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1 2;GANGTOK NOW! September 03-09, 2003 03-09 SEPTEMBER, 2003 ED-SPACE NOW! The Man Who Had Lived Life Passes On SIKKIM MATTERS harles Bronson, the Penn tion of Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, a sylvania coal miner who coal-mining town in USA. His real POLICE! Cbecame an international name was Charles Buchinsky, and film star and archetypal American he was the 11th of 15 children born Policing is a tricky issue. Too little and there is anarchy on the streets tough guy, died of pneumonia last to Lithuanian immigrants. and too much and the fundamental rights of the people start getting Saturday at a Los Angeles hospi- He knew little about his father, trampled upon. It is perhaps because a foot soldier cannot work out tal, aged 81. who died when Bronson was ten. the right balance that officers are trained by experts for two years Bronson was best known in But he knew abject poverty on the finer points of policing. The policy makers have been working these parts through the Death Wish throughout his early years. His at ways to take the exclamation mark that normally conjoins itself to “Police!” in public conversation. That is a tough task. The force has series and the hugely popular spa- family was so poor, that when he ghetti westerns he starred in ranging was six he was sent to school in a after all been the arm extended for centuries by the colonial rulers CHARLES BRONSON; from Magnificent Seven to Chato’s frock, a hand-me-down from an and then by the democratic masters to keep an unruly janata in check. 1921-2003 The feeling of invincibility that such power can inflict is not easy to Land. Many old-timers still remem- older sister. abandon and the day-to-day grind of policing after all falls on the beat ber Bronson for his roles in The Dirty with his portrayal of an itinerant By the time he was 16 he was of constables who take an inflated sense of power as granted. Dozen and The Great Escape. prizefighter in Hard Times. working in the coal mines, earning Let’s take Gangtok’s case. From the numerous complaints voiced There was a time when restau- Bronson will, however, always about $1 for each ton of coal he by the taxi-drivers against traffic police personnel and home guards, rants in the region put up only be best known for his roles in what clawed out of the earth. In 1943, there must definitely be some [which are enough for a public outcry] Charles Bronson posters and teen- were some of Hollywood’s most he was drafted into the army. Years which are not exaggerated. Frankly speaking, if the cops on traffic agers mimicked his grimace and hair- violent films of the 1970s. None later, after he established himself detail are over-stepping their authority, they are not displaying style. There are still some around was more so than the 1974 movie as an actor, his press releases uncommon traits. Grant too much power to any individual and it who continue to sport the Bronson Death Wish, in which Bronson would say he had been a tail gun- does not take long before it goes to the head. Ever wondered why locks. The huge popularity of “cow- portrayed an architect turned vigi- ner during the Second World War. reports of police brutality and human rights violations come only boy” hats is another hill trend at- lante who hunts muggers in New After the war, Bronson held from troubled areas? The answer is simple. It is because the police tributed to this action star. Although various jobs, until, in 1949 he went are granted more powers there. Even in Sikkim, the only instances York after his wife is killed and his of human rights violations by local cops were recorded at a time he has not had a release since the daughter raped by thugs. to California and took lessons at when the police was being excessively used as the enforcer. late eighties, Bronson is still in de- Critics denounced the film as a the Pasadena Playhouse. In 1951, But that is not the situation anymore and yet we are exposed to an mand at the local VCD stores which vehicle for legitimising violent behav- he had a minor role in You’re in the ugly side of the force almost everyday. Why? continue to bring in Bronson starrers iour. The movie nevertheless became Navy Now, which starred Gary The answer perhaps lies in the fact that the cops have taken it upon on demand. a hit and made Bronson, then in his Cooper. Bronson later explained themselves to police every aspect of public activity. For example, it Bronson’s appeal, agree movie early 50s, a star in America. that he got the part because he was would be only logical for cops to check vehicle documents and experts lay in his “tremendous face Bronson did not care much for the only one among the audition- licenses to curb thefts and dangerous driving. The nitty-gritty’s of - cast from stone - that kind of grim critics. In fact, he even fed stories ing actors who could belch on cue. whether all taxes have been paid or whether a vehicle is stony determination.” of his tough-guy persona to jour- He changed his name to Bronson environmentally “non-polluting” should be left to motor vehicle Bronson, it is universally ac- nalists. He told interviewers that in the 1950s because he thought that inspectors. The local force is short-staffed and expecting them to cepted, had that physical presence he had been in fistfights and had the anti-communist crusade then implement too many rules at too many places stretches their patience and looked like he had lived life - been arrested on charges of assault being conducted by US Senator and professionalism. Cops are forced to take the help of home that he was a survivor - and con- and battery, and he liked to sug- Joseph McCarthy made it unwise guards and this force is less trained in policing than the career vinced movie-goers that he was a gest to journalists that his hobby for someone in the public eye to have policeman/ woman. Their reactions to a situation are thus more man capable of violence. a Russian-sounding name. emotional than proper. Ask any local and they will have a nasty was knife-throwing. anecdote of a run-in with home guards to share. This is a force that Although hugely popular in But reporters who checked out By the 1970s, he had a loyal is underpaid and overworked and not even trained properly for the Europe and Asia, his acceptance in his stories found no police record, following, and even many critics job. What too many rules also lead to is an increased public interaction the United States was delayed and no assault and battery, no predis- agreed that although the scripts with police personnel. No one is comfortable around khaki and the muted with critics sour to the vio- position toward violence. In fact, were usually bad, Bronson could cops too are instinctively aggressive. Increased interaction lence that stalked the scripts of his they learned that Bronson’s hobby be counted on to turn in a good automatically leads to increased attrition and flare-ups like the one films. This changed with the release was painting and that he was a performance. seen between cops and drivers in Gangtok recently. of a French-made thriller called quiet, personable, gentle man. And then, of course, Death That, perhaps is where the problem lies for Sikkim. Too much policing. Rider on the Rain in 1969 convinced There was no question, how- Wish happened and Bronson be- Policing to an extent that it starts intruding on a person’s privacy. No many naysayers that Bronson had ever, that Bronson had known hard came a star in his fifties. The day one wants anarchy, but there does not seem to be too much public a great deal of artistic skill. Six years times. He was born on 3 Novem- of the laconic action star ends with support for a police state either. Someone has to strike the right balance. later, he greatly impressed critics ber, 1921, in the Scooptown sec- Bronson.

SOCCER WOES IN MANGAN FUNDS RELEASED TO DISTRICT have subscribed phone lines. Some even have disappointed. angan Football Committee finds its SPORTS ASSOCIATION, NOT internet facilities. But, sir, we regret to state Our representative approached you, the Mdifficult to play its real role of pro- UNREGISTERED GROUPS, SAYS that the phones do not work in times of other day, when BSNL Mobile station was moting soccer here. It suffers a lot to finalize DEPTT. need. The only thing that makes us sick is inaugurated in Geyzing. Somebody from and organize the games and sports, so we, While speaking to NOW!, Director, Sports this problem. Calling up from far distances your side said Pelling falls under third phase. the committee members, would like to ask & Youth Affairs, HT Basi, replied to the on these 58 lines is out of question. Instead, Sir we can’t wait that long. We do not know the Sports & Youth Affairs Department of- points raised in the letter by clarifying that others standing by us become tired of seeing when our turn comes, when third phase will ficials if there is any budget or financial help funds are sent to all districts annually to us trying repeatedly. become second and second the first. Pelling earmarked for the North district to promote hold and organize sporting events. The De- Telecommunication is very important is already in serious need of good, function- football or not. In other districts, we see a partment cannot, however, release funds to means for many in Pelling, especially the ing phone lines, Pelling now needs the lot of progress in promotion of games and committees which are not recognized or reg- big hotels. God knows, how we have been internet with sure services and Pelling, above sports, but only the north district has been istered with it. Funds are sent to the con- handling the situation. We thought that the all, needs a BSNL Tower for mobile signals. lagging behind in this field even though there cerned District Sports Associations, Mr. new mobile connections would solve this Please upgrade the station. Also please make are many young talented players here who Basi revealed while pointing out that in the problem. But our hopes were shattered. arrangements to lay all the cables under- need to be promoted. case of Mangan, MFC members should ap- There is a hide and seek situation with sig- ground as the present cables look very un- Since MFC members, led by Pemzang proach the North District Sports Associa- nal in some parts of Pelling, other parts- nil. tidy. Tenzing, are doing their best to promote tion for aid. The proper person who would Thousands of tourists arriving to Pelling We seriously expect your early action sporting events with donations contributed be able to help them is the North District started bringing along their mobiles when and cooperation for better communication by the public and the committee members, Collector, who chairs the Association, he we informed them that Pelling was now cov- services in Pelling. why is it difficult for the Sports & Youth added. ered by the service. They are betrayed by Pelling Tourism Development Association Affairs Department to organize these events those big BSNL signs on the poles all along regularly. NO DIAL-TONES IN PELLING the highway. Everyone’s got complaints and the best thing about So, MFC members and sports-lovers his letter is for the GM, Telecom, BSNL, Internet is a service which everybody a democracy is that these complaints can be voiced. would like to request the Department, its Sikkim. needs these days. Rather, there are many, “Action Mail,” is a platform where the public mails T us their grievances and we get them the replies from Minister and officials to solve the problems Sir, Pelling is a fast-growing tourism place especially foreign tourists, who cannot live the concerned authorities. If you too have a problem of the youth, sports lovers and talented per- in West Sikkim where already 50 hotels are without internet. It is a matter of great pity that needs redressal, just mail your complaint to us at sons of the North district as soon as possi- in full run in season and many more coming with those innocent foreign guests who NOW! Gairi Gaon, Tadong, Gangtok, East Sikkim or ble. up and many other private establishments madly wander about for better internet serv- email us at [email protected]. MFC Committee, Mangan North District have come up and are coming up. Almost all ice for hours and finally come back to hotel

24 September 03-09, 2003; NOW! 3 UP-FRONTUP-FRONT SALES KE LIYE PEPSI BESHARAM HAI! piggy-back its entire range on the shoulders a NOW REPORT of Drangchu Beverages which manufactures PEPSI only one line of the Pepsi range. GANGTOK: The marketing mandarins at IS LYING? A careful reading of the banner at Hos- Pepsi seem to have mastered the art of half- pital Point reveals that purity is claimed for truths. They announce from every adver- fused” by the “media coverage” of the pesti- mains ignored in the Pepsi ad-campaign in “Pepsi bottle products”. While this might tisement spot that Drangchu Beverages uses cola episode] accept the Pepsi range as safe. Sikkim. get Pepsi barely on the right side of legality “mountain spring water” [which is correct] The print-ads are less careful in their word- Very few people know that only the [in so much as the glass bottle Pepsi is free and would have Sikkim believe that every ing. “…with utmost confidence, we reiterate 250 ml “glass” bottles of Pepsi products of pesticides], it is still a blatant example of Pepsi consignment for the State comes from that there is no cause for concern. Pepsi, available in Sikkim