Monday, March 11, 2024

4th Shiv Lata Free Educational Scholarship Event Celebrates Outstanding Achievements of Master Ayush Kumar Prasad and Miss Edlina Subba

Rongli, March 9, 2024: The 4th Shiv Lata Free Educational Scholarship Event celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of Master Ayush Kumar Prasad and Miss Edlina Subba, who emerged as the top performers among the 24 participants in the scholarship exam held on February 17, 2024.




The event occurred at Riverine Elementary School, Melatar, Rongli, and was attended by distinguished officials, Shiv Lata family members, and Smt. Sabnam Golay, the school's Headmistress, served as the Chief Guest.
The scholarship is generously supported by the family members of Late Siba Narayan Pradhan and Late Nirlata Pradhan. Siba Narayan Pradhan, was a former Head-Sir of Middle English School, Rongli (now Kumari Pema Tsedeun Secondary School).
Smt. Sabnam Golay, the esteemed Headmistress of Kumari Pema Tseduen Government Secondary School, emphasized the significance of quality education and acknowledged the collective efforts of the family members of Late Siba Narayan Pradhan and Late Nirlata Pradhan in supporting the scholarship initiative.
The Shiv Lata Free Educational Scholarship stands as a prestigious initiative, students from Class V, irrespective of their school affiliation (government or private), are eligible to participate in the examination. The scholarship covers all educational expenses for the selected students, enabling them to enrol at Riverine Elementary School, Melatar, Rongli, from Class VI to Class VIII.

SGREWA Singtam Branch Honours Shri Kunjilal Mintri for Exemplary Service to Society

10.03.24: The Sikkim Government Retired Employees Welfare Association (SGREWA), Singtam Branch, expressed joy in honouring Shri Kunjilal Mintri of Om Himalayan Medical Hall, Singtam Bazaar. 




Shri Mintri had been providing the SGREWA members 12% discount on medicines and a 10% discount on diagnostics. 

Recognizing his commendable contribution to society as a thriving entrepreneur, SGREWA extends best wishes for sound health, continued success, and a flourishing career. Smt. Hansa Rai read the commendation, while Shri CP Pradhan presented the memento. 

Further, in his speech, Shri Mintri thanked the members for the honour and shared his best practices in helping society, he further announced that he had increased the discounts of 15% on medicines. 

The felicitation ceremony took place on March 8, 2024, with warm regards from the association's members at their office. SGREWA applauds individuals like Shri Kunjilal Mintri for their positive impact on the community.

Monday, March 04, 2024

Sikkim's Roshan Prasad's Literary Achievement at EPAEX 2024 Stamp Exhibition

 04.03.24: Roshan Prasad, a renowned philatelist hailing from Singtam, Sikkim, won the Large Silver award in the Literature Class at the EPAEX 2024 Stamp Exhibition held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for his recently released book “The Stamp Chronicles – A Journey Through Philately” which was released at the Sikkim Awards 2023 by the Honorable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay).



The Exhibition was organised by Emirates Philatelic Association between 28th February – 3rd March 2024 at Dragon Mart 2, Dubai to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of UAE – China diplomatic relations and to promote philately in the region where 66 participants from 9 countries participated. Roshan earned 78 marks out of 100 to secure his position and win the Large Silver medal.

This is the second book Prasad has written on Stamp Collection with the motive to provide the readers with a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the world of postage stamps, encompassing topics such as stamp collection, the history and evolution of postage stamps, practical guidance on starting a stamp collection journey, essential accessories, building an exhibit, philatelic material selection, and exhibition standards, all while nurturing a deeper understanding of philatelic terminology and knowledge through features like Stamp Recognizing, Global Renaming, and The Stamp Quiz.

His book has also been selected for the Specialized World Stamp Exhibition "EFIRO 2024" organized by the Romanian Philatelic Federation in accordance with the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP) in Bucharest, Romania scheduled for April 2024.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

GANGTOKPEX 2024 Celebrates Philatelic Excellence with Outstanding Exhibits

 Shital Pradhan from Sikkim wins Vermeil

Singtam, 14.02.24: The prestigious GANGTOKPEX 2024 (Feb 7-8), organised by Sikkim Post and held at Sir Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School, Gangtok concluded on a high note, showcasing the extraordinary talent of philatelists from Sikkim and nearby region. The Vermeil Medal, the highest honour in the senior category, was awarded to Shital Pradhan from Singtam, Sikkim, for his captivating exhibit titled "Sikkim Through Philately," earning an impressive 72 marks.

In the senior category, Silver Medals were bestowed upon Deepen Pradhan (Rhenock - India Pre Independence), Sushil Karthak  (Siliguri - Famous Indian), Anand Yonzone (Darjeeling - The Postal System), and Nilema Yonzone (Darjeeling - Women Empowerment), each receiving 62 marks for their outstanding contributions.




Bronze Medals were shared by Ganesh Kumar Pradhan (Rhenock - Philatelic Exhibition in India / Special Covers on Sikkim), Sishir Pradhan (World of Football), Sunita Gurung (Singtam - Darjeeling Postal Collection / Special Covers on Sikkim), Sushil Karthak (Siliguri - Rhino), Rubenn Pradhan (Rhenock - India Miniature Sheet), Shanti Bhuzal (Rhenock - Biodiversity), Anirudh Sharma (Rhenock - Toy Train Through Philately), and Bipul Bikas Das (Siliguri - Himalayas), with each participant earning a commendable 57 marks.

In the Junior category, young talents were recognized with Silver Medals awarded to Sumiran Tirwa, Ekashray Tamang, Ujjalata Singh Sunwar, Nancy Gurung, and Avishu Pradhan for their impressive exhibits. Meanwhile, Subasna Basnet, Sudarshan Rai, Aakriti Rai, Albin Sohit Chettri, Meghna Sharma, Tanishka Pradhan, and Sidharth Rasaily received well-deserved Bronze Medals.

The philatelic exhibition featured the unveiling of the Special Cover on "Chyabrung - A Musical Instrument of the Limboo Tribe of Sikkim," designed by Roshan Prasad, a renowned philatelist from Sikkim. Additionally, a Philatelic Workshop and Quiz Competition for students, hosted by the knowledgeable Vivek Yonzone, from Darjeeling, added an educational and engaging dimension to the event. Deepen Pradhan from Rhenock, Sikkim had designed the beautiful logo of GangtokPex 2024.

Ganesh Pradhan, President of the Sikkim Philatelic Society, has congratulated the Sikkim Post for successfully conducting the event. Pradhan further extended his congratulations to the awardee participants.

Tuesday, January 09, 2024

Saramsa Garden : Picnic Destinations in Sikkim

Saramsa Garden in Ranipool, Sikkim, is a beautiful botanical garden perfect for nature lovers. Spread over acres of land, it's a haven of diverse plants from Sikkim and beyond. You'll find all sorts of plants here, from colorful orchids to medicinal ones and plenty of flowers.

The Garden is more popular these days for a best picnic destination to enjoy weekend holidays with family and friends. I have personally enjoyed this trip with my son and with newly installed playground item it is more enjoyable for kids. Pay Rs. 100 and enjoy the fun time at the Garden. Marriage parties and social function is other things that attract people to this place. 




What makes Saramsa special is its peaceful atmosphere and lovely pathways that wind through the greenery. It's a great place for a relaxing stroll or to just sit and enjoy nature's beauty. The garden also has a greenhouse where they take care of delicate plants, making it even more interesting to explore.

Besides being a lovely spot for visitors, Saramsa Garden is also an educational place. They organize workshops and programs to teach people about plants and how to take care of them. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn while being surrounded by the stunning natural setting.

For anyone visiting Sikkim, especially those who adore nature or want to learn more about plants, Saramsa Garden is a must-visit. It's a peaceful escape filled with colorful plants and a chance to discover the fascinating world of botany.

The distance from Gangtok to Saramsa Garden in Ranipool, Sikkim, is approximately 14 kilometers (around 9 miles) by road. It's a relatively short drive and can take around 30-40 minutes, depending on the traffic and mode of transportation. Many visitors to Gangtok often take a short trip to Saramsa Garden to enjoy its serene environment and beautiful botanical offerings.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Sikkim Herald- The Early Years

The history of Sikkim Herald dates back to the time of the monarchy when there were hardly any newspapers in Sikkim. A brief research was carried out by the IPR officials during the recent compilation of the Department's Achievement Report from where it is gathered that few monthly magazines were published during the erstwhile monarchy, such as Kanchenjunga by Mr. Kashiraj Pradhan, (1957), Sikkim Fortnightly by Mr. K.B. Thapa and other few publications.


With the establishment of the Publicity Department way back in the early sixties, the need to have an official news bulletin was felt by the then Sikkim Government to highlight its developmental activities in the form of a monthly news bulletin. As a result, the Sikkim Herald came into being. The first Sikkim Herald which was published in Nepali dates back to March 1959. The editorial board consisted of the following members-

1. Mr. T.S.Gyaltshen as Chairman

2. Mr. J.T. Densapa as Member

3. Mr. Mohan Pratap Pradhan as Member

4. Mr. M.M. Rasaily as Member

Mr. C.D. Rai was the editor of the first Sikkim Herald.

With time, Sikkim Herald evolved gradually, the name of the Publicity Department changed to the Directorate of Information Services and again the Press and Publicity Department during the seventies. Subsequently, with the merger of Sikkim with the Indian Union in 1975, and keeping with the directives of the Government of India, the Department was renamed as Information and Public Relations Department in 1978.



The growing workload and requirements of the time necessitated. the restructuring of the department. The Government invited Mr. M. V. Desai, the then Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi to report on the information task in Sikkim in 1977. Based on this report, different sections like Publication, Advertising, Visual Publicity, District Information Centers, Film and Photo division were established. Thus, the department fully took on the new challenges taking in its ambit, manpower training, up-gradation of its technical equipment etc. Gradually, over the years, the Sikkim Herald began to be published as a weekly in 1963 during the tenure of Mr. N.K. Rustomji who was the then Dewan of Sikkim. Later, Sikkim Herald came out in the form of a newspaper which was cyclostated. With time Sikkim Herald was published in Tibetan and then subsequently in Lepcha language. The Nepali and Tibetan editions of the Sikkim Herald used to be brought out regularly. The first Sikkim Herald in Nepali dates back to March 1959. The departmental team even came across a handwritten Sikkim Herald that was published in Nepali in 1967.

Till 2014, the Sikkim Herald was published in 12 languages i.e Nepali-1959, Tibetan-1968, Lepcha-1977, Limboo-1989, Bhutia-1997, Newari-2000, Gurung-2001, Sherpa-2001, Tamang-2001, Rai-2001, Mangar-2002 and Mukhia-2004. After May 2011, Sikkim Herald English and Nepali editions were brought in colour.