The Map of Sikkim

I have been writing about Sikkim, but I am sorry I never talked about its physical features. Once a Himalayan kingdom until 1975 and now part of a mighty Indian Union, the small state of Sikkim has seen many changes over the last 50 years. Jawaharlal Nehru and Chogyal Tashi Namgyal, the king of Sikkim, had a very warm relationship. 

It was even said that Nehru wanted to spend his retired life in Sikkim, but that could not happen due to his sudden death in 1964. After Nehru's death, some of his ashes were brought to Sikkim and thrown over the sky of Gangtok, Kanchenjunga Range, and other places. 

Even Chogyal Tashi Namgyal presented his paintings to Nehru, which is said to be at Anand Bhawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru family at Allahabad. But it was under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, that Sikkim was merged with India just 10 years after Nehru died.

 

 

Sikkim shares an interesting geographical boundary. Three countries and an Indian state to its south surround Sikkim. To its east is Bhutan, Nepal in its west, and Tibet (China) in its north. Here I would like to give some information that I have read from Rajesh Verma's Sikkim Guide:

* Toriphule: trijunction between Sikkim, West Bengal, and Nepal * Rachela: trijunction between Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bhutan * Jonsang : trijunction between Sikkim, Nepal, and Tibet * Batangla : trijunction between Sikkim, Tibet, and Bhutan. Pics: taken from the web

Singtam Reyukai conducts plantation; also felicitates Praja Pradhan

Singtam: Under Sikkim Green Mission Eurasia Reyukai 28^th Singtam branch conducted a plantation program at Singtam SSS on June 28. The chief guest of the program was PK Pradhan, (Chairman Poultry). The other guest attending the plantation drive were BS Tamang, (RO Singtam Range), A Gurung (BO Singtam Range), Kumar Rai (Chief Advisior), Teachers from Singtam SSS, students, Sunrise Club, local NGOs and others. More than 300 different varieties of seedling were planted along the school premises. Suresh Limboo gave the welcome speech while the program was hosted

Speaking on the occasion PK Pradhan highlighted the importance of the plantation at day to day life. He insisted the gathered students to understand the ill effects of the global warming and urged that such plantation drive is necessary for other places too. BS Tamang expressed his full support from the Forest Department for anyone who wishes to organize such plantation drive.

Praja Pradhan

The other highlight of the day was the felicitation ceremony of bungee jumper Praja Pradhan who conducted a cannon swing from the world’s highest in Nepal last March. He was the first person to achieve the feat from Sikkim.

Speaking on the occasion Praja Pradhan told that he was thankful towards the Reyukai Singtam Branch for honoring his adventurous feat. He went on say he is proud that he made Sikkim proud.

Sikkim Philately at a glance-2

Ever since Sikkim became part of the Indian Union, four major state-level Philatelic exhibitions had been held organized by the Department of Post. Little is known about the first philatelic exhibition SIKKIMPEX-82 except that among the many participants on the exhibition one of the participants was Late Ganga Kaptan, a legendary figure in Nepali literature. The three-day exhibition had three special covers released. Sikkim Philately had to wait for two decades to have the next major exhibition. Twenty years later in 2002, a three-day exhibition was held at White Hall. It was for the first time the people of Sikkim took a keen interest in that gummed piece of paper. 

Dr Pawan Kumar Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The exhibition was a huge success. The occasion helped introduce Dipok Dey, a renowned stamp designer from Kolkata and the only Indian to design a United Nations Stamp with the young and eager stamp collectors of the state. Among the noted winners in the exhibition was Ganesh Pradhan in the senior category while Ruben Pradhan and Debasish Basnet both were first and second in the junior category. Around 20 stamp collectors participated in the three-day show. Three separate pictorial special cover cancellations were released on each day.

 First Special Cover from Sikkim (1982)

Ruben Pradhan and Debasish Basnet, the two junior category winners were later among the 16 children included in the Indian contingent that participated in the Arizona Stamp exhibition in the United States. This exhibition opened the door for the young philatelists of Sikkim beyond the state. Sikkim Philatelists had over the years participated at exhibitions at Jalpaiguri, Berhampore, Siliguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Kolkata. Another person behind the grooming of these young stamp collectors from Sikkim had been Surya Kanta Biswas from Berhampore and Padam Parajuli from Siliguri. 

It is Surya Kanta Biswas, Padam Parajuli, and Dipok Dey who helped groom the young philatelists from Sikkim explaining every small query in the process. Dipok Dey for a specific reason had always provided basic information on stamps and the workout process in the exhibitions. Dipok Dey is also credited for designing most of the special covers released from Sikkim over the years.

 

Special Cover on Orchid released on International Florishow at Saramsa (2008)

In 2003, a unique post was started from Gangtok helipad which was called Helicopter Post. Though the functioning of the Helicopter post had been stopped now those covers are of delight. TNA School at Gangtok in 2005 hosted the Palbheu Stamp Exhibition that saw participants from far places like Cooch Bihar, Berhampore, Gangarampur, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. V Rama Roa, the Governor of Sikkim inaugurated the first-day function with the release of a special cover.

Shital Pradhan from Sikkim won the gold medal in the senior category and also the Post Master General Trophy for the best philatelist in the exhibition. Ganesh Pradhan stood second in the senior category. The exhibition saw an increase in the number of students and private collectors participating in it. Four special covers were released on the occasion. Sikkim Philatelic Club was founded on the same event to promote philately in the state.

Special Cover on Guru Padmashambha (2009)

The year 2005 was eventful for the philately lovers in the state as 17 Mountain Division held its first philatelic exhibition Black Cat Philex 2005 in Sikkim. The exhibition was held at Helipad Ground, New Cant, Libing on January 15 and 16. For the first time in 63 long years of the division, such an organization was held in India. On the occasion, a Special Cover of the 17 Mountain Divisions was released depicting the picture of Mount Kanchenjunga on the envelope cover. The exhibit displayed in the exhibition was from different places of Malda, Cooch Behar, Gangarampur, Kalimpong, and Sikkim. The chief guest of the event was a known philatelist of the hills, Udaya Mani Pradhan.

The year 2005 also saw four philatelists from Sikkim participating at the Kolkata State level Stamp Exhibition. Stamp Show at Kolkata saw a release of a special cover jointly by Sikkim, West Bengal, and Andaman, and Nicobar. The recognition for the so-called rise of philately in the small state of Sikkim without a doubt goes to one man, John Samuel, former Postmaster General of North Bengal and Sikkim. During his tenure as the PostMaster General of North Bengal and Sikkim between 2002-2006, he encouraged students towards philately and regularly held philately exhibitions and workshops on philately in Sikkim.

Another noteworthy event that concluded in 2005 was the organizing of the two-day philatelic exhibition at Gangtok coinciding with the celebration of the 50^th year to the ascent of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Present on the occasions were climbers from different parts of the world that had reached the summit of Mt. Kanchenjunga including the first two Norman Hardie and George Band. Two Special Covers were released to commemorate the occasion.

Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Tadong hosted the Tashi Targay Philately Exhibition 2008 organized by the Department of Post that had Shital Pradhan winning the first prize followed by Ganesh Pradhan and CP Raya respectively. The same year during the first International Florishow held at Saramsa, a special cover on Orchid variety was released.

For the last couple of years, Sikkim Philatelic Club had been helping the Postal Department of the State in organizing exhibitions and workshops on philately in a different part of the state. Ganesh Pradhan, senior philatelist of the state had been attending the entire workshop and encouraging the youngsters towards the beauty of the world of philately. This year a Namchi Philately Mahotsav was organized at Namchi which had a solo exhibition of Ganesh Pradhan. On the occasion, a special cover of Guru Padmashambha was issued.

Missing Gorkha girl from Siliguri has been rescued in Delhi.

Bishal Kirath Rai

Secretary,

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha,

Delhi & NCR Unit.

I on behalf of all Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Delhi & NCR unit would like to thank different organizations and individuals for their support and help to rescue a Gorkha girl from Siliguri in Delhi.

Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha, Delhi & NCR Unit,

Ms. Matilda Gurung

Ms. Kiran

Ms. Meena Limbuni

Ms. Lucy Rai and their team.

Bharitya Gorkha United Forum

Mr. T.L. Shrestha and his members.

Himalayan Youth Forum

President and members.

Gorkha Welfare Society.

Mr. Yam Kumar Shrestha

Mr. Kiran Rai

Pravesh

Ms. Jyoti Thapa Mani for supporting us financially to publish the missing girl’s information in Time of India and

Dainik Jagaran.

Mamta Chettri, a resident of Badi Bada, P.S. Bhaktinagar, Siliguri was employed as domestic help through Anju Tutors and Placement Service, 38 Mohammadpur, Bhikaji Cama Place, Near Ram Mandir, New Delhi – 110066 with Mr. Vijay Bhusan, G/28m Ground Floor, Lajpat Nagar II, New Delhi 110024.

On June 12, 2009, Mamta Devi went missing and the same was reported to Lajpat Nagar Police Station vide F.I.R. number 229 dated June 17, 2009.

She has been rescued from Nari Niketan in Hari Nagar, Ashram.

Parasites, not Flu behind pigeon deaths

from Statesman

GANGTOK, 25 JUNE: The Sikkim state animal husbandry department set at rest all the speculations doing rounds regarding bird flu outbreak in the wake of large scale pigeon deaths at Singtam in East Sikkim, saying that the pathological probe has ascribed deaths to some blood sucking parasites.
According to Dr KC Bhutia, joint director, Disease Investigation Cell, state animal husbandry department, the investigation into the first batch of samples sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostics Laboratory of Guwahati, has attributed bacterial infection to the pigeon deaths.
“The birds getting wet during the rains created conditions conducive for the parasites
to breed,” Dr Bhutia said.
As per the official records, 56 cases of unnatural pigeon deaths over the past two months have been reported from a particular region of the state.
Springing into action with flu panic spreading among people, the state animal husbandry department has pressed into service a full-fledged mobile unit to keep vigilance over the developing situation in Singtam. This apart, de-contamination campaign at the pigeonholes at residences has also been launched.
“These measures have yielded positive results and no fresh case of pigeon death has been reported from anywhere in the state over the past two weeks,” said Mr Bhutia

Rongli River Disaster : Now and then

I was at Rongli this Sunday and i was surprised to watch the terror of nature that nearly took away Rongli bazaar last month. Thou no lives were lost but the after effect have had its impact among the people out here. The people out here are still amazed of that late noon heavy shower. I could see the river had switched off its course of route shows its presence of that D-day. The photographs below speaks more volume.

NOW

THEN

It is written Maharani Lhadine (Sikkim 1890)

Well this photograph was shared by my friend from Singtam, She must be of Royal family. It is written Maharani Lhadine and circulation of 1890. During the year 1890 Sir Thutob Namgyal was the King of Sikkim.

Yoksum students sends letter to Mahendra Singh Dhoni attached with Lays's wrapper

In one of a grandeur gesture students of the Government Secondary School at Yuksom in West Sikkim have written a five page letter to Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a Lays wrapper stapled along with it. Dhoni endorses potato chips which uses non bio-degradable wrappers.

Dhoni's advertisement of LAYS

"Please come and see for yourself. Should not we aspire to keep our pristine environment unpolluted?" the students wrote seeking his cooperation in their endeavour to keep the environment clean.

It was found that in a cleanliness drive from Yuksom to Dzongri last month, the students had come across wrappers of the potato chips comprising 47 per cent of the non bio-degradable waste in the state.

Dzongri

The students also appealed to Dhoni to consider making some arrangement to collect the wrappers for disposal.

They, however, expressed their adulation of the cricketer and urged him to visit their school with the national team to play a cricket match with them.

"We will take you on a guided tour of the rich biodiversity of Yuksom region," the students said.

pic : 2.bp.blogspot and Visit Nepal

Bhaichung and Sonia entertains Gangtok

Photograph shared by Arpan Pradhan