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The winning captain takes the trophy from Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha. A Telegraph picture

Kalimpong, Feb. 11: Thanks to television, the game of cricket has become a popular winter sport in the hills.

And local enterprise has ensured that Kalimpong plays host to the biggest cricket tournament in the region.

The 15th edition of the Piranhas Cup concluded at the Dr Graham’s Homes ground here today. Organised by Piranhas Club, the tournament drew 24 teams from the Darjeeling hills, Sikkim and other parts of north Bengal, who vied for the honours over the last one month. Cricket Academy of Sikkim emerged champions by beating Brothers XI, Kalimpong, in the finals today. The Sikkim team won by three wickets. (more…)

I never knew the true meaning of the word “ALLEGIANCE” until a couple of days ago when the depth of the term struck my inner core.

It was a very uncharacteristic Floridian winter day. Cold, crisp, drizzly it felt more like another drowsy and wet day in Seattle and with 26^th January — India’s Republic day, just a day away, I felt the day had unfolded in irony.

My alarm faithfully woke me up at 7:00 and I immediately rushed to get myself a cup of tea. Ahhh! You can take a Darjeelingey out of Darj but the Darjeeling will never quite get out of you will it? I don’t know about the rest of you, but my love affair with starbucks abruptly ended on a feverous note when I fell victim to a bout of viral fever. Ever since, I have returned to my roots, gone back to good ole tea and am a confirmed tea convert…if ever there was such a thing!!

So, as I sat sipping tea and savoring every bite of the bread my local grocery store had vouched for, I glanced at the notification. “Report promptly at 1:00 p.m. Formal attire is required,” were the exact words that were typed by some clerk I will probably never cross paths with. Indeed, it was meant to be a special day for me and for a thousand other hopeful souls who had in all likelihood undergone a kaleidoscope of events to witness the countenance of this day.

Ensuring that I comply with the description of a “formal attire”, I took pains to at least look presentable. So at the stroke of mid-day, I got into my car, directions in hand and off I was to attend an event that could or has already altered the course of my life in more ways than one.

As I entered the enormous hall of the local convention center, a sea of people representing every nation in the world were there with the same purpose as mine. Black, brown, yellow…..you name it and you could trace a smile in each face. For a moment I felt like I had died and reached the gates of heaven. Indeed, it was an exciting day or so it was made to sound and feel like.

True to its word, the ceremony started at the appointed hour. It was simple and modest but undoubtedly meant to impress and reiterate the decision you had made for yourself. Video clips of local heroes—men and women who had given their life for the country, men and women who had discovered a fortune in the American dream and men and women who had made history for their country were flashed across the screen to further endorse the idea. A message from the President and speeches from the top brass in local and state government, adorned the ceremony to give it the official touché. Up to this point I was taking everything in stride. Then, came the defining moment…… Like sheep that had been herded, the hundreds that were in the room including me, were asked to stand and take the Oath of Allegiance. As we rose to the moment of our transformation, with our right hand on our hearts and the left held steadfastly at par with the crown, we pledged our lives and allegiance to our new (adopted) homeland. We even vowed to take up arms for our new motherland and swore we would leave the past behind and embrace the future like it was our past or like we had no past.

An extreme sense of emptiness suddenly gripped me. I felt betrayed by my country and at the same time, I felt like I was in a way the betrayer too. My country had failed me and hence I was forced to take this step but perhaps in a way I too had failed my motherland by taking this step. I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel what I was feeling and yet as I glanced across the room, I saw tears in the eyes of the other pledgers too. I don’t know if theirs were tears of joy or sorrow, but mine sure were eclipsed by a range of emotions. As I hugged the stranger beside me and congratulated him, I joined the crowd in singing “The Star Spangled Banner” all the while knowing in my heart, “Bandey Mahataram”, for whatever it means or stands for, will forever remain dear within the depths of my soul.

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Singh (left) and Kerung flank Prashansa Ghimerey, who has also acted in Ahrop. A Telegraph picture

Kalimpong, Feb. 9: Stop the blame-game, and get on with building a new Nepal at peace with herself. That, in short, is a message Nepali director Bijay Kerung will try to convey in his latest film Ahrop (blame).

“So many innocent lives were lost in the decade-long violence in my country. My film talks about the futility of it all, since eventually all discord has to be settled on the negotiation table,” said Kerung, who is currently shooting some song sequences of his film here in the hills.

The director, who has commercial hits like Maji Dai (Fisherman brother) and Ama Ko Kak (Mother’s lap) under his belt, sounded upbeat about his latest venture. “Nepali films generally do well in the rural and semi-urban areas of Nepal, while the city folk, especially the youngsters, favour Hindi films,” he said. (more…)

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RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Paril displays the medals she has won at Jamshedpur. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Feb. 8: Archery sensation Paril Lepcha left for Guwahati today, raring to take on the national challenge.

The 15-year-old archer, who will represent Bengal at the National Games beginning on February 9, had just come home after bagging the top slot at the 52nd National School Games. The school meet, which concluded in Jamshedpur on Monday, has acted as the perfect launchpad for young Paril.

“I am happy with my performance in Jamshedpur and am looking forward to doing well at the Senior Nationals as well,” Paril told The Telegraph.

Paril emerged overall individual champion at the school meet with 562 points, besides bagging a gold in the 50-m event. She also won two bronze medals in the 30-m event and the team championship respectively.

Earlier in January, the Class-X student of Mount Carmel School here, made it to the Bengal squad by scoring 572 points at a qualifying tournament in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

Paril, of course, is fast emerging as an archer of great promise having done exceedingly well in age-group tournaments in the last couple of years. In fact, she could be the next big thing in archery from the region after Sikkim’s Tarun Deep Rai, who was recently awarded the Arjuna Award for excelling in the sport. (more…)

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OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kalimpong, Feb. 7: The Neora Water Supply authorities have been asked to immediately remove all illegal connections from their supply lines in a bid to solve the problem of water scarcity in the town.

Similar instructions have been issued to the PHE (water works) department under the DGHC, which is responsible for distribution of water to urban consumers from the Deolo reservoir, 4 km from here. “These measures, once imposed, will improve the water situation in town by 80 per cent,” said Kalimpong subdivisional officer Shakil Ahmed. He added that the administration, if needed, will appoint a magistrate to oversee the task. (more…)

Dear Readers and Visitors,

You have probably already read or heard about the devastating fire in Darjeeling on Feb 1st. This occurred in the Bara Kakjhora area and the fire completely destroyed 4 houses and have left 13 families homeless.

There are local relief efforts on to help out the affected families but I feel that we should help too. Wherever we are. Every little bit will count.

So we have started this fund drive to help the affected families. All the money raised will be sent to “Koseli Sangh”, a local social organization that is spearheading the relief efforts.

Please contribute generously to help out the affected families rebuild their lives. The fire took place at 1:30am and the residents of the houses just barely escaped unhurt. However they had no time to salvage valuables and belongings. So every bit helps to assist in the rebuilding efforts.

You can contribute securely via credit cards or via Paypal by clicking on the link below. www.chipin.com will securely and transparently collect your contributions.

Remember, every bit helps, and we have the advantage of the large population of diaspora. If every reader of this site can contribute even just $5, it will go a long way towards helping our people in need.

Please click on the “ChipIn” button below to help:

Disclosure:One of the affected houses is that of my relatives. So it is personal! However all the funds raised through this fundraising effort will be sent directly to “Koseli Sangh” and will benefit all the affected households. Thank You very much for your generosity and your continued readership.

Warm regards

-Admin

-Update 1
-Update 2

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ANURADHA SHARMA LAKHOTIA
Rambhi, Feb. 6: Until a few years ago, this place (35 km from Siliguri) was a modest settlement with a near-deserted bazaar dotted with small shops and roadside tea stalls that closed at sundown.

Today, it teems with people well past 10 at night. Shops have grown in size and number and the owners are ready to give the entire credit to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) whose Teesta Low Dam Project (TLDP)-III here is nearing completion. Around 1,500 workers are on the job 24X7 to meet the deadline of June 2008.

“The project has been good for us in that our sales have gone up,” Dilip Kumar Gupta, a shop-owner, said.

Bharat Rai of Lungpu Busty, employed as a driver by the NHPC, would have been happier if his salary was a little higher. But, as he put it: “Considering the fact that many local people have got jobs the deal is fair enough.”

“People want development,” S. Khatua, chief engineer (TLDP-III), said. He added that the NHPC has a Rs 2.5-crore plan for local area development. “We will adopt Deorali as a model village,” he said. With the NHPC out to appease the local community, a backlash against the controversial projects can be ruled out for the time being, though frequent complaints about the damage to national highway persist. “We are doing all we can to improve the highway. It won’t be possible for the Border Roads Organisation alone to repair the entire 200-metre stretch before the onset of monsoon, which is why we will appoint another agency,” Khatua said. (more…)

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RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Kalimpong, Feb. 6: As the cold wave grips the hills for the last time this season, youngsters here are using last few days of the winter recess to improve their “life skills”.

Nearly 250 children in the age group of 7-14 years are currently participating in a three-day residential camp to hone skills that will prepare them for the world outside. Based on the theme — “Let us make a new world” — the camp began yesterday on the premises of Scottish University Mission Institution.

Organised by World Vision, an NGO actively working in the rural areas of Kalimpong and Sikkim, the camp is part of its area development programme. (more…)

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RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Policemen warm themselves outside the police station in Kalimpong on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Feb. 5: If people here were thinking of packing off their woollens, there was a rude surprise awaiting them today as the entire region witnessed a sharp fall in temperature.

Sandakphu in Darjeeling recorded two inches of snowfall, while all three major hill towns experienced continuous drizzle throughout the day. Siliguri, too, recorded 4 mm of rainfall. All this came at the end of a winter during which there has been little rainfall in the entire region.

No official figures about the temperature in the hill towns could be found because no established agency keeps track of the weather in these parts. However, about noon today, the digital temperature board on Chowrastha at Darjeeling Mall read 1.7 degrees Celsius. Siliguri recorded a maximum of 17.1 degrees Celsius, which is five degrees below normal.

“The sharp fall in the temperature is due to the western disturbance, which is more pronounced over the hills than the plains,” said Subir Sarkar, head of the weather station at North Bengal University.

Sarkar said the weather is likely to remain the same over the next 24 hours with the higher reaches of the hills possibly receiving more snowfall. The prospect has already encouraged residents of the town to plan quick getaways. “I have been making phone calls to Lava to find out if it has snowed there. If it does, I will arrange a quick trip with my family,” said Tsering Topgay of Tirpai here.

The dip in temperature did not seem to affect normal life in Kalimpong. “Attendance in offices was usual,” said Shakeel Ahmed, subdivisional officer, Kalimpong. However, people are hoping that the weather improves by next week when most schools in town reopen after the long winter recess. “Otherwise students coming from the warmer climes will have a tough time,” said a resident.

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ANURADHA SHARMA LAKHOTIA

Siliguri, Feb. 5: By the time it is ready with the low dams at Rambhi and Kalijhora, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) will have raised more questions than answers.

For one, what happened to the orchids and other rare plants that were supposed to have been shifted from the site of Teesta Low-Dam Project (TLDP)-III at Rambhi and preserved?

North Bengal University (NBU) had suggested conservation plans for the rare and endemic plants following an environment impact assessment (EIA). “The recommendations were specific and it was decided at a meeting of the EIA committee that an orchidarium would be set up in collaboration with NBU. A plot of land was also earmarked for the orchidarium, but no one knows what came of it. Now, the project is almost complete and there are no traces of the plants we had identified,” said an expert from NBU.

It is another story that the EIA itself is considered inadequate on many counts by independent experts.

NHPC officials, when asked about the orchidarium, referred the question to the forest department, while no immediate answer came from Subrat Daudial, conservator of forests, hill circle. (more…)