A large study published in 2013 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggested that postmenopausal women who exercised had 31% lower risk of developing kidney stones. Generally speaking, maintaining a healthy weight will reduce your chances of kidney stones, so get moving.
Magnesium deficiency
If you don’t get enough magnesium, calcium can’t get properly absorbed and assimilated, which can result in calcium overload and kidney stone formation. To prevent that, consume green leafy vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts. The mighty avocado is a good source of magnesium as well.

Insufficient Intake of Water
Lack of water in the body may lead to significant kidney damage, as blood will get so concentrated that there the blood flow to the kidneys will be reduced.

In this way, the ability of kidneys to eliminate toxins from the body will be impeded, and as toxins accumulate in the body, the number of diseases and health issues will increase.

The recommended amount of water daily is at least 10-12 glasses in the case of an adult person. Yet, make sure you do not exaggerate as excessive amounts of water may harden the kidney function.

Delaying the Urge to Urinate
This is one of the most common causes of damage to the kidneys, as the urine remains in the bladder longer, as it supports the multiplication of bacteria in the urine.

These harmful bacteria cause urinary tract and kidney infections. Moreover, retaining the urine applies pressure to the kidneys and leads to renal failure and urinary incontinence. Hence, note that you should never postpone the urge to urinate.

Cigarettes
Smoking is a really detrimental habit, which damages all body organs, including the kidneys. Numerous studies have found a link between smoking and kidney disease, and according to the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), smoking is the number one cause of ESRD (end-stage renal disease).

This bad habit raises blood pressure and the heart rate, and reduces the blood flow and narrows the blood vessels in kidneys. Moreover, it aggravated kidney diseases and accelerates the loss of the function of kidneys.

High Protein Diet
The consumption of excessive amounts of protein-based foods, such as red meat, increases the risk of kidney disease, as the function of these organs is to eliminate and metabolize nitrogenous wastes from the body, which are by-products of the digestion of protein.

The excessive consumption of protein chronically increases the glomerular pressure and hyperfiltration, thus raising the metabolic load of kidneys, and leading to the development of kidney issues.

Hence, you should limit the intake of red meat, and in the case of kidney issues, completely eliminate it from your diet, in order to prevent further complications.


High Intake of Salt
The regular use of high amounts of salt severely damages the kidneys and leads to various health problems.

To be more precise, kidneys metabolize even 95% of the sodium consumed through food, and in the case of excessive amounts of salt, kidneys need to work much harder to excrete it, and their function is reduced, and the body retains water. Water retention may increase the blood pressure and the risk of kidney disease.

Numerous studies suggest that the consumption of salt increases the amount of urinary protein, which contributes to the development of kidney disease. Note that all excess salt you intake causes harm to your body, especially to your kidneys, and a teaspoon contains around 6 grams.

Lack of Sleep
Numerous people ignore the importance of rest and sleep. However, a good night sleep of 6- 8 hours is essential for the body. The organ tissues renew during the sleep, so in the case of sleep deficiency, these processes will be stopped, leading to damage of body organs.

Numerous studies have shown that improper sleep leads to increased clogging of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure, which elevated the chances for development of kidney diseases.

Hence, make sure you always find a perfect balance between work and sleep, rest and leisure and everyday tasks, as this has a major impact on your overall health, including your kidneys.

Excessive amounts of Caffeine
Too much caffeine increases the blood pressure, and applied pressure to the kidneys, leading to kidney damage. According to a 2002 study published in Kidney International, the consumption of caffeine is directly linked to kidney stones, as caffeine increases the excretion of calcium in the urine.

Yet, moderate consumption of drinks like coffee or tea will not be harmful, but you should reduce the intake of energy drinks, chocolate, medications, cocoa, and soft drinks.

Too Much Alcohol
This toxin leads to stress on the kidneys and liver, and its excessive amounts lead to damage of the kidneys. If you drink alcohol a lot, the uric acid will be stored in the renal tubules, leading to the tubular obstruction which elevates the risk of kidney failure.

Additionally, alcohol dehydrates the body and thus destroys the normal function of the kidneys. The advised amount of alcohol a day is a glass for women and elder people, and 2 drinks for men.

Ignoring Common Infections
Kidney damage may also result by neglecting the existence of infections, such as coughs, colds, flu, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. If you leave a common infection untreated, you may develop kidney damage, so you should always make sure you give a proper rest to the body, use antibiotics properly, and treat these issues on time.


Of Titaura and Kateko Suntala: School Days in ‪Darjeeling‬

10:48 AM
Writes: Bicky Sharma

Recently, during my stay in the plains, I would go around for a walk in the morning after waking up. What I would see were students waiting for their school bus on the side of the road, with a certain gloomy texture on their faces (obviously, my mornings would start late enough). It reminded me of the hills.

Having a nursery school just above my home, I witnessed a completely different scene here. The parents (usually moms), in their best appearance, come to reach their kids to school – holding their little hands and revising the lessons for class. The eyes of the kids start shining as they start meeting their friends and start approaching school. The kids enter the school with a smile and the parents still stay back outside the school having their share of guff-suff with the fellow parents. In fact, many of them make good friends in the process. The most amazing view is to see the kids walking “puldung puldung” carrying a bag of their size and a water bottle strapped around their neck – “naani parney LKG, jhola bokney 10 kg”.
Of Titaura and Kateko Suntala: School Days in ‪Darjeeling‬
School Days in ‪Darjeeling‬
The same kids return home with their parents’ after school with wai-wai, chocolates or tittaura in their hands, trying hard to frame their expressions in the short sentences of broken English. One could spend his whole day listening to a conversation between two classmates, embedded with lines like-“oi, tomorrow come fast okay” to “she kotharing (to scratch) on your face no?”

Takes me back to the days when I was at school.

Studying in Darjeeling has been one of the best experiences of life for me and it must be the same with everyone. From having the best of the teachers to the best of friends, your student life enriches you with all the best and funny moments, which you can only miss throughout your life.

You know you have studied in Darjeeling if you have treated yourself will the enthralling delicacies, that were mostly limited to the “bari ko dokans” outside the schools or certain selective shops.

Aludum, in its place, ranks the top spot in the list of all the delicacies. Every school has shops around it that would definitely sell aludum or some innovative derivates of aludum – like aalu mimi, aalu momo, aalu mama, aalu matar, and the list goes on. T momo, taipho, aalu thukpa, oranges sliced to half with spices sprinkled on them, slices of cucumber with acchar, tittaura (usually for girls), pepsi (ice cream of school times), sukkha matar (“class ma alchi laagda ko timepass”), beth gera, aaru cha etc were the things that school life enriched us with besides aaludum. We indeed used to take lunch from home that we finished within the first break itself.

How many of you haven’t made tattoos on hands with pen during school? There are so many things I remember vividly about schooldays. A school day itself would start with walking to school with your friends, meanwhile seeing students of other schools along the way. This little journey has in fact seen a lot of love stories, and even more “man manai love, man manai breakup” stories.

Every class would have monitors who would write the “talking names” on the board, where a few people’s name would proudly stand on the top every time; it would be me for my class, most of the times. Off periods would be the best part of the day, while break times would see serious games of chungi. Fights would often come up in class, which would end with phrases like “tero afterschool/after exams huncha”. I guess everyone has tried to bunk assemblies just for the heck of it, or bunk a class or two even.

Rainy season would see umbrellas piled up in the corner of the class and it would sometimes be a blessed feeling to sit through the entire day wearing wet socks. Forgetting an umbrella in that case was a usual affair. Coming to school or returning home during rainy season would be a strategic affair, putting every effort not to get wet. And sometimes you would have to use all your management skills to fit under an umbrella with two extra friends. Cold season had in its part a different flavour. It would be heaven to go outside in the sun after hours of sitting in the cold classroom.

From shaking hands with dozens of people while entering the class to banging the desks and singing songs during breaks, everything had its own share of happiness. One of my sisters from Loreto had however asked me to mention “favours”. I don’t know what it actually means, but the girls from Loreto would know, and if you do please mention it in the comments section.

The exchange of “Happy Holidays” and “Happy Dasain” before holidays, with all the happiness in heart; enjoying the end of the exams with your friends – everything captured in our hearts permanently, knowing that we are never going to have those times again.

The smiles that started to light up towards the end of the class, that would be brightest on Fridays of course, have been the most sincere smiles I have ever known. We all used to have a piece of cloth with us that would always be lying under the desk and would be used “jutta talkawnu” after school, before going home. No matter how smart you look before going to school, it’s a well known universal fact of Darjeeling, that you feel kind of “jhattey” while returning home. At least, the day would end with a shining pair of shoes and “chittikai mileko kapal”.

The whole school life story turns out to be a beautiful ode. Time has its monopoly over us and we fail to build a bridge over two different time periods; we can just manifest the memories – memories of hitting each other with chalks; memories of walking with two friends under a single umbrella; memories of cracking jokes with the teachers. The fragments of memories are held closely together to form a beautiful piece of happiness. The years of schooling at the most beautiful place of the world dissolves smoothly in your life to give it a beautiful colour.


Via The DC


A FICTION: The Day CM Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi

12:30 PM
Writes: Amir Gurung

“घाम चर्को लाग्दैछ... its getting hotter by the day”, mutters the village tailor in some far flung village of Sikkim. Nearby his son is meddling on the Android phone not paying much attention to what his father has just said. They are generations apart.

The boy seems to be engrossed in the phone and the old man mutters with a half angry tone, “के गरि खान्छ होउ यो केटा ले... how will you survive” The boy looks up for a while, shakes his shoulders, “टोपी सिलाउने विचार छैन मेरो... I am not going to stitch topis”. Then he goes back to his mobile…

The tailor looks up at the sky. In his mind he is thinking along these lines… sunny days means hot days, hot days means more people looking for topi, more demand for topi means more income and then we have all those good festivals coming up… aha! Business is going to be good now.

He looks down at the green house nearby his house. The organic डल्ले खोर्सानी, the रातो रातो अर्ग्यानिक टमाटर all ready to be made into some ‘Sikkim Supreme’ pickle product. He feels a sense of achievement.
The Day CM Pawan Chamling Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi
The Day CM (Pawan Chamling) Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi
He turns back to his son. “के गरेको मुबिल मा... what are you fiddling that Mubile for?”

“मूबिल होइन बाबा.. मोबाइल मोबाइल... हेइत कत्ति भन्नु होउ.. News पढेको बाबा Disturb नगर्नु होस् त .... its MOOBILE and not Muubile... how many times do I tell you that Baba? I am reading news, don't disturb me”

The tailor is hurt. Last time the CM was on one of his tours, he was impressed to know that he is still sewing the Nepali topi. The CM even wore it while addressing the people of the village. He looks at the boy and thinks, well, he knows more than me. Let me ask what the news is all about.

"के रैछ news मा... what's in the news?” The visible irritated boy tells him, “CM ले भनेको हामी चैं Sikkimese नेपाली हरे... अरु चैं सबै गोर्खे हरे... the CM says we are Sikkimese Nepali, while everyone else is a Gorkha”.

And then in the most emotive expression of the information he has gained from ‘intellectuals’ over Facebook, the boy explains to his tailor father, the difference between the Sikkimese-Nepali and the Nepali people living just beyond the Teesta. He tells his father how the other Nepalis are the "Gorkhas who came to be recruited from Nepal in the Gorkha Regiment and how the Sikkimese-Nepali were living in Sikkim from the ages past…"

By the time the son finished practicing his theory session on the ‘History of Sikkim and Beyond’, the tailor father is thinking deeply with his age old wrinkles twisted in confusion.

“ए ए ए ए तेसो भा अस्ति मैले सिलाको नेपाली टोपी CM ले लाउनु भाको थियो नि… त्यो चैं Sikkimese-नेपाली टोपी पो हो? So the Nepali topi which I had sewn and CM has won is Sikkimese-Nepali topi?”

The son is back on his Android. He is not listening. All he mutters is, “हेत्त बाबा तपाईंले बुज्नु हुन्दैन क्या. तपाईंलाई थाहनै छैन इतिहास चुप्पो लागि टोपी सिउनु होस्... ahhh Dad you won't understand much... you don't know our history... let it be.. focus on sewing the topis”.


Via TheDC

Chirag Rai first Indian Gorkha to take part in British Stunt Championship

10:32 PM
Writes Milan Pradhan:

Chirag Rai also known as Todo from Mirik Darjeeling will be the first Indian Gorkha to take part in British Stunt Championship.

When Chirag was in India we (Chirag and Milan Pradhan) had done many shows together. He is now in London and owns Kawasaki 636, away from India his passion for stunts has never diminished. A small town boy participating in this giant Championship, you can imagine how big a thing it is for him.

I (Milan Pradhan) hope this will change the perspective of people here in India and Nepal that stunt is a proper form of sports and they will take it seriously like any other sport.

Chirag often tells me how he feels like amateur on his new ride and how he had to start his every move like a beginner, nevertheless he never gave up on his dreams. An important lesson to learn from my brother, no dream is too big for you to pursue, so never give up on your passion.
Chirag Rai also known as Todo from Mirik Darjeeling
I wish Chirag all the very best for his future endeavor, he has made me proud and he will surely make his country proud.

The championship auditions is tomorrow and if gets selected, he will be in finals taking place this Sunday.


Mothers and Her Gender: A Pledge to Renew

3:25 PM

Writes Animesh Rai

European Sociologist Robert Briffault in his three volume book “The Mothers” claims that in the early phase of human civilisation the institution of family was constituted by only a woman and her children. Human race was characterised by social promiscuity and marriage as an institution did not exist. The matured males were mostly engaged outside for hunting and collecting food. Many times, they had to spend weeks and months far away from their community. It was only when women consented their trust on men for security and socio-economic reasons that man was included into the household. It gave birth to a new institution called the family which was characterised by unity, love and harmony. Mothers have been credited for institutionalising this vital human social institution – the Family.

In modern times the notion of Mother has been used to symbolise other things as well.  Like we talk of the Mother Earth, Bharat Mata - Mother India, worship ‘Cow’ as a Mother, of late the conception has also penetrated and spread into the political structure of West Bengal. The political spells like  “liberating the captive Ama” – Mother in case of Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling hills and Trinamool’s ear splitting “Ma-Mati-Manush” for Paribortan – The “Mother-Earth-People” for Change, whatever the expressions are meant to represent it does contain the gracious term Mother. Unfortunately, the contemporary political conceptualisation of ‘Mother’ at times tends to shake the political fabric of our nation-state.
Mothers and Her Gender: A Pledge to Renew
Mother representational image
The terminology Mother is constantly being used in the modern society to mean many good things and condone bad equally. The linking of political vices and defaming the pure character of the birth giver has brought a pitiful shame and pain to her, whom Briffault had allusively referred to as the developers and designers of a family. Patriarchs and chauvinist males have already started to attack on the gender of the Mother – the Women, to whom the majority of mankind worships, admires and adores in our nation. The growth of hatred, exploitation, cases of female child molestations to abuses of various kinds on women is increasing in the nation and within the local circles as well. The painful Delhi rape case of December 2013 to the recent ruthless rape of a Gorkha girl in Assam, the saffron Member of the Parliament asking a young girl to unfasten her jeans zip in Uttar Pradesh along with heightening problems of women trafficking are all affirmative of the growing brutalities against women in our country and region.

If the number of such patriarchs and chauvinists are on rise, let us also not forget and underestimate the number and strength of that the worshippers and lovers of Mothers too. The civil society at large has the capacity and power to unify the intensity of guarding our Mothers and protecting our co-gender groups from those limited lousy crooks. These negative forces would be easily dismayed, defeated and disappear in the love spell of a Mother – for her pure and unconditional love is enormous to empower and equip us in defending her and her gender.

Coming to the empirical ground, the sex ratio of Darjeeling district is one of the best in the state and nation. According to the Census of 2011, it is 97 per cent that is 970 females per one thousand males. We may not be at par with the state of Kerala in terms of education, income and other indexes but we are bit higher than them in terms of sex ratio. It is a representation of an equal society and of course, a positive sign indicative of prosperity and harmony. Let us continue to embrace our Mothers and our female counterparts and help them live their life in equality and dignity. Let us continue to rejoice and accept our baby girls for she is natured to nurture– a new family in future and to bless it with the values of human morality. On this Mother’s Day, let us take a pledge to respect and support our Mothers and womanhood at large and thank them for showing the way forward for the society. – Thank You and A Very Happy Mother’s Day!


Animesh Rai ia a Research Student Sikkim University

Gham Chhaya – Golden Times by Lt Gen (Veteran) Shakti Gurung & Mrs Madhu Gurung

11:10 PM
Writes  Lt Gen (Veteran) Shakti Gurung and Mrs. Madhu Gurung

What makes us take different roads at varying points in our lives – the choices we make in pursuance of a dream that starts as a mere idea, to become a journey of possibilities can never be fully answered. So great is the pull of the idea that it excites us to hunt high and low for ways to make it take a form, and then a life of its own.

Living as retirees in Dehradun, our story also started with an idea to unite the Gorkha community to come together in unity and pride. Initially we thought like everywhere else in India, we too should organise a Gorkha fair. But for too many years living away from the community we had had our fair share of competition, so we were more ambitious, more unafraid to trying new things, so our USP as we grew as a group, was to think not just big but bigger, an event that we could pull together on our own steam without the army cover under which we had lived all our lives. What started as possibly a one or two day event snowballed with a life of its own into a four day grand Gorkha Dwi Shatabdi Mahotsav. The website – thegorkha.com that we created after the Mahotsav captures some of its essence. For the first time the Mahotsav brought thousands of Gorkhas living in independent warrens across Uttarakhand together to publicly demonstrate their pride in their “Gorkhaness”.
Gham Chhaya – Golden Times
Gham Chhaya – Golden Times
The immediate fall out of the Mahotsav was the creation of the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad.  It was the first official acknowledgement by the government of Uttarakhand. Headed by Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, who had been appointed on popular concensus, the members of the Parishad however did not enjoy the same support. The result was it fractured the Gorkha community on party lines and made the government effort seem not serious and well meaning. However, the recent upheaval of the Uttarakhand government has caused the dissolution of the Parishad but the processes that Gen Gurung put in place, continue.

It was the formation of the Parishad that gave birth to the website: thegorkha.com that will serve not just as our documentation center but will be an interactive stimulus for intellectual debate. We are happy with the responses of our viewers. We are constantly working on ways to improve the content and incorporating the work that we are doing.

The other equally meaningful endeavour that stemmed for the same felt need for an interactive platform to reach out to the community and continue with the gains of “Gorkhaness” the Mahotsav had created, was a kernel of an idea of starting a community radio.

While the website we had created catered for the technically savvy generation of Gorkhas, the radio on the other hand is aimed to capture the space that was empty as a “binder” embracing the community speaking in Nepali.

The radio allows us the enormous span and platform to project the untapped talent of our young musicians, poets and singers. It allowed us freedom to create, tell stories, showcase our culture, language, history and tap on to our vast plethora of music, and bring together all the local talent we found in the wake of the Mahotsav and showcase it.

The Bible says for everything under the sun there is a season – a time to sow and a time to reap.  The idea of having a Gorkhali radio station started as a small seed with tremendous potential. We realised we had a brilliant idea but little expertise to execute it. But the more we thought of the idea of a community radio we realised it would be the best tool to reach out – to inform, educate and entertain the community. The Gorkhas had never found a voice and never broadcast it. We also did not have the money to the tune of Rs 25 lakhs to get a license to broadcast and have a radio station of our own.

So the idea began to falter even before it took off, that was the time we began thinking out of the box. The idea of a community radio was too good to be abandoned so we began looking for ways to make it begin. A phone call to the head of Radio Khushi, Arjun Kaintura in Mussoorie for air time for us elicited a response that was not only encouraging but we also got him to come home and talk about how we could go about it. The next step was to introduce him to the small band of people who were sold on the idea of radio. In the hall of Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha where we invited him, he came with his team of RJ – Kiran Thapa, and his production head, Madan. The team read to him, sang for him and asked him endless questions.

The meeting was a turning point as the support of Radio Khushi was whole hearted. Radio Khushi housed in Gurunank Fifth Centenary School in Mussoorie, reaches across most of Uttarakhand and is broadcast on 90.4 FM.

We asked Arjun for a two slots every week as none of us were professionals and we felt that we had to build our capacities. The truth was none of us had any idea of what it entailed but when you take an idea and think of it day in and day out, you can create paths. A music band, “Maya,” that had played for the Mahotsav had two key players Vikas Mukhiya and Finny Joseph, both musicians with expertise in their own fields. While Vikas was the band’s lead singer, composer, Finny was the sound expert.

It was this duo that came to our rescue. Finny Joseph a young man who worked some ten years for a corporate in Delhi came back to Dehradun to pursue the love of his life – music, and raise a family. Vikas Mukhiya, a musician par excellence wrote songs, composed and played in all fancy places across the country and whose passion for life stemmed from his music. He has already got fame doing biblical albums and is the one who composed the most beautiful song for our Mahotsav titled, ‘Bir Gorkhali”. It is on our website and a must listen for all the people who question Gorkha identity.

Together these two young men wrote, composed our promos, recorded them and wowed the community. We hope that our promos in times to come will become an anthem among our people. Finny continues to record for us and his ability to fine tune flagging voices, boost confidence among a team of radio jockeys, who till a few weeks back saw themselves only as students, housewives and retired army men. The excitement of wearing a new garb is hesitant but each episode when recorded gets aired, the instant emotional response fills us with wonder of its possibility and gets us back to the grind to better ourselves.

We are for a professional radio, the most unlikely team to produce radio programmes, but our USP is our heart. We know what makes us tick, we know our stories and together we are learning to say them in a way very much like the last frame of a beautiful movie that stays with you long after the images have faded. We have realised that in a way we are all story tellers as we only have the listeners’ ears so we paint with colours of our past, pride in our present, and hope for our future.

We have been asked why radio – it’s a medium that can reach out across the board to a community, as friend, adviser and a fellow Gorkha. It’s a platform for Gorkhas to interact, put forth their word and find a common solution. The forthcoming elections, 2017 may just get their Gorkha MLA, making history happen through a medium we have only just started.

The possibilities are endless.

Where do we go from here, the roadmap leads us all the way to having our own Gorkha broadcasting radio station. As we learn the ropes as tug boats hooked on to the big armada, Radio Khushi, we know we will find our own patch of land where the sky carries our name very soon.


Via thegorkha

Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama to host an exhibition on April 20 – May 10

8:55 PM
Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama (born 1991) is an Indian Gorkha fashion designer from Darjeeling based in Bangalore. She launched her debut Prêt collection under the label "P.E.L.L.A" - also an acronym for her name, at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 as a Gen Next Designer.

For many years, there was a clear boundary between fashion designers and visual artists.However designer Priyanka Ella Lorena has made her young emerging fashion journey an artistic experience. Her designs, her fabric, her photographs and her sets are forming a practice that floats somewhere between art and artisanat. This April she will host a promising exhibition where she will be showcasing miniature versions of her creations which would be mounted into frames as a 3D installation as part of Alliance Française’s Young Talent Program.

“My designs are a form of visual arts to me. I love my designs and I got an opportunity where garments can be showcased as art. I proposed the idea though I have not done anything like this before,” says 25-year-old Lorena further adding that the show will be like a fashion diary which will showcase the process of bringing out a single garment. “For most of my garments I use single block of fabric, and this exhibition will have installations that will seem like a learning diary. I will be covering my past two collections called Utopia and Abstinence,” she says.

A student of fashion from Bengaluru’s National Institute of Fashion Technology, Lorena has established her own label, P.E.L.L.A., an acronym of her name. When asked to describe, Utopia, the collection she conceived while at the fashion school and will now be showing its miniature version, Lorena says, “It’s an existence of an ideal state of mind through enlightenment.”

And, that’s when you know she’s different. A believer in the Wabi-Sabi outlook towards art, Lorena’s collection transcends the present. “Much of my work brings together what I stand for. I am sure people will be quite intrigued with this exhibition as they would not have seen anything like this before,” she concludes.

April 20 – May 10. At Alliance Française Atrium. Entry free.

— NK


Via indianexpress


A Tale of two stories: Finding Suraj Subba and losing Tirtha Tamang from Sikkim

4:10 PM
Writes: Dinesh Sharma

SURAJ SUBBA, FOUND on 28-03-2016 (Delhi): 
Rajen Chhetry, Delhi Police for North East representative and a Gorkha Youth activist received a phone call from another DPNE representative from Manipur, Timothy Chongthu. Timothy informed Rajen about a youth from Sikkim found sleeping in a Park at Munirka, South of Delhi.

Rajen Chhetry and Sandeep Pandey immediately swung into action and headed to Munirka to meet the boy. 23 years old Suraj Subba said he is from Manipal, Sikkim and had come down to Delhi a couple of weeks ago looking for his Lover and a ‘happy life after’. However, the story did not work out as he had idealized, and he found himself out on the streets a few days after landing in the city.
He has been sleeping in the park for three days and did not have any money to buy food or to go home. Whatever little he had in his bag, cloths and money was robbed at the ghettos near the railway station. Delhi Police Sub Inspector Ranveer from Vasant Kunj Police station had met Suraj the previous day in the park. After inquiry, the police officer had given him Rs. 600 to buy his tickets and go home. However, when the boy was seen in the same park the next day, the police inspector informed Timothy who then reached out to Rajen Chhetry.
Rajen Chhetry with Suraj Subba
Rajen Chhetry with Suraj Subba 
Rajen approached a nearby ‘Namastey Café’ run by a good hearted Gorkha, Puran Rai from Darjeeling. Upon hearing the story, he offered to provide food and shelter for Suraj for the interim few days. Meanwhile, Rajen contacted Sikkim House using the number given in Delhi Police brochures for emergency state help. After narrating the entire story to one Mr. Ganesh over the phone, he requested accommodation for Suraj and arrangements for him to go back to Sikkim. Ganesh told us that such matters are handled by the Resident Commissioner and he provided us his direct number. Unfortunately, all our calls went unanswered.

Having no other option, we asked Suraj if we can put up his information on our Facebook page and try getting some help. We then reached out to different people and online media, Voice of Sikkim, The Darjeeling Chronicles, Indian Gorkhas, and other media outlets. We received massive support on the information posted on GYASA and the associated online media channels page, with people caming back with information about his village and parents.

Earlier that day, GYASA members collected had some money within themselves and handed it to Suraj. Namastey Café owner Puran Rai volunteered to accommodate Suraj till he is settled. Mr. Arun Dubey, working as a Sales Director for a UK based-firm offered to book the tickets and travel expenses for Suraj Subba. Christina and Caleb from Sikkim also called in to offer their help with tracing the family of Suraj in Sikkim.

Then, the next challenge was to get the identification papers for Suraj. Arun Dubey and Rajen Chhetry also helped in arranging identity papers for the journey. Puran Rai, the café owner safely dropped him to the auto-stand. Rajen Chhetry received a call from Suraj after he reached safely back home and reunited with his family on 1st April 2016.

TIRTHA TAMANG, LOST on 3rd April 2016: 
A newly recruited Delhi Police personal from Sikkim, Tirtha Tamang committed suicide at Police Training School, Kharoda Kalan, Delhi. Reportedly Tirtha Tamang was going through depression for some time. With the aim to facilitate integration of North East people in the city, Delhi Police had recently recruited more than 600 police personal from across all North Eastern states. The new recruits had reached Delhi for their training just two days earlier.

As the news of the death reached Robin Hibu IPS, Jt. CP and Nodal Officer for North East folks he tried reaching out to Sikkim House for help. Reportedly, the person at the reception desk informed IGP Robin Hibu IPS that ‘it is a holiday today and he cannot help’. On requesting if he could inform his official, he asked Robin Hibu IPS to do that himself. Finally, Robin Hibu IPS did manage to reach the Resident Commissioner and got someone from Sikkim House to rush to the venue.

The Undercurrent:
If you have observed a striking similarity in these two stories, it is the callousness of the Sikkim House reception desk who is not efficient for emergency response. Both times, the person manning the emergency helpline has reacted badly during emergencies. If the phone number is not meant for such emergency, then Sikkim House should not have published it officially on Delhi Police emergency helpline numbers.

In a city like Delhi, people don’t have time to spend days and night trying to help each other. The state and government machineries in Delhi should be more proactive in helping their citizens. How does it reflect on the state or the region to find its people homeless and begging for food in cities? How difficult is it for the person manning the reception desk to differentiate between a SOS call and a leisure enquiry?

As Delhi Police representatives, we all try to help best in our personal capacity. Under Delhi Police for North East People, the police force is also involving community leaders and social activist to assist the government in handling such issues. However, all these good work by the Delhi Police stops when the state houses keep their doors shut and mouth mum during such emergency. When citizens are willing to help voluntarily, what does it take for the State Houses to involve them and hear them out? The saddest day would be when such good Samaritans get fed up of the Babu culture and the Great Walls of the State Houses.

Via GYASA

To Vote For a "Brighter Future," When All The Choices You Have Are "Dark"

9:26 AM
Writes: Bicky Sharma

“Dinu, uth na aabo. Vote haalnu jaadainas? Aaile duiso feri bhir huncha.” – shouts Dinu’s mom, to which Dinu replies “Jaadai garnu tapai, aaile keta haru sita awchu.” She then leaves for the polling booth, reminding him again to make it fast.

Dinu is a young guy. Just 19 years of age, thin and lean, he is a student at some college somewhere in Kolkata. He has travelled all the way to Darjeeling just a day before to cast his vote. To be honest, he has no interest whatsoever in the elections or voting, but then he didn’t want to miss the only nearest opportunity to visit home. Dinu maybe young and still at the learning stage of life, but then today he has to make an independent decision, he needs to decide who would represent him and his people.

Its time for Dinu to go for voting and he is waiting on the street below his home for Deepak. Deepak happens one among the two closest friends of Dinu, the other one being Chuppi, who happens lives “2 Golai” below Dinu’s place. Few minutes of wait on the street and a small bit of conversation with the neighbourhood ko ”badi”, mostly involving “ka chas, kasto chas?”, and Deepak arrives. “Chitto hin, Chuppi tala parkhi raako cha harey ” says Deepak and they move down the street towards the polling booth, collecting Chuppi on the way. Chuppi and Deepak, both are graduation students in the same college in Darjeeling itself. Deepak happens to be a serious and focussed guy and he is more
excited about meeting Dinu than the elections. Chuppi on the other hand is a “I give a damn” kind of a guy, not worried about most of the things around and happy to keep himself happy. His actual name happens to be Rajesh, but then, nobody knows him by that name, and he is as much worried about the elections as a goat is worried about chickens.

As they carry on their way, Deepak asks Dinu about whom would he vote. A small discussion tries to blossom, just when Chuppi interrupts,” k hawa hawa ko kura gari raako haw timaru.” The topic gets replaced by the planning of the three friends hanging out after a long time. Chuppi and Deepak flow with the conversation and the topic shuffles on to their college and its recent hot hearsay.

Meanwhile, Dinu has something else running in his mind. It is the first time he is going to vote and he at least wants to make it fruitful. He has heard people talking a lot about the contesting parties and all the criticisms and favouritisms come to his mind one by one, as he tries to calculate things as per his understandings. He has heard that the ruling party has been there for a quite a long period of time but haven’t been able fulfil their promise. What he votes them again and the same thing continues for 4 more years? Now he looks at another party, the ruling party of the state. The apathy of the state government towards his people doesn’t even make him think twice. Then he thinks
about the communist side of the list and the pain and agony of the past comes to his mind. He has heard that people his people had suffered to extremes during their tenure. Now, for the last choice,
the newly formed regional party comes to his mind. Dinu is not politically enlightened, but he is quite sure that the newly formed party is just a differently named wing of the state run party. He has
heard and read a lot about that and also assessed all the theoretical evidences. All the other names in the list are foreign to Dinu and he doesn’t want to waste is vote on NOTA either, as he has travelled all the way down for it.

The thoughts keep on bugging Dinu’s mind as they reach the voting area. The polling booth is arranged in a small primary school and it is surrounded by the uncles and aunties of the neighbourhood representing their respective parties, who remind the trio about whom to vote each time they cross one of them.

Dinu stands on the long queue waiting for his turn to come. The line soon leads him inside the booth and he still has nothing clear in his mind. A moment of wait before the voting machine and finally he does it. A long beep marks his exit from the booth and he reluctantly takes the voter’s mark on his index finger. We don’t know whom Dinu voted for.

Even Dinu doesn’t know if he did the right thing, but he hopes that his vote counts for the right of his people and place. Hopes that he has used his education and knowledge to help eradicate the darkness from the hills.

Rueben Memorial School: A Non-Profit Minority Educational Institution Celebrated Its Silver Jubilee.

8:29 AM
On 1st April 2016, Rueben Memorial School (RMS), the first english Nursery school of Chongtong Tea Estate celebrated its 25th Foundation Day. The school was established in the loving memory of Late Rueben Singh Rai, who was an Assistant Manager of Chongtong tea estate till the early 1970's. During his lifetime he had a great dream of starting a school in his locality. Unfortunately, due to his unexpected accidental death in 1972, his dream remained unfulfilled. After 19 years, his long cherished dream was brought to life through the unconditional efforts of his wife Late Sarah Rai and his family members, particularly his son Mr. Rabindra Peter Lulam (Rai). They started a non-profit educational institution in his memory and RMS was born on 1st April 1991, to provide quality education and moral values to the local children of the tea estate.

This nursery school started its journey with 2 classrooms, 26 students and 3 teachers. Today, RMS has grown big with more than 20 classrooms, with classes from Nursery to Class 12 (Arts), having more than six hundred students, twenty teaching faculties and five non-teaching staffs. In 2013, RMS was issued the Provisional Recognition No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the West Bengal Board of Higher Education. Presently, the school is seeking for a permanent recognition status as a minority school under the Church of North India Educational Board, Dioceses of Eastern Himalayas.

Since the very beginning the school has successfully produced cent percent results in the Board Examinations and the trend has continued till date. Three students have also been the Toppers in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) area in the years between 2010 to 2013, with the highest percentage being 88 per cent secured by Miss Reha Thapa and 79 per cent by both Mr. Dippal Rai and Mr. Amon Sherpa in the Madhyamik Examinations.

Today, many ex-students of the institution are pursuing higher education in different colleges and universities across the nation, some have become teachers and managers, some are working in offices and banks, few are working in the hotel industry both in India and in the Gulf countries, while some have joined the military services and few are in BPO sectors.

The Silver Jubilee Celebration of RMS began with the 'Thanksgiving Prayer Service'. In the prayer service Rev. Ranjit Saharaja Rai, an eighty eight year old, retired pastor of Church of North India (CNI), Rimbick was felicitated. Rev. Rai was formerly a soldier from 1948-53, after resigning from the army he started to teach in the Darjeeling Scottish Mission School. Since the early 1960's till date, Rev. Rai has tirelessly dedicated himself in preaching the gospel and good news to the local communities in the grassroot level. He had also offered the foundationstone laying prayer of RMS twenty five years ago.

The keynote address of the service was delivered by Rev. Roshan Thapa, CNI, Darjeeling Pastorate. He was also felicitated for his untiring committements towards the growth and prosperity of RMS. Mementos were also distributed to all the school teaching and non-teaching staffs, guests and well wishers of the school.

The RMS Family on its 25th Foundation Day extends their heartfelt gratitude to all their well wishers, the local community and administration for their unconditional love and support towards the school-building project.

 
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