Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

Photograph shared by Vicky Palzor Lepcha

Sikkim Express GANGTOK, August 28: A body of an unidentified male aged between 40-45 years was traced between the boulders in the middle of Rani Khola near Singtam, suspected to have been swept away from higher areas of Rani Khola. Singtam Police have informed the people to contact them if any persons are missing. Later, the unidentified male body was sent to Singtam Hospital, where it has kept for 72 hours preservation for identification. Police have registered a case of unnatural death.

Maharani with her children Photo shared by Tenpa I am thankful towards Tina Tashi for providing information about the persons in the photographs. Maharani Kunzang Dechhen in the centre to her left is Prince Paljor, to her right is Prince Palden Thondup Namgyal who later became the Chogya of Sikkiml, in front is Princess Pema Tsedeun. The baby is Princess Pema Choki. MAHARANI KUSHANG DECHEN RAGASHAR was married to Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, the King of Sikkim on 8th October 1918 at the Royal Chapel, Tsuklakhang Monastery. They had three sons and three daughters: Paljor Namgyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, Jigdal Tsewing Namgyal, Pema Tsedong Namgyal, Pema Choki Namgyal and Sonam Palden Namgyal. Maharani Kunzang Dechen died at the Royal Palace, Park Ridge, Gangtok, March 1987. NB: Information taken from Royalark

There were rumours in the streets that army vehicle would take over the National Highway for three days to transport warfare to Sikkim border, to which few days back the army personal had denied the news as baseless and disclosed no plans doing such in days to come too, as published in a local newspaper and all of a sudden there is this news published in internet about India, China armies clash in Sikkim. So whats the truth...whats cooking up? from Google news Extracted from Pakistan Defence India, China armies clash in Sikkim? The Indian and Chinese armies have reportedly been locked in sporadic exchanges of fire in Sikkim, where the two countries share a high-altitude border, since Tuesday night. A senior defence ministry official in Kolkata, where the Eastern Command is based, said the conflict had been on at Nathu-la pass — 54 km east of Sikkim’s capital Gangtok. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence, however, denied any shooting on the border. The defence offi...

Hey guys do u know that my blog "Proud to be a Sikkimese" has been featured on the August issue of monthly magazine Talk Sikkim, published from Gangtok. I am sharing the scanned page. I would like to thank everyone for making my small effort of understanding Sikkim worth giving your precious time.

FROM MY COLLECTION YO! YOUTH OFCOURSE VOL 1/No.5 01-14 August 2002. Gangtok-Sikkim Editor Pema Wangchuk

I was just surfing an eBay auction website, and there I came across some material related to Hope Cook, the former queen of Sikkim on sale. There is an autographed photograph of former queen Hope Cook, her letter and an envelope in which it was sent to the USA. The three materials cost you 300 dollars. The heading of the items says: HOPE COOKE NAMGYAL AUTOGRAPH, Queen consort of SIKKIM ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE, VERY RARE, THIS COUNTRY IS GONE! Just read the last line that says...."This country is gone". Sikkim is no longer an independent country now so it is more often referred as a dead country. The further description says: PHOTOGRAPH: 4-1/2" X 6" MEASUREMENTS, BLACK AND WHITE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND SIGNED IN BLUE INK PEN, "HOPE NAMGYAL" LETTERHEAD: 8-1/4" X 6" THE PALACE, GANGTOK, SIKKIM, DATED 15TH SEPTEMBER 1969 AND SIGNED SINCERELY HOPE NAMGYAL, "GYALMO OF SIKKIM ENVELOPE: 8-1/4" X 6-3/8" WITH 13 STAMPS FROM INDIA...

Shared By Hira Chettri New Delhi (Media Cell, BGP): On August 25, sixty-five years ago, a young Gorkha major in the Azad Hind Fauz was hanged by the British in Delhi. Today, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit paid homage to the Gorkha martyr, Durga Malla, at the spot where he was hanged. The occasion was Balidaan Diwas, observed by the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh all over India in remembrance of all Gorkha heroes who have given their lives for the sake of their country. After paying floral tributes to Major Durga Malla, who sacrificed his life at the young age of 31, at the memorial site in the Maulana Azad Medical College premises, the Delhi Chief Minister planted a sapling to mark the occasion. At the function, Mrs Dikshit interacted with the families of Gorkha war heroes who had died in the Kargil war in 1999. Then, the chief minister led many Gorkhas from all walks of life who had gathered there in the Sankalp ceremony. They pledged to uphold the great sacrifice made...

Bhaichung Bhutia, the only Indian football player to have played 100 international matches was a class junior to me during my schooling days. When i was in class xii studying at TNSSS as a PCB student he was at class xi at TNA but busy with football boots. I still remember watching him play against our school football team. The year than was 1992-93. The matches between TNSS and TNA was nothing short of what the cricketing world have curiousness when India plays Pakistan. None of the teams wanted to loose. TNSSS never had that excellent players like Sherap, Ram and Laxuman, the twin brothers and Bhaichung himself that capitulated many famous wins for their school TNA but they could give them a strong fight for the result of the matches. Bhaichung was already a star in his schooling days and his Boys club, the most popular football team at Gangtok. By the end of 1993 he shifted to Kolkata and he never looked back. So today when i read on newspapers people of all age praising for Bha...

My last post was a bit easy and a bit nostalgic. When I was in Gangtok as a TNSS student and as a Sikkim Government College student, I had many memories at this Mahatma Gandhi Marg. This first marketplace of Sikkim has had a major turnover over the years. So when i started collecting old photographs about this market place i am sure many of you to would see your bygone days pass by with the flip of each photographs. So, for those who remember their prime like me, this is our MG Marg. DURING CHOGYAL PERIOD - BEFORE 1970s DURING THE MERGER PERIOD - 1973 MG MARG -2009

Photo shared by Anup Lama I am sure many people are familiar with this place..are you?

By Hira Chhetri New Delhi (BGP Media Cell):  On August 19, a team from the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh's Central Programme Cell met Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit to inform her about the objectives and activities of the only national organization of Indian Gorkhas. Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit with BGP members (from left) Pappu Pradhan, Munish Tamang, Joel Rai, Commodore KS Rai and LB Rai at her residence on August 19. Meeting Dikshit at her residence, the BGP team, comprising L B Rai, Commodore K S Rai, Professor Munish Tamang, Joel Rai, and Pappu Pradhan, updated the Delhi Chief Minister on the Parisangh's various activities and informed her of its coming programmes. The Chief Minister was sympathetic to the cause of the Gorkhas in India. She also received a set of books and documents on the Gorkhas of India. She consented to be the chief guest at the BGP-organised Balidaan Diwas on August 25 at the spot where Azad Hind Fauz Major Durga Malla was hanged by the B...

Extracted from Pakistan Defence India’s “Chief Executive” in Gangtok wrote: “Sikkim’s merger was necessary for Indian national interest. And we worked to that end. Maybe if the Chogyal had been smarter and played his cards better, it wouldn’t have turned out the way it did.” It is also said that the real battle was not between the Chogyal and Kazi Lendup Dorji but between their wives. On one side was Queen Hope Cook, the American wife of the Chogyal and on the other was the Belgian wife of the Kazi, Elisa-Maria Standford. “This was a proxy war between the American and the Belgian,” says former chief minister BB Gurung. But there was a third woman involved: Indira Gandhi in New Delhi. Chogyal Palden met the 24-year-old New Yorker Hope Cook in Darjeeling in 1963 and married her. For Cook, this was a dream come true: to become the queen of an independent kingdom in Shangrila. She started taking the message of Sikkimese independence to the youth, and the allegations started flying thic...

Ya, you heard it true there is a Nepali actor in Sahid Kapoor - Priyanka Chopra's latest Bollywood flick Kaminey. He is Tenzing Nima and plays the character of Tashi, a gangster. I am impressed with his acting skills and I bet you should too look at this next powerhouse. His screen presence speaks volumes. Source: bollywoodhungama

Well i am thankful towards Vicky Palzor, a very good friend of mine for helping me find who these people were. So, here are the names of the people: Kazi Dawa Sabdup (Bermoik Athing), Rai Saab Ratna Bahadur (Thikadar of Rhenock) [,IN THE CENTRE] Rama Shanker Prasad (Thikadar of Khamdong), younger brother of Gyaltsen Kazi (Sukshing) and he himself [SECOND FROM LEFT STANDING}, Gobardhan Pradhan (Thikadar of Temi Tarku) Sang Athing, Kazi Passang Namgyal (Lingmo), Rani Chuni, Rai Bahadur Lobzang Choden, Khendzong Athing (Gangtok Kazi), Rhenock Athing, Enchey Athing, Pemayantse lamas, Punya Prasad Pradhan (Thikadar of Thurung)