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

 first published in SPARK magazine, edited by Shital Pradhan “…..his hunger never stops.” This often-repeated phrase echoed by many of his friends aptly suits the persona of Mr. Ganesh Kumar Pradhan. Known mostly among the associates as a humble and soft-spoken gentleman, this grandfather has so far successfully carved a niche of himself among the odds.                               His Ram Gauri Sangalaya, named after his parent’s name is a self-made personal museum that has in a short time capitulated his name and fame across the state and beyond. The three-story museum house has had visitors including the Governor of Sikkim Shri V. Rama Rao, numerous ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretaries, DGPs, High ranked officials from Army, and others beyond the state to have been to his home. Some of the noted personalities of ‘who is who’ of Nepal...

Happy 8th Birthday to you Bebay.... Samai katti chitto bitchha hai....last time we met it was more than one and half years back. Since then I have not seen you and even not heard you. As usual, I see you grow in photographs only. Samay ko paribandha bitra baadhiye ko manchey mah.....aafnai chori lai bhetnu pani katti ahsajilo. Bebay, hami manchey hau, bachnu parchha. Hami chittai bhetney chau.... Maya chha, maya bich hamro kohi aauney chainah......mah yaha chuu...tah thaya chaas....mah talai samzhinai baschu..tero astitwa lai bachayerai rakhekai chhu.....sayad tah pani malai sochney garchass nai hola....hami chittai bhetney chau........ Chori...mero pani mann nai chaa.... Love AYE Baba

I am new to bird watching and I am glad to say I am enjoying it. In the last two months, I have come across more than 40 species of avian diversity. From the smallest of hummingbirds to the biggest, the Cormorants; the avian world is beautiful and beyond any comparisons. In recent times,  I am very fond of two birds; sparrows as a whole and a common mynah particularly the one I had recently discovered that had a deformed upper mandible and I named him “Machindra”. A couple of days back, we observed World Sparrow Day at Chisopani JHS, where I am a primary school teacher. The programme was a successful one and we saw large numbers of students participating at the event. From a bird hunter to surrendering their catapults was itself an achievement of the event. There were students who had been hunting birds in the wild for more than three years.  To hear those students saying that they were wrong in doing so and they will in near future protect those harmless birds tell us the ...

23-year-old Hissey Doma Bhutia from Arithang, Gangtok has been identified by New Delhi-based production house Crown Communication to act in a Doordarshan Primetime Television Series “Ek Tha Rusty” based on the novel of Ruskin Bond.   Earlier Sikkimese gal Sangay Udenla was picked up and she is in the shooting at Mussoorie  right now.   Hisey had already done a cameo role in Remanti Rai’s song “Pokhawnu Sakina”, besides she had recently acted in Bhutia's song “Nying Tam” as a lead model ; acted in many music videos, and performed many dance sequels in local events. She had already worked with one of the famous choreographers Mr. Kamal Rai Nepali Film choreographer. Bhutia’s hobbies include dancing, reading, and travelling.   The  Director of this series Shubhadarshini Singh who had plenty of experience in Motion Pictures had already directed many short movies, serials, and documentaries for different television channels.  She had also directed a sho...

SINGTAM, MARCH 21:   The students and teachers observed World Sparrow Day at its school building on March 20. The day marked with an awareness workshop followed by competitions on activities related to preservation and conservation of birds. Santosh Sharma (pursuing PhD on Avian diversity of Sikkim, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar) and Krishna Prasad Dahal, (pursuing M.Sc on Forestry, NERIST, Arunachal Pradesh) were the speakers of the day. Mahesh Dahal, Headmaster, Chisopani JHS and his staff were present on the occasion. More than hundred students attended the programme. The best part of the day was when a few students submitted their catapults to the school and vowed not to shoot the birds in the near future. Altogether 8 catapults were received by the school. Competitions were held for the students that included nest making, treehouse making, placards, and short speeches on the importance of birds. More than 40 students had participated on the competitions. Following wer...

In my little knowledge, there are two instances that a tortoise was ever recorded in Sikkim, on both occasions the tortoise was reported to be Indotestudo elongata .     * The first recorded instance was during the last week of July 2008 a little yellow tortoise was found by two labours working at the site of a Rock Garden construction, at the base of nearby Tarey Bhir (South Sikkim) on the bank of a seasonal rivulet called Khanni Khola. that was later identified by Usha Lachungpa Sr. Research Officer (WL), she identified it as a male Sal Forest Tortoise Indotestudo elongata (Blyth) of the Family Testudinidae. * The second finding was from Chalamthang near Rhenock (East Sikkim) on June 27, 2011 . The yellowish color tortoise weighed around 3.5 to 4 Kg. It was later taken to Kitam Bird Sanctuary. It was rescued by Mani Kumar Pradhan, resident of Chalamthang. The department confirmed the species as Indotestudo elongata , an endangered species. This cold-bloo...

SINGTAM, MARCH 2 : Generous Student Chisopani JHS, East Sikkim today welcomed Amar Subba, a marathon man at NH 31, Chisopani one and a half kilometres from Singtam on his way to Gangtok. Mahesh Dahal, Headmaster Chisopani JHS, Shital Pradhan and Sushma Pradhan (teachers, Chisopani JHS), Arjun Chettri, Headmaster Tadong PS (North Sikkim), Class VII students of Chisopani JHS were present on occasion. Subba reached Chisopani at around 8.30 in the morning. Students and teachers with placards cheered Amar Subba. Amar Subba was on a solo marathon covering 125km from Darap (West Sikkim) to Gangtok (East Sikkim). The motive behind the event was to raise funds for Mayalmu Sangh, a shelter home at Gangtok. The event was supported by the Press Club of Sikkim. Subba was offered khadas by the teachers and students and they praised his efforts. An amount of Rs. 1500 was also offered to the escorting team. In his short halt, he interacted with the students and encouraged them to work better in sp...

Nepali filmmaking in Sikkim is growing, and to add to its growing list comes “ Anmol Tshan ” with a tagline A Christmas in September ”. Produced by Kishore Dungmali Rai under Sinai Enterprises , whose earlier Nepali film “ Angalo Yo Maya Ko ” starring Prashant Tamang , Indian Idol winner was a major success. Anmol Tshan comes with technical maturity and could be counted among the films that could change the perspective scenario of film-making in Sikkim. Despite newcomers, the film sincerely attempts to highlight the approach of a living relationship and its bitter consequence, which is a common trend in major towns and cities. The film Anmol Tshan (Precious Moment) makes us believe that responsibility comes with a better understanding that we do not bother to look upon. Running away from the crisis isn’t the solution; one must be courageous enough to face it. The film is more about family values and being together that make life beautiful and memorable. The story of the film revolv...