The Statesman
British vision of rail link to Rangpo comes alive
Suman Sahoo
SILIGURI, 29 OCT: The foundation stone laying of the Sevoke-Rangpo rail link tomorrow would fulfill an plan envisaged in the early 19th century by the British rulers.
The colonial rulers had envisaged a rail link (Teesta Valley project) between Siliguri and Kalimpong in around 1909. Construction works of a metre gauge rail link, however, ended at Geille Khola, short of Kalimpong and the service was opened on 29 September 1915. The extension work to Sikkim, however, was never taken up.
A preliminary survey to extend Rail link to Sikkim was carried out in the years 1917-18. A girder bridge across the Teesta near the confluence with the Great Rangeet River replacing the suspension bridge built in 1880 was also thought of. A siding for railway stock and the development of a copper mine was to be laid at Rangpo and the extension work up to Gangtok, through Sankokhela was expected by 1925. The dream, however, remained unrealised.
Tomorrow, the railways would restart the linking exercise after 59 years since a devastating flood that drove through Darjeeling district in mid- June in the year 1950 washed up the railway tracks till Geille Khola. With one-third of the annual average rainfall in two days, the Teesta flooded the area destructing the railway tracks beyond repair. All roads, rail and settlement at Geille Khola had collapsed into the river.
All demands from the residents to repair the railway tracks, which had become a lifeline for trade and commerce in the area, fell on deaf ears thereafter. The authority did not show any interest in repairing the tracks and restart the service. All that is likely to change now for the good.
“Hardly anything except nostalgia of the service remains today,” said the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway director, Mr Subrata Nath. “Although the proposed railway tracks between Sevoke and Rangpo is different from the previous one, it would evoke our memory,” he added.
(With inputs from ‘The Tron Sherpa’, Vol 1, by Terry Martin)
Kalimpong, Oct. 27: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today stopped all work on the NHPC’s Teesta Low Dam Project Stage III at Reang to protest against the delay in the construction of the alternative road to Takdah and Teesta Valley.
Supporters of the Morcha from the Takdah-Teesta Valley constituency drove down to the dam site, 25km from here, in about 10 vehicles around 9am and “requested” the NHPC authorities and the workers to shut down their offices and stop all work. They also asked the workers to leave the area.
Norbu G. Lama, the co-ordinator of the Morcha’s Takdah-Teesta Valley unit, said: “It has been two years since the NHPC authorities first assured us that the alternative road would be constructed. However, the fact is that they are yet to get even the no-objection certificate from the forest department to build the road.”
The people of Takdah and Teesta Valley demanded the alternative road after a 2km stretch of the existing road connecting their areas to NH31A at 27 Mile had been badly damaged in landslides.
The NHPC project site is just below the highway, which, too, has suffered extensive damage in the landslides and sink-ins triggered by the construction of the dam on the Teesta. But the NHPC has never admitted that the damage was caused by the dam.
The delay in executing the work on the new road, NHPC officials claimed, is because of a protracted process required in acquiring the forest land. The entire two-km stretch of the proposed route from NH31A to the point where it meets the existing Takdah-Teesta Valley Road falls under the forest department.
“We applied to acquire the forest land in September 2008. The state forest department has sent our application to the regional office of the Union ministry of environment and forests in Bhubaneswar. We hope that the clearance will be given in one month,” said a senior NHPC official.
Expressing dismay at the forced closure of the site, the official said the NHPC had already earmarked Rs 1.8 crore for the road project. “The disruption of work was wholly unwarranted, especially when we try to do so much for the local population,” said the official.
Kalimpong, Oct. 26: The GNLF (C) and CPM have alleged that pensioners here are not getting loans from the local branch of the State Bank of India — thanks to a treasury office notice.
Quoting state government rules, the notice sent to the Kalimpong branch of the SBI instructs the bank “not to sanction loan against pension account/not to deduct any loan EMI from pension account as the pension account is a single purpose savings account…” (more…)
Darjeeling, Oct. 25: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today announced a fresh set of agitation programmes, which includes a “ban” on off-liquor shops from November 7.
The agitation could also culminate in the declaration of Gorkhaland if the next round of talks fail in December, the Morcha leader threatened. It will, however, start with the expulsion of corrupt leaders from the party..
The “ban” on the liquor shops has been aimed at blocking the government’s revenue collection. “During the festive period, the Bengal government collected Rs 40-50 crore as excise duty from liquor sales in the hills,” Gurung said. The Morcha announcement has come as a blow to hotels and restaurants. “We buy our supplies from the off-shops (which do not have bars or where liquor can only be bought) and about 70 per cent of visitors to restaurant-cum-bars consume alcohol. We will lose a lot of revenue because of this,” a hotel owner said. (more…)
The Queen Mother of Bhutan has expressed her sorrow at the recent passing of a County Wicklow nun who used to teach her.
Sister Mary Tarcisus passed way earlier this month in Kalimpong, North India. She was a member of the St. Joseph of Cluny Order. Formerly from Carnew’s Main Street, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Kate Doyle.
For over 60 years Sister Tarcisus laboured over in India and received many awards for her highly regarded teaching abilities. She also received the highest award given to educators by the Indian Government in 2005, the Bharat Ghurav Award. In a letter addressed to James and Michael Doyle, her surviving brothers, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Sangay C. Wangchuck, laments the Irish woman’s passing. She also goes on to describe her sense of ‘honour and privilege’ at having being a student of Sister Tarcisus.
It says: ‘I am deeply grieved to learn about the tragic loss of Mary Doyle fondly known to me as Sister Tarcisus. I had the honor and the privilege of being a student of your sister during my many years at St. Joseph’s Convent, and will always cherish my memories of her generosity and compassion.
‘Sister Tarcisus’ passing is indeed a great loss for her family and everyone who knew her, and while we mourn her death we must also celebrate the life of a wonderful human being whose only aim in life was to spread joy and happiness. The measure of a life well-lived is not in the power and wealth accumulated, but in the multitude of lives touched and in the goodness left behind. The outpouring of sympathy and grief on her passing bears testimony to a selfless life filled with kindness and generosity.’
The sister’s family said it It has been very comforting to read all the accolades that have been paid to her by a large number of her former pupils on facebook. She is survived by her brothers James and Michael, niece Catherine and husband Aidan, relatives and a large circle of friends. She was pre-deceased by her brothers Myles and Patrick.
Sister Tarcisus’ Month’s Mind Mass is being celebrated in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Carnew on November 2, 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
Here’s an excellent, almost 10 minute long, video of scenes from Kalimpong from 1957. The footage seems to mainly show the Tibetan traders in town and it’s fascinating to watch a “moving” slice of our town’s history.
There are some great shots of the town roads, the yaks and mule trains, an archery match (played by the Bhutanese of Kalimpong) among others. This video is a gem of a find, and kalimpong.info is greatly indebted to ‘norsangnkunsang‘ for uploading it to YouTube, and a tip of the hat to Lhadup Moktan for bringing it to my notice.
Enjoy. And if anyone can add anymore information about this video or its contents please do share with us in the comments section.
p.s. The video does not seem to have any sound. You don’t have to fiddle with your speakers.
Kalimpong, Oct. 14: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today replaced the Kalimpong unit’s president and secretary with a seven-member presidium to put an end to factionalism in the branch.
Kalimpong unit president Kalyan Dewan has been made the vice-president of the Morcha’s central committee, while secretary Samuel Gurung has been sent to the Dooars as the party’s organising secretary. Other office-bearers of the branch committee remain unchanged.
The presidium includes four central committee members — Bijay Sundas, Prabin Rahapal, Desh Bhakta Subba and Francis Dewan — Bandana Yonzon, Namita Gautam and Gopal Rizual. (more…)
JALPAIGURI, 12 OCT: The Jalpaiguri district Congress Seva Dal leadership today sent a memorandum to chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee drawing his attention towards the depressing state of Rabindra Bhavan and its contents at Mongpu.
The district Seva Dal chairman, Mr Swarup Mandal who recently visited Rabindra Bhavan, which is full of Tagore’s memory lamented: “It is disappointing to see that the rest house, which housed the Nobel laureate several times is in a shambles and his memorabilia uncared for.”
According to him, Mr Shishir Rahut whose father was a palanquin bearer of Rabindranath Tagore, is currently looking after ‘Rabindra Bhavan’ out of personal interest and respect. (more…)
Darjeeling, Oct. 12: The Lepchas did not have any firearms to drive away marauding animals hundreds of years ago, but the community members had a solution in the suthong soat.
The frame of this small indigenous weapon had a bow and arrow attached to it complete with a trigger mechanism to scare animals away. “If the animals were ferocious, we made a bigger suthong soat and there were provisions to tie a domesticated animal as bait. The weapon hardly fails to hit the target,” said Topden Lepcha, a member of the community. (more…)
Prayash Biswakarma in Siliguri on Saturday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo
Kalimpong, Oct. 11: Prayash Biswakarma, a young violinist from the hill town, has won the Siliguri leg of the Global Youth Music competition, an achievement that takes him a step closer to the final meet in Sydney.
The 11-year-old was adjudged the winner from among 22 participants from Siliguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Gangtok at the event organised by the Lions International where he played Vivaldi’s Spring and Summer.
Being the winner, Prayash will now get an opportunity to participate in the Calcutta leg of the competition.
Ankita Saha from Siliguri bagged the second prize while Ankit Rai from Kalimpong secured the third place.
“After the programme, one of the judges told me that I have the talent to make it to Sydney. He advised me to work very hard and said he would provide me with new pieces to practice,” said Prayash.
The three-member panel of judges included violinist Balam Gurung, musician Anirban Das and singer Debopriyo Chakraborty.
Prayash said most of the participants played popular Hindi songs and Indian classical pieces. “I played Vivaldi’s Spring in the first round and his Summer in the second and final round,” said the Class VI student of Dr Graham’s Homes. Prayash’s mentor is his father, Rudra Biswakarma, who teaches violin at Gandhi Ashram.
Prayash is a former student of the school. He was offered admission to Dr. Graham’s Homes for his musical talent. Since his first performance at the age of three-and-a-half, Prayash has been playing in different parts of the country. Last year, he practiced with the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra.
The winner of the Calcutta leg of the Global Youth Music meet will participate at the national level in Hyderabad. The victor from Hyderabad will compete with musicians from all over the world at the final in Sydney next year.
(From left) Birmit, Prayash and Bidan at Prayash’s house in 7th Mile in Kalimpong.
(Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)
Kalimpong, Oct. 8: Six young violinists from the hill town will participate in the Siliguri leg of the Global Youth Music Competition on Saturday.
The winner of the contest, organised by Lions Club International, will get to participate in the Calcutta leg of the event.
The top position holder from Calcutta will compete at the national-level, which will be held at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.
The victor from Hyderabad will get an opportunity to compete at the main event in Sydney in Australia, which will be held next year.
Bidan Biswakarma, 17, Prayash Biswakarma, 11, Ankit Rai, 18, Dipen Sunwar, 19, Birmit Lepcha, 19, and Savitri Khawas, 18, will perform at the event in Siliguri.
The music competition is open for all below the age of 25 years.
Bimal Agarwal, a member of Lions Club of Siliguri Magnum, said: “This event will not only promote social and cultural understanding and appreciation among the people, but it will also underscore our commitment to the youth.”
Speaking over the phone from Siliguri, Agarwal said, with this initiative, the Lions community hopes to reach a new target audience through music.
While only the winner of the competition in Siliguri will qualify for the next level, there will be prizes and certificates for the second and third position holders as well.
The six contestants from here are excited about the competition even though they hardly had any time to prepare.
“I got to know about the competition today. But since the contest does not require us to play a particular genre of music, I will go there and play a piece of my choice, to the best of my abilities,” said Bidan, a former student of Gandhi Ashram here.
Prayash has entertained audiences in many places within the country and abroad.
The student of Dr. Graham’s Homes, whose forte is western classical music, has also practised with the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra.
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Kalimpong, Oct. 7: Torrential rain in the past 24 hours couldn’t have come at a worse time for the river rafting units at Melli and Teesta Bazaar, which were hoping for a brisk business during the tourism season.
As the rain swelled the Teesta, the rafting in the river was cancelled today. The adventure sport was resumed only on September 25 after a hiatus of more than three months. (more…)
Weather warning from Meteorological Department, Gangtok.
Forecast valid for next 48 hours (08th October Noon):
1. Rain or thundershower likely to occur at many places over entire West Bengal including SHWB.
2. Heavy rain likely to occur at isolated places in the district of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri during next 48 hours.
