13 - 19 Sept, 2006 111

13 - 19 SEPT, 2006, GANGTOK sikkim[email protected] VOLUME 1 NO. 2. Rs. 10

GANGTOK: Given the hype and the COME SEPTEMBER 30 AND historic significance of the historic THE FIRST PHASE OF TRADE trading links with Tibet, expectations were high when Nathula finally opened OVER THE NATHULA WILL for trade on June 6. But three months CLOSE FOR THIS YEAR. THE later trading has not really taken place NATHULA in the scale that was planned. Trading INITIAL EUPHORIA in the first month itself witnessed SURROUNDING THE several impediments. The first hurdle was the Import-Export Code for RESUMPTION OF TRADE required for the traders. When the HAS GIVEN WAY TO A MORE trading began, the traders were then told REALISTIC ASSESSMENT. that they needed the IEC for international trade. And for that, one SARIKAH ATREYA REVIEWS had to furnish his Personal Account THE FIRST THREE MONTHS Number (PAN), which is not issued to the Sikkim residents as there are not OF TRADING AND LOOKS AT Central Direct Taxes extended in the THE LOOPHOLES AND State. With no IEC, trading was stalled. BOTTLENECKS THAT The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce approached both the Sikkim as well as CONTINUE TO DETER Photo: PEMA L. SHANGDERPA the Central Government on the issue of TRADE. IEC clearance and after much persuasion, the Centre decided to temporarily waive the IEC requirement for trade over Nathula, which took CONT’D ON Page 7 HYPE vs REALITY K Y M C DELIMITATION DRAMA PLAYS OUT Opposition harps on non reservation for Limboo-Tamangs by PEMA L. SHANGDERPA RULING PARTY TAKES REFUGE GANGTOK: The studied UNDER ARTICLE 371 F silence that followed the “All doors announcement of the final ‘anti-people’, the government announced, State BJP notification on the delimitation has turned to Article 371 F to President H. R. Pradhan dashed closed KEEPING of assembly constituencies in bail itself out. off to Delhi to ‘consult the high SIKKIM the state, with no reaction The main issue of command’ and also take legal forthcoming from either the contention, and which the opinion on the matter. Pradhan for us” - GREEN? opposition camps or the ruling opposition can be expected to had submitted a petition in the party has now erupted into a play up to the hilt is the non- Supreme Court in February this flurry of charges being made by reservation of the Limboo and year seeking reservation of both. While the State Congress Tamang communities. Soon seats for the two communities. SLTJAC inside has dubbed it ‘communal’ and after the notification was continued on page 4

CALLING ALL 12 PASS / GRADUATES to make a DREAM CAREER on your OWN! FOR DETAILS CONTACT: 9434356445 / 9933056445 222 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP HC dismisses teacher petition Feasibility study conducted for tourism a MIDWEEK Report with fine of Rs. 10, 000 GANGTOK: There has been a paradigm shift in the focus a MIDWEEK Report This petition was made after he was charged of misbehavior and of tourism in recent times. GANGTOK: The Sikkim high molestation of three girl students. Although seen as a means for court, on 11 September, Dey was arrested by the police sustainable development, dismissed the writ petition filed based on a First Information tourism has larger role to play, by Subhodip Dey, the teacher- Report lodged by the girls and their given the dictums of the cum-student counsellor of Tashi parents at the Sadar police station changing times. Namgyal Academy accused of here. He was later released on bail. Today, tourism is seen as an misbehaving and molesting However, after being granted bail important tool for poverty three girl students of Class IX. he had returned to duty and was reduction and taking cue from In an order passed by the prevented by the principal to do this latest buss word, the division bench of Chief Justice the same. The principal had Sikkim government has been concept of tourism stakeholder workshop to BK Roy and Justice AP Subba, allegedly threatened him with actively planning to focus on development for poverty discuss and agree on the HC observed that the termination of service if he failed sustainable tourism alleviation, the Sikkim institutional arrangements and petitioner had not come up with to tender his resignation. development for poverty Government’s Tourism implementation modalities for clean hands and correct facts and Dey in his petition had alleviation. Its main tourism Development is undertaking a the project. It has to support the that there was fit case in which contested that the Principal had products are based on trekking, feasibility study to come up a development a project the court should impose no authority to demand the mountain climbing, and poverty-reduction oriented document for the coming five exemplary cost upon the resignation without rafting. The Sikkim sustainable tourism years for the State Government. petitioner. The court dismissed establishing the allegations Government commissioned a development plan, in The goal of the project is to the petition with a cost of Rs. 10, against him. He had claimed fifteen-year Master Plan for collaboration with SNV and contribute to poverty reduction 000 which has to be deposited that he was innocent and Tourism Development in 1997, ICIMOD coordinators. and sustainable use of natural to the State Legal Services falsely implicated by a third which contains short, medium For this, the Ecotourism and and cultural resources for authority within 90 days. The person to spoil his career. and long term phases. The Conservation Society of communities in Sikkim court also ordered that the police Meanwhile, the High Court initial phase was viewed as a Sikkim (ECOSS) has been through tourism development. will proceed with its duty of had on 7 August passed an interim consolidation phase, where the appointed as the institutional In this regard, a SWOT investigation in relation to the order that his services should not emphasis was on providing advisor for the feasibility study. (strengths, weaknesses, allegations. Further, the court be disturbed until further orders. new infrastructure in addition In the feasibility study the opportunities and threats) also made it clear that any The High Court had also to upgrading existing institutional adviser has to analysis workshop for Pro- observation made by the court initiated contempt proceedings attractions and infrastructure. study the institutional Poor Sustainable Tourism

shall not be construed to be against the TNA principal for New legislative measures have arrangements for support to project feasibility study was C

M settler of the issues involved disobeying the interim order also been taken to protect both poverty-reduction oriented conducted here on September Y

K before the school authorities. passed by the court asking him the natural and manmade sustainable tourism 12. A number of tour operators Dey, a post graduate teacher not to disturb Dey’s services. environment. Rural cultural development in Sikkim, study and local stakeholders of the who taught English, had However, later the court heritage has been identified as possible institutional tourism sector attended the approached the court with a satisfied that the court orders having the potential to arrangements and meeting. petition on 5 August last month were not disobeyed by the diversify the existing tourism implementation modalities, The findings through the to restrain and prohibit the principal, had dropped the product, based on the ethnic develop a capacity SWOT analysis would be Principal of the school A. C. Rai contempt proceedings. variety of the population. strengthening plan, and incorporated in the Pro-Poor from demanding his The school had also set up In order to further the organise and conduct Sustainable Tourism plan. resignation. He had also an internal enquiry committee requested in the petition that the to investigate into the Board of Governors of TNA be allegations. With the petition restrained from terminating his dismissed it is now left to the to reach Midweek dial 320169 services and that it be declared school authorities to decide on that that he has a right to the next course of action to be continue in his service. taken against the teacher. Abduction in south Sikkim One arrested for murder in North On 3 September, with his wife. The GANGTOK: A case of abduction has been reported in Lingmo a MIDWEEK Report Karma Tshering had nephew, in a fit of rage, in South Sikkim where a 19 year old married woman was taken hostage and forced into matrimony. CHUNGTHANG: Police assaulted his uncle rained blows on the Police are on the lookout for a 40 year old driver Nima have converted a case of Topchen Lepcha at chest, face and stomach Sherpa, a cab driver who forcibly abducted Temi Devi Sharma, grievous assault against Karma Shipgyer under injuring him grievously. a married lady, earlier last week while she was returning from Tshering Lepcha into murder Chungthang sub division The victim succumbed to her aunt’s house at Middle Lingmo. with the victim Topchen in North Sikkim accusing injuries on Sunday and Speaking to MIDWEEK, Deputy Inspector General of Lepcha having succumbed to him of having an the police have arrested Police [Range] Akshay Sachdeva said that she was then injuries. extramarital relationship Karma Tshering Lepcha. taken to Kalimpong and kept captive in a hotel room for four days where the accused is said to have molested her and also forced her to marry him. She was later taken to Jorethang and kept by Sherpa in a relative’s house. He had told his Fire razes wooden house relatives that they had entered into a wedlock. The accused had also threatened to kill her and commit suicide if she went a MIDWEEK Report against his will to get married, police said. He had also forced her to write letters to her parents that she had eloped with PAKYONG: A two storeyed wooden house on Monday. While no lives were lost, all the him willingly. belonging to one Bal Bahadur Subba was household items and other property including Finding that she could not be coerced further to marry razed to the ground in a freak fire accident jewellery perished in the fire. Speaking to him, he then took her to the house of one Mina Dhakal at at Changey, a revenue block under Pakyong MIDWEEK, officer in-charge of the Pakyong Ranipul in East Sikkim on Sunday and abandoned her. He sub division. The fire started from the police station Nima Cheddar said that a report then fled and is still absconding. Police have registered a kitchen which was left unattended and the prepared by the police along with the panchayat case against him at Rabong in South Sikkim and a look out inferno engulfed the entire house within no on the incident has been sent to the sub notice has already been issued. time. The incident occurred around 1 PM divisional magistrate. ROUND-UP 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 333 170 ‘HERITAGE’ TREES TO BE SACRIFICED FOR NEW RAJ BHAWAN KEEPING SIKKIM GREEN?

by KARCHOONG DIYALI most important trees however, wildlife in west Sikkim, we are the numerous saw grazing abolished and hundred and seventy Rhododendrons that abound cattleherders directed towards odd trees, many of the hilltop and are considered other means of livelihood. On Awhich are some of the oldest flowering the other hand the capital has Rhododendrons, the prized Rhododendrons in the region. witnessed a spate of felling state tree, and reportedly the Considering it takes about and denudation in the name of oldest in the region, have been sixty years for a single modernization and ‘marked’ to be felled for yet Rhododendron tree to reach development. At this rate we another construction in the maturity and start flowering, can aptly term the phrase capital. the sheer number of these ‘ultimate eco-tourism The area that has been species that will perish under destination’ as just another housing and still is the the saws of the arrawallahs endangered adjective. And residence of His Excellency the blatantly contradicts what the where are the various NGOs Governor of Sikkim, much publicised State Green that pride themselves on being categorised as central Mission propagates. The committed to environmental residency area in the official felling of these trees is by no issues in the state? Or is the files, the address we familiarly stretch of imagination giving ‘a consciousness only limited to know as Raj Bhawan is the new direction and dimension in plantation drives in the already venue for the mass denudation the State’s efforts and endeavor overcrowded Smriti Vans in of our ‘heritage trees’ in to sustain, maintain and enrich the state? exchange for a new Raj Sikkim’s environment and Hence, with reference to Bhawan. ecology.’ another target set by the State

According to sources, a Although the Buildings Green Mission which states that K Y

joint inspection conducted by Department has reportedly it is ‘broadcasting greening M officials from the Forest promised to review the plan activities through peoples C Environment and Wildlife proposal after officials at the participation, support and Management Department and FE&WM Department pointed guidance’, Midweek urges the the Public Works Department out that the state could not afford people to come forward and [Buildings] counted more than to lose these valuable ecological show their participation by 170 trees that fell within the assets, waiting for the concerned emailing us at earmarked construction area, authorities to act on the matter [email protected] the foundation stone for which is a luxury we do not have as and supporting ‘THE was laid recently by Vice concerned citizens of the state. FAMILY TREE: Midweek President Bhairon Singh In recent years, as an act of Campaign To Save Our Shekawat. The inspection conservation of forest and Green Heritage’. report, which was still to be tabled and submitted to SHOUT OUT YOUR officials at the FE&WM PARTICIPATION, SEND AN EMAIL TO Department at the time of sikkim.midweek@ going to print, is reported to gmail.com have a list of species of flora AND JOIN... Another such instance in the capital when the picture that includes bamboo and a perfect frame (top) was marked first, then felled for what host of other old trees. The else but another construction. PHOTOS: RACHNA BOOKS

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SIKKIM SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS (P) LTD. New Market, MG Marg Gangtok - 737101, Sikkim - India Mob: +91 99331 10033 Fax: +91 3592 202640 444 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 POLITICS Delimitation drama plays out

from page 1 special provision enshrined It is but natural for the Expressing surprise that the for Sikkim under article 371 Congress chief to be annoyed “All doors closed for us” notification was announced F of the constitution. since he is the most affected by despite being sub judice, Dismissing the opposition the new realignment facing a Pradhan said, “Based on our claim that the next delimitation technical knock out in both - SLTJAC petition, the delimitation would take place only in 2026 constituencies he last contested GANGTOK: The Sikkim Limboo Tamang Joint Action commission has also filed a and the Limbu and Tamang from. The Central Pendam Committee has expressed dissatisfaction over the recent counter affidavit. I don’t know communities would not be able seat, now incorporated as West announcement of the delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in the State. how the final order has been to avail any reservation of seats Pendam has been converted Dorjee Tamang, Convenor, SLTJAC said in a press issued by the commission till then, Gooroong said that the into a SC seat while Gangtok, the other seat he fought from release that no where has the Limboo-Tamang community despite the fact that the matter two communities could seek been incorporated in the new alignment. “Till 2026, all doors is now a BL seat. According to is still pending before the relief under Article 371 F. “It have been closed for us,” he said. “Now, in Sikkim, without Supreme Court,’ adding that is clear that article 371 F is a Bhandari, the new set up is reservation, we have become just political toys. The Chief the matter is likely to come up provision in the constitution communal since it goes against Minister Pawan Chamling kept assuring us, but never for hearing soon and counsels which governs the state of the spirit of the very purpose promised us. If he had given his word, he may have fulfilled were working to list the case Sikkim and by virtue of the for which the delimitation was it but he just kept assuring us. Recently at Tharpu he told by next week. non-obstante clause to be carried out. He said that the public that he had approached and requested the ‘notwithstanding anything in the territorial constituencies Central government not to go ahead with the delimitation the constitution’ appearing in reserved for the BLs should process in the State before seats were reserved for the the opening words of the said have had more population of Limboo-Tamangs but this did not happen. From this, we can only assume that either Delhi does not listen to Pawan article, it has an overriding these two constituencies, which in this case has not Chamling or he has been lying to the people of Sikkim. effect even if any of the clauses Even the Central Government had said that the Limboo- happened. According to him under article 371 F appears Tamangs would get reservation or should get reservation; repugnant to the other the two communities were now Chief Minister Pawan Chamling sacrificed the political rights provisions of the constitution. in further danger of being of the Limboo-Tamangs in order to save his chair. If my This is a settled position of law marginalized. How he has arguments are wrong, Mr. Chamling can go to the court as laid down by the Supreme come to this conclusion when and if he is wrong, he has to resign,” Mr. Tamang stated in all 12 BL seats are in safe the press release. “There is no confusion at all. It is very clear custody was not very clear. Bhandari also batted for the that article 371 F empowers the parliament to Limboo-Tamang’s saying that th

C 14 National Children’s Science

M with the notification being

Y make special provisions for Sikkim” - Gooroong K made official, the two Congress to be held in Sikkim Accusing the government of court in the cases of Surendra communities had to wait till not pushing enough for seat Prasad Sharma Vs. the State of 2026, purely because of the fault reservation for the LT’s the state Sikkim & others [1994] and R. of the state government. He BJP chief said, “Had they sent C. Poudyal vs. Union of India called the statement made by BB a proposal, an ordinance could & others [1994].” have been passed to list the “There is no confusion at matter before the parliament all. What is the need for within a month and then all of confusing them further when it us could have led a delegation is very clear that article 371 F to the centre. Not sending the empowers the parliament to proposal has been the main make special provisions for hitch. Even the delimitation Sikkim,” he added. commission had written to the Not wanting to let go of state government earlier asking another GANGTOK: Sikkim will be hosting the 14th National why they never bothered to send Children’s Science Congress 2006 from December 27-31 at a proposal.’ He also claimed to “It is communal, anti-people and carried out Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majitar, Sikkim. This be in possession of this letter is a national event of great importance in the fraternity of sent by the commission, which, according to the whims and fancies of the science education. The President of India has consented to be according to him has not yet associate member committee and the State the Chief Guest during the inaugural function on December been disclosed by the 27, on invitation of the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. government. government” - Bhandari A sensitization programme for all members of the That the government is Organizing Committee and various Sub Committees was held aware of the potential trouble opportunity to embarrass the Goroong that Sikkim could take on August 30 at Janta Bhawan, DPH Road, Gangtok. the issue may cause is government, the opposition relief under special provisions National Children’s Science Congress is organized every apparent from the fact they leaders huddled within their for article 371 F ‘bogus’. year in all the states and the union territories among the have now turned to Article camps deciding on the next Meanwhile, chief minister children of age group 10 to 17 years of all the districts to 371 F to sort out what they course of action for another Pawan Chamling has been inculcate scientific temper and creative ability among children. see as a technicality. issue which they claimed was stressing on the fact that The NCSC had a very modest beginning in the early nineties Refuting all charges, B. B. thrown to their platter and to Delimitation was a central and soon became a national event in 1993 with the support of Gooroong, advisor to chief their ‘advantage’. Expectedly subject, conducted by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. minister Pawan Chamling State Congress Chief, Nar Commission, which was an The main objective Of NCSC is to enhance the natural has said that the entire Bahadur Bhandari launched a independent body leaving the curiosity in a child and provide the medium to quench the process of delimitation of vitriolic attack on the ruling state government with very thirst for creativity. assembly constituencies party, branding the notification little role to play. could be carried out in as ‘communal’ and ‘anti- It can be added that the Sikkim again if the people’ which according to him Delimitation Committee is not reservation for the Limbu was carried out on the ‘whims empowered to tackle the issue and Tamang communities and fancies’ of the associate of seat reservation. It is was granted. He said that this member committee and the constituted only to delimit 03592 320169 was possible because of the state government. constituencies. ROUND-UP 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 555 PITA to get more teeth in Sikkim by SARIKAH ATREYA required by this Act. welfare workers of that area a wake up call for the Home made prosecution of the As a result, any one booked (including women social Department because recently, accused under PITA difficult GANGTOK: The persistent under PITA would be welfare workers wherever it finally got its act together and strengthened the defence’s efforts of a group of young technically knocked out practicable) to advise him on and issued a notification case,” says DIG Range Akshay lawyers have resulted in a because of this lapse in the questions of general appointing SPOs in Srivastava, while talking to major breakthrough in the implementation of the Act, importance regarding the compliance with the PITA. The MIDWEEK. implementation of the Immoral which made it rudderless. working of this Act. Home department notification, Although the problem of Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Since the legal provisions This major loophole in the No. 64/home/2006, dated trafficking of women for in Sikkim. under this Act were not fully judicial mechanism in the State 02.09.2006 says that “in prostitution may not be a major The Act (PITA in short), in place, it weakened the case was noticed by a law firm exercise of the powers one for the State at the moment, although already enforced in under the PITA for both the based here in Gangtok. This conferred by Sub-section (I) of the full implementation of the State, was virtually Police as well as the law firm used the provisions Section 13 of the Immoral PITA would certainly ineffective and handicapped by prosecutors. under the Right to Information Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 strengthened the judicial a major lacuna in its proper It is clearly stipulated in Act to petition before the State (104 of 1956), the State mechanism in the State. Till implementation. An important Sub-section (I) of Section 13 Government to bring this Government hereby appoints now, the Act largely failed on sub-section of the Act of the Act that the SPO of an lacuna to light. In August each of the Sub-divisional technical grounds in the stipulates that each State area shall be assisted by such earlier this year, the Human Police Officer for dealing with absence of a SPO handling the Government has to appoint a number of subordinate police Rights Law Network wrote to the offences under this Act in case, a point the defence team Special Police Officer for officers (including women the State Home Department on their respective jurisdiction.” used to their advantage. dealing with offences under police officers wherever the basis of the RTI Act to This latest development is Judiciary in the State is still this Act. According to the Act, practicable) as the State know whether the PITA had a major shot in the arm for both in its infancy, and even if the the Special Police Officer shall Government may think fit; and been fully implemented in the the Police as well as the State is relatively crime free, it not be below the rank of an the State Government may State, and if so, why no SPOs judiciary in the State. “Our still needs to be fully aware of Inspector of Police. Strangely, associate with the special was appointed till date. The hands have now been the proper implementation of the State Government, in an police officer a non-official Home Department had a month strengthened by this. Since the all laws in order to maintain the obvious oversight on its part, advisory body consisting of not to reply on this issue. Act had not been fully faith of the people in the had failed to appoint SPOs as more than five leading social The petition obviously was implemented until now, it judicial system. More arrests in lottery LPG DISTRIBUTOR NABBED rigging episode FOR SHORT-CHANGING K a MIDWEEK Report South Sikkim, was picked up Gyalshing from Jorethang Y

a MIDWEEK Report M GANGTOK: The lottery present during the entire by the Police after registering near the Sakyong village in C rigging incident has taken a incident when the gang tried to GYALSHING: The next a suo moto against him earlier. West Sikkim. During the on- fresh turn with one more name force the lottery judges to sign time you buy a LPG refill The Gyalshing Police had the-spot inspection that being added to the group of on the forged result sheet of cylinder, make sure you been receiving a number of followed, the Police weighed masked men who carried out an that night’s draw, which was check its weight before complaints from customers the cylinders and found that aborted attempt to rig the recorded on the CCTV. you take it home. You that the LPG refill cylinders 10 cylinders weighed about lottery results last month. Last week, the brother of may have been cheated all weighed less than the actual ½ to 2 kgs less than the Kanchan Rai, another Rajesh Lakhwani, one of the along by your distributor weight. Based on the standard 14.2 kgs. The 10 insider who was working as an main accused and believed to by paying for a half-filled complaints, the Gyalshing cylinders were immediately assistant in the Directorate of be the key mastermind was cylinder. Police registered a suo moto seized and the driver and the State Lotteries, was arrested picked up by the Police. The Gyalshing Police on 10 case against Koirala, agent’s statement recorded. by the East District Police on Rajesh had all along September arrested a LPG booking him under 420 The challan and permit 8 September night. The Police maintained that his brother cylinder distributor for short- (cheating) of the IPC and 7 issued to the distributor was believe that he was a key Babloo Lakhwani was the changing his customers in the Essential Commodities Act. also seized during the raid. player in the conspiracy and main brains behind the plans West and South Districts. On 10 September, the Based on this information, was the one who had supplied with Phu Chung Chung as a Suren Koirala, a LPG Gyalshing Police the Police arrested the the result sheet to the eight co-conspirator. distributor for Sikkim Trade apprehended a truck (SK-03- distributor Koirala who has masked men who attempted to According to the Police Development Corporation 2291) laden with gas been remanded to Police rig the online lottery on the sources, Babloo had bought (STDC), Jorethang Branch, cylinders headed for custody till 13 September. night of 11 August. tickets of the forged Apparently, Kanchan was numbers in Mumbai and had ALL THE LATEST HANDSETS @ THE MOST COMPETITIVE RATE IN TOWN! given Rs. 3, 000 for providing devised the plan to become the lottery sheet by the alleged crorepatis instantly. It is PLUS a host of other Mobile Accessories & Gadgets mastermind Phu Chung now clear that entire modus Chung and also promised a operandi was well planned sum of Rs. 2 lakhs later. out much ahead. Babloo After sustained purchased the tickets in interrogation, the Police Mumbai so that no suspicion believe that Kanchan was could arise, police believe. MIDWEEK CLASSIFIEDS Starting Next WEEK! Midweek announces a section for CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS. LOST / FOUND / WANTED / FOR SALE TO-LET / JOBS / VACANCIES for ONE COMPLETE WEEK comes at only Rs. 100 ENTERPRISES (WORD LIMIT 50) Near Sikkim Sarda, MG Marg, Gangtok Phone: 94340 12106 666 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 ROUND UP Workshop on export promotion begins

While the NE States have this programme held more realised the significance of relevance for Sikkim. He said export promotion, the efforts that export promotion should are insufficient and there is be a priority for Sikkim not just little coordination amongst the for revenue generation but also States in their promotional as a key development strategy. efforts, Dr. Joshi said. In his address, additional Moreover, the government Chief Secretary, TT Dorji, officials from the States hardly who was also the chief guest possess requisite skills, at the inaugural function, said information and experience in that the Sikkim Government’s promoting exports efficiently pro-active role in and effectively, he said. development of human The basic objective of this resources, maintaining peace programme, he said, was to and harmony and develop a basic understanding infrastructure had propelled amongst the various officials of the State towards economic the State Governments and growth. He said that the State a MIDWEEK photo other non-government trade Government’s development organisations of export trade programme has focussed on a MIDWEEK Report Sikkim, the workshop will have been on the North Eastern and inculcate necessary skills its natural resources. Sikkim deliberate on various issues region and efforts have been for export promotion, which had a lot of potential in terms GANGTOK: A four-day-long relating to export promotion made to push region towards would in turn facilitate of further development and workshop cum training plan and begin the process of greater economic growth. participants in developing industrialisation and programme on export preparing an export However, the export potential State-specific export therefore, there was a need to promotion from Sikkim began development plan for Sikkim. of the NE region still remains development plans. prepare an export promotion here from September 12. Addressing the gathering unexplored and therefore, there Dr. Joshi said that this plan for the State. Jointly organised by the during the inaugural session, is a great need for both the training programme was being Earlier, the welcome Indian Institute of Foreign Dr. Rakesh M. Joshi, Prof. IIFT Central and the State held in five phases and six address was delivered by CL Trade, New Delhi and the and Project Leader, said that Governments work together for States have been covered so far. Denzongpa, secretary, Department of Commerce and the Central Government’s the development of export He said that with the opening Commerce & Industries

Industries, Government of consistent focus over the years promotion plans, he said. of the Nathula Pass for trade, Department.

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continued from page 1 The bottlenecks do not end here. International nearly a month. In fact, trade was stalled for 21 days trading in animals and animal products require over the IEC issue. certification from the Convention on International With the IEC waiver in place, the traders were in Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. for another shock. It soon became clear that the trade The nearest office for this region is located at limit of just Rs. 25,000 per trader per day was too Bangalore. Any animal product imported into India little. The Union Ministry of Finance had initially would require CITES clearance, which can take up to imposed a restriction of trading of just $ 500 US per a month. Till then, the animals or animal products trader per day. This proved to be another major languish at the Sherathang Trade mart on the Indian constraint. Trading over Nathula proved to be by no side, leading to huge losses. Also, food grains means cheap. Also, the Central Government directives imported require clearance from the Central Food stipulate that the State Bank of India issue US dollars Laboratory at Kolkata. Samples are sent to the CFL to the traders to the tune of just $ 500 per day, that for certification which takes more than three weeks too, only for business travel purposes. No dollars are to come through. “Chinese wool and silk, which are available for actual trading purposes. major items for trade, all need CITES certification. Just the cost of daily transportation is costly. For The length of time needed to get these clearance add small traders like Chimi R. Bhutia, a first-time trader, to the escalating costs of trading and loss of valuable going up to Nathula on a daily basis, the economics time,” says Mr. Sarda. of budgeting is a daunting task. In the absence of any Interestingly, on the Chinese side, the Mart is daily service transport service to Nathula, the traders equipped with high-tech scanners which make testing like him are shelling out nearly Rs. 2000 per day just of food grains and animal products almost instant on on hiring vehicles from Gangtok to Nathula and then arrival. from Nathula to Renqinggang, the Chinese mart. Given all these constraints, it is no surprise that “Traders are allowed to take their vehicles in the Chinese traders were reportedly not too happy with Renqinggang but the road leading to the Chinese mart the slow pace of business. Also, about two Indian is still under construction and negotiated only on a traders crossed over to the Chinese side daily on an four-wheel drive. The logical option is to hire one of average. “Despite the large number of locals issued the vehicles pressed into service by the Chinese travel permits, hardly two make it to Renqinggang on government to ferry Indian traders, which costs Rs. a single day from Monday to Thursday. This has 500 one way,” says Mr. Bhutia. The only solution to resulted in a low morale for the Chinese traders,” says this problem would be starting of a bus service to a trader. Nathula by the State Government. But there is also some good news. Indian traders Tiding over the huge transportation costs, once the did brisk business to the tune of about Rs. 2 lakhs last traders are inside Renqinggang in the Tibet Autonomous month trading items such as non Basmati Rice, Region (TAR), they are faced with yet another hurdle. cigarettes, blankets, copper products, dry fruits,

There is hardly anything to buy or sell. This is because canned and processed food products, spices and K Y

the present list of items for import-export is virtually pickles. “The first 15 blankets taken by a trader got M redundant and based on trading that took place 44 years sold out the moment he reached Renqinggang,” says C ago. “Yak skin and tail, sheep and horses were items Mr. Sarda. Also, local Sikkim-grown rice, cleaned and traded more than four decades ago. It may have packed in one kg packets are getting good business. nostalgia value but it does not make business sense The various Central Government ministries have today. There is no demand for most of the items listed responded positively to the demands of the local for import,” says a trader. Only recently, it was reported traders in streamlining the trading operations. “After that the Chinese traders could hardly do any business the IEC code waiver, only last week, the Reserve Bank last month as there were no demand for their items. of India increased the limit of $ 500 to $ 10,000 issued “There is an urgent need to review and amend the for traders. We are hopeful that the trading limit would present import-export list keeping in mind the needs be increased to Rs. one lakh per day per trader,” he of the present age and trade advantages,” Mr. Sarda adds. says. This low volume of trade percolated by the Traders from outside of Sikkim are also showing unrealistic items for trade has now prompted Beijing has excellent facilities for Indian traders including keen interest in the Nathula trade. Trade delegations to ask the Indian Government to review the list of items boarding facilities. But Indian traders have not been from other States have been coming here and holding for import through the Nathula. One report suggested able to use this facility so far. It is imperative that this meetings with the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce that the trade through Nathula is currently worth about restriction be lifted and the traders be allowed to stay members on the possibility for setting up $ 12,500 a week but the Chinese traders in the last two at the Chinese mart for at least two days. manufacturing units here especially for raw materials months did business worth about $1,600. “Most of “Considerable amount of time is needed to interact like wool and silk. Mr. Bhutia echoes this sentiment. Chinese traders are also first-timers and they are also with the Chinese traders and understand the demands “I am keen to import wool and silk but I can make a in the learning process. Although they are crazy about of the market there. Also, time is needed for good profit only if there are manufacturing units for Indian goods for its high standards and a good market familiarising oneself with their trading dictums and these raw materials here in Sikkim itself. Also, if the in China, the limited items for trade has proved a building a good business rapport with them,” says products are manufactured here, it will add good brand dampener for them as well as us. The Chinese traders Mr. Sarda. value to Sikkim,” he says. do bring various items for display at Renqinggang, we Similarly, Indians holding valid visa are not Mr. Bhutia’s aspirations may soon be realised as are unable to buy anything because of the restrictions. allowed to directly enter Tibet as of now. For visiting one trader from outside of Sikkim has shown interest On an average, we hardly did any substantial trading,” Tibet, one has to fly to Beijing in main-land China to set up a silk processing unit to manufacture Varanasi Mr. Bhutia says. from where a special permit has to be obtained to Silk sarees here. Another major hurdle for the traders is the enter Tibet. For trading with China, even through “The various restrictions have proved to be limitation on the period of stay at the Chinese mart. Nathula, it becomes imperative to meet and interact detrimental to small traders so far. For big traders to Traders are allowed to enter the TAR from Nathula at with traders from main-land China as well, since most enter the field, these bottlenecks have to be removed. 7:30 in the morning and are expected to return back of the export demands are from traders and whole- Then only we will see the real trading in large volumes after finishing all businesses by 3: 30 pm the same sellers based there. The traders at Renqinggang are taking place. The issue of right pricing is also there. day. This is unrealistic. “It is impractical and certainly small traders from the near-by villages who take orders Traders on both sides are yet to finalise a standard unrealistic to expect the traders to warp up business for big traders and whole-sellers outside of TAR. An price formula for goods for trade. Once all these are in just few hours of time and return. Just to get to Indian trader would have a better understanding of on place, we can expect real business through Renqinggang from Gangtok takes more than 3 hours. ground realities on prices, demands and quality if he Nathula,” Mr. Sarda opines. Also, the road conditions during the peak Monsoon could directly interact with retailers and whole-sellers “This has been a great learning period for us, and season increases travel time considerably. We have in TAR and main-land China. And it would bring despite the various bottlenecks we faced, we are hardly two hours to interact with the traders and strike down travel costs and time if the Indian traders are optimistic about the prospects of Nathula trade,” sums a deal,” says Mr. Bhutia. The Renqinggang trade mart allowed to enter TAR directly from Nathula itself. up Mr. Bhutia. 888 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 ROUND-UP THESIKKIMWILDLIFE Wichar completes 25 years of publication

a MIDWEEK Report

GANGTOK: WICHAR Nepali Weekly, a premier publication from Sikkim has

Photo: KARCHOONG DIYALI Photo: KARCHOONG completed 25 years of regular and uninterrupted publication. Edited and published by eminent litterateur and senior journalist, Subhash Deepak from Gangtok, WICHAR was established in May 1981. Over the years, it has grown in its endeavour to uphold the ethics The contribution of literary development in the of journalism and the WICHAR in the development region has been covered by promotion and propagation of of Nepali language and WICHAR in the past. More Nepali language and literature. literature is immense and a than 1500 poems, more than According to Mr. Deepak, subject of research. It is four dozen short stories and the main focus of this perhaps the only newspaper numerous amounts of essays, publication has been on the that has been devoted not only literary criticisms and social, economic, cultural and to social and development interviews have been published literary issues pertaining to issues pertaining to Sikkim but in WICHAR in then last 25 Sikkim, North Bengal and also to fostering and years. The newspaper has also those of the Indian Nepalese. encouraging young and been a staunch supporter of the WICHAR reaches to readers budding writers in Nepali national movement of Nepali not only in Sikkim and North language by providing them a language in the 8th Schedule of BIRD OF PREY Bengal, but also to Indian platform for publication of the Constitution. Often noticed in pairs patrolling the valleys uttering their Nepalese in Assam, their works. Almost all WICHAR is bringing out a characteristic kek-ke-ke-keee-keee calls during late morn- Meghalaya, Mizoram and activities related to Nepali special silver jubilee issue to ings, this Crested Serpent Eagle was spotted along the various regions of North India. language movement and mark this occasion.

C Sang - Martam road. Known as ‘Spilornis cheela’ to orni- M

Y thologists (now one knows where the word cheel comes K from), they are common but not plentiful in Sikkim and Jorethang Public Ground are one of the most important friends our farmers and Sikkim to host [South], and Kyongsa Public forests have. Ground [West]. All India Police Tourney It should be mentioned here that the SAP ground at Pangthang is being converted CLASSIFIEDS into a national level football ground and should be ready Starting Next WEEK! before the tourney starts. Midweek announces a section for The tournament will be CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS. conducted in accordance with LOST / FOUND / WANTED / FOR SALE the rules prescribed by the All TO-LET / JOBS / VACANCIES India Police Sports Control for ONE COMPLETE WEEK Board and All India Football comes at only Rs. 100 Federation. It is being planned (WORD LIMIT 50) and organised under the leadership of state Director General of Police CM a MIDWEEK Report tournament. Last year, they DON’T M I SS THI S OPPO RTUNIT Y were beaten at the quarterfinals Ravindran, who has further GANGTOK: Sikkim Police by the eventual winner BSF at distributed the work of will be hosting the 55th BN Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh. organising the tourney to AVAIL UPTO 100% Mullick Memorial All India The league matches of the various committees headed by DISCOUNT ON ALL Police Football tournament will be played senior officers of the Championship, 2006, in the group-wise at different department. COURSES state from 28 October to 6 locations, whereas the opening DIG [Range] Akshay November. Participating in and closing ceremonies, Sachdeva, cultural and media SCHOLARSHIP EXAM GOING ON the championship will be 35 quarterfinals, semifinals and secretary for the tourney, police teams and finals will be organised here at informed the media on Monday HURRY UP! LIMITED SEATS!!! paramilitary organisations the Paljor Stadium. As per that this tournament will also from various states. offer the state an opportunity FOR DETAILS CONTACT: information received from the The prestigious tourney is Office of the Deputy Inspector to promote Sikkim as a great CITI Computers, Tibet Road being hosted here after 11 years; General of Police [Range], the tourist destination. Keeping Gangtok - 737101, Sikkim the last time it was held here was league matches will be held at this in mind, the state’s mascot Ph: 201119 / 9832025675 / in September 1995. Till date, Sikkim Armed Police Ground for the tourney will be a Red 9832005613 Sikkim Police has reached only at Pangthang [East], Panda. To further reflect the till the quarterfinals in this Bhaichung Stadium [South], culture and ethos of Sikkim, cultural programmes and literary events will be also held send your FEEDBACK to [email protected] during the teams’ stay in Sikkim, Sachdeva added. OPINION 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 999 and former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari always maintained that India had violated assurances given to the Sikkimese during the ‘merger’ era in the 1970s when it abolished seats reserved NATHULA: for bonafide Sikkimese belonging to the three ethnic communities in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in 1979, four years after Sikkim’s absorption into the Indian Union. The apprehension over the increasing influx of non-Sikkimese and non-Tibetans in Sikkim and Tibet are by JIGME N. KAZI major issues which need to be taken seriously. he decision to construct a two-lane Both India and China need to respect highway between Gangtok and the hopes and aspirations of the TNathu La [distance 53 km and two Tibetans and Sikkimese if the two hours drive] at an estimated cost of Rs countries want to come together in a 200 crores by the Border Roads more lasting and meaningful way. For Organisation [BRO] and the more than guns, cannons and diplomacy construction of 608 km road network it is the faith, trust and goodwill of the along the Line of Actual Control [LAC] people which will act as a catalyst for from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, speedy economic development and passing through Sikkim, are all positive formidable bulwark against any outside indications of the building up of a closer aggression. and more friendly ties between India Even if both China and India have and China. Besides facilitating better formally and symbolically accepted road network in the entire Himalayan their political authority over Tibet and frontier road construction on LAC has Sikkim they need to pay heed to what been prompted by strategic Charles Bell, Political Officer of Sikkim considerations. India wants to and a close friend of the 13th Dalai strategically counter the Chinese build- Lama, once said: “…from India’s point up of road and rail links along the border Photo courtesy: NOW! of view, a happy Sikkim as buffer state in Tibet and be prepared to meet any eventuality. What happened after Hindi- Chini-bhai-bhai euphoria in the fifties cannot be forgotten so easily even if Local Aspirations and Strategic Location both India and Chinese aspire to let K bygones be bygones. While a note of countries need to give top priority to local long-pending demand on restoration of would be of greater advantage than an Y M optimism has indeed been struck on concerns raised by people of Tibet and the political rights of bonafide unhappy Sikkim in India on one of her C Sino-Indian relations New Delhi needs Sikkim. The Sikkim unit of the Indian Sikkimese. The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha future international boundaries of great to tread cautiously in dealing with National Congress [INC] objected to Apex Committee [SIBLAC] has also importance, which would be of contentious issues in the coming days. resumption of Indo-Tibet border trade harped on the same issue. Sikkim disadvantage, indeed a danger to India.” More than anything else both the through Sikkim before fulfilling the Pradesh Congress Committee President This applies to Tibet, too. POWER DEPT. INCURS LOSS OF The COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2005 was presented to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly on 10 June 2006. MIDWEEK will serialize some of the findings of the CAG Report each week for a clearer picture on how our departments function. We begin with the Power Department, which according to the report has incurred a 4.06 CRORES loss of Rs. 4.06 crores due to ‘wasteful expenditure’. this decision on the plea that infrastructure created in the above work, the Department operations. During the period the Government could realize past for meeting the demand constructed low tension [LT] of operation with LT heavy Rs. 3 crore per annum as of local industries did not heavy duty line with specific duty supply, the firm did not energy charges. An yield desired results; the transformers at the factory pay the energy charges agreement was signed on most noticeable case being premises at a total cost of Rs. amounting to Rs. 87 lakhs as Power Department February 1998 providing for Sikkim Vanaspathi Ltd, 48.95 lakh. on 31 March 2001. Thus, the incurred wasteful tariff comprising contract which was operational for a The construction of HT line infrastructure provided to the expenditure of Rs. 4.06 demand @ Rs. 80 per KVA short period of time and the works which commenced in factory at Government cost crore in providing power of the plant capacity per Power Department ended up April 1998 could not be amounting to Rs. 4.06 crore lines to a factory at month and energy charges @ in chasing irrecoverable dues completed before the agreed proved wasteful without government cost as the Rs.1 per KWH effective for from this defunct unit. date of July 1998 due to generating any revenue to the factory closed down five years from the date of Notwithstanding the financial constraints and want Government as envisaged. their operations after a providing supply. When the genuine reservations expressed of clearance from Forest The department replied in short while without proposals for financial by the Finance department, the Department. The work was April 2005 that the whereabouts paying the energy sanction for the work were Power Department decided to completed and supply of power of the owners of the firm were charges of Rs. 87 lakh. moved in November 1997 the construct in April 1998 one commenced in September not traceable. In their further The government decided Finance department opined extension bay at Lower Lagyap 2000 to M/s Sikkim Alloys and reply on August 2005, the on July 1997 to provide that it might not be Hydel Project [LLHP] 66 KV Carbide Ltd. Department stated that the dedicated High Tension [HT] economical to import power, switchyard for installation of Audit scrutiny carried out in infrastructure created for their power lines at Government sustain transmission and one 7.5 MVA sub-station i.e December 2004 revealed that unit has been utilized for cost to M/s Sikkim Alloys distribution loss and one DC 11 KV transmission M/s Sikkim Alloys and Carbide providing supply to the public and Carbide Ltd., Setipool, distribute power at an un- line upto Sikkim Alloys and Ltd. did not draw power after in the nearby areas. This could East Sikkim, in order to remunerative rate. The Carbide Unit, Setipool, at a the commencement of the HT not be vouchsafed in audit in the promote heavy industries in Finance Department also total cost of Rs. 4.06 crore. supply in September 2000 and, absence of supporting details for Sikkim. Government took warned that similar Before commencement of the thereafter, closed down their the same . 101010 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 OP-ED

Vol. 1 No. 2 Hear Them Out Politics makes strange bedfellows he public hearing for the 300 MW Panan Hydro working overtime since his Electric Project located at Dzongu in North Sikkim narcoanalysis test in 2003 and Tis to be held on 18 September. The project proposes a few heads rolled as a result, to tap the waters of the Tholung Chu, one of the great it took 3 years and Times Now tributaries of the Teesta in the Dzongu area. The dam for to actually telecast an this project will come up on the confluence of Rangyong obviously intoxicated Telgi Chu and the Tholung Chu at Lingza village while the power mumbling out name after plant will come up near the Panan village. name….Mr. Sharad Pawar, Mr. Over the last few days protests against the proposed Chhagan Bhujbal….and it power project has been intensifying. Last week a team went on and on. The moot consisting of officials from the Forest department and question is; is anyone developers of the project was stopped by protestors surprised? The guy was able to from entering the area for a joint inspection. The Sikkim procure a printing press and Armed Police had to be deployed to allow them entry print almost genuine stamp to Dzongu. This week another Joint Inspection Team papers and distribute them with was not allowed to carry out the survey work by the MADDY’S DILLI gay abandon for god’s sake! locals at Passingdang, Dzongu. How could he have ever The recently published report on the ‘Capacity Study ell I’m back again from Mathrani has miraculously managed without a whole lot of Teesta Basin in Sikkim’ has listed the many ways in good old Dilli with a recovered from acute amnesia of help from you know who? which the proposed dams will affect the environment of Wvengeance. Of course I and for one who was initially And of course, lowly people the area. Apart from the large threats that these hydro have to assume that I’m a unclear of Mr. Singh’s visit to like him and Abu Salem can be electric power projects pose to the eco-system of north runaway hit in Gangtok for Baghdad with a Congress put through these tests and the Sikkim, other major concerns raised by the Panan power want of enough reassurance on delegation is now singing like results can be stoutly denied by project is its location - the Dzongu Lepcha reserve and that score. So without much a canary. His sworn testimony the very powerful combine of its proximity to the Tholung Gumpa, one of the most ado let me plunge headlong leaves no doubt that Mr. those who aided and abetted in sacred and important monasteries of the state. It is feared into more saucy stuff from the Natwar’s goose is finally the crime! After all, this that any major project in the vicinity of this area will capital city. Our good old ex cooked. The erstwhile suave evidence is inadmissible in definitely be a cause for concern as it would involve large Foreign Minister (now and polished Natwarji is now court. Well what id like to influx of migrant workers from outside the state. hounded), was just breathing a busy making Jatland his know is, how come none of our What started as low profile protests is now threatening sigh of relief when the Pathak heartland! As the saying great politicians with such to get more strident. While the government has so far committee exonerated him goes…. ‘politics makes strange impeccable integrity and fat

succeeded in ignoring the initial murmur of protests, it may from the great Iraqi food for oil bedfellows’. And just like the bank balances which most C M now not be so easy to contain the protesting voices with scam and now the poor chap yoyos our dear politicos have shouldn’t be having in the first Y the movement against the dam gathering momentum. The K along with family and friends become I have an ominous place undergoes narcoanalysis? Sikkim government’s ambitious programme to harness is yelling bloody murder. I premonition he is going to We have, ‘the right to the hydro-electric power potential of the State may prove can’t blame him though as the bounce back with a vengeance. information’, after all don’t to be good economics but the damage done to the ecology manner in which he is being Watch this space for more we? So even if the interest is and to the indigenous cultural heritage of the area must badgered is questionable and details. purely academic we sure would also be accounted for. The fears of the locals on the social brings to mind the witch hunts Right, let’s move on to the like to know who’s got what impact of the project in the Lepcha reserve cannot be in the days of the Emergency. latest entrant to the Rajya stashed away where, right? ignored just because it is the minority view. Clearly he is now persona non Sabha, Ms. Sule who also So before I go on a lighter grata in the inner court where happens to be Union Minister note…a small prayer doing the INBOX he once enjoyed an exalted Sharad Pawar’s daughter. If rounds at the BJP HQ in Delhi status. Though I don’t nothing else, she sure is loaded … [in anticipation of a, [email protected] personally agree with Mr. and her declared assets would ‘Shining India’, that is yet to Natwar’s, ‘grapes are sour’, make many in her flock blush. come] CONGRATULATIONS newspaper priced at Rs. 10 is approach, I must say that he is After all, Gandhi caps and Midweek has brought bit too much for a small town being selectively victimized by starched white kurtas are still WE SHALL OUST SON freshness with fragrance here like Gangtok. the powers that be. After all the the order of the day, perhaps the [set to, ‘We shall overcome’] and there. Arun Pradhan world famous Mr. Q of Bofors last mockery of the austerity All the best. Received over email fame was mysteriously let off and simplicity the Gandhian We shall oust Son, we shall R.S.Shresta the hook and his dubious assets era represented. I don’t grudge oust Son some day, GO SUPERNOVA unfrozen to boot so he could anybody their moolah, but flats Deep in our hearts we do LAYOUT TOO PLAIN Firstly I would like to scoot with the loot, literally in Peddar road and Singapore, believe, that we shall oust Son I just bought a copy of congratulate you and the speaking! Could that be a whopping amount of some day, Midweek and found it very Midweek team on coming up because of Mr. Q’s close jewellery, loads of the green Mannu dear is just a boy, refreshing for a change. We the with the first issue. Quite proximity to Ms. Sonia stuff, et all doesn’t quite fit in Manu dear is a boy today, Gangtokians were missing a impressive even though i just Gandhi…well the game is with the ‘khadi’ mould does it? She has got the say every good weekly newspaper and managed to just scan through afoot Watson and the plot It seems like the budding which and every way, we see Midweek has filled that gap. the pages. Even though I am thickens. politician and perhaps CM, that everyday We hope to see more not much of a TV person and Bolstered by the clean chit Maharastra in waiting is We shall find the chosen one, interesting coverage in the never really caught any doled out by Justice Pathak, preparing more for a beauty the chosen one we’ll future. However, I was bit Supernova episode, ever since they were planning to fight pageant rather than parliament. find one day disappointed with the layout as I read your article on the same back on the floor of the house And it is interesting to note that But when we’ll ever do that, it was very plain and dull. I have started and I was mortified at the the old warhorse Mr. Pawar’s not a single one of us can say Please add more photos and watching that show. Anyways, prospect considering their declared assets are a miniscule No matter what goof ups we belligerence level and the fraction of his daughters. Well more sections for the youth. Midweek is good, looks neat do, this surely we can say dramas that unfold these days Sonam Lepcha & and the content is varied too. that’s what seasoned means in That we shall oust in both houses of Parliament. friends, Gangtok Nice work people. politics today I guess. Son some day! Keeping it up is the difficult But like rats deserting a sinking While on the subject, Mr. So that’s it for this time PRICE NOT RIGHT part though, let’s see you guys ship, his former accomplices Sharad Pawar has been folks. See ya next time with You have priced your pull it off. have now turned saints and fingered by the scamster par more of the same from good ol newspaper too high for Pavitra Tuladhar spilled the beans so to say. excellence Telgi. While the Dilli. Gangtok’s pockets. A Received over email Former Ambassador Aneil gossip and rumour mill was OP-ED 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 111111

t is interesting how the absence of reserved seats for the Limboo and Tamang communities in the Ifinal delimitation of Sikkim’s Assembly Delimitation and constituencies seems to have caught many ‘observers,’ including leaders, by surprise. When even the obvious, when it is eventually stated, comes as a shock, it speaks Reservation volumes of the level of political maturity and understanding that engages in public debate. The Central Delimitation Commission was instituted under Delimitation Act of 2002. As its name and the resultant confusion makes clear, its job is to delimit constituencies – both Assembly and Parliamentary. Its charter of responsibilities makes it explicit that the Commission FRINGE BENEFIT is to look into only the geographical boundaries of by PEMA WANGCHUK constituencies and realign them in a way that each constituency is more contiguous, more homogenous. communities were added in the Scheduled Tribes list, decide ‘which,’ not ‘whether’ or ‘how many.’ The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes, the ‘files’ should have started moving in Central The Commission has been charged with the as Limboo and Tamang communities became in 2002, Ministries to complete the formalities. Those who responsibility of making constituencies as similar in in turn requires an amendment of Section 7[1A] of continue to dither do so at the risk of subverting the voter strength as possible. This makes sense. Since the Representation of Peoples Act, 1950. This section, very constitution that every elected representative and we are a democracy in which people elect their one may add here, determines the seat reservation government official is duty-bound to uphold. representatives to govern, it should only follow that formula for Sikkim which provides the 12 seats for Once the above Acts are amended, directions each representative in the State Assembly represents the Bhutia and Lepcha communities, two seats for are passed to the Delimitation Commission to also a similar number of people - that would make them Scheduled Tribes and one seat for the Sangha. Given earmark which constituencies should be reserved equally representative, and thus, equally powerful. It how sensitive the whole issue is, it needs to be state for the Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim. The is obvious that Sikkim has many anomalies on this that the ‘amendment’ will be to appoint the number Commission cannot decide whether reservations front, but three decades of living with this arrangement of seats to be reserved for the new Scheduled Tribes should be accorded or not or even how many; their have made the people comfortable with the way things and will not entail a reduction in seats already reserved job is to mark constituencies afresh and decide are. But then, comfort-levels are not the same as for other communities since their continuance has which constituencies to reserve. Everyone knew political propriety. already been endorsed by the Supreme Court. What that neither Article 332, nor Section 7[1A] of the No one was expected to welcome the delimitation will also be required is an amendment of Clause 3 of Representation of Peoples Act, 1950, had been process - not in Sikkim, nor anywhere else in India. Article 332 of the Constitution covers reservation of amended; no one should have expected to find Elected representatives cultivate vote-banks, groom seats for Scheduled Tribes. One must remember here seats reserved for the Limboo and Tamang constituencies and unfortunately their return to the that this would be first time that Assembly seats in communities in the final list. But this ill-informed corridors of power is decided more by how many Sikkim will be reserved specifically for Scheduled expectation should have been expected. When the voters they made happy, rather than how many policy Tribes. The same Article 332 provides the Delimitation Commission was convening public decisions they turned in favour of the people. Any Constitutional guarantee of reserved seats for the sittings on its proposals in Sikkim, much time was changes in the areas they represent would require new K

Limboo and Tamang communities; the reservation has consumed by those demanding reservation for strategies and perhaps even entail the splitting of core Y M

to come and even though the Centre might rank Sikkim Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim even after the supporters between different constituencies. Some C lower in the priority list of Parliamentary business Commission members had explained that theirs might even lose their traditional strongholds to a [like passing the required amendments], it is bund by was not the forum to raise such demands. The reserved category. So yes, there is reason for confusion the Constitution to eventually deliver. Yes, the process delimitation process has to be seen in isolation of and heartburn, but not over reservation of seats - that looks complicated. It is not. The moment the two the reservation process. The Commission can only is a different process altogether. The night Manul village turned to ‘ground zero’ A flash of you… Sometimes by PEMA L. SHANGDERPA before was swept away and covered by their respects to the victims of Manul I can see debris with no signs of humans the next disaster in particular as well as the A flash of you morning,” recounted a BRO official. others who had lost their lives during isaster might have different faces In my uncle’s eyes but thousands of miles away Following the slide, the highway had the course of road construction work in An expression, Dfrom Manhattan, September 11 remained closed for several weeks. Some 758 BRTF in general. remains an equally important day for a 84 slides occurred at different places on A prayer and wreath laying ceremony A sidelong look tiny hamlet along the North Sikkim that fateful night. Five major permanent was performed at the Manul memorial In an aunt highway. Here the ‘ground zero’ is not bridges where damaged, the highway had near Manul village in North Sikkim. All When I seek where the twin towers stood but Manul, sunk at 37 points. However BRO rose ranks under 758 BRTF observed two More searchingly a village in north Sikkim where on this to the occasion and restored road minutes silence in their respective It’s not there day in 1983, a massive landslide buried communication in record time. locations at 10 AM as a mark of respect Captured only alive 65 people, including personnel of The then Prime Minister Indira to the departed souls. The rededication But a moment Gandhi in her message to BRO had service was also observed at the General Reserve Engineering Force and My heart leaps their families, at the Border Roads appreciated the restoration and the headquarters of Project Dantak in Organisation (BRO) camp. citation reads. “After such major Thimphu, Bhutan where chief engineer As involuntarily The night of 10 and 11 September landslides, the restoration of the road Brigadier M. S. Pillai and all ranks will I jerk forward 1983 experienced a heavy downpour of to Mangan and Chungthang, well in vow to strive harder and to achieve the With a need around 450 mm after a cloud burst, advance of schedule, is a tribute to the goals left over by their departed So primitive coupled with intermittent tremors with efficiency and organisaional excellency comrades. In Sikkim, Commander 758 A heartstopping thunder showers. One of the nallahs of the Border Roads Organisation. This BRTF, A. K. Dikshit and Commanding Hungering inside upstream on the Manul camp got is specially laudable because of the officer, 86 RCC, Lt. Colonel Rajesh People die adverse conditions in which they have Karel along with their team pledged to blocked due to heavy debris which But genes remain choked it. The stream changed its course had to work”. Two BRO personnel were fulfill the dreams of the martyr’s. I wonder sometimes and in its fury, caused by the raging then awarded with two Kirti chakras Even this week the BRO has been torrential rain washed away the BRO while another three received the kept busy by keeping the north Sikkim Can others see and labour camps. Never before had Shaurya Chakra. highway open despite the rain causing A flash of you such a tragedy struck the BRO camp, Manul Day is observed by all major slides along this north Sikkim In my cheekbones in spite of continuous work in officers and ranks of 758 Border Roads highway as well as the Singtam-Dikchu Or perhaps hazardous and inhospitable terrain and Task Force (BRTF) and 86 RCC on 11 road where the roads have caved in at Even my soul? climatic conditions. September every year as a day of several places. The BRO has completed “A camp bustling with life a night solemnity and commemoration to mark permanent restoration works. - Tenzin C.Tashi 121212 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 HISTORY

On several occasions Kazi opened up his heart and conversed with me in Nepali to convey that at heart he was a Sikkimese and had struggled for a democratic Sikkim Unveiled dispensation. A Lepcha noble, he was a devoted Buddhist but he did not trust the wily Bhutias and the MALOY KRISHNA DHAR, an Intelligence Tibetans. He considered the Nepalis as demographic Operator was sent to Sikkim by the ants, who were bound to gobble up the identity of the Intelligence Bureau [IB] after the aboriginals. Kazi had a vision. But he was not a ‘merger’ of Sikkim with India in May politician of the mettle the Indian politicians are made 1975 to look after the internal and of. He was a trusting type of person and easily yielded counter intelligence functions. In his under pressure. His biggest disadvantage was that he believed in the Indian bureaucrats and politicians who book Open Secrets: India’s guided him along the course of merger of Sikkim, as Intelligence Unveiled, Dhar offers an per the strategic design of Delhi. The Kazini often insider’s view on prominent people vociferously voiced the personal and secret views of and events of the time. Kazi. Discretion was not her forte. Behind the back Revelations made in the book by Dhar of Kazi some of his Nepali colleagues had arrived at has already caused shudders in the secret understanding with Delhi as they hoped to gain country’s political, bureaucratic and a better deal from an Indian Sikkim, where the rule of security institutions. The fact that no majority was the basic ingredient of democracy. I do other government official of Dhar’s not want to name these Nepali colleagues at this stage of Kazi’s life, when he is sufficiently disillusioned seniority has made bold to disclose so with the political leaders and bureaucrats in Delhi. much about the functioning of the The events had overtaken the Kazi and Kazini. Indian intelligence establishment has Back in Delhi Indira Gandhi was in no mood to allow imparted a kind of historic significance the ripe fruit to fall on wrong laps. She was seemingly to the book. MIDWEEK excerpts from his on a winning streak and Sikkim offered an opportunity chapter on Sikkim to reaffirm her greatness. She had helped demolishing a part of the history written by the British Empire and BACK TO SHANGRI-LA with China, America, and the all-pervasive evil the hungry politicians of 1947 by dismembering One of the loyal officers of the former Chogyal had machine of the day, the CIA. The general rung of the Pakistan. She had earned for India the membership very aptly described the tryst of history in which government and political establishments were required of the nuclear club. Sikkim was another stepping stone Sikkim was drawn into the mysterious webs of to demonstrate their loyalty to the new country and to put her on the pedestal of greatness. Both Kazi and ambition, aspiration and frustration of three women new masters in demeanour and deeds. They did Kazini had failed to fathom her problems and – Indira Gandhi, Hope Cooke and Kazini Eliza Maria everything possible Khangsarpa. Some day someone should be able to to please the

C Sikkim was drawn into the mysterious webs of

M peel off the webs of mystery that surrounded the ‘deputationist Y

K Kazini. I would try to narrate a few snippets of my officers’ and the encounter with that legendary rolling stone of history enigmatic Indian ambition, aspiration and frustration of three women that came to rest in the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim. bureaucracy that It was not an easy task for me to address the were being – Indira Gandhi, Hope Cooke and Kazini Eliza Maria infrastructural problems. My regional boss at Calcutta gradually imported[ [ did not appreciate the logistical problems. To him into the new state. Khangsarpa Sikkim was another territory gifted to him after the The Governor had merger of the Himalayan kingdom. I gave up on him replaced the Chogyal. The chief minister physically proclivities. They finally ended up as the reluctant and pleaded directly with the top bosses in Delhi to resided in his Mintokgang house located in between tools that helped the people of Sikkim to achieve help me with manpower, communication equipment two hills, one occupied by the Governor and the other democracy and lose their identity that they had and funds for hiring accommodation. I received housing the Tashiding palace, abode of the former enjoyed for over 300 years. immediate support. Within three months I could king, Palden Thondup Namgyal. Most of the cabinet ministers were ignorant kids and establish a few intelligence posts at Rhenock, Jorethang, Kazi had reluctantly committed himself to the were not able to comprehend the complicated political Rongpo, Malli, Geyzing, Namchi, Mangan interior merger of Sikkim with India. Once caught into the process that involved in making a democracy function pockets. My efforts were complimented by adequate web of Delhi’s design the Kazi had no other option smoothly. The elected legislators had very little to do support from the technical branch of the IB. They but to drift along, though he did not want outright but to endorse the actions of the Governor which were provided the basic wireless sets and trained operators. abolition of the identity of Sikkim. After the merger normally routed through the chief minister with I was allowed to use 20 helicopter sorties in a year to his cabinet colleagues and the elected legislators, most approving seal of the state assembly. But all of them visit the outposts on China border and any number of of who knew which side of the bread was buttered, were happy on one count. The merger brought in huge sorties for evacuation of sick and wounded personnel. vied with each other in proclaiming loyalty to the new plan and non-plan budgetary support from Delhi and The tiny 22nd state of India presented myriads of political dispensation. they did not take time to learn the tricks of funnelling challenges. The Kazini too was vociferous in proclaiming loyalty the riches to their pockets. Some of the Indian bureaucrats The Intelligence Bureau were quick to come to their rescue by teaching them was an unknown commodity in the Indian rope tricks that made budgetary Sikkim. The Sikkimese were Kazi had no other option but to drift along, provisions vanish into thin air. Having wide exposed to the operatives of the experiences of such magic tricks in mainland India PMO, External Affairs and the though he did not want outright abolition of the they themselves practised the trick and taught their R&AW. The OSD stamp at my new political masters in appreciable to collaborative back did not befool the identity of Sikkim spirit. The merger had inextricably molested the uncanny political gangs and the[ [ political and moral virginity of the once innocent persona closer to the former people. I had seen the same rat race towards the Chogyal and even some of the Indian bureaucrats on to Indira Gandhi and the new political masters in Delhi. cesspool of corruption amongst the politicians and deputation to the government of Sikkim. She had achieved the final fruit of her lifelong pursuit – bureaucrats in the North East. Bhartvarsha like the In 1975 Sikkim presented a crystal clear black and power, glory, adulation and a final destination. But, as I Imperial India believed in the political philosophy of white collage, though the intervening colours were penetrated closer to the hearts and thoughts of the Kazis stuffing the gullet of the concerned people with currency not imperceptible. But extreme analytical skill was I was left with no doubt that Kazi Lhendup and Kazini bills to keep them silent and contended. I suffered from required to decipher those colours. Elisa Maria had not really bargained for the merger of serious pains to witness the simple people of the North The people were broadly branded as pro-India and Sikkim with India. They wanted the Chogyal out and East and Sikkim imitating the people of mainland India, pro-Chogyal. Being pro-India was the fashion of the continuation of Sikkim as a protectorate of India with a immersing them in corruption and degrading their day. The pro-Chogyal elements were treated as pariahs democratically elected government and at worst a intrinsic values. That’s the decisive march of democracy! and were natural suspects, having possible linkages constitutional monarchy. [Excerpted with permission] FEATURES 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 131313 ifty-five. That’s the number of suicide cases group of 15 to 45 years, with 75 per cent of the cases reported in the state by May this year, and these recorded in this age group. Fare only the recorded figures. The real picture Besides awareness camps, CARE has also been could be even more disturbing with experts suggesting organising free counseling/coaching classes for both that this could be just the tip of the iceberg. dropouts and regular students from classes eight to In the past three and a half years, i.e. since 2003, twelve, in collaboration with Gurukul Academy. Sikkim has witnessed an alarmingly steady increase Along with acknowledgement of the good work done in the number of suicides. While the average number by them coming in from all quarters for their efforts, of suicides per year stood at 100 till mid 2005, by the invitations to hold similar awareness workshops have month of October the same year, the figure had already also been pouring in for CARE from all parts of the touched the 126 mark. This year’s statistics have state. The team will be visiting Jorethang this month, painted an even darker picture with 55 cases already followed by Pelling. reported within the first five months. While the good feedback from participants has Tired of waiting for someone to take the initiative come as a major encouragement for CARE members to save lives, a handful of like-minded young to continue their good work, playing the spoil sport volunteers have recently come together to go beyond are fund constraints presently faced by the just talking and do something in this regard. Formed organisation. Thus far, the organisation is sustained as CARE in June this year, the organization aims to by its members and some sponsors, informs PJ create awareness amongst the society, especially the Pradhan, counselor and one of the founding members youth, about mental ailments, find out if they have of CARE. This explains the team’s inability to hold any problems and provide them counseling. awareness camps as frequently as they would have “Suicides cannot be anticipated but they can liked to, or even open a helpline for that matter. certainly be prevented up to some extent if efforts are by SERAH BASNET To fully meet its objective to prevent suicides, save made to create awareness in this direction. We felt it lives and bring down the increasing suicide rate in was high time for like-minded people to do something Sikkim, CARE requires cooperation from the entire together,” says Ongdup Lepcha on the formation of society. So much needs to be done and a handful of CARE. Lepcha is the general secretary of CARE and have stressed on the need for such educational, yet at Good Samaritans have shown they care. Do you? holds a post-graduate degree in anthropology. the same time entertaining, radio plays for the success Within a few months of its formation, CARE has of such awareness campaigns. THEY CARE successfully held awareness workshops on suicidal A little probe behind what triggers off this growing CARE Members: Ongdup Lepcha, Dr. Biswas tendencies and probable preventions in Paljor fatalistic trend in our tiny state brings to fore mental Pradhan, Kamal Chamling, PJ Pradhan, Sashi Namgyal Girls’ Senior Secondary School and Burtuk illnesses, most significantly depression – an ailment, Kumar Rai, Nirmala Pradhan, Norzang Junior High School. During these workshops, besides which, more often than not is left untreated due to Sandyang, TN Sharma, MN Dahal, Jesse talks by various experts, students were also treated to our faulty social perception. Reports suggest that an Targain, Ongyal Lepcha, Pushpa Lata Subba, an interesting one act radio play where negative alarming 95 per cent of these suicides were a result of Rekha Mani Subba, Renzino Lepcha emotions like fear, anger, doubt, frustration and untreated mental illness, of which a whopping 80 per CARE Sponsors: MS Mittal, Kalimpong Store, depression were personified on stage by members of cent were cases of depression. Again, of the ones Azar Tailors, Gokul & Sons, Padma Traders suffering from depression, 80 per cent of the cases

Christian Students’ Fellowship of Sikkim. The play, :FOR COUNSELING OR DONATIONS: K written by renowned Nepali writer Prabin Zumeli, has were seen among women. It has further been observed Contact 99326 46646, 98320 41053, 98320 Y M been well received by students who, in the survey, that the suicide rate is high among the productive age 90058, 98323 04261 C

from the LITTLE KINGDOM Conceptualise, Design, Print stable MainaamMainaam bags award

a MIDWEEK report various State Horticulture Garden is engaged in the Departments, private gardens production and supply of a GANGTOK:Mainaam and foreign flora firms. complete range of cut flowers Garden, Namchi, South Mainaam had put on a throughout the year. The Sikkim won the second -best display of eye-catching flowers Garden’s range of supplies Best Display by Individual including Jennifer Gali, includes exotic, tropical, sub- Growers prize at the 2nd Cooksbridge, Starburst, Forest tropical and rare varieties of International Flora Expo King, Top Spot, and Ice orchids. Cut flowers of lilium 2006 held at Pragati Maidan Cascade. are being transported using in New Delhi from 08 Named after Mainam peak, state-of-the art-technology for September to 10 September. which is itself a repository of the longevity of their freshness The award was presented to rich varieties of flora and and beauty. A wide range of proprietor of Mainaam fauna, the Garden is spread flower bulbs and flowering Gardens, Tika Maya over an area of 20 acres plants are also available. The Chamling by Minister of consisting of different combination of experience and State for Commerce Jairam locations of varying altitudes expertise of the team of FOR AD ENQUIRIES Ramesh. Organized by Media for nurturing different species gardeners and horticulturists, CONTACT: Today Pvt Ltd, the expo was of flowers. With excellent and use of state-of-the-art 03592 - 227618 / 098320 89889 inaugurated by the President infrastructural facilities and technology with excellent 98320 43693 of India, Dr. APJ Abdul backed by an experienced team infrastructure assures EMAIL: Kalam. The event was a big of gardeners and production and delivery of [email protected] hit and was participated by horticulturists, Mainaam quality flowers. 141414 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 EDUCATION

Taktse International School started operations in March this year, promising to change the ‘concept of education’ in the state. How far have they succeeded? RHEA SHARMA spoke to WENDY PULGAR, Principal, TIS and alumni of Stanford University, California, USA with a master’s degree in International Education for an update on progress and problems. “Quality education comes at a price”

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS AND HOW HAVE THEY ADJUSTED TO take place, where the foundation must be built and YOU HAVE MADE SO FAR? THIS NEW METHOD OF TEACHING? therefore our choice of going with Cambridge. Yes. we are happy with the progress made so far. We currently have an enrollment of around 43 WILL YOU STICK TO THE NO Considering that the first phase of the school was students. This is a huge jump considering that we UNIFORM POLICY? constructed and operationalized within a year is in started the school with barely 17 students. The students It is not true that our school has a “no uniform itself quite an achievement. Enrollment numbers have have adapted very well to an interactive and enquiry policy”. Our students wear uniform twice a week and increased, from a modest figure of 17 when we first based learning approach and the outcomes have been on special occasions. Other days they come in smart

started to 43 currently. We were under no illusion of very encouraging. We have seen children who were casuals within a defined dress code. This is practical C

M getting a high enrollment nor did we go out actively inhibited and shy open up; children who dreaded going as students are more comfortable and can dress Y

K seeking it. Our first group of parents has been our to schools now coming to TIS with great enthusiasm appropriately depending on whether conditions. best ambassadors as through their word of mouth the and children who were not confident now standing in IS IT TRUE THAT STUDENTS ARE numbers have increased. This would not have front of an audience and performing. ALLOWED TO BRING IN EXPENSIVE happened had they not been satisfied with the kind of WHAT PROBLEMS HAVE YOU FACED? GADGETS AND GAMES TO SCHOOL? education their wards were receiving. The parents of The major challenge we face will be getting quality This is not true. The school does not permit the 43 children now have the status of Founding human resource. This says a lot for our educational extraneous gadgets or games to be brought to school. Parents at our school. system including our higher institutions of learning Essential learning aids such as audiovisual, computers, PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN TO SEE TIS AS where we are unable to produce high caliber human sports equipment are provided by the school. AN ELITIST SCHOOL. IS THAT YOUR resources. TIS will continue to recruit the best WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE INTENTION? teachers from all around as well as investing in FUTURE PLANS? We do not see TIS as being an elitist school – far professional development. We are also drawing on In the immediate future we are looking at a junior from it. The many parents who send their children to international resources for training programs. playing field and an adventure playground. The school TIS are ordinary working class parents who value WHAT ABOUT AFFILIATION? master plan is being developed on the basis of which quality education and are willing to make the necessary TIS has started the process of affiliation with we will progressively build the senior sections and sacrifices for their children. TIS honor this and are Cambridge for the primary and middle grades. In our other supporting infrastructure. The school is currently conscious of keeping the fees affordable within the assessment Cambridge offers the best alternative in to Grade VI. Next year it will be upgraded to Grade constraints and realities of running a truly good school. terms of educational approach, access to quality VII and thereafter progressively to Grade XII. Intake I do not think our parents would want it any other way. educational resources, training support, and a of new students will be limited. TIS will follow a TIS is a not for profit institution and will aim to certification recognized internationally. We are not gradual growth path that will enable it to create and fulfill its other social obligations by providing aware if other Boards are providing this level of support. manage the right school culture that will promote a scholarships to needy and meritorious students. It is at the primary level that thorough grounding must dynamic learning environment. WHY IS THE SCHOOL MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ANY IN THE REGION? We believe that for learning to be effective and meaningful class sizes need to be manageable. Unlike many schools where class sizes are in excess of 30 and as you know in some cases even 40 to 50 at TIS we will have class sizes not exceeding 20. This will enable our teachers to track the performance of individual children so that child specific learning needs can be met. A rigorous curriculum and instructional approach benchmarked to international standards complements the small class size. To deliver quality education on a consistent basis TIS is investing in its people through on going professional development. The hard reality is that delivering and sustaining quality education comes at a price. What TIS is offering is significant value in comparison to other schools including international schools in greater India where the fees are exorbitant. email: [email protected] HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE THERE SPORTS 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 151515 Namchi gets new indoor stadium NAMCHI: The Namchi been learnt that the Indoor Stadium, constructed at photographs of Sikkimese the cost of Rs. 2.6 crores over sportspersons, who had a sprawling area of 19600 sq. excelled at the national level, ft., was inaugurated here on 8 would adorn the walls of the September by chief minister new indoor stadium. Pawan Chamling. The fund for construction The indoor stadium, the first had been sanctioned by the in the state to have a Buildings & Housing multipurpose fitness centre, Department, and the building’s has facilities for playing foundation stone had been laid volleyball, basketball, earlier by the CM on 27 badminton, tennis, etc. It has January, 2004. EASTERN ZONAL LEG OF NATIONAL TOURNEY TO BEGIN FRIDAY GANGTOK: Sikkim Football Federation [SFA] will play host to the Eastern Zonal Round of 29th Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy 2006 to be held here at Paljor Stadium from 15 to 24 September. The inaugural match will be held between Sikkim and Orissa. Other teams participating in the championship are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. This is the first time that SFA has been given the responsibility of hosting the zonal leg of this national tourney by the All India Football Federation. A RECORD BROKEN, MONETARY ASSISTANCE ASSURED SATA team leaves for Chennai K

GANGTOK: A 15-member team of Sikkim Amateur Swimming Meet concludes Y

th M

Taekwondo Association will represent Sikkim in the 25 C National Senior Taekwondo Championship to be held at a MIDWEEK Report Swimming Association has been assured Periamedu, Chennai, from 15 to 17 September. The monetary assistance of Rs. 50,000 for the championship is being organised by the Tamil Nadu GANGTOK: The 3rd Sikkim State Swimming promotion of the sport in the state by SB Subedi, Taekwondo Association under the aegis of Taekwondo Meet 2006 concluded on Sunday, 10 September Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Environment Federation of India. at the TNA swimming pool with a new record Department and chief guest at the closing The Sikkim team left for Chennai on 11 September, headed being set by Khenrab Wangchuk Dorjee (above ceremony. SASA will be participating in the by chief coach Trilok Subba and manager Sanchaman Subba, left) of 32.68 seconds in 50m Freestyle men National Aquatic Championship 2006 to be held and will participate in fin, fly, bantam, feather, light, welter, breaking his own earlier meet record of 35.11 in Bangalore from 21 to 25 September later in middle and heavy categories. seconds in the same category. Sikkim Amateur the month.

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send all feedback to [email protected] 161616 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 BUSINESS Two weeks, three investors SIKKIM’S INVESTMENT FRIENDLY POLICIES BEAR FRUIT

a MIDWEEK Report spent a little over Rs. 5 crore commercial production in just for land acquisition. 2009. The company has a total GANGTOK: The consistent Cadilla Pharmaceuticals has of nine units in India and one efforts of the State Government acquired land at Bardang, in North America. to promote Sikkim as an between Rangpo and Singtam The Sikkim project will investment-friendly State have at a cost of Rs. 3 crores for a produce tablets and capsules started to show results. pharma and medicine for the domestic market. The With the opening of Nathula manufacturing unit. The unit will have a capacity to and the prospects of immense Rangpo-Ranipool stretch along produce 300 crore tablets and economic boom it brings and the National Highway 31A has capsules per annum, which will the wide and positive vibe been declared an industrial belt be 20% increase over existing Sikkim has gathered over the by the State Government. capacity, Mr. Shanghvi said. years through its persistent In another major The company has acquired five publicity campaigns, the State development, Sun acres and the plant area would has seen a steady interest from Pharmaceuticals has declared be one lakh square feet. The investors over the years. that it will set up a new plant reason behind building it in

Photo: Karchoong Diyali The last two weeks, Sikkim in the State and invest Rs 100 Sikkim was the tax benefits. has attracted the attention of crore during the current fiscal, It would interesting to note three major companies taking advantage of the tax here that a number of interested in setting up their benefits available here. multinational companies have DIVINE REPAIRS production units here. Sun Pharma Chairman and already set up their units here. EVEN LORD VISHWAKARMA, the presiding deity Business giant Godrej Pvt Managing Director Dilip Sheela Foams Pvt Ltd, of all craftsmen and architects, is not spared from the Ltd and Pharmaceutical leaders Shanghvi told a press makers of Sleepwell brand of wrath of the transport journey from Siliguri to Gangtok Cadilla and Sun conference at Kolkata on mattresses already have their as the photograph portrays. According to Kalu Mandal Pharmaceuticals are all ready September 9 that the company unit at Bardang. The Swiss

C to set up shop here, following is setting up a new plant in multinational, SICPA, a

M and Kutu Pal, two sculptors from Siliguri who had 20 of Sikkim’s positive investment Sikkim that would cost Rs 50 global leader in

Y their statues brought over to Gangtok for the K Vishwakarma Puja on 17 September, the effigies suffer scenario. Godrej Pvt Ltd has crore. The total investment manufacturing security inks a lot of damage and extensive repair work is needed already acquired land at proposal by the company is Rs for bank notes started their Mamring near Rangpo in East 100 crore for the current here in Gangtok before the statues are sold for about unit at Mamring last week, Sikkim to set up their hair dyes financial year. along with Chaudhary Group one thousand four hundred rupees each. manufacturing unit. According The first phase of the of Nepal, who set up their to official sources in the State Sikkim unit is expected to be famous WA IWAI noodle Commerce and Industrial completed by March 2007 and manufacturing unit also at Baichung to endorse department, the company has the second phase of Mamring. tribal products HIGH ALTITUDE SPICES a MIDWEEK Report added to the list last year - Ravangla, South Sikkim – 737 139 Pashmina shawls, dehydrated GANGTOK: India football apricots and yak wool shawls HIGH ALTITUDE SPICES, RAVANGLA captain Baichung Bhutia will from Leh and Himachal Pradesh; associate himself with the textile items from the northeast; ANNOUNCES cause of promoting tribal organic food items from products. Baichung Bhutia will Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh and THE SETTING UP OF 6. 00 CRORE be the first sportsperson to be Himachal Pradesh and herbal STATE OF THE ART : a part of the Tribal Cooperative formulations from Tamil Nadu, Marketing Development Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. MULTI FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND Federation of India Ltd’s Meanwhile, the Ravangla- SPICE PROCESSING UNIT IN SIKKIM. (TRIFED) initiative of based High Altitude Spices, a associating eminent people food preservative firm owned by from tribal communities to Baichung and his brother in-law FOR THAT IT NEEDS Strategic Partners with sound financial promote tribal products. Sameer Tamhane has background. Shortly Tie up with Consortium for Exports TRIFED has a chain of 28 announced the setting up of a Sanction and Approval Stage : Sept.-Oct, 2006 retail outlets under the name of new plant at Reshi in West Infrastructure building from : October, 2006-09-05 Tribe India in 22 cities across Sikkim. The state-of-the-art unit the country. will have sections dealing with Trial Runs : October 2007 . Commercial Production : Products endorsed by the fruit, vegetable and spice November 2007 India captain Baichung Bhutia processing and will be built at Interested parties may contact : 97330 -76313 will be available for sale in all an estimated cost of Rs. 6 crores. Tribe India outlets. According The group has decided to seek email: [email protected] to official figures, the sale of strategic partners to provide tribal products in these outlets financial support in this new Chief Promoters of Project: have gone up from Rs.5 million venture and has plans to start BHAICHUNG BHUTIA & SAMEER TAMHANE in 2004-05 to a whopping Rs building the unit by October this :OUR BRANDS: 16.8 million in 2005-06. year and the first trial run is Some new products were expected in a year’s time. Spice of Life Actual WOMEN 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 171717 e know that there a lot of issues that only women need to so large hearted and so giving. It is these women who turn up INDIAN WOMEN ON TOP address and sometimes grapple with as they go about their their sleeves, take over and efficiently run the kitchens in homes Wlives. Like pregnancy and bringing up baby, unless of struck by a tragic demise leaving the family to cope with the course you can boast of a husband who’s really involved in the stream of condolence givers. The Indian woman parenting as well. Then there are those guilt pangs peculiar only We at MIDWEEK are dedicating this page to our women. to women who are part of the workforce and feel that they are Women who constantly multi-task and juggle a lot of diverse is storming the cutting corners at home and missing roles, always giving of global power lists! out on being available to their themselves. Whether they are children. wives/ singletons, mothers, Excerpts from Forbes.com: We also know that contrary to the working women or stay at Chief Executive-designate commonly held belief, mostly male, home housewives, every of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, of course, that woman on the whole woman is constantly Congress President Sonia can’t get along with others of their nurturing and nursing others, Gandhi, and ICICI Bank’s sex, they can and do bond with each constantly trying to blur the Lalita Gupte and Kalpana other. It may not be obvious as the line between who she is –a Morparia are among the 100 raucous bonding men do over a game normal woman- and who she most powerful women in the of football or a chilled glass of beer wants to be- superwoman. world. but then again women are wired We encourage our readers to India-born Nooyi finds differently. Our relationships are write in about what they would herself as the fourth most powerful woman on earth, more private, more complex, more like to see on this page. We hope while Sonia Gandhi layered. We’ve also heard enough that our more experienced occupies the 13th position readers will share good practical sexist comments about women being on the list. the ‘weaker sex’ or the ‘fairer sex’. advice with our younger ones, Joint managing directors of Sorry, we don’t buy that anymore. We and lest we get labeled sexist, ICICI Bank Gupte and know many women who can handle men you can write in too about Morparia are on the 93rd a pair of pliers or hammer better than how difficult it is to understand position, while Vidya their maybe stronger but definitely and please women, or so you Chhabria, chairperson of more inept husbands. normally claim! Jumbo Group, Dubai, is at Women everywhere are This is our space, ladies- the 95th spot. shattering the glass ceiling and make the most of this platform MIDWEEK SAYS: striding tall beside men in the to bond big time! Yes, crib big Expectedly, Indians were corporate world. While gender by TINA time too about your remote quick to post comments on neutral fields like IT have thrown wielding partner if it catches the site ridiculing that Nooyi up big successes , more traditional companies- Pepsico and ICICI your fancy. And since Madam Editor insists that some one has to could be more powerful than are a few top notch companies- have recognized that women not helm this page, it looks like it’s my call though frankly I’m not a Madam G, Sonia who could only make good bosses, they actually are more dedicated and very girly woman- here are my dubious credentials: influence the lives of billions their EQ- emotional quotient- is much higher. They make more No of make up items in my handbag: Nil of people compared to the former who is interestingly compassionate yet more ethical bosses in simple words! The No of hair colours tried: Zilch K listed as an American Y women in Sikkim have always had it much better than their No of conquests: One, I married him! M citizen. Seems Sonia is truly C counterparts in other parts of India. Though ours is a patriarchal My one redeeming factor is probably the fact that when I’m told ‘Or India’s bahu! society, the women have always had their share of respect and else’, I’m a prolific writer! But then of course I’m a more obvious freedom. What we truly respect about our women is that they are choice from a pool that includes Pema and Karchoong, he,he,he! MOMS-TO-BE CLUB Ohmigosh, I’m pregnant! Grandma

YOUR DOC has just happen when the baby is Knows All pronounced those three born, a woman goes MOST PEOPLE MAKE words, ‘Congratulations, through a roller coaster of THE MISTAKE OF NOT you’re pregnant’. emotions as she gears up If the first thought that to become a mother during CLEANING THEIR flashes into your head is not the three terms of her FRIDGES REGULARLY a blissfully happy one, pregnancy. Every time a AND THEN THEY OVER relax, you’re normal. We baby is born, so’s a new COMPENSATE BY asked a cross section of mother. Enjoy your GIVING IT A GOOD women to verbalise the first pregnancy, you’ll be a more SCOURING WITH HARSH thought that raced into their relaxed and confident CLEANING AGENTS. minds as soon as they mother when baby comes. Grandma’s Take: Forget heard they were in the those multi purpose family way. Here are some sprays and all that of the uncensored tommyrot. The best way responses: trivia to wipe your fridge clean · Scared · Excited Sarus cranes mate for is to use two humble · SHIT! · Terrified life. A male sarus crane products from your literally mourned its · Numb · Zapped kitchen shelves. Vinegar dead mate and did not works fine, so does a · Unsure · Weepy allow zoo keepers to solution of baking soda · Depressed · FINALLY! remove the carcass for Psychologists say it’s a long time. mixed with a little warm normal to feel any or a water. It’s cheap and combination of the above Anything as monumental as such as the growing bump, Fruits are best eaten on effective. feelings, like scared but pregnancy is sure to impact they neglect the critical but an empty stomach and Extra hint: Put off the happy. So if you’ve been your mind as well as your often unseen changes in not as an after meal fridge before cleaning it. feeling secretly guilty about body. While most women their mindset. snack as we commonly Put a cut lemon half in the your perfectly normal tend go out of their way to The trick is to realize that tend to do here. freshly cleaned fridge to reactions, relax! deal with obvious changes motherhood does not remove nasty odours. 181818 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 BAZAAR items/rice and many more and a making the whole shopping HOME DEPOT lot of competing brands jostling experience at the Home for attention in each product Depot a complete one. No WE’VE BEEN HEARING so category and the end result is wonder ladies come from many people rave about this you’re thoroughly spoilt for choice. comparatively far flung areas new great new There truly is something for like Kazi Road and Arithang departmental store in everyone. Normally neglected to shop here. Development Area that we consumer segments like the Check it out, highly had to check it out. We large number of diabetics in recommended. strolled into Home Depot in Sikkim have cause to QUICK PICKS: the Hotel Madhuban celebrate - they have a whole · Sausages and other cold building and instantly joined section of sugar free goodies cuts from the Adhunik brand the rave brigade. To be to choose from- jell-o, mint, · Beetles, fish and other honest, we got so caught up caramels, jams to name a few. interesting shaped little a MIDWEEK photo checking the terrific product Another segment that is chocs inventory we almost forgot to rapidly growing but largely · MIDWEEK! take notes for this column! underestimated by other · A fine selection of cheeses The shop bills itself as a shops finds prominent shelf and non alcoholic wines ‘one stop shop’ and yes, we space here. We’re talking of · Khadas - and something must say that it does live up men’s cosmetics and personal else equally handy, find out to its tagline stocking grooming products. But then, for yourself what it is - ready cosmetics, stationery, of course, young proprietor wrapped in newspapers. groceries, provisions, gift Naresh Raj Shrestha would · Packaged dals and spices items, dairy products and know males best! household items all under one You’ll find locals snapping WHAT WE LIKE: There’s well organized and spanking up popular items like ‘gurpak’, plenty of parking space clean roof. There are these ‘kinema’ ‘sukuti’ or dried and available 24/7 in the vicinity, neatly lettered little labels spiced meat and home made the breadth of products on prominently displayed above pickles and a lot of interesting display is pretty impressive a product category that allow frozen stuff from the Al Kabeer and it’s easy to navigate the you to quickly zero in on what brand like mutton rib chops shop. Best of all, the shop’s you want without much ado. and chicken burger meat. Yes, prices are lower compared There are a lot of product you can pick up tiger prawns to other shops in town. We categories - cosmetics/ baking/ and shrimp as well! really like the quirky gastro home cleansing products/ baby It’s obvious that a lot of section which has Eno, Pudin care/candies & sweets/ FMCG meticulous planning went into Hara and Disprin as well!

WHAT’S the first thing that C

M comes to your mind when you Y

K think of Pears soap? The SCORCHING gentle soap, right? All soft mother and baby skin, right? Wrong! The Pears brand from the HLL stable in recent THE SHELVES: months has launched several new variants [brand extensions actually] in a the lowdown on new products ADVERTISING concerted effort to break out of the by now boring ‘gentle’ The company says it’s all rigmarole of putting make up known ingredients in the tag it has so long been about putting the fun back in remover/ cleansing milk, etc., beauty industry. It removes PRINTING identified with. bathtime. But it’s quite serious on cotton balls is a bit tedious waterproof mascara and eye The oil control version was about being good for your for the average woman to be liner with minimal fuss as well. kiddo’s skin so it boasts the religious about. Anticipating Available in six variants - PUBLISHING goodness of olive oil to this, the Delhi based company Aloe, Orange, Cucumber, moisturize and nourish Ginni Filaments Ltd. has Lemon, Mint and Anti-Acne, a baby’s tender skin. come up with a capital product resealable pack of 30 Clea DESIGN The inside of the soap in more ways than one - Clea wet wipes retails for Rs.50. It’s packs a neat surprise too, cleansing and make up a pretty handy thing to have EVENT MANAGEMENT puzzles to keep your remover wipes. in your bag, especially on the preschooler busy. Good Made of soft spun lace move. idea this! non-woven fabric, which The Aloe pack can do A 75g bar of Pears scores over paper in that it double duty to clean up your Junior sets you back by does not tear easily, Clea not youngster’s minor cuts and Rs.20 but it’s still only cleanses the skin, it scrapes when they happen cheaper than market moisturizes and tones it as away from home, it’ also great leader J&J’s baby soap. well since it contains the for removing the dirt and Available in most retail goodness of Chamomile and stickiness from grubby shops in town. Aloe Vera, both well fingers. Beauty experts We picked up the all agree on one products for testing from the launched some time back in basic principle - always Home Depot. a vibrant green colour as far remove all the war paint - TINA removed from the transparent oops, make up from brown of the good old Pears your face before hitting as possible. the sack. Most women, Now the Pears Junior striving hard to juggle soap entices you with a bright the multiple demands pink strawberry colour and of home and career what’s more, it smells and young kids tend to CONTACT: tantalizingly like a candy. cut corners when it 98320 31929 Young mothers will find it a big comes to removing their EMAIL: make up properly at night. help in getting recalcitrant little [email protected] children to bathe willingly. We suppose the whole BAZAAR/ROUND-UP 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 191919 Heal yourself at ATREYA AYURVEDA a MIDWEEK Report

GANGTOK: For those favouring alternate healing over allopathic treatment, there’s good news. Dr. KS Roy, who has opened Atreya Ayurvedic Centre here at PNG Road, says his centre combines the best of both worlds – diagnosis of ailments through modern science and its treatment through ayurveda – and provides the desired results to its patients. Opened by Dr. KS Roy four months ago, the centre boasts of being equipped with all the modern facilities for treatment of a host of ailments, which it provides at a reasonable cost. Treatments a MIDWEEK photo are provided here for arthritis, joint pains, low back pain and osteoporosis as well as for infertility in males and females, and problems relating to menstrual disorders. The herbs used in the centre are procured from the mountains Shopaholics Anonymous of Bankura, Purulia, and Birbum, and then treated in a factory at Arambagh. Dr. Roy now has plans to start his own herbal garden ick of the way your rooms Furnishings in Tibet Road that matters to most people here too, besides opening more centres in Sikkim. look, but don’t want to Dinodia is offering you a pot who are skeptical about their Sspend a bomb to introduce luck discount, you can get a chances of getting a big a new look? One of the easiest discount equal to the discount at Dinodia? ways to instantly give a lift to percentage you pull out. Mittal Some of the big picks at any room is to change the is not such a big or established Curtina are: Introductory offer upholstery and curtains. And player but you can pick up on suitcases from a mattress you’re in luck, there are pre some interesting bargains. company at real cheap prices, Dasai sales in three popular It must be the overdose of would you believe you get a big home furnishing outlets in the 2550th Buddha Jayanti suitcase for around Rs.650? town right now- strictly in celebrations but we find people Only prob is they seem to come order of distance from the following the middle path… to only in red. Floor mats and MIDWEEK office in Nam Curtina! The shop’s got some carpets are a steal at almost Nang: Dinodia Traders in incredible discounts which has 50% off. Nice curtain materials Nam Nang, Curtina in people coming in hordes. Here at affordable rates starting from K

M.G.Marg & Mittal the discount is assured, maybe Rs.29/- a metre. Y M C SGC works towards popularising Science a MIDWEEK photo

a MIDWEEK Report Essay writing on ‘100 by Professor Ajit Khembavi Years of Modern Physics’ from IUCAA, Pune. On Read & GANGTOK: Sikkim and painting competition Wednesday, the concluding Government College, Tadong, on the theme of ‘Nature’ day, the final rounds of quiz Advertise in is currently hosting various were the main attraction of contest and debate will be activities to popularize science, the programme on 12 held and results of all the particularly physics, among its September. The day’s competitions held so far students as a part of the programme had started declared. programme celebrating the earlier with a talk on ‘Rise The programme is organised International Year of Physics of Modern Physics’ by B. by the Department of Physics, 2005. Wednesday, 13 Kunwar. Sikkim Government College, September, will see the finalists Earlier on the opening and sponsored by Rashtriya [email protected] of various competitions being day, 11 September, the main Vigyan Evam Pradhyogiki MIDWEEK, Near Hotel Yatung held under the programme attractions of the day were Sanchar Parishad, DST, Nam Nang, Gangtok - 737101 titled ‘Appreciating Physics in the screening of a mini film Government of India, and the Everyday Life’ battle it out to show on science and a Sikkim State Council of Phone: 03592 320169 bag the grand prizes. lecture on evolution of stars Science and Technology. 202020 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 LITERATURE n Gangtok’s social potpourri of communities, to a measly three twoks at Amala’s adda.” classes and castes, there are two types of “And the price of onions and tomatoes has simply IGangtokians who somehow stand apart in the become ridiculous. I have issued strict instructions to sharpest contrast due to their peculiarly distinctive my wife to use only a quarter of an onion and half a outlook and lifestyles. tomato in the tarkari…” For the purpose of presenting a portrait of The DIP could be termed a compulsive comparison of the two groups, I shall categorize them overachiever. His is a hectic life on the fast lane of as: [a] Disproportionate Income Persons or DIPs, and speculations, accumulations and premature [b] Proportionate Income Persons or PIPs. ejaculations. His steadily growing number of cars, The DIP is an impeccably suited gentleman with kanchhis and kothis is the envy of every PIP far and rather sedentary habits. He is in his element when near. Lately the number of DIPs has inexplicably officiously ensconced at his football field of a desk. dwindled. It has been surmised that even a fractional Out of doors, you will be lucky of you catch a fleeting increase in their numbers could cause the state glimpse of the grave august presence bowling sedately exchequer to go stone broke. along in his shining spotless Scorpio. The preoccupied Evasive is the term that best describes the PIP. This is expression on that noble countenance indicative of a because the PIP spends most of his waking hours evading great mind internally wrestling with the complexities his wife, his ghar ki malik, assorted creditors, his office by TENZING GYATSO of the affairs of the state. work and, last but not the least, his DIP boss. He is The PIP, on the other hand, is a total nondescript perennially occupied in figuring out unique ways to make nonentity. Yes, you have correctly spotted him in there. ends meet. In order to live within the confining parameters He is tightly wedged between two rather overweight office of his ‘muster roll’ salary, he has to literally squeeze the babunis in a share taxi heading to the secretariat at 10.30 last drop out of every rupee, paisa and khattu ko twok. AM. The trademark of the PIP species is his shy, diffident In our teetering high rise cement jungle of a town, smile, stooping posture and badly dyed hair. if the DIP is the endangered yet predatory tiger, the I shall now present brief sketches of conversations of PIP would qualify as the much preyed upon rabbit DIPs and PIPs on their favourite topic ‘Price Hike’ to timidly foraging in a forest of telecom towers and illustrate their similar yet divergent anxieties on the issue. hoardings urging him to ‘Buy Bigger! Buy Better! Let us start with a brief exchange between two DIPs Buy the Best!’ during the course of one their interminable official meetings. Masters Education Point “The price of cement and rods has shot up again. Tibet Road, Gangtok How am I ever going to complete the remaining three WINTER CRASH COURSE stories of my sixth son’s building?” STARTS FROM 1st WEEK OF DECEMBER 2006 “Yes, it’s the same with the cost of cars… and just as the price of the latest model has taken a stiff hike, REGISTRATION GOING ON FOR CLASS X & XII my kanchhi boori has got it into her thick head that CBSE, ICSE & ISC 2007

she simply must own a Maruti Swift…” LIMITED SEATS ONLY!!! C

M Now let’s listen in on two PIPs in their favourite & ALSO REGULAR CLASSES FOR CLASS VII TO XII Y habitat – the office canteen. K GOING ON IN FULL SWING “Ever since the price of atta, maida and aloo shot up, my damned family members have developed a CONTACT: 201161 (O) sudden huge appetite for parathas, rotis and aloo dum. 9232514579 (O) 9434357076 & 9434143925 These days I am compelled to limit my khattu quota THE TIBETAN WAY OF THE RAVEN CROWN: THE ORIGINS OF LIFE, DEATH AND BUDDHIST MONARCHY IN BHUTAN REBIRTH by Michael Aris by John Peacock New Arrivals At GOOD BOOKS he hereditary monarchy of his many rivals within the hat’s the difference Tthe Wangchuk dynasty country and against the British Wbetween a lama and a was established in 1907 in the who tried, unsuccessfully, to tulku? Who is Tara? What are independent Himalayan state subdue him. The story of the the four classes of tantra? In of Bhutan, thus introducing Wangchuk dynasty’s rise and this lavishly illustrated book on one of the world’s most recent triumph moves from a picture Tibetan spiritual wisdom, experiments in kingship. The of turmoil and chaos to one of Peacock, a British professor of new order quickly replaced a relative peace and stability. In Indian religions, answers these theocracy founded in the contrast with earlier published questions as he analyzes seventeenth century by the first accounts based solely on the Tibetan approaches to life, of the “Dharma Rajas”, a colonial records of British death and rebirth. One unusual lineage of reincarnating lamas India, here the narrative is feature is the book’s extended known by the title of founded on the Bhutanese discussion of how Tibetan Shabdrung. The first king of chronicles which offer a new Buddhism has been informed by the new dynasty, Ugyen perspective and bring many Bon, the pre-Buddhist folk religion Wangchuk [1862-1926], was a new details to light. The ethnic that is still practiced by many in charismatic figure who came to and historical context is Tibet. From Bon, Tibetan power against a turbulent outlined before recounting the Buddhism has appropriated IN THE SHADOWS OF THE HIMALAYAS: Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim background of incessant and turbulent career of the Black “preoccupation with shamanic - Kurt Meyer & Pamela Devel Meyer; Rs. 2500 complex feuding. He adopted Regent, followed by the lives healing, demonic forces, and the THE RAVEN CROWN: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bhutan as the unique symbol of his and achievements of the first fight between good and evil”, - Michael Aris; Rs. 1500 authority a crown surmounted two kings. The book is contributing to Tibet’s complex TEA, LEGEND LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD OF INDIA by the head of a raven. The bird copiously illustrated with rare and esoteric form of Buddhism. - GP Baroowah; Rs. 2000 represents a form of Mahakala, historical photographs that Peacock also describes how tied TREASURES OF THE THUNDER DRAGON: A Portrait of Bhutan Bhutan’s guardian deity. The have come to light in private Tibetan religion is to the landscape - Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, Queen of Bhutan; Rs. 495 prototype of the founding and public collections in the THE TIBETAN WAY OF LIFE, DEATH AND REBIRTH of Tibet, “the land of snows” – a - John Peacock; Rs. 895 monarch’s Raven Crown had United Kingdom. Most of particularly important issue in the HIMALAYAN VILLAGE [An Account of the Lepchas of Sikkim] first been devised as a battle these vivid images have never past 50 years, when Tibetan - Geoffrey Gorer; Rs. 360 helmet for his father, Jigme previously been published. Buddhism has flourished in exile. FROM PEKIN TO SIKKIM Namgyel [1825-81]. Known as They provide a lively depth and Every page is garnished with full- - Count De Lesdain; Rs. 695 the Black Regent, he had worn focus to the unfolding color illustrations, and there are it in bloody struggles against narrative. numerous informational sidebars. ENTERTAINMENT 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 212121

ang Lhabsol, a festival unique to the geographical frame of the dance into Sikkim, is more than just a festival the geography of Sikkim: from the Pdedicated to a mountain deity. It narrow point of view of the monastery’s is an event that aims at strengthening sacred ground to conveying mostly the bond between two ethnic spiritual outlook on the mountain, communities of the state. Of late, the widening all the way to the broad festival has moved beyond its religious interests into Sikkimese location and cultural confines and has more or between India and China. less turned into a commercial affair “The perspective would be taken from aimed at tourism promotion. It is amidst the oldest to the newest generations, from this state of affairs that Alexis Torp, a the most traditionally oriented to the ones French documentary filmmaker from looking towards the future. The action of Paris, has taken up a lone mission to the dance and the process of its rehearsal bring the focus back to what is most would blend into history until it makes important about Pang Lhabsol. enough sense to be shown without Currently on his second visit to comments. Then the character of the Sikkim, Alexis has captured the mountain can take its full role, watching different aspects of Pang Lhabsol on the performance and taking account of celluloid, assisted by his French their effort to please it – because the assistant, a second cameraman from mountain isn’t only there to be watched; New York and a sound engineer from it remains the silent watcher of every event India. The entire exercise took him two happening in this country,” he says. weeks, from traveling to historical A FRENCH TAKE ON The documentary, he says, aims at places in Sikkim like Yuksom, Kabi and documenting the ongoing struggle to Gangtok as well as some villages where keep the spiritual relation with the pujas were held to shoot the dances. country’s landscape alive even at a time His fascination with this festival had PANG LHABSOL when the ongoing development has started during his earlier visit to Sikkim. been conveying different perspectives “After visiting the Himalayas, I felt I by BIRENDRA RAI to the people of Sikkim. It is a film on had to give my regards to the mountains the unity and identity of a country. here by means of this film,” he says. “At Pemayangtse, I found dancers through Sikkimese history on the basis Once the film editing is over, Alexis However, disappointed by, what he rehearsing in a committed way. This of its main festival.” hopes to first come back to Sikkim and calls, ‘Gangtok’s lack of religious got me thinking on the meaning of the Alexis is not new to making movies screen it for the people involved in the feelings towards the festival’, he went dance, and the variety of aspects the on geographical issues. He has a project here. Thereafter, he says, he to Rabong on the advice of Tourism mountain had taken throughout the number of documentary films on the would like the film to serve pedagogical Department only to be disappointed history of Sikkim. This also kick opening of high mountain areas to purposes in Tibetan related institutions again by the commercialism attached to started my own struggle to understand tourism or the different practices of or colleges, and be screened by cultural

the entire event. It was only at it better. And that is what brought me forestry under his belt. channels in Europe. “I hope its aesthetic K Y

Pemayangtse that the filmmaker found back here three years later with the On his current project on Pang qualities could get it through festivals M what he had been looking for. purpose of conveying a filmic trip Lhabsol, Alexis says he is trying to fit too,” he adds. C

RAMAYANA SLATED FOR A 20 SEPT LALAUNCHUNCH

Hitting the Right Note

a MIDWEEK Report the composition with Noel, at Tadong, she says she was a Enoch and Subhash, her guitar bit nervous at first but soon got riends who have heard teacher. the hang of it, helped by the Wangmu Ladakhi sing at So what made her finally comfort level she felt with her Finformal gatherings have take the plunge, you ask. ‘I got musical collaborators. often wondered why she did a guitar two years back for my The album is a pleasant not do so professionally. It birthday, started learning how hear with some foot tapping seems the lady has finally paid to play and also experimented numbers too like Furiya heed to that advice and is now with writing songs. Friends Lyaidechhan, originally all geared up to launch her encouraged me to do a CD and sung by Heera Devi Waiva debut album. Titled The Valley here it is,’ she says, of the back in the 50’s. The song of Rice, the album is a project which started almost a has been remixed with compilation of new and old year back. Wangmu’s Boney Lepcha singing the VIRGIN COMICS has released preview pages from compositions, a mix in fact of inspiration for songs like Is this rap interludes. Valley of “Ramayan 3392 A.D.” #1, which hits stores 20 September. English and Nepali numbers. Heaven, You painted a Picture Rice, a song on Sikkim According to the publisher, the series is a reinvention of While the first four songs are and Mr. Charming came written by Wangmu, and India’s greatest epic - the Odyssey of the East. in English and are original mostly from her own personal Jahan Bagchha Teesta “Ramayan is India’s greatest legend,” said Virgin Comics compositions, the next four are experiences. ‘It was a sort of Rangeet, ever popular, still CEO Sharad Devarajan in a release. “This new story from cover versions of popular coming to terms with myself, manages to woo the listener Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur reinvents this legend Nepali numbers. Wangmu has an expression of what I had with her special rendition. for a worldwide audience. Adding Alex Ross’ incredible written the English songs been through’. The album is slated for a painted cover makes it a visual triumph.” [The original herself while collaborating on Recording at Psalms Studio pre Dasain release. solicitation text and preview images follow.] 222222 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 YOUTH naked LUNCH Every day you hear and read stories about people overdosing (O D) on PAIN- KILLERS and it makes my blood boil. When i hear about such people dying, my first thought is that we should all go find the man who sold the drugs and castrate him with a shovel. A rusty shovel. “Criss Angel kicks magic in it’s tired old ass! A dynamic cross between Brandon Lee and But then i remember that I'm a Brand New Pacifist. Houdini that would make David Copperfield cry for his Mommy!” - Rob Zombie It's remarkably difficult to generalize about drugs and drug use. Some of my friends take drugs occasionally “Extraordinary - a spectacular and they continue to lead normal and productive lives mix of visionary magic and artist of the 21st century. Some award. He is also the only and they're neither addicts nor waste-cases. post-apocalyptic chic. This is of the mind-blowing magician ever to appear on But i've also known lots of people who have disap- the future and it can’t come demonstrations aired by Star both covers of Magic peared into the hell-holes of addiciton AND who have quickly enough.” World include Buried Alive Magazine [October 2003] and had their lives ruined by drug abuse. - Clive Barker, author [where Angel is handcuffed, Genii Magazine [December Some people can take drugs once and be destroyed and film director by the experience, and other people can take drugs put in a coffin box and buried 2003] almost simultaneously. many times and remain happy, healthy and strong. six feet under], Bullet Catch Criss’ Mindfreak is the first So how to make generalizations about drugs? he two observations pretty [where Angel catches a bullet weekly magician show in over At some point we're going to have to recognize that much sums up master in a cup held by his mouth], 40 years. Criss was also people, citizens, TEACHERS, etc, seem to enjoy taking Tillusionist Criss Angel and Body Suspension [Angel is unanimously selected as the drugs,and these same people are willing to take drugs his hugely popular TV show suspended from a helicopter by recipient of the 22nd Louie even though they know it's illegal. Mindfreak aired every Tuesday four fish hooks through his skin Award for outstanding Ok, i've said enough. to avoid any backlash i have to on Star World at 09.30 pm. while being flown over the achievement in the art of remind everyone that i think that drugs are dangerous Tuesday nights have never Nevada desert]. magic. Interestingly, Criss and should be avoided. been so eerily exciting! Other chilling Angel Mindfreak is also the I'm really not in any way advocating drug use at all. Imagine a possible Gangtok wherein death and O.D- Born Christopher demonstrations include being first weekly magic series in 40 ing are so commonplace that people approach their own Sarantakos on December 19, towed 80 feet into the air while years. mortality with complete nonchalance. 1968, in Long Island, New handcuffed inside a barrel Criss’ television success has And imagine our nonchalant youth driving around York, Criss Angel is an filled with water and making not impeded upon his music in the night, hoping to stay alive, but not really caring. illusionist extraordinaire, his escape and tying himself to career. He was in an industrial And that's the truth. Really, i swear. musician, escapologist, stunt a safety rope before the barrel band called Angeldust, which

performer, and the creator and is released; laying on top of a he started with Klay Scott [now C

M director of the Criss Angel bed of nails and having a known as Klayton of Y

K Mindfreak television series on Hummer drive on top of him; Celldweller]. Angeldust A&E Network, which is and levitating himself and released an album called This week, MIDWEEK currently in its second season. strangers off the street. On his Musical Conjurings from the presents cheat codes for... One of the most provocative first episode of Mindfreak, World of Illusion in 1998. Criss artists of our day, Criss began Criss burned himself alive for wrote, produced and performed dabbling in the art of magic around 45 seconds for his the music currently available when he was six. During his mother’s 70th birthday. He said on four CDs from APITRAG teenage years, he studied the art he wanted to be a ‘human Records entitled Criss Angel: of mysticism, music, martial candle’. System 1, 2, 3 In The Trilogy arts and dance. By the age of Criss was named both 2001 and the Mindfreak soundtrack. 18, he had acquired the state and most recently 2004 In a more recent tone, Criss federal pyrotechnic license and Magician of the Year by The Angel created the video MF2 the federal pyrotechnic license Academy of Magical Arts, featuring Sully Erna, the lead by 21, the youngest ages making him the first two-time singer of Godsmack. The video allowed to carry such permits. recipient ever to receive this debuted on Yahoo! videos. And Famous for conceiving and most coveted award. He won according to his official performing impossible, death- the Merlin Award in 2001, website, his second Mindfreak defying stunts, Criss is 2004, and 2005; he is the only soundtrack was released on 05 definitely the most intriguing three-time winner of that September, 2006.

Need for Speed™ Most down into the last icon, then Wanted challenges you to complete that race and that Tupac Shakur - 10th Anniversary Tribute become the most notorious will get you All Junkman and elusive street racer. performance parts for your It’s hard to believe that 13 September, 2006, Combining illicit street racing cars. Rating: 3.53 with 17 marks the 10th anniversary of hip-hop’s all- and tuner customization with votes. time top-selling star Tupac’s death. To mark the intensity of strategic police One Stop Shop Marker the anniversary, 10th Anniversary Tribute – pursuit that surpasses any Press Up, Up, Down, Down, a limited edition double CD and double DVD Hollywood-style chase scene, Left, Right, Up, Down at the pack and the biggest Tupac tribute released Need for Speed Most Wanted “Press Start” screen. A special to date – will be released on 13 September. should be on your “must- marker for the Junkman Dubbed as the final tribute, a must for all have” list. Out-race rivals, Engine part will appear in the Tupac Shakur fans worldwide! This pack is evade cops, and exploit back room of the One Stop jammed packed with two CDs featuring un- hundreds of miles of open Shop in career mode. Note: heard, un-released tracks, interviews and road as you make your way This code can only be mixes that deserve awards and two DVDs up the Blacklist. enabled once per career. featuring un-seen footage, interviews and All Junkman Rating: 3.13 with 8 votes. fans’ opinions on the disappearance of Performance Parts Castrol Syntec Ford GT Tupac Shakur. Since this pack won’t At the Start menu enter Up, Press Left, Right, Left, Right, probably be released in India, it’d make Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Up, Down, Up, Down at the better sense for you to call or email your Left, Right. Go into the “Press Start” screen. cousin in the USA right away! Challenge Series and go Rating: 2.92 with 13 votes. YOUTH 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 232323 A ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA WEEK 10 RECAP

by SERAH BASNET the drama continues… t’s just a week to go until Supernova picks their voting. She’s in the bottom three next day singing a little too softly but pushes it up a couple of notches vocalist and Jason Newstead finds this a convenient punked out version of Cheap Trick’s I Want You To soon and does a pretty neat job overall. Meanwhile, Itime to finally get in touch with his feminine side Want Me. Decent job but all that hopping around the Jason too sheds some tears, showing the world what – with a little help from Storm Large. But he’s certainly stage is seriously grating on my nerves now. a wimp he is. Or is it just something in his eye? disappointed with what he’s found, disappointed Next on is the Icelandic madman Magni with The Trust Lukas to completely rearrange classics. This enough to cry in full view of the audience. Jeez! Can’t Beatles’ Back in the USSR and his original When the time it’s Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer where Lukas we have a drama-free week sometimes? Time Comes, which he says he translated from is on guitar and the keyboard player in the background. Week 10 starts with a song writing clinic where Icelandic. I think he did a better job on the original Though many would disagree, personally I find this the contestants get to write lyrics for a new supernova than the cover. His song’s solid, with a consistent rock stripped down version the best performance of the track. Gilby Clark likes Storm’s work, is disappointed beat and tone. The next day on the results show, the night artistically. If only he would stop gargling his with Magni’s lyrics, thinks Lukas’ song is lyrically Iceman is picked by Supernova to perform their new words. Next on is Headspin, a song about his love- great and melodically excellent but is irritated he song, which is about love! And this is the part where hate relationship with his mother written during his didn’t complete it, says Toby had the complete song, I go get myself something to munch. I can still hear days as the frontman for Rise Electric, which again is and is disappointed with Dilana’s clichéd lyrics. the song from the kitchen but again am not a whole not the best among his originals. Besides, aren’t we On Week 10, we see each contestant performing a lot impressed with Supernova. all tired of rockers dedicating songs to their mothers? set – a cover and an original. First to hop around the Storm’s rendition of David Bowie’s Suffragette So the next day, he’s in the bottom three for the first K stage is Dilana with The Who’s Behind Blue Eyes and City, though not vocally dynamic, is entertaining. She time, stubbornly singing Headspin again. Y M her torn calf muscle. They tell us she tore that muscle is joined on stage by Dave Navarro and they work Toby’s the last contestant to hit the stage with The C during the practice, making us wonder what was she some good chemistry. The only problem is Storm Killers’ Mr. Brightside. The performance is not a practicing with the house band! She sings The Who looks manlier than Dave in her black outfit and fedora. whole lot impressive but the Aussie revs things up tune without her gritty growl on for one whole verse! She then introduces her original as What The What Is next with his original tune Throw It Away and steals But just as I start thinking the girl can actually bring Ladylike as against her original What The *beep* Is the show. Though the anti-drug lyrics are not right up out that soft sexy voice, it’s already time for the return Ladylike title. Nice arrangement, catchy chorus, strong Tommy Lee alley, it’s the catchy chorus that does the of the growl. But her original Supersoul – a song with vocals and good stage presence but it’s still not good trick. Toby’s literally all over the place, running amok, a me-against-the-world theme – breaks all records of enough for the voters. She’s also in the bottom three, working the crowd, and getting a certain Mr. T Lee to cheesiness. It’s a ‘*beep* you’ song to the internet singing Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. She says get up and grope him in the process. The next day, he voters, she says. The voters return the favour by not it’s for her mom, sheds a tear, starts off the song a -continued on page 26

SOMEBODY’S GOING to be crowned Miss World this September and somebody’s going to land a major gig with a rock band in a reality TV show. And trust me, it’s not going to be WHEN THE FATE OF THE WORLD RESTS ON the prettiest or the most talented contestants. Ask me how I know that and I’ll tell you. It’s called the SMS age, my darlings. This is the new technology-driven Dark Age where any dimwit SMS JUDGES… with a cellular phone and a television set can play judge and decide the fate of a lot of smart, pretty or talented people. by SERAH BASNET Come to think of it, it’s a sad sad situation. Earlier, it was just a bunch of cocky people who sat at the judges’ table and decided who should win. The good thing in this scenario was at least Generation SMS, raised on unhealthy doses of reality they knew what they were doing, or at least they thought they TV shows and SMS opinion polls where we choose our knew what they were doing. Now, its total chaos with people ‘idols’ with the might of our phone balance. with myopia selecting the ‘face of the year’ and people with 90 What’s even shallower than that is that we have per cent hearing impairment choosing our singing idols. All hail continuously voted out the best candidates for the job the power of SMS votes. - be it to hold the title of the most beautiful woman in Let’s take a sample of the thought patterns of an average the universe or to be our rock ‘idol’ - and settled for the SMS voter: Enki minki ponki… okay, maybe I should vote for second best or even the mediocre. Why? Simply Ms. I-quit-my-regular-gig-to-take-part-in-this-competition. If she because our ‘emotions’ came in the way of better loses, what will the poor thing do? No, wait! There’s someone judgement, or because we didn’t know any better. I here more miserable. He’s lived all his life in a trailer truck. Maybe guess that’s what popular opinion means. he needs to win this more than anybody else here! Last I heard, they were letting the viewers select actors The deciding factor here is not who is the most worthy to play some characters in a soap opera. What next? Are contestant that really deserves to win; the parameter is set on we going to line up our politicians in a reality show and watch who needs to win the gig more than anybody else. So, most them gang up and connive against the strongest contender often than not, what happens is that a contestant in a rock band and then send our SMS votes for the most camera-friendly to audition may get the most number of SMS votes based solely lead our nation? And are we going to vote on whether or not there on his/her sex appeal while a contestant in a model search show should be a war in Iraq? God save us from SMS votes. And from may get booted from the competition because a majority of the ourselves! voters decided that they didn’t really like her Puerto Rican accent. At the time of going to print, the author of this column was busy The TV channels, so-called hep magazines and newspapers participating in an SMS opinion poll. The question was “Have SMS polls can go on calling us Generation X or whatever cliché they intend taken over our lives? Type ‘Y’ for Yes or ‘N’ for No.” As expected, she typed on repeating till kingdom come. The fact remains that this is ‘N’. At the last count, she had hit the Send button 33 times! 242424 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 MOVIES BOsnippetsLLYWOOD

BIG B’S WRITING AMBITIONS Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is trying his hand at scriptwriting for a new movie project. The prolific Indian icon is helping write the script for Johnny Walker, a love story set to be directed by Soojit Sircar. The film will be Bachchan’s first after recovering from intestine surgery earlier this year. Bachchan says, “I am excited about Johnny Walker, hence more involved.”

SIMI ‘RENDEZVOUS’ GREWAL’S BIG SCREEN COMEBACK Well, we do know who the elegant and ageless Simi Grewal is. especially for Cinema Days, Apocalypto is in “the ancient But just to get the attention of the present generation, we had the Film Distribution Mayan language and, yes,” he added the word ‘Rendezvous’’, as it is an obvious reference to Association’s tri-annual event smirks, “there will be subtitles.” h e r state-of-the-art and very popular talk for UK film journalists, But, he goes on to explain, show - Rendezvous With Simi Gibson’s statement precedes the film will be light on dialogue Grewal. Just to refresh the the first screening of a new and heavy on imagery and memory , who can forget the trailer for his latest directorial action. If the new footage graceful school teacher of Raj work, Apocalypto. shown in the trailer is anything Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker, the Due for release in to go by, those images look set ‘calming down’ wife of THE BIG PREVIEW December, the film is set to be striking. Invading Bachchan in late Hrishikesh Mel Gibson follows The during the final days of the warriors, bodies daubed in war Mukherjee’s Namak Haraam and of course the vamp/villain of Passion Of The Christ with an ancient Mayan civilisation in paint, crash through the Mexico before the European jungle, while a high priest in a Subhash Ghai’s Karz! The good epic drama about the fall of news is that the graceful Simi has said ‘yes’ the Mayan civilisation. conquests of the 16th century. feather head dress stands Apocalypto is another to a role in Revathi’s [Phir Milenge] next movie and also for Performed in the ancient atop a pyramid to address his eccentric project from Gibson, people. It looks promising, a small but important role in one of Anil Kapoor’s home Mayan language, Gibson the man who earned over although it is unlikely it will production. claims it’s designed to $600 million for a film perform at the box office - the

C elevate audiences to a Hollywood insisted nobody Bible belters who block- AAMIR’S HIGH JUMP MAY ROLL IN SEPTEMBER M Aamir Khan’s film, which he is producing jointly with PVR, has a

Y higher plane would want to see: The booked The Passion are K “Grizzly Adams here,” Passion Of The Christ. As he unlikely to turn up for what working title High Jump. This film is about a little boy, and chortles Mel Gibson from a proved with his Biblical epic, promises to be a violent tale according to sources Aamir may appear on the screen around cinema screen, referring to his Gibson is a man unafraid to cut about ancient pagans. Indeed, interval point. High Jump is slated to roll in September and will alarmingly bushy, white- his own path. In his filmed for Gibson, it appears an odd most likely be shot in a start-to-finish streaked beard. Recorded statement, he says that choice of movie. schedule. Aamir has short-listed a few kids for the central role and is likely NOW SHOWING to take decision soon. The film is to be directed by Amol Gupte. Aamir will thereafter start another film under his banner, to launch his nephew Imran as the hero. Imran is the son of Aamir’s cousin [director Mansoor Khan’s sister] and grandson of filmmaker Nasir Hussain. It may be mentioned here that Aamir had been launched by Nasir Hussain in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which was directed by Mansoor Khan.

PKSE ALL SET FOR 15 SEPT RELEASE Director: Pritish Nandy Communications has announced the worldwide Aditya Datt release of Pyaar Ke Side Effects on 15 September. Directed by Producer: Bala Patel Saket Chaudhary, the film is a romantic comedy with an Cast: Emraan Hashmi, ensemble cast comprising Mallika Sherawat, Rahul Bose, 11:00 AM, 2:15 PM, 5:30 PM Ashmit Patel,Mithun Perizaad Zorabian, Kiron Kher and Satish Shah, among others. Chakraborty,Geeta Basra A confused Rahul, who plays a DJ in the movie, panics when Music: Himesh his girlfriend Trisha [Mallika] proposes marriage to him. Thus FROM FRIDAY Reshammiya begins his nightmare as Sid [Rahul] scans through women’s Lyrics: Sameer magazines, his sister’s advice, his mother’s constant nagging Cinematography: and his room-mate’s red alert against marriage. T-Series has Attar Singh Saini already released the film’s music. 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 THE ADMISSION NOTICE FOR AUGUST 2006 BCA, MBA, B.Sc IT, MCA, MBA, M. Sc. IT DIT PGDIT PGDCA HOTLINE Short term courses in Computer, Computer Hardware Courses, Spoken English & Personality Development ULTRA SURROUND SOUND LC No: 1760 :SHOW TIMINGS: 320169 SMART ACADEMY 11:00AM / 2:15PM / 5:30PM Bangar Building, Deorali, Gangtok. Phone: 03592 281043 / 280313 ROUND UP 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 252525 PANG LHABSOL Snapshots from Rabong

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Yab-Di, the blue masked deity ‘Mahakala’ takes a rest while Dze-Nga who represents Mt. Khangchendzonga in the red mask dances in the background at the Mane Chokerling complex in Rabong. The Pangtoed chaam was part of the festivities at the 3 day festival in this sub divisional town in south Sikkim. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Chief Guest at the Pang Lhabsol celebrations in Rabong was felicitated for Sikkim being ranked No. 1 among the 12 Eastern States in the India Today State of the States rankings. UD&HD minister D. D. Bhutia also the Ralong MLA and C. B. Karki, MLA Wok, presenting a citation on behalf of the people of Ralong and K

Wok Constituencies. Earlier the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the Buddha Y M

statue cum eco garden to be spread across 23 acres of land located between Cho-Zo C lake and the Mane Chokerling complex. The Pangtoed chaam being performed at the Mane Chokerling complex as part of the Pang Lhabsol festival on 7 September. Pics by PEMA L. SHANGDERPA

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CHECKMATE DEVIL IN by KARCHOONG DIYALI he deafening silence DISGUISE Tthat followed the octors are supposed announcement of the D to be life savers but delimitation notification this lady doctor working in seems to have been only one of the district the lull before the storm. All headquarters sees her role parties are now launching quite differently. Not only is the most vitriolic attack she a drug addict herself, possible. No one seems to her favoured part time job be happy about the new is to create fancy ‘drug’ alignment. Buzz cocktails which she sells sources say a lot of to the youth there. It sitting MLAs are very seems even the cops are disgruntled about on to her evil ways but for having their safe some reason have not constituencies taken any action. We at decimated, with the big Midweek are seriously boss trying hard to thinking a sting operation convince everyone that it’s no SAY SORRY OR BE would be cool. What say? big deal really and things are not going to change so much. SORRY WHAT ABOUT US he same former CM is also The business community too alking of doctors, many known to keep a file on his has begun to feel T have been heard most hated enemy, a minister T marginalized. While Gangtok complaining about the second in his erstwhile cabinet who has now become a BL seat, hand treatment meted out to had the audacity to replace the other two areas, Jorethang them. According to a senior him, even if for a few days. Get and Rangpo, which have a doctor, they work the hardest, the drift? Anyway, in this file is considerable bazaar make the least amount of kept each and every bit of community, are now part of SC money [as compared to A boy sieves through the river bed to collect gravel information that EVER came reserved seats. But the real engineers who start having in Rani Khola. out in print about his loser in this exercise seems to their pockets lined the moment ‘enemy’. Spooky, Man. be a former chief minister who they report for duty] and are the Recently, a local scribe was continued from page 23 is apparently really mad at least appreciated. Their main treated to a sneak preview of having the last two seats he grouse is that while every other some very confidential fought elections from being department and functionary is letters which could cause taken away from him. What accommodated during the quite some embarrassment. can I say; it’s all in the hand of presentation of the state The rivalry continues. Watch the uparwallah [I mean GOD, awards, not a single doctor has this space for more news on C not who you are thinking, you ever been given one in all these M the old fogeys.

Y wicked people] years. Is that true? K SLIGHTLY OFF-CENTRE Chicken Dies, Wife Shoots Husband DUDE, YOUR CHESHIRE, Ore.: A woman shot her husband in the back after BUTT IS the drama continues... he killed her pet chicken last week, the Lane County sheriff’s gets the encore and with an oh-oh-oh-oh wins the keys of a shiny deputies said. Deputies said they were sure that Mary Gray, 58, RINGING black Honda Element. Maybe that was a payoff to Toby to intended to shoot her husband, Stephen Gray, 43. They weren’t EL SALVADOR: Cell withdraw his sexual harassment claim against Tommy! But that certain if the husband meant to fire at the chicken. phones, complete with a was one classy move on his part to give his love to fellow Aussie “We don’t know if it was an accident or if it was on purpose,” charger and data chips, were Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, killed recently during a marine Sgt. Clint Riley said. “It depends who you ask.” Riley said the found in the body cavities of accident. couple had been drinking for much of Monday while they did four inmates at a maximum- So, like I’d guessed last week, it’s Storm who’s sent home after yard work at their rented home in the town northwest of Eugene, security prison, and they had a long speech by Dave Navarro and Supernova boys. Dave tells and they began arguing after Stephen Gray shot the chicken with used the phones to direct her he could have chosen to rock on stage with anyone but he a .44-caliber handgun. Deputies said he was then hit with a shot criminal activities on the chose her. Jason addresses Storm and Dilana as “Comrades of from a .22-caliber rifle, and is recovering. Mary Gray was street, officials said last Rock”. Then everyone gushes about how they’d love to be her arraigned last Tuesday on an assault charge. Wednesday. backing band. Hey, wait! Didn’t these morons just axe her from The discovery was made the show? Aww… this is so retarded. The only saving grace here last Tuesday at the prison in at this point is Storm who thanks everyone and goes out gracefully. Woman, 79, Charged in Toy Gun Robbery Zacatecoluca, in central El Without crying. Salvador, after suspicious Week 11 will see Supernova pick their new vocalist from CHICAGO: A 79-year-old whispered a demand for $30,000 officials took X-rays of the among the final four. Who will it be? Methinks it’s going to be a South Side woman bearing a toy and brandished a gun that turned inmates, federal corrections Toby Vs. Lukas thing. Will they choose to go with a modern, gun and a visor that read out to be a toy, the affidavit says. chief Jaime Villanova said. Goth-rock sound [Lukas] or stick to their fun, old school, hard “Princess” has been charged with Instead of handing over any The names of the prisoners, rock style [Toby]? Though I think Lukas is the most creative trying to rob a downtown bank. money, however, the teller all members of the dangerous among the remaining four, I’m putting my bets on Toby. Melvena Cooke was charged last triggered a silent alarm and Mara Salvatrucha gang, were Wednesday with attempted bank walked away. Cooke left empty- not released in order to avoid robbery. She is free on $4,500 handed after several minutes and MIDWEEK CLASSIFIEDS jeopardizing an ongoing bond and was released into her then ducked into a nearby store, investigation that began a Starting Next WEEK! daughter’s custody. where she was arrested. month ago, he said. Midweek announces a section for Cooke walked into the Bank Officials said Cooke was Capt. Juan Ramon Arevalo, CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS. of America branch Tuesday dressed for the attempted heist director of the Zacatras prison, LOST / FOUND / WANTED / FOR SALE morning and told a teller that in a black trench coat, sunglasses said the gang members had TO-LET / JOBS / VACANCIES she’d just come from the dentist and a white “Princess” visor. She for ONE COMPLETE WEEK introduced the cell phones, and could only speak quietly, faces up to 20 years in prison if comes at only Rs. 100 wrapped in plastic bags, into according to an FBI affidavit. As convicted, according to the U.S. (WORD LIMIT 50) their bodies through their anuses. the teller leaned in, Cooke attorney’s office. SEND FEEDBACK AND QUERIES TO [email protected] OR CALL 320169 ETCETERA 13 - 19 Sept, 2006 272727

by PANKAJ THAPA

The new eclipse series It is important for the emphasizes your need Librans to concentrate for internal order and on improvement of work self-reflection. You must related relationships remain true to your and health deepest self and maintain faith that maintenance. Diet, exercise and time will yield the secular improvement of physical regimen opportunities that you crave. will serve you well. Honing your Consider hypnosis or meditation, management systems in personal psychotherapy, dream work or and work arenas is necessary to journaling as resources to help you improve the efficiency of the daily contemplate. Solitude can be work routine. You must balance healing now. concerns of recent years with better Involvement in your self-care. community, networking, The eclipse pattern and developing emphasizes your friendships continues to progeny, personal be occupying an creativity, and new important role during the next 15 romance. Intense months. You have lessons to learn experiences may come through one about discerning who is truly a friend. or more of these areas to open your Amzanig huh? Those with children must world. Both errors and successes concentrate on fostering those in parenting and / or creative work relationships. Some may decide will be revealed. Allow dissolution icking up from last week’s keyboard-usage and loss of against having babies. of friendships and associations that stream of consciousness, adroitness and spontaneity There will be emphasis no longer serve you well. Make Pwhere I held forth about causes the hand to react slowly. on career, life goals, and room for fresh creativity. how the SMS has mutated And so, while it’s still in the community reputation. Matters concerning language, it is also interesting painful process of forming “T” Honors may develop in your career will be to see how the SMS has become the second signal overlaps the

coming months if you accented. Old problems an easier alternative to E-Mail, first and you find your hand K have previously built a solid in relationships, even Y which has killed the fine art of converting the “H” into a “T”. M foundation. Family members plead C with the deceased, are letter writing, which in turn has Of course, your hand is still for more attention in subtle and overt brought to consciousness for killed good handwriting, all of moving towards the intended ways. Property may require repair, cleansing and healing. A new family rejuvenation, or replacement. Family member may enter the scene. which have together killed the word, and “E” follows “H”. patterns are changing. You may Property and real estate matters art of stamp collecting. No By this time the super fast brain experience a sense of loss, but require concentration. Bringing writing, no letters, no stamps. has already noted the mistake renewal occurs in its wake. career into alignment with your true A vicious circle, that. and sends another lightning Legal, ethical or self is an important focus. The ruthless efficiency of the signal for “T”, hence, - HET. educational issues are The accent of the new e-mail notwithstanding, it Happens to me all the time. Of emphasized by the eclipse series is on definitely lacks the personal by PANKAJ THAPA course, it might also be an early current eclipse series. travel, education, care of touch of what has now come to case of Alzheimer’s. Travel is punctuated, vehicles and be known as “Snail Mail” interfere with your thought Talking about the written whether it be of body, mind, or spirit. relationships to siblings, owing to the eons taken to process. Longhand requires word, here’s something worth Exposure to those of different roommates, neighbors, or others deliver a letter. Having said that, curves, twists, slashes and dots, backgrounds or cultures opens your who daily traverse your life. Lifelong checking out: “Aoccdrnig to a heart and leads you in new habit patterns of thought must be the joy of receiving that blue while the keyboard has reduced rscheearch at Cmabrigde directions. A change in the family/ reviewed. Negative thinking must be and red edged Par Avion all the letters of the alphabet to Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in household or a move is on the corrected, habits of speech and envelope, (fragrant?) with your single taps. Using a pen calls waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod horizon. communication improved. Now is the name and address written in for dexterity of the fingers and are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is The eclipse pattern time to focus on learning new and elegant cursive longhand, - wrist, and co-ordination of taht the frist and lsat ltteer emphasizes issues of practical life skills. often written over a couple of hand, eye and brain, faculties be at the rghit pclae. The rset sexuality, intimacy, and This eclipse series times for permanence, seems to that have now been dulled by can be a toatl mses and you can material accumulation. accents your personal have now been relegated to the the keyboard. And because the sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Your attitudes in these and financial resources. archives. Who has the time to mind is very fast, the hand Tihs is bcuseae the huamn areas need renewal. Reorganization Greater awareness is think, compose and write a often finds it physically mnid deos not raed ervey lteter of debt and investments may be in demanded related to difficult to keep up with the progress. You may be more your expenditures of time, energy letter today? And even if you by istlef, but the wrod as a conscious than usual about and money. Debts need to be did have the time and the stream of commands wlohe. Amzanig huh?” existential matters related to life, repaid. If there are income tax energy, to try and write down emanating from the little grey If you read and understood death, and what is on ‘the other side’ issues, they may surface during your thoughts concisely with a cells. Sometimes, these that paragraph, then you’ve of normal, waking consciousness. these eclipses. You need to fountain pen (as opposed to the commands overlap and things really come a long way. Makes The eclipses of this 18 eliminate or recycle whatever is no smoothness of the ballpoint) start to get interesting. Like you you wonder why you had to month series focus longer useful in your life. seems to require a conscious want to write the word “the,” work so hard at your English attention upon your Your personal identity is effort. Especially if you’re a and you end up writing “het”. Language when ultimately you partnerships. What is the subject under keyboard addict. The keyboard Why? One would have to think can break every grammatical your pattern in consideration. Who are has single handedly (is there a it’s because your brain sends a rule and still communicate. Significant Relationships? What you becoming and who pun there somewhere?) nanosecond signal to your hand Well, - like Confucius needs to be repaired or improved? do you need to be? How to start by forming the letter How might you contribute to a fuller, do you wish to define yourself destroyed the ability to write in says:”To unlearn something, richer life for yourself as well as the before the world? How can you longhand. Pick up a pen and try “T” after which it sends you must learn it first.” important persons in your life? It is develop an individual identity that writing a paragraph now. The another nanosecond signal (Probably the safest guy to crucial to search out solutions that is workable while simultaneously very letters and words you asking the same hand to form quote, that Confucius.) favor everyone involved in the maintaining a personally rewarding wrote effortlessly during your the letter “H”, followed by the Keep them leetel grey cells relationship. relationship? academic career seem to now last letter “E”. Prolonged turning till next week. Adios.

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