Forced Labour by Landlords: Jharlangi.

There are various forms of forced labour to which the ryots are subjected. About twenty years ago, a notification was said to have been issued by the state, based on international conventions, announcing the application of forced labour. This notification was never explained to the ryots and the practice was never stopped, far less abolished. It is carried on to this day. The notification was a mere pretence of having carried out an unavoidable obligation but was clearly never meant to be observed. Forced labour with minimum and often without any compensation is usually exacted by the landlords when cultivating their extensive and mostly ill gotten private fields and when harvesting their crops. So far the ryots have grudgingly submitted to this kind of exactions througggh fear of punishment. But such exactions have of late become manifold on account of the ever increasing farming and gardening interests of the landlords, which allow the ruots scarcely any time to attend to their own affairs. Most of the influential landlords, who hold important posts in the administration, live live at Gangtok. Their estates may be two or three days’ journey away. From there the ryots have to come all the way to Gangtok and serve their landlords in turn, in arious menial capacities. The ryots get no wage or compensations for such service and they are lucky if they escape from cruelties. The exaction of this kind of service at all times often accompanied by cruelties is peculiar to the Kazi Landlords.

TRANSPORT OF “KALO BHARI”

KALO BHARI [Black Loads]was the name given to a special consignment compactly packed in black tarpaulin, which gave the name. Huge quantities of these packages were transported over land to China via Tibet during the later part of the war. Such as the demand for transport for these purpose that the wages offered reached unprecedented heights. The cupidity of the landlords also rose in unison and they stooped to swindling. They falsely requisitioned for forced labour “on the authority of the state” who carry these packages, which they represented as government stores which the ryots were bouned to carry. The ryots would receive the prescribed rates of hire for forced labour whereas the rates offered for these goods were five times the amount or even more. In fact, the goods belonged to private concerns, and the ryots were not bound to carry these goods. But the ignorant ryots were completely deceived. Those who could afford to buy off their liability preferred to suffer extortion and paid through the nose. The poorer ryots were obliged to carry out filthy task. They were paid as forced labour and the landlords pocketed the gains. By such despicable means the landlords concealed for long. When they learnt about it, the victims of the swindle approached the powers that be for redress of the wrongs suffered by them. It was, however, to no effect. As the culprits were all highborn Kazis, the matter was hushed up, and the aggrieved ryots were sent away with a facile advice to “Let bygones be bygones and forgive and forget.” The slightest offence, so much as alleged, against a ryot exposes him to severe punishment whereas even such downright swindling by the privilege class is treated as of no account.

Compiled from Sikkim Darjeeling compendium of documents. [R. Moktan]

BRITAIN- CHINA CONVENTION 17.03.1890

Whereas HER MAJESTY the QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN and IRLAND, EMPEROR OF INDIA, and HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR OF CHINA, are sincerely desirous to maintain and perpetuate the relation of friendships and good understanding which now exist between their respective Empires,
And whereas recent occurrences have tended towards a disturbance of the said relations, and it is desirable to clearly define and permanently settle certain matters connected with the boundary between SIKKIM and TIBET, BRITANNIC MAJESTY and HIS MAJESTY the EMPERROR of CHINA have resolved to conclude a Convention on this subject and have, for this purpose, named plenipotentiaries that is to say;
HER MAJESTY the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, HIS EXELLENCY the MOST HON’BLE HENRY CHARLES KEITH PEETY FITZMAURICE, G.M.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.M.I.E., Marques of Lansdowne, viceroy and Governor- General of India.

And His Majesty the Emperor of China, HIS EXELLANCY SHENGTAJ, Imperial Associate Residence in Tibet, Military Deputy Lieutenant- Governor.

Who having met the communicated to each other their full powers, and finding these to be in proper form, having agreed upon the following convention in Eight Articles.

I. The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters following into Sikkim Teesta and it’s affluent from the waters flowing into the Tibet Mochu and northwards into other rivers of Tibet. The line commences at Mount Gimpmochi on the Bhootan frontier and follows the above mentioned water parting to the point where it meets Nepaul Territory.
II. It is admitted that the British Government, whose protectorate over Sikkim State is hereby recognized, has direct and exclusive control over the internal administration and foreign relations of that state, and except through and with the permission of the British Government, neither the Ruler of the State nor any of its officers shall have official relations of any kind, formal or informal with any other county.
III. The Government of Great Britain and Ireland and the Government of China engage reciprocally to respect the boundary as defined in Article I, and to prevent acts of aggression from their respective sides of the frontier.
IV. The question of providing increased facilities for trade across the Sikkim- Tibet frontier will hereafter discussed with a view to a mutually satisfactory arrangement by High Contracting powers.
V. The questions of pasturage on the Sikkim side of the frontier is resolved for further examination and future adjustment.
VI. The High Contracting powers reserve for discussion and arrangement the method in which official communications between the British authorities in India and the authorities in Tibet shall be conducted.
VII. Two joint Commissioners shall, within six months from the rectification of this Convection, be appointed one by the British Government in India the other by the Chinese Residence in Tibet. The said Commissioners shall meet and discuss the questions which by the last three preceding Articles have been reserved.
VIII. The present Convection shall be ratified, and the ratification shall be exchanged In London as soon as possible after the date of the signature thereof.

In witness hereof the respective negotiators have sighed the same and affixed their unto the seals of their arms.

Done in quadruplicate at Calcutta this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Ninety, corresponding with the Chinese date the Twenty seventh day of the second moon of the sixteenth year of Kuang Hsu.

Sd/- Sheng Taj sd/-Lansdowne
Chinese Seal and Signature viceroy and governor general

COMPILED FROM SIKKIM DARJEELNG COMPENDIUM OF DCUMENTS

ARITAR- The birth place of POLICE OUT- POST IN SIKKIM.

Facts do not change with time however values do. Historic events are interconnected to form an infinite chain and it is for us to frame these facts into its novel form. We cannot ignore the significance of history for we shall fail to understand our achievement. A man who tries to distort history is eventually distorted by history itself.

With the increasing numbers of British making their venture towards Sikkim, there was also change in the socio- economic sphere of Sikkim. The only motive for the British making explicit inroads towards Sikkim was that they wanted to establish a trade mart with Tibet. The increasing population had breed crime and robbery rate in the then society. Further, Sikkim was also under territorial disputes with Tibet along the border. In 1886 some Tibetan militia had occupied Lingto below Jelepla Pass on the eastern border of Sikkim. In 1888 the Tibetan made campaign against Sikkim at Gnathng but were driven back with the might of British troops. Frequent outbreak of such uncertainties were posing threat to the peace and security of the protectorate, hence the British felt that the establishment of a police outpost was a must somewhere at the strategic point on the Kalimpong- Rhenock- Aritar- Jeleplatrade route.Finally, It was on 27th of November 1897 that a force was posted at Aritar near Rhenock on the resolution of the authority passed by the king of Sikkim in the council. Sikkim Police was thus born.

Following were the significant conventions which aided establishment of Trade with China.
BRITAIN- CHINA CONVENTION sighed on 17.03.1890,[which was regarding the territorial demarcation and its agreements ]
SIKKIM- TIBET CONVENTION sighed on 05.12. 1893 which notified one of the first declaration as
"I.A trade mart shall be established at Yatung on the Tibetan side of the frontier, and shall be open to all British subjects for purpose of trade from the first day of May 1894. The Government of India shall be free to send officers to reside at Yatung to watch the conditions of British trade at that mart.
GREAT BRITAIN- TIBET CONVENTION which was sighed on 07.09.1904

Late Dhan Narayan Pradhanson of Raey [Southey] Newar from Aritar was first recruited as sentry by Sikkim Darbar at Maneydara Police Out- Post in the year 1897, just a year after the construction of famous Aritar Bungalow by the chief Commissioner of Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Five more other person, one of them being his own elder brother Man Bahadur Pradhan, owned land and property at Maneydara, Aritar which he relinquished under the care of his sister once he was transferred to Gangtok residency [Raj Bhawan] and permanently settled thereafter.
Hence, towards the late nineteenth century, the first political officer of Sikkim J.C .Claude White gave account of the function of the police force as follows.

Collection of land revenue and rent. Providing treasure security and arresting and conveyance of offender. Carrying out orders for Durbar Maintenance and restoring peace and security in troublesome villages. Maintaining security at the border even after the removal of the British troops. from Gnathang.

THE FAMILYLINE OF LATE DHAN NARAYAN PRADHAN AND AMRITMAYA PRADHAN [WIFE]
DHAN NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FIVE SONS:
1. Padam Narayan Pradhan
2. Gau Narayan Pradhan/ wife: Krishna Devi Pradhan
3. Deo Narayan Pradhan
4. Mani Narayan Pradhan
5. Prabhu Narayan Pradhan [expired issueless]
PADAM NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FAMILY
1. Indra Kumar Pradhan- son [now Lucky Watch Company, Gangtok]
2. Kashi Kumar Pradhan- son [popularly known as Gaindey]
GAU NARAYAN’S FAMILY
1. Chandra Prakash Pradhan- son
2. Ramesh Chandra Pradhan-son
3. Asok Kumar Pradhan- son
4. Robin Kuar Pradhan- son
5. Kamala Pradhan- Daughter
MANI NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FAMILY
1. Durga Samsher Pradhan- son
2. Deo Kumar Pradhan- son [served under Forest Department]

Mr. You Narayan Pradhan, who happens to be the father of Khambu Pradha, was the son of Late Dhan Narayan’s Sister. Mr You Narayan Pradhan served under Police Department in the capacity of an Instructor of new recruits and Officer- in – Charge of a police station. Mr. Sura Madan Chhetri ex- havaldar of Police Department from Aritar is the grandson of late Dhan Narayan from maternal side of relationship as he happens to be the grandson of Dhan Narayan’s Sister.

REFERENCES: KB CHAMLING [FORMER HON’BLE M.L.A.19TH REGU]
RAJESH VERMA, JOINT DIRECTOR [COMPUTERS] SIKIM POLICE
Lampokhari volume no. II

Meandering road at Jaluk

 

Meandering road at Jaluk: After signing the Indo-Tibet Trade Mart convention in 1904, The British carried out trade with Tibet [China]through this road. A long caravan of mules and horses staggered on their journey towards The Jalepla Pass, carrying loads of “Kalobhari”. Goods were usually packed with black tarpaulin in order to protect it from snow and rain, hence the term "Kalobhari" evolved as a common terminology that referred to the goods exported.

ARITAR

• Lampokhari : Initially one of the oldest natural lake in Sikkim and recently artificially constructed to facilitate boating for the tourists. At an altitude of 4600 ft it is the only lake with boating facility in Sikkim.
• Dak Bunglow : Popularly known as Ari-Bangla it is an old British built bungalow built by Sir James Claude White (first political officer of Sikkim during British rule in India) in the year 1895. At the same premises Sikkim’s first treasury was built as well as Sikkim Police was raised and the first outpost started functioning in the year 1897.
• Aritar Gumpa : A monastery of the Kagyuapa order,considered as one of the holiest and oldest in Sikkim.The visitor’s can imbibe the tranquil air with splendor of monastic arts reflected in it’s traditional architecture, carved & painted murals and treasure of manuscripts and icons..
• Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir : The most venerated shrine with picturesque splendour is considered a very holy pilgrimage site, where thousands of devotees throng for the blessing and participate during the month of SAWAN to offer water and sip the sacred water from a sacred vessel.
• Mankhim Dara : Mangkhim, a Temple of the Rai sect of Hindu origin is located at a height of 6500 ft at Maity Village (Kheselakha) . Hattipailay is another virgin village where the visitors can see elephant foot prints on rock.
Nirmal Dham : This place situated about 5km (approx) from Rhenock Bazar, is an abode of "Nirmal Guruji" (a.k.a) Kopchey Baba, known for his miraculous healing power, which has attracted hundreds of devotees from all over India and neighboring countries.
• Phushrey Lake : Phushrey lake is located few km uphill from Aritar in a isolated jungle. Where a years old log stands still delivering nice reflection on the water.
• Ever green nursery & Ram Gauri Sangrhalaya : Located at Rhenock Bazar, the nursery and museum is privately owned and has drift wood collections, botanical & other varieties of flowers.
• Kali khola falls (lonely falls) : 100m. in height, its a beautiful falls.
• Changey water fall : 50 m in height (Near Lampokhari)
• Lungchok valley : Trekking destination (Lokdara, Chujachen)
• Love Dara : Low hill picnic spot. Aritar.
Rachela : Trekking to Rachela is indeed another splendid experience where you can savor the panoramic view of Bhutan. You can also get varieties of orchids and rhododandrons that are found in sikkim. http://www.aritartourism.co.in/