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

LO Edwards (circled) in group photographs of Wynberg-Allen School Staff The two articles I wrote about the reunion of Wynberg-Allen School members, Mussoorie  When the Alwynian Met after 41 years in Sikkim - I  and its second part,  When the Alwynian Met after 41 years in Sikkim - ii  hold special to me.  The article was itself a historical moment of an account of the reunion of old school teachers meeting up with their old students at Gangtok in late November. My Dhaba, Ghanashyam Pradhan at Parakha, contacted Shanker Menon, his old friend in Oman, through my blog, and I am happy I was the medium between them. This time around, my Dhaba contacted Mr LO Edwards, his old Headmaster at Wynberg-Allen School, and is very pleased to share the letter sent by his old Headmaster through this blog. He wishes that if any of his old friends come across this article, they can contact him. 

--> Tashiding, in West Sikkim, was one place I wanted to visit for the last few years, but it never happened until last month, and I am in high spirits. I finally did it. Regarded as the holiest of monasteries in Sikkim, the Tashiding Monastery, over the centuries, does hold strong its own legends and folks. The first look at the faintly yellow roof of the monastery on top of a hill from the opposite roadway gave me a pleasant feel that was beyond my expectations. The Monastery is built atop a ridge between the Rangit and Ratong rivers. I am told of a legend that  Guru Padmasambhava  had shot an arrow to select his place of meditation, which is the present site of the Tashiding Monastery.  It is even said that the rock is still found at the Tashiding Monastery premises, where the great Guru meditated. One of the reasons I wanted to visit this place was to see the stupa of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, regarded as the most outstanding Tibetan master of the...

Source: Samay Dainik

--> Singtam, May 28: It was a golden day for the East Point SSS at Golitar, Singtam where one of its students Navin Kumar Trivedi scored a “perfect 10” in this year CBSE 10 th examination results. Navin Kumar Trivedi hailing from Singtam bazaar had scored the highest Grade Point i.e. “10” along with “A1” Grade in each of the five subjects he had undergone. His subjects include English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. According to the newly introduced grading system “Grade Point 10” is given to the students who scores between 91 marks to 100 marks. Ten students from EPSSS had scored first division while the school pass percentage is 90 % with no failed students. Speaking to this reporter Navin Trivedi told that he is very happy about his performances. He said he had not done any extra labour on his study; he had work hard as any other fellow students had done. He wants to build up his career in medical, he told. Along with Navin Kumar Trivedi other three s...

Professor Lupant and Jigme with Sikkim's former flag   Professor Michel Lupant's Vexillological Research - Sept/Oct 2007 pic: questhimalaya.com

source: Sikkim Reporter

Mr Sudash Dhakal, PGT, Geography at Mangan senior secondary school has been awarded with a PhD degree by the University of Pune.  Dr Dhakal joined th e school last year in the month of June after submitting his PhD thesis. He probably is the first student from Sikkim to complete PhD in Physical Geography.

Sikkim's own Big Ben at Gangtok

Shared by Ram Kumar Shrestha Global Coordinator Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Committee As part of the World Peace Movement, Nepalese people living in different parts of the world last year decided to commemorate Lumbini and Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, by observing Kapilvastu Day as a global holiday in order to spread the Buddha’s peace and nonviolence messages all over the world. The Buddha is revered as a Messenger of Peace. He is also known as the Light of Asia who is actually the Light of the world as his message of peace and nonviolence has become more relevant as the world is facing the problems of violence today. The world today has become more violent than ever before. Therefore, we have decided to spread the messages of the Buddha all over the world by observing Kapilvastu Day every year.   Originally, on December 1, 1896, Dr Anton Führer, a German archaeologist, had discovered the Buddha’s birthplace when he found the A...

Press Release by Yishey Doma Sogyal Rinpoche World renowned Buddhist teacher and author of the spiritual classic ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’ Teachings in Sikkim Thursday May 20, 2010, 4:30 pm at Chintan Bhawan Open to all The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Wisdom and its Practical Application for transforming our Daily Lives   SOGYAL RINPOCHE BIOGRAPHY Born in Kham in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Lerab Lingpa Terton Sogyal, a teacher to the thirteenth Dalai Lama, by the great Dorje Chang Jamyang Khyentse Lodro, one of the most outstanding spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. Jamyang Khyentse supervised Rinpoche’s training and raised him like his own son. Rinpoche continued to study with many masters, of all schools, especially Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He served as a translator and aide to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche for many years and then began teaching under ...

This topic was discussed in face book community  Proud to be a Sikkimese  Angela Bhutia don't know about being allowed but is still prevalent in rural parts of Sikkim if im not mistaken. Monalisa Chhetri Is it in India? I don't thnk so!! But have seen many cases where kids of about 14 yrs of age got married nd nobody did anythng bout it. And @Angela:I have seen it happen in nd around Gangtok which, I don't think,at all comes under the "so-called" rural area! Rikden Tshering Bhutia fuck no..... thr shd be tough law against it... rigorous fine or imprisonment... Angela Bhutia ook well id never heard of such cases in around gangtok so.. so weird though... thanks for the info btw~~ Dechen Dolkar Dun thnk itz prevlnt in sikkim,,,hv nva hrd uf sch a thng in rural areaz as wel, te ppl r vry awre tt chld mariage iz a punisble crime, mreovr te parntz dun wna push tr chldrn esp galz into ds atrociti lokin 4m te health perspctive.. Shirshak K...

Govinda with Prabin Khaling Govinda with his wife

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An owl visited me this early morning at around 2.30 am. The little bird did scared me off. It entered my room from the open window.  After half an hour it went off.

I am thankful towards Sushma Sharma for sharing up these valuable photographs of old Sikkim. Each photographs are a gem of its own.

Meiyang Chang plays a role of a guy from Sikkim called Zing in the latest film Badmaash Company .  About his character in the movie in movies.rediff.com:  " His father was in the Indian Army, and through a posting of his, Zing comes to Mumbai. Like most north-eastern guys who stay in Mumbai for a long time, Zing also faces an identity crisis. People think he is from Nepal, Japan or from some other country. And his friends make fun of him. He is unperturbed and is very close to his friends and can do anything for them."

By Sanjay Agarwal Miss Puja Sharma of Rangpo Secondary School bagged the Tilottamma Jury Special and the Statesman Photogenic Face Awards 2010. The competition organized by Uttar Annanda Bazar Patrika and The Statesman at Uttar Banga Marwari Bhawan at Siliguri was participated by 12 participants of North Bengal and Sikkim. Siliguri Deputy Mayor Mr. Nantu Paul was the chief guest of the program. The daughter of Mr. CP Sharma and Mrs. Januka Pradhan, Puja Sharma was the youngest participant in the competition. A special program was organized at school to welcome her. Miss Tripii Diyali, from Namchi, has announced the 2nd runners up of the competition.

Dear Shipora Rai All that is good All that is true Sweetness of life Skies that are Blue Are wished truly for you your's Pranay Rai

Voice of Sikkim sms news channel have in its news sms alert this evening has voiced against the proposed transfer of Karnataka High Court's controversial Chief Justice P D Dinakaran to Sikkim. Despite protest from Sikkim the Supreme Court still decides to shift Justice Dinakaran to Sikkim HC. Voiceofsikkim sms channel has decided to black out unless Supreme Court rejects Dinakaran's transfer to Sikkim. VOICE OF SIKKIM SMS "NO UPDATE OF NEWS ON VOICEOFSIKKIM UNLESS SUPREME COURT REJECTS DINAKARAN'S TRANSFER TO SIKKIM! BLACK OUT!" from wikipedia: P. D. Dinakaran Paul Daniel Dinakaran Premkumar (born May 9, 1950) is the Chief Justice of the High Court of the Indian state of Karnataka. He has been in the news recently for his alleged misdemeanors. On August 28, 2009, the Supreme Court of India announced that Dinakaran would be elevated to a Supreme Court Judge , but this was halted due to allegations of corruption and surrounding controversy. Dinaka...

I have never seen a long roll of clouds over the sky, for me this rare occurrence witnessed at Daramdin, West Sikkim this morning was something that fascinated me the most.