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

This Independence Day i had exhibited my stamps and coins collection at Rongli. I had a chance to show my collection to former Minister and area MLA KB Chamling and present MLA Puran Gurung

I am sure people around have heard about the Lingtam Pani Ghatta, a traditional water mill used for grinding flour. I was at this house a few minute rides in a vehicle from Lingtam bazaar. The owner of this pani ghatta, an old lady, was not happy on my un-invited approach to her house.   Instead she asked me 50 rupees as a "pass" to click the photographs of her pani ghatta. She was not interested in people coming to her house just to click the photographs. She was to be paid to have her photograph clicked along with the ghatta and she asked me Rs 100 for that. It was really a sad affair to hear from her close ones, with her business not enough to sustain her family's life she finds harassed when people visit her just to know about the seven decade old historical water mill run by wooden turbines.   This Lingtam Pani Ghatta is probably the oldest running flour mill and I would wish the State Government should come up and preserve this from ending it up. Why not pro...

It is more than strange that most of the time we hear about the music of songs being copied or rather say inspired but this song's lyrics I came across the net have a different story. Karna Das released Jindagi ko Ke Bharosa way back in 1997-97 and his song's Hindi version (i  better say ) has been sung by Jagjit Singh in Jeevan Kya Hai released in 2005 . Just watch the words of the songs..... Karna Das’s Jindagi ko Ke Bharosa zindagi_ko_ke_bharosa.mp3 Jindagi Ko ke Bharosa Yo Ta Sano Khelauna Ho Dui Aankhama Ek Ma Hanso Arko Ma Ruhai Chha Ratri Ko Andheri Bhihani Ko Sunaulo Yehi Nai Sansar Ko Rit Ho Sathi Har Ek Palma Dukhai Dukha Chha Sukha Ta Bahana Nai Ho Aauna saans afno Nai Nimti Jana saans Aarkai Ko Nimti Jindagi Ko Ke Bharosa Mritu Ko Badal Le Gherekai Chha Dui Aankhama Ek Ma Hanso Aarko Ma Ruhai Chha Jagit Singh’s Jeevan Kya Hai jiwan_kya_hai.mp3 Jeevan kyaa hai chalataa phirataa ek khilonaa hai do aankhon men ek se hansanaa ek se r...

All thanks to Tenzing Jigdal Khangsharpa for reminding me today was Sir Tashi Namgyal's birth anniversary.  from royalark.net 1914 -1963  H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Tashi Namgyal [bKra-shis rNam-gyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, KCSI (8.6.1939), KCIE (1.1.1923, CIE 1.1.1918). b . at Kurseong, Darjeeling, 26 th October 1893, fourth son of H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Thutob Namgyal [mThu-stobs rNam-rgyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, KCIE, by his third wife, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Yeshay Dolma, educ . St Paul's Sch., Darjeeling, and Mayo Coll., Ajmer. Succeeded on the death of his half brother, 5 th December 1914. Installed at the Royal Palace, Park Ridge, Gangtok, 19 th February 1915. Consecrated at the Royal Chapel, Tsuk-La-Khang Monastery, Gangtok, 15 th May 1916. Invested with full ruling powers on 5 th April 1918. Signed a treaty with India 1950 after a long period of negotiations lasting three years, in which, India assumed responsibility for ...

photo shared by Kushal Pradhan, Rongli

-- The Gangtok city recently hosted the 1st All India Women's Football Championship for the Pem Dorjee Memorial Cup at Paljor Stadium from October 7th to 15th, 2009. The tournament featured seven state women's teams from Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Goa, and Sikkim. The Manipur girls emerged victorious, defeating Orissa in a tiebreaker by a score of three goals to two. While the tournament did not attract large crowds except for the finals, I was particularly interested in the individual after whom the tournament was named. For football enthusiasts, he was known as "Nilu" or Pem Dorji, but beyond the state, he was better known as Pem Dorjee. During one of the semi-finals at Paljor Stadium, I overheard two teenage boys behind me discussing the match and expressing confusion about Pem Dorji's identity. They had never encountered his name before and mistakenly believed that he might have been a former female football player. I couldn't hel...

Sikkim Herald is the official newsweekly of the Government of Sikkim published by the Department of Information and Public Relations has been a regular feature of the State ever since its inception in the early 1956. Sikkim Herald comes out in thirteen different state languages, viz. English, Nepali, Newar, Lepcha, Gurung, Limbu, Tamang, Sunwar, Manger, Sherpa, Bhutia, Rai and Tibetan and printed at Goverment Printing press of Gangtok. In his self made museum of Ganesh Pradhan at Rhenock, i came across two issues of Sikkim Herald that really pulled off my fantasy. The first issue published in 1959 was a rare, i got to hear from him that even the IPR Department is looking after. He is really proud of it and showed me with a distinct pride. Another rare copy of his Sikkim Herald issues include the one from 1969 that was handwritten, it is more than fascinating who did it and why was it requi...

 Sikkimese striker Bhaichung Bhutia, the living legend of Indian football will be felicitated by the All India Football Federation on October 20 at Delhi on completing 100 Indian International caps, the first Indian to do so. According to the information received from  indianfootball.com and Saurabh Rai, Bhaichung Bhutia is to leave for New Delhi on October 20th itself in early flight. Bhaichung had successfully captained Indian team and defended his Nehru Cup this year against the mighty Kyrgyzstan. He was also the "Player of the Tournament". Pic Courtesy- Sikkim Students Association (Kolkata)

Photo shared by Sushma Sharma This is a popular place at Gangtok..identify it....

  Nanda Kirati Dewan, Guwahati 14 th Oct. Guwahati: The All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) the apex students’ body of Gorkhas of Assam last evening took out a mass candle light torch rally today in memory of the Bhimajuli killings and prayers for speed recovery of those injured in the violence through out Assam . In the capital city Guwahati the Kamrup Dist. Committee along with the office bearers of AAGSU central committee took to street with candle in hands at 6pm from the historic Nepali Mandir premises. Flagging off the rally by lighting a earthen lamp and offering prayers to all the deceased and injured Dil Bahadur Limboo President; AAGSU condemned the most inhuman act of violence in Bhimajuli that claimed as many as 14 lives that left some hundred in feared state of mind when National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants indiscriminately fired on houses of the people on 4 th Oct 2009 Sunday. Unfortunately 8 out of 14 killed were Gorkhas so the AAGSU is...

Late night fire gutted down houses at the heart of Rangpo town....

I just came across an excellent registered envelope send from Chandra Nursery, Rhenock to England....watch this letter it was send in 1938!! Chandra Nursery was famous for its floral business across the globe. The 1930s and 1940s were the peak period of their business.

I believe in between our quest to know more about our Sikkim..i believe we need to know people, places and cultures of our state, so from this time i would like to share photographs just to help people get familiar with them... Clue: He was the first individual from Sikkim to be knighted.

HIMGIRI VOL 1/No.5 March (8-14) 1985 GANGTOK Editor BIJAY BANTAWA Price : 50 p

Nineteen years ago, a small-budget Nepali film was shot entirely in Sikkim. Celebrated local artist Danny Denzongpa played the lead role. The film also featured popular Nepali artists Bhuwan KC and Tripti, Muralidhar from Nepal, and Rakshya, the child artiste.  The film ‘Saino’ was a huge success, and the music set by Ranjit Gazmer is part of a fairy tale. Each of its seven songs holds a legendary status sung by singers like Asha Bhonsle, Udit Narayan, Deepa Narayan, Kumar Kancha, Muralidhar, and Danny himself.    The film was shot in a short span and directed by Ugen Chopel, who became a famed director of Nepali cinema. Saino was more than a cinematic brilliance with dialogues of character actors getting mass appreciation. Who can forget the lines like “ daiba ko daya lay ….and the Pukar Gurung’s act with his signature line…” koi cha mah sangha khelnay ”. Saino was later made into Bengali and Hindi films but with little success. But its Hindi serial version...

Re-Incarnation Organisation concluded its annual day 2009 with the final of Inter Village level Volleyball tournament and Open Dance competition, which was held at the Parakha School premises yesterday. The programme attended by a large number of people from nearby areas saw several village rural sports participated by school students and locals. GS Pradhan, former educator and senior citizen from Parakha was also felicitated on the occasion. The volleyball tournament was won by Shantideep Sangh from Bara Pathing defeating Kanchenjunga Club from Linkey in a closely fought match. The dance competition was won by young school going student groups from Modern Dance Academy, Rongli. The winners were awarded a trophy and cash. Speaking on the occasion, Praveen ...

Ok guys...identify these two individuals...

So finally I am back from my short journey of Kolkata and Durgapur...When I am traveling I am sure I get to click something that excites me but this time around rain and 'King Hot' did make me go bizarre....yet there are few photographs which I can share with others...Sorry if you people do not like it...am just learning....!!!   This hand has designed many beautiful postage stamps of India and the only Indian to have designed UN postage stamp .... is Dipok Dey. Howrah Bridge...an identity that always struck with Kolkata Vidyasagar Setu...a marvelous touch WWII tank left for strays... They still give..... feels of old Calcutta Sunset behind the city... The sky touching Near Sevoke...........