Sikkim's Roshan Prasad designs Mohun Bagan's Special Cover

“I am happy I made my state “Sikkim” proud- -- Roshan Prasad”

Roshan Prasad, a 24-year-old local guy from Singtam is pursuing his study at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Kolkata. He came into the limelight when he became the first person from North East India to design the Special Cover for India Post. His design was released in a mega event on July 29, 2010. He is also the winner of a National Award at the National Philately Exhibition at Vadodra last December. Roshan Prasad is also the Team Manager of Hills Boy’s United FC, a football team for the boys of the Hills-based in Kolkata.

1. How do you feel about your achievement of becoming the first from the North-East to design a Special Cover for India Post?

Roshan Prasad: It’s an honor for me to become the first from the North East to design a Special Cover for India Post and that too of The National Club of India “Mohun Bagan AC”. I am happy I made my state “Sikkim” proud. For this, I especially would like to thank Mr. Prince Rufas, Operation Manager of Mohun Bagan, and Mr. Anjan Kr. Mitra, the Honorary General Secretary for accepting my design and forwarding the proposal for approval to India Post. I would also like to thank Mr. Saurabh R. Rai who introduced me to the officials of Mohun Bagan for this purpose.

2. What was so special about the design you have made?

Roshan Prasad: This Special Cover will be issued on 29^th July 2010 by Mohun Bagan AC (The National Club of India) to commemorate 100 years of its victory over East Yorkshire Regiment in the IFA Shield Final. This was the first time in the history of Indian Football, a core Bengali team, Mohun Bagan, won IFA Shield by defeating a competent White team 2-1. 

3. How did you start philately?

Roshan Prasad:  It all started when I went with my brother on a visit to The Stamp Show held at Kolkata in December 2005. That was the first time that I saw stamps on different themes and it also was the moment when with the help and the guidance of my brother I put my foot into the “King of the Hobbies” i.e. the Philately.

4. You had last December won a National Award in Philately, how was it?

Roshan Prasad: At first I was quite nervous because it was the first major philatelic exhibition that I have participated in and I was representing our state Sikkim for the very first time. To win a National Award is a great achievement for me, which would not be possible without the help of my seniors in this field. Especially I would like to thank my brother, Mr. Shital Pradhan, without whom I would have not been able to win this National Award and it was he who introduced me to the world of beautiful stamps. 

 5. How do you see the future of philately in Sikkim?

Roshan Prasad: It is very difficult to get philatelic materials in Sikkim whereas in any other state it is easily available. But with the initiatives that are taken by the members of “Sikkim Philatelic Society” by organizing workshops at different schools in Sikkim, I think in future our state will be able to produce more philatelists who will make the State proud by winning more awards in this field.

6. Philately is known as the king of hobbies, what is your say?

Roshan Prasad: Yes, I do believe that it is the king of hobbies and the hobbies of kings because it requires a lot of studies, dedication and knowledge, not only about the materials but also we should know the reasons for the issue of those stamps and other philatelic material. The most difficult thing about this hobby is to make a difference between genuine and duplicate materials. 

7. How many philatelic exhibitions you have participated in?

Roshan Prasad: It has been almost 15 months that I have become a member of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Kolkata and formed a club named “Forum for Philately” with the help of the Program officer of the Russian Consulate and our Secretary. So every month we use to organize an exhibition and also use to display our collections. I have also participated in an exhibition with the request of the Director of India Post in Kolkata to commemorate the Stamp releasing ceremony of the legend of India Cinema Mr. Uttam Kumar. In the future, if possible I would be participating in all the major philatelic exhibitions including the international one too.

8. What thematic collection do you collect?

Roshan Prasad: Basically, I have started my collection on philatelic materials and other documents related to the game of Cricket, but now I also have started to make a collection on Indian Football. This was also one of the reasons that I have designed the special cover related to Indian football as it is very difficult to get materials related to Indian football.

9.    Which is your precious possession from your collection?

Roshan Prasad: The most precious material from my collection is “The Press-Telegram of India – Pakistan Test Match Series 1954-55”. This was the first time when India went to Pakistan to play a Test Match under the Captaincy of Vinoo Mankad and Polly Ulmigar. The telegram contains the match report in 6 pages which were sent to Amrita Bazar Patrika of Kolkata for publication and to the best of my knowledge is the only copy left as in the 80’s the office of Amrita Bazar Patrika was totally destroyed by fire.

Yishey D comes with Legends of the Lepchas

I am very happy to learn that my very good friend, my colleague of Weekend Review days Yishey D has come up with a book on Lepcha folk tales “Legends of the Lepchas”. Illustrated by noted cartoonist Pankaj Thapa, the book is a collection of 22 folk tales woven from the lepcha legends. 

I would like to congratulate the team of Legends of the Lepchas.

pic: Rachna Books

Pooja Sharma feliciated at Singtam Basibiyalo

Singtam completes 27th round of Basibiyalo

SINGTAM: Monthly literary forum Basibiyalo that has been a huge success among the crowds in and around Singtam completed its 27^th monthly meets today at East Point SSS. The highlight of the day was the felicitation of Miss Pooja Sharma from Rangpo in presence of noted Nepali cine actor Uttam Pradhan and Bishal Chamling.  The other guests present on the occasion were Maha Kavi Chakrapani Bhattarai, SK Pakhrin, noted folk song singer from Sikkim and Pradip Subba, President Singtam Motor Vehicle Association. Also present on the occasion were members of Spark NGO represented by Praveen Pradhan, President, Nangshel Sherpa, Vice President and Rajni Pradhan, the General Secretary. The cultural activities were hugely applauded by the huge assembled crowds and drew immense attention at the day long program.

Mohan Pradhan “Niraj” talking to this reporter told that Basibiyalo has succeeded in making its mark among its followers. This literary forum for over a period has provided platform for inspiring performers in different fields of dancing, singing and Nepali literary works. We would love to provide opportunity to anyone who wants to perform in our monthly forum. The Basibiyalo forum had started felicitating persons with extraordinary talents and since the last five meets they had been honouring one personality every month, added Pradhan. Pradhan went on to announce the initiating of lifetime achievement awards at Basibiyalo.

The 27^th Basibiyalo marked the felicitating of Pooja Sharma, a student from Rangpo who had recently won the Tilottamma Jury Special and the Statesman Photogenic Face Awards 2010. The competition was organised by Uttar Annanda Bazar Patrika and The Statesman at Uttar Banga Marwari Bhawan at Siliguri. She was presented khada and felicitation memento by the duo of Uttam Pradhan and Bishal Chamling. In her speech, Pooja Sharma thanked the team of Basibiyalo for instituting such felicitation that would encourage people like her to do better in days to come.

Speaking on the occasion every distinguished guest congratulated the team of Basibiyalo and wished them much success. Indian Idol 5 participant Prakash Sundas from Gangtok enthralled the gathered crowds with Hindi and Nepali songs. Yankee Tamang from Singtam, Tripti Diyali from Namchi, Sandhya Lamichaney and groups from Khamdong, Chambrung dance and    Subba dance from Lower Reshep (South Sikkim) and Banshika Rai (6 year old) from Singtam were the other dance performers of the day that were highly enjoyed by the audience. Pahlad Poudyal, Radha Pradhan, Anirudh Sharma Kaushik and Dev Narayan Sharma read their Nepali poems before the forum.

Sanga Choling, lamas and khadas….the confusion continues

There has always been a debate about the oldest monastery in Sikkim, and I have come across certain general knowledge books based on Sikkim that depict Dubdi as the oldest.  I do not know how far I am correct. Still, the mother of all books on Sikkim History, The Gazetteer of Sikhim, written by HH Rishley and published from Calcutta in 1894, writes Sanga Chelling (meaning The Place of Secret Spells) Monastery near Pelling was built in 1697. The Dubdi (meaning The Hermit's Cell) Monastery near Yuksom was built in 1701.

I believe in the case of the Sanga Choling and Dubdi issue, it was in later years that the original Sanga Choling monastery was burned and reconstructed in 1965. The confusion started here when most writers wrote their work as Dubdi was the first monastery of Sikkim. When an actual building is removed (here burned), as in the case of Sanga Choling, how correct are we to replace its original construction years. The State Government of Sikkim is trying its best to preserve the cultural heritage of Sikkim by protecting and preserving the ancient Sikkim, but do we think about the Chumbi Palace that was once part of Sikkim but is now in Tibet.

Interesting narration finds a place inside the book Rishley wrote more than a century ago that defines the differences between what we call gompas and mere monasteries. HH Rishley writes there are three types of so-called monasteries in and around Sikkim: rock caves, hermitages, and gompas, which are found in remote and solitary places. In contrast, the latter so-called gompas are merely temples with one or more priests engaged in ministering to the religious wants of the villagers. 

To a layman, every person wearing a red and yellow robe is a “lama," which is entirely wrong. I, too, made the same mistake. Later, I was told that in a monastic compound, three different types of people reside. They include students and scholars, usually called monks or the ‘traps’ and their teachers as the "Lamas." Similarly, the head or senior lama is called the “Rinpoche."

There is another confusion among us. I do like to have small talk. I have often witnessed the mistakes we usually make when we use the khandas. During my Weekend Review days, we used to have long discussions on different topics related to the culture and traditions of Sikkim. In one of the sessions, we talked about the khandas. 

The khadas are usually of two types: printed and non-printed. We were then told that the printed khadas were offered on happy festive occasions, i.e., marriage, birthdays, greetings, and others, while the non-printed khadas were non-festive. I do not know how correct I am, but I believe that the khandas' offering varies from place to place, from person to person, and from customs to customs.

Maharani Brings Home The Baby

source: www.britishpathe.com

MAHARANI BRINGS HOME THE BABY

Full title reads: "New York. Maharani Brings Home The Baby".

New York, United States of America (USA).

LV The Maharani of Sikkim (Miss Hope Cooke) comes down from aircraft with the Crown Prince and her six month old baby Prince. CU The Maharani. CU The six month old baby.

GV Palace in Sikkim. SV The Maharani and Maharaja just before their marriage. CU The Maharani. CU The Maharaja. GV Crowds gathered for the wedding. SV The Maharani and the Maharaja seated for the ceremony. LV The scarf is put round the Maharani's neck. CU The Maharani.

LV The Maharani carrying her baby comes from the airport building. CU SV The Maharani and baby.

(F.G.)

Floral beauty at Lakshumana Chowk, Lingtu

Floral beauty at Lakshumana Chowk, Lingtu

Singtam halts with the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games

Gangtok boy celebrates Kailash Kher’s Birthday

Singtam: In one of the rare instance to have been witnessed at Sikkim, Prakash Sundas an upcoming local singer from Gangtok celebrated the 38^th birthday of famed Bollyhood Singer Kailash Kher at Spark NGO office at Singtam on July 7. A cake with the name of Kailash Kher beautifully written was distributed among the members of Spark NGO along with other sweet items. A gorkhay khada was placed at the photo frame of Kailash Kher. Later Prakash Sundas went on to sing more than half a dozen songs of his singing idol.

Prakash Sundas is a rising singer from Gangtok who had been to Indian Idol 5 auditions this year and had succeeded in reaching the third round at Mumbai audition. He was the only Sikkimese among more than 20 participants to have cleared the Kolkata auditions. In recent times he had been doing stage shows in different part of the state. I have never met my idol but have listen to his voice, I do wish to god that someday I get a chance to meet him and I shall surely sing for him, added Prakash. Rajani Pradhan, General Secretary of Spark NGO told that we should appreciate such sincerity and dedication and we as the family of Spark NGO wish him much success in days to come.  

Tashiding Monastery: A sacred Guru Rimpoche blessed –IV

Without a doubt, the land of Sikkim is full of mystery; the more you believe, the more you understand the mystery hidden inside it, and the legend guiding this mystic land smiles back. I have often heard stories about mysterious magical tales that relive the world of that fantasy, which people still accept as accurate once Sikkim is part of it. Some are enveloped in the footprints of learned men, some strange symbols are said to be the footprints of animals, statues that pour tears, or even those that sweat. There are many more such examples to follow, but I believe these mysterious happenings are beyond the common man's understanding. Only the time immortal has the secrets to these mysteries.  

  

Tashiding is one of the most mysterious places, and there are also a few mysterious materials that these materialistic worlds find difficult to consider. As I said earlier in my first article, this was my first visit to this mystic place, and I feel I missed out on a few other things, which shall be dealt with some other day. There were three of us on this Tashiding tour: myself, Saila Kaka (my father's younger brother), and Praveen Daju, my cousin's brother. Through this article I would like to talk about four strange-looking rocks near Tashiding Monastery, the local people still reason to have some mystical relations. All these rocks are half a dozen steps away from one another. 

The first of the four rocks has a small hole in it, and the legend goes that if a person's finger goes through that hole with closed eyes from a 10-12 footstep walk three successive times, it is believed his wishes are fulfilled. Kaka tried many times but each time he came closer to it but failed, even Praveen Daju made a valiant effort without success. But for me lady luck was on my side I succeeded in my first instance but did not try to attempt it later. I needed to be more confident on the other occasion. 

 

Next to it was a small rock where it is believed that resting down the knee at that rock three times could heal joint pain! It is hard to judge, but faith is all that can do. I tried it out, and I was followed by the rest of my tour mates. I do sometimes feel pain in my joints, but I do not know whether there was some hitch in my faith that I did not have any difference in the pain I am still continuing with. 

To its left lay a rock that our local tour guide, whom we had found at the monastery, informed us it had healing power if we rubbed our back against it. As to our local guide's instructions, we all followed them. 

The last of the mysterious rocks that we came across that day was the one in which there was a crack in the middle, and it is believed that on an auspicious day, one can hear the sound of mantras being chanted or sometimes even strange sounds of river water flowing are heard, our guide told us. 

We were told about other strange healing rocks found in that vicinity, but due to poor light, we had to hurry back to our vehicle. There was hope that some other day, we might return just to take a glimpse of those mysterious rocks that have been the guardian deity to this mystic Tashiding.  

10th Death Anniversary of Capt. Ganju Lama VC MM PD

In Memorium

On 10th Death Anniversary

Capt. Ganju Lama VC MM PD
(7 July 1922 - 1 July 2000)

Time takes away the edge of grief
But memory turns back every leaf
Gone from our lives one so dear
But in our hearts forever near.

Time changes many things but not the
Memory this day brings
Till now you are still in our minds and hearts
for the love and lessons of life that u gave us

Memories are like leaves of gold
They never tarnish or grow old
Locked in our hearts, You will always be
Loved and remembered , For all eternity
It isn't what we write, It isn't what we say
Its how we feel deep inside
As we think of you today... ten years on..
 
Deeply remembered and missed by all

Pema Chuki Kazini (Wife) &
All Family Members & Relatives