Polling Booth at Singtam-Khamdong Constituency

Sikkim’s unique electoral college

From chennaivision

Sikkim has a unique electoral college for Sangha (monasteries) seat whereby only Buddihst Lamas and Nuns have the right to elect one representative in the 32-member Assembly.

The Lamas and Nuns can cast ballot from their respective Assembly segments in general booth but have a separate ballot box for Sangha seat.

-X- Women take pride in Sikkim’s elections in electing the 8th Assembly as some 1,43,154 electors of the total 3,00,584 are females.

Of them a record 56 are nuns, which showed women are not far from taking lead role in propagating Buddhism in this erstwhile Chogyal kingdom.

-X- Chujachen constituency in east Sikkim has the highest number of voters in a constituency at 12,902. The lowest is at Lachen-Mangan, a tribal Bhutia seat north Sikkim with 5699 voters.

-X- The polling station with the largest number of voters is Arithang-Old Secretariat room No 1 with 1206 voters in east Sikkim.

The lowest number of voters is in 127 polling station at Poklok-Kamrang-Pajer primary school in south Sikkim, a new territory after delimitation of constituencies.

-X- Altogether 741 voters will cast their ballot at 12000-ft high at Gnathang in east Sikkim, the highest polling station under Gnathang-Machong(Bhutia-Lepcha) constituency.

-X- People in large numbers left from Sikkim’s capital Gangtok on the eve of polling for their villages to cast ballot. ”I have to walk some ten kilometers from the road to reach my village and I will leave a day in advance,” Vishal Raj Gurung, a government employee said.

-X- Chujachen in east Sikkim and Melli in the south have the highest number of eight candidates in the fray. Kabi Tingda in north has only two candidates in the fray which a direct fight between the SDF and the Congress.

-X- Youngest male candidate in the fray is 26-year-old Baghirath Bhandari, fielded by the CPI(M) from Melli constituency in south Sikkim. Oldest male candidate is former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari(68), the Congress president contesting from Soreng-Chakung (West), Khamdong Singtam (east).

Youngest female candidate is Sanjukta Rai(26) of Sikkim Jan Ekta Party from Namthang-Rateypani in south Sikkim while the oldest woman candidate is Purna Kumari Rai(50) of Congress from Poklok-Kamrang contesting against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

-X- Three poll veterans, who fought for Sikkim’s merger with India in 1973 are among seven candidates fighting for the only Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim. They are former ministers Ram Chandra Poudyal as Independent, Khara Nanda Uprety as Congress nominee and Nar Bahadur Khathiwada from Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party.

-X- Sikkim is the only state in India, which has the lone Lok Sabha member representing about 5.5 lakh people of the state in the 543-member Lower House of Parliament.

Sikkim Government Website attacked by virus...but who cares!!

It had been for sometime now that i had been watching the State Government of Sikkim's website being attacked by virus. For over a month no one had ever dare to give it a watch and check it. Everyone seem busy with election campaign!!

I could not watch Rahul Gandhi because of my umbrella

The stage was set for the yuvraaj of Indian Politics at Palzor Stadium, Gangtok. As many others i was also in a queue at the entrance gate of the stadium under the scorching heat of the summer sun. With crowds rushing up like ants , the scenario everywhere was much different than it usually happens in Sikkim politics. I could hear national integration songs being scored up loudly on mikes as if i was about to witness a National festive much like Independence Day or the Republic Day. Among the crowd i was there holding a small hand bag with an umbrella inside, as these days rainfall is unpredicted at this part of the region.


Congress supporters of all age from every corner of the state had gathered. With all the hushing and pushing i made my way to the security personal who was checking every individual entering inside the stadium. I had my bag in front of me and as i was ready to open the zip of my bag i was told to keep aside the bag before entering the stadium. I showed them it was only an umbrella but i was denied, same sentence echoed from behind ''if you want to enter inside remove your bag as well as remove your mobile battery". I found myself in a funny situation i came all the way from Singtam, an hour long drive where with no vehicle available even after waiting for more than half and hour, i hurried into a crowded bus just to make sure i do not miss Rahul Gandhi. Now when i am about to step my foot i am told i cannot do so without leaving my bag, i was now looking frustrated with hose security personnel and asked them where should i throw my bag to enter inside. But i could not get the reply.

NB Bhandari helps Rahul Gandhi wear
Lepcha half jacket and a nepali topi

I wanted to listen to Rahul Gandhi, click some photographs and make my way back home in time since i knew there would be no vehicle in the evening to Singtam. But i felt sorry so near and yet so far i could not do so. Feeling dejected i returned back from the stadium. I had in my mind, I could not watch Rahul Gandhi because of my umbrella and yet i was consoling myself that tomorrow every local newspaper will have the Rahul's story and his photograph.

Photo: Himalayadarpan

When The Great Khali came to Sikkim.....

I still remember it was in early 90s when The Great Khali then he was only Dilip Singh visited Gangtok, and i believe i have that newspaper from Sikkim Express that carried an article on this giant man on their front page but in the racks of over thousand newspaper in my collection, it is somewhere hidden. There were talks then how he was carried inside the van with the second seat of the van being removed and replaced with smaller muurah (local sitting item). We were still in the final years of the schooling session and we too rushed to watch him at Developmental Area, where he was at one of the hotel.

Last week when i was crossing over one of the eateries at Tadong, i came across a frame being hanged on the wall where it was written " The Great Khali at Gangtok", i just clicked the pic for myself. More than a decade latter we never knew that giant personality would rock the WWE arena and make name for himself in the world of entertainment sports. But for me at least the mere thought that he came to Sikkim and his fantasy over his journey as a local tourist fascinates me.

Election Manifesto (2009)

Finally i had the copy of the manifesto of the two major parties of the Sikkim Assembly Election. Well i would be more than pleased if someone could help me get the other parties manifesto for my small collection.

Sikkim Democratic Party

Sikkim Pradesh Congress

JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT

This is a national song of Sikkim sung in Nepali language during the monarchy system which was later banned, after Sikkim got merged with India and later re-released with the change of two words on the 4th para where it says "Janmah bhumi" that had an original word "Rajah and Rani". This song was dedicated to the King and Queen of Sikkim.

The lyrics of the song was penned by Sanu Lama and the music composed by Dushyant Lama. The song was first sung on the birth anniversary of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on April 4, 1970 at Gangtok by Aruna Lama, Dawa Lama and Manikamal Chettri.

JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT, JAHAN KANCHENDZONGA SEER
YEHI HO HAMRO DHANA KO DESH, TAPAWAN HO PYARO SIKKIM

INTERLUDE

PHULCHAN YEHA AANGANAI MAA, CHAAP , GURANS, SUNAKHARI
SWARGASARI SUNDAR DESH, HAMRO PYARO PYARO JANMAHBHUMI

JANHA BAGCHA……

BATASHLE BOKCHAA YEHA, TATHAGAT KO AAMAR WAANI

SHRADHA , BHAKTI GARCHAU SADHA, YEHI MATOKAA PHOOL RAHAU HAMI.

JANHA BACHA…..

BUDHAN SARANAM GACHAM, DHARMAM SARANAM GACHAMI, SANGAM SARANAM GACHAMI.

JANHA BAGCHA…

Century old British War Memorial at Gnathang in Sikkim

As always when i come across stories related to Sikkim history my feet has no boundaries. I had heard about a small war memorial at Gnathang along the Sikkim-Tibet border some few years back but due to unavoidable circumstances i was not able to visit that place. So when i set my foot at Gnathang this March i was very excited. Well there is a War Memorial in Gnathang but more than that a neglected one. Despite its historic importance, i believe it has lost its existence. The dry over grown grasses and the broken name plates of the memorial speaks of the negligence. The world history remembers the event as the Sikkim Expedition 1888.

There are around 15 graveyards in the War Memorial of those soldiers representing the British Expeditionary Force that fought war against the Tibetan Army in 1888 at Gnathang. The British Force stayed at this remote mountainous corner between 1888 to 1895 and the memorial reflects the determination and girt of those people most of whom are were in their mid 20s and died fighting at the height of 11000 ft above sea level.

What is more important that the impact of the defeat of Tibetan Army in Gnathang resulted in the transfer of administration power of the Sikkim towards the hand of British. We shall have more details of Sikkim Expedition 1888 in few days.

First Chief Minister of Sikkim with his Belgian wife

Source:The Life and Times of a Plantsman in the Sikkim Himalayas

Don't Ask Any Old Bloke For Directions

I wanted someone to write on the book but never found any, the book is something i too wish to read and for some time had been hanging around my fantasy. Out here in Singtam, i do not find people wasting time flipping around quality books only flashy magazines rocks here. It was a sudden meeting with my former senior colleague Serah Basnet of Weekend Review days all thanks to the beautiful Facebook that she send me a link from a page published in The Hindu which might be of interest to many.

In earlier post i had shared a similar review on the very book written in one of the web page which to me wasn't a pleasing reading still i gave a try, at least some one would come up with a better review. But i believe like me they might not had gone through it or could be they did not find my post worth commenting. Out of no where i found a comment from some Anonymous. I would love to share his/her view straightly...

"i enjoyed the book immensely..but one can understand the reviewers inability to understand some aspects of the book..one does need to have an understanding of sikkimese buddhist culture to understand and enjoy the book..however,it saddens me to find that among so many positive reviews of the book both at the national and state level..the one negative one from a debatable source finds its way in a blog which claims to be proud to be a sikkimese..to each his own."

I really liked the one line where he/she says "one does need to have an understanding of Sikkimese Buddhist culture to understand and enjoy the book" and that was it. I find it worth sharing what Serah di commented, she said "Loved the book. Honest and funny. "It was worth every crazy minute" I spent reading it.

Here is the review i am talking around

An ‘old bloke’s’ tale

SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY

P.G. Tenzing junks a bureaucrat’s job to ride his bike across India. The result is a splendid book .

destination freedom P.G. Tenzing

This is one “old bloke” you would love to hate. Tell you why? He has done what many of us would fancy doing any day but can’t convince ourselves enough to do it finally. So, even as we end up cribbing about being caught in a never-e nding race, and how life has reduced us to mere rats, here is P.G. Tenzing, an IAS officer who dumped his cream-of-the-crop job, after 20 years, to do what he always wanted to do — get on his bike and kick off to a quirky ride across the country.

Tenzing took about a year to complete his journey. It was his way of reclaiming his freedom from the fetters of a job he “was never cut out for”. Criss-crossing through almost all the States and Union Territories, “without a pre-planned route or direction”, he traversed 25,320 kms. On the way, he encountered “numerous waiters and mechanics — fleeting human interactions and connections that seemed pre-ordained.” The 40-something, with a proud lock of unkempt hair now, calls these meetings “a way of paying off Karmic debts”, a “thamzi”. In his native Sikkim, thamzi, a Bhutia word, means ‘the sacred bond’.

All these “roadside Johnnies” now flesh out a book Tenzing has just come up with, titled “Don’t Ask Any Old Bloke For Directions”, a Penguin India publication. A 218-pager, the book is as racy and thrilling as a bike ride can be. Between the pages, he also takes umpteen pot-shots at bureaucracy and politics, pokes fun at friends and family, before screeching to a halt at the door of “freedom”. About his friends and colleagues’ reactions, he quips, “There have been some light complaints and a few abuses have been heaped on me by friends but no major fallouts. Thankfully!”

Talking about his love for biking, Tenzing, in an e-mail interview from Mangan, his home town in North Sikkim, states, “Men at some level never grow up, at least that’s the way I feel. The love for the Enfield 350 cc dates back to my college days. The bike for me represents freedom in a macho kind of way…and no, it’s not a phallic symbol for me.” Looking back at those nine months on the road, he admits, “I realised a lot of things about myself during those months and not all was flattering.”

A graduate of Delhi University, Tenzing cut through the Civil Services exam in 1986. He states his reason: “What else was there to do in those days? That was the best job around and with a little bit of raw idealism about bringing justice to the poor, a man was hooked.” In retrospect, he writes in the book, “It was a good run in the IAS till I found that I was not taking the job seriously and taking myself too seriously.” He also writes this: “One of the faults of the recruitment to the Government services in the civil sector is the lack of a psychological profile for candidates…”

Now stripped of the power of the beacon light, he says, “I never liked power…so no question of missing it.” Though writing the book “was at times the hardest thing in the world and at times the easiest…like pain and joy in equal measure”, he says, “Writing may just become a habit.” Along with him, his younger daughter, 14-year-old Dechen Pelgi Tenzing, has also turned a writer. She has penned “arguably the first Manga comics from the subcontinent, ‘Wolf’s Fang’.” The father and daughter launched their first books together at Gangtok the other day.

Latest pic of the Rongli Dam Disaster

These are the latest photographs of the Rongli Dam Disaster especially for the blog readers.

According to the latest news, five dead body had been recovered and send for post mortum at Singtam Hospital.

Photo by : Pranay Pradhan, Rongli