20 - 26 Sept, 2006 111 What we love about the official website of the SARAH comes to Government of Sikkim the aid of strays On Page 18 On Page 16

20 - 26 SEPT, 2006, GANGTOK [email protected] VOLUME 1 NO. 3. Rs. 10 Photo: SARIKAH ATREYA Photo: SARIKAH K Y M SHOWSHOW OFOF C STRENGTHSTRENGTH DZONGU DIVIDED OVER PANAM On Page 4

HOW ONE MAN FOOLED AN ENTIRE TOWN THE VISHAL TELEFILMS CON - THE COMPLETE STORY Pradhan, a resident of Convoy than one. Today, as he cools his ground, Tadong, filed an FIR heels at Sadar Thana, RHEA SHARMA one year Debashish had conned against him, alleging that the Debashish will have ample a large number of people into accused had cheated him of Rs. time to contemplate on how his ebashish Mukherjee loaning him big amounts of 1, 78,800 on the pretext of grand scheme went so terribly arrived in Gangtok on money. He projected himself as getting the complainant’s wrong. Earlier than he would D 28th September 2005. a successful media personality daughter admission in a have anticipated, perhaps. Checking into Hotel Sernya at and even negotiated with medical college in Pune. When That the man was a charmer New Market, he stayed here for Nayuma Television for a Pradhan travelled to Pune, he is no longer in doubt. How else two days. This pattern was programming tie-up. With discovered that no admission can we explain the sheer repeated the next month and much fanfare he launched had been secured at the college. number and variety of people again the month after that. On Vishal Telefilms’ talent hunt Upon his return to Gangtok, that he conned into giving him his third visit he borrowed Rs. ‘Voice of Sikkim’ from Chintan Debashis handed him a cheque lakhs of rupees on the basis of 2000 from the manager of the Bhawan in the company of which subsequently bounced. vague promises made by him. hotel, claiming some problem HRD Minister GM Gurung After Pradhan lodged a Although very few are willing with his ATM card. And thus and DIG, Range, Akshay complaint in this regard, to come forward in public began a journey of lies that Sachdeva. Sikkim Police arrested against him, it is believed there finally culminated in his arrest But his carefully crafted Debashish. Thus ended a are dozens of people who have on 13 September 2006, exactly web of deceit came crashing journey that saw Debashish been robbed of their money. photo courtesy: NOW! a year after his arrival. In that down when Chandra Shekar hog the limelight, in more ways continued on page 3 222 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP

threatened to take legal that unfolded on Monday, action against the Indian September 18 may have Oil Corporation which is something to do with it. supposed to provide a huge The day saw hundreds of quantity of new LPG SDF supporters from far connections for public flung villages thronging to distribution during the Mintokgang, for the Mela at one go when IOC ‘Dasain kharcha’ they has been refusing to believed was being doled provide the same to the out. Ministers, legislators, general public. district officials and police Earlier, the state unit of had a tough time Bharatiya Janata Party controlling the crowd. [BJP] raised objections By late afternoon people regarding the manner in crowded the entire area which the benefits are surrounding Samman disbursed. The BJP is of the Bhavan, the Whitehall opinion that since the complex and the circular SDF supporters at the White Hall complex waiting for the CM’s darshan. A MIDWEEK Photo economic benefits divider of J. N. Marg. distributed during the Mela The fact that the chief does not come straight off minister was in fact away the pockets of the Chief on a two day tour of Much Hungama about Minister or his ministers Darjeeling did not deter the and MLAs, the distribution large number of people, of the same should be who refused to budge until Janata Mela carried out by the late in the evening. government officials. The Despite being informed a MIDWEEK Report and North Districts. But even as the state party has further suggested the chief minister was According to the District government was making that since the beneficiaries away, the public refused to GANGTOK: “Yo pali ko Development Officer, East preparations to hold this have to go to the district leave. Dasain tapai haru sabaiko lagi District, nearly 3,500 year’s Janata Mela, it came headquarters to receive the Some cabinet ministers, ramro hos.Tapai haruko khushi beneficiaries had been under heavy criticism from benefits, they should also legislators and officials mai mero pani khushi cha.” identified for various the opposition parties. In a be paid in advance all the from the chief minister’s With these words, Chief benefit schemes from the meeting held on 18 expenditure incurred on office had to intervene and Minister Pawan Chamling had East District for this year’s September at the Congress account of their travel and ask the people to leave. The kicked off the first of the series Mela. There are 11 Head Office, the party stay in these areas. District Collector R.

C of Janata Melas from the East Constituencies in the East demanded a White Paper But, in a sudden turn of Telang, Superintendent of M

Y District at the Guards Ground District. from the State Government events the Mela has now Police MS Tuli and senior K here on October 3, last year. During the Janata Mela, on the organization of the been postponed, with the district and police officials And this year too, the Mela the Chief Minister was to Janta Mela. The party has new dates yet to be all had assembled in the of benefits for the Janata was hand out benefits to token asked the government to intimated. One does not area to control the situation slated to make its debut for beneficiaries which declare the benefits it know what prompted the which threatened to get out both the East as well as North included schemes under the proposes to distribute as change in dates but events of hand. Districts at the Paljor Stadium Rural Housing Scheme, Old well as ensure that the here on September 22. Age Pension, land government distributes the The Janata Mela this year compensation, land bank benefits to genuine was planned to be grander scheme, grants to religious beneficiaries and not on the in scale as it was to be institutions and incentives basis of political allegiance. organised for both the East to sportsperson. The party has also NOTICE A General Body Meeting of the newly registered Goethals Alumni Sikkim will be held on Sunday Forest Deptt made resource the 24th September 2006 at 5.30 pm at Hotel Chumbi Residency, Tibet Road Gangtok. All ex- agency for awareness campaign students of Goethal’s Memorial School, Kurseong, whether registered or not are of the North East cordially invited. a MIDWEEK Report The meeting will amongst other points discuss the outcome of the recent meeting of various GANGTOK: Sikkim’s Forest, government departments, solid wastes, he said. Alumni held at the school with the Principal Environment and Wildlife joint forest management and The proposals, to be Brother Beddoe and the plans for the coming Management department has eco-development prepared on a prescribed been made the resource agency committees and educational format, may include Centenary Celebrations of the School. It will by the Union Ministry of institutions. conducting of rallies, also focus on past and future activities of the Forest and Environment for Proposals have been camps, competitions and Alumni and ways of strengthening the coordinating the National invited from the local preparation of educational Association. Environmental Awareness NGOs, educational and resource material on programme in the North- training institutions, environment issues. The The meeting will be followed by dinner. Eastern region. scientific bodies and proposal must also include According to Principal government institutes for an action-oriented All ex-Goethalites are urged to attend and to Chief Conservator of taking up concrete action- component which involves confirm their participation to Forests TR Poudyal, the oriented activity on solid environment improvement Mr. J. D. Barfungpa programme, whose theme waste management in to benefit local community, Asst. General Secretary. Mobile : 9434410202 for the current year is solid different areas of the region Mr. Poudyal said adding that OR waste management, is to be and also generating the completed proposals Mr. Aswin Oberoi taken up in collaboration awareness to ensure should reach the department Treasurer. Mobile : 9434022313 with various NGOs, state effective management of latest by 10 October. ROUND-UP 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 333

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The game plan was simple. claimed big business First he had to create an aura investments back home in HOW ONE MAN FOOLED of wealth and success around Jamshedpur and a huge him to be credible. So mansion. But according to his Debashish tied up with some driver, this was all a bunch of AN ENTIRE TOWN finance companies to procure lies. His mother, sister and luxury vehicles for himself. brother lived in a small flat Soon he had seven of these. He there. As for Mukherjee, he THE VISHAL TELEFILMS CON - THE COMPLETE STORY started projecting Vishal entered the area only at night Telefilms as a top notch media and only after ensuring that company which had a tie-up ‘Aslam’ was not around. Police with Star One. In fact, he was investigations so far have always seen wearing the Star revealed that Debashis is a One ID card. But according to resident of Swarn Vihar, new revelations, these were Sonari-Jamshedpur but his made locally in a well known claims of being a cameraman photo studio here. Vishal with a leading national Telefilms then started entertainment TV channel is negotiating with Nayuma doubtful. Television for providing five One of the many frauds hours of programming daily, Debashish played was of for which they would pay promising to get Scorpios which Nayuma Rs. 5 Lakhs a month. were supposed to be auctioned If Nayuma Television had at New Delhi at a cheap rate, for bothered to check they would people here. Nearly ten persons have found out that not only bought into this story, including did Debashish not represent teachers and bureaucrats who Star One but his company paid up to Rs. 2 lakhs each as Vishal Telefilms was not even advance. A gentleman is said to The Vishal Telefilms office, now sealed. registered and had no trade have hurriedly sold family gold license. But Mukherjee was in in the hope of getting a Scorpio state department to make the money and contract all turned Even as the scam is slowly business and soon he took up a cheap. However, not all are event successful. The muharat out to be fraudulent. unspooling, more and more new office at a building owned willing to come forward and of ‘Sapna Sapna Bhayo’, the Sikkim Police are now on the cases of fraud are emerging but by former Chief Secretary SW make official complaints. next venture of Vishal lookout for Paromita Mukherjee, locals are wary about coming Tenzing in Development Area. Only last month, on 29 Telefilms was also given by the Debashish’s wife and MD of out in the open. Meanwhile, the

He had a staff of twenty, and August, Vishal Telefilms HRD minister. Guest of Honor, Vishal Telefilms. A mistake the twenty employees who K Y seven luxury vehicles. Yogesh launched ‘Voice of Sikkim - Akshay Sachdeva, DIG, Range police seem to have made was resigned from the company M Pradhan of Alphabets Book Pratibha ko khoj,’ a talent hunt also addressed the gathering. in delaying the search of the flat after Mukherjee’s arrest now C Shop supplied furniture worth at Chintan Bhawan. The In the meantime, Deo Ashis where the couple stayed. This want to carry forward the over a lakh, which he is yet to winner was promised a Maruti Mothay, a graduate from was done three days after his ‘Voice of Sikkim’ talent hunt be paid for. By now Mukherjee Alto car, Rs. 1 lakh in cash Vishwa Bharati arrest. It is believed that themselves. Towards this end had created an aura of wealth award, a Bangkok tour and an Shantiniketan.was also lured Paromita, who is in an advanced they are meeting various and success around him. audio-video album contract into the doubtful world of stage of pregnancy, is now officials to garner support. Enough to inspire trust and with Vishal Telefilms. On the Vishal Telefilms, with its absconding along with her and As for Debashis Mukherjee make people believe in his tall occasion the HRD minister promise to create stars out of her brother. They have allegedly and the Vishal Telefilms scam, tales. One of these was about promised all help from his everyone. Mothay alleges that destroyed all documents and the drama is still to be played his background. Mukherjee department as well as from the promises made to him about photographs that were in the flat. out in its entirety.

Seven SCS officials Two weeklong Hindi Diwas promoted celebrations in North a MIDWEEK Report Social Welfare other cultural presentations. Organisation in association On 26 September, a rally a MIDWEEK Report GANGTOK: While all with Nehru Yuva Kendra from Lingchom to Youngang other parts of the state [Mangan], which had [Kabi] will be taken out GANGTOK: Seven members Additional Secretary, Home witnessed a daylong started earlier on 14 whereas the prize distribution of the State Civil Services, Department; PR Poudyal, observance of Hindi Diwas, September at Community ceremony will be held on the who were holding various Project Director, SRDA, a Lingchom-Tingda based Hall, Lingchom, will concluding day. posts in various State Rural Management and non governmental continue till 28 September. Nature Conservation and Government departments, Development Department; organisation has decided to The two weeklong Social Welfare Organisation have been promoted to the and Wangmu Tenzing, take a step further and make celebrations will witness was formed recently with the ranks of Special Secretaries in Additional Secretary, the event into a two various activities such as quiz twin objectives of preserving their respective departments. Tourism Department. weeklong extravaganza. and essay writing the natural and cultural heritage The promoted officials are As per an office order The celebrations organised competitions as well as of North Sikkim and Tenzing Gelek, Additional issued by the Department of by Nature Conservation and antakshari, besides various development of the society. Secretary, Ecclesiastical personnel on 16 September, Affairs Department; CP the officiating promotion Send in your feedback, queries and mail to Dewan, Director, shall not confer any right for Information and Public regular promotion and shall [email protected] Relations Department; not be counted towards Lhendup Dorjee, Additional seniority. Regular OR post it to: Secretary, Raj Bhawan; promotions will be made only Dawa Sandup, Additional after consultation with Midweek, Near Hotel Yatung, Nam Nang, Gangtok - 737101 Secretary, Energy and Power Sikkim Public Service Phone: 03592 320169 Department; DP Sharma, Commission. 444 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 POLITICS DZONGU DIVIDED OVER PANAM

Police personnel with protestors at 300 MW PANAM HYDRO ELECTRIC the public hearing. Photo: SARIKAH ATREYA POWER PROJECT PROJECTCOMPONENTS The Project is being developed by the Himagiri Hydro-Energy Pvt. Ltd, which proposes to tap the waters of the Tholung Chu, one of the great tributaries of the Teesta in the Upper Dzongu in North Sikkim. A Concerete gravity dam will come up on the confluence of the Tholung Chu and Rangyong Chu at Lingza village, while the power house will come up near the Panam village, connected by a 9.8 km head race tunnel along the right bank of the River. Three adit tunnels will also come up along the right bank.

Shangderpa, chairperson, noted down. One person was SPCB, who made it clear that put to “car arrest” by the Police this Project was a part of the for his alleged alliance with the “Government’s plan for the protesters and deemed a prosperity of the poor and “trouble maker.” He was marginalised janata of North locked inside a Police car till Sikkim” and everyone had to the end of the meeting. Show of strength by all contribute their bit in this The GM of the Himagiri “national building efforts.” Her Hydro-Energy Pvt. Ltd, talked comments that once this about the Project components Project would be and said that the MoU with the at Panam hearing commissioned, the people of State Government was signed Dzongu can “run hotels” in in December 2005. “We are consisting of officials from the People (PAP) to come forward SARIKAH ATREYA their houses and “eat an here because your Government Forest Department and with their opinions and abundance of fish,” were invited us to develop this NAMPRIKDANG: The developers of the Project from suggestions to ensure greeted with loud jeers. Around Project. We are determined to

tension in the air was palpable. entering the area for joint successful implementation of that time, some protesters who work in close coordination C

M The turnout at the inspection. The protesters, this Project. were booing were silenced by with the locals at the same time Y

K Namprikdang Ground was supported by members of the Next to speak was Ms. CC the Police and their names ensuing maximum social and clearly divided into two Affected Citizens of Teesta economic benefits to the groups, one in favour of the (ACT) and its supporters villages in the Project area.” Project in the belief that it blocked the road at the Former Minister, social would bring in a new era of Sankhalang Bridge on Concerns of ACT activist and President, ACT, prosperity to this economically September 3. The Police Athup Lepcha did not mince backward region of North allegedly had used intimidation 1. The extensive drilling and excavation during the his words when his turn to Sikkim and the other opposed to force the protesters to clear construction period may release dust particles in the air speak came. “We are deviating which may cause lead to some serious health problems. to it, believing that it would the way. “The police threatened from the real and pertinent forever change their lives, for to trap us in some severe 2. The presence of large migrant labourers near the river issues concerning us. The bank would lead to deterioration in water quantity and the worse. charges and legal cases if we Government is clearly not subsequent changes in the aquatic biota due to discharge The North District Police did not stop the blockade. We of waste into the river. These migrants might be probable sensitive to our problems. The was present in full strength; were only demonstrating in a carriers of various diseases not endemic to the region Project is being forced upon us clearly in anticipation of peaceful and democratic resulting in health risks for the locals. without addressing the real clashes between the two manner. But some of us were 3. Since the migrant workforce are generally from outside concerns of the people,” he groups. The presence of the even later detained up by the of the State, with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, said. North District administration, Police and questioned,” a they are bound to affect the local socio-cultural and value Mr. Lepcha used the led by the DC, North, along protester from Dzongu told systems Environment Impact with senior officials of the MIDWEEK. 4. 10 kms of river from the dam site till the power house will Assessment (EIA) report power and forest Departments, Supporters of ACT had virtually dry up as it will flow in the tunnel. It will lead to low prepared by the developers to the Dzongu area MLA and a earlier said that they would evaporation and subsequently affect the rainfall pattern and raise some valid points. Apart senior Cabinet minister who boycott the Public Hearing in vegetation in the area. Reduced water in the Rangyong from environment and social also heads the Steering protest. “We are all aware of Chu is likely to affect the fish population downstream, which concerns, he raised the Committee for hydel projects the fact that Public Hearings is very important component of any Lepcha social or question of land acquisition in North Sikkim did little to are just eyewashes and hardly religious ceremony. and land rates. “Our lands have deter the enthusiasm of the address the real concerns of the 5. The EIA Report has not taken into consideration of active been taken by disregarding the protesting group, who were affected people,” an ACT landslides in the area, especially around Panam village, special provision that no determined to not let go of this supporter said. where the power house will come up. The survey of the outsider can buy or sell opportunity to voice their However, ACT supporters Project area is incomplete and inconclusive. The Report Lepcha-Bhutia land. And we concerns vehemently. were present in full strength at has not included the fact that the Project area falls under are expected to sell it at dirt the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve. The global The Public Hearing the Panam Public Hearing, cheap rates. The Government phenomenon of global warming and receding glaciers in clearly defiant and determined meeting, organized by the Sikkim have not been studied properly. recently decided that the land Sikkim State Pollution Control to prove a point. Even as the rate would be just Rs. 2 Lakhs 6. The Project area falls entirely within the Lepcha Reserve Board, for the 300 MW Panam Public Hearing began with the per acre from Rs. 7 Lakhs per of Dzongu. The Lepchas have been declared a Primitive welcome speech by Dr. Gopal hydro electric power project Tribe by the State Government. Given these facts, how can acre for grade I land in Dzongu, here on September 18 had both Pradhan, senior scientist, State a major project come up within the Reserve? when other Project developers the groups indulging in a verbal Pollution Central Board, some 7. The Tholung Gompa, one of the most sacred and in North Sikkim are giving show of strength. The District protesters began booing. As he important monasteries of the State lies in the vicinity of the better rates. Moreover, the land Police was not taking any began to sum up the objectives Project. Any mega project involving large influx of migrant does not just belong to us. It is chances-the protesting group for this Public Hearing, he workers and increased human activity can be a security our ancestors. When most had earlier stopped a team requested the Project Affected threat to the Monastery and its sanctity. continued on page 7 ROUND-UP 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 555 Namchi teachers file FIR One arrested, a unit for printing fake notes recovered COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY against principal RACKET BUSTED while they were promised Rs. a MIDWEEK Report taking with them most of the already sounded in Siliguri and 5000 as monthly salaries they a MIDWEEK Report materials used for printing the the border town of Kakarvitta NAMCHI: Five lady teachers were only paid Rs. 3500 per GANGTOK: It seems to be fakes. All the Police could get in Nepal,” the DIG said. of New Light Academy, month. They further alleged the flavour of the month. hold was some paper used for Police believe that the gang Namchi lodged a First that the principal asked them Forgeries and scams are printing. 16 blank papers were counterfeited notes of Rs. 100 Information Report against the to sign on blank revenue making headlines in the State, recovered along with a sample and Rs. 50 only. Tsewang principal of the school, stamps with the obvious the latest one involving of a forged Rs. 100 note, along Singh Subba has been booked Lobzang Lama on Tuesday intention of manipulating the currency notes. with some bottles containing under section 489 (a) (c) (e) and accusing him of underpaying accounts. They also alleged A racket involving fake chemicals and dyes used for (d) of the IPC and placed under them their salaries as well as that while the registered currency notes has been busted printing. Police remand. alleging several malpractices number of students appearing by the Police, thus uncovering The Police managed to later “We are now in the process and irregularities in the school. for the final examinations a scam that could have arrest one of the suspects. of determining how big the A crisis had erupted in the totaled between 60 to70, devastating consequences on Tsewang Singh Subba, a 35 racket was and if there are school last week with the five students from outside the state the State economy. It has year old resident of the Upper other parties involved in this. teachers having tendered their were brought in to appear for exposed the fact that printing Sawney village. The other three It is also important to find out resignation on 15 September examinations so as to make and counterfeiting of currency members of the gang-Krishna how big the business was and creating problems for the the money out of the registration notes had taken deep roots in Pradhan, Vikram Rai and the areas of circulation. We are students in the middle of the fees which was between Rs. the State. Jashang Subba, had already also trying to track if any of academic session. 5000 to Rs. 10, 000 per student. Singtam Police on managed to flee from the the fakes were already in Today the teachers took the When questioned on their September 16 busted this village and reportedly took circulation in Sikkim,” Mr. war against the principal decision to resign, the teachers racket. Acting on a Police with them most of the printing Sachdeva said. further by filing the FIR. claimed that the principal source tip off, a team led by equipment, including a Terming the Police raid as Namchi police have been threatened to terminate them SDPO (Rangpo), Sonam photocopier which is vital tool a success, DIG Range said that investigating into the while they were taking classes Bhutia and Singtam OC in counterfeiting. “The gang, in it has been through the efforts complaints. in full view of the students. They Soloman Rai carried a raid at all likelihood, used a high- of the Police that the racket New Light Academy, a higher were also asked to leave the Upper Sawney, West Pendam, resolution printer for printing was busted. “We were only secondary CBSE co-educational school premises but before the leading to the arrest of one the fakes. We are tracking the helped by a tip off given by school is located above principal could issue them the person and recovery of a unit whereabouts of the other one of our own sources. We Jorethang road, here. The five termination letters they tendered involved in the printing of fake three,” DIG Range Akshay had been working on this case teachers who have resigned are in their resignation. Meanwhile,

notes. However, when the Sachdeva told MIDWEEK. for some time now. The raid K Bandana Subba, Roshna rai, the students are suffering the Y

Police arrived at the house used The three absconding suspects was well-planned and well M

Catherine Dewan, Karma Doma most with this mass resignation C as a printing unit, the four gang may have fled to Nepal. A orchestrated. It is a big success BHutia and Nirvika. of the teachers in the middle of members had fled the scene look-out notice for the three has for us,” he said. The teachers claim that the academic session. Goals rain at sub junior meet, Home team Two drown during Bishwakarma immersion continues winning streak a MIDWEEK Report Sikkim skipper Engphohang in the inaugural match. a Report Subba shone again scoring In the second match of the MIDWEEK GANGTOK: The home team three goals in the match. league Jharkhand had won continued their winning streak Earlier Sikkim had routed against Bihar 2-0 in the match GANGTOK: The during the immersion in the eastern leg of the 29th Orissa 6-1 in the inaugural played on 16 September. celebration of the ceremony. national sub junior football match of this national Orissa routed Chattisgarh 7- Bishwakarma puja this year Gurung, a resident of championship being played at championship being hosted by 0 in the match played on 17 saw two young lives being Pachey Samsing near the Palzor stadium here the Sikkim football September. Chattisgarh also claimed during the bisarjan Pakyong was said to have thrashing Jharkhand 10-1 in the association. The Sikkim lost to Bihar 6-1 in the match (immersion ceremony) of the gone for a swim in the rivers match played on Monday. captain had scored two goals played on Tuesday. idol yesterday at Rorathang. when the current swept him 20 year old student Hem away. His body was found a Kumar Gurung and 24 year kilometer downstream. ALL THE LATEST HANDSETS @ THE MOST COMPETITIVE RATE IN TOWN! old Sudish Roy who were Roy a resident of Ambari, PLUS a host of other Mobile Accessories & Gadgets part of two separate groups Jalpaiguri was presently were swept away by the residing at Chalumthang currents in the Rangpo khola also near Pakyong. He is said in Rorathang yesterday. The to have slipped and fallen two were supposedly drunk into the river. SIKKIM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY A State Government University incorporated under the State Legislative Act IX of 1995 Recognised by UGC, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences Distance Education Wing ADMISSION NOTICE FOR AUGUST 2006 BCA, MBA, B.Sc IT, MCA, MBA, M. Sc. IT DIT PGDIT PGDCA Short term courses in Computer, Computer Hardware Courses, Spoken English & Personality Development SMART ACADEMY LC No: 1760 ENTERPRISES Near Sikkim Sarda, MG Marg, Gangtok Bangar Building, Deorali, Gangtok. Phone: 03592 281043 / 280313 Phone: 03592 220522 666 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ROUND UP NE commerce ministers to meet PM to seek more incentives under NEIP

SOME OF THE PROPOSED SUGGESTIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING NEIP 1. Inclusion of Power Generation (both Hydel & Thermal), Hospitals and Nursing Homes and Tourism infrastructure (fixed assets) as thrust sector units under Annexure A. 2. All areas within the region of North east to be declared as identified location for all exemption Commerce & Industries Minister 3. Subsidy at 25 % of the investment in plant and machinery and technical civil work which is R B Subba, part of the delegation largely fixed assets (building and warehouses) without any ceiling limit. headed for Delhi 4. Service sector to be included in Annexure A 5. 90 per cent Central Transport subsidy (CTS) to be extended upto March 2017 PEMA L. SHANGDERPA investors” Subba said. 6. Road Transport Subsidy at 50 % to be provided to the units if the value addition is reasonable The delegation will seek 7. CTS should also be applicable to existing units after substantial expansion/diversification GANGTOK: A joint extension of several subsidies for a fresh period. delegation of commerce and and incentives under the new 8. CTS be available for Capital Goods also industry ministers from the industrial policy which 9. Tea as a sector to be included North east including Sikkim expires in March 2007. The 10. 50 % subsidy to be included on Air Freight transportation will leave for New Delhi on 21 most important being the 11. An interest subsidy of 3 % on working capital loan and term loan to be provided for a period of ten years. September, to lobby for more extension of excise subsidies 12. Income Tax exemption to be extended by another 10 years for industries set up on or incentives to make the North which expires next year. before 31. 3. 2007. Eastern Industrial Policy While separate notifications 13. Complete Income Tax holiday for all types of industries located anywhere in the North (NEIP) attractive for investors had extended the excise eastern region. to the region. The demand also subsidies for Himachal 14. Exemption from Service tax for 10 years. includes the extension of the Pradesh, Uttaranchal and 15. Exemption of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) and Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT). Excise subsidy which expires J&K, it was not done in the 16. Excise exemption to be provided if the units reinvest in the NER especially in capital in March 2007. case of Sikkim and the NE infrastructure Speaking to Midweek, states. At the recent meet held 17. 50 % grant on purchase of power generation set without ceiling Sikkim Commerce & in Guwahati, the commerce 18. 25 % power tariff rebate subsidy on existing tariff in each state to a ceiling of Rs. 50 lacs Industries Minister R. B. ministers from the various per annum. 19. Income Tax not to be charged on the reimbursement of central excise/subsidies etc. Subba, who is a member of the NE states had adopted and 20. A policy should lay down a time frame for disbursement of incentive within one year NE Commerce and Industries passed a resolution to take up 21. All Industrial infrastructure development centres (IIDCs), Special economic zones Export

C Minister’s Forum said that the matter in New Delhi. The M processing and Industrial zones (EPIP) should be 100% financed by the GOI.

Y they were slated to meet the joint delegation will also call K Prime Minister on 21 on union Finance Minister, P. Government of India. The held in various ministries new initiatives would September itself with a joint Chidambaram and Commerce policy package for Sikkim to interalia infrastructure provide the required memorandum. Subba leaves Minister, Kamal Nath. develop its industries was development, financial incentives as well as create for New Delhi tomorrow A new industrial policy on based on the NEIP notified in concessions and easy market an environment for where he will join his the lines of the NEIP was December 1997 for the NE access. The industrial policy industrial development. At colleagues from the north east. extended to Sikkim in 2002 states. The union government was also extended to Sikkim the same time it will “We aim to make the NEIP through an office had made the decision after keeping in view that it improve availability of further attractive and will put memorandum by the discussion on strategy and lagged behind in industrial capital and increase market our suggestions before the Department of Industrial action plan for development development and to access to provide a fillip to Prime minister so that the Policy and Promotion, of industries and generation accelerate growth and boost the private investment in the region can woo more Ministry of Commerce, of employment in Sikkim investor confidence. The state.

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Jhora Cleaning resumes in Gangtok a MIDWEEK Report also plans to educate people on community participation from the need for connecting their the residents of Gangtok. The GANGTOK: After achieving sewerage lines to the main membership of GTF will also considerable success in their sewerage system of the PHE be made open for the public at Jhora Cleanliness Drive held Department. The drive, GTF the venues of cleanliness drive. between November 2004 and informs, was resumed after it Keeping this in mind, the GTF February 2005, the Gangtok received a number of requests has requested residents, Task Force [GTF] is all set to and complaints from the voluntary organisations and resume the drive in the capital. public. self help groups of the The drive starts Wednesday, 20 GTF also informs that for concerned areas to come September, from Arithang. the success of this drive, it aims forward and cooperate and In the upcoming drive, GTF to solicit wholehearted make this drive a success.

continued from page 4 K Y M Free Medical Camp held at Uttarey Show of strength by all at C GANGTOK: Under its Special Medical and Veterinary Civic Action Programme, Sashastra Seema Bal [SSB], Uttarey circle, provided free medical treatment and medicines to 550 patients Panam hearing and 557 livestock at Uttarey, Mukrung, Simphok, Sophaka, Begha and intake villages in West Sikkim from 13 to 15 September. families here have not yet Government. Cabinet Minister The free medical camp, inaugurated by RC Sharma, area organiser of SSB, on 13 September divided the ancestral property and chairman, Steering at Uttarey Government Senior Secondary School, saw chief medical officer of SSB and the amongst themselves, how can Committee for hydel projects veterinary and homoeopathy staff of the SSB Department administer free treatment to the needy the Government expect us to do in Sikkim Hissey Lachungpa local population. Besides these, talks on subjects like health and hygiene, livestock management, it now? Even the land survey echoed very much the same environment and population control were also held. was carried out hurriedly. sentiments. Meanwhile, on 14 September, the SSB officials celebrated Hindi Diwas by organising various Cardamom fields did not even Although enough noise was competitions for the students of Uttarey Government Senior Secondary School. Winners of come under the purview of land made by the protesters, they these competitions were later handed over certificates and prizes by the area organiser, school compensation,” he said. “We believed that the answers that principal M Gurung, and teacher KM Subba. totally disregard this Public were provided to them by During the programme, motivational talks were also held to spread awareness among the hearing until we get a written representatives of concerned locals regarding various topics, including national integration, AIDS, polio, leprosy prevention clarification from the Departments, developers and among others. Government,” he added. North District administration The DC, North TN Kazi were “not sufficient enough.” said that the Government ACT general secretary Dawa reviewed the land rates and the Lepcha later expressed his Pondicherry University comes to Sikkim prices were brought down unhappiness over the entire “due to a technical problem.” proceedings, accusing the a MIDWEEK Report Trade, Computer International Business, He added that the new revised state Government Application at graduate Marketing Management, rates did not applicable to all representatives of using it as GANGTOK: Pondicherry level and 2 years P.G. Financial Management, but was subject to negotiation a platform for political university, a reputed central courses in Business Portfolio Management, between the land owners and propaganda. “We are university well known for its Administration, Operational Research, buyers. conditioning our protests. We wide variety of courses in Marketing Management, Banking & Finance, Area MLA Sonam Gyatso will be holding several various streams has appointed Financial Management, Human Resource Lepcha, hailing the Project as meetings in Dzongu and D.S.College, Samdur, Foreign Trade, Human Management, Tourism a harbinger great economic gather momentum amongst Tadong, as it’s spot admission Resource Management, Administration, boom for the locals, said that the PAP. Later, we will be centre for all it’s courses Public Management, Agricultural Marketing, those opposed to the Project holding a press conference in being offered through Human Rights, History, Co-operative were only talking about the Gangtok in this regard,” he Distance education mode. Sociology, Hindi and management, Insurance negative impacts but about its told MIDWEEK. ACT also The university offers 3 Political Science at Management, immense rewards. “A majority submitted a memorandum to years degree course in Masters level. Pharmaceutical of the people from Dzongu are the SPCB expressing concerns business administration, It also offers 1 year P. Marketing, Software in favour of this Project. Let us on the EIA Report’s findings Corporate Secretaryship, G. Diploma courses in marketing and Computer endorse and support the and recommendations for the Commerce, Foreign Business Administration, applications. decision taken by the SDF Panam Project. 888 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP TRIFED - SHOP FOR A CAUSE

The Art of Conservation and Restoration

GANGTOK: Some 50 and restoration of such This is the second such participants from Sikkim, most priceless murals, paintings and workshop conducted here. The of them monks from the thankas and metal artifacts, last one was held in Namchi in various monasteries and which are being destroyed by 2001. During the Namchi Lharipas [mural and thanka age and ignorance. workshop, the experts from this painters], are currently being Speaking to MIDWEEK, institute had also helped restore trained on the techniques of Joint Secretary of the some of the murals, artifacts of conservation and restoration of department, K Basnett, said the old Nagadak Monastery in illustrated manuscripts, that Sikkim lacked expertise in South Sikkim. thankas [religious wall this field and the workshop was Virendra Kumar told

hangings and scrolls], aimed to rope in exports and MIDWEEK that the institute’s C

M monastery murals and frescoes train the monks, Lharipas and involvement with Sikkim dates GANGTOK: The tribal are available here, with goods Y population of India comprises coming from as far as Gujarat, K and metal artifacts. Gendrungs [master artistes] to back to 1976 when they were The two week long expose them on such engaged in similar restoration of almost 8 per cent of the total Ladakh and Chattisgarh. workshop is jointly organised techniques. At the workshop, works in the Phodong populace and is spread across Exquisitely woven sarees with by the Sikkim State Archives, they are given broad ideas on Monastery in North Sikkim. the length and breadth of the prices ranging from Rs. 1000 Cultural Affairs and Heritage conservation techniques so that Later they also helped save old land from Jammu & Kashmir in to Rs. 3000 vie for shelf space Department in collaboration they are able to take care of murals and wall frescoes on the North to Kerala in the South with Angora and Pashmina with the National Research these priceless items in their mud walls in the Shinon and from Nagaland in the East shawls. Table mats, home Laboratory for Conservation of respective monasteries and Monastery in South Sikkim. to Gujarat in the West. Such a decoration items, jute file Cultural Property [NRLCCP], institutes, he added. Mr. Kumar said that on the wide variety in agro-climatic covers, office stationary, bags, Lucknow. The workshop was Among those who have course of this workshop, they and geographical conditions of metal products are some of the inaugurated by Cultural and been imparting the knowledge would also visit Sangha India’s tribal areas ensures other tribal produced items Heritage Affairs Minister GM include US Lall, VC Sharma, Choling Monastery in West availability of an equally wide available here. Gurung at the Youth Hostel both senior scientists in the Sikkim to find out if it required range of natural products. “People in Sikkim have a here in Tadong on 19 NRLCCP, Virendra Kumar, restoration works there. To pay specific attention to love for cane products which September. head of the conservation In the workshop, factors and the marketing requirements of come from Mizoram,’ informs One of the aims of the section of the NRLCCP, and type of decay, general aspects tribal forest and agricultural AD Mishra, Regional Director, workshop is to create home Ganshyam, senior scientific of conservation, role of light, produce, the Government of TRIFED, and former General bred experts for conservation assistant. humidity, deacidification and India set up the Tribal Manager of STDC. Mishra, bio agencies would be Cooperative Marketing who has recently taken charge D O N ’ T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY discussed. Demonstrations, Development Federation of is full of enthusiasm about this documentations would also be India [TRIFED] - an ‘shop for a cause’ venture and AVAIL UPTO 100% part of the activities at the organisation committed to says the shop is already quite workshop. serving the needs of the tribals popular amongst Gangtokians. DISCOUNT ON ALL At the inaugural function, and contributing to the He plans to launch TRIFED’s the Cultural and Heritage upgradation of their living next venture at Namchi shortly, COURSES Affairs Minister, who was the standards. with a sales outlet opening chief guest, asked participants Keeping in this mind, the there next month. SCHOLARSHIP EXAM GOING ON to make the most of this first TRIFED sales outlet was To give impetus to local workshop and use it as an opened in Gangtok on 26 creativity and tribal produce, HURRY UP! LIMITED SEATS!!! opportunity to gain expertise. August. Present on the occasion artists from Sikkim were were DD Bhutia, Minister, recently taken to New Delhi FOR DETAILS CONTACT: “At present, we require our own experts in each of the UD&HD, and Wilfred Lakra, where TRIFED had CITI Computers, Tibet Road institutions and monasteries so MD, TRIFED. The shop requisitioned the whole of Dilli th Gangtok - 737101, Sikkim that conservation efforts are became the 30 sales outlet in Haat and invited artisans from Ph: 201119 / 9832025675 / taken up independently by you India, second in the North East all over the country. “It attracted all,” he told the participants. and the first in Sikkim. a huge crowd and was very 9832005613 Products from all over India encouraging,’” adds Mishra. send your FEEDBACK to [email protected] ROUND-UP 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 999 Non- implementation of scheme denies benefit to poor

Due to indecisiveness of the Health Department to finalize eligibility criteria for the scheme the entire fund of Rs. 87.61 lakh remained unutilized for more than four years besides denial of intended benefits to the deserving poor.

overnment of India Association [SSIFA] and later of funds as well as framing of divisional Magistrate would [Rs.13.23 lakh] remained introduced a scheme in released Rs. 50 lakh in March rules for the scheme, not a suffice to identify the unutilized for more than G November 1996 for 2000 and Rs. 25 lakh in May single person was assisted till beneficiaries under the scheme. four years. The non- establishment of a fund at the 2000 towards State July 2004 towards life- However, no wide publicity implementation of the State level to which contribution and Central share threatening illness by the was given by the Association scheme deprived accrual of Government of India was to respectively. The rules framed Association on the plea of non- to inform the public living intended benefits to the contribute upto 50 per cent of in 2001 for the Fund provided finalisation of BPL list by the below the poverty-line about deserving poor people the contribution made by the for assistance to the deserving State Government. This was the facility available under the living below the poverty State Government, subject to a poor people holding BPL despite the fact that scheme as directed by line besides non-availing of maximum contribution of Rs. certificate or Vikas Patrika. identification of beneficiaries Government of India. the potential contribution of 2 crores. This was meant for Though the SSIAFA was under the BPL category was Thus due to delay in Rs. 2 crore from providing financial assistance formed in 1998, the State completed in July 2000 by the providing funds to the said Government of India to a for specialized treatment for Government released the share Government for distribution of Fund, finalizing the criteria significant extent. life-threatening illness to the of Rs. 50 lakh only in March food grains under Public for eligibility for extending In reply, the Association bona-fide people living below 2000 after a delay of more than Distribution System. The the benefit and tardiness of informed in August 2005 that the poverty line [BPL]. a year. The Central share of Rs. Association, as late as in July the Association and the the scheme has taken off from Accordingly, the State 25 lakh received in May 2000 2004, decided in consultation department to give wide November 2004 and seven Government constituted in was belatedly released to the with Government of India that publicity of the scheme, the beneficiaries had been October 1998 the Sikkim State Association in March 2001. the income certificate issued by entire amount of Rs. 87.61 provided with the assistance Illness Assistance Fund Even after the delayed transfer District Collector or sub- lakh including interest Rs. 2.33 lakh so far.

Tourism in Sikkim vis a vis Nathula K Y

ow many tourists will come to Sikkim from transit workers and people visiting relatives in M

Are our Hotels and other infrastructure C Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) & Mainland Tibet, according to Jin Shixun, director of the capable to take this much load down five years HChina once the Nathu La route opens for Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of from now. We have to reassess and plan for tourists in 2011? It is difficult to put exact numbers Development and Reform. “The Qinghai-Tibet tourism infrastructure based on the changing at this hour. But we can estimate and gauge the future. Railway has turned Tibet into one of the most situation following the tourist rush from After the Qinghai-Tibet Railway coveted travel destinations in mainland China and Tibet Autonomous Region started between mainland China to China,” said Jin. through the Nathu La Pass to Sikkim and down Tibet’s capital Lhasa, one can start In July and August, Tibet played host to Indian plains. The planners in Sikkim have guessing the future. This guessing is to 913,000 domestic and overseas to keep this in mind while making the strategic essential when we formulate plan for tourists and raked in 942 million yuan tourism plan for the next decade.. tourism infrastructure development in (about 117.75 million U.S. dollars.) in It is worth noting that China’s first air route to Tibet Sikkim. By 2011, domestic tourist revenue. Average occupancy for three- was started from Chengdu in 1965. Each year over one inflow to Sikkim will be around 9 star and four-star hotels in Tibet over the million passengers fly the route. There are three airports lakhs, three times of what we are past two months was 83.7 percent. Food in Tibet and fourteen air routes to the “Roof Of The getting now. The reason being the S. K. SARDA and drink sales rose 55.7 percent . World”. Further, Chinese Railway Ministry has decided opening of land route thru Nathu La A train ticket from Chengdu to to launch two rail connections linking Shanghai, for Tibet and Mainland China will attract a huge Lhasa is about 331 yuan (41.375 U.S. dollars) Guangzhou with Lhasa in early October this year. number of domestic tourists from the plains of and a sleeper ticket is about 712 yuan (89 U.S. World has become a village now. We in Sikkim India to Sikkim who will further like to visit Tibet dollars).About 390,000 tourists visited Tibet in will also be affected by the rolling sound of the & mainland China enjoying the land route of this July, up by 50 percent year-on-year. They Qinghai-Tibet Railway over the Tibetan Plateau and scenic cold desert and monasteries. Visit to Mt spent over 83.75 million US dollars in Tibet, have to open our ears and mind to hear and understand Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is another great up by 43.7 percent year-on-year.. what is happening beyond Nathu La and how we in attraction for the Hindu & Buddhist pilgrims of Statistics from Tibet Tourism Bureau show Sikkim are affected. Positive mind can bring a lot of India as the journey to these holy places from that, Tibetan tourism income reached 1.46 laurels to Sikkim. Nathu la route will be more comfortable and less billion yuan (about 182.5 million US dollars) The writer is S.K.Sarda, President, Sikkim time consuming as compared to the difficult and by receiving 15 lacs tourists from January to Chamber of Commerce. costly route thru Kathmandu in Nepal. Sri August in 2006. Lankan Buddhists will also take this route to visit The yearly tourist flow to Tibet from mainland China Masters Education Point Monasteries in Tibet. Furthur, from the Tibetean is thus around 30 lacs. A good number of them will Tibet Road, Gangtok side, we will get tourists and traders coming to like to visit Sikkim and rest of India once the WINTER CRASH COURSE Sikkim who will also like to visit the plains of infrastructure on the Indian side is complete in the next STARTS FROM 1st WEEK OF DECEMBER 2006 India through this land route. 4 years. Border Road Organisation is about to start the Currently, more than 1 lac passengers are launching of road widening work from this November REGISTRATION GOING ON FOR CLASS X & XII traveling from Mainland China to Tibet by the this year between Nathu la and Gangtok and National CBSE, ICSE & ISC 2007 Qinghai-Tibet railway which started formally on Highway Authority of India will take up widening job LIMITED SEATS ONLY!!! 1 July 2006 connecting Mainland China with of Gangtok-Siliguri highway. & ALSO REGULAR CLASSES FOR CLASS VII TO XII Lhasa. The Qinghai-Tibet railway line has Even if 10% of the tourists visiting Tibet GOING ON IN FULL SWING carried 272,700 passengers and 37,400 tons of from Mainland China plan to visit Sikkim and CONTACT: 201161 (O) freight since entering service on July 1. About further down the Indian plains, we will get extra 9232514579 (O) 40 percent of the passengers were tourists, 30 3 lacs tourists inflow into Sikkim from the 9434357076 & 9434143925 percent business people and the rest students, Dragon country. 101010 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 OP-ED/FEEDBACK INBOX Vol. 1 No. 3 [email protected] Why Blame the People he recent episode of how Debashish Mukherjee of Just a couple of questions Vishal Telefilms conned an entire town is only one of Ta long list of scams pulled on the people here. From ithout going about the somebody to unlock his car, no other vehicles are allowed to the Pacific Blues con case which duped 20 job aspirants usual rounds of even then the other car was still park? Or maybe there is a pre- into paying lakhs of rupees as advance in exchange of congratulating parked there. When asked the requisite for that too, you’d jobs abroad, to the more recent West African Advance W Midweek and expressing my driver said that it was high- either have to be a minister’s kin Fee scam which saw a Ranipool couple dish out Rs. 3 views on what makes the paper ranking police officer’s car. Is or a red light man yourself, then lakhs on the promise of winning a $20 million legacy, the appealing, here’s a question I instances are numerous. Educated and unemployed youth that ok? Is it legal for a police you get to park your official car, have become one of the main targets of recruiting agencies ask the Traffic Officials and the officer to park his car at an your own car, your sister in-laws for whom Sikkim is proving to be a rich playing field. The entire Police Department. Is illegal spot, regardless of car and so on. general public may be naïve and trusting but the web of there a different set of laws for whether he is there on duty or These are questions I am deceit that Debashish wove has ensnared even the high the common man, the for personal reasons? Are all sure a lot of Gangtokians want and mighty. First of all, it was Nayuma Television, almost bureaucrats, the VIPs and the vehicles driven by a police answered. Is it possible to a semi-government organization that granted legitimacy Police Officers? Or is there a official (be it his aunt’s new apply the Right To Information to Vishal Telefilms by announcing a media tie-up wherein specific law that says bureaucrats, Bolero or his in-laws’ Wagon hype here? Maybe not. Maybe the latter would produce five hours of daily programming VIPs and police officers can park R), in uniform or not, on duty this letter will never see the for the channel. Did the mandarins at Nayuma even bother their cars anywhere, anytime and or not, immune to parking laws? light of day if I do not mention to check out the antecedents of the company before going as long as they wish? Perhaps the Another case in point is the my name, which is not quite a public with their agreement? No, they did not, because if much flaunted new traffic stretch in front of Blue Sheep big name but I do not want to they had bothered to do some background check they accessory ‘The Red Lock’ only restaurant. Don’t you think it’s lose the only job I have (you would have found out that claims made by Debashish were applies to us. time you officially declare the know the trend!). a whole lot of baloney. Even Star One, the channel that Debashish claimed to represent has now said that they Last week my friend’s car stretch a VIP car park? And does Midweek, I leave it to you have had no dealings with him. Secondly, how did this was locked in Tadong where he the red light being covered and see if you can relay my non entity of a television company get to host the launch had parked just for 5 minutes. signify something? Another questions to the authorities or of its talent hunt from the hallowed environs of Chintan He agrees he broke the law, Rs. question is whether everyone rather not print it in case an ad Bhawan? Present there as Chief Guest was HRD Minister 500 fine justified. But he parked can apply and request for an coming your way from the GM Gurung and gracing the occasion as Guest of Honour his car there only after he saw alloted parking space and then department fails to come in. was DIG, Range Akshay Sachdeva. These are serious another vehicle parked a little get a ‘Parking allowed only for issues at stake here. The government and the police further down, which was not SK-O2 XXXX - by order Pseudo Name department cannot wash its hands off by simply passing locked. After he went to the DC Traffic Police’ in blue painted Gangtok

the buck to the people. After all they are there to look after office, paid the fine, got on the wall along the road where rec’d over email C

M the interests of the citizens of the state. If they give a con

Y man legitimacy, why then blame the people for being taken K for a ride. The fact is that a lot of people lost a lot of money by putting their faith on a person whom they perceived as having the blessings of the authorities. Some accountability is surely called for here. “The correct picture” - Forest Deptt.

YUMTHANG NOT Yumthang valley idweek has headlined Species like Jhingeny, policy stipulations. GREEN in its second issue a Asaray and Angeri are inferior Development is a dynamic I am a student of SMIT. Last Mnews item which states vegetation and cannot be concept and cannot stagnate season, I’d visited Yumthang, that “170 Heritage Trees to be termed as valuable or which is our bounden duty to Katao, etc., and was very upset Sacrificed for New Raj Bhavan indispensable. These and facilitate. This small loss of with the condition of these - Keeping Sikkim Green?” others such as bamboos and trees that will so occur has been places. Why are these places While fully appreciating the Utis can be easily replaced by adequately taken care of in the neglected? There are no green concern of the paper for new plants of the same type as proposal in the building of the trees anywhere. Please write protection of trees in the state they regenerate luxuriantly in Raj Bhavan itself whereby the about it. in general and the Raj Bhavan the altitude and climate of Forest Department will be Rupam Sil in particular, the Forest, Gangtok. Even though some realizing costs from the Rec’d over email Environment & Wildlife trees would have to be removed concerned Sikkim Public Management Department there is no other alternative Works Department [Building] CONGRATULATIONS would like to point out a few land in Gangtok suitable for the for raising what we call Midweek is something I had sure that by reading it regularly, distortions in the report and construction of a Raj Bhavan compensatory afforestation. been long waiting for. It’s a joy I and others like me will be able request the paper to again which requires a large plot of The State Green Mission is to read. My congratulations to to improve our writing skills. publish the correct picture. land given the security and a unique experiment launched the Midweek team for the I sincerely request you to Some trees will definitely protocol requirements. by the Government this year. wonderful effort. provide a column for the have to be removed from the The Forest, Environment & It has resulted in broad basing Nikhil Subba people where they can write work site for enabling the new Wildlife Management [not broadcasting as reported in about their problems to the Raj Bhavan to come up. Not Department has already the paper] greening activities at Midweek has become my government and seek solutions as many trees will be felled. A decided in consultation with the people’s level, at all favorite bedtime reading. So for the same. At this juncture, fact sheet of enumeration made the Sikkim Public Works bureaucratic level. much to read… Lage Raho let me not forget to request you by the East Territorial Division Department [Buildings] to fell While the print media in Midweek! to cover what’s happening with reveals that there are 50 trees as less a number of trees as general have been lending their Sonam Doma the State Community Library. which may ultimately go. Rest possible and mainly by support for this programme Rec’d over email It has remained closed since the of them are poles, bushes and avoiding hacking down the over the past several months, past few months, at the expense unimportant shrubbery. Even Rhododendron trees. this Department urges COMMUNITY LIBRARY? of the members and people like the trees that are currently The Government have Midweek too to kindly Let me congratulate you on the us, and the government is yet proposed to be cleared for always strongly advocated and understand and similarly help successful launch of Midweek to find a new location to shift removal will be minimized, for pursued conservation oriented strengthen the cause of and its subsequent issue. The the library. which this department is in policies over the past several conservation in the State. articles are really very precise Khagesh Agarwal active consultation with the years. There is no casualness TR Poudyal, IFS and the style of writing is the BBA 2nd year, SPWD [Buildings & Housing] or negligence on the part of the Principal CCF-cum- best I’ve ever read, and I’m Gangtok. Department. department to abide by such Secretary Forests OP-ED 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 111111 Crime Stares Through Gaps t is not rare for a newspaper office to get besieged use of photographs of the accused. There was a similar by anonymous phone calls making complaints or argument – why were the photographs of this group Ivoicing protest. Sometimes these calls are against being circulated when murderers and rapists are allowed the establishment and sometimes against the to get arrested and sentenced in anonymity? While newspaper reports. Almost always, these phone calls every crime is distressing news, this one, even if no are personal in nature, in that the complaints are one was hurt and no real damage caused, came as a protests about personal affronts suffered by the callers; harbinger of the levels of gumption achieved by the rarely do matters of policy or trends make it through criminally inclined. When the news was prominently the phone lines via anonymous callers. While agreeing played out, it demanded of the readers to ponder on the that individual sufferers rarely have the support base possibility of a future spiraling out of control. It asked of organisations to make a noise about their problems, of the readers to realise that it is crime, and not the oft- it is disconcerting to note that most times these repeated possibility of agitation that the society and its reactions are individual and lopsided reactions to caretakers needed to be wary of. incidents that could have larger ramifications than just The examples and reactions cited above are to the individuals painted in negative light by the illustrate the point that individual interests are developments as they unspooled. outweighing societal concerns too often in Sikkim. We speak here of crime – both, white collar and FRINGE BENEFIT So much that rhetoric is out-shouting the saner signals the nefarious and violent kind. that these trends point at. What the rise in cheating There was a lot of protest, some hushed, some overt, PEMA WANGCHUK and violent crimes reflects is that social involvement some emotional, when newspapers started reporting Then there is corruption. Every time the Vigilance required as the first line of defence is developing too on the plethora of thinly-veiled downline chit fund Police makes a corruption-related raid or arrest, there many cracks. Those who complain about either police schemes which were finally getting investigated by the are murmurs that newspapers play up only the travails action or newspaper reports on crimes are almost Crime Branch. Under the same series of investigations, of out-of-favour small fries who get ensnared in such always associated with accused, not as co-conspirators several established finance companies were also under busts. “There are so many more people who are corrupt, but as relatives and friends. When they defend a the scanner when doubts were raised about their why don’t newspapers report on them?” is a common wanton act with weak excuses [like ‘why them and professionalism which was reflected in their failure to query. For one, the age of sting operations have not everyone else indulging in similar activities?’], secure the required official clearances before starting thankfully not debuted in Sikkim yet, for another, police they almost condone the acts. From there on, it operations in Sikkim. While some earnestly defended action and subsequent penalization are not just multiplies and soon delinquent behaviour gets the downline prize money schemes as viable options punishments for individual offenders, but also examples encouraged into more serious offences against the state for self employment [!], others, employed as marketing for others indulging in similar activities to desist. Not and the society. This is not an expression of frustration agents with finance companies complained that their reporting on even the little that is being done to contain brought on by unemployment as many would have us jobs had been placed at risk. What they fail to appreciate graft would make the transgressors more blatant. believe, these are situation created by societal is that while the former is downright illegal, no matter And then there are the excesses that we know indulgence and neglect; the indulgence for the wrong K how many chairpersons or MLAs they bring as chief simply as ‘crime.’ reasons and the neglect of real concerns. These are Y M guests to their seminars or senior government officials The operations of the masked gang that attempted the portions where the social fabric needs urgent C they bring as introducers. The latter’s commitment to to rig the lottery results last month are now revealing repair. Everyone has an anarchic streak, if the fabric job-security is suspect if it is not even serious about themselves to be more complicated, intricately rends too much, too many will slip through the seams, starting operations in Sikkim in a legally appropriate conspired and meticulously schemed. When the news many more than can be recovered. manner. And yet, individual reactions remain emotional. broke, there were those who complained against the [The writer is Editor, NOW!] RED ALERT in the capital ell well well whaddya know! I have seen this sordid world from up and was received with a very cold television journalism for you. So the next get this letter of appreciation close I volunteered to play the response indeed and along with that time you have Prince, winner of a million Wfrom your dear editor! She tells role…incognito of course, for lack of a came a question. How had I procured hearts plastered live all over your TV me that you folks out there are really genuine candidate and as the research my computer and mobile phone she screens for the better portion of 48 hours, enjoying the stuff I dole out. My that I had on the subject was quite wanted to know? The conversation ask yourselves just two questions…Is heartfelt gratitude for your plaudits; or formidable. So in good faith I called the ended with her informing me that my in this for real and if so where the hell is should I say condolences for your girl over, lets call her Sita laws had asked her to view Prince today? That’s the kind of instant insanity at praising my frivolous words. (actual name withheld, a my frugal assets with nirvana that news channels dole out day Anyway for better or for worse lets get la news channel style), suspicion as I had been in and day out. on with it shall we… promising her sensational featured on the Zee News, Now I’d like to tell you two instances Let me begin with a farce called TV bytes posing as a coke ‘RED ALERT’ programme of what was NOT reported. The first is news and a story of one who brings it dealer if you please. holding forth on the virtues an anecdote related by one of my more to us. In addition to misinforming you Needless to say, all I asked and economic benefits of gifted students who at the time was guys, I also happen to teach visual for in return for this being a coke pusher! What’s working in Zee Business channel. communication at a few schools in information was more my daughter even Rewind to the time when the last Delhi. A scam I’ve assiduously worked anonymity which was identified the exact location elections in Haryana were about to be on for the past seven odd years with promptly assured. So where the fake interview was held. This guy was summoned by the considerable success. So one of my yours truly went to town conducted. My first reaction big boss and asked to make 40 copies erstwhile students now working for a fabricating a story on how I scored coke was blind anger and some of my more of a CD handed to him under strict well known production company in from Nigerians (actually I’ve yet to belligerent friends asked me to take this secrecy. The unsuspecting soul dutifully Dilli feeding Zee TV, gave me a frantic meet one of those) at a throwaway price scam story to a rival channel as a sting returned to his edit bay and upon call the other day begging me to provide and then made a killing by selling it to operation. The prospect did seem playing the CD discovered the top her access to a cocaine dealer, in the the rich and famous in the capital. attractive at first but wisdom prevailed contender for the CM’s post cavorting wake of the great contribution that a Mr. Having played the Good Samaritan and and I decided to let sleeping dogs lie. I around with a nubile nymphet in a series Rahul M. has made in this regard. All after providing some really explosive can’t blame the ambitious climber Sita of near impossible positions. It turns out of a sudden pushers seemed to be in stuff, I left town for a couple of days to either as the irony is that the owner of that he was cajoled into this by the wily great demand and the only problem was research a subject for a film blissfully the production house; daughter of an nymphet who had herself prearranged that the heat had made all these denizens unaware of what was cooking back in erstwhile Congress Minister and wife of to put this memorable union onto tape. disappear into the woodwork. As I have good ol Dilli. a well known scribe, knows me That’s why the poor guy lost out to the been quite indulgent in many ways and Upon returning I called my daughter personally! So that’s investigative - continued on page 18 121212 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP First instalment of Rs.25 lakh Capacity building comes in for KNP training for youth

a MIDWEEK report Culture, Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, GANGTOK: A total of 41 Mountain Institute, and youth from Soreng, Travel Agents’ Association Chakung, Daramdin, of Sikkim. Rinchenpong and Hee- At the end of the training Bermoik constituencies programme, a trekking to undertook a weeklong Varsey was undertaken to training in the field of give the trainees some tourism guide from 11 to 16 practical experiences. September at the Another weeklong Community Hall, Soreng. capacity building The training falls under the programme on ‘Cooking capacity building Skill’ was organised by the Tsoka, one of the programme initiated by the department at the Institute villages within the Tourism Department. of Hotel Management here Khangchendzonga The topics covered in the at Tadong from 11 to 16 National Park. training included September, which was Photo: Karchoong Diyali importance of good guide, attended by 46 youth from tourism resources of Rinchenpong, Soreng and Sikkim, eco-tourism Chakung. The programme a MIDWEEK report cover is 3129 sq km, i.e. There are various initiatives in the state, saw faculty members from 44.1 percent. 2173 sq km or economic development religious shrines and Institute of Hotel GANGTOK: The State 30.62 percent of the total committees in the villages of monasteries, thankas and Management train the Cabinet recently sanctioned an geographical area of the KBR which play an active iconography, flora-fauna participants on subjects amount of Rs. 25 lakhs to state is under wildlife role in deciding and and wetland of Sikkim, such as cooking skills and implement the Management protection, which is perhaps developing economic dances, art, culture of the hygiene for food handling. Action Plan (MAP) for the the highest in the country. activities suited for them. state, food patterns, They further held practical Khangchendzonga Biosphere The Khangchendzonga Under the MAP, piggery handicrafts, special interest demonstration on

Reserve in the State. Biosphere Reserve was farming, cardamom tours, adventure tourism, preparation of Indian and C

M This is a 100 percent notified in February 2000. It rejuvenation and distribution rescue and relief operation continental cuisines salads, Y

K centrally-sponsored scheme of is spread over North and of milch cows are part of the of tourists, connectivity soups and desserts. the Central Government and West districts encompassing economic development system, personality This training is third in the envisages effective and 1784 sq km of activities for the villages of development, etc. series being organised by the sustainable socio-economic Khangchendzonga National KBR. Other components The resource persons department in pursuance of the development of the people Park and 835.92 sq km over include horticulture were from various state decision of the state living in the Khangchendzonga four buffer zones totalling development, distribution of government departments, government to observe the year Biosphere Reserve, which is an area of 2619.92 sq km. LPG connection, cattle including Tourism, 2006-07 as the Capacity part of the Khangchendzonga These buffer zones are immunization, upgradation Ecclesiastical, Forest, Building Year. National Park. Lhonak Valley, West of mule tracks and Spread around an area of Chungthang-Lachen, organising health camps for 1784 sq kms, the Tholung Valley and Rangit the villagers. Building of Khangchendzonga National and Teesta Catchments. community toilets are also on Dhup and khada Park covers nearly 38 percent The Management Action the cards under this of the total area of Sikkim, in Plan for the KBR was instalment of grants. Focus is making training begins North and West Districts. The launched in February 2000 also on habitat management buffer area around the KNP and comprises mainly of which includes forest a programme conducted earlier comprises of the socio-economic activities protection, setting of forest MIDWEEK report was held the same day where Khangchendzonga Biosphere for the villagers, encourage check posts and boundary GANGTOK: 11 September the newly trained batch Reserve, with 21 villages in its community participation in demarcation of the KBR. saw a number of inaugurations consisting of 12 unemployed vicinity. environment conservation A total of Rs. 80 Lakhs has and valedictory functions of women were awarded The total forest land of and reduce dependency on been sanctioned by the Central various training programmes certificates by the Joint the state is 5765.10 sq km, the forests for fuel and Government, of which Rs. 25 launched by the state Secretary-II, Urban while total area under tree livelihood. Lakhs is the first instalment. government under the Skill Development & Housing Development and Training Department who is also the Programme sponsored under project director of SJSRY. the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Further, another two months’ Rozgar Yozana [SJSRY]. skill upgradation training, A four month-long Dhup which again started the same and Khada Making Training day, is currently being given to was inaugurated at Kewsing these trainees. [Bakhim] in South Sikkim on Meanwhile, the valedictory 11 September. Twelve function of the two month-long unemployed persons belonging Motor Car Driving Training to the economically weaker was held the same day at the section of the society are Motor Training Institute at currently undergoing this Gyalshing. Fourteen training aimed at making the beneficiaries who had local unemployed youths self- undergone this training were sustainable. awarded certificates and email: [email protected] The valedictory function of driving licenses by the project a similar four months’ director, SJSRY. ROUND-UP 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 131313 P. L A M A MAKING A DIFFERENCE participating in the planning Tourism. He further actively process of the North East lends his support to NAMCHI: At a time when Council for the Northeastern programmes held by other getting a job in the government states. Further, for the organizations like Nehru Yuva sector is akin to finding the upliftment of the labourers, Kendra, Ravangla Tourism Holy Grail for the local job the club is at present Development Society, Sikkim seekers, a young man from working with the National Development Foundation, etc. South Sikkim has chosen to Labour Institute, Delhi. In recognition of his work take the path less trodden. Besides giving a much in the social sector, Mr. Bhutia Despite having received ample needed push to the was awarded the District Youth opportunities to get employed development of agriculture in Award for the year 1999-2000. in the government sector, 34- South Sikkim, Mr. Bhutia also “Our aim is to work for the year-old Topzor Dorjee Bhutia Topzor Bhutia leads takes time out to work in the socio-economic development has opted to work for the health and environment of rural areas. Apart from this, welfare of his society. His by example sectors. He is the Joint empowerment of women and relentless efforts have today Secretary of Voluntary Health youth also features on our borne fruit – he has Association of Sikkim, and a agenda. We also feel it is our successfully established pains to improve the standard further actively involved in member of Ecotourism and duty to point out to our youth various clubs devoted to of health, education and strengthening the Conservation Society of that agriculture is the only bettering the standard of living economy of the area. His Panchayati Raj Institution in Sikkim, and also of the newly income generating sector in of the people of South Sikkim. efforts did not go to waste and Asia [PRIA] besides formed Kewzing Village Sikkim,” he says. Born on 15 October, 1972, soon he was able to start 15 at Kewzing, a remote village in farmers’ clubs and 95 self-help South Sikkim, Mr. Bhutia groups at Kewzing, Rabong, received his junior level Sanganath, Tinkitam, Rayong, education from Kewzing Sangmoo, Zarong, Lingee, Junior High School and then Lingmoo and Tingmoo gram went on to finish his senior panchayat units. secondary school education The results are visible now: from Namchi Senior farmers of the area have made Secondary School. His caliber good progress in the got him noticed by the agricultural sector; they now authorities, and, as a result, sell their agricultural products offers to work as a government at the nearest markets of employee started flooding in Rabong, Jorethang and even before he could complete Singtam, and earn enough not his school education. only to sustain themselves but

“Besides teaching job also to educate their children. K Y

offers, I was even called to join The club has also helped M the Police Department as a several farmers’ clubs and C Police Inspector directly. But I SHGs in procuring loans chose to ignore such offers and amounting to Rs. 11 lakhs from instead put my heart into social various financial institutions service,” recalls Mr. Bhutia. under the micro income ‘Cheerful And Complete Living’ In 1990, he formed the generation programme on Kewzing Youth Club to raise agriculture and animal in Jorethang the standard of living of the husbandry. Kewzing Youth people of Kewzing. The remote Club has, till date, also a MIDWEEK Report factors and elements of suicide, answered the queries of the village of Kewzing, at that organized a number of has enjoyed massive success student. An evaluation format time, did not have a single club exposure tours and trainings GANGTOK: When there is a among the students who feel it for the same queries was or organization that was outside the state for the local will, there is a way. is an easy instrument to reach distributed for the same committed to the welfare of the villagers. Overcoming financial the message to all levels of purpose among the students. society. Mr. Bhutia, along with With the help and constraints, the members of people. Also to address the a few members of the newly cooperation of these CARE [Concerned for In his address, Dr. CS gathering were MN Dahal, formed club [which was later farmers’ clubs and SHGs, Complete Life] recently took Sharma, Psychiatrist, Namchi Under Secretary, HRDD; registered in 1994], took great Kewzing Youth Club is their mission to save lives out Hospital, who was the resource Ongdup Lepcha, general of the confines of the capital person for disease control, secretary, CARE; Tika Gurung, MIDWEEK CLASSIFIEDS and to the districts. After talked about various reasons of a renowned social figure of successfully holding awareness mental ailments, depression Jorethang and also a member Midweek announces a section for camps on ‘probable prevention and its negative and sometimes of Purba Mazigoan Sudhar CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS. of suicide’ in various schools fatal consequences in a very Samaj; and S Khatri, principal, LOST / FOUND / WANTED / FOR SALE in Gangtok, CARE held a interactive manner. The Jorethang Senior Secondary TO-LET / JOBS / VACANCIES similar programme at for ONE COMPLETE WEEK process of globalisation and a School, who extended his Jorethang Senior Secondary comes at only Rs. 100 transition in life style of gratitude toward CARE for (WORD LIMIT 50) School in South Sikkim on 14 Sikkim, he said, played a major coming forward and organising September. role in depression among the such awareness camps in Under the programme, youths, which led them to end various schools. SIKKIM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY which has ‘Cheerful and their own lives. He also The entire awareness A State Government University incorporated under the State Legislative Act IX of 1995 Complete Living’ as its theme, informed the gathering about programme was facilitated by Recognised by UGC, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences Distance Education Wing the organisation presented a various belts of Sikkim where Dr. Solomit Lepcha, MO I/C, radio-play before the school suicide rates had gone up and Jorethang Hospital, and ADMISSION NOTICE FOR AUGUST 2006 children, staff, local gentries dwelt on how timely Combined Christian Youth BCA, MBA, B.Sc IT, MCA, MBA, M. Sc. IT and local NGOs, where intervention and help could Fellowship, Jorethang, and metaphors of fear, doubt, DIT PGDIT PGDCA save lives. sponsored by Yeti Construction Short term courses in Computer, Computer Hardware Courses, Spoken English & worries and discouragement Later during the interaction Limited, Purba Mazigoan Personality Development were dramatically presented by session, a panel comprising of Sudhar Samaj, Variety Fast LC No: 1760 members of Christian Student Dr. CS Sharma, TN Sharma Food Corner, Jorethang and SMART ACADEMY Fellowship of Sikkim. This [Rt. Educationist] and Norzang Darjeeling Store, Adventure Bangar Building, Deorali, Gangtok. Phone: 03592 281043 / 280313 radio-play, which depicts the Sandhyang [Rt. Educationist] Tours and Travels, Gangtok. 141414 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 HISTORY Back to Shangri-La

Open Secrets - India’s Intelligence teacher Bhandari who had the courage of conviction unveiled, is the story of an intelligence to oppose the Indian takeover of Sikkim. operator, who worked for 30 years in the Narbahadur Khatiwada and his band of fiery youth country’s prime intelligence agency. MALOY had helped Kazi Lhendup in mobilizing the much KRISHNA DHAR brings out stories of blatant needed Nepali support to his movement. Young Nepali and brutal misuse of the Indian intelligence, leaders like Khatiwada and NK Subedi had security and investigative agencies by the wholeheartedly supported Kazi out of expectation that ruling establishment. In the book Dhar talks in a constitutional monarchy of the Nepalis would get about the manipulated and rigged a better deal and be treated as equal to the Bhutias and referendum conducted in Sikkim in favour of Lepchas. Khatiwada’s youth brigade had successfully opposed the pro Chogyal forces represented by India. He says, “Barring a handful of Narbahadur Bhandari and others. Even Ram Chandra collaborators most Sikkimese had no illusion Poudyal, another Nepali youth leader, and a minister that the referendum was manipulated and in Kazi’s cabinet, did not measure up to the popularity rigged. It indeed was. It is presumed that the of Khatiwada. But the Kazini’s milk of human kindness true history of the ‘merger’ of Sikkim would dried up after Khatiwada started questioning the be chronicled by a non-partisan historian in propriety of outright merger of Sikkim with India. He due course of time.” Speaking to MIDWEEK, preferred a loose tie with the big neighbour and he confessed “I could not afford to be that constitutional monarchy. Kazi Lhendup too had not brutal in writing the Truth, though I wanted to. bargained for total merger, but he was outwitted by I was afraid of kicking up too much dust. Dust, Delhi. Kazi was not undiplomatically curt to the youth as you know, has a unique quality. These leader. But Kazini’s options varied between extremes. After being lodged at the Mintokgang she discovered particles can bury civilizations.” that Khatiwada had become an agent of the Chogyal Excerpts from his chapter Back to Shangri-La and Inside the Kalachakra and his close friend Mohan Gurung of Rhenock had developed Communist links. The Police Commissioner he IB unit in Gangtok was endowed with the took Kazini’s orders facility of a full-fledged and well-equipped The Kazini’s milk of human kindness dried up after rather seriously and Tmedical dispensary and regular doctor. This outfit started haunting was primarily used for the staff members of the border Narbahadur

checkposts and those of the Sonam Gyatso Khatiwada started questioning the propriety of Khatiwada. C

M Mountaineering Institute, IB’s in house Orders for me from Y K mountaineering school that trained all the new entrants [ outright merger of Sikkim with India. [ Delhi were very clear. in the skill of climbing and surviving in the remotest They wanted me to win border checkposts. I’d diverted, with permission of to respect the voices of political dissent and I refused over the turbulent youth leader and bring him back to the IB, some medical facilities to some of the Chogyal to fall in line with the police commissioner to book the proximity of Kazi. His mischief potential could not loyalists and some of them were even supplied with NB Bhandari under the defence of India Rules [DIR] be allowed to whip up Nepali sentiment and destabilize daily kitchen needs from the ration items meant for and the maintenance of Internal Security Act [MISA]. the Kazi government. Besides the Nepali youth the checkposts. Bhandari later managed to ride on the crest of the Khatiwada had made inroads into the Sangha One of the most important beneficiaries was Nar anti-India feelings and the failings of the government constituency that gave him added strength. His strategy Bahadur Bhandari, who had suffered most while of Kazi Lhendup Dorji and grab political power. I am of uniting the Nepalis and the Bhutias against Delhi’s defending the Chogyal and opposing the Indian not here to sit on judgement on the intrinsic honesty winning horse Kazi should be frustrated. These sponsored moves to ‘annex’ the small kingdom. He of Bhandari and follow the tails of the CBI to unearth assessments acquired new dimensions after Narbahadur lived on the meager income of his wife and I took the mountain of black money that he allegedly Khatiwada initiated a process of challenging some of advantage of supporting him with his daily needs and managed to pile up. Bhandari did nothing new. The the actions of the governor. medical Kazi and his legislators were described by the facilities. He was common people as ‘desh bechoa’ and Alibaba and 31 not a paid agent, I discovered that Bhandari was not a secessionist and thieves. The latter allusion was directed at the elected but he did not representatives to the Sikkim Assembly, who behaved decline to he did not want to fight back for the Chogyal. He too less responsibly than wayside minor thieves. They were associate with used to give stamps of approval to all major decisions me. I discovered understood the realities of the situation and bided his formulated by the Governor and implemented by Kazi’s that Bhandari[ [ cabinet. They were a frustrated lot. With the merger was not a time to build up mass base. they had lost their relevance and were denied the crumbs secessionist and they received from the agents of Delhi. They had to he did not want to fight back for the Chogyal. He too political breed in India enjoys almost constitutional depend on the mercies of Kazi and Kazini and the fringe understood the realities of the situation and bided his protection in their acts of plundering the national loots that came their way. The Governor and his men time to build up mass base. I did not see any harm in coffers and the pockets of the poor. He simply failed to measure the degree of frustration of these his open and democratic political activities, though followed the illustrious footsteps of his senior partners elected people. The village folks hated them and the some of his speeches were directed against the ‘desh in Delhi and elsewhere in India. integrated socio-political forces of Sikkim had bechoas’ and ‘corrupt deputationist officers from Bhandari is not a lone thug. He is good company. abandoned them. All was not hunky-dory with the Kazi India’. Having grown up in democratic India I learnt However, I cherish the memory of the honest school government. There were serious charges of corruption against some of the ministers. The merger of Sikkim, I argued, should not wipe out the Sikkimese identity of its political forces. The Indian states are states within the State and enjoyed their distinct political character, linguistic and ethnic identity. Kazi’s merger with the Congress would cast deeper shadows on his personal integrity and his capability to uphold Sikkim’s uniqueness. The fear ADVERTISING / PRINTING / PUBLISHING / DESIGN / EVENT MANAGEMENT of ‘Indian influx’ inside Sikkim was stalking the minds CONTACT: 98320 31929 EMAIL: [email protected] of the hill state. [Excerpted with permission] CULTURE 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 151515 pervade the gloom. I can imagine my grandfather sitting at that desk, my Yap Tse Ten Tashi speaking into the telephone in his father’s association with the IPR office at the Old Private Secretariat. Department is too strong for any other Circa 1930’s. Private collection. association to supersede it. It always helps to get one’s physical bearings right, and my grandfather’s life and times remain an ongoing obsession, with my file on him growing fatter and fatter. Craning my neck, I make a startling discovery. For a long time, I have personally wondered what happened to all the Pang Lhabsol costumes and swords and shields after the last religious dances at Tsuklakhang. This was sometime back in the early eighties. Was it 1982? Inside the office, above the motley collection of things bundled up in old sheets, I discern a bamboo pole strung across the breadth of the room, weighed down by the Pangtoed helmets. All fifteen of them, including the special ones of the ‘Champon’ and ‘Chamjug’ are intact, though the brocade banners are but naturally faded. Just the sight of the helmets brings Going, going, gone alive memories of another day, of the proud Pangtoed warriors shouting, ‘Ki- hu-hu’ as they performed the mystical TENZIN C. TASHI It is a sluggish day, with no breeze Chogyal was Sir Tashi Namgyal, 15 steps. Will we ever see them swirling even. But the winds of change are very years into his reign. His Private with sword and shield in their made three trips to Tsuklakhang much in evidence, tearing hard at the Secretary was my paternal grandfather, traditional venue, I wonder. The inside of one month for various entire Tsuklakhang complex. The old Yap Tse Ten Tashi, of the Rhenock logistics seem a bit daunting with the Ireasons. I wanted to work on a building that used to house the Pang Dhakarpa family which provided Drashags carving up a lot of available feature on the royal chapel, now the Lhabsol costumes is razed, in its place several generations of Ministers to space and everybody now so self Tsuklakhang Dratsangs and I wanted to stand two new Drashags, monks Sikkim. And this was where he worked, important I can’t imagine them being see how much havoc time and altered quarters, two storied, very utilitarian, I think excitedly. I really need to get a

happy standing to watch the K circumstances had wreaked on the bright yellow and maroon facades fix on the physical remnants of the past performances. Do people really care one Y M Tsuklakhang enshrined in my memory. I contrasting sharply with the faded hues to help me better understand the family way or the other? C also wanted to check out a particular of the Yabring opposite the portal of the history and fill in other gaps. The second time I make a trip to structure in the Tsuklakhang complex that royal chapel. Interestingly, my own father also served Tsuklakhang, to visit Khentse I had seen several times before but had Each Drashag houses about 60 as Deputy Secretary to Chogyal PT Sangyum, I wander over to have another just connected with a special meaning. young monks. Any young monk from Namgyal in the kingdom’s twilight years. peek at the historical treasures. I am Thus I found myself in front of the any monastery in Sikkim is eligible for He also occupied this selfsame office. sorely disappointed that everything has old building bearing the now defunct admission here. And there are plenty of The door locked, the only alternative been cleared out. The empty room identification number, W-III/ 436(2). them here already, kicking a football open to me is to peer through the grills magnifies and echoes my Local people visiting the chapel to make around on the lawn beyond. The young that frame the window. It’s quite dark disappointment. The labourers working their ‘koras’ or rounds will recollect monks, our Drachungs, for all their inside and my eyes, getting gradually on a Drashag stop their work mid stroke seeing a few stray CRPF personnel religious vocation, are still young boys acclimatized to the darkness take in the trying hard to see what it is about the there not so long ago. To the casual like any other and football is a good way general somnambulant air within right old building that is so fascinating. observer, the structure’s wooden cum to let off energy. to the archaic wiring with old naked 7 September, Pang Lhabsol sees me stone architecture is nothing Below the Old Private Secretariat is bulb. It’s obvious no tubelight or CFL shepherd two little kho clad boys past spectacular. But it is a piece of history, its more familiar successor, the New ever made an entry here. the newly erected gate near the a relic from the past, a piece of the Private Secretariat. From below, this In the far corner, it’s an eerie scene Tashiling gate and up to Tsuklakhang. history of Sikkim and a piece of my own structure seems almost to grow out of that greets my eager eyes. There’s a We climb up the bend to be greeted by family history. the wall and many tourists stop to form table near the window, with its chair a mound of rubble where the Old Private Yes, I’m talking about the Old their own conjectures about what it and a cushion and another chair close Secretariat was standing not so long Private Secretariat of the Chogyal of could possibly house. by. The two chairs are at odd angles, ago. It was knocked down to pave way Sikkim. The inscription on the side of A true power triangle, a cluster of as if the owner of the desk and his for more Drashags! A historical building the building reads 1931. An old family Secretariats, I think, as I look out at visitor had just got up to say their now reduced to a heap of mangled friend, late Aunty Vicky, the daughter Tashiling, the present Secretariat of the goodbyes. There’s a black bag perched remains, so much like our culture itself. of David Macdonald, of the Himalayan Government of Sikkim, all cemented on the chair and a plastic water jug and I wish I’d flouted the ‘No photography’ Hotel in Kalimpong, once told me repairs marring its façade. It looks like two mugs on the desk, all of which is rules and clicked away to my heart’s anything above 75 years of age is a war veteran nursing his battle scars, I covered in layers and years of dust. content while it still stood, old, decrepit considered an antique. This building is think inconsequentially. Time hangs heavy, the only motion is maybe, but still standing. exactly 75 yrs old when I seek to satisfy What piques my interest is the Old that of motes dancing in the few stray I think only the pigeons understand my curiosity that August morning. Private Secretariat. 1931. The then sunbeams that have managed to that they are the only constant there.

call: 9733091503 or email: [email protected] 161616 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP

being bitten and contracting Rabies, or having to consider a protracted and expensive course of post-exposure Rabies vaccinations. An additional factor driving the killing of dogs is the high incidence of transmission of the disease from dogs to livestock, with subsequent mortalities in farm animals,” he says. In accordance with WHO recommendations, VetCharity is directing its efforts at implementing a carefully coordinated humane programme of anti-Rabies vaccination, SARAH animal birth control and health-care clinics, and clinical training of local veterinary and para-veterinary personnel; implementation of wildlife comes to the conservation measures and public education campaigns. A pilot project was carried on for four months in 2005. This comprised of Dr. Ian Douglas, president of VetCharity aid of strays desexing surgeries, training local surgical staff and organising anti-Rabies SARIKAH ATREYA However, there is hope now. published with respect to humans, vaccination camps in Gangtok and Through the consistent efforts of local limited statistical information is various regional centres. During this GANGTOK: “A nation and its moral NGOs and young, dedicated available regarding disease incidence in period, 731 street-dogs were surgically progress can be judged by how it treats veterinarians, stray sterilised and 1,131 dogs vaccinated animals,” said the Mahatma. Gandhiji’s dogs are now seeing against Rabies. The SARAH project is observations ring true even today. Stray better days, thanks to funded through a match grants scheme animals are today one of India’s biggest Sikkim Anti-Rabies of the State Government. VetCharity has problems, with the Western world often and Animal Health set up its clinic just next to the Veterinary portraying India as a country with cows Programme (SARAH), Hospital here with a fully equipped roaming on the streets. And stray dogs a project run by surgical unit and post-operation recovery infesting each gully, each neighbourhood. VetCharity, an and observations shelters. Here in Sikkim, particularly in Australian-based, not- With the state-wide project now being implemented, teams of volunteer C Gangtok, the presence of stray dogs is for-profit organisation, M veterinarians and veterinary nurses

Y taken for granted. And they are in established by K hundreds. They are the loathed lot, veterinary work in collaboration with local homeless and despised by a society that professionals to volunteers and the Veterinary keeps their more fortunate cousins as promote the inception Department. Since June this year, about “pets”. They are everywhere- in the of animal-welfare 1700 stray dogs have been desexed and streets, underneath a parked vehicle, in programmes in vaccinated and returned back to their neighbourhoods where they came from. the neighbourhood, in dark, dingy corners, developing countries of Meet Sauraj Pradhan and his best buddy Nikki, living off the garbage bins and dumps and the Asia-Pacific region, a beautiful light brown stray mongrel who is Neighbourhoods with the most stray the occasional generosity of you and me, and to co-ordinate the friendly, agile and devoted to his master. This population are identified and these are throwing them stale leftovers. veterinary volunteers friendship is very new, just a month old, but one caught using special nets. “The strays Ours is a society that generally sees working in such that speaks of unconditional love and loyalty. when they come here are usually skinny, them as a “menace and a nuisance”. They projects. Had it not been for Sauraj, Nikki would probably diseased and unhappy. We ensure that are in the news only when a rapid dog starts In conjunction with have died a painful death on the streets. they are well-fed twice a day and also to traumatize a certain neighbourhood and the Government of Sauraj, a Class IV student of Baha’i School, treated for diseases while they are here,” dog bites are reported. The Animal Sikkim and major found Nikki in a badly injured state on the road says Dr. Douglas. Husbandry and Veterinary Services sponsor, the Brigitte near his house about a month ago. One of her After the surgery, the dogs are fitted Department then responds to the demand Bardot Foundation, hind legs was badly broken, possibly by a with a yellow plastic collar with of the hour and orders mass culling of stray VetCharity has speeding car and she was left to die. Sauraj identification number and date of dogs. Until recently, the local Police, along established a State- brought her to the vets at SARAH center, who surgery. One can also notice the small with the Veterinary Officers from the State wide anti-Rabies and fixed her leg and treated her till recovery. Soon, notch cut on one ear that they have. Veterinary Hospital would shoot the dogs. animal health Sauraj developed a bond with Nikki and when However, it has been noticed that some Earlier, it used to be the most barbaric programme, believed she was well enough to leave the center, Sauraj people remove the collars when the dogs method of killing strays - noose them with to be the first volunteered to adopt her. Today, Nikki is slowly are back in the streets. “We request the local aluminium wires and strangle them to Government- regaining the use of her leg and has found a people not to remove the collars as it helps death. sanctioned initiative to loving home with Sauraj’s family, while this little us to track the dogs as well as maintain The department doesn’t seem to have adopt a state-wide and boy with a golden heart now has a best friend our records,” Dr. Douglas pleads. any other method to control the stray sustainable approach to in Nikki. The project will soon move to You can also adopt a stray dog. Not only are canine population. Killing is no longer address these serious Namchi, the South District they more devoted and dedicated to their an option because of the Prevention of health issues. Through headquarters, where the stray dog families, they are actually sturdier, healthier as Cruelty to Animals Act. Sterilization, SARAH, stray dogs are population is a major concern. well as being excellent watch dogs. They are or spraying the strays to control their sterilized and The SARAH project not only needs also not so high on maintenance as pedigrees. vaccinated before the moral support of the public but also population and vaccination is not on the Anyone interested in adopting a stray can funds to run the unit. Donations can be list of the Department. being sent back to their contact the SARAH center for more details. Till recently, Sikkim could not boast neighbourhood. And made to the programme, in the form of of a NGO or an animal’s rights SARAH has been a cash or kind. Rice, meat and yellow organization working for the cause of resounding success. domesticated animals and street dogs, collars can be donated as well. these stray dogs. There were no animal According to Dr. Ian Douglas, and there is an extreme paucity of data For details contact: Dr Ian Douglas shelters or animal welfare organizations president VetCharity, and Director regarding the populations of Rabies President VetCharity or individuals involved in care, rescue Sikkim Project, the magnitude of the prevalence in feral canids and other Director Sikkim Project and rehabilitation of stray animals in the problem of stray dogs here in Gangtok non-domesticated carnivores, including Email: sikkimproject@ vetcharity.org State. And adopting the strays is is huge. “Rabies is endemic to Sikkim. the jackal and the fox, which act as Phone: 97331 50056 www.vetcharity.org definitely not a trend here. Although some useful figures have been Rabies reservoirs. There is the dread of BUSINESS 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 171717 Pharma companies eye Sikkim Last week Sun Pharmaceuticals announced its from the nearest railhead and intention of investing upto Rs. 100 crore in Sikkim for 100 % subsidies in insurance. the current fiscal year, with a new plant that would cost Power is also provided at upto Rs. 50 crore. The Sikkim unit will have a capacity subsidized rate of Rs. 3 per unit and each of these pharma to produce 300 crore tablets and capsules per annum, companies require atleast 2 which will be 20% increase over its existing capacity. megawatt of power. These are PEMA L SHANGDERPA spoke to RISHI KUMAR MITTAL, MD some of the benefits. Mount Distilleries and Spokesperson, Confederation of What is your take on the Industries, Sikkim about the interest shown by pharma new industrial policy and its companies in Sikkim. Mittal, who is liasioning Sun extension? Pharma operations in Sikkim has played an We have been informed instrumental role by intervening and lobbying to bring that at the recent meet of the in other pharma giants to Sikkim. Commerce and industries ministers meet at Guawahati, Can you tell us about Sun lead. Cadila-Zydus is starting investments these companies low temperature for which which was attended by our pharmaceuticals interest in a unit here at Bardang, Alchem are willing to invest? Sikkim is ideal. Despite these Hon’ble Minister R. B. Subba Sikkim? Laboratories, one of the largest In the initial phase the total units being fully air they had decided to approach Sun Pharmaceuticals is the injection manufacturing investments could be to the conditioned it pays in the long the union government for sixth largest drug companies in the country will tune of 500 crores. Most of the run since the operating costs extension of the North East pharmaceutical company in the start one such unit at Kumrek, companies are investing comes down. Then there is the Industrial Policy which is a country. They became Of course Godrej is starting between Rs. 50 to 100 crores big market of the north east welcome move. It would interested in Sikkim because of with a hair dye unit at for the units to manufacture zone to be captured since benefit if the policy was various factors which includes Mamring, IndChime Health medicines both tablets, manufacturing and catering to extended with more incentives climatic conditions and the specialists are the others who capsules, injections. the needs from Sikkim would since it expires in March 2007. special incentives the state has have decided to start their units. What about the be advantageous both in terms The central excise benefits to offer. Initially it will invest There were talks of more infrastructure? of economics and logistics. was withdrawn in 2004 while around Rs. 50 crores and the such companies coming… An interesting aspect is that Peace and security and lack of Uttaranchal and Himachal unit at Setipool will be Yes, there are several in the these companies are taking labour unrest are the other have been granted further operational by February 2007. pipeline who are willing to land on long term deals on their added attractions. Exports extension of the policy and Sun Pharma has sparked invest Cipla, Ranbaxy, own. Something that was an through Nathula is also the special incentives for another off a chain reaction…. Nicolas-Piramal and Pune unlikely in the past without any chief reason with the list of three years. We in Sikkim K

Yes, Sikkim has now based Emcure are some of intervention by the state items for trade to China to be have been left out. We have Y become polarized as the centre M them interested to come. There government. They are also upgraded to include medicines. also been informed that the C for pharma companies. It has is a strong lobby within the compensating well for the land. What are the subsidies on Hon’ble Chief minister gained momentum as the pharma companies and it is this What attracts these offer from the state recently took up the matter of newest destination for pharma that has set off the chain companies? government? the extension of the new companies to start operations reaction. Foremost it is the climatic The state government has a industrial policy with Prime here and Sun pharma was in the What is the total conditions. The units require large number of benefits to Minister Man Mohan Singh offer under the new industrial in his last tour of New Delhi. policy. There is investment The CM was verbally assured subsidies upto Rs. 30 lakhs, 90 of a positive signal in the No takers yet for SBI exit percent transport subsidies matter by the PM.

option scheme in Sikkim JOBS JOBS JOBS Required trainee reporters where the bank was barred total salary for the remaining for MIDWEEK. Interested a MIDWEEK Report candidates call from filling up vacancies. tenure of service, subject to a 320169 or email GANGTOK: The State Bank “The scheme is towards maximum of 36 months. Under [email protected] of India’s offer of an exit option increasing productivity of the VRS, employees were paid two HEALTH THERAPY scheme [EOS] to its staff has organisation by hiring fresh months’ salary for every year FOR SALE Well trained Masseurs not yet found any takers in talent,” adds Mr. Bhutia of service or for every A Sony PD150 3CCD available for both men and Sikkim. SBI had recently Earlier in New Delhi, remaining year of service, camera in good condition. women. CONTACT: offered the EOS to its older top finance ministry whichever was less. Contact: 99332233032 9832054928 clerical staff so as to induct officials had said the The bank has also decided younger, better trained scheme could be extended to give the exiting employees WANTED manpower. Those above 50 to other banks based on the benefit of repaying housing A flat for sale in and years of age are eligible for the how it fares in SBI. loans after retirement. All other around Gangtok for scheme. According to PT The EOS says clerical staff outstanding dues to the bank residential purposes. Bhutia, Deputy Manager, SBI, who have not been promoted would, however, have to be CALL: 320169 Gangtok, the Scheme has been as officers to the junior paid or would be adjusted on offer from 1 September management grade scale-I after against ex-gratia. 2006 and will continue till four chances will be eligible for Employees availing of the March 2007. the scheme. All subordinate exit option can also take up The State Bank can fill the cadre employees will be assignments with any other vacancies caused by those eligible for the scheme. subsidiary, associate or joint opting for the scheme unlike in Apart from the normal venture of SBI, subject to the case of those who had opted terminal dues, employees prior approval of the for the earlier voluntary opting for EOS will receive ex- competent authority, the SBI retirement scheme [VRS], gratia of 50 per cent of their circular adds. 181818 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 CAPITAL That’s IT! Leading the way in the web world SIBLAC holds condolence meeting for ‘Khandrola’

a MIDWEEK Report GANGTOK: Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee held a condolence meeting here on 11 September to pay respect to and offer prayers for late Khandro Pema Dechen of Deorali Chorten who had passed away on 5 September. She was in her early eighties. Her funeral will be held on 26 September at Drakar Tashiding in West Sikkim which is considered the holiest of holy spots. Also lovingly known as ‘Khandola’, late Khandro Pema Dechen was revered as a Wisdom Dakini. She resided at the Do- drul Chorten at Deorali. During the condolence meeting, the SIBLAC members remembered the compassionate service and all the noble activities of Khandola during her six decade-long stay in Sikkim. Born in Tibet, she had accompanied her teacher Dudjum Rinpoche to Sikkim in 1947 after the latter was invited by the then Himalayan kingdom by Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal. After the death of her teacher in the 1960s, she chose to make Sikkim her home and continued propagating the teachings of Dharma. SIBLAC, during its meet, called upon all the Dharma practitioners to seek inspiration from the attainment of the perfect state of Nirvana by late Khandro Pema Dechen and appealed to all its volunteers to remain present during the final cremation. The funeral procession will be taken out on 25 September from What we love about the official Gangtok and her physical remains will be cremated at Tashiding website of the Government of Sikkim the next day. fter deposing their own ‘on t’ ‘alson’. Also, the entire Tibetology was reverted back king, the Government of introduction to the various to its former name of Namgyal ASikkim murders the places is very insipid and Institute of Tibetology by the Free eye camp at CRH Queen’s English. How else do singularly uninteresting. CM on the occasion of the

C awarded the Ramon

M you explain the blatantly The spelling of our sacred inauguration of the Chogyal a MIDWEEK Report

Y incorrect punctuation of mountain as ‘Kanchandzonga’ Palden Thondup Namgyal Magsaysay Award for K Advertisement’s, Notice’s & takes the cake, conforming Memorial Park. GANGTOK: On Sunday, 24 International Understanding Notification’s and the like neither to the An error that can claim not to September, Dr. Sanduk Ruit, a this year for his efforts in liberally sprinkled all over the ‘Khangchendzonga’ preferred be so is ‘Sri’ Tashi Namgyal, renowned eye surgeon from developing safe, effective and site. Someone should put up by the people of Sikkim or we could have sworn his Kathmandu, will conduct economical procedures for notification’s to use correct even the more Pan Indian actual title was ‘Sir’ Tashi surgery on people with cataract surgery. Besides grammar. version, ‘Kanchenjunga’. Talk Namgyal. cataracts here at Central performing more than 40,000 In the Employment News, a of sitting on the fence! (Due to constraints of time, we Referral Hospital, Tadong. The eye surgeries since 1988, he has particular employment notice While IPR seems to be the could not do a microscopic free eye camp is being also trained surgeons in India, China, Nepal, North Korea and for Mechanical AE’s is signed only one sweating it out to get scrutiny of the site. Our organised by the Dharma Vietnam. by a Mrs. Joint Secretary. the correct copy in print, the intention is not to cause Chakra Center, Rumtek, in association with the Jamgong For the cataract surgery, Dr. Wow, GoS, talk of being website links are themselves concerned Department Kongtrul Centre, Kalimpong. Ruit will be accompanied by gender sensitive! in need of an update. We love officials apoplexy but to A day prior to the Dr. Jeff Tarbin from America The ‘Places of Interest’ is that the IT Department seems ensure that the Google worthy operations, a free eye screening and a team of four more shoddily edited. Sample some unaware still that the Sikkim GoS website is the best that it camp will be held at the doctors. of these inexplicable words- Research Institute of can be.) hospital for patients from Since the project is meant to Gangtok, Ranipul, Pakyong, benefit the weaker section of continued from page 11 Burtuk, Chandmari, JN Road the society, the Dharma Chakra and surrounding areas from 8 Center will also make RED ALERT in the capital AM onwards. necessary arrangements for the Dr. Ruit is the medical transportation of identified current incumbent! The other withdraw some moolah but the held by staffers from the director of Tilganga Eye Centre patients to CRH and back, their is a saucy tidbit that you can heat and dust of the capital city channel. And I’ll leave you to in Kathmandu and was stay and medication. access from a blog site if you got to her and before you could figure out why this never came look long and hard enough. But say News, the two began to light…until now that is. for those who don’t want to go exploring the art of Kama Sutra So this my dear friends is Holy Cross to celebrate 150 through that, it pertains to our in confined spaces! Needless to Dilli and its TV well known now number 2 say, when the poor manager channels…each better than the years of their Congregation English News channel vying to came in the next day, he got the other. So while expressing be number 1 and its star female shock of his life on viewing the regret for being unable to GANGTOK: The Holy Cross Minister Menlom Lepcha. correspondent who has sexual aerobics graphically provide the between the lines School, Tadong, will be The Congregation of Holy reported to us from so many reported on tape. Of course the stuff. I’ll leave you intelligent celebrating its Sequi Centennial Cross is a Roman Catholic fronts. Well though a trifle late, poor guy had no option but to folks to decide what’s true and Jubilee [150 years] of the Holy congregation of priests and it’s her slip that’s showing dutifully package it and post what’s not. In the Cross Congregation here at the brothers founded in 1837 by upfront now. The cute lass went haste courier it to the owner of meantime…happy viewing. school auditorium on 21 the Venerable Father Basil to an unmanned ATM with her the channel as more than half Yours truly, September. Anthony-Marie Moreau in Le boyfriend ostensibly to the accounts at that ATM were Maddy Chief Minister Pawan Mans, France. Today, there are Chamling will be the chief 1,670 Holy Cross priests and guest of the occasion while brothers who live and work in send your feedback to [email protected] present as the guest of honour 15 countries, including India, will be PHE & Transport on four continents. BOOKS/LITERATURE 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 191919 Code Name: God - teenage years by Gandhian four cousins end up spending The Spiritual Odyssey ideals during India’s their Diwali holiday in Kaka’s of a Man of Science independence struggle and farm in a village. Village life is by MANI BHAUMIK goes on to describe how fun, especially with their broken- This book has been exquisitely excellence in the mathematical New Arrivals At JAINCO down ancestral mansion to written. Beginning as a sciences, led him across caste explore. Gradually the children combination of a spiritual barriers from that very village realize there is something sinister autobiography and a rags-to- over to laser research at a afoot. Who has been digging riches story, it goes on to university in the USA, finally away in the mansion in the dead describe a world view of the ending in the posh environs of of night? Did their ancestor universe that combines some of Bel Air and its glitterati. really bury his life’s savings in the most esoteric ideas of One topic, conspicuous by their sprawling ancestral home modern theoretical high energy its absence, in the world view before joining the 1857 uprising, physics and medicinal sciences presented in the book is chaos or is it just a legend? And, if the with equally esoteric concepts and fractals. Perhaps, in a later treasure’s still there, will they get in Eastern philosophy [both edition... All in all, a book that to it before the crooks do? Chinese and Indian], blending would grace any bookshelf, In the last novel, it’s Dinu, the observer and the observed and a stirring testimony of a life Minu and Polly’s turn to visit together in a precise and logical lived to its depths. Bombay and spend the summer whole that seeks to quench the with Ravi. There they make emotional thirsting of many Devil’s Garden: Tales 01. Wild Wind - Taslima Nasreen new friends, one of whom seekers on the path of hard core of Pappudom 02. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho claims to have seen the face of science who yearn to see the by SHREEKUMAR 03. Devil’s Garden - Shreekumar Verma a bank robber. Soon after, a ‘big picture’. VARMA 04. One Night @ The Call Center - Chetan Bhagat spate of robberies break out all Throughout the narrative, The book features three over Bombay. Is it the same 05. Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat one gets the impression of the thrilling adventures featuring gang at work? Then their friend 06. Footprints in the Himalaya - Sonam B. Wangyal author as both a bystander as the indomitable cousins Dinu, is kidnapped and the four 07. Code Name: God - Mani Bhaumik well as one who experiences Minu, Polly and Ravi. When children find themselves in the 08. 3 Novels - Shashi Deshpande fully the pathway life leads Ravi comes from Bombay to midst of a desperate chase . . . 09. Weight Loss - Upamanyu Chaterjee him. It begins with the unlikely stay with his three cousins for Thrilling, funny, and full of extremes of a barefoot village the summer holidays, little memorable characters, these boy growing up in rural does he realize this is the In the first story a string of Dhondu who seems to hate the three novels, first published in Bengal, a boy, touched by beginning of a series of audacious robberies occur in children, or is he covering up the 1970s, are sure to captivate extreme deprivation who is exciting events that will test their usually quiet town. Who for someone else? a whole new generation of deeply influenced during his their intelligence and luck. is the thief? Is it the sinister In The Hidden Treasure, the readers.

come to think of it, but it Maybe that blogger was right.

sounds a little less wrinkled. Half-pants and chappals K Y

But our double standards sound boring, ugly and uncool. M C come to the fore whenever we And no person in his right see a possible piece of art or ‘fashion-conscious’ mind dyes photograph featuring an old, his/her hair anymore. Hair dye wrinkly face. In such arty-farty is for grandma and half-pants instances, the face is not [or hap-pen] for our country marred by wrinkles but marked cousins. Cool cats like us wear by ‘character’ that ‘comes with shorts and flip-flops and colour age’. And while we spend a our hair. small fortune to get rid of Fashion and looks wrinkles on our faces, we departments are not the only pretend to find pleasure in places where euphemisms drooling over the very wrinkles thrive. It even finds its way to on someone else’s face. our mundane everyday life. SERAH BASNET is our tendency to resort to strip cat. Want to lose a female Sadistic streak? Like for instance, irregular euphemisms in our feeble friend? Try telling her she’s Petite. Another word that power supply is labeled as hat title up there is lifted attempt to make an offensive become fat. And if someone makes me laugh. Though many ‘temporary inconvenience due right off a dictionary of or awkward situation less asks you “Do I look fat?” the opt to use this word to describe to repair or upgradation T euphemisms by RW offensive or awkward. Besides, correct answer always is a themselves, the fact remains works’. Ditto with our present Holder I had picked up from I happen to really like that title. straight-faced “No!” If honesty that using an exotic sounding state of internet service, or lack Raman’s private little So, heading straight to the is still your best policy [even in French word does not make thereof. What about walking/ kingdom, a.k.a. Rachna crux of the matter, let me ask this age!], you can still get away one ‘not short’. ‘Oriental’ is driving on bad, slosh covered Bookshop, sometime last year. you - have you been paying without completely lying with another word. Nobody uses the roads, which are in that In fact, it was the book title that attention to our politically a little help from an inoffensive word ‘Mongolian’ anymore. I condition due to ongoing had grabbed my attention in the correct conversations lately? substitute word - ‘healthy’. The tried using that word on my governmental construction first place, simply because it We no longer get straight to the slightly bolder ones can try blog a couple of months ago works? Well, that’s another sounded more of a goat than a point. We take a roundabout, ‘you’ve put on a little bit of and was reprimanded by a ‘temporary inconvenience’ we sheep. While most ‘How to…’ sugarcoat our lame weight’, but do it at your own fellow blogger. Mongolian lesser mortals have to suffer in paperbacks normally offer to conversations with unhealthy risk. Reaction to this statement sounds ugly, uncool, I’m told. the larger interest of the society. give us the lowdown on how doses of artificial sweeteners varies from person to person. Oriental, on the other hand, Playing right now in my to do what we mean to do, and just leave a hint of what Wrinkles. Another suggests something exotic. Winamp is Depeche Mode’s here was this mean fat we actually mean. The end endangered word. In a civilised Huh? Okay, let me try this. Enjoy The Silence. “Words are hardbound that promised to result: a large number of words, conversation, you don’t bring Petite oriental lady. Hmm… very unnecessary…” I guess help you unlearn whatever which get the message right out that word. Ever. Even the Short Mongoloid. Eww… that’s a cue for me to stop. you’ve learnt so far. across, are jostling to get cosmetic companies have But am I going to wax themselves enrolled in the list learnt from their mistakes. Send in your feedback, queries and mail to eloquent over this dictionary I of endangered vocabulary. Anti-wrinkle creams are no [email protected] hardly use? No. So why did I Take for instance the word longer packaged in that name. or POST IT TO waste an entire paragraph ‘fat’. It is an inoffensive word They have now been Midweek, Near Hotel Yatung talking about it? That’s because as long as it is strictly uttered in rechristened ‘anti-aging’ Nam Nang, Gangtok - 737101 the subject matter of this piece context of Garfield, the comic cream. It’s the same thing, 202020 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 YOUTH

Gangtok’s Very Own Bandana Bandits The funk is back! It's Wednesday, so maybe i'll try to predict and write about things that will be relevant in, say, 5 days. Ok...I predict that the BANDANA BANDITS will get bail, and I predict that Chundu will sing "PATIENCE", and that Real Monkeys in experiment laboratories will finally type 'BANANA'. AND in the long and shamefully grand tradition of restaurant owners trying to do music related things, such as sing. I did it for fun, not because I have any aspirations to become a master musician. I know for a fact that I couldn't sing my way out of a wet paper bag, which is fine with me. think that would be an is slow and melancholy, a sharp It’s definitely Flea at his best. I sometimes get annoyed when some of Gangtok's appropriate intro for contrast, at least in terms of Another bouncy track is Make Finest, do overtly dilletantish stuff, like singing. Why Stadium Arcadium, Red energy levels, to the next all out You Feel Better, a somewhat not leave the singing to the people who've spent their I Hot Chili Pepper’s ninth studio funk track Hump De Bump. sixties influenced pop tune. An lives studying to be musicians? And why don't they do really interesting things, like become Zen masters? offering. The unmistakable She’s Only 18 proves that energetic track, So Much I has Or genetic engineers. The world could certainly use a funk style that has become even though on the wrong side Frusciante going absolutely few more zen masters and genetic engineers. Don't RHCP’s trademark [which, by of 40, Kiedis can still sing bonkers, and with good results. you agree? the way, was pretty much about undies, a la Blood Sugar Another not-to-be-missed Can you tell that it's late and that I'm rambling? missing in their 2002 By The Sex Magik days, and make it number is Storm In A Teacup, Hhmm..I just tried on my fancy new SUIT. It might Way] is gloriously back in this sound good. Torture Me starts a full frontal funk attack. Fun be a shameful thing to admit, but I do have a soft- double CD album. The CDs off with Flea’s solid bass line and catchy, it’s undeniably old spot in my heart for a nice suit. I normally don't pay named ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Mars’ and Kiedis sounds like he’s in school. attention to clothes, but a really nice suit(especially justify the arena-size album a frenzy here. Flea delivers Stadium Arcadium is a blue SUIT with gigantic Lapels. ha. ha) can be a title - it’s got 28 catchy ear- great bass line again in definitely not for those looking nice thing. So if you see me on the Streets OF Gangtok and I'm wearing a fancy suit, please be kind and candies, peppered with Especially In Michigan, for aggressive music and it understanding.... I was impressionable and I watched generous doses of funk. another great song on the requires a couple of listens too many movies when I was young and all of the The album kicks off with the album. The funk is put back on before you can appreciate it. cool guys wore nice suits....James Bond, Frank very catchy Dani California, the spotlight with Warlocks The feel is mellow throughout Sinatra,Al Pacino etc. Yup.. it is confirmed that George the first single off the album. while C’mon Girl is one of the the album; it’s some good

C Bush is the SPAWN OF SATAN!! It’s a song about the early death ditties with a catchy chorus. unpretentious music that gives M

Y of Dani California [the same Tell Me Baby, on Disk 2, is you the feeling of being free. K character from 2002’s By The an interesting super-catchy That description would sound Way], a small town girl who Pepperisque song that starts ironic if you remind yourself becomes a bank robber and funky and then goes melodic. that the band often This week, MIDWEEK lives a hard, fast and lonely life. Hard To Concentrate is a communicates ideas of presents cheat codes for... Before you are through wedding proposal set to music, confusion and uncertainty, savouring this one, the quartet written by Kiedis for bandmate even chaos! hits you with Snow [Hey Oh], Flea and his new wife. A slow The Verdict: It’s not a slow ditty with some great but interesting number that has RHCP’s best album but still it’s melody, and Charlie that has muted bass, layered guitars and damn good. Spend some guitarist John Frusciante hand drums doing a perfect quality time with this giant of lending singer Anthony Kiedis slow dance. an album. A good set of his falsetto harmonies and The first thing that you headphones recommended. simultaneous guitar solos. The notice about 21st Century is - WYLDE title track, Stadium Arcadium, Flea’s bouncing bass attack.

PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER CHEATS European Classic team Rockin’ Saturday Win the European Cup with England to unlock the Broke on a fine weekend evening? Why fikar when European Classic team. MIDWEEK is here! This week, we’ve got a rockin’ Holland Classic team list of VH1 programming for 23 September, Win the European Cup with Holland to unlock the guaranteed to leave you headbanging all night long. Holland Classic team. 6.00 PM - Behind the Music: Kid Rock Germany Classic team 8.00 PM - Behind the Music: Pantera Win the European Cup with Germany to unlock the 9.00 to 11.00 PM - 40 Freakiest Concert Moments Germany Classic team. [featuring Alice Cooper, Dave Navarro, Perry Farrel, Brazil Classic team Bob Dylan and others] 11.00 PM - The Story of Heavy Metal: Welcome to Win the American Cup with Brazil to unlock the Brazil My Nightmare [featuring Black Sabbath, Led Classic team. Zeppelin, Kiss, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Saxon] Argentina Classic team 12.00 AM - The Story of Heavy Metal: British Steel Win the American Cup with Argentina to unlock the [featuring Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Argentina Classic team. Van Halen] World All-Star team 1.00 AM - The Story of Heavy Metal: Looks That Kill Win the International Cup with any team to unlock the [featuring Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, World All-Star team. Warrant, Ratt, WASP, and More...] European All-Star team 2.00 AM - The Story of Heavy Metal: Seek & Destroy Win the International Cup with France to unlock the [featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Anthrax, Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson] European All-Star team. YOUTH 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 212121

oo-hoo! My boy ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA FINALE RECAP she makes sure to explain it’s Lukas Rossi won a ‘freedom song’, not an angry W the Supernova gig song. Don’t know about you and I’m doing a victory dance but I’ve a problem buying that. around the TV set. So For me that line “I could have underneath all those tattoos, killed you in your sleep” long hair and layers of definitely sounds angry. Oh, wrinkles, those three geezers she’s explaining it’s about still have some sense left in letting go of the bad and them to pick up the most moving on. Okay, now I get it. creative contestant to infuse If you’re pissed with your some much-needed freshness spouse, kill him/her. Instant in their music. All the freedom from ol’ grouchy! But Supernova songs unveiled so I’m still not impressed with her far are mediocre at best, the original. kind I wouldn’t even bother Magni’s the last to hit the Limewiring for free. Let’s hope stage with Deep Purple’s Hush. Lukas gets to have his creative He does a good job but still it’s inputs in the band’s album. not my favourite performance Now, on to the week’s from the Iceman. But then, performances and the grand with his original When the Time finale recap. Comes, the Icelandic madman The performance night on revs things up, but that is after the final week was more or less he - quite out of breath after his forgettable with Brooke Burke first song - momentarily forgets subjecting us to a recap of the the title of his own song! Now final four’s journey towards the his original is a rock song, and top, right from the season’s it’s actually becoming more opening. Yawn. Then we are appealing to me as time goes once again reminded by on, nevermind Tommy Lee Brooke and the Supernova ripping the song as boys that a few tour dates are ‘unmemorable’. For him, the already sold out; I guess only thing worth remembering creating a sense of urgency will is his days as Mr. Pamela work wonders for ticket sales. Anderson. Ryan Star - the king of all The next day on the two- things gimmicky - suddenly hour long finale show, after K materialises on stage. The fans another yawn-inducing recap Y M voted him for a final encore, of the season, Magni is the first C we’re told. He plays his to land in the bottom three, original Back of My Car. First followed by Toby and Lukas. time I heard it, I thought it was Magni scorches the stage with good. Second time it sounded Jimi Hendrix’s Fire, Toby okay. Third time was an [who looks the most nervous overkill. Zzzz... Anyway, post of all] continues his encore, he plugs his new album cheerleader act with Billy in the works, Dark Horse, and Idol’s White Wedding, and wins a Honda CRV and a Lukas promises Supernova Verizon Wireless LG he’ll reacquaint them with a Chocolate cell phone for being Bittersweet Symphony. the fan’s choice for the final Magni’s the first to get the axe. encore. He’s happy and he’s After another round of standing on top of that new car. performances by the remaining I’d be much happier if he were three, Toby gets the boot. Now under the tyres of that Honda. it’s down to Dilana and Lukas. Now get off that stage! Patrice After endless numbers of should really have been there commercial breaks and Brooke singing Radiohead’s My Iron Burke’s fake smiles, Tommy Lung. Now that was an encore- Lee gets up and says “Lukas, worthy performance! you are our boy!” Blue-eyed Aussie boy Toby I had predicted last week finally kick-starts the show Same old cheerleader act. I’m gimmicks but this Toronto Up next is Dilana with The it’d be a Toby versus Lukas with Karma Police. But it’s bored. And enough with EVS boy sure is fun to watch, his Police’s Roxanne, a song that contest, with Toby eventually mediocre vocals at best. Did already; writing it on back of rooster strut and all. had Chris Pierson - Dilana’s winning the gig; this, despite Dave Navarro just say that’s Magni’s head was a step too far While other contestants are one time bosom buddy - ousted even my mom telling me the the best Radiohead song? down the gimmick lane. content with playing their from the show earlier in the gig was up for grabs for Lukas. Somebody please whack that Any doubts I had about the originals the way they were season. She opens with an Well, to repeat an old cliché, dummy on the head or gag him Canadian Goth doll Lukas first composed, Lukas changes acappella and her voice sounds mom knows best and I happily with those fishnet stockings he were cleared on the things up and performs a good without all that grizzle. eat my words. The best man wears on his mitts. penultimate show as he took stripped down, acoustic She even has her remaining has won! Toby then has Magni join on Coldplay’s Fix You and version of his Headspin, three competitors join her to - SERAH BASNET him on guitars on his original showcased a voice that can be which, in my humble opinion, sing backup. Nice move but Throw It Away. Do we really just as sweet as it can be sounded better than last time. then again at one point, Lukas’ have to listen to the same gravelly when he lets it. Then Oh, I love this guy! Look, backup vocals clearly cut originals again? I found this he takes a risk of turning the there’s Paula Abdul in the through hers. Hah! Nice cover song catchy the first few times tune into a rock anthem. audience! Just back from her performance overall. but now I’ve started finding it Unlike Toby, he neither plays therapist’s couch and on her Before doing her original painful. Same old arrangement. to a crowd nor resorts to way to the bar, methinks. Supersoul [oh, I hate that title], 222222 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 BAZAAR

IN VOGUE remodeled and expanded and there’s a sale going on. and colours. That apart, there are some real slinky e thought profiling a shop with traditional The owner was quite paranoid about putting rates in nightdresses in vibrant colours from baby pink to Indian wear this week would make a nice print and not all the discount rates were tacked up passionate purple. All cotton night suits- pants and Wchange especially since Dasai is just around when we went there but we could glean that there are tops- in interesting prints will appeal to the more the corner and most women will be on the lookout discounts starting from 15% to about 30% off on sensible minded ladies. for new clothes. sarees, nightwear and salwar suits.

This shop’s been around for some time, a perfect Rows and rows of intricate sarees in silk and crepe Quick picks: ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ antidote to most local ladies’ complaints that there’s and in styles ranging from wispy creams to bright
The Jockey raglan tees are good value for not much by way of ethnic wear here in town. Well, turquoise blue make a most attractive display and even money and withstand the washing machine cycles.
step into In Vogue near Josse n Josse in M.G.Marg those of us who do not wear sarees will find it tough to Blouses and Petticoats in myriad hues to match your sarees. and literally be in vogue. Men will probably have to resist the impulse to finger them. You can also pick up
Interesting looking bindis. excuse themselves since it’s an out and out ladies store. nice readymade kurtas in flashy designs as well as some
Psst: Spotted ladies buying the unusual cut When it first opened, In Vogue had a lot of cut pieces that you can tailor to fit your style quotient. pieces to make ‘honjus’ for the whole family. Talk household items and fancy bags and wallets. Slowly Prices range from surprisingly affordable to top drawer. of native ingenuity. the shop has reinvented itself as the destination for The shop’s got a good stock of Jockey What we like: That we don’t have to drape the

the traditional Indian woman. It’s just been undergarments in 100% combed cotton in all sizes nine yard wonder ourselves!

C

M Y K SCORCHING THE SHELVES: the lowdown on new products

‘I want Dragon-Booster on Toon more masti. All packs retail for the actual reason most people Dragon Disney Wednesday-Friday 6 Rs.10/- each. We checked it out might be tempted to switch Cheetos’ was a p.m. and you’ll soon be able to at Fair Deal on PS Road which from the other brands like Real constant refrain all converse with your kids. normally gets all the latest is that the pricing is quite

of the last week. So ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ products. reasonable at Rs.65 for a 1 litre killing two dragons WHILE ON All that talk of pack ,at least ten bucks with one stone, here’s the Fritolay, here’s chips and cheaper. You could buy the YES, YES, lowdown on the Dragon another offering, savouries juice and spend the ten bucks YES, we’ve heard Cheetos. They’re the latest Kurkure New makes on a copy of MIDWEEK! time and again that offering from the Fritolay’s Masti Squares one long Bhutan also jumps into the packaged goods are not good. Division of Pepsico Cheetos Sweet ‘n’ Sour for a tall juicy fray with their Dew Fresh But what makes you think brand. Available in two ,and the glass of brand of RTS juices. To quote fruits and vegetable are ‘pure’, varieties: catchphrase juice. makers Bhutan Dairy and they’re injected with all kinds Spicy Cheese Dragonz are says it tastes There are Agro Products Ltd., ‘Dew of unnatural stuff to make them corn meal namkeen snacks in great with or some new Fresh comes from the grow bigger in a short span of dragon shapes, only they look without juices out in Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, time, the groundwater they more like an ancient toy from topping. The town. Surya a land known for Nature’s grow in is contaminated and so Mohenjodaro than a dragon. pack also Fresh Foods bounty’. A 200 ml tetrapack sells on, ad nauseum. Cheesy Masala Balls are offers you Limited ( who for Rs.10. Obviously this is If you’ve followed most exactly that, cheesy masala some ideas own the going to compete with Frooti and modern day ads, you’ll find balls only Dragons seem to on what Priyagold brand) the like. Taste wise its pretty most of them speaking directly have eaten up Brandon Routh’s toppings have made a juicy much the same. to kids. Yes, marketers know Superman who was endorsing can make entry into the One wonders why our own that kids are increasingly them only a few days ago! the packaged RTS Sikkim Supreme could never making the purchase decision The freebie is now a Dragon whole ( ready to serve) really break out of its tired and or at most brands, and they are booster buildable inside the Kurkure juice market with boring mould when they had constantly on least influencing pack. There are 12 dragons and episode their Fresh Gold the first mover’s advantage. them to a large extent. And best 12 gears such as Jousting Pole, brand of juices. Cans are oh so passé and of all, they exhibit a higher Turquoise Gear, etc to be ‘Hand picked from the cumbersome in this world of recall and are on the lookout collected. orchards’ thrills the tetrapacked convenience! for something new. If you are at sea, watch marketing spiel while - TINA WOMEN 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 232323 a note

Morning sickness at 5 p.m! WELL, WELL, it looks like I’ve survived being booted out of this space. ost women first suspect WHAT YOUR PARTNER This is our second they are pregnant when CAN DO: edition of the Women they begin to feel Quit smoking! M space and Madam Editor nauseous and perhaps vomit OTHER PROBLEMS you every morning. Morning can expect in the first three is not looking around for sickness is generally associated months: a replacement…yet! But with the first trimester, i,e, the · Tiredness then again Pema’s first three months but it’s · Bleeding gums delimited, Karchoong is difficult to make · Constipation nursing a family tree, generalizations. · Extreme mood swings Sarikah is on a Chinese Some women do not get · Feeling faint and actually high, speaking only morning sickness at all, after a fainting Mandarin and Serah is few initial days of nausea. PSST MEN! This is also too busy performing Others get it real bad, and are gynaecologist to prescribe a arsenal. Either suck at a the time your normally pyrotechnics Supernova constantly retching and feeling medicine to combat the julienne of ginger or crush it agreeable wife develops a style so it looks like little very sorry for themselves. morning sickness if you’re in your cup of tea. tendency to snap at you for no ole me was the safest Though it disappears by the really desperate. MORNING SICKNESS logical reason at all. It’s a case bet. As for Madam third month, morning sickness Otherwise, don’t eat large WORRIES: of damned if you do, damned Editor, she’s too busy can last well into the third term. meals. Eat small meals more A little weight loss in the if you don’t. being wicked. Morning sickness is actually regularly throughout the day. Your first three months is normal, So what do you do? We’re hoping that this a misnomer. It can strike a chances of retaining it are better. nothing to worry about. Nothing. Everything. No Women space will pregnant woman any time of Some smells e.g. cigarette As for your baby, don’t matter what you do or don’t do, actually grow into a the day, or appear in the smoke, coffee, pork, will make worry, your foetus is actually a she’ll still snap at you. highly networked forum, morning and last the whole day. you nauseous, avoid them. parasite and will draw all its On the other hand, it reveals highly interactive, with a HOW TO COMBAT A simple remedy is to eat a requirements from your body that of all the relationships on lot of inputs from our MORNING SICKNESS: plain dry toast or a biscuit even. irrespective of how much you earth, marriage is the strongest local ladies. Yes, I’ll You can ask your Ginger is part of the natural eat or don’t eat. when the couple’s in it together. come clean, it actually leaves me with a lot less GRANDMAKNOWSALL work then. You can get me directly

at tinatashi@ K Y

gmail.com for your M The WM woes inputs on what you want C to see on your page. ost times we buy when confronted with streaked Only one thing is banned something and expect whites. on this page, politics. it to work like a dream The inlet pipe gets clogged M What a colossal waste of without any maintenance. The with dirt and debris over time time tracking the ‘rato Washing Machine is an and the volume of water batti types’, there are too incredibly fine invention, only decreases thus affecting the many of them and it needs a little more attention efficacy of your WM. Use an Don’t subscribe to the notion machine cycle has started. familiarity breeds than switching the power on, old toothbrush to clean the inlet that ‘more is better’ when it Teach her to use the ‘Hold’ or contempt. shoving in the clothes and pipe from time to time. comes to washing powder. Use ‘Pause’ button for this purpose. Have a nice day! making ourselves scarce for 30 Lint is a universal problem, the recommended number of Don’t leave your laundry Tina mins. keep tipping out the lint bag scoops for different levels of too long in the WM. Yes, it Grandma says: Don’t mix regularly before you have a wash, too much of the higher turns itself off but it continues whites and coloured items golf ball in there. end washing powders can to draw power when the switch unless you want to buy out the Always put off your WM actually make your clothes fade. is on in most cases. trivia town’s entire stock of bleach. when the voltage fluctuates. It Maids and WM’s don’t get MIDWEEK Tip: Take care THE NUMBER of Most colours bleed and you’ll can badly damage your WM’s along. Instruct your maid not of your WM, it will be a big prostitutes in India has only rue your motor and the repair bill will to open the WM cover and tip help when your maid quits on risen by 50% in under a ‘dumpitalltogether’ strategy cost a bomb. in more clothes when the you. decade. Worse, most of the prostitutes are little more than children, joining the HEALTH-WATCH flesh trade at 12. midweek mail PLUTO is no longer a planet, it is now relegated Ever wondered why sikkim.midweek to being a dwarf planet. beverages like tea and But Disney has no plans to change the name of coffee can never really @gmail.com Mickey’s faithful old slake your thirst the way friend! only water can? While tea and coffee do contain a lot of water, they are diuretics which in fact drain your body of fluids especially when consumed in large quantities. Maybe it’s time to trade your huge ADVERTISING / PRINTING / PUBLISHING / DESIGN / EVENT MANAGEMENT mug for a tiny doll sized one. CONTACT: 98320 31929 EMAIL: [email protected] 242424 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 MOVIES BOLLYWOODsnippets PROTESTS AGAINST LAGE RAHO What good is a successful film without a controversy? On the face of it, Lage Raho Munnabhai has nothing objectionable. A complete family entertainer, there is no scope for any sort of controversy to be raked up. But so we think… despite the fact that the film has been hailed as one of the best family films in recent times, a certain section of the society has protested against the film. And leading the protestor is none other than Usha Gokani - Gandhiji’s grand-daughter. According to Gokani, the concept of Gandhigiri which forms the central theme of the film - is disrespectful to the teachings and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. She has alleged that people are misusing Gandhiji’s message and interpreting it to suit their own whims and fancies. Youth Congress members in Indore demonstrated against the film and burnt posters of the film demanding that the film be THE BIG REVIEW visual dreamscape. Take the Anaheim abode. They are banned. Just goes to prove, no matter how good you are, you scramble suit worn by Keanu played respectively and to the cannot please all the people. STARRING: Keanu Reeves, Reeves (free of The Lake manner born by Woody Winona Ryder, Robert House, and we’re damn glad of Harrelson and, in the film’s VISHAL SHOOTS FOR COPPOLA Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, it) as Bob Arctor, a narc flashiest and most ferociously In what could possibly be the Rory Cochrane working undercover. The suit entertaining performance, biggest honor for any Indian DIRECTED BY: Richard turns Bob into a walking Robert Downey Jr. Dick wrote filmmaker, Vishal Bharadwaj Linklater hologram so that no one can get Scanner in 1977, but the theme recently stood in and directed scenes for none f you saw Richard a fix on his identity, including of Big Brother surveillance has other than Francis Ford Linklater’s Waking Life his pal Freck (Rory Cochrane), a this-just-in urgency for the (2001), you know the drill. Coppola. According to I who gets the creepy-crawlies Dubya era. Linklater evokes reports, Francis Ford He shoots his film with live when he imagines bugs everything from film noir to the Coppola, who is currently actors and then computer- invading his body. It’s a great paranoid thrillers of the working on a war-movie paints over them. The process hallucination of dumbness, 1970s, notably The Parallax Youth Without Youth, wanted some portions of the film to be (it takes more than 500 hours C despair, desertion and death View. Bob has gone so far shot in India. However, he could not come all the way here to M to create a mere minute of shoot those scenes. He was looking for someone to direct

Y brought on by the aptly named undercover that he’s become K footage) is called rotoscoping, Substance D, the drug du jour worse than the addicts he’s those scenes and someone close to him suggested Vishal and he applies it with equal in Bob’s California hood. Also spying on, to the point of Bharadwaj’s name. Vishal was roped in for the assignment skill to A Scanner Darkly, from hooked are Luckman and bedding Donna (Winona and he just finished shooting the scenes in Mumbai alongside Coppola’s second unit. For any filmmaker, Coppola is the god a futuristic Philip K. Dick Barris, two hyperarticulate Ryder), a dealer with an endless novel well suited to the striking of the craft. His Godfather trilogy has served as inspiration for slackers who share Bob’s supply. Linklater’s screenplay generations of filmmakers. Naturally, when Coppola queried SHOWING FROM FRIDAY is far more convoluted than it Bharadwaj about remuneration, Bharadwaj told him that he needs to be, disorienting considered it an honor to serve Coppola. If Vishal’s work is audiences when they should be anything to go by, it is clear that after Shekhar Kapoor, here is focused on Bob’s another director who is destined to go places internationally. psychological meltdown. The breaking point is hit when he KARAN JOHAR TO JUDGE MISS WORLD becomes the prime suspect in Come 30 September, Karan 11:00 AM, 2:15 PM, 5:30 PM his own sting. The scene in Johar will be in Warsaw, which Barris rats on Bob, not Poland to serve as one of the judges at the 56th Miss knowing he’s talking to Bob World contest. Johar is the himself - there’s that scramble first Indian filmmaker to be suit again - encapsulates the invited to serve as a judge at moral lines that blur when the pageant. He is going government fights duplicity around saying that he needs with a greater duplicity. Yes, blessings to carry out this Linklater trips on his new task efficiently. ambitions. But this gifted Johar heads from Poland to Germany for the German release writer-director isn’t out to dull of ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ and then to Japan for the Tokyo the masses with cinematic Film Festival where his film will be also be screened, after opium. Embedded in the doing so at the Toronto International Film Festival last week. FROM FRIDAY visionary headtrip of A Scanner PRIYANKA IS THE SEXIEST IN ASIA Darkly is a hotly political call Priyanka Chopra has been to arms. voted the sexiest Asian Woman in 2006 as per a poll conducted by a magazine. Last year the same crown was given to Bipasha Basu. THE Priyanka Chopra seemed quite flattered when the news was given to her but she was also surprised as she does HOTLINE not look at her in that sense. Other prominent Indian faces ULTRA SURROUND SOUND in the top 10 are Bipasha :SHOW TIMINGS: 320169 Basu, Aishwarya Rai, Mallika 11:00AM / 2:15PM / 5:30PM Sherawat, Riya Sen and Malaika Arora Khan. ENTERTAINMENT 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 252525

A MIDWEEKPROFILE First Indian WHO: Named Tenzing by his parents 28 summers ago, today most people [at least the partying types] know him as DJ Bolo. American team out WHERE: X’cape night club. That’s his official address for at least three nights a week. See that guy behind the podium, right of ‘Amazing Race’ next to the oval dance floor, flipping CDs like a professional juggler? Yup, that’s our man. WHEN: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That’s where he’s been DJing since the night club opened its door to the party animals on 28 December, three years ago. WHAT’S USUALLY ON HIS PLAYER: I love hip-hop, and the good thing is most of the people who visit X’cape - especially those in their teens or twenties - prefer dancing to this genre of music. And then again, a section of our slightly older party goers prefer Bollywood remixes. That’s why I have to keep in mind the tastes of all those on the dance floor and maintain a fine balance NEW YORK: A husband and between hip-hop and other types of music by taking in requests wife from Florida who become and playing something for everyone. the first Indian American team HOW DID HE GET INTO DJING: I was interested in music to take part in the popular since I was in school and enjoyed singing and playing my guitar. reality television series, ‘The Then I started going to private parties and soon found myself behind Amazing Race’ were sadly the music player, taking charge of the music section and making eliminated in the first round sure to keep people on the dance floor. This was during the pre- last week. CD era, where we had to collect dance tracks and compile them in Vipul Patel, 29, and Arti, 26, an audio cassette! That was good fun but still I’d never thought of Windermere, Florida, I’d be someday DJing professionally. Then one fine day, Agya appeared in the 10th season of Ugen [Ladakhi] suggested I should be the DJ for the new night the series. The pair said that club he and his brothers were planning to open. I took the offer. they decided to join the BEST THING ABOUT BEING A DJ: I love DJing. I love the programme to get the vibes you get from the dance floor. It’s like you’re there absorbing adventure out of their system all that energy from people around you. Were it not for the time before they have children. restrictions, I could have played all night. I also love the fact that “Arti is very loving. She’s this profession gives you an opportunity to know other people and very caring, she’s very friendly,” let other people know you. I’ve even made friends with those people a report in the Orlando Sentinel now who weren’t exactly fond of me earlier! quoted Vipul, a salesman, as AND THE WORST: Sleep deprivation. Not that I’m complaining saying in the show’s premiere. but I usually get to crash at around 3.30 in the morning. But I’ve K Y

“Just look at her: She’s now got used to these late night shifts. M C beautiful.” The producers of the HOW HE KEEPS ABREAST OF MUSIC TRENDS: Besides show were raving about the beer, internet is the second best invention till date. That’s where I couple. “They were a very get all the dope on latest music trends. interesting couple. They were THE GEAR HE USES: Denon 5000 Player and Denon 500 funny,” the report quoted Mixer. executive producer Jonathan Littman as saying. “They’re terrific people,” another executive producer said. Born in India, Vipul is competitive and goal- oriented, according to his sister Nilam. He speaks three languages. According to the show’s rules, the participants are barred from talking to the media before their elimination. The producers, however, supplied relatives to give insights into the participants’ characters. “It was like his (Vipul’s) dream to be on it,” Nilam told the newspaper. “She’s very charming, she’s calm, she’s too nice,” Nilam Kanjee said of her sister Arti, who was the perfect solution born in South Africa and can to advertise everything speak five languages. without the burden In this multiple Emmy Award-winning reality game of a huge ad bill! show, broadcast in one-hour episodes, teams of two or four TO PLACE CLASSIFIEDS FOR AD ENQUIRIES race around the world in CONTACT: competition with other teams. IN MIDWEEK 03592 - 227618 / 098320 89889 According to the show’s call 98320 43693 website, this new season, 12 teams will travel over 40,000 EMAIL: miles in under 30 days to claim 320169 [email protected] the $1 million prize. 262626 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 ETCETERA

I KNOW WHAT YOU come back with fancy by KARCHOONG DIYALI DID LAST SUMMER Tibetan hats. Yup, may not he funniest rumors go seem like heavy trading Taround this town. The but it’s a beginning. latest is about how a Meanwhile, all our heavy duty politico chumlas are heading up imported three safe vaults these days, ostensibly to from abroad. The lockers buy silk blouses at a landed at Delhi airport but ‘discount’. But they being were soon whisked off to chumlas, it does not a South Indian capital. matter to them that the Following the journey of cost of going up would the lockers was a negate all the discounts wannabe secret agent in the world. However, from a local outfit here, not all are coming back who claims the final happy. Apparently, the destination turned out Tibetan ladies who come to be a palatial to sell the wares on the bungalow belonging to repeated at other places the other side are all so well the politico. Me no know the next day. What a sad state dressed and stylish that our truth, me only hear and tell. of affairs. This whole chumlas are getting a mighty But who would have so much business of handing out complex. The highest in the loot to stash away and what dole is taking its toll, if I’m world, some would say. the hell is wrong with our allowed to rhyme. At one Indian lockers anyway? level the state government POLICING THE POLICE Watch this space for more asks the people to become e all know that the sneaky details. self-sufficient and on the W police do a mighty fine other is happy giving out job of keeping crime in check HAPPY DASAIN! money and stuff in this oh here at Sikkim. But recently, alking of politicians, this so feudal manner. some have been raising TDassain is turning out to Something to think about, concerns that all may not be be a nightmare for some. surely. so perfect with the force. It is Supporters of all hue are believed that drug addiction lining up outside offices and HIGH ALTITUDE amongst the rank and file is homes of ministers for COMPLEX not unheard of. That may or Dasain money, with many here is brisk business may not be true but one thing ministers having to slink out Thappening at Nathula. Ok we all would like to know is of their houses from the back fine, the Sikkim Chamber of where does the haul of door to avoid the crowds. Commerce may not think so confiscated drugs go? Some

C What happened at but I certainly do. I know would believe it lands back

M A little boy caught just after answering nature’s call

Y Mintokgang on Monday was dozens of people who have right in the market. along the river banks at Nimtar. K SLIGHTLY-OFF-CENTRE/SLIGHTLY-OFF-CENTRE/SLIGHTLY-OFF-CENTRE/SLIGHTLY-OFF-CENTRE Sex strike hits Colombia gangsters BOGOTA: It’s being called the Lysistrata, or ‘the crossed-legs strike’. Fretting over crime and violence, girlfriends and wives of gang members in the Colombian city of Pereira have called a ban on sex to persuade their menfolk to give up the gun. Approximately 100 females associated with the gang members launched their strike last Wednesday. The strike was organised in part through the municipal office of the city. After meeting representatives of the mayor’s office to discuss a disarmament programme, the women’s group decided to deny their partners their conjugal rights and recorded a song for local radio to urge others to follow their example. The city of Pereira, Colombia, was the most violent in Colombia in 2005, reporting 488 killings last year, and has a per capita rate of 97 murders per 100,000 residents, double the national level. Ninety per cent of the deaths are caused by fire-arms, and 87 per cent of victims are young gang members between the ages of 18 and 25. MAN WON’T SHAVE Pa. mom pleads guilty to UNTIL BIN LADEN CAUGHT giving teen pot EPHRATA, Washington: the perfect solution GETTYSBURG, Pa.: A she had also smoked with two After the terrorist attacks of 11 to advertise everything woman facing drug charges of his friends, ages 17 and 18. September, 2001, Gary Weddle admitted in court that she Livelsberger pleaded guilty began following the news so without the burden smoked marijuana with her 13- to misdemeanor charges of closely he forgot to shave. After of a huge ad bill! year-old son, often to reward corruption of minors, a week he decided not to shave him for doing his homework. possession with intent to until Osama bin Laden had been Amanda Lynn Livelsberger, deliver drug paraphernalia, caught or killed. Nor has Weddle, TO PLACE CLASSIFIEDS 30, pleaded guilty to several possession of drug 46, who expected the al-Qaida IN MIDWEEK misdemeanor drug charges in paraphernalia, possession of a leader to be caught within a Adams Country court and will small amount of marijuana and month or so, trimmed his facial call be sentenced on 27 November. possession of a small amount hair in the succeeding five years She admitted she had been of marijuana with intent to as he went from substitute 320169 smoking marijuana with her distribute. The plea agreement teacher to science instructor at son since he was 11 and said did not stipulate a sentence. Ephrata Middle School. SEND FEEDBACK AND QUERIES TO [email protected] OR CALL 320169 ETCETERA 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 272727

Talk and all types of You are compelled communications are to be honest during in the forefront. You this period and you may be involved in may have things to heavy negotiations say that others concerning a contract. Those would rather not hear. Think with partners will find they carefully about how to state have plenty to discuss and so your piece. The purpose is to do you. It is time to make improve relationships rather amends with significant than split them. Your energy people, lest your family life be is increasing and your daily disrupted by quarrels. life picks up the pace. You are restless and Pay strict attention somewhat weary to the words that fall with the norm, from your mouth at looking for this time. You could something new to sound sharp and do. That is not easy for Taurus, critical even if you don't feel Green Lawn Blues who is prone to remain in so. You have considerable ongoing patterns. It takes a energy to plow into the hidden ne of the most enjoyable transforms into a rainforest. real jolt of boredom to press side of life. You might choose writers in the Gangtok Alien-looking plants invade to pursue deep subjects. Your you into change. Go with that scene today has to be your little patch of heaven flow and you will be much dreams will be most O Roshan Pradhan. Those of you overnight. You crawl through happier. Aspects favor meaningful. Study them. who read her excellent piece the undergrowth to uproot a partnerships. You may be recently in NOW! on the high- There is so much on unveiling a project small weed that makes you your agenda that of many months. If rise menace will vouch her burn 100 calories before you you must keep lists so, it meets with dexterity with the written discover it has a two-feet in order to juggle the enthusiasm and (typed) word. I happened to be root. Get ready to grapple

balls. Those with applause, particularly if its there when the cottage-with- with a million species of K purpose is to "serve." A legal Y children will be devoting lawn-and-blue sky-with-clouds- them weeds, not to mention M significant energy in that or ethical bind may feel as seeking lady was trying to the unmentionable creepy C though it is dragging you arena. Don't let anyone pull figure out why her seemingly crawly denizens that pitch in down and it probably is. Any you into a quarrel over egos. innocent query raised such an issues in that territory will to make your lawn life Travel is particularly favored uproar amongst us. We laughed miserable. and news that brings healing require a long time to long and hard because we knew The Star of Sikkim of course comes from afar. completion. You are like a steam There is likely to be she would have to look long and is Haemodipsa Zeylonicus, kettle, ready to a lot of clatter in the hard for that little cottage and by PANKAJ THAPA quite a fancy name for our explode. There is career arena, with lawn. What cottage? What common leech. A split- plenty to say and phone calls, lawn? In Gangtok? Hoo Boy! (Mexican? Chinese?) which second is all it takes this little you are ready to spill negotiations, and But having said that, would a you dumped enterprising chap to latch on all with vigor. Practice a few talk. Don't let it twist you into cottage and lawn be as idyllic unceremoniously on your to your skin. And though he times in front of the mirror so a knot because this may be as it sounds? Some one said patch and voila! Your lawn hardly has any space for all flying dust that drops back you won't confuse the somewhere,-“Be careful of was ready. Yeah, and brains, he’s clever enough to message by appearing to be onto the ground where it started. Remain at peace for what you wish for,- you might Ghenghis Khan invented ice- anesthetize his bite till he‘s overreacting. You want to be just get it”. In this case, the cream. had his fill. The worst part heard. You don't want to force best results. cottage with the lawn and blue A lawn planted properly, of a leech bite is not when someone into a defensive If you took yourself position. on a dream sky. Believe me, that stuff is requires almost the same you discover your soggy, This is a very good vacation during the good only as a poster on your amount of time, effort, blood-soaked socks and go period for letting go summer, you may wall. If this friend did find her money and know-how screeching down the street. of whatever or be looking at all cottage-with-the-whatever- needed to build a small It’s when that bite itches whomever needs to those bills now. They have a wherever, it would have taken runway. The layers of pebble, after three days. You scratch move beyond you. way of turning up all at once. Herculean efforts to keep it gravel and sand followed by it unconsciously and next That may be a source of Aspects favor travel, looking poster-good. the final layer of soil will minute you’re clawing at the education, legal concerns, income, or a work related Granted, nothing is more keep you busy for the better bite with both hands. The friend. It is generally a good and publishing. You may receive good news about the serene and visually pleasing as part of a month. The final more you scratch, the more week to clean the closets, the a manicured lawn with little layer of the lawn grass will it itches, and the more you drawers, and make ready to healing of yourself or hedgerows fronting your keep you busy for the rest of scratch, the better it feels spit shine your desk with plans someone you love. for better weeks to come. Use caution with a cottage. But to get the your life. That’s because while the itch keeps getting Either you or your new relationship hedgerow and lawn to that along with the grass come the worse. Next stop,- pieces of partner are that forms at this serene stage requires a weeds and they sprout like yourself under your requesting some time. It is not likely whopping sacrifice of all apocalypse was tomorrow. fingernails. So the next time time early in the to be founded on serenity. Have you tried The first few weeds get someone invites you to sit week to tend to permanent ground. You maintaining a lawn? Okay, I’m uprooted quickly and out on his lawn, don’t personal agendas. If it is the want to play, but leave it getting ahead of myself efficiently with your brand hesitate. Escape through the light and easy and don't other, it is a Voice that speaks here…have you tried to plant new enthusiasm and trowel. nearest gap in the hedge. For expect life altering drama. for you also, even if you are a lawn? As a novice, one So far, so good. Come the us urbanites, the best lawn is not conscious of the need. By Beware, also, of anything thought that all a lawn monsoons and that’s when best viewed in your the end of the week you will that appears to be dusted in required was a trip to sultry neighbor’s garden, from your be connecting and gold. All that glitters is not, true happiness strikes. The conversational again. you know... Siliguri where you bought lawn that you so lovingly third floor window;- take my squares of lawn grass trimmed, weeded and clipped last word for it. Ciao! 282828 20 - 26 Sept, 2006 SPORTS CASH AWARDS ADDED TO GOLD CUP Soccer year to come full circle

SHYAM PRADHAN Members of the Sikkim Football Association

The year 2006 has been a big year for sports, especially football. While the World Cup series held in Germany came as manna from heaven to football lovers a few months ago, the soccer mania in Sikkim had already started in March earlier this year with Mini SAARC Football Tourney held here. It was followed by the senior division, second division league and the Independence Challenge Cup. After organising AFC ‘C’ coaching camp, Sikkim Football Association [SFA] accomplishment is also shared winners take away Rs. 3 lakhs team, Air India [Mumbai], Tata will be followed by All India took on the task of holding the by the Government, the as the prize money with the Football Academy, Punjab Police Football Meet sometime eastern leg of the Sub Junior concerned department and the Gold cup while the runners up Police, BSF Jallandhar, ANFA in November. Immediately National Football football fans in Sikkim who chance to win Rs. 2 lakhs. XI [runners-up 2005/ champions after the conclusion of this Championship which is have lent the association their This year, the tourney will 2005/ six times champion], meet, the state will be getting currently being played at the full support. see 12 teams playing 19 DGHC XI, and Services XI [a ready for the North East Sports Palzor stadium. The state team, The SFA further received a matches in a quarterfinal league special team from Nepal]. Festival from where, we hope, Sports Academy of Sikkim, has much-needed boost when pattern. Under this pattern, out The All India Governor’s the players will bring back already gained momentum by Alberto Colaco, All India of the 12 teams, the top four Gold Cup Football Tournament laurels to the state. defeating big teams like Orissa Football Federation General teams will be qualified for the

C and Jharkhand by huge Secretary, and Moshin Gillani, quarterfinal round. The last M

Y margins, leading us to believe Assistant Development Officer eight teams will be divided into K it will continue on its winning of FIFA, recently visited the Group A and B and they will streak during its matches state and observed that Sikkim have to play a preliminary round against other teams. was now in a position to have [pre-quarterfinal] on knockout While the finals of the Sub its own SFA Bhawan and a basis. Following this, the four Junior National Football football ground under the Goal remaining teams from this Championship is slated for 24 project II.. Let’s keep our round will then face four teams September, the SFA members fingers crossed that we will from the seeded group on the don’t have time to take a soon be able to see these quarterfinal league pattern. The SHOES, SPORTS, LUGGAGE & breather as they have to assurances materialise. winners and runners-up from PHYSICAL HEALTH EQUIPMENTS immediately get on with the task All India Governor’s Gold these two groups will then of making preparations for the Cup Football Tournament is advance to the semifinals, 28th All India Governor’s Gold also known as the football which again will be a knockout Cup Football Tournament, festival of Gangtok, and it is round. Double matches will be is bringing which will commence here from the biggest sporting held on Saturdays and Sundays. 5 October. extravaganza in the state each The final match will be played out a booklet SFA has a record of year. This year, the SFA is all on 19 October. continuously organising this charged up to give the tourney The participating teams are which will prestigious tourney year after a whole new look, starting with Sports Academy of Sikkim, year for the last 27 years a new game pattern and an Sikkim Police XI, Bhutan, provide despite numerous setbacks it enhanced cash prize of Bangladesh, Arambagh, Assam has faced. This whopping Rs. 5 lakhs. The Rifles, Tibetan National Football information on all the Sports Associations of Sikkim.

Details and suggestions by the associations can be emailed to [email protected] OR DELIVERED TO Bharat, MG Marg, Gangtok.

Printed at Baba Offset Works, Tadong. Publisher & Editor : Mita Zulca. MIDWEEK, Near Hotel Yatung, Nam Nang, Gangtok - 737101. Phone: 03592 320169 Email: [email protected]