Bhanu Gurung and Milan Sharma creates musical magic at Basibiyalo

Chief Guest Chunnilal Ghimiray with Singers Bhanu Gurung and Milan Sharma

Singtam: Popular Singer and State Awardee Bhanu Gurung along with Swar Sikkim winner Milan Sharma created a magical atmosphere at Singtam Community Hall with their well-liked nepali songs from their recent Nepali Album ‘Astitwa’, the occasion was the 31^st edition of the Singtam Basibiyalo.

Chief Guest Chunnilal Ghimiray honouring Remanti Rai (Singer) and Rabin Mukhiya (dancer)

The 31^st edition of Singtam Basibiyalo was attended by noted personality from in and around Singtam those included Chunnilal Ghimiray (film director) was the Chief Guest on the occasion that also had presence of personalities from different fields that included Bhanu Gurung and Milan Sharma (singers), Bijendra Thapa (IInd Officer In Charge, Singtam PS), Ram Naresh Sharma and Anita Tamang (Singtam Nagar Panchayats), Suresh Pradhan (Lanco Co-ordinator), Praja Pradhan (actor), Pravin Pradhan (President SPARK NGO) and host of other popular personalities. Bijay and Seema Pradhan were given the responsibility of the “Gharpaatti” of today’s meet.

Mohan Pradhan “Neeraj”, the man behind the Singtam Basibiyalo taking to this reporter told that he is very happy with success of the programme and held it high that he wish to provide a platform and an opportunity to anyone who wants to show case their talents on stage. The motive behind which Basibiyalo was launch is giving us fruits told Pradhan. Today we have participants from places like Gangtok, West Pandam, Rongli, Namchi, Khamdong and other places of Sikkim, it shows that our hard work and determination did not go on waste., he further added.

Remanti Rai (Singing) and Rabin Mukhiya (dancing) the Sikkim State finalist of the North East Wave Competition at Guwahati were also honoured on the day along with Geeta Sharma, who had also participated on the North Eastern States musical competition. The other entertainment of the day included the first duet (hindi) song presentation at Basibiyalo by the singers Prakash Sundas and Sujata Chettri. Rabin Mukhiya went on to perform a contemporary dance from the Nepali song “Pokhaunu Sakinah” sung by Remanti Rai.

Gangaa Mukhiya, the local talent from Singtam also performed Nepali rock numbers from his Nepali album “Aakarshan”. Poetry recitation was performed on stage of the Singtam Community Hall by Mahesh Dahal, Yankee Tamang, Bipain Kaushik, Ketan Mangla and Ben Kumar Rai. The dancers to perform on the day included Diksha, Rabin Mukhia, Yankee Tamang, Bimal Rai and Arju Pariyar.

Singer Prakash Sundas performing at Singtam Basiyalo

Nangshel Sherpa and Ashim Pradhan, members of SPARK NGO said that it was one of the best Basibiyalo they had participated and with every performer giving their best; the atmosphere looked more like a competition of the highest level. Speaking on the occasion Chunnilal Ghimiray appreciated the work carried by the Singtam Basibiyalo toally and especially thanked Mohan Pradhan “Neeraj” for the invitation to witness such a musical extravanza. Ghimiray further wished best days for the Singtam Basibiyalo toally.

Sikkim achieved second spot in the BoIB 2010 polls

from http://haalkhabar.in

Gangtok, February 21, 2011: A Sikkimese blog “Proud to be Sikkimese” http://sikhim.blogspot.com/ has won the second spot at two separate categories of the Best of Indian Blogosphere (BoIB) 2010 polls. Proud to be Sikkimese, a blog that focuses on news and history of Sikkim State was nominated along with nine other blogs from Indian States under the category Arts & Hobby Blogs and Entertainment, News & Media for the final round. Online voting was conducted from January 22, 2010 till February 13^th,2010 that resulted in the selection of top five winners.

“It is indeed a proud moment for me to achieve second spot in Best of Indian Blogosphere 2010 polls. My triumph is a tribute towards those personalities who had their roles in the history of Sikkim”, said blogger of sikhim.blogspot.com Shital Pradhan.

Proud to be a Sikkimese: My passion for Sikkim

I had never thought that someday, my passion for understanding Sikkim would have followers and well-wishers across the globe. Today, I have friends who appreciate my small effort and thank me for helping them bring closure to a land called Sikkim, and it's a pleasure to hear such words. Just before writing this article, I received an email from Volker from France wondering about my fascination with bringing out things about Sikkim that no one had ever thought about. 

I was looking for information with him regarding a person named Robert Godet. He was a Frenchman, writer, photographer, adventure lover, and family friend to the Royal family of Sikkim. In the 1950s, he made several flights to Sikkim in his small two-seater airplane, probably making him the first to fly across the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim.

Several anecdotes and information about Sikkim have been less known to our people or might be forgotten over time. My passion lies in collecting that precious information and putting it in my blog, Proud to be a Sikkimese: http://sikhim.blogspot.com/. When people go through my blog, I am sure they will find many articles and rare old photographs of Sikkim that may amaze them.

I once sent a request to a website administrator in the United States to review my blog, and this is what she (Kim) wrote about my blog. “…….One, often forgotten, the advantage of blogging is that one gets to see some exotic places which we never knew even existed. Sikkim is one such place in India. It’s the place that inspires, Shital Pradhan, to write his blog and he writes on average more than one post a day. Now that’s what is called truly inspirational.

I just googled "Sikkim" and the images which showed up really made me sit up in awe. No wonder it is the state that receives a high percentage of tourists visiting India. And this blog is Encyclopedia (or Wikipedia) of Sikkim, a perfect blog on one's homeland, a place which we all love, but often forget to give its due.”  I am thankful for her encouraging words and I am sure this will give me a boost and an honour that I am on my way to creating the Encyclopedia of Sikkim.

Coming to my blog, Proud to be a Sikkimese, these days, I am working on a few exciting topics that I am sure will make an exciting read when they are completed. Just to give a hint…. has anyone heard about HSI Sikkim, which ran from Bombay to the UK in 1918? 

Hospital Ship Sikkim was used to assess the soldiers injured during the First World War. HIS Sikkim was the world's first River Hospital Ship. How about a horse named Sikkim that still holds a record in the US Derby that she won in the 60s? Interestingly, the popularity of the Horse made it appear in an advertisement for Vim-Con horse vitamins. There are many such stories on the fold; each gives me the pleasure of going deeper to understand them.

Proud to be Sikkimese, we underwent many short expeditions trying to find interesting and fascinating information about Sikkim. We found a tree with a girth of 52 feet, met a man who had seen a Yeti, and visited different historic places, like a 200-year-old house that should have found its name in Sikkim Heritage.

For the last four years, Proud to be a Sikkimese has been part of me, and my passion for Sikkim has given me an identity as a writer and a story hunter. Above all, I am happy people find inspiration in me when I go through my passion for Sikkim. But I am happy to remain a student of Sikkim and unravel its past. 

Where does this stair go.......?

Whenever i have crossed this huge rock near Rambi on my way to Siliguri, i have always wonder what is this stair on the rock all about....i wished to get through but have so far not able to get through it and another similar man made steps i located below the Coronation Bridge. This was exciting enough to give my curious heart a reason to smile. I have in my mind that one day i will find out what is it all about?

Mother Teresa visited Sikkim in 1976

February 17, 1976 - Mother Teresa visited Sikkim

Sikkim Helicopter Post

It was an innovative idea of popularising Postal Department of North Bengal and Sikkim by Mr. John Samuel,  the then Chief PMG. Though this Sikkim Helicopter Post did not last long but it can be credited as an pioneering effort at the small state of Sikkim. The launch of the Sikkim Helicopter Post was carried at Helipad, near High Court, Gangtok. 

The Press Release then said :

"SIKKIM HELICOPTER POST"

India Post in association with Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation launched a facility to post letters on board the daily Helicopter flight connecting the nearest Airport in North Bengal, Bagdogra to Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, on December 2, 2003.

The mail posted on the board receives a special hand-stamped cachet. This privilege costs Rs50 per piece. The flight lasting 20 minutes, gives a view of the third highest mountain Kanchenjonga, Rumtek Monastery, and Gangtok Ridge and costs – Rs 600.

The mail posted on board on December 2, 2003, received an additional launch cachet.

MG Marg on sketch

This picture sends me an important message. We all praise the beautification of MG Marg of Gangtok but looking out at this sketch, I did not see any new changes; we repeated what it was before. As it is said, the earth is round, and we tend to find that the start is the same as the end.