Saturday, October 13, 2018

HURDLES OF GORKHALAND


Gorkhaland movement is not a new phenomenon; in fact the movement finds its history unfolded way back in the year 1907 when THE HILLMAN ASSCOIATION had first been vocal to raise the demand of separate Gorkha region. Subsequently, the demand for Gorkhaland was carried out by Subash Gishing, the supremo of Gorkha Natioanl Liberation Front in 1980s. However, the short- term movement came to an abrupt end with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkah Hill Council [DGHC]. Since then the hill was apparently experiencing serene atmosphere for a decade or more but underneath discontentment was gradually engulfing the heart of people as DGHC had failed to satisfy the expectance of the people. When turmoil gradually overcast in the atmosphere of hills, Bimal Gurung, under his newly formed party Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, started gaining much popularity in the hills; He thus became the torchbearer for Gorkhaland movement. Under his leadership, few short- term movement was launched demanding for separate statehood, each having unexpected failure. Ultimately, his spark became feeble when he was handed the treasury key of Gorkha Terotorial Administration [GTA].
Speculating over the history of Gorkhaland, the following factors can be generalized which attributes to its failure
1.      LACK OF FARSIGHTEDNESS AMONG OUR LEADERS: Be it Subash Ghishing or his predecessors, all have shown signs of lack of farsightedness. Almost all the movement started rampantly, which lacked proper strategy as to what the leader were up to and what were the people supposed to do. What could easily be concluded was that the entire movement was based on trial and error method. The leaders failed to convince the entire mass, thus losing the overall involvement of people. Deviating from the target goal of Gorkhaland and accepting DCHC and GTA as an ultimate option consequently triggered an adverse effect on the aspiration of the people.  

2.      LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN THE LEADERS AND THE PEOPLE: It is hard to figure out, whether it’s lack of accountability of our leaders or lack of transparency, if not everyone, majority of the people would turn discontent among the leader during the course of movement. The adamant demeanor of the leader would always provoke discontentment among the general masses. Furthermore, even the people would falter by being suspicious towards their leader thereby losing their ground and easily fall prey to the self-generated perception of every individual.  


3.      EXCESSIVE DOMINATION OF RELIGION, CASTE AND COMMUNITY: it is a known fact that there is always a tendency of Hill people getting excessively influenced by Religion, Cast or Community. For instance, Jaswant Singh’s candidature as a BJP representing the Hills in MP election was very hard to be accepted for many minority Gorkhas, as their insecurity always asserted BJP to be the replica of Hindutva. Such notion among the people results in losing unity among the people and consequently pollutes the entire scenario with vanity. Similarly, viewing every plan of action initiated by the leaders with suspicion by one religion or cast or community to the other would again pacify the momentum of the movement.

4.      LACK OF CONCEPT REGARDING GORKHALAND: It was really overwhelming to come across many posts on social medias like facebook and whatsapp which clarified the very concept of why Gorkhaland? As many of us are seldom aware of what the actual cause is? I still remember, talking to friends during college days, it was baffling to come across some who hardly knew what the demand for Gorkhaland was all about. Such ignorance and insensitivity of our people has been the root cause of hindrance to the entire movement.

5.      EDUCATE YOURSELF AND EDUCATE OUR BENGALI BRETHREN WITH THE LEGITIMACY OF GORKHALAND DEMAND: majority of our Bengali brethren have turned hostile with our demand as they are under false assumption that Gorkhas are trying to snatch away their land. However, the reality is that Gorkhas has claimed to only what were legitimately theirs, Darjeeling and the adjoining hills which had been and is being nurtured by the Gorkhas. For example, Darjeeling was always part of Sikkim until 1835, when the king of Sikkim presented Darjeeling to be used as a sanatorium by the British under certain accorded agreements. Likewise, Kalimpong too was a part of Sikkim, which was later on snatched by Bhutan and consequently by British India.  We can educate our nation through Social Medias or through dialects. However, using of abusive language on social media would worsen the entire scenario. Do not involve in baseless quarrel on social medias rather copy and paste the write- ups on the history of Gorkhas, I bet there are plenty available on your wall.

6.      UNITY AMONG THE LOCAL POLITICAL PARTIES:  it is indeed commendable to seen our local parties united under the banner of Gorkhaland at this juncture. However, the scenario was not similar during the previous movements. Walking the trails of Gorkhaland Movement, the milestones have frequently been marked with the blots of disintegration among our political parties which has eventually led to fights and quarrels among our own people.

I am sure there are numerous other factors apart from the mentioned above, which have remained unnoticed or untouched by my confined knowledge. However, I feel it is the responsibility of every Gorkha to contemplate on factors which turn out impetuous on our journey of Gorkhaland. It is thus necessary to initiate remedial measure to curb every factor which becomes a hurdle in our march to Gorkhaland. The Gorkhaland demand which has surfaced with much intensity in the recent days is indeed a century old demand. The demand for separate statehood named “Gorkhaland” is much justified in all technical aspects of Indian Constitution. Historically, the place had always been inhabited by the indigenous Gorkhas since time immemorial. Constitutionally, the place has every feasible criterion to qualify herself to the formation of a separate state as culturally and linguistically nothing is found common between the ruled and the ruler. Darjeeling which was once considered as a heavenly abode or “the queen of hills” has not only lost her beauty but has been kept in the darkness of ignorance and deprivation.
The biggest reason as to why the issue of Gorkhaland has been sidelined hitherto by both center and state is because both the forms of government have never tried to comprehend upon the history of this place. The fatal steps taken by the people of Hills, risking their life, with their face soaked in blood yet screaming their throats out “We Want Gorkhaland!!!” envisage the fact that Gorkhaland is the last resort to proclaim their lost Identity in India. To make themselves be recognized as a community who has served the nation since the time of her Independence, a community who has contributed in drafting of our constitution, a community who has ornamented the national anthem with the tune of violin, the community who has been sacrificing their life fighting in the frontiers to safeguard the nation, a community who stands as an epitome of loyalty and bravery before the world.  And yet, after all the sacrifices and vitality showered for the shake of nation, they loiter in the country without Identity. Any part of the country they travel to, they are treated as second class citizen or for that matter a citizen of Nepal.
Furthermore, for a community who could resolve to penetrate the harsh Himalayan forest and venture to settle on the lap of freezing Himalayas, thus converting the vast stretch of rugged mountain and spiny forest into a QUEEN OF HILLS, the demand for Gorkhaland should not be unattainable.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE



Making casual conversation with a fish vendor during one of my customary shopping, I asked him to pack a kilogram of fresh fish which was listed as an essential commodity in my shopping list. Our conversation was getting rather prolong as I was complimenting the vendor for always giving me fresh fish ever since I had made my first purchase in his shop. Sensing I was the only customer in his shop and to alleviate his boredom momentarily, he too was sharing his business tips to compensate my compliment. No sooner, a high ranking policeman stood beside me, the vendors made an abrupt end to the conversation I was submerged in and started entertaining his demand “kati kg pack garnu sir???” how much should I pack? His humorous face suddenly turned serious. To my utter surprise, I realized that the vender had already started to chop new fish keeping aside the scattered slices he had already chopped. It did not take him even a minute or two to pack the new customer’s share. Before my mind was reasoning the sudden change in the scenario, the vendor was already handing over the packed to the new customer.
The taste of power is the sweetest among all. Be it politics, bureaucracy or a commoner, when it comes to handling of entrusted power, we often fail to use it in an appropriate way. As such, we often land up making our subordinates so fear stricken that his mere presence directs everything. Moreover, police department is considered to be an epitome of discipline and as far as discipline is concerned, it follows the principle of “First come first serve” rather than the distorted notion of “whoever comes, power gets served first”.

FAMILY VALUES

Reluctant to make a start for a trip to Gangtok, I was thinking about the bumpy road of Rorathang and Rangpo an en-route to Gangtok. The heavy downpour of monsoon had worsened the road with puddles and landslides at every intervals of a kilometre. A new travellers would not hesitate to call it a roller coaster than an ordinary journey.
My thoughts suddenly left me when my wife got a bit cranky "tapailai aasti Ko hapta nai bhaneko hoina? Didn't I inform you last week??? She had already sensed my slogging gestures which ment that I was not interested to go. "Ki mo gari magayera jum? Or should I take a hired taxi??? Her hitherto amiable demeanour was now ebbing with anger and I had completely forgotten that we were supposed to make a visit to my in-laws that day. My two and a half old baby girls added in her quacks voice "Buwa ta k saro birseko houu" my father has really become forgetful, a tone though innocent yet matured enough to make me feel more embarrassed. She too was desperate to see her widowed grandmother and her Aunt (wife's youngest sister) who had recently come from Dubai for a very short vacation.
A two hour journey took almost 5 hours due to frequent jam. A narrow road wherein the tyres of a big sized Truck could barely be accomodated was now overjamed with long convoy of company buses and Army Vehicle moving from either end. Over the last decade private companies in this area have musroomed more randomly than a cancer cell.
No sooner, had we reached the house, my wife was hugging her mother and her sister so tight that they never wanted to let themself depart any more. It had been almost a year since they had met each other. Watching them embracing in such bond of compassion made my steaming ego evaporate against the warmth of their love.
Making a visit to in-laws would generally manifest boredom for many arrogant husband such as myself. However, if we can keep aside our masculine ego and feel with a compassionate heart, our wife too deservs her share of family happiness. To value her feeling and become the most reliable support system should be the foremost prioritie of a husband. Above all a husband can be naughty but not WICKED

HEART VS BRAIN

HEART VS BRAIN
A crashing sound at one of the rooms brought every one of us out of our room. With confused face our eyes darted at every rooms to inspect the sound which has disturbed the tranquility of our house. Oh! Christ it’s our aaja (grandfather) screamed my mother, perplexed at the sight that was something which her eyes could not believe. Panicked by her shrilling scream, ever one of us started rushing toward the room. To our bewilderment, the first thing we could see was fresh blood spilling all over the floor. Amidst the floor laid our moaning grandfather, with blood gushing out from his nostril and ears. His cream shirt was already soaked with blood. It did not take us long to comprehend that he had tripped and banged his head on the concrete floor, we hurried him to the closely parked vehicle. The vehicle leaped away in a spurt of gravel leaving behind a dense cloud of smoke.
Now, as he staggers around the room, he shivers in fatigue, as such, he has to be supported, at least form either sides. It has been one week since he had been discharged from the hospital after spending one month in ICU. The MRI reports showed that almost half of his brain cells had been damaged due to excessive clotting of blood. He has survived a severe hemorrhage remarks a neurologist, as he flips over the report. He adds with a deep sigh “thank god he was not paralyzed.” Since then, there has been a great change in his behavior. The incident has made him realize the trauma and forget everything about himself. Despite his unnatural behavior and blemished trauma, there is one thing about him that surprises me... every time I go near him, he holds my hand gently and calls my name softly. “Timelay khana khayou?” Did you have your food? is his first statement to start a conversation with me.
Today, as the world has reached the zenith of technological advancement, there is hardly anything left unveiled beyond the perception of human intelligence. However, there is another dimension of human being called spirituality which is yet to be explored by science. A brain, that succumbs rigorously damaged of its neurons, hardly remembers anything of its own but never fail to recognize a face which is highly adored by the heart. Furthermore, the distorted brain miraculously resonates adoration to the face it loves.

Friday, April 27, 2018

SHIVA KUMAR RAI JAYANTI CELEBRATED AT RHENOCK, EAST SIKKIM














SHIVA KUMAR RAI JAYANTI CELEBRATED AT RHENOCK, EAST SIKKIM
The birth anniversary of renowned Nepali Literary figure Late Shiva Kumar Rai was celebrated at Rhenock, East Sikkim on 26th of April 2018. The celebration was graced by the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shir Pawan Kumar Chamling, GTA Chief Shri Benoy Lama and galaxy of renowned literary persons from Darjeeling, Kersoung, Assam, Gangtok along with thousands of people witnessing the programme.


Biography

Shiva Kumar Rai was born on 26 April 1919 at Rhenock, Sikkim. His father Dhojbir Rai was post-master and because of the constant transfer of this father's post, Rai initially took his primary lessons at home. Only after coming to Kurseong  he had a regular education. Rai did his schooling at Pushparani Middle School in Kurseong and later at Darjeeling Government School in Darjeeling, where he met notable teachers such as Dharnidhar Sharma, Surya Bikram Gyawali and Parasmani Pradhan. He passed his metric examination in 1937. He completed his B.A. from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling in 1939 and graduated from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata in 1941. After finishing college, in 1942, Rai became a secretary of Burma Saranarthi Mukti Samiti, a committee set up for helping the Burmese refugees of World War II. During this time, he came into contact with many Nepali refugees from Burma. While conversing with them, he felt the need to write about their turmoils in life, which took shape into his famous novel Dak Bangla, published in 1957.
Rai was very active in politics and was affiliated with the All India Gorkha League. In 1948, he was elected as an MLA from the erstwhile Jorebungalow constituency to the West Bengal Assembly. He was the Deputy Labour Minister of West Bengal from 1952 to 1957. Rai died on 22 July 1995.
Literature
Shiva Kumar Rai started his writing career in the late 1930s when he was in college. His first work was published in a hand-written youth magazine titled Bansuri. He was also the editor of this magazine. His first printed work, a poem titled Birahi Ko Basanta, is found in Rup Narayan Singh-edited magazine Khoji. His poems and writings were published in journals such as Gorkha, Diyo, Yug Vani, and Sahitya Sroth. His first story titled Prakriti Putri was published in Sharda journal in 1944. His landmark book Frontier, a collection of stories, was published in 1956. His story Chaata won the prestigious Ratnashri Award in Nepal in 1969. In 1978, he won the Sahitya Academy Award for his short story collection Khaharey. In 1994, he was awarded the Agam Singh Giri Smriti Puraskaar by the Sikkim Sahitya Parishad and was felicitated by the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan, Darjeeling the same year.

Works
- Daafe Chari (1954)
- Frontier (1956)
- Dak Bangla (1957)
- Yatra (1956)
- Khaharey (1976)
- Bara Dinner (1978)
- Shiva Kumar Rai Ka Saath Katha (1994)




BRIEF HISTORY OF GOVT. SR. SEC. SCHOOL RHENOCK,

  It is evident that human have created history with the desire of achieving more. Territorial expansions by waging war between kingdoms are...