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06-12 August, 2003; NOW! 1 EUROPE editorial MERGER LIKE AN ITEM SONG? TOUR GANGTOK, WEDNESDAY, 06-12 August, 2003 CALL FOR BOOKING: Tashila TOURS & TRAVELS 94341-53567 Telephone: 229842 / 222978 NOW!NOW!SIKKIM MATTERS VOL 2 NO 07 Rs. 5 SIKKIM’S PHOOLMAYA THE SPYING TAMANG CREATES HISTORY ENDS TURN TO pg 12 FOR DETAILS Sangram’s conversion HEREGANGTOK: Sikkim and the troops deployed here were lucky that Dilip Kr. Roy was nabbed the day he arrived in Sikkim. A tip-off led to the arrest of this Bangladeshi national who has to Congress already made 5 spying missions to India for the Pak secret service, ISI. Seeking to ferret out information on troop de- ployment and movement, Roy could have proved more dan- comes An gerous down the line had he managed to set up a network of artist’s impression informers in the region. A retired Bangladeshi soldier, Roy of Dilip K. Roy, speaks fluent Hindi and his Hindu background helps him re- through the suspected ISI operative main unnoticed. His luck ran out in Gangtok on 2 August, last arrested by Sikkim Police on 2 Saturday. TURN TO pg 3 FOR DETAILS TURN TO pg 5 August, last saturday. FOR DETAILS SALE SALE SALE ‘Good news for you first time in Sikkim’ Bombay Saree & Dress Materials The first exchange over 50% DISCOUNT ON SAREES AND KURTA PYJAMAS Pure Chiffon, Dani Chiffon, Apoorva Silk, Georgette, Rasgull Crabe, Kanjeevaram, Pure Silk, Pure Cotton, Banarasi Saree & Kurta, Italian Silk, Embroidery Saree, 40 gm silk, Pure Cotton, Devdas Saree & many more varieties. Nathula OPEN EVERYDAY TURN TO pg 4 FOR DETAILS Hotel Bayul, MG Marg certified globally by: Near Krishi Bhawan, Tadong OFFERS Gangtok. Phone 270876 Below Power Deptt, Kazi Road Gangtok. Phone: 227917 Nayuma Building, Namchi Bazar Namchi. Phone: 263919 JOB PLACEMENT ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION e-mail: [email protected] 2;GANGTOK NOW! 06-12 August, 2003 06-12 AUGUST, 2003 ED-SPACE NOWSIKKIM MATTERS ! T.V. OR NOT T.V. ne of the many things that being cosmetically overhauled by makes the life of a high VIEWPOINT a casual command or a click. The Merger As An Item Number? Oschool teacher an endless PRAVEEN MOKTAN new technology does not create litany of complaint is not the bad content, that has to come from an The “merger” that has been in the offing for so long has fi- deal that he gets from the govern- reading. Yes, the television has intelligence that is not artificial. nally materialised. Sikkim Sangram Parishad and its Presi- ment or his downward slide in the robbed most of our young ones And that still needs old-fashioned dent, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, are finally acceptable to the society’s pecking order where the of this simple pleasure and it does pre-digital attributes such as imagi- Cong [I] high-command. With this development, Cong [I] respectability quotient of his pro- so with that cynical satisfaction of nation, clarity and vision. The re- makes it back to the State Assembly on the wings of an alli- fession has long since been over- not even letting them know about sult of all this is that, today, while ance. Mr. Bhandari gets the boost that he required urgently shot by new careers such as those it. The telly today has morphed the very best make use of both the to infuse some vigour into his supporters in a buildup to his of the councillor and the commis- into baby sitter, best friend and worlds and create a happy marriage fifth bid at power from the outside in the Assembly elections sioner, it is the decreasing atten- bastardised many a household. In of sorts, the lesser among us are slated for end-2004. Although the decision comes too close tion span of his pupils. the US, as a recent report sug- left with the crutches of an assorted to the Cong [I]’s Sikkim in-charge, Salman Khursheed’s visit The remote wielding genera- gests, the situation is worse. There collection of software but little or to the State, the state unit has managed to salvage some tion of reluctant scholars know are many who think that Homer no originality to provide that seed pride. It had remained insistent that the merger could not be Simpson head of a dysfunctional crystal of creativity that these could given the nod until they were consulted. Mr. Khursheed was precisely what they would rather family of animated idiots is the embellish. After all computers can here, he consulted and made the announcement within days do with their time. And, it is this of his return. All he extracted from his party-men in Sikkim sure-shot cockiness that is making most famous American. Roll over aid in art but the fire has to be was an “unofficial” statement that they had no objections to classrooms an ordeal both to the Mike Tyson there is just so much stoked by humans who at least in the merger. As for Mr. Bhandari, although he lost face in the imparter of knowledge and the al- that a flesh and blood ‘baddest’ some of our classrooms are any- run-up to the merger, he has still salvaged some pride in the leged learner. In the past, when the man on earth can do that Homer thing but inspired. fact that the merger did eventually happen. Both sides now present generation of teachers Simpson can do even better. So where can we head from seem comfortable in each other’s company. were themselves students, there Back to the bickering. here? Is there any hope that our Now, to get down to the actual business of what the merger was no escaping the classroom. The worst thing that TV does pupils will get back to the book - has in store for the Sikkimese people. The electorate had After all, there was nowhere else is that it kills creativity. Let’s take that agency of enlightenment both refused SSP the mandate to rule. It did, however, entrust it that you could learn and there was the example of Kusum. Now, if intellectual and spiritual? with the responsibility to play the watchdog - the Opposition. little else that you could do with aunty was reading Kusum instead While there does seem to be Mr. Bhandari could not keep his flock together and was even- your time. Now the situation is not of watching it there is a constant some winds of resurgence in read- tually reduced to becoming the lone MLA not sitting on the so bleak. There is an information effort that she has to put in to im- ing with the larger storm being cre- treasury bench. The Congress, which did not even win the overload and the deck is stacked agine things like the colour of her ated by the Harry Porter series, the trust to play the watchdog will now play the role officially till heavily against the orthodox hair or the nature that the intrigue fundamentals still seem weak. the present Assembly lasts. Be that as it may, the new com- teacher, who, as the Time magazine takes on from the previous page. Harry Porter after all is mere en- position of the Opposition will have to show a much better says, is about to be extinct anyway. And she can do all this notwith- tertainment. Its appeal is that of the face than it has done thus far. After all, apart from supporting Learning online is one of the standing the power cut, the cable fantastic. Of course, later day crit- what were seen as anti-ruling party organisations and their many options at the disposal of a wars and CAS. But the telly puts ics may dissect the tomes for what- demands, what has the Opposition really done in Sikkim ex- student. This not only has the paid to all that and reduces aunty ever they are worth and extract the cept scripting lengthy memorandums? The time when the merit of being eminently flexible to a one-dimensional entity that last drop of the polemic juice, but merger negotiations were at their peak was also the time as far as the course selection is can just soak in the soap. our lads read it because (a) there is when Sikkim was going through its most trying phase. Two concerned, but also allows one to In the classroom the hangover so much hype about it (b) it’s fash- self-professed “apolitical and non-communal” organisations do things at his own pace. Add to of the remote is reflected in the ionable (c) they do not read it, they - GAC and SIBLAC - had managed to cleave the Sikkimese that the glamour and novelty of eagerness of the pupils to switch just buy it, glance at the cover and society and Geyzing had developed as a flash-point. The doing things digitally and you be- channels in the mind and virtually go to play pool. Or, they would matter was eventually resolved, but kept the State on tenter- gin to realise that it is only a mat- shut out the teacher. The other rather wait till the movie is made. hooks for quite some time. Although fringe players had a ter of time before we begin to wit- problem with the digital technol- So, till such time when the ne- field day issuing press releases, levelling allegations and ness an exodus from the class- ogy of today is that too much stock cessity of reading is realized be- counter-allegations, the established institutions of the Op- room to the cubicle.

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