www.kalimpong.info

The Telegraph

Kalimpong, Feb. 27: A question in today’s Madhyamik examination kicked off a controversy with teachers here slamming the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education for being insensitive to hill sentiments.

The question in the Second Language (English) paper read: “Suppose one of your friends will come to Kolkata for the first time and spend a few days in the city. Write a letter to her/him (in not more than 120 words) about the important places of Kolkata that she/he may like to visit.”

“How will a student in the hills or any other area in Bengal, who has never visited the city, write about the place. In any case, the English paper is supposed to test the language skill of a student and not his or her general knowledge,” said Bhisan Roka, the spokesperson for the Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation’s Kalimpong unit.

Roka alleged that the question betrayed the insensitivity of the board towards the hill students. “The board must suitably compensate the students as every mark is very crucial in such an important examination,” Roka added.

The letter-writing carries 10 marks in the 100-mark second language paper.

- Dr. Sonam B. Wangyal

It was towards the winter of 1995 in one of my customary visits to Professor Richard Keith Sprigg’s one-room books and journals lined apartment that I received one of the most fascinating surprises of my life. Dr. Sprigg, a retired professor of Cambridge University, is in many ways a man of many surprises but I was never prepared for the particular surprise that was in store for me.

Reaching Kalimpong early one day, and having plenty of time to ‘kill’ before picking up my daughter from the Convent, one of the many options open to me was a visit to the old linguist. A visit to him had always been profitable and this one was not expected to be any less. In most of my visits I would be the one to begin the conversation as I always had a stock of questions to which he invariably had ready set of amazingly scholarly answers. This time around it was he who commenced the proceedings and that too in a very extraordinary manner. He opened a cupboard, took out a fresh bottle of premium Scotch Whisky and asked that we celebrate. It appeared that he had been waiting for several weeks to find someone suitable to mark one of the most memorable days in his life. The problem was that it was just ten o’clock in the morning and at twelve I had to collect my daughter and the hum of alcohol in my breath would immediately erase the relatively good impression that I had cultivated, over almost a decade, with the nuns at the convent. Despite the great honour from the internationally respected linguist I was not prepared to annihilate my reputation, and in the process my daughter’s too, without having some extraordinarily compelling reasons. Eventually we hit upon a compromise: he would narrate the unforgettable event and if I found that to be worthy of a celebration I would wet my throat. In the meanwhile I had mentally planned to ask my friend to fetch my daughter should the unexpected had the better of me.

The old gentleman proudly informed me that he had received his third Doctorate a few weeks ago. The news just stunned me. I knew that he was working on a Balti dictionary but in my over half a dozen annual visits to his place I had never seen him working on a dissertation and all of a sudden this surprise. Knowing that he had a Ph. D. from London University and a Litt. D. from Cambridge I enquired if this one was from Oxford. The Professor was firm that this Doctorate was more valuable than what Oxford could confer and recounted the following story.

A few weeks ago he had been invited to address a Rai conference in Capitol Hall at Darjeeling. He planned out two speeches, a short and a long one, with the same introduction. While delivering the introductory part of the speech if the audience became fidgety and noisy he would follow it up with the short speech and if the public responded well then he would go for the longer one. The response was favourable and he continued with the lengthy lecture dwelling on the historical, cultural and other aspects of the Rais of Nepal and Darjeeling. The Rais, it must be remembered, have a most unique and colourful feature in their cultural milieu represented by the Bijuwa (shaman) whom they call Mangpa. It was natural that a good portion of the lecture had to do with the mangpas and at the end of the speech the mangpas present were so pleased with what the old man had to say that they went up the stage, put the mangpa attire on him, beat their drums, chanted mantras and officially ordained Professor Sprigg as an honorary mangpa. Thus Professor Richard Keith Sprigg, an Englishman to the boot, became the first and only European mangpa. The story ended there and he uncorked the bottle confident that I would now honor the event with a sip or two.

I was still not prepared to humour him and asked him to tell me about his third Doctorate instead of wasting time over a true but off the track story. He stared at me through his light blue eyes, almost apologetically, and remarked in a tone of disappointment that I had overlooked the story. He exclaimed with an unmistakable emphasis that he was now a mangpa, and that was a Doctorate because he had now become Rai witchdoctor. It was an unusual Doctorate but it was valuable and significant to him because it had come from the hearts of the simple people he had gone to address. He was overwhelmed and if he had won some Rai hearts with his speech the Rais had certainly gained him with their gesture. The Doctorate actually was an extraordinary one and certainly not something that Oxford University could bestow.

My mentor had won. It was barely 10:30 am and there I was absolutely dumbfounded not because of the Scotch in me but because of the story that led me to imbibe it.

Here’s an earlier article by Dr. Wangyal on Professor Sprigg.
-admin

Wall Street Journal
FEBRUARY 20, 2009, 1:44 A.M. ET

As Anniversary of Exile — and Protests — Nears, Dalai Lama’s Brother Advises Calm

By PETER WONACOTT

[Dalai Lama's family] Associated Press

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, head of state and spiritual leader of the people of Tibet, third from right, is shown with his family in Delhi, India, in 1956. From left to right are, Dalai Lama’s mother; his elder sister; eldest brother Thubten J. Norbu; elder brother; Gyalo Thondup, brother; Dalai Lama; his younger sister; and his youngest brother.

KALIMPONG, India — Nearly 50 years after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet with his followers to India, his older brother lives on a quiet hilltop here just beyond his Himalayan homeland, like an exile among exiles.

At 80 years old with a stooped back and bad knees, Gyalo Thondup remains one of Tibet’s strongest supporters of better ties with Beijing. That is an increasingly unpopular stance among younger exiles, as their bitterness toward China grows over years of fruitless dialogue and a violent security clampdown. (more…)

The Telegraph

Kalimpong, Feb. 19: The Japan International Cooperation Agency will implement the second phase of its greenhouse community service here as soon as it gets the clearance from the governments of both the countries.

The first phase of the Jica-funded programme — implemented by Dr Graham’s Homes and Miyazaki International Volunteer Center (MIVC), a Japanese NGO — ended in November. It was aimed to improve the economic condition of local farmers by providing them technical know-how and logistical support.

“The cost of the second phase — regional horticultural promotion programme — is three crore Japanese yen,” said Irigaki Hidetoshi, the chief representative of the Jica in India. The three-year-long programme will give training and develop marketing networks for horticulture. (more…)

www.thestatesman.net

KURSEONG, Feb. 18: Following the report that the AIGL chief, Mr Madan Tamang, might come to Darjeeling via Siliguri, a large number of GJMM supporters gathered at major road junctures today to stop him from stepping into the Hills.

GJMM central committee member from Kurseong, Mrs Jyoti Gurung, said that Mr Tamang constantly tried to create disharmony among the Gorkha community. She also said that since he had always been in touch with the CPI-M leaders and have been trying to tarnish the image of GJMM, he would not be allowed to enter the Hills. He is a threat to peace in Darjeeling, she added.

GJMM activists assembled at two places ~ Kurseong Motor Stand and Tourists Lodge ~ at 3 p.m. to stop Mr Tamang from entering the Hills. They took off the blockade when they came to know that Mr Tamang was not coming today. Mr Taman, however, said that he is currently in Darjeeling. He also said that he would hold a Press conference on 20 February.

The Telegraph

Darjeeling, Feb. 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha today announced that it would not allow Madan Tamang to enter the hills for trying to derail the Gorkhaland movement being spearheaded by the unit’s mother organisation.

Alok Kant Mani Thulung, the president of the Yuva Morcha, said: “If he tries to enter the hills forcefully, there will be unrest in this part of the region. Madan Tamang and the state government will be responsible for it.” (more…)

The Telegraph

Kalimpong, Feb. 16: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to raise funds to pay the salaries of the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP), a special cell of volunteers raised by the outfit.

“Our president has appealed to all Gorkhaland supporters to contribute generously towards the fund. For starters, the party will make an effort to collect money from the tea gardens. Workers will be asked to contribute Rs 20 per month, sub-staff Rs 50, staff Rs 100, assistant managers Rs 150 and managers Rs 200,” said Binay Tamang, the Morcha spokesperson. (more…)

The Telegraph

Kalimpong, Feb. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today withdrew its 16-day-old indefinite hunger strike after the state government gave a written commitment to consider five of its six demands.

The hill party has also announced that all government offices will be allowed to function normally from Monday except those which are related to the collection of revenue.

In a letter to Morcha president Bimal Gurung, state home secretary Ardhendu Sen, however, expressed the government’s inability to allow the party to hold public meetings in the Dooars as the atmosphere there was still not conducive.

The Morcha, however, won a major concession with the government reportedly agreeing to reopen three of the 13 closed tea gardens in the Dooars within the one to three months. (more…)

February 12th, 2009 – 11:47 pm ICT by IANS

Kolkata, Feb 12 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday had a fresh round of discussions with the Gorkhaland activists as the two sides claimed the meeting was a success.
But the pro-Gorkhaland outfit, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), gave no commitment on withdrawing its fast-unto-death in Kalimpong.

Briefing newspersons after a 90-minute meeting, where he was present, state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said the parleys were “successful”.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, who led the delegation, conceded that the deliberations were held in a congenial atmosphere. “We had walked out of the meeting in the previous round. The chief minister seemed more adamant then. Today he was more flexible.” (more…)

The Telegraph

Darjeeling, Feb. 11: The president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to skip the meeting with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Calcutta tomorrow but has lined up a six-member delegation to discuss the six demands of the party.

Morcha vice-president R.P. Waiba, general secretary Roshan Giri, Binay Tamang, Anmole Prasad, Harka Bahadur Chhetri and president of the party’s trade union P.T. Sherpa will leave for Calcutta tomorrow. “The meeting is scheduled to take place at Writers at 5.30pm. We will once again place our charter of six demands,” said Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha. (more…)

The Telegraph

Feb. 9: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will not meet chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee any more.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri, who was in Sorugaon in Alipurduar subdivision to attend the last rites of Akbar Lama killed in Saturday’s clashes in the Dooars, said meetings with the chief minister were “meaningless”.

“What is the use of meeting the chief minister. He is adamant about not letting us hold peaceful meetings and rallies in the Terai and the Dooars. Our people are being beaten up, their houses ransacked and yet he is silent,” Giri said during the cremation. (more…)

The Telegraph

Feb. 7: Two men were killed in the Dooars today as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters clashed with Adivasis and other anti-Gorkhaland protesters across the region and Siliguri’s outskirts.

Rival groups ransacked homes and torched shops and vehicles as violence flared during a 24-hour shutdown called by the Morcha to press for permission to hold rallies in the Dooars and Terai.

Cassette shop owner Sunil Mandal, 48, was beaten to death during a clash at Banarhat in Jalpaiguri subdivision, about 75km from Siliguri.

In Ethelbari, Alipurduar subdivision, police stumbled on two unconscious men — Akbar Lama, 35, and Solo Kanchha Dorji, 50. Lama died on the way to hospital.

In Calcutta, home secretary Ardhendu Sen said clashes took place in Birpara, Banarhat, Bhaktinagar and Sukna but claimed that things were under control by afternoon.

“Morcha supporters had tried to loot and damage shops and markets; in retaliation, the Adivasis torched some Morcha supporters’ homes. There have been around 100 arrests,” he said.

In Darjeeling, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri blamed the violence on the CPM. “We demand the chief minister’s resignation. The CPM is trying to mislead the Adivasis,” he said. “We will hold black-flag demonstrations tomorrow.”

www.telegraphindia.com
Feb 5, 2009

Binay Tamang, press and publicity secretary of the Morcha, said: “The strike on Saturday will be total and we have decided to close even the tea gardens, construction work at the NTPC and NHPC project sites and the cinchona plantations. Only emergency services will be exempted.”

Tamang also appealed to the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad to extend support to their strike. “The strike is to highlight the atrocities on the Adivasi community and also for their betterment of the community,” said Tamang.

The Telegraph

Darjeeling, Feb. 5: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today took their case to the governor but ignored his suggestion to call off an indefinite fast.

Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president, and eight other leaders of the outfit called on governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi at Raj Bhavan a day after the party’s talks with the state government drew a blank. (more…)

The Telegraph

Feb. 4: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today refused to allow the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to hold rallies in the restive Dooars, prompting the hill outfit to claim that it “walked out” of a meeting at Writers’ Buildings and call a 24-hour general strike in the region on Saturday.

The call for the strike, which will cover the Darjeeling hills, the Dooars and the Terai, including Siliguri, was given after the chief minister stuck to his stand at the meeting with Morcha president Bimal Gurung today.

“The chief minister was adamant and denied us permission to hold the public meetings in the Dooars and the Terai areas. When the chief minister refused permission, we staged a walkout. Our indefinite hunger-strike at Gorubathan will also continue,” Gurung said. (more…)