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

Ganesh Pradhan, Sikkim State Awardee, founder of famed Ram Gauri Sangralaya and Evergreen Nursery from Rhenock called me up last week and very excitedly said – my Nolina plant gave flower. I could feel his happiness that could be compared to excitement of a child. Over the years, Ganesh Aja (my relationship with him) had always shared his happiness with me and when he talked about the flowering of a plant, I too felt there was something special. He told me this species of flowers in thirty years. He had never seen or heard this flower bloom in any part of Sikkim till now. To me, this flower was exceptional and I felt it should be documented. I don’t deny the fact that this plant might have flowered in Sikkim but documentation is important, so my interest grew in it. Beaucarnea recurvata , locally known as Nolina or most popularly identified as Elephant’s foot or Pony Tail palm is a xerophyte flowering plant. Native of Mexico, this plant is one of the most popular ornamenta...

SINGTAM, JUNE 13: Eminent Philatelists from Sikkim and West Bengal jointly celebrated the completion of ten years of the Sikkim Philatelic Society . A get-together was organized at Ram-Gauri Sangralaya, Rhenock to mark the occasion where a small philatelic exhibition cum General Meeting of the Society was also held. The highlight of the day was the renaming of Sikkim Philatelic Society as Sikkim Philatelic and Numismatic Society . Plan to organize a stamp exhibition in September; formation of hobby club in schools, membership drive, and others was discussed. A general meeting was held where Sushil Karthak , a well-known philatelist from Siliguri , and Ravi Sevak , philatelist and numismatic expert from Kolkata was the President and the chairperson.  Different matters of importance for the development and the promotion of the hobby were discussed. Ganesh Pradhan , President of Sikkim Philatelic Society gave the welcome speech and appreciated the presence of the distingu...

SINGTAM, NOVEMBER 1: It was a rare achievement for the philatelists of Sikkim Philatelic Society at DEPEX 2014 held at Capitol Hall, Darjeeling on October 31.  Five-member philatelists from Sikkim Philatelic Society had participated in the Senior Category Open Competition (Outside Darjeeling) that featured philatelists from Sikkim, Mallbazaar , Jalpaiguri , Cooch Bihar , Gangarampur , and others. The first three positions in the category were won by Sikkim. Shital Pradhan won the first prize for his theme “ Sikkim through Philately ”, Roshan Prasad stood second while Ganesh Pradhan , Deepen Pradhan , and Padam Parajuli , three philatelists from Sikkim shared the joint third position. The two-day event (October 30 and 31) saw the release of two Special Covers on the 150 th year of St. Paul School and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling . Another highlight of the event was the release of “ My Stamp ” which was highly appreciated by all.  A total of 70 f...

 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...

An Inaugural Day Special Cover of Sikkimpex-82 An Award Day Special Cover of Sikkimpex-82 Despite being associated with its postal history since 1861, the state of Sikkim lack in promotion of philately. A significant chapter of Sikkim Rocket Mail Experiment 1935 had different pioneering achievements in the world philately today.   Till this date, only four philatelic exhibitions had been held in the state, and the last one was held in 2008. A little is known or read about the first philatelic competition that was held for three days at Gangtok during November 2-4, 1982. The exhibition was called “Sikkimpex-82” and inaugurated by Homi J.H. Taleyarkhan , then Governor of Sikkim. More than 30 stamps enthusiasts had taken part in the exhibition. Two Special Covers with the illustrations of an orchid and a yak and a souvenir book was also released on the occasion I here want to share a small anecdote that happened during the second Philatelic Exhibition that was held a...

Singtam: Deepen Pradhan from Rhenock has received a Bronze medal in the recently held Stamps of India National Exhibition 2011 that was held at New Delhi from November 3-6. Deepen Pradhan won the bronze for his theme on ‘Pre Independence Indian Stamps’. Ganesh Pradhan, President of Sikkim Philatelic Club in his message has congratulated Deepen Pradhan’s performance and had hoped that he will bring more laurels to the state in days to come too. Due to the 18/9 Sikkim Earthquake, Sikkim Philatelic Club had decided only to send 4 exhibits from Ganesh Pradhan, Shital Pradhan, Deepen Pradhan, and Sristikaa Pradhan.

{ A small state of Sikkim won Silver and four Bronze medals at the recent National Philatelic Exhibition held at Ohkla, New Delhi on December 10-12 but the greatest achievement Sikkim made at the event was it made its presence felt among the other states. }  I last participated at the National Philatelic Exhibition in Chennai in December 2008 and the moment I found my possibility to be part of the Delhi National Exhibition I could not let my excitement go off. The organizing committee wanted me to be the State Representative of my state which I happily agreed to. There was an expectation that Sikkim would send a maximum entry at the exhibition to which I am crossing my fingers. I had a talk with Ganesh Pradhan, President of Sikkim Philatelic Society and he too voiced that we should send more entries than the last exhibition. Last December Sikkim had sent three entries at Vadodara Single Frame National Exhibition where Roshan Prasad and I went to win the individual Sapphire Awar...