Prashant makes waves on film making reality show

Gangtok (UNI): He shares his first name with the Indian Idol 3, but this Prashant is making waves on yet another reality show on the television. Prashant Rasaily, a budding director from Sikkim, has entered the top ten of the first Indian reality show based on film making Gateway presided over by Ashok Amritraj, the chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment.

Prashant became the third person from the Hills in recent times to have made it at the top of reality shows after Indian Idol Prashant Tamang and Chhote Ustaad aspirant Prakriti Giri. This achievement means that the talent pool from the Hills is making a presence yet again on the small screen.

The twelve week episode is being presided over by Amritraj and being shot at Subash Ghai's film school in Bombay Whistling Woods. The acting talent has been arranged by Anupam Kher's acting school, Talent Company.

At the end of the series, Amritraj will select a winner for the grand prize: an intern ship in Hollywood where the winner will have to spend six to eight weeks with the Hyde Park Entertainment in Los Angeles working on the development and pre-production of a Hollywood film. The winner will then get a chance to rise from obscurity to an international director to direct a Hollywood film produced and financed by Hyde Park Entertainment, and distributed around the world. Prashant, a multi-talented boy from Sikkim is a singer, musician, Disc jockey, photographer and a director.

He has directed Myth, a 24 minute short thriller, the first English movie from the state. The movie is based on Wildlife and the Environment. Prior to its screening, during its post-production phase in Calcutta, the movie had won praises from renowned names in the Indian film industry. He was also part of the documentary Mahakala Chaam shot at the Rumtek monastery.

Prashant has two more movies lined up, one in Sikkimese called Karma and a silent film Liaison. He also has a music album Awaaz to his credit. Recently he has written the script for Kagbeni, a Nepali thriller produced from Kathmandu which is to be released soon.

Prashant was unavailable for comments since he is busy with the episodes and has been barred from speaking to the press till the contest is over. He had sent a three and a half minute film called 'Mother' as an entry to the contest, which secured a berth for him in the final 18 hot contestant's seat.

Well known Bollywood directors like Subhash Ghai, Karan Johar, R Balakrishnan, Sanjay Gupta, Shriram Raghavan, Manish Acharya and many others are expected to appear as guests in the episodes. The show puts the contestants through a rigorous exercise of tasks to test their creativity and film making abilities. The jury members include film makers Rajat Kapoor and Anurag Basu. Prashant's bid for the top ten came in his favour with the short film prepared as a task for the contest Two Worlds.

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/television/top-stories/news/2008/prashant-rasaily-gateway-310308.html

Prakriti's aunty speaks at Chotte Ustaad

From: SVOIPrakriti

Chisopani Club holds meeting to fight back Drugs

Singtam: United Alliance Club, a local club here at Chisopani organized a meet to fight for a major challenge in today's society in Drugs. The two month old club was started especially for the motive to help the youth indulged in drug addiction as well as educate the consequences of the Drugs. Talking on the occasion Dhiraj Pradhan, President of the club spoke of the ill effects of the intake of the drugs in today's society. He recalled for the need of such organization to help those people. Pradhan added those people should not be seen as the ills of the society but need to have a talk with them. Initially it won't be easy but with helping hand from every individual present on the meet, Pradhan was very optimistic about his approach with a success.

Different discussion was held to improve and appraise the club and be available to every needful individual. Suggestion on diverting the minds of those people to intellectual game like chess and others were are discussed. Arun Lama,Chief Guest applauded the initiative taken by the youths to help build the stronger and better society. He asked everyone to come forth and fight this evil and build better Sikkim for tomorrow. He assured every possible help from his side. Lama emphasized more and more people from rural areas and urban areas should be included in the club and there should be no age level for the people to be the member of the club was told.

International Flower Festival 2008, Sikkim (in pictures)

Damdul’s crusade inspires wife : E.M. JOSE

Shillong Tibetan’s family ready to make ‘supreme sacrifice’ for freedom
E.M. JOSE

Shillong, March 28: Tsering Dolma’s face shows no signs of pain. What shines bright in her eyes is the fierce determination of a woman who is ready to die for a cause for which her husband tried to give his life on Wednesday.

Tsering, wife of Shillong-based Tibetan Kalsang Damdul, who attempted self-immolation on Wednesday on the Sikkim-Bengal border, today said she and her two-year-old son were ready for the “supreme sacrifice” for Tibet and its people. Damdul had said his action was spurred by his “inner voice”.

Cradling her child at their Jhalupara residence in Shillong, Tsering said she was “brimming with courage and confidence” after the brave act by her husband. “For the sake of Tibet, we are ready to sacrifice our lives and even our child.”

There are nearly 700 Tibetans in various parts of Shillong. Most of them either run restaurants or sell fruits and clothing.

It was on March 16 that Damdul, a member of Tibetan Youth Congress along with 79 other Shillong Tibetan youths, went to the Sikkim border. Their plan was to cross Nathu-la and reach Tibet to give support to the anti-China campaign.

“I was supposed to go along with my husband to Sikkim, but my mother-in-law did not let me,” Tsering said.

She said Damdul called up from Sikkim after the headline-grabbing incident.

Born in Shillong, Tsering believes that one day her dream of a free land will be fulfilled. “We are in exile since 1959. There should be more pressure from India on China for a peaceful settlement.”

To get the support of the people of Meghalaya, Tsering took the initiative to start a signature campaign in Shillong.

Damdul’s younger brother Tenam is also a proud member of the team from Shillong.

Tashi Lhamo — who runs a restaurant at Barabazar in the Meghalaya capital — sent his 22-year-old son, Tenzin Dukgyal, along with the team. “They went first to Siliguri and from there, they proceeded on foot to Sikkim,” Tashi said. The team, however, was not allowed to cross over to Tibet.

Nima Palmo, another woman, had also sent her son to the Nathu-la border. She came to know later that the Shillong delegation was not allowed to cross over into Tibet.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080329/jsp/northeast/story_9068706.jsp

Tibetans protest in Sikkim

It was yet another day, this was day three of protest against the Brutal Chinese Regime. The Peaceful Marcher's who took the long trek from Siliguri on 20th March arrrived here at the Sikkim Border On 23rd of march.Till than they have been protesting for the lackadaiscal move by the Sikkimese Government, since they have not been allowed to gain access into the capital of Sikkim.

Today is the Third day of Protest,and they even called for unanimous decision to launch Indefinite hunger strike continuing from yesterday, for not letting them access. The youth's resentment was clearly visible about how deep the conflict was in Tibet.

They are still determined to enter the border, but the spearhead of their organization have called for patience and perseverance.There was even an attempt by one for the protestor's to inflame himself with,but immediately he was stopped by the Indian Police and the Tibetan Volunteer's who were also controlling their friends situation.

(Report by Tenzing Theckpa)

www.ibnlive.com

“Bhandari still believes in suppression of women”

Gangtok: “Former Chief Minister and Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari, has made a negative comment on a Sikkimese cheli (woman), Mrs. Tika Maya Chamling, winning award in the International Florishow 2008. It reveals that Mr. Bhandari still believes in suppression of women as in 18-19 century”. This is said in a Sikkim Democratic Front press release issued by SDF Publicity Secretary, Mr. T. N. Sharma.

The release said, “The florishow at Saramsa Garden, which attracted over one lakh visitors, including domestic and foreign tourists, earned wide applause from all over the country and abroad. Local, national and international media opined that by hosting such an international event Sikkim’s prestige has been heightened. SDF party feels proud when any Sikkimese woman, by dint of her own capacity, is able to win awards in such an international level exhibition”.

The release also referred to another remark of Mr. Bhandari. “According to a report in a daily newspaper of March 24”, the release says, “Mr. Bhandari has tried to instigate members of Limbu-Tamang communities by asking them to ‘come out in the open with khukri’ (chopper) to get their rights. It can not be accepted that he is speaking in the interest of Limbu-Tamang, or he has any moral right for that, because it is he (Mr. Bhandari) who on 21 April 1987 had snatched away their rights”.

“Mr. Bhandari, who had said in 1994 that he would ‘kill people as leeches are killed by putting salt on them’, is now seen by the people as only a noise maker and nothing else”, the release said, adding, “SDF party is committed to provide Assembly seats to Limbu Tamang and make Sikkim a tribal State and the party is working in that direction from the State Assembly to Delhi”

http://sikkimreporter.com//

Three Honours to Prof Mahendra P Lama

New York, 19 March: Prof Mahendra P Lama today received the India-China Fellowship awarded to him by the prestigious New School University in New York. This Fellowship was awarded to him to recognise his leadership and commitment to the dialogue in India, China and the United States. While speaking at the glittering function held at the University in the heart of New York City in the United States, Prof Bob Kerrey, President of the University and former Senator admired Prof Lama profusely for his singleminded dedication and major contributions to issues of cross border cooperation, peace and development. Prof Lama will in the course of next fortnight lecture at various Universities in the US.

Prof Lama has also been invited as an International Observer for the crucial Constituent Assembly election in Nepal. The election will be held on 10 April 2008. A number of international organisations including the United Nation and European Union are supporting the National Election Observation Committee in Nepal to monitor the this path breaking election in the history of modern Nepal. The invitation letter to Prof Lama mentions that “Keeping in view your constant support, dedication and solidarity for the cause of human rights and democratic development in Nepal, we are pleased to extend this invitation to you in order to join as a short-term observer with the International Election Observation mission hosted by National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) in coordination with the Government of Nepal.” Prof Lama is one of very few international observers invited from the South and South East Asia region. The NEOC will be deploying a number of international overseers from all over the world in various polling booths spread throughout Nepal

Prof Lama has also been nominated as a member of the high level National Task Force to examine the issues of hill and mountain development in the country. This Task Force has been appointed by the Prime Minister of India as a sequel to the decision taken in the National Development Council Meeting held in last December 2008 in New Delhi. This Task force will prepare the full report on various development issues of the hills and mountain regions of India. The Task Force which is supervised by the Planning Commission in New Delhi is also likely to visit Darjeeling and Sikkim.

http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/News/Three-Honours-to-Prof--Mahendra-P-Lama.html

Kingdom without a king

30 years ago in India Today
 

Our jeep jolted to a halt before the border town of Rangpo. The Nepalese driver leapt out to survey the scene and said, “We will cross into Sikkim now. All this was India.” “But Sikkim is a part of India,” we said. “That is what they say,” he replied. It was under the shrewd gaze of New Delhi thousands of miles away that Sikkim changed governments.

In April 1975, the Government of India introduced the 36th Amendment Act making Sikkim the 22nd state of the Indian Union. The Sikkim issue, which had earlier developed into a national debate a year ago, never got complete hearing due to the declaration of Emergency.

In Gangtok, the deposed Chogyal’s eldest son’s death has caused a sudden tightening of political reflexes all around. The Sikkimese continue to recognise Chogyal as the divine defender of their faith. — Sunil Sethi

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_registration&task=home_30yearsinit&issueid=46&assignedid=5&home=1

SDF supporters unhappy with local coordinator

SHIVADEEP RAI

Singtam: Dissatisfied with the alleged improper work of the local coordinator of Sikkim Democratic Front, some youth supporters of Singtam held a meeting at Sirwani, Singtam on March 24 under the leadership of Mr. Prakash Subba, claiming to be an active member of SDF Party and Mr. Uttam Pradhan, a local resident and leading superstar of Nepali Film Industry. In the meeting, it was alleged that the coordinator of SDF Party, who has been assigned to work for the welfare of the youths of Singtam, ‘has not done anything beneficial for the educated unemployed youths’.

Mr. Prakash Subba said that the youths are ‘whole hearted supporters of SDF Party’ so it is the responsibility of the Party to work for their welfare. ‘We will always support SDF and we admire and follow its principles’, he said. He also said that they are very glad to be associated with SDF Party and they do not have any grievances against the Party or its principles. But they are unhappy with the work of the coordinator. ‘At present, the main obstacle between the principles and ideas of SDF Party and their execution by the youths is the coordinator’, he alleged. Mr. Uttam Pradhan mentioned unemployment in the State and sought ‘proper guidance of the SDF Party in making the educated unemployed youths self-established and self-sufficient’. The group decided to hold another meeting on March 26, gathering all the youths of Singtam, to form an association.

http://sikkimreporter.com//otherstories.html

Tibetan marchers to Nathula reach Tar Khola

SANJAY AGARWAL

RANGPO, March 23: Some 300 activists from the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) on a peace march from Siliguri in West Bengal to the Nathula Border, in an attempt to join the protest movement in Tibet reached the Tar Khola, 10th Mile area yesterday. The marchers are planning to cover some 170 kilometers in eight days before reaching Nathula. The protesters are just 7 km from Rangpo on the West Bengal side. They will attempt to enter Sikkim at the Rangpo Check Post tomorrow at 10.30 am, the protestors said.

However, the Sikkim government has already announced plans to stop the march from entering the State. Security at the border check Post here has been beefed up after the protestors started their march. Since yesterday, every passenger has to pass heavy security checks before entering the State. East District, SP Dr. MS Tuli, who was at Rangpo to oversee the security arrangements, informed that the Police will not allow the protestors due to “security reasons.”

Ugen Sewang, North East Tibetan Youth Congress spokesperson told this correspondent over the phone that all the protestors have decided to enter Sikkim in the morning. “We are on a peaceful march and the Police must allow us to enter though Rangpo check post,” he said. If the Police stop them, an alternative option will be decided upon, he said.

http://www.sikkimexpress.com/topstories.htm