free with 17 June, 2005, edition of NOW! On Language A NOW! WEEKEND GUIDE turn overleaf for fiction by CHETAN by WILLIAM SAFIRE RAJ SHRESTHA a Retraction song hen is an apology not W enough? What is the difference between a clarification




and and a correction or an admission of error? Is a retraction the same as a recantation? To recant is to

withdraw or disavow a declared PART 2 two belief, as in renouncing a philosophy or abjuring fealty to a F R I D A Y religion. The most famous years recantation in history was that made by the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, when threatened by the Inquisition in 1633 with dire punishment for advocating the theory of Copernicus that the The crew of earth was not the center of the Nepali movie, universe but that it moved around Priyatama, set the sun: ‘’I abjure, curse and up a shot at detest the aforesaid errors and Pangthang, heresies,’’ swore the intimidated above Gangtok scientist, legendarily adding under his breath, “eppur si Bollywood’s muove” - “but it moves.” [That Sharad Kapoor retraction of his recantation is poses for a apocryphal, probably the starry- photograph with eyed wish of subsequent a fan at Thegu. astronomers.] He was shooting To retract, from the Latin for for the Bengali “to draw back,” is directed to a film Black specific statement more than a Cheetah body of work. The most famous retraction this year was made by Newsweek magazine after it apologized for a portion of an article alleging that an internal military investigation had uncovered an instance of desecration of the Koran. The article was seized upon by an anti-American Pakistani to trigger demonstrations that cost 17 lives. At first, the magazine issued an apology - an expression of regret - pointing out that its single anonymous source no longer recalled if the allegation was in a certain report. The White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, said that it was “puzzling” that Newsweek had not retracted the article. Next day, Mark Whitaker, the magazine’s managing editor, told The New York Times that ‘’it seemed that people felt like we weren’t apologizing. In order for people to understand we had made an error, we had to say ‘retraction’ because that’s the word they were looking for.” The embattled editor was being precise: retraction is a weighty word, in this case asserting that the report was mistaken and forthrightly attempting to mitigate the great damage done. Will the cameras roll for Sikkim? A correction, in contrast, is a retraction without all the nervous groveling. It deals with facts rather Back in the sixties, Dev Anand’s Jewel Thief, of things, even filmmakers have left a legacy here. Take for to film in the State. Big names of the Indian film industry as than judgments; in journalistic introduced Sikkim to the world. Unfortunately, example, Satyajit Ray’s documentary film “Sikkim,” well as from abroad are participating in the event. usage, a correction sets right an commissioned by the Chogyal in 1971 and banned before its Earlier this month, the Sikkim Governor along with the however, Sikkim could never cash in on the inaccuracy. Once earlier, I called release by the Government of India in 1975. Those who have Tourism Minister and Tourism Secretary were in Hyderabad Sack a ‘’justice,’’ but that title is promotion. Since then, although many movies rushes of the documentary, insist that this is the film auteur’s and interacted with the Film Chamber of Commerce there. From reserved for a member of the and music videos have been shot here, the best work. The movie is lost although reports keep surfacing their interaction we get a hint as to why Sikkim has been ignored Supreme Court. This is a bigger banners have stayed away. TENZIN correction - he’s just a judge - but that its prints have been found and are being restored. Maybe so long despite of what it has to offer. to call my minor rectification a DOMA looks into Sikkim’s history with film when the documentary does get to see the light of day, Sikkim The filmmakers wanted to know whether Sikkim had good retraction would be silly. shoots and checks out how the State plans to will start blipping on film shooting radar screens again. roads, whether the State had good hotel facilities, whether the [On Language is a regular become popular in tinsel town... A silent revival is underway though. A local debutante has picturesque regions were accessible and whether these regions column featured in The New shot a short film already and plans to take it to the film festival offered any kind of hospitality. They also wanted to know York Times] ikkim is a beautiful place, so beautiful that we circuit where not only his work, but also Sikkim will get whether the State Government was well disposed towards What more does affectionately call it the Switzerland of the East. After showcased. The filmmaker, Prashant Rasailly, will premier his filmmakers, implying whether the Government here would the industry want? all we have in Sikkim’s compact geographical area, almost movie, The Myth?, at Vajra on 20 June. The film is shot consider subsidising their filming costs. Apart from offering S perhaps the best Aguilera’s all the climes; from the tropical to the alpine with temperate in extensively in west Sikkim. Ugen Chophel, a filmmaker from Sikkim, in an interview, locales in the between. The variety of climatic zones bestow the State with Assam’s most respected director, Jhanu Baraua, is also highlighted that filming in foreign countries like Mauritius, music used for country, the State tropical forests, meadows and grasslands along with alpine forests debuting in Bollywood via Sikkim. His first mainstream movie, Sweden, etc., was cheaper as they had cheap accommodation also provides men interrogation! and snowy mountains which can compete with any alpine Butterfly Chase, was recently shot here. and ample state patronage. from its forces to fill backdrop in Europe in beauty. To complement all this there are But while art abounds in equal portions with flops, music “In Sweden almost everything is free as the government there in the roles of LONDON, 16 June: waterfalls, lakes and rivers. Apart from that, Sikkim also offers a videos and lost documentaries in Sikkim, it is Darjeeling that sees the directors/ filmmakers as the promoter of their country extras. These SAP ChristinaAguilera’s music clean environment and has one of the lowest crime rates in the is peaking. and a factor of boosting tourism,” he had said. personnel recently might be the kinds one would country. It is, therefore, quite a nagging mystery as to why the Darjeeling beat the Bollywood blues with big banner films Filming in our State will greatly benefit the tourism industry stood in as hear at a party but it has Indian film industry, especially Bollywood, does not consider and big names of the industry seeking it out. With a Main Hoon here, as it will showcase the best of the State to the outside menacing Maoists for a Nepali flick reportedly been used to Sikkim as a potential filming locale. In fact, the kind of attention Na behind it the hill station has reestablished its Bollywood world. In fact, this is the best way to promote tourism and the shot here. interrogate a leading al Qaeda neighbouring Darjeeling has received from the film industry connection which was revived with the opening scenes of department has realised this. The next stop for Mr. Shrivastava suspect at Guantanamo Bay, should give Sikkim the blushes. another Shah Rukh Khan hit, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. The will be Chennai where he will interact with the movers and reports Fox news. It is not that Sikkim has been entirely ignored; there have toy train scenes from the latest toast of Bollywood, Parineeta, shakers of the Tamil film industry. According to Time been cursory acknowledgments of what the State has to offer. seeks to revive the Sapno-ki-Rani appeal of yesteryears. magazine, her songs were Among the most lingering memories are those of Jewel Thief Sikkim, on the other hand, has to make do with the slivers, played to try to break down by Shekhar Hattangadi which was shot in the 1960s. Most of the out-takes so to speak, with Bengali and Nepali films Mohammed al Qahtani who is this Dev Anand film was shot in Nepal and Sikkim and though shooting here often. About 10 to 15 Nepali films have been believed to be the so-called it went on to become a hit; Sikkim failed to cash on it while filmed here with many more Bengali films. Tsomgo, Ganesh 20th hijacker. Nepal followed up with a lot of Bollywood shoots. Even Tok, Rumtek Monastery and other locales in North and West Qahtani is thought to have Kalimpong has seen more movie shootings [especially those Sikkim are some of their favourite shooting locales. tried to enter the US in of Dev Anand’s Nav Ketan films] than Sikkim. August 2001 as part of the This continued sidelining is intriguing because Sikkim has A tourism official, when asked why Sikkim had not hit it team which took part in the a semblance of a film industry of its own. Locally produced, big with Bollywood, felt that there had been no initiatives to September 11 attacks. Romeo in Sikkim, is perhaps the only Hindi movie produced promote Sikkim as a filming locale. Now, the Tourism Despite numerous from this part of the country. The movie failed, but was shot Department has taken up the initiative to shake off the allegations from released entirely in Sikkim and must have used technicians from Bollywood blues for Sikkim with seminars and presentations detainees, Pentagon officials Mumbai. Somehow, word on Sikkim still did not spread. in different parts of the country on the State and what it has to insist the prisoners at the US More recently, parts of Twinkle Khanna’s second movie Uff offer. naval base in Cuba are being Yeh Mohabat, which went with the tagline, Love in Sikkim, “Films can be a good catalyst for promoting tourism,” says treated humanely. There were shot in Sikkim. The movie bombed and Sikkim went Tourism Secretary, AK Shrivastava, and so has now begun the would be those who insist unnoticed yet again. At around the same time, a song of Rani process of promoting Sikkim among the film community of that having to sit through Mukherji’s Raja Ki Ayegi Barat was picturised in Sikkim. The the country. For this reason Mr. PK Dong, executive director, Aguilera’s music [at least movie failed, the Sikkim song never played again. STDC, is currently in Mumbai representing Sikkim in to an unitiated ear] is an One wonders what filmmakers are looking for when they ‘Locations 2005’, an event which offers promoters of locations inhuman thing to do. give Sikkim the go by. Apart from perfect locations, Sikkim a unique opportunity to interact with members of the Indian Doyou agree? also has a lot of mystique. Even if we ignore the political part film and advertising industry. This would encourage film crews Sonam Thendup Bhutia ANAND F R I D A Y OBEROI who had to take loans to ensure that we continued our studies, recounts paid a high price. They had to sacrifice even the basic pleasures SONAM of life for us. Now it is our time to pay back all they have ever now showing THENDUP’s done for us,” Sonam says. story so far. A NOWSHOWINGAT “As we come from a family of hard working people, all of us story of grit, A success story brothers did our best to prove our worth and also to assure our perseverance parents that all their sacrifices were not going in vain. We all helped and enormous DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND EX with family chores and never considered our weak financial self-respect. background our disability. The harder we worked, the more The kind of motivated we became,” he says recalling the days when the family story that of six shared a two-room apartment and adopted all cost-cutting born in Sikkim... reflects pride methods to save a few bucks; that was in the early 1990s. on Sikkim.... Since spending money was one luxury they could not afford, the family spent sparingly, only on basic requirements – food in the world to fulfill the dreams of his parents. and clothes, with the latter bring purchased only when extremely From owning a single pair of black trousers for school use, necessary. which, he says, turned grey due to continuous wear, to earning “We never had leisure holidays and unlike our friends, we Rs. 1.50 lakh per month in one of the biggest institutions of its did not have the latest fashionable clothes or accessories to kind in the world, Sonam Thendup has indeed come a long way. flaunt. This probably was the reason why every vacation we After topping his class [batch of 2005] and graduating from went to our grandparents house at Kewzing and helped them Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, our protagonist with the household chores and field work,” he recalls. 11AM/2:15PM/5:30PM from Kewzing [near Ravangla] received many campus “We became a little stable financially after my father opened placement offers from software heavyweights like IBM, HP a small hostel in Namchi; even my brothers and I started doing and Mascot; but he chose NKF, Singapore, which he joined odd jobs. Now, after all the hard work we did in the past, we barely a month ago. have got a better life now. All my brothers have done well for ULTRA STEREPHONIC VAJRASURROUND SOUND “Many career opportunities came knocking but despite all themselves and we plan to send our younger brother abroad. I VAJRA am the third son in the family,” he says. these big offers, I kept myself levelheaded even though there 11AM; 2:15PM; 5:30PM was big money involved,” Sonam told NOW! shortly before On his success, he says that one does not need to be ‘super flying to Singapore on 20 May. intelligent’, one just needs to be hard working, should have a Rewind to the 1990s. competitive bent of mind and be honest to themselves, their The third among four sons of Dathup Bhutia, a primary parents and their teachers. school teacher, Sonam Thendup along with his brothers had to “The turning point came for me when I failed in mathematics be taken out of St. Xavier’s School, Pakyong, as his in class VII and my mother constantly asked me to father’s modest income could no longer bear the practice harder in the subject. Initially, nothing made school’s fees and there was no other source of income sense, but later the subject not only became clear to for the family [his mother is a housewife]. The me, I also found it very interesting. It was actually brothers were then admitted to Namchi Public School number orientation that needed to be developed, then after their father’s transfer to the South District everything became very clear,” he says. headquarters [this is where they have been residing “On reaching where I am today, I would firstly for the last 10 years], and it was from this school thank my parents and my family and my sister-in- that Sonam Thendup completed his senior secondary law who is a doctor in Namchi who helped me education. through a time of depression and confusion when I hat follows is a perfect rags to riches story of a young He did not allow his family’s financial constraints was stressed out during the placement process. I TAAZA MAAL NOW! UPDATE FOR SHOP-A-HOLICS WSikkimese lad with humble beginnings who is now to crush his academic aspirations and we went on to would also thank Sister Leoba of NPS who, when I the first person from Sikkim to hold the post of a manager in pursue engineering in computer science from was studying in standard IX in NPS, helped me, gave the Business Development & Strategy Department of the Bangalore University in 2001 after passing the CAT me support and courage and gave the will and Summer fruits National Kidney Foundation, Singapore, one of the biggest examination. motivation to become something in life. The other charitable organisations in South-East Asia. Sonam Thendup claims he never attended tuition person whom I will mention is the former DC [East], It is also a story of sheer grit, determination and hard work classes unlike his classmates, mostly because his K. Srivinasalu, and my uncles KN Bhutia and Sonam of a young man - Sonam Thendup Bhutia – from a Southern father was not in a financial position to afford it. Tshering for all the support,” he concludes. village in Sikkim who overcame all adversities to make it big “For our education, our parents, especially my father All the best, is all we can add...

- part two - place of the party-politics man in the front seat and near the the passing of many parcels are borne and brushed away with he others were still laughing. The garrulous party- window and inquired where the driver was headed. unhesitant solutions. “Oh, but I will move enough for you to politics man, angry initially at his removal from the “Geyzing.” vomit in peace.” Tcentre savored the addition of another story to his The home guard announced his stop as Jorethang. “I’m really The taxi, SK 04-_____ filled up quickly and was soon repertoire. The youth, who had previously thought himself on my way to Soreng. But I have the option of going there after on its way to Soreng. It crossed the concrete bridge that incapable of provoking laughter, was pleased. A comment tomorrow. They want me to report to the thana, here. My posting connected West and South Sikkim. It passed Nayabazar, and ith the temperature from Siliguri are available here. rang out from the third seat and was met by smiles. The youth, is actually in Gangtok.” And then, sinisterly casual, added. “It’s began a slow climb dominated by the first gear. Speech within Wconstantly on the rise, Some of the varieties available sensing Straun’s discomfiture at being the assumed target said, a rape case.” He placed the packet carefully upon his lap. was made inconsequential by the overwhelming effort of the it’s time to whip up some are langra, shasari and chusi, “He says he has heard the song for sixty years. It made him Straun’s collection continued as background score until the male engine. Even the music sounded futile and the driver didn’t delicious fruit salads - or chilled priced at Rs. 25 per kg. laugh today.” half of the couple in the last seat cried out for some Hindi music. reach up and flip the cassette after the last song of the side. fruit slices if you please. Also on the stalls are sweet “But didn’t he find it funnier earlier? What if he had never The driver promptly ejected Straun’s cassette, and was They now only had the scenery for distraction. If the idea sounds appealing lime [Rs. 30 per kg] and heard it being translated?” the silence was broken by another song, handing it back to him when a voice from the third and last The tall trees on the valley side let in beams of a weak to you, it’s time to head to Lall imported apples that come at perky and endearing. Straun declined the youth’s offer for another seat requested that Resham Firiri be played again. The home sunlight. The breeze swayed the branches and the beams were Market where on sale are some Rs. 100 per kg. Time to prepare attempt at translation. Most in the taxi had returned to their thoughts, broken or moved. Beyond the film of close trees which moved really yummy seasonal fruits. yourself some cooling assisted by the river flowing and the trees flying past them. The fiction by CHETAN RAJ SHRESTHA The king of all fruits - mangos - refreshers and give the salad only talkative ones were the youth and the sixty year old. The that too in varieties brought here bars a run for their money! youth, feeling he owed Straun an apology burst out. “He says it was previously sad. He would have remembered HEALTH PLUS your guide to healthy living childhood with mother and aunty singing this. Those from a song and two years SUMMER AILMENTS the village also sang it at by With the mercury rising not only Dr. DIMPLE weddings and gatherings. past in a seamless haze and does the flow of tourist increase He’s also saying the song’s through the pores permitted to our state, it also ushers in a BHARATI incomplete.” by the more discretely variety of illness. The most BHMS [KOI] MD “You mean there’s passing profiles of the common ones are: [KOI] PGDHA more to this stuff.” farther trees, Jorethang 1. DIARRHEA: the most [Chennai] “Yes, anybody could could be seen, slowly common ailment found in this add anything.” becoming map like. A season is diarrhoea, which is drink a lot of warm liquids like “It most certainly mother seated behind the basically on increase in soup or tea and avoid tobacco frequency of stools or the and alcohol. seems like they did.” driver took her measled passage of loose watery stools. When to visit the doctor: If The youth felt it would part2 child’s hand and attempted Is is caused mainly due to sore throat is server and be futile to initiate Straun into the nuances of the Dohori guard was initiated into the game and the anecdote passed its to point out the hotel where contaminated food and water. sudden in outset; if temperature tradition. Resham Firiri could be perceived, but strictly didn’t first recounting. After the song, when the cassette was in the child had been treated Symptoms: Frequent loose is higher than 102F; if there is qualify, as one. Nor could he describe the onomatopoeic Straun’s bag, the jeep was pervaded by a song from a Hindi by a weekly doctor. Zoom arrived while still on the climb. watery stools, abdominal extreme difficulty in swallowing; excursions that Nepali is blessed with. For it was decided, movie, a peaky female voice accompanied by a frenzied The driver stopped, unprodded, at an ordinary houseless cramps, Fever, nausea, thirst if there is loss of voice; if there long ago, that certain sounds would be let down by the orchestra disinterestedly proclaimed eternal love in the face of stretch. Puran’s house was lower down. It seemed as if Puran What to do: Drink plenty of is a rash along with sore throat water, better still water mixed and if a mild sore throat persists attachment of words. They would remain sounds and when society’s opposition. was being given to isolation. Zoom was not a bazaar but with ORS, eat bland food for a more than a week. summoned, endow expressions with a completeness that The paper bag’s translucence revealed that the packet was scattered houses separated by fields carved out with tenacity day or two; eat bananas for would be a secret pleasure. The youth concluded his thoughts from Glenary’s. After no one asked the home guard said, “My from the hill sides. It was vague where one arrived and one replenishing potassium; avoid 3. INSECT BITES: Summer not with an audible comment that a song was for the singer to home is in Zoom. I’m going to celebrate New Year’s with my left and a small, good humored feud existed between two milk, citrus fruits, high fiber only brings in heat it also invites a sing and the listener to understand as they wished. family.” His name was soon known to be Puran. The driver houses who claimed the first honour. foods and alcohol. horde of insects. Insect’s bites are It was a festive time. The conversation in the jeep did not knew his father, having ferried him when he plied between “Thank you Bhai.” Puran surprised the driver and himself When to visit the doctor: If a common occurrence especially languish. Straun was soon forgotten. There was now an Jorethang and Soreng. They then talked of the New Year ahead by offering the fare. diarrhea persists for more than in areas with dense vegetation. exchange of plans for the New Year’s Eve. It was the last day and exchanged old stories of past celebrations. They had just The driver, after a ritual, declined and then accepted. 48 hours; if temperature is Symptom: Burning, swelling higher than 102 F and there is and itching of affected part; of December today. The youth wished Straun a “happy belated exhausted that topic when Jorethang arrived. “Everybody is being wished a Happy New Year.” Puran sever pain in abdomen; if there circular rash; intense pain, Christmas” and Straun lightened. They were soon in the new taxi stand, a sudden enclosure cried out without turning his head before disappearing below. is no urination; if there is stuffiness, chills, fever, nausea The party-politics man asked to be let off at Manpur. He within a building complex. Puran, contrary to expectation, paid “To you too,” the driver and two others called back. The persistent thirst, dry lips, to abdominal pain a few hours remarked loudly that he had “urgent business” there. Though and made it a point to say goodbye to Straun, once he revealed driver had been caught unprepared. He had not known that sunken eyes; if there is blood after a spider bite; rapid swelling the place seemed at odds with any sense of urgency. There he was going to Pelling and said something to the effect of “I the year was ending. He remarked upon this while he raised in the stool of it stool is black; if of eyes, tongue, lips and throat was a plank shed at the cross roads where a few people waited. think our journeys diverge now.” Puran looked around for a the engine. diarrhea recurs often. and irregular heartbeat and A rough, unpitched road led down towards the river. Manpur taxi bound towards Zoom and his eyes were averted by drivers. At home Kamala waited in the dust of the courtyard for her difficulty in breathing. was a few houses in between. At a curve near Majhitar, a He recognised a regular taxi. husband. Their two daughters had been spinning themselves 2. SORE THROAT: Contrary as What to do: Use insect it may sound, sore throat is a repellents such as calendula policeman could be seen frantically waving his right arm. “Bhai, are you going towards Zoom?” to dizziness, their act raising the dust their mother waited in. very common problem cream to tea tree oil; for Any policeman on a highway is a creature possessed by a “Arrey, its daju. This gaadi goes to Soreng.” Maya, the younger, shreiked and stood still before the encountered in this season emergencies apply lemon juice slight urgency for he is often passed by apologetic looking “Why don’t you driver bastards ever give a straight answer?” disorientation took over and caused her to stagger and still mainly due to the intake of cold or vinegar to the area bitten and but secretly glad drivers who wave but don’t stop. Policemen Zoom fell on the way to Soreng. The driver, small and full of shrieking fall at her mother’s feet. It was a new game Thooli water, iced drinks and cold wear cloths that cover most of aren’t expected to pay and might not offer to. The driver paan, suppressed a straight answer and said, “Do come in daju, had taught her. She stood up; her face spotted with dirt but showers on hot days. your body when you are in an slowed down, muttering, “Roknu peer, na roknu maha peer.” it’s your gaadi anyway.” radiant, put her lower lip forward and sucked in the snot that Symptoms: Pain and burning insect infested area. The home guard was tall, stocky and pock faced. He carried a Puran climbed into the front seat and sat next to the door. It coursed along a crusted canal made by earlier suctions. Thooli, in throat sometimes extending When to visit the doctor: If small duffel bag on whose side was stitched Reebok. This was the prime seat in taxis, drivers asked off hand will recount also reeling, cut short her hysteria and stared at her father as he to ears; difficulty in swallowing; there are multiple bites; if the rash lump like feeling in throat and appears infected; if there is Reebok was flanked on either side by Adidas logos. In his stories of bloodless, though vitriolic, incidents that have been walked the small, twisted declivity that led home. hoarseness of voice. difficulty in breathing; if there is other hand he held a packet, carefully handled. He took the fought over it. Excuses are made to claim it; chronic vomiting, [to be concluded] What to do: Take plenty of fruits pain, fever, intense stiffness and and b\vegetables for vitamin C; if there is intense swelling.