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Kalimpong, Dec. 27: The GNLF has claimed that around 170 CPM members at Pedong, about 21 km from here, have crossed over to it.

General secretary of the GNLF Sakyong Zonal Committee Francis Dewan said: “The CPM members of lower Minchu in Pedong joined us on December 23. They were the last of the CPM supporters in the area. Most of them were senior cadre who had been with the Left party since its inception. They had become disillusioned with the CPM lately as the party had failed to fulfil the wishes of the hill people or carry out any development work.” (more…)

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Kalimpong, Dec. 21: GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh’s visit today, after a gap of five years, came as a surprise to residents and GNLF leaders alike.
Ghisingh’s visit, which lasted for an hour, was aimed at inspection of the new water reservoir-cum-park being constructed at Sherpa Gaon near Deolo, about 5 km from here. Not wanting to speak much, Ghisingh said: “I have just come here to inspect the work under way at the reservoir. I will be back soon to see how other projects, undertaken by the DGHC here, are progressing.” However, he did not specify the date of his next visit. (more…)

Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Dec. 21 — It was a pleasant surprise for GNLF supporters and leaders when their party supremo Mr Subash Ghisingh visited Kalimpong today after four years.
The last time Mr Ghisingh visited Kalimpong officially was during the Magey Mela at Beni in December 2001. (more…)

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Kalimpong, Dec. 20: The 274th birth anniversary of Pano Gaeboo Achyok was celebrated today amid huge pomp and fanfare.

According to the Lepchas, Achyok was their last king and members of the community had come from across the district western Bhutan, Sikkim and other parts of India to join the festivities.

Organised by the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association in collaboration with the Central government-run Indira Gandhi National Museum of Mankind, the celebrations included a host of cultural programmes, an awards ceremony, an archery competition and the release of three Lepcha books.

The celebrations started early in the morning with the Lepchas offering prayers to Gaeboo Achyok at Damsang Fort, 20 km from here. The fort is believed to have been built by Achyok.

The rest of the programme was held at lower Bong bustee. The programme, which is being held annually since 1982, was conducted entirely in the Lepcha language.

Later, a local band, Alain, played popular modern songs to regale the crowd.

Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Dec. 20. — In a move to pressurise the state for revitalisation of the Cinchona directorate as well as to avert “privatisation”, the United Forum will approach chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state commerce and industries minister Mr Nirupam Sen on this matter.
This was decided in a meeting of the forum held at the Mungpoo Plantations on Saturday.
“The deliberation is expected to take place on the third week of January”, secretary of the forum, Mr Pravin Gurung said. (more…)

Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Dec. 20. — Arguably the only English gentleman to expertise in the Lepcha way of life, Dr RK Spring’s book titled “Shedding some light on the history, language and literature of the Lepchas”, was released today on the 274th birth anniversary of Pano Gaeboo Achyok - last king of the indigenous race.
Celebration for the occasion - jointly organised by the ILTA and Indira Gandhi National Museum for Mankind, New Delhi, took place here at Bong Busty. “Besides focusing in the lifestyle of Lepchas, the book is a documentation of ancient manuscripts and details about the tribe put in writing from the pre colonial era when the official language of Darjeeling was either Urdu or Hindustan”, general secretary of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA), Mr L Tamsang said. (more…)

Kalimpong: At least 20 people were injured in a stampede during a social function here Saturday night, official sources said today.
The sources said of the 20, admitted to the sub-divisional hospital, the condition of seven was stated to be critical.
The incident occured at Kalimpong Mela Ground when the gate was opened for public entrance before the Sobin Rai Musical Night. (more…)

Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Dec. 19. — Christmas is here, so are the celebrations. And to begin with, we have the Air Carol Fest (AFC).
The one-day fiesta to be held tomorrow will be a unique event with participants from diverse religious backgrounds. (more…)

Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Dec. 18. — Urging the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, to intervene to restrain the GNLF from committing “undemocratic acts and political terrorism” the Gorkha Janakranti Morcha (GJM) — a hill opposition party — claimed that the GNLF is a “disgrace and a deplorable plot” in democracy. (more…)

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Karan Shah

Dec. 14 — The Father of the Nation remains neglected at Chandraloke on the outskirts of Kalimpong. His statue with a broken pair of glasses and without his walking stick bears testimony to this.
On the premises of the Junior Basic Training Institute (JBBT) stands a neglected statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The statue has witnessed various upheavals in society. The statue depicting the famous 241-mile walk from Dandi to Sabarmati — the Salt march of the 1930s which shook the British empire in India — seems to have lost its lustre: thanks to the GNLF agitation of the 1980s. (more…)