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

I am sure there are thousands of readers worldwide who read this article of mine and yet we do not know each other. One of the primary reasons to start a blog was to reach the furthest of the poles. I want to make new friends and learn about different cultures and traditions but could be that I am not able to connect my way of writing to their thoughts. When I had newly joined Weekend Review as a newspaper reporter sometime back in 2003 my mentor Mr. Sujit Chakraborty used to tell me.  "When you write an article, do make it a point to write it in that way in which you like to read.” The same theory has been with me since then, whenever I write an article I keep in mind it should be the easiest even if the layman could never have any difficulty reading it. Today I want to share a few of my secrets about the world of blogging. I had been surfing web pages since 2001 and it took me more than five years to start my blog. I here want to mention the name of one person that has in s...

SHIVADEEP RAI Gangtok: “The SDF party came into existence with the name and identity of Khali Khutte ko Party (barefooted people’s party) or poor people’s party. The party is working with its optimum ability for the development and welfare of the poor people since it came into power. The labourers and employees of Sikkim are highest paid in the entire nation”, said Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling, addressing the May Day gathering at Mining Playground in Rangpo on May 1. Dr Chamling is also the President of the All Sikkim Democratic Labor Front (ASDLF). Highlighting the development of labourers in Sikkim achieved by the SDF government, he said the daily wage of labourers in Sikkim has been increased to Rs.100 minimum and Rs.150 maximum according to their skill, as against the earlier rate of Rs.17 till 1994 when SDF party formed the government. The enhanced wages have been implemented from April 1, 2008, and...

JORETHANG , December 23: The one-leaf 2008 calendar featuring the first Kirat King Yallambar dating back to 400 BC and set on the backdrop of Mount Khangchendzonga along with the images of men and womenfolk attired in their traditional dress during a Rai festival and printed both in Bantawa script and in English was unveiled at a ceremony today morning at Baiguney Rodung Khim in Jorethang. Minister for the State Rural Management Development Department, KN Rai launched the chic, artistic calendar amidst thunderous applause. The calendar priced at Rs 50 each has been designed and printed by Ashit Rai, one of the active members of the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh youth wing. One of the chief reasons behind printing the calendar was to accumulate funds for the smooth functioning of the youth wing committee which, according to Ashit Rai is still in its nascent phase as far as its monetary aspect is concerned. “By doing so, the youths of the Rai community can prove our worth that we...

(NEWS taken from other sources) S iliguri:,17 Dec: A girl working in a call girl centre here became the victim of Dalals who was sold at Pune. Despite being educated and conscious, the girl was falsely given the fake form of a call centre at Pune and asked to appear for an interview there. The Dalals also arrange to talk to the employer telephonically.  Believing that she would get a handsome salary, she left Siliguri and went to Pune but she was sold to the brothel and she knew the truth only after she was sold. However, she managed to inform her house about the truth and Siliguri Police managed to rescue the girl and she narrated the whole story.  Earlier, police rescued two girls of Sikkim from Pune. There are many missing girls from Sikkim and Darjeeling and it is doubted that most of them might have been sold in the brothel. Two girls as shown in the picture are missing some months ago from Lapchey Busty, Badamt...

  G angtok, 13 Dec:  The Ruling Sikkim Democratic Front Party observed the Government formation  day on December 12, 2007, at its headquarters here. Addressing the party workers, Party President and Chief Minister  Chamling  said that the year 2008 is declared as the year of 'discharge your responsibility year.'    He appealed to all his party workers and the people to work and dischge their duty for the development of the State and take all the opportunities being generated in the State. 

Amidst reports of intrusions by Chinese forces into Bhutan, India has made a move that is reflecting its unease on the eastern front border. Six thousand troops have been stationed near the Nathu La Pass close to the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China. The army says these troops belonging to the 27 Mountain Division were pulled out from Kashmir in the past three to four months. The Army chief has played it down in the new deployment. General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Army Staff, says the reports of intrusions near Sikkim are a matter between China and Bhutan. While the Army chief may be keen to stay away from what is essentially a diplomatic row, the past few years have seen several violations of the international border with Chinese incursions being reported from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 

GANGTOK, Dec. 12: Congress leader Mr Rahul Gandhi has assured the agitating Lepcha’s of Dzongu, Sikkim and Darjeeling , of sending a fact finding team to look into the controversial power projects proposed at Dzongu, a site considered sacred by the Lepcha community. Members of several Lepcha organisations from Sikkim and Darjeeling met Mr Gandhi in New Delhi and claimed to have gained his support in favour of their protest. In dharna for two days at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi protesting against the implementation of the mega hydel projects coming up at Dzongu in North Sikkim , the agitators said: “we met Mr Rahul Gandhi along with other MP's and party leaders and submitted a memorandum on the matter. He assured us of taking it seriously,” claimed Mr Dawa Lepcha , general secretary of the Affected Citizen of Teesta , the organisation that is opposing the setting up of the projects at Dzongu. “Mr. Gandhi has assured us of sending a fact...

Bishal Cintury GANGTOK, December 9: More than 4,000 people including tourists thronged to the Old Rumtek monastery and Enchey monastery to witness the Kagyed Dance (mask dance) today. The dance is divided into two parts known as Gotur Chaam and Maha Kala Chaam are performed by the Kagyu and Nyingmapa sect of Buddhist here. Monks wearing from various monasteries around the state gathered here to participate in the event. “Five different dances ~ Sangdikokar, Chaksipa, Sewa, Singzong and Sena are being performed by the monks to ward-off all the demons and devils from the state and hail in Sikkimese New Year that begins tomorrow” said Mr Kanor Bhutia a member of the Dutche (organising committee). “We started our puja of Maha Kala, a guardian deity of Sikkim 15 days ago and concluded today ~ on the 29th day of the 10 month of lunar calendar” he added. Monks were seen chanting mantras, harping out melodies with their traditional instruments like drums and cymbal...

Gangtok, Dec. 6: Rahul Gandhi will send a high-level, fact-finding delegation of the Congress to Dzongu in North Sikkim where the Lepchas are up in arms against proposed mega hydel power projects. The Congress general secretary came up with the decision soon after some members of the joint action committee, formed to preserve the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu, called on him this morning. The agitation launched by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) and other supporting organisations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi entered its second day today. “We are elated with Gandhi’s decision,” said Tsteten Lepcha, the chief coordinator of ACT. The protest against the mega hydroelectricity power projects in Dzongu has been shifted to New Delhi from here after it failed to elicit a positive response from the Sikkim government. The protesters are getting a lot of support from environmentalists and other social groups. Along with the protests in New Delhi, the relay hunger strike in Gangtok a...

Darjeeling, December 09: The GNLF has turned itself to start an agitation for Gorkhaland state if there are more delays in granting Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills.The GNLF put pressure the Centre and the West Bengal government for fast execution of the Sixth Schedule bill in parliament. The bill was shelved after BJP members demanded that ...

(Source :  Sikkim Reporter)   GANGTOK, December 06: Little did Chensang Doma Tamang of Tibet Road know that her job in Singapore would render her penniless after months of slog. Ms Tamang who joined her duty in Singapore on August 15, last year returned back home for twin reasons- denial of salary by her employer and denial of medical help. After her return, she was compelled to file a case at Sadar Thana yesterday against one Sushma Sharma of Aritar, East Sikkim. The Sadar Police arrested Sushma Sharma today, an agent in Resolve International Private Limited located at Tadong when she introduced Chensang and arranged for her employment in Singapore at a sum of Rs 9, 000 per month. At the time of sending Chensang to Singapore, Sushma had fixed the salary and at the same time promised her to bear the whole amount in case of non-payment by her employer in Singapore. The outstanding amount unpaid by her employer in Singapore, which should be now borne...

The data for per capita income at constant 1999-2000 prices, for Sikkim, as provided by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is Rs. 18159 (2003-2004), Rs. 19332 (2004-2005) and Rs. 20609 (2005-2006) as on 25-11-2007. Besides Sikkim, The rise in per capita income of the country ...

New Delhi, December 03: The Ministry of Defence has accorded 'in principle' approval for the establishment of new Sainik Schools at Chingchip (Mizoram), Ravangla (Sikkim) & Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh). The objective of Sainik Schools is to create an opportunity in each state to contribute to the Officers pool in the armed forces and to bring ...

By Source: The Telegraph on December 06,2007 Gangtok, Dec. 5: The protest against setting up of hydel projects in Dzongu, a Lepcha reserve in North Sikkim, has reached Delhi. A team of representatives from various Lepcha organisations of Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills and Delhi — led by Affected citizens of Teesta (ACT) which is spearheading the protest — held a sit-in at Jantar Mantar today. The protesters claim that the construction of hydel projects in Dzongu would disturb the fragile ecological balance of the area and hurt the religious sentiments of the Lepchas.    The sit-in started with an offering of prayers by a Lepcha priest (bong thing). It was followed by offering of neysol (appeasement of deities) by the members of Sangha (monks) of Dzongu, Tseten Lepcha, the ACT chief coordinator, told The Telegraph over phone from New Delhi. Dawa Lepcha, ACT general secretary, Lyangsong Tamsang, the president of the Joint Action Committee for Pro...

By HTMonday December 3, 12:33 AM Delhi has woken up to the rapid infrastructure development by China on its side of the border with the Northeast. A.K. Antony, on his first visit to Sikkim after becoming the Defence Minister, admitted that India had a lot of catching up to do and would now focus on the Northeast. "I admit we were not able to develop infrastructure in the border areas. There is no use accusing others," the minister said. There have been intelligence reports from the Indian forces on China expanding its road network, building three new airstrips and extending the Lhasa rail line towards the Chumbi valley in its south that lies at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan. Antony said the Chinese have been developing infrastructure "very fast" on their side. "In the past, the Northeast has not got enough attention.  We have realised the development of the entire region is very important," he said. He added that it was the gover...

By Sudhakar Jagdish Gangtok, Dec 2: The gate at the Nathula border post on the Indian side has the famous inscription of Julius Caesar-Veni, Vidi and Vici (I came, I saw and I conquered), but for Defence Minister A K Antony it changed to something like this -I came, I saw and I admitted to the poor conditions of roads on our side. The stark contrast of Indian roads was eye pinching if one just looked over the Chinese border where the three-inch plastic cover roads seemed even better than what Rajpath in New Delhi has. Antony too was overwhelmed by the fact and termed the contrast as an 'eye-opener'. "Chinese have gone very far in developing infrastructure on their side," Antony said, adding, " There is no comparison between our side and their side. So, that is the problem."  Flanked by Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor, Antony shook hands with some Chinese army officials posted at the 14,200 feet border post, who were aware of an Ind...

GANGTOK: A day after reports that Chinese forces had dismantled some unmanned Indian forward posts on Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet border, defense minister A K Antony on Saturday claimed the incident did not take place on Indian soil. "I don't want to go into details. As far as Indian territories are concerned nothing has happened," Antony told reporters during the course of his two-day visit to forward areas in Sikkim. There were differences over India-China border but the situation was "by and large" peaceful, he said. "China has its own perception, we have our own," he said.  Antony said New Delhi and Beijing were trying to settle the border dispute through various mechanisms. "But that does not mean that there is no problem. There have been some minor isolated incidents along the border which we have been trying to settle through diplomatic channels and flag meetings," he said. Reports quoting military officials said around N...

by Subhrangshu Gupta CALCUTTA, March 3 — Over 100,000 "homeless" Sikkimese settled down in the Darjeeling Duars Coochbehar area of North Bengal, have demanded that citizenship be granted to them without any further delay. They have threatened to launch an agitation otherwise. The ultimatum was sent to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Joyti Basu, by the Sikkim National Congress as well as the Sikkim Sangram Parisad. These "homeless" Sikkimese mostly comprises Lepchas and Bhutias who at the time of Sikkim joining as a hill state of India, had been treated as "outsiders" by the Chogyal on ethnic discrimination and are still considered as "homeless" Initially they lived in Sikkim but afterwards spread over the adjoining hills of Darjee...

Gangtok, December 1: The Border Trade through Nathula Trade Route started from 6th July 2006 and ended on 29th September 2006, last year. The traders had expressed certain problems and accordingly, the State Government took up the matter with Government of India to make this route a major avenue for economical and multifacet...

KOLKATA/GANGTOK: A few weeks before the first ever India-China military exercises, the real war games have begun. On November 8, Chinese forces demolished some unmanned Indian forward posts near two Army bunkers against which Beijing had raised objections since July. "The Chinese came, destroyed the posts and went back," said an Army officer. The incident is learned to have taken place around November 8.     The revelation came on the day a 12-member People's Liberation Army delegation landed in Kolkata on a recce for the military exercises to be held next month in China. The destroyed posts were near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet border tri-junction. Intelligence sources in Gangtok on Friday said that a "third bunker" located near the two disputed ones had been destroyed by the Chinese. But, Army sources attached to formations overseeing the location said the structures were fiberglass huts, which are manned by a few soldiers when winter sets i...