NOW AT MANGAN & GEYZING - Digital Himalaya

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 1

C M Y K

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1

NOW!SIKKIM MATTERS VOL 2 NO 25 � Rs. 5

GANGTOK, WEDNESDAY, Dec 17-23, 2003

Near Krishi Bhawan, Tadong, Gangtok. Phone: 270876

Below Power Deptt, Kazi Road, Gangtok. Phone: 227917

Nayuma Building, Namchi Bazar, Namchi, Phone: 263919

Below SNT Bus Terminus, Mangan

Near Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society, Geyzing

e-mail: [email protected]

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GEYZING

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Dear Readers,The weekly deadlines that wekeep can be very disorienting.Time ends up moving in weeksfor us, not hours and days. Bythe time we have recovered fromthe fatigue of putting togetherone issue, it is time for the next.While this pressure has aninvigorating buzz to it, it has onedrawback. It limits us to theweekly editions to the extent thatwe start losing focus of the largerpicture – the reasons thatconvince us on the need forNOW!, the niche it intends tocarve for itself in the Sikkimesepsyche. We do take weeks offthrough the year, but work on thepaper continues. The pressuresremain. It is at the end of the yearthat we truly take a break, pullourselves away from the paperso that we can refocus on thereasons we are around. This isthe time also for introspectionand getting down to the brass-tacks again; a time when weredefine goals and essentially dosome soul-searching. We needto check whether we are headedthe right way and make amendsif we are digressing. We couldtake an entire month deliberatingon these topics, but we take offfor only two weeks. For thosewho don’t buy our spiel on “soul-searching,” I’ll say this, “We arejust taking a break.”So there you have it. NOW! istaking its annual two-weekholiday starting this Wednesday.We return to the newsstands onthe first Wednesday of the NewYear. If we can pull it off, wecome with new elements in lookand content. If we can’t, wepromise you a lot of renewedenergy.So goodbye ti l l the firstWednesday of January 2004.Happy Losoong, MerryChristmas and a Happy NewYear.

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PUBLISHERTHE ECSTACY AND THE AGONY

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OF 2003TURN TO pages 8 & 9

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TURN TO pg 22

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2; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K

GANGTOK 17-23 DEC, 2003

NOW!SIKKIM MATTERS

ED-SPACE

2

� LETTERS

IDENTITY CRISIS

The year has ended on a positive note for Sikkim. TheOpposition, which has sleepwalked through the pastfour years seems to be shaking off some of its somno-

lence. Agreed, it had no choice but to get involved again nowthat the election year has begun and to remain low key wouldhave nullified any gains that the much lobbied for induction ofSSP and its chief into the Congress had made. An activeOpposition, no matter what its motivation, is always a healthysign. What the Congress has to however address is how itwants to seen – as a national party with Sikkimese ambitionsor a regional outfit which wears a national colour. The partyhas to come to the people with a clear definition of what it is. IfMr. Bhandari is going to continue functioning in the same man-ner that he has for the past twenty-five years, then the peoplewill soon want to know why he had to become a Congressmanto toe the same line he was already taking as a Sangrami.It is almost in bad taste that the present-day Congressmenshould raise the topic of the week of post-poll violence in Sikkimwhich targeted Sangram sympathizers in some constituenciesof east Sikkim. At the time when it happened, the Congresswas silent and the SSP MLAs whose constituencies were af-fected had all but turned invisible, not even taking the franticphone calls made by supporters. To have remained silent atthat time and to demand compensation now, with electionsless than a year away and with all the MLAs in the ruling camp,is not something the people will take too well to. Equally ironicis for the party to now speak of the unhealthy communal dividein Sikkim when it remained silent all through the Geyzing stand-off and is yet to make its stand clear on the Khecheopalri is-sue. It is easy for them to criticize GAC and SIBLAC, but tomake an impact, it has to explain just where these two organi-zations are wrong. To do that, it needs to have a stand and isperhaps dithering from taking that stand out of fear of losing avote-bank. What the Congress leaders have to realize is thatunless they stick their necks out, the people are not going torush to them. They have been let down by the Opposition toomany times in the past. The Opposition also has to do muchbetter than appropriating the ruling party’s achievements foritself. To say that loans given out under CMSES will be ex-empted is to admit that this was a popular scheme and to claimthat only they can deliver the seats for Limbus and Tamangsreeks of opportunism. But opportunism is what politics is allabout and no one minds that. To make an impact, however,you need to first come clear on your policy and identity.

FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE

The support that you havegiven us has been of immense

help to the work we are doing inthe midst of the chemically depen-dent persons in Sikkim. It wouldbe stating the obvious to say thatalcoholism and drug addiction isa major problem, yet we thepeople at Hope Centre, along withyour valued help, have resolvedto take a step to combat the prob-lem head on.

We really do believe that evenif we are able to help one personescape from the hell of addictionalong with his/her family, IT ISWORTH IT!Jesse Targain, Chairman,Hope Centre

GOVERNMENT OFFICERS

ABOVE LAW?

I learned that recently a newlybought government vehicle at-

tached to a senior officer met withan accident during odd hours ofthe day in Gangtok town. I, as aregular reader waited till now toknow exactly how the accidenthad occurred and who was re-sponsible for damage of publicproperty and endangering lives.But to my utter dismay, none ofthe local papers including“NOW!” carried the detail newsitems on this matter.

I will not be surprised if eventhis letter does not get place inyour widely read weekly. May begovernment officers have immu-nity from charges and account-abilities and even scrutiny bymedia, especially in Sikkim.

I want to know what the ad-ministration will do to fix respon-sibility since this senior officer issupposed to have been drunkwhile driving. Who will bear theloss incurred by the public exche-quer due to accident of govern-ment vehicle? Has any one got theanswer?Dorjee TsheringLower Sichey, East Sikkim

POLICE BEAT WRONG BOY

Through your paper we wouldlike to highlight some injus-

tice that we have been suffering.It is an incident that happened re-cently. A group of students had afight amongst themselves in thenight. Some of the students in-formed the police who came to the

spot. But they caught the wrongstudent (Chewang Namgyal) ofNorth Sikkim Academy, who wasin fact sleeping in his residence.

Without asking any questions,the police started beating him up.It is confirmed that he was notinvolved in the fight and did notknow anything about it.

So, is this the way that theMangan Police Department dealswith the general public? Just beat-ing them without any confirma-tion? We would like to ask, is thispossible in law, to do, as they like?Misusing their dress and statusthat they have been given to servethe public?Students of North Sikkim Acad-emy,Mangan.

TOO MUCH FOCUS ON

INJECTING

The series on drug addiction inSikkim was very disturbing,

although I feel that some of it maycreate a wrong impression. Forinstance, you have focussed toomuch on the dangers of injectingSpasmo Proxyvon. While this istrue but it may create a wrongimpression in the minds of someyouth who may think that takingthe same drug orally is quite safe.As father of an addict, I know thatit is not so. Taking SpasmoProxyvon orally is also very dan-gerous and can lead to severebrain damage among other physi-cal ailments. There are many otherdrugs which are being abused butyou have not talked about those.

Another thing, the police can-not pretend ignorance. They knowonly too well who are the peopledealing in drugs, but for reasonsbest known to them and also tous, they do nothing. Also, if thegovernment wants to, it can do alot to stop this disease in societyfrom spreading further.

As for parents who deny theirchild is an addict, how can youblame them? The society forcesthem to be like this.Name withheld on request

ACT OF BRAVERY

This is to apprise you that mydaughter Ripna Sapkota aged

about seven years had drowned

herself into the Water Reservoirof Diesel Power House, Gangtok,while playing with her friends andhad almost left us with a shock-ing and dreadful incident.

There were people gatheredaround to witness the horrifyingincident but could not take theinitiative to dive into the WaterReservoir and save her fromdrowning as the tank was 15 ft inheight, and the water was filledto its brim.

But one guardian angelnamed Bhim Thapa, son ofPadam Bahadur Thapa, ofRanka Busty, who is presentlyworking as Assistant Engineerin Power Department happenedto be passing by heard the hueand cry of the crowd and so hewent to the spot. To his dismay,he saw the child drowning todeath. Without a secondthought, he plunged into thetank to save the drowning childand was successful in doing so.It came to my knowledge thatthe guardian angel Bhim Thapareached the spot and saved mygirl child in the nick of time,on December 4.

I and my family and friends aretruly thankful and show our deepgratitude to the brave man, BhimThapa for saving my daughter’slife and giving her a “New Life”.

I would also request to the con-cerned department to probe intothis horrifying incident and to takenecessary steps/measures to pre-vent further mishappening in fu-ture. The department may notethat “Small folly can be a lifetimeof regret.”MB ShapkotaDPH, Gangtok

LETTER OF THANKS

I, on behalf of the Rongay Children Function, 2003, would like

to thank our Chief Guest NorzangChopel (Zilla Panchayat) for be-ing with us. My special thanksgoes to KT Khampa Sir (BhusukPrimary School), Tashi Pintsokmama, Wangyal mama, PadamDas, students and the participantsfor making this programme spe-cial.Rinzing Wangchuk KatsopaOrganizer of the function,Rongay

C O R R I G E N D U MIn the last issue of NOW!, Volume 2. Number 24., the Life

Insurance Corporation of India advertisement on the last

page (page 24), the period was wrongly printed as 1 to 2

year. The error is deeply regretted and we further request

anyone with queries regarding the advertisement to con-

tact: Mr RAVI R. KUMAR, Junior Executive Assistant, House #

47, Upper Sichey, Near District Court, Gangtok. Ph: 284602,

284603

NOW! Wishes all it’s readers a

very Happy Namsoong, Lossong, a

Merry Christmas and a very

prosperous New Year!

We also request our readers to

send in their feedback and

suggestions on what new things

can be incorporated in the

coming New Year!

Email:

[email protected]

...

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 3

C M Y K

UP-FRONTUP-FRONT

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JPS Associates are seeking applicants for the following positions:

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There are generally two long-term positions(approx 20 months)for each role, one for Gangtokand the other for Shillong. Outline position descriptions are available by email [email protected] must possess well-developed skills gained through significant project experience,preferably in a water supply and sanitation project. Minimum Masters level qualificationsare preferred. Familiarity with local language and region will be highly regarded.Please send your application (indicating which position you are applying for, name of theproject and location) and CV with the contact details of two professional referees byemail to:

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Women are encouraged to apply for all positions.Note: Applications close Friday,

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PAKYONG: The public meetingwhich should have come monthsback was finally held on 14 De-cember, Sunday, at Pakyong. Atthe meeting, the Congress [I],wearing a new look ever since itappropriated the SSP support basewith the induction of former CMNar Bahadur Bhandari and hisparty in its fold, also allowed apeep into its bag of election cam-paign tricks. It is obvious that theparty intends to attack the rulingparty on the very fronts that it con-siders itself strong – developmentand peace. Various speakers at themeet frequently returned to thetopic of growing corruption andeven pulled out the post-poll vio-lence of 1999 to slam the SDFgovernment on its claim of hav-ing restored democracy and

brought about development in theState.

Mr. Bhandari, who took chargeas the SPCC [I] president almostsimultaneously with the merger of

his SSP into the Congress,launched a blistering attack on theruling party and its governance.Assuring the people that he wouldrestore the rights lost by the

Sikkimese people during LDKazi’s tenure as Chief Minister,he alleged that the Chamling gov-ernment had not fulfilled any ofthe promises made to the people.The inclusion of the State’s NBCsin the OBC list was an eye-washsince no concerted effort had beenmade at the central level to en-dorse this inclusion, he alleged.Mr. Bhandari also spoke at lengthon the plight of the unpaid min-ing corporation staff and the fail-ure of the much-touted CentralReferral Hospital to deliver qual-ity medical services in the State.Similarly the infrastructure foreducation also came in for someserious flak.

Mr. Bhandari also accused thepresent government of dividingthe Sikkimese on caste and com-munity lines.

These were more or less theexpected words to mouth and thereal commitments, when made byMr. Bhandari, were mere sopsaimed at skimming profits fromthe more popular of SDF’s poli-cies. Speaking at the function, theformer Sangram CM announcedthat should he form the next gov-ernment in Sikkim, he would ex-empt all loans taken under theChief Minister’s Self Employ-ment Scheme from repayment. Healso announced that if voted intopower, his government wouldbring back vehicular traffic into

Bhandari and his CongressmenPakyong meet

introduces the newCong [I] to the

people

MG Marg.Interestingly, a national party

which needed the induction of aregional outfit to improve itsstanding in Sikkim spoke atlength on how the days of the re-gional parties was over.

Namkha Gylatsen, formerSangha MLA and the SPCC [I]president who stepped down tomake way for Mr. Bhandari,spoke on how the days of “one-man-shows” in politics were over.He also suggested that the peoplewere growing increasingly frus-trated with the communal andcaste politics of such organiza-tions as GAC and SIBLAC andwere joining the Cong [I] for itssecular credentials.

Bharat Basnet, who had recentlyrejoined the Cong [I] after havingleft the party earlier to join the rul-ing party, also spoke at length onthe post-poll violence that had hitPakyong and its surrounding areasin 1999. He proposed a compensa-tion structure for those who hadsuffered in the week of violence thathad struck some constituencies ineast Sikkim which had voted infavour of Sangram the last timearound. Ironically, the MLAs theseconstituencies had voted for nowsit on the treasury bench of the Stateassembly.

Some leaders alleged thatmany Congress supporters werenot allowed to come to Pakyongfor the meeting by ruling partyyouths, while others alleged thatthe SDF was confusing the peopleby planting and spreadingrumours. After a day’s quota ofallegations and counter-allega-tions were done with, the generalmeeting ended. The Congress hadmade its first contact with thepublic and its new set of officebearers introduced to the masses.It will still be some time beforepeople stop confusing the Con-gress in Sikkim with the Sangramof the past given the fact that ithas more or less the same facesto promote. The existence of asplinter group which continues tofly the SSP flag and logo shouldadd to the confusion. One thingis however clear. The next elec-tions will also be a straight fightbetween two groups of more orless the same people save the factthat the haathi has changed for thehaath.

NOW! can be contacted at 270949

or emailed at

[email protected]

ANAND OBEROI

4; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K

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GANGTOK: If the Congress [I]’sfirst public meeting at Pakyong onDecember 14 saw former ChiefMinister and party president NarBahadur Bhandari launch a salvoof accusations against the rulingSikkim Democratic Front govern-ment, the SDF party did not wastetime before calling a press con-ference the very next day to“clarify, refute and set recordsstraight.”

“Mr. Bhandari has run out ofissues. There is not an iota of truthin the allegations he has madeagainst the SDF government. Hehas got his facts all wrong,”former Chief Minister and politi-cal advisor to the CM, BBGooroong said while addressingthe press conference held here on

December 15.The Congress party’s pre-poll

attack strategy, led by Mr.Bhandari, was to accuse the SDFgovernment of “total financialmismanagement and rampant cor-ruption.” To which, Mr.Gooroong replied that the Con-gress president “had a wrong no-tion” about the fiscal health of theState. “The financial position ofthe State has in fact improvedsince the SDF came to power. Inaddition to the plan fund, we arealso receiving funds from theNorth Eastern Council (NEC) aswell. There is no dearth of fundsin the State at present,” he said.

Mr. Gooroong also announcedthat the Government has startedgiving two month’s advance sal-ary to teachers from this year.“The salaries of the government

SDF refutes charges, says Bhandari removed

from ground realitiesemployees have improved afterwe came to power. We have alsoincreased the daily wages of la-borers,” he said.

However, plight of the unpaidSikkim Mining Corporationstaff, who have not received theirsalaries for the last 11 months,which was brought up by Mr.Bhandari was something that theSDF could not deny. While ad-mitting that the Sikkim MiningCorporation, a joint venture withthe Centre Government was notdoing well for many years now,Mr. Gooroong said that the Stategovernment has recently arrivedat a decision to declare it a sickunit and close it down. Thiswould be done after consultationwith the Centre government. Hesaid that some financial reliefwould be provided to the em-

ployees of the Mining Corpora-tion. “We may consider the op-tion of a golden handshake be-fore we actually close this unitwhich is nothing but a white el-ephant for us,” he said.

On the allegations of incitingpost-poll violence in 1999, dur-ing which the SDF came to powerfor a second time, Mr. Gooroongsaid that Mr. Bhandari “lackedproper vision and was far re-moved from ground realities.”“Why didn’t he raise the issue inthe Assembly all this while? Af-ter all, he is the leader of the Op-position, or whatever is left of it.He is doing it now when the pollsare just round the corner,” he said.

Brushing aside the confidenceshown by Mr. Bhandari that theCongress would form the nextgovernment, and thereby “restorethe rights” of the Sikkimesepeople as “mere indulgence,” thepolitical advisor said that the SDFwill “repeat the 1994 victory.”“We will come to power with aresounding victory. Neither the

Congress nor the BJP is a threatto us. Anti-incumbency factor willnot work in the State,” he said.The SDF party’s focus in the nextgovernment would be on goodgovernance, water, power androads, he added.

The Congress’s claim that itwill work according to the 8th MayAgreement was also refuted byMr. Gooroong, who said that bydoing so, the State would have tobe reverted to the status of a pro-tectorate as it was when theAgreement was signed. “Mr.Bhandari’s claims amounts toanti-national sentiments,” he said.

The State government mightconsider holding the Assemblyelections along with the LokSabha polls, Mr. Gooroonghinted.

In a related development, theChief Minister PawanChamling on December 15sanctioned Leave Travel Con-cession (LTC) for Class III andIV employees.

SARIKAH ATREYA

GANGTOK: The State Govern-ment has revised the reservationin Government jobs for variouscommunities of the State.

This has been necessitated af-ter the inclusion of Limboos andTamangs in the Scheduled Tribeslist and to ensure that the benefitsreach all members of the Sched-uled Tribes equally.

With this end in view, the Stategovernment recently announcedthe new reservation list, whichprovides for 33 percent reserva-tions for Scheduled Tribes in ser-vices and posts under the Sikkimgovernment and Public Sectorundertakings to be filled up bydirect recruitment.

Similarly, the Schedule Castesget 6 percent, Most BackwardClasses (Bhujel, Dewan, Gurung,Jogi, Kirat Rai, Manger, Sunuwar,Mukhia and Thami), 21 percent,Other Backward Classes (Bahun,

Chettri, Newar and Sanyasi), 14percent.

Further reservations have beenmade in all direct recruitment forwomen (30 percent), ex-service-men (3 percent), persons with dis-abilities (3 percent) and sportspersons and artisans of excellence(2 percent).

Apart from the reservations,the State government also an-nounced a five years relaxation inage bar for Scheduled Castes andSchedules Tribes candidates forentry into government service.Most Backward Classes andOBCs get a three years relaxation.

The State government has de-cided to exclude the creamy layerof the society - the socially andeducationally advanced person orsection from the list of the MostBackward Classes or Other back-ward Classes, irrespective of com-munities. Persons with gross an-nual income of Rs.2 lakhs orabove and sons and daughters of

74% reservation in jobspersons holding constitutionalposts or officers of the All IndiaCentral Services and Officers ofJoint Secretary and above in theState Government will not be en-titled to enjoy the reservationsprovided for MBCs and OBCs ingovernment jobs.

It may be mentioned here thatSikkim is also the first state in thecountry to provide reservations ingovernment jobs for Bhujel,Dewan, Gurung, Jogi, Kirat Rai,Manger, Sunuwar, Mukhia andThami categorised as the MostBackward Classes.

Similarly, Bahun, Chettri,Newar and Sanyasi have beencategorised as Other BackwardClasses for the first time in thecountry and provided 14 per centreservations in Government jobs.Further reservations are also madefor women, ex-servicemen, per-sons with disabilities, sports per-sons and artisans of excellence inall direct recruitment.

a NOW REPORT

The Good, the Badand the Ugly

THE MIXED TRENDS OF 2003 in Rajdhani

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 5

C M Y K

Application for admission into this Centre are invited from candidates, both maleand female, belonging to the Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes of the States ofNorth Eastern Region, and of Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Ben-gal, Sikkim, Chhatisgarth and Jharkhand . Candidates whose parents and quardiansare safaiwallaswho are eligible to appear at the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary(Qualifying) Examination, 2001 shall also be eligible for admission into the Centre. The Coaching will be given both for Arts and Science subjects through Englishmedium . Candidates who have at least passed the Degree Examination with aminimum of 50% aggregate marks and who have not undergone training of haveundergone training only once in any of the Pre-Examination Training Centre in thecountry and who intend to apply /have applied for the UPSC Preliminary CivilServices Examination, 2004 will beconsidered for enrolment into the Centre for Coaching Course will be eligible forthe stipend of Rs, 700/- (rupees seven hundred) only per month. Local traineeadmitted to the above Course will be eligible for the monthly stipend of Rs, 225/-(rupees two hundred and twenty five) only.The last date for receipt of application in the prescribed Form is 5th January, 2004.Application Forum can be obtained from the undersigned on a written requestaccompanied with self addressed envelop (23cm x10) bearing Rs.5/- postagestamp. No request of form will be entertained after that date.

DIRECTOR.

ALL INDIA SERVICES PRE-EXAMINATION TRANING CENTRE:ADDITIONAL SECRETARIAT BUILDING (MATI PREMISES) SHILLONG : : :

MEGHALAYA:

Dated Shillong the 6th November, 2003.ADVERTISEMENT NO. 34

COACHING FOR CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMINARY(QUALIFYING) EXAMINATION. 2004.

Release Order No. 157/IPR/ 03-04 Date 16/12/03

GANGTOK: The State Unit ofthe Bharatiya Janata party(BJP) has released a booklet onthe development programmesof the NDA Government led bythe BJP at the Centre.

The booklet was released ata meeting of the State Unit heldhere on 12 December at its of-fice.

State Unit president, HRPradhan said that copies of thebooklet are being distributed tothe general public, especially tothe people at the grassroots andthe Panchayats as well.

Mr. Pradhan said that thepresent SDF government hasnow less than a year to fulfil itspromises made through its 133manifesto. “The public in gen-eral and the State as a whole willgreatly benefit if the commit-ments made by the SDF partybefore the elections are all ful-filled,” he said.

“The present government

has now less than a year to ful-fil its promises made throughthe133-point manifesto. There-fore, we have decided to reviewthe achievements of the SDFgovernment vis-à-vis its partymanifesto and present a point-wise performance appraisal.We also would remind the gov-ernment to fulfil the unfulfilledpromises before the next elec-tions and also provide con-structive criticism and sugges-tions to the government,” Mr.Pradhan.

The BJP intends to assess theperformance of the SDF gov-ernment on a wide-range of is-sues from poverty alleviationprogramme to the fiscal heathof the State. The government’sperformance will be gauged onthe parameters of its economicand industrial polices, agricul-tural programmes, education,reservation issues, employmentinitiatives, social sectors likehealth, roads, electricity andwater supply.

BJP to rate government

performancea NOW REPORT

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6; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K6

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Mangan had already beenestablished whenBirdichand Malu ar-

rived here in 1941, but it still tooka brave man to march northwardsof Gangtok to carve a future.Birdichand stayed at RamaShankar Prasad’s shop, knownpopularly as Khamdong Malik’sshop, where he worked as theMunim. After a few years, hebranched out on his own andopened a shop on space rentedfrom Katook Babu at Dikchu

Naya Bazaar.Birdichand’s son, Mahendra,

recalls that his father never failedto voice his gratitude towardsTobgay Mandal, of Phodongknown locally as MukhtiyarBabu, for all the moral and finan-cial help he offered during timesof need. The work at Dikchu wasdemanding and the profits slim,but Birdichand was a hard workerand had soon rented another shopspace at Mangan in Dr. LobzangTenzing’s house. This shop standsto this day and is now a medicineshop being run by Mahendra.

DATELINE NORTH SIKKIM

THE BRAVE AND THE HARDYBIRDICHAND MALUGlimpses Of Mangan

Birdichand’s diligence contin-ued into 1960 when he brought thesecond jeep to Mangan. In themeanwhile, between 1958 to 1960,he joined hands with his uncle andexpanded his business to Yatungin Tibet. The Tibet trade, however,closed down, but Birdichand’s starkept ascending. In 1970, he wasgiven a special permit by the

Chogyal for supervising the re-stricted areas and to look after theroyal cardamom fields in northSikkim. He also served as thepresident of the Sikkim VyapariSangh from 1976 to 1979 and wasalso an executive member of theSikkim Janata Party. Those whoknew him, remember him as afriendly, hardworking and courte-

ous person. What makes his asso-ciation with Mangan special is thathis [seventh] was the last shop tobe registered at Mangan bazaar bythe Chogyal.

His children are now settled inMangan and Gangtok and havetaken after the patriach and haveproven themselves to be braveand adventurous businessmen.

DEEPAK SHARMAA young Birdichand on ahorse in Dikchu (left)and later with theChogyal at Mangan.

email: [email protected]

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 7

C M Y K7

DATELINE NORTH SIKKIM

MANGAN: World Disabled Daywas celebrated in Mangan on 12December, instead of December3. The function, which was heldat Tashi Thungkar Hotel, was or-ganized by the Spastic Society ofSikkim, Gangtok in collaborationwith Department of Health &Family Welfare, Government ofSikkim and Sponsored by Chair-man, Local Level Committee,East.

Present on the occasion wasChief Guest, Deputy Director,Education, District Health Edu-cation Officer (DHEO), Dr. DSKeronge, RCHO, DukmitLepcha, CHO Health Depart-ment., Child Development ProjectOfficer (CDPO), other Medicalofficers, Panchayats and localresidents.

The programme began with awelcome speech by the DHEO,who said that although more thansix percent of people in India suf-fer from some form of disabilityor the other, only two percent ofthese receive education and lessthan 1 percent is employed. Hesaid that we should not discrimi-

nate against the disabled persons;rather we should include them inevery activity of society.

Dr. Keronge, who read out thepledge of the Disabled Day Cel-ebration, also wanted discrimina-tion against the disabled to bestopped. He listed the journeyfrom 1981, when the United Na-tion first declared the Interna-tional Day of the Disabled to1995, when the People withDisablity Act (PWD) was formedin India and the notification in2001 of the same act in Sikkim.

Under the Act, the disabled areentitled to various legal rights andschemes. In Sikkim too, many fa-cilities are available for the dis-abled but the families need to beaware of these and approach theconcerned department.

According to Chumki Saring,there are many disabled personsin Mangan who need help andguidance. She asked that branchoffices be set up at the districtlevel for the convenience of thepublic. This suggestion was wel-comed by CDPO, North, who saidthat the matter would be discussedwith the Social Welfare Depart-ment.

NAGA- Three years after itstarted, the residents of NagaBlock are still waiting for suffi-cient funds to complete the con-struction of the new monastery.

The old monastery was con-structed in 1899 and has com-pleted 103 years of existence. In1989, the need was felt to con-struct a new monastery over the

old one, and through public con-tribution ground leveling wasstarted on land donated by NagaBlock Panchayat, Tingri Lepcha.

After approving the proposal,the state government sanctionedRs. 9,90,000 from the MP fund,while the locals raised Rs. 4Lakhs. The floor and the insidehall has been completed, butmore funds are needed to com-plete the whole monastery.

In 2002, on a visit to the area,Chief Minister, PawanChamling, was invited by thepeople of Sangdholing, to seethe work on the new monastery.According to the BlockPanchayats of Naga ansSangdholing, although moneywas promised by the Chief Min-ister, they are still awaitingfunds so that work on the mon-astery can be completed.

Funds awaited for monastery in Naga

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

The season for picnics is here and Mangan had one of its own, when in a show of camarade-rie and unity, all officers of north district went for a picnic along with members of ManganCentenary Celebration Committee and Mangan Bazaar Committee, on Saturday, December13.

The picnic was organized by Zilla Adyaksha, Lobsang Tenzing and District Collector, PSTargain. Meant as a break from the daily routine, the picnic was a huge success, withcricket, fishing, cards and tambola being a part of the days fun and games, not to forgetthe Bacardi Blast enjoyed by some! The cooking team of Pentook Kazi and Gopida hadeveryone asking for more. The hot Pakoras and the Tandoori items were a big hit with thepicnickers. All in all a great day was had by all, with many suggesting that they do thismore often.

DEEPAK SHARMA

Mangan celebrates

World Disabled DayFROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

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C M Y K8

FOCUSFOCUS

When the Chief MinisterPawan Chamling firstincluded the demand

for reopening of Nathula for tradewith China in a memorandumsubmitted to the Centre, therewere few who took it seriously.In fact there were many who evensniggered at what was seen as a“preposterous” demand. After all,at the time when it was first raised,India had a defence minister whosaw China as Enemy No. 1 andthe country was riding aneconomy high on broadband IT.Trade over high mountain passesdid not excite anyone in Delhi.

But things change, as do per-ceptions.

The IT bubble burst and thecountry relearnt the value of com-merce. Relations with China im-proved. Hindi and Chini werestriving to be “bhai-bhai” again.China was eyeing India’s hugemarket, as India was eyeingChina’s infrastructural require-ments. Indian goods were alreadymaking it to China via Nepal and

THE AND

the same route was being used tosmuggle Chinese goods into In-dia. This trade was however mini-mal compared to the potential thatSino-Indian trade promised. TheMaoist problem in Nepal was al-ready choking the supply lines toTibet and the Lhasa-Nathula-Kolkata route made much morepractical sense than the longerLhasa-Khasa-Kathmandu and theonwards route.

Both countries had realizedthat Nathula had to be reopened.Both were waiting for the rightmoment. Close to three decadesof bickering over Sikkim couldnot be washed away without any“occasion,” could it? And the oc-casion presented itself in the formof the Prime Minister’s Chinavisit in June.

The premonition thatVajpayee’s Beijing visit wouldbring a huge announcement in itswake was strong. The Sikkim CMhad after all been kept on stand-by – to be ready to accompany thePrime Minister to Beijing on an

hour’s notice. Talks between thetwo countries had obviouslyreached an advanced stage. HadChina admitted in advance that itwould sign on the dotted line forresumption of trade over Nathula,that would have meant its tacitacceptance of Sikkim’s merger.India could extract more points ifit took the Sikkim CM along.China, however, dithered and Mr.Chamling stayed back. The an-nouncement did, however. Comeeventually and there was muchcelebration.

Here one might add that therewas much heartburn over howJelepla and Kalimpong were side-lined in the trade talks. The an-swer lies in history. When theBritishers decided on Jelepla, theywere looking at the nearest passfrom the farthest Indian trade post[Kalimpong]. Sikkim was still anindependent monarchy, so Jeleplawas chosen. Applying the samelogic today tilts the balance infavour of Nathula and Gangtok.

Trade over Nathula is still

The best and

Ecstasy

WELCOME BLAST FROM THE PASTSave the unhealthy development of communalism, there were many “good” developments in

Sikkim this year. The Limbus and Tamangs made it to the tribal list. Sikkim’s entry into the

North-East Council was formalized. The Prime Minister came visiting. The janata melas and

the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme thundered along. To pick the high water mark

was difficult, but once the choice was made, it became obvious, it had to be the decision to

reopen Nathula for trade… ...writes PEMA WANGCHUK

however at least four years away.The roads need to be done up, thewarehousing facilities need to putin place, but before that the min-istry has to decide on the compo-sition of the trade. The infrastruc-ture will have to be constructedto suit the nature of the trade.While this might take time,Sikkim could do well by equip-ping its human resource for thetrade. There are already Chineselanguage classes being held, butthis is still a private initiative. Theold businessmen who were partof the old trade should start rees-tablishing contacts across the bor-der and try and understand thenature and composition of mod-ern trade with Tibet. Local entre-preneurs should start learning theropes of the transport and ware-housing business. The State ad-ministration should start learningthe technicalities involved inmonitoring and servicing interna-tional trade. There is so much thatSikkim can do to occupy itself inthe four years before trade starts

over Nathula, but there does notseem to be the right amount ofexcitement in the right offices. Anextreme view would see the half-hearted response among the busi-nessmen and bureaucracy as aploy to allow the cream ofNathula trade to be skimmed else-where. It would be a shame if thatwere to happen. Everyone seemsexcited about Nathula. Why, evena SIBLAC dharna in Delhi en-joyed wide coverage the momentthey told national news channelsthat they were protesting resump-tion of trade over Nathula.

Do the Sikkimese still want toadopt the wait and watch routine?

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 9

C M Y K 9

FOCUSFOCUS

The past has a nasty habitof intruding into thepresent. Intruding is per-

haps the wrong word in the caseof Sikkim. It’s more like catchingup here. An unresolved debatefrom the past was reissued in thepublic domain this year andcleaved the Sikkimese society oncommunal lines. Ironically, de-limitation, something that shouldhave resolved most of Sikkim’sproblems triggered this division.There are many who tut-tut at theshenanigans of the GAC-SIBLAC combine. Almost every-one has been forced to take a side,but few have recognized the catwhich was set among the pigeons.

It goes without saying thatGAC owes its genesis and popu-larity to the attitude and stand ofSIBLAC on the other end. Butthen why was GAC not formedearlier? SIBLAC after all has beenaround since 1999. The simplereason is that a paranoid minorityis not uncommon. No one evenminds a paranoid minority, butwhen a serious change is in theoffing, then no one wants to sitthe fence anymore. This seriouschange came in the form of thedelimitation commission and thedemands raised with it.

On the surface, the Commis-sion came to Sikkim on a simpleerrand – to rework the boundariesof various constituencies here sothat all 31 territorial constituen-cies in Sikkim became more orless the same size and to do it insuch a way that a constituency didnot spread across two districts.

THE

Sikkim had missed the last delimi-tation bus earlier since it had notbecome a full-fledged state of In-dia when it was held last in theearly seventies. It was also notsomething unique to Sikkim, de-limitation was being carried outall over the country.

SIBLAC, in its representationbefore the Commission, pleadedthat the 12 BL constituencies inSikkim be reworked in such a waythat they all had BL voters in ma-jority. This demand would havebeen difficult for the Commissionto grant since the BL populationof about 20 per cent enjoys 37.5per cent reservation in the StateAssembly [40 per cent if theSangha seat is counted in the samegroup]. To grant the SIBLAC de-mand while also following it ownguidelines of forming equal-sizedconstituencies would have been,as mentioned earlier in this paper,a mathematical impossibility. Butit was still a demand and not adownright incongruous one, so ithad to be heard.

While the majority communityhas played along with this reser-vation structure ever since it wasintroduced in 1979, it would havebeen unfair to expect it to allowits reinterpretation without a fight.If granted, the SIBLAC demandwould have turned the entire con-cept of “one man, one vote” onits head. Although, in ideal con-ditions it should not have causedmuch heartburn, given the timeswe live in, it would have meantthat a united lobby of BL MLAswould automatically get the

Sangha MLA on their side andthen require to pull away only fourmore MLAs from the open cat-egory to form the government.

The existing structure hadsome check and balances in place.The electorate can still throw outan MLA if it does not agree withhis actions. The 1994 toppling ofBhandari by his BL MLAs beinga case in point. Save NamkhaGyaltsen from the the Sangha seat[voted by an electoral college] andSonam Choda Lepcha from therelatively “pure” BL constituencyof Dzongu, none of the BL MLAswho had revolted againstBhandari could return to the As-sembly. While there are manyways one can view this incident,one universally accepted one isthat it discouraged MLAs fromtaking purely communal deci-sions.

To cut a long story short, GACsurfaced to counter SIBLAC’s de-mands on delimitation. The com-mission took in recommendationsand complaints, held public meet-ings and hearings and on the daywhen it should have delivered averdict on delimitation in Sikkim,it was stopped. Delhi finallyagreed that the Commissionshould base its work on the 2001census figures and not 1991. Thewhole process was called off.Sikkim had flashed its ugly com-munal side for nothing.

But there was still a lesson tobe learnt from the entire episode.It was mentioned earlier that thepast has a nasty habit of intrud-ing into the present; an unresolved

past even more so. None of theyearlong embarrassment of GAC-SIBLAC one-upmanship wouldhave happened if only the matterhad been resolved when it wasraised – in 1980. The confusionwas first born in 1979 when thethen Janata Government tabled aBill in parliament [undoubtedlybased on the Kazi Government’sadvise, but something that eventhe then cabinet was not privy toat the time] to outline the shapeand size of the Sikkim LegislativeAssembly. The assembly, whichwas on parity in 1979, could notcontinue on the same format forobvious reasons and the proposalsought to cut the 15 seats reservedfor BLS down to 12 and com-pletely did away with the seatsreserved for the SikkimeseNepalese, save the two for the SC,and continued with one seat forthe Sangha. But, the Bill couldnever be argued in parliament.The Janata Government fell be-fore it could be debated. In themeantime, the loss of the seatsreserved for the SikkimeseNepalese became commonknowledge in Sikkim. There wasfurore in the legislative assembly.Within a fortnight, LD Kazi’s holdwas reduced to a minority [he had31 MLAs initially]. He resigned.Elections had to be called. Therewas president’s rule at the Centretoo and the President passed the“undebated” Bill as an Ordinanceand elections were held on the12+2+1+17 format.

Bhandari formed the govern-ment with a slim margin.

worst of 2003AGON

The Ghost of ’79Deciding on the year 2003’s lowest point

was easy. It had to be the rising com-

munal shenanigans afoot in the State.

What makes it the nadir for Sikkim is

the fact that there was no real reason

to get down and dirty for the Sikkimese.

There were no real reasons for Sikkim’s

minority groups to feel threatened and

in a democracy, the majority really

should have no fears. And yet Sikkim

saw some of its most communal mo-

ments since 1979 this year.

In 1980, the Congress came topower in Delhi and realized thatthe presidential ordinance on thebasis of which the 1979 electionswere held in Sikkim had to bepassed as an Act within sixmonths to ratify the elections. Thethen Union Law Minister ShivShankar tabled the Bill. Almostimmediately the MPs startedpointing out holes in the Bill - thelogic of reserving 12 seats, theabsence of seats reserved forSikkimese Nepalese, the Tsongseat… all were raised. The LawMinister offered no arguments indefence. He admitted that the Billwas flawed, but had to be passedto validate an election which hadalready been held. To make anychanges in the Bill while passingit would nullify the entire process,he said while assuring that the“flaws” would be corrected be-fore the next elections.

That was in 1980.The statements made here are

borne out by parliamentary docu-ments.

Even though the Law Minis-ter is on record of having assuredto bring the Bill [which we nowknow as Representation ofPeople’s Act, 1980] back for de-bate, 1984 was too turbulent ayear in national politics for any-one to remember the Sikkim prob-lem. Indira Gandhi was assassi-nated. Congress was campaigninghard for Rajiv Gandhi. The wholecountry was in mourning. Sikkimtoo had its share of confusion withBhandari getting thrown out by

MORE ON pg 21

Y

10; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K10

KUMREK, EAST SIKKIM: Aworkshop on rural employment gen-eration programme and awarenesscamp on bio-manure, bee keepingand honey processing, was held onDecember 11, here. Organized byKanchendzonga Livestock Coop-erative Society and sponsored byKhadi and Village Industries Com-mission (KVIC), Govt. of India, theprogramme was attended by ChiefGuest, DP Kharel, Former Minister,NK Rai, Chairman, SIMFED, EPLepcha, Director, KVIC, Bank Man-agers, Zilla and Gram Panchayatmembers from Central Pandam, aswell as local farmers.

KVIC will soon be launching aloan scheme under the RojgarYojana for the educated unemployedpersons. Loans will be disbursedfrom January 14, in a tie-up withseveral banks operating in the state.

Addressing the gathering, NKRai, Chairman, SIMFED, said thatthe time had come to revolutionizethe technique of farming, where theystart thinking of themselves more asproducers. Speaking about the

government’s efforts to promotetechnical and modern farming, heurged the educated unemployedyouth to realize available oppor-tunities rather than waiting forgovernment jobs. Asking thePanchayat to ensure that theschemes offered by KVIC wereutilized effectively by the people,he said that forming of co-opera-tives, and collective buying andselling would greatly benefit thefarmers.

E.P. Lepcha, Director, KVICsaid that the government was fo-cusing on rural development andgiving many loans under variousschemes but these were not be-ing properly used. He said thatthe Khadi Board was ready togive whatever technical helpwas necessary.

Zilla Panchayat, CentralPandam, Prem Kiran Pradhanreiterated that the main aim ofthe schemes of KVIC was to cre-ate job opportunities for youngentrepreneurs.

Sonam Bhutia, representativeof Sikkim Khadi Board, listedthe various schemes available

under the Rural EmploymentGeneration Programmes. He saidthat loans taken to set up a busi-ness should be utilized properly.

Anil Biswas, BioTechnical De-velopmental Officer, KVIC, toldthe gathering about the benefitsof vermicomposting. He said thatthe KVIC would train the farm-ers on effective and efficientmethods on bio manure projectswith the main aim of promotingorganic farming.

The regional and branch man-agers of Central Bank, State Bankof India, Union Bank of India, andVijaya Bank urged the people toutilize the benefits offered by themand guaranteed full co-operationto those who availed of loans un-der the Rural Employment Genera-tion Scheme of KVIC.

For small scale industries,loans are given by different bankswith 30 percent subsidy on theloan amount. Women are also en-titled to 30 percent off the loanamount. There will be no need forcollateral security on the loanamount up to Rs. Five lakhs.

The Kanchenzunga Livestock

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

FOCUS ON RURAL EMPLOYMENT

Co-operative Society has alreadylaunched a farm project, underthis scheme. The Rs.1 croreproject is financed by the CentralBank of India and said to be thebiggest of its kind in the region.

Constructed on 15 acres ofland, the farm, in the first phase,will have poultry, horticulture, beekeeping and honey processing.The second phase will have apiggery, fishery and bio-manureplant while third phase will focus

on vermicomposting, fishery anddiary farming

The farm will have a trainingcentre for farmers and entrepre-neurs who want to learn techni-cal and modernized organic farm-ing.

There will be a school and dis-pensary for the families of thefarmers and the local residents.

With a projected annual turn-over of Rs.4,50,000, it has createdemployment for over 60 workers.

ANAND OBEROI

appealPolio is a highly infectious disease leading to

irreversible paralysis. Polio cannot be cured

but it can be prevented. Two drops of Oral

Polio Vaccine will protect your child for life.

The Pulse Polio Immunization Campaign for

the eradication of Poliomyelitis was launched

in 1995. The PPI campaign involves

vaccinating all children below the age of five

with Oral Polio Vaccine regardless of whether

they have been vaccinated before.

This year’s Pulse Polio Immunization is being

held on January 4, and February 22. The Oral

Polio Vaccine received during these days are

extra doses to supplement the routine

immunization. Every child below the age of

five must be given the vaccine on both days.

PPI posts are located in every village through

out the state. You can assist the polio

eradication effort by ensuring the polio

vaccine reaches every single child in your

neighbourhood and community.

Polio knows no caste, no religion. For a polio

free world, every child counts.

Help us to help you.

DD Bhutia

Minister, Health & family Welfare

GANGTOK: Agricultural prod-ucts produced by using chemicalfertilizers, insecticides and pesti-cides affect the human health di-rectly or indirectly, forcing manycountries in the world to opt for or-ganic farming in which the farmerusually uses manure made organi-cally, i.e. through vermiculture,compost and animal dung.

Sikkim has been blessed by arich bio-diversity and naturalbeauty. How these resources can beoptimised for a better future forfarmers was the theme of a trainingprogramme on organic farming,held from December 3-12, at theConference Hall, Krishi Bhawan.Extension officials of Agricultureand Horticulture Department tookpart in the training programme in

which 20 unemployed youth fromthe four districts also participatedas master trainers.

The training was conducted byMaple Ogtech (1) Pvt. Ltd. whoare collaborating with the stategovernment on a project to turn100 villages fully organic in thenext three years.

GM Gurung, Minister for Ag-riculture, and other senior offi-cials from Agriculture and Horti-culture Department were presentduring the inaugural and closingsession of the programme.

During the course of training,scientists from various disciplinesgave lectures and shared theirknowledge with the participants,asking them to apprise other farm-ers of the benefit of organic farm-ing. Topics like preparation ofcompost through Effective Micro

100 villages to go fully organic

in 3 yearsOrganism (EM) technology, mak-ing pesticides, application of bio-dynamics, vermiculture, etc wastaught to the participants.

Sanjay Aggarwal, CEO,Maple, gave various confidence-building exercises for the farmersand laid out a clear-cut strategyfor the implementation of organicfarming in the state.

Beginning from January 4,each of the 20 master trainers willcover five villages each to spreadawareness and introduce farmersto the benefits of organic farming.

As per official records, farm-ers in Sikkim use only 10%chemical fertilizers for farming.This has encouraged the officialsat Agriculture and HorticultureDepartments to hope that it won’tbe difficult to convert Sikkim intoa fully organic state.

SAGAR CHETTRI

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17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 11

C M Y K 11

RECAP SIKKIMRECAP SIKKIM

GEYZING: A Legal Awareness Programme and Lok Adalat will be held on Wednesday, December 17,at Gyalshing Court premises, Geyzing.

Organized by Sikkim State Legal Services Authority and the District legal ServicesAuthority (South & West), the programme will be attended by Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court,R.K. Patra and High Court Judge, N. Surjamani Singh.

In the recently held Sikkim State Judicial Officer’s conference 2003, the need to inspect subordinatecourts as well as expediting disposal of cases was stressed. It was also decided that two fast track courtswould be set up in Namchi and Gangtok. Lok Adalats have already been set up to provide inexpensiveand speedy justice.

GANGTOK: The Karnatakagovernment has asked the SikkimGovernment to immediately with-draw its Internet lottery ongrounds that it is being run in con-travention of the Central Act andState Government rules.

The Karnataka Governmenthas conveyed to Sikkim that it wasconstrained to advise the policeto initiate action as per law againstthe vendors of Internet lottery inKarnataka and asked the state towithdraw its online lottery fromKarnataka forthwith.

SHERATHANG: Tourists andlocals visiting Baba HarbhajanMandir can now relax. WithSikkim Police now posted at BabaMandir to man traffic, the impassebetween Jawaharlal Nehru RoadTaxi Drivers Association and thearmy seems to have been re-solved. Taxis have started plyingto the Mandir from December 10.

The taxi drivers had re-fused to ply beyond Tsomgofollowing an “incident” at theMand i r on 30 November,when a l legedly they were“beaten up” by army person-nel at Baba Mandir followingan altercation over parking inthe area.

The drivers had demandedthat Sikkim Police be deputedto cont ro l t ra ff ic a t BabaMandir. A demand, interest-ingly, supported by the armytoo. “Taxi drivers don’t takedirections from the army-mentoo well since they know we

GANGTOK: “How to bringabout improvement in the qual-ity of life of the people of Sikkimby generating employment in allsectors so that by 2015 the statebecomes illiteracy free and pov-erty free and also generate a rev-enue of Rs. 1000 crore per an-num”. This was the topic selectedby Chief Minister PawanChamling for an essay competi-tion amongst the students of

schools and colleges of Sikkim.Organized by the Department ofEducation,in two categories ofClass V111 to X & Class X1 toCollege Level, the results havenow been declared.

In the Category Class VIII to X,the first three winners are RinkilaBhutia, Class X, Mangan SeniorSecondary School, Silsilla LamaTamang and Saran Rai, Class 1Xof Tadong Secondary School.

In the Category Class XI toCollege Level, the first three win-

District Schools win first prize in essay competition

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SBIFINANCE E A S Y F I N A N C E

The Lotteries Departmentstrongly objected to the issuanceof receipts to players by InlottoTechnologies, which sells onlinelottery tickets of the Sikkim Gov-ernment.

It opposed conducting of 91draws per day and also the num-ber of bumper draws held.

The Department has pointedout that rules stipulate the SikkimGovernment shall run a maximumof 17 weekly lottery schemes andbumper draws shall not exceed sixin a calendar year for a maximumof Rs 1,600 crore.

Small Savings and Lotteries

Please Leave, says Karnataka to Sikkim Lotteriesdirector Raghupathy, in a letter tothe Sikkim Government haspointed out that the sale of Sikkimlotteries in Karnataka through theinternet was in violation of Lot-teries (Regulation) Act 1998,Karnataka State Lottery Rules1999 and the Karnataka Comput-erised Network Lottery Rules2001.

The letter said under Section6(B) of Lotteries (Regulation) Act1998, the Karnataka Governmentshall print the lottery tickets bear-ing the State’s imprint and logoto ensure the authenticity of theticket.

a NOW REPORT

Sikkim Police to mantraffic at Baba Mandir

have no powers to challanthem and this obstructs thesmooth flow of army vehiclesin the area,” a senior army of-ficer had said to NOW!

With the 14 police personnelposted at Sherathang Police Out-post managing the traffic, botharmy personnel and tourist taxiscan now enjoy right of way.

a NOW REPORT

ners are Roshan Lepcha, Class XII,Pelling SSC, Dependra Hamal,Class XII of Tashi Namgyal Acad-emy, Manisha Singh Parmar, ClassXII, Yangyang SSC.

Under both the categories thecompetition carries cash prizes of Rs. One Lac, Rs. Fifty thou-sand and Rs. Twenty five thou-sand for the first, second and thirdessays respectively. The prizeswill be given away to the winnerson the Republic Day Function atGangtok on 26th January 2004.

a NOW REPORT

Legal Awareness Programme at Geyzing

SORENG: World Disabled Daywas observed here on 3 Decem-ber 2003. The function was pre-sided over by the Sub DivisionalMagistrate, Soreng as the ChiefGuest and attended by officers ofvarious Departments, members ofthe local panchayat, health work-ers and the general public.

The Medical Officer, Sorenghighlighted the causes of disabil-ity, the social stigmas surround-ing it and also enlightened the lo-cals on the preventions and effectsof disability. He also made thepeople aware about the variouspoints of the Disability Act andthe rights and equal opportunitiesthat the disabled people deserve.

Equal rights for

disabled; Soreng

celebrates World

Disabled Day

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12; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K12

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

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KOLKATA: Sikkim bagged thebest stall award at the North EastExposition 2003 (Nexpo) held atSwabhumi, Calcutta, from De-cember 5-11.

The stall displaying Sikkimeseproducts, both industrial andhandicrafts and handlooms alongwith information on Sikkim werechosen the best among hundredsof other stalls at the exposition.

The award, called the Gover-nor of Mizoram Amalok RattanKohli Best Stall Award, washanded over by the wife ofNagaland Governor, Ishani Datta,to the representative of ZiggyInfomedia, a design, advertisingand publication firm based inGangtok, who represented Sikkimat Nexpo 2003. All north easternstates had participated at Nexpo.

Sikkim had put up three dif-ferent stalls, one on handicraftsand industrial products, one oninformation and the last a foodstall, which served ethnicSikkimese food.

Sikkim, also participated atthree different fashion shows heldat the Urban courtyard atSwabhumi in Salt Lake areawhich saw a huge turnout ofKolkatans and people of the northeast residing in the city.

Six male models from Sikkimtook part in the fashion shows,which displayed ethnic and con-temporary designs from the state.The Sikkimese models, the onlymale models participating at theshows, walked the ramp with fe-male models from other north east-ern states. While the inauguration

day saw the models take the rampin ethnic wear, the last day waskept for contemporary designsfrom Sikkim and the other northeastern states.

Sikkimese models KarmaNamgyal, Vijay Sharma,Khenrab, Norgay, Pema and Amitwore outfits designed by Rinchenand Vijay at the shows. The out-fits of Rinchen and Vijay com-prised largely of contemporarydesigns in brocade, raw silk, andNepali Dhaka and Lepchahandloom materials. The showwas choreographed by KarmaNamgyal who is already creditedfor having organised various suchshows in the state and outside.

A cultural troupe of the stateculture department also presentedthe Yak and Singhi chaam andSikkimese music at the venue onthe last three days of the exposition.

Nexpo was organised by the rep-resentatives of the various houses

Sikkim bags best stall award at NexpoFASHION SHOW DRAWS LARGE CROWDS

of the north eastern states based inCalcutta with the help of the Min-istry of Development of the northeastern region (Doner), the IndianChamber of commerce and the Teaboard. Sikkim was represented byZiggy Infomedia with assistancefrom the Department of Tourismand the Industries Department.

Speaking to reporters the Chair-man of Nexpo, A. Baruah, who isalso the Director of Trade andMovements, Assam house,Calcutta, said the exposition beingorganised for the first time gave allthe north eastern states a commonplatform to showcase their culture,tradition and products.

Sikkim’s representation was en-trusted to Rinchen Ongmo andSonam Dolma, two local entrepre-neurs. The states participation wassought as a member of the NorthEastern Council, having been in-cluded in the NRC earlier this year.

courtesy: ZIGGY InfoMedia

One of the Sikkim stalls at NEXPO (top) and models displaycontemporary Sikkimese designs at the Fashion Show (topright). Pic courtesy: Debashish.

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 13

C M Y K

extrasTHE NOW! 8-PAGE SPECIAL

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The rich cultural heritage of the North Eastern Stateswas showcased in a fashion, dance and music extravaganza held at the Sikkim Government College

auditorium here on 13-14 December.SNOW PULSE, a North East India Inter-State Cultural

Exchange programme, organised by local duo PrashantPradhan and Rudra N Sakya saw models from all over theNorth East, including local models, sashay down the rampin creations by well-known designers from Assam, Manipur,Meghalaya and of course, Sikkim.

Minister for Tourism and Land Revenue, KT Gyaltsenwas the chief guest on the first day.

Models displayed creations by some of the best-knownnames in the fashion circuit of the region, led by DipankarKashyap from Assam in both traditional and contemporarydesigns that highlighted the traditional hues, tones, colours

and the richness of the fabrics and jewellery of the differentcommunities in the region. Traditional Moga silk mekhlas,along with hand-woven shawls, wraps and saris in beauti-ful motifs were a big hit with the audience. Jyotshna Kurbafrom Meghalaya and Prava from Manipur also displayedtheir creations, along with Jyotsna Pariyar from Sikkim thatbeautifully captured the tapestry of rich heritage of the NE.

Apart from traditional outfits, the designers also displayedtheir contemporary lines that were inevitably influenced bythe cultural richness of the region.

The participating States also presented their culturaldances during the show, much to the delight of the audi-ence.

HAMRO PARIWAR, a local NGO, put up a colourful cul-tural song and dance show, which included a Yak dance,that added more sparkle to the programme. Western clas-sical guitar performance by Mr. Raja Joses was also part ofthe SNOW PULSE extravaganza.

United Colours of the Northeasta NOW REPORT

pics: KARCHOONG

The food stalls at the Titanicwas packed to capacity.Eager locals jostled with

curious tourists for a sample ofthe piping hot Gundruk ko Jholand Kinema with Basti ko chamalko bhaat, a bite of that fieryKhutta ko achaar, and a glass ofBhattey jaadh to wash it all down.

Clamouring for equal attentionwas cuisines from the Rai and theLimboo communities, an array ofpickles and achaars, along withthe quintessential Kyabsays,Sael Rotis, and Gyumas, and thePolice band played popularNepali and Hindi film tunes evenas the curtains came down on themonth-long festival on 10 De-cember that made the MG Margcame alive every evening with amyriad of sights, sounds andtastes that truly reflected the cos-mopolitan slant of Sikkim.

For the last 30 days, the enter-tainment-starved Janata of

Gangtok had been treated to an ex-travaganza that this sleepy townhad never seen. Every evening, thestage had come alive to a culturalfeast that showcased the rich heri-tage of the different communities ofthe State. Traditional songs anddances from Nepali, Lepcha andBhutia communities shared thestage with Tibetan folk art,Rajasthani revelry, modern jazz andsome serious head banging gigs bylocal rockers. Not to be left behindwas Bollywood, with local musicaltroupes putting up commendableperformances with their renditionsof popular Hindi filmi geet.

The one evening that left theaudience with a lump in theirthroats and tears in their eyeswas when differently-abled chil-dren put up a show on 3 Decem-ber, on the occasion of World Dis-ability Day. The children actuallymanaged to send out a very posi-tive message to the people thatthey were not any different fromany one of us despite their handi-

caps. Prashant, a 10-year-oldboy whose left leg had to be am-putated from the thigh below dueto polio and is now fitted with aprosthetic leg, warmed the heartsof the crowd with his superbdancing skills to the tune of Dilli

ki sardi!The under-privileged children

from the Chongey School andGandhi Ashram, Kalimpong alsoput up performances that broughtloud cheers from the audience.

There were competitions aswell, where different clubs partici-pated with much aplomb. But itwas the children of Kyi-de-KhangSchool who walked away with thegrand prize with Dohori geet.

Entertainment apart, the festi-val provided a big platform for thepeople of Sikkim to showcasetheir high talents. “The festivalreveals that there is no dearth oftalent in the State. Not only did itprovide a platform for profession-als, but also to amateurs fromrural areas as well,” PrincipleSecretary, Sikkim Tourism,Karma Gyatso, said.

Naturally, the huge turnout onthe closing day was unprec-edented. The Chief Minister,Pawan Chamling, made it a pointto attend the closing ceremony,

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!during which he handed out theprizes and the certificates to theparticipants, amidst a dazzlingdisplay of fireworks.

The stage was left to the artistsfrom the Ravangla Sub-divisionwho put a colourful show with danceitems from Bhutia, Lepcha, Rai,Gurung, Limboo and Tamang com-munities, along with a Sanginidance which was much appreci-ated.

In the end, the one-month of fes-tivity, despite minor glitches and fewslip-ups, concluded with the crowdwanting more. Sikkim Tourism, theorganisers, has promised to comeback next year with a bigger, bettershow. “I am already looking forwardto next year’s festival. Why cantsuch events be held throughout theyear,” asked one ardent spectatorwho did not miss a single a singleevening of the festival.

The MG Marg wore a desolatelook the next day. Only the ban-ner remained that said- SEE YOUNEXT YEAR!

SARIKAH ATREYA

14; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K

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The weekend saw theRajdhani reverberate withthe sounds of world mu-

sic, and the rare strains ofDijridodo and the Djembe, com-bined with the haunting melodiesof the flute.

Full Circle, an acoustic bandbased in Kathmandu thrilled mu-sic lovers in a performance thatwas a refreshing change fromregular rock shows and so-calledacoustic jam sessions that havebeen overplayed to the point ofexasperation!

From December 12-15, theband played at The Buzz topacked houses, enthralling theaudience in an acoustic jam ses-sion hardly seen in Gangtok.

The band, led by Dimple SinghNadra, produces music that israrely heard in this part of theworld. A kind of music that doesnot confirm to any particular genrebut can be described as crossoveror world music at its best.

Aptly aided by Deependra Raion the electric guitar and BinodKatuwal on percussions, Dimplehandles the vocals and acousticguitar. 20-year old Gangtok girlYankey Ongmu Lepcha, who re-cently joined the band, has avoice that will certainly take herplaces. Her very controlled andsuperb renditions, along withBinod on the Dijridodo (an Aus-tralian wind instrument) and theDjembe (an African drum) pro-vided haunting but melodiousstrains that was such a welcomechange from the usual rock con-certs popular in the Rajdhani

these days.The band was also here to

promote its first English album,which also marked its launch inGangtok. The album, FreeYour Mind, has eighttracks that are soul-ful and easy

to the ears.The band also did some great

takes on classic numbers, prefer-ring not to just do covers, but add-ing their own innovative soundsto the tracks, making it all themore enjoyable. The one thingthat perhaps made the whole per-formance absorbing was the in-corporation of typical Himalayantunes to classic jazz and bluescovers. The use of popular Nepalitunes on the flute added a re-freshing touch to the tracks andspoke volumes on the innovativeskills of the band.

So captivating was their per-formance on the first day that anAmerican student in the audi-ence, France Joseph, joinedthem for an impromptu jam ses-sion on the Djembe. France, whoapparently has been playing theDjembe for the last fifteen years,

received loud cheers from the au-dience as well as the band for hertake on the African drum.

This innovative use of differ-ent sounds with the focus

on world music hasgiven Full Circle its owndistinctive style. The

band hopes their al-bum will strike a

chord with music lovers from allage groups. All the songs in thealbum have a social message,and strive for world peace, loveand harmony, and speak outagainst racism and oppression.An influence attributed to the lyr-ics of Bob Dylan.

Dimple, basically fromDarjeeling, has been with theband for almost a decade nowand has been the creative forcebehind its unique sounds. Theband has been playing in theKathmandu music circuit eversince and has developed a largefan following. The use of tradi-tional instruments has added thatglobal touch to the band.

Full Circle now plans to taketheir music to more global heightswith tours to Malaysia and En-gland soon.

FREE YOUR MINDSARIKAH ATREYA

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17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 15

C M Y K

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A RS. 276 LAKH SammanBhawan was gifted to the pub-lic. “The magnificence of thebuilding reflects the idea behindit,” said the CM on the officialinauguration of the building inJuly.

The building as the name sug-gests is about respect and this timeit is for the people. The buildingis hoped to not only serve the pub-lic as a public utility complex butalso become a tourist spot.

To induce our leaders towardspositive thinking, a “ChintanBhawan” was constructed adja-cent to the legislative Assembly.The four-storied RCC framedstructure has been built in tradi-tional style and has shaped upbeautifully. Lets hope the mightydeliberations held inside bear fruitfor the people of the state.

Sikkim’s first PassengerRopeway was launched in theRajdhani this year. The onekilometre long ‘bi-cable, jig-back” ropeway from Deorali to

the Tashiling Secretariat rolled itsdebut run on December 7. It ishoped that this eco-friendlymeans of transport will double asa major tourist attraction. The Rs.14 crores project took three yearsto design and is described as an“ornament” that adorns the beau-tiful landscape of the capital.

Sikkim Tourism launched amonth long ‘Food & CultureFestival” at MG Marg in Novem-

ber and eveningswere never thesame again. Foodstalls put up at theTitanic represent-ing different com-munities playedsafe, in the endselling momosand rolls. Butnothing deterredthe crowds that

gathered each evening to ‘rock &roll’.

Eating out became thefavourite pastime of the peoplewith newer theme restaurantscoming up every other day.“Little Italy” was the handsdown winner with good foodand music to charm the most

hardened soul. Other places likeThe Square and Hotlix wooedthe rest with ambience and var-

ied cuisine. Fusion, the new kidon the block promises evenmore. 2003 will definitely be re-membered as the year of thefoodies.MURDERS dominated the land-scape in the Rajdhani in 2003.Gangtok had never witnessed

such gruesome murders. Whenresidents woke up on the morn-ing of 10 November and heardabout the double murder of

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly2003 at the Rajdhani displayed mixed trends. If at one hand the capital was gifted many spanking new buildings, power andwater problems plagued the city. While garbage piled up around the city, jhora cleaning drives were also launched in rightearnest. Eating out became de rigueur with the mushrooming of Lounge Bars and Restobars, and a night out at town no longermeant a drive and a quiet meal. Nightclubs and Discos promised all night partying. Fashion made its presence felt on the ramps as well as on the streets. Trendy youngsters displayed the belly button withpanache as the and hair colouring became the most natural thing to do.But it was also a year when crime put its firm imprint on the psyche of the people. Robberies and murders came to be acceptedas a natural prelude to development. Drug abuse took on gruesome proportions and even as new entrepreneurs sprung up ,unemployed youth walked the alleys in despair. NOW! Takes a look back at the year and lists the good, the bad and the ugly.

Shaukyi and Tsetenki, who werehacked to death, with the motiveof greed, they knew things wouldnever be the same. Doors thatstayed open all these years werenow being bolted. People becamemore wary of strangers and sus-picion replaced the almost blindtrust that people lived with allthese years.

Money, according to SP East,Akshay Sachdeva, was the rootcause of all crime in the city. Justtwo months before the doublemurder. Dawa Tamang, a stenog-rapher at the AG office was bru-tally murdered by friends turnedkillers on the pretext that he wasunable to return Rs. 7000 that heborrowed from them.

But it was not moneythat led to the murder ofKusey Tamang at Sicheyon November 25. He waskilled by his friends over analtercation that took placeover a girl.

Unnatural death contin-ued to be the leitmotif oflife in the city. More than20 youngsters overdosed onprescription pills to leavebehind devastated fami-lies.

But there were displaysof bravery and generositytoo. The courage and gritshown by Uday Rai a localyouth who uncaring for his

own life rushed into a blazingMES Barrack to take out a flam-ing LPG Cylinder that was aboutto explode and would have led tograve damage to the families liv-ing inside, was exemplary.

The response of the people ofthe state to NOW! Karma DomaFund was no less amazing. In amonth people collectively do-nated nearly Rs.25,000 to helpKarma Doma, who was lying inbed with an amputated leg andhad no source of income.

Heart-warming stories to takewith us to the new year. What willnext year have in store for us?Keep reading NOW! And wepromise to bring you news as ithappens. Totally Local.

16; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K

BOY FINDS WORMS INSIDE HIS CHOCOLATE

INTHECITY

16

eCAKESeCOOKIESeCHOCOLATESePASTRIES

When Sukra Kumar Subbabought two bars of

Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolateon Monday, December 9, he

had no idea of what the endresult would be. Not havingheard or read of worms thatwere found in Cadbury

chocolates, first in Pune andthen Mumbai, he was quiteamazed when a live wormemerged from the chocolate hehad given his son.

“I bought two Dairy Milk choco-lates from a little shop at MG Marg.I went home and gave one to myson and one to my daughter. Af-ter my son opened his packet, awhite worm wriggled out of the

chocolate. It was sick. I immedi-ately took both the chocolatesback to the shop and showed it tothe shopkeeper,” he said.

The shopkeeper, of course,refused to take the blame for this,saying that as he got the wholebatch from the wholesaler, it wasthey who should be contacted.

Subba, however has not yet gotaround to doing that yet. “What’sthe point?” he asks, not having thetime to take the issue further.

This is not the first time thatworms have been discovered inchocolates here. A housewifefrom Arithang had the same ex-perience a few weeks earlier.Last week, a student from DPHfound fungus in the chocolate shehad already half consumed with-

out noticing the bluish tinge it had.The controversy over worms

in Cadbury’s first surfaced in earlyOctober, when live and deadworms were found in Dairy Milkchocolates in Pune and Mumbai.The Food and Drug Administra-tion of Maharashtra had seizedall Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolatesfrom the multinational giant’s fac-tory at Talegaon, Pune andthreatened to prosecute the com-pany. Subsequently, the issuedied a natural death, with no oneinterested to take it further.

However, after the recent in-cident, parents in Sikkim will bewise to either avoid or at leastcheck on each bar of chocolatebefore they give it to their chil-dren.BITE THIS!

a NOW REPORT

This Christmas and New Year,all roads will lead to the Food

and Sound festival at Little Italy,Deorali. And why not? KarmaZimba of Little Italy, promises toturn this into major melange offood, drinks and “sexotic” music.With chefs coming in from all overthe country and live bands ser-enading the diners, it’s purelyparty time.

But what’s so orgasmic aboutit? “If you talk the talk then, it willseparate the men from the boys,”he says, “because the food, theambience and the music is orgas-mic, it will make a person havemultiple orgasms with differentbuffets and live bands every day”.Really what will they think of next!

For those who just want agood meal without the “talk”here’s what is on offer.

A Christmas Buffet that will

have “a great mix of holiday food”with cakes and pudding for thosewith a sweet tooth. The ChineseBanquet will serve oriental cui-sine “at its best” with piping hotsoups to beat the chill outside.

Continental Fiesta will be awild display of assorted continen-tal food from around the globeand the Great Indian Khana willserve everything from Tandoorinan to dosa. Those who like seafood can check out the place onDecember 29 for sea food that isfresh, fresh, fresh.

Oh yes, Zimba promises mu-sic that will be “different” with livebands like “The Full Circle” cre-ating the right mood.

“Food is an art that nourishesyou,” says Zimba, “ It is a deal ofa lifetime, only Rs. 250 for acouple with the best of music,where you can eat anything you

Baker’s Café at MG Marg, isalready in celebration mode.

Special plans are being put inplace to give Gangtokians a verymerry Christmas indeed. Theplace is already jiving with Christ-mas themes. A Christmas treetakes pride of place, while beau-tiful Christmas decorations havebeen put up. To top it all you havesweet carols playing in the back-ground.More than 16 varieties of cakeare being prepared specially forthe festival. In classic shapes ofX-Mas tree, stars, guitar, rings,flowers and many others. You can also buy special gifts ofcookies, chocolate, stockings orthe gift basket. All are priced quitereasonably and won’t tax yourpocket too much.For children a special treat isplanned for 24-25 December,when Santa Claus will be visitingthe café with his bag full of gifts.And to top it all, if you guess thecorrect number of beans in thejar, you could begin your NewYear with a big cake given freeby the Café.

desire and relax during the fes-tive season, it’s a phenomenalpackage,” he boasts.

“Best thing is that you canhave orgasms with your clotheson”. Someone stop him!!

Big Orgasm in Little Italya NOW REPORT

Baker’s

Café Plans

Special

Christmasa NOW REPORT

NOW! Can be

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17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 17

C M Y K

POETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRYPOETRY

STORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESSTORIESLiTNOWWHEN THE HILLS WRITE

17

Oh! Mother! You are so great and divineThere is none in this universe,

As great as you.You are so humble, so patient,

And attentive too.For the little one whosoever comes to you,With their problems and heart laden with

ache,You diligently solve the problem and console

them.

Even in conflict and dreadful situation,Your presence plays a crucial role,

Using the tools of telepathy,In the oceans of tranquillity of love,

There you are the verdict of the SupremeCourt.

Your high intellectual concept,Is of a great value.

Some times you are compelled to be cow-ardly,

As you cannot bear the harsh punishment,Of being imposed to your loving one,There you ignore the fact to redeem,The little one whosoever is a culprit,

But no doubt there is no one deprived ofhumanity,

In the greater reign of mother’s world, No discrimination at all, no inequality

So mother’s love is imperishable and uniqueIn this whole world as you see.

After tomorrowOn a drowsy lento

Martyrs andrevolutionaries appear

With lei around their neckTheir eyes quisiveTo search and slay

Those against the peopleAnd we will be grateful

For the spontaneous spellFor the staple quintessence

On how to master realityAnd we will be grateful for

They will translateThe night solstice into

A new dawn.

The martyrs, of course, shall shootDown the red star that flaps

In macabre frivolityBecause it has been carried on the tyranny

And fix the lionHistory will amend

The sleazy pastInto an odyssey of happiness

And I shall sing in gratitudeTo those who made tomorrow for me

Offered an ambience of quietudeOur gaiety,

The only anodyne to their lesion

And on the ribald wings of springOn the verdure grass,

Under the azure sky,From a deep slumber

I shall awakeTo the roaring cough

And the nebulous silhouetteOf uncertainty

Shall rub off its tarnishWith time

For the worldAnd its roof in quod

Is in the brim of a new tomorrow.

A f t e r T o m o r r o w(In memory of Thupten

Ngodup’s self-immolation inNew Delhi on April 27, 1998)

- KALDEN GYATSOIn fact it’s a pride for you,

You are honoured for your humble,And dignified noble deed.

In giving birth, irrespective of painful cause,And for your tedious and tender care.

Oh Mother! In this vast world,You are the perfect guidance with dignified

quality,Silently peeping through your immense

inspiration,With your vigorous-effort to the whole.

But the wonderful world, easily deny to you,And judgement fails same where

Oh mother! You are denied the credit,Which should never be.

The fact is that, every name and fame,Always attributed to the father as legal right,

And of course! How sad it is…!!All bad reputation and every failure indeed,

Often utter and seek utmost help whole-heartedly,

Even if the mother is in the graveyard.

So – “Why not? You little one,Work hard with your full dedication and

loyalty?For which every mother enthusiastically,

And whole-heartedly waits ahead,Till the little one reaches the goal,

The only goal of the significant thought ofher destiny.

MotherRIKI LHAMU LEPCHA, Gyalshing, West Sikkim

As I sit down and decideTo pen down my feelings insideAll within phrases in an elaborate poemJust enough to let you know…I love you both!There’s just too much that I feelThere’s just too much to say. To expressthat, I find no words enough,And all I wanna do is run to youAnd hug you and tell you just how much…I care for you.Perhaps not as much and never as muchAs you do..in your own profound ways!You’ve walked with me the first foot steps in my life,You’ve stood by me, as I grew oldYou’ve always done your best, to give me a smileAnd dear mom, dear dad,There’s just a tiny wish in my heartThat I’ll find you both right next to meAll the days of my life andIf there could be another life,Then to find you there too, all by me!And I pray to God to help me be ableAll my life, to care for you, to stand by you,To be with you!

(Dedicated to my parents. I’ll miss U!)

Dear Mom

and dad….

Wendy Mair Lepcha

NOW! thanks all the poets and writers who

have been generous enough to send in

their creations and hopes that the same

energy and response will be bestowed

upon us next year too!

Keep on writing guys!

18; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K

WOMENEXTRA SPACE FOR THE FAIRER SEX

NOW!

18

WOMEN

Women NOW! Welcomes a fellow sister to the world of constant feeding,nappy changing and staying up all night. But what the hell. It’s worth it!

THINK HAPPY

Set off with some optimistic thoughts –believe that you’re special and you deservethe best. The way you view yourself is thefirst point that helps your self-esteem.Chant positive words like “I’m going tohave a good day” and you’ll be all gearedto face the world. Pay attention to thingsthat are working out, even if its eating threemeals a day.

EAT HEALTHY

For shiny locks, radiant skin and goodhealth, get rid of the rubbish in your diet. Ahealthy and positive eating pattern influ-ences your attitude, it makes you feel moreenergised and enthusiastic. So ditch friedfoods, pastries, refined flour products, dryfruits and red meat. Instead indulge in freshsalads, fruits and low-fat dairy products.Drink plenty of water and make a habit to

drink before your meals. You’ll eat less andfeel more active.

INVEST IN FRIENDSHIP

Guilty about not keeping in touch with yourfriends? Make a list of all the people you’veneglected over the years, and take timeout to get in touch with them. But if yourlist is too long, set aside an hour everydayto call your long-lost friends. Rememberthat every woman needs a rock-solid circleof friends to fall back on.Besides, when you’re with different people,different aspects of your personality comesout, allowing you to blossom more as aperson.

DE-JUNK YOUR LIFE

Clear the clutter in your home, office andall around. There’s no excuse for hoard-ing things that must simply go. Create asense of order in your environment and

It’s that time of year again! We’re stuffed with the food frenzy of Dasain, fol-lowed by the Diwali sweets, and now, Christmas and New Year is just roundthe corner. This means innumerable get-togethers, parties, weddings and din-ners. And that means — yes, you got it — getting that right look for the eve-nings and of course, plenty of food and booze.Each one of us has or should have our own personal style to create that dra-matic effect and stand out in the crowd. While not every one of us can affordhaute couture stuff to create that effect, we can certainly create magic withsimple creative ideas without burning a hole in our pockets.

FIT TO PARTY

You’ll be surrounded by mounds of dessert, starters, food loaded with calories andalcohol — a tough battle for even the most conscious dieter. So how are the comingweeks supposed to be filled with joy and cheer? For those of us who’re trying to getthat fat off, and more importantly, to keep it off, this time of year can be most stress-ful. You still have another two weeks to go before you can surf into the New Yearsafely.FITNESS TIP NO. 1

Try to incorporate some additional activity to compensate for the hazards of theseason. For instance, take the stairs and walk to work. If you’ve got even just a fewminutes, you’ve got the time for a workout. Where fitness is concerned, something isbetter than nothing. Short, effective workouts that combine cardiovascular activitiesand strength training can help raise energy levels, tone the body, alleviate stressand much more.Put on your blue suede shoes. If it’s a dance party, then dance! You’ll burn caloriesand become a better dancer! Practice makes perfect!

MAKE-UP FOR PARTY TIMEEvening makeup needs a more dramatic and sensual makeup. Your brows need to be

more defined, eyes need to be expressive and lip colour need to be

sensual. First and foremost cover dark circles and blemishes with concealer pencil.

Highlight the brow with a shade darker than natural Colour and shape it properly. Apply

light shade of eye color from lash line to brow. Apply a darker shade of eye color in a

thin line in the crease of the eye followed by a medium shade over the darker one and

blend well. This will make the structure of the eye appear stronger.

Apply black eyeliner to upper lashes. Line lower lashes with eyeliner. Apply two coats of

mascara on upper and lower lashes.

Apply a medium to dark shade of powder blush under cheekbone. Apply a lighter shade

over the darker shade on the ball of the cheek. Blend out and up.

Party season demands high profile lips! Use lip liner and fill in with

lip bright and sexy colour. Treat him to flavour-filled kisses with fruit-flavoured

lip-glosses. For that techno, ultra-gloss look - apply a dash of

metallic lip-gloss over lipstick in the center of your lips.

Arrive dark and dramatic. Try lip shades such as Plum Fairy,

Midnight Metal Cabernet, or Classic Red.

your life will feel more ordered. Don’t treatcleaning as an ordeal, but think of it as aform of therapy that can help clear themess in your head as well.

DITCH A BAD HABIT

Have you ever been accused of being apossessive lover who doesn’t give enoughspace or a bully who’s always out to makelives miserable?Give your reputation a break by getting ridof a negative trait that doesn’t do verymuch for you. It doesn’t matter whether itis fear, jealousy, anxiety, worry, dread, self-ishness or envy, whatever can in any waymar the symmetry and beauty of life shouldbe expelled as a fatal enemy.

FIND YOUR BEAUTY TRADEMARK

Head for your fave cosmetics counter. Plana whole day for this as there’s a lot ofmake-up to choose from. With so much

gloss and glitter, have fun. Try on differenthues, even the ones that you normallywouldn’t use. Unless you experiment, youwon’t know what suits you. There are awhole lot of very-affordable brands outthere. Make sure you set yourself a cashlimit so that you don’t overspend.

FIND YOUR MAGIC STAR

By getting in touch and staying in touchwith your deepest desires you can find yourown magic star. So continue to focus onthat one thing that you really want in life –feel and believe that you have the powerto be a successful person one day. It’s assimple as staying connected with your soul,so don’t let fear or any negative emotionsdistract you along the way. To stay in touchwith your soul, seek out a corner in yourmind where you continue to feed it withpositivity.

The New Year is around the corner, a time for fresh beginnings, new

achievements and the time to chart out goals for the rest of the year. Yes, we know, all the resolutions you made last year, you

could not keep. You haven’t achieved anything gloat-worthy from 2002’s must-fulfil list, and now you’re coping with stomach-churning

guilty-as-hell feelings.

You haven’t lost those extra kilos, you never got that promotion at work and there is no new man in the horizon. Don’t lose heart. It’s

never too late to make changes and come clean a second time round, so snap out of your slump and bounce back to a sparkling new life.

With a little help from Women NOW! ofcourse. We’ve listed out a few things you could do this year to immediately start feeling better. Just

some plain stuff that doesn’t hurt. We know. We’ve been there.

New Year, New You

FITNESS TIP NO. 2

Have dinner before you go. If you’ve nibbled before leaving the house — if you’vehad a small snack, you’ll be just fine. It’ll curb the temptation of eating all thosedeep fried kebabs, potato chips and pizzas doused in melted cheese.FITNESS TIP NO. 3

Opt for wine instead of beer. A glass of wine (especially red) can lower your choles-terol level

It’s Party Time

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 19

C M Y K

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LAST WEEK’S WINNING MSG:DEAREST SUNITA You’re the best thing to happen to me. Hope I make a

wonderful birthday gift too..

ANAND

FACTOR NOW! FOR THE YOUNG7

DEAREST ARNAV,Just wanted 2 wish U

luck in all U do. Do take

care.

Be good.

I’ll be missing you… a lot!

Love, UR When

DEAR WILLY,Hope U’ll enjoy your tour

and &win in a l l the

games?

Don’t f ight . Be

good..smile always!

UR sister, Eni!

Dear Aama, Rupa Nana,Dr.Karki , DR.Sarda,Jaya na, Yogita na & allthe members of the be-reaved family.Life is hard and harder

still it is to

Cope up with life when

you lose your most loved

and treasures person.

But to smile amidst tears

and losses is a sign of a

strong chi ldren o f a

strong father.

Lets keep our lost ones

immorta l in our

thoughts, prayers and

never let them go off from

our hearts.

Time heals. Take Care,

Saptika NamphokSouth Sikkim.

DARLING SEETAYIt’s meh your sweetheart.

I’m missing you a lot, and

am very sorry for teasing

you! I love you more than

anything.... for eternity!

yours’ only RAM

DEAR PEMAHappy birthday Cutie Pie

(29 Dec) . Want to be

there with you but kya

kare? Cant make it this

time. You enjoy your day

girl and

Happy New Year !Sherry Di!

OYE SANDY!There is a lways l ight

shining at the end of a

tunnel. You just have to

hang on. Hope 2004 wil

bring you loads of love,

luck and happiness that

you truly deserve.

Sarikah

CHORUS:Last ChristmasI gave you my heartBut the very next day yougave it awayThis yearTo save me from tearsI’ll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shyI keep my distanceBut you still catch my eyeTell me babyDo you recognize me?WellIt’s been a yearIt doesn’t surprise meI wrapped it up and sent it

With a note saying “I loveyou”I meant itNow I know what a fool I’vebeenBut if you kissed me nowI know you’d fool me again

CHORUS

A crowded roomFriends with tired eyesI’m hiding from youAnd your soul of iceMy god I thought you wereSomeone to rely onMe?I guess I was a shoulder to cry

onA face on a lover with a fire inhis heartA man under cover but youtore me apartNow I’ve found a real loveyou’ll never fool me again

CHORUS x2

A face on a lover with a fire inhis heartA man under cover but youtore him apartMaybe next year I’ll give it tosomeoneI’ll give it to someone special.(return to top)

LAST CHRISTMAS - Decidated to everyone in Mangan by DEEPAK SHARMA

[Verse1]So sweet, so beautifulEveryday like a queen on her throneDon’t nobody knows how she feelsAicha, Lady one day it will be realShe moves, she moves like a breezeI swear I can’t get her out of my dreamsTo have her shining here by my sideI’d sacrifice all the tears in my eyes[Chorus]Aicha Aicha - passing me by (there shegoes again)Aicha Aicha - my my my (is it really real)Aicha Aicha - smile for me nowAicha Aicha - in my life[Verse2]She holds her child to her heartMakes her feel like she is blessed from

aboveFalls asleep underneath her sweet tearsHer lullaby fades away with his tears[1/2Chorus]She needs somebody to lean onSomeone body, mind & soulTo take her hand, to take her worldAnd show her the time of her life, sotrueThrow the pain away for goodNo more contemplating boo[Verse3]Lord knows the way she feelsEveryday in his name she beginsTo have her shining here by my sideI’d sacrifice all the tears in my eyesAicha Aicha - ecoute moi[Chorus]

aicha

This song goes out to my gang! Happy New Year Y’all - FUCHUNG!

HI KIDIt ain’t everyday a freak like

you is born. Happy Birth-

day!

And stop all that shopping!!

AUNTYINBLACK

DEAREST POPPU DA &FAMILY, KAVITAI,JC BRO, BHAUJU &BAICHUNG, ASLAMBHAI, SONEY BRO &

FAMILY, THULO ANGU& VICKY DADA!, NEE2

DEE, SAMMY BRO& TINKOO

Wishing you all a

prosperous and wonderful

2004. Have a great year.

Hari Prasad & Family!

PALA! AMLA! ACHADECHEN & FAMILY,AUNTY & FAMILY,NINGOO & CHUNKI

Happy New Year!

with love YESHI &FAMILY (Haha!)

DEAR MOMMA & PAPAHope everything turns out

to it’s best next year,

school & all! Have a

wonderful new year!

Anand & Sunita!

HEY BOSS & WIFE!Congrats & A Happy New

Year!

FROM EVERYONE INTHE CIRCUS!

DEAREST TCT M’AAMCongrats for your new

bundle of joy and Have a

wonderful and happy new

year! A year short, is a year

of memories richer!

CHEROKEE CHINDAY!

DEAR BLACK TRAGICWOMAN!

Hope your blackness grows

richer with the new year!

And please get yourself

another jacket, this one is

just about turning brown

NOW!

FREAK-WITHOUT-A-LEASH

DEAREST OLOH!Let it grow! Let it show!

One more wonderful year

gone by.. looking forward to

the next one!

DIGITAL HARI!

20; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K20

extracurricular...NOW!

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MATRIX REVOLUTIONS

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Lounge Bars are the newcatchword for restaurateurs in Gangtok these

days. On December 14, “Fusion”Lounge Bar and Restaurantopened for people who enjoy alaid back relaxed evening withgood food. Located at ConvoyGround, Tadong, the place is veryspacious with a seating capacityfor more than 50 persons.

Vivek Pradhan, propri-etor, says that the main aimof opening the restaurantwas to make the people ofG a n g t o k e n j o y a “ R e a lLounge Bar” which was biga n d s pa c i o u s a n d g a v ethem the “ r igh t ” env i ron-ment to enjoy good foodand drinks.

“Gangtokians have started toadopt the eating out culture andI thought why not give them onemore place to go. This projectalso happens to be a childhooddream,” he tells us. A dream thattook Vivek first to Chennai for aHotel Management course andthen as far as to Switzerland andAustralia. “I’ve been in the foodindustry for so long and this justhad to happen,” he adds

His long term experience inthe field means that apart fromthe interesting décor, Fusionalso offers varied and excitingcuisine.

Specialties being CantonBarbeque Pork, Fried Duck,Barbecue Duck and the NanjingDuck which is steamed wholeSouth Chinese style. You couldalso try out the Lucknowi chef’sfavorite Kakori Kebabs, madefrom minced mutton with spe-cial herbs and spices, whichsimply melt in the mouth. MurghHaryali Tikka, Biryani, ReshmiMurgh Tikka and Shammi Ke-babs are also on the menu.

FUSION, FOOD FOR THE SOUL

Kebabs, in fact are available ofprawn, shrimp, fish and veg-etable.

For those who en joy adrink with their food, thereare 40 varieties of blended,shaken , s t i r red and bu i l tCocktails and mocktails tochoose from. The bartenderrecommends The ChocolateBunny, Amer i cano madefrom Wine and Gin, CubaLibra, Emerald Lilly and theEgg Nogg, the only hot drinkwhich has a brandy base.

And the price? Pretty rea-sonable we’ll say. Try the placefor ambience and variety.

The Denzong Managementwishes everyone a very

Happy Losoong,Merry Christmas and a

Wonderful 2004!

ARIES: You will be stable financially.

You will be very happy. Financial crisis

will be reduced. Worries will be over.

There is likely to be a change in your

activities. You will prosper in whatever

you do. Social status will be good.

TAURUS: You may go on a long trip.

Social status and popularity will be high.

Worries will be over. Expenditure will

decrease. You will take a new decision.

You may go for a new agency business.

There is an indication of new business.

GEMINI: You may acquire immov-

able property. Social status will be good.

Speculation will be very dull. Some may

experience positive changes in life. A

long trip is indicated. Expenditure is likely

to go down.

CANCER: You may be successful.

There will be constructive changes. A

temporary separation from your life part-

ner is indicated. You may commence

new business. Social status and popu-

larity will be good. Cash flow will be very

good. Litigation will be postponed.

LEO: Family life will be very comfortable.

You will be happy. Unnecessary expendi-

ture will be reduced. Social status will be

good. Overseas travel will be successful

for you. You may put away some savings.

Speculation will be successful.

VIRGO: You may have an opportunity

to go abroad. You may make money from

speculation. Political life will be very suc-

cessful. Free flow of cash is indicated. You

will be happy. Business will be brisk. Liti-

gation will be in your favour.

LIBRA: You may acquire new property.

Your expenditure will increase. You may

face a financial crisis. Worries will be over

once you learn to have faith in your better

half. You will be popular. You may receive

a promotion and transfer.

SCORPIO: There will be positive

changes at home. Financial status will be

very good. Tension will be over. You will

prosper. Financial stability is assured. You

may start a new line of business. Income

from speculation will be good.

SAGITTARIUS : There will be

favourable changes. Encouraging com-

munication will be received. Expenses

will be reduced. Worries will be com-

pletely over and you will be free of ten-

sion. Free flow of cash is indicated. You

may travel abroad.

CAPRICORN: You will find an im-

provement. Social status will be good.

Financial position will be maintained. You

may go on an overseas trip. Expansion

in business and new ventures may com-

mence. Employees will find an improve-

ment.

AQUARIUS: You may take an impor-

tant decision at home. You may go for

new business. An overseas trip is indi-

cated. You may receive honour. Social

status and popularity will be maintained.

PISCES: Financial crisis is indicated.

Popularity will be high. You may acquire

immovable property. Those with agen-

cies may find an improvement. You may

go for a partnership business. Political

life will be very comfortable and success-

ful. You may take off on a long trip.

17-23 December, 2003; NOW! 21

C M Y K

MANGARS OBSERVE

BARAHI MIZONG

21

RECAP SIKKIMRECAP SIKKIM19-25 November, 2003

the Congress high-command andthen countering with a topplingbid of his own. In the confusion,the Representation of People Actnever got the debate it deservedand thus it returned to haunt in2003.

Ironically, even though the de-limitation process has been post-poned, the genie of communalismcould not be pushed back into thebottle. It keeps rearing up withflash-points like the BhanuBhakta statue at Geyzing and nowthe Khecheopalri mandir con-struction ban.

Regression is a common fac-

tor among the two groups at work.GAC keeps referring to the daysof the Chogyal and what the situ-ation was like in those days, for-getting that a sizeable chunk ofSikkim’s population was bornpost-Merger and SIBLAC wantsto take us back decades [and evencenturies if anyone is seriousabout awarding panchayat-likepowers to monks and monaster-ies]. In this great clash, there aremany side players too. They arefighting for the slivers and fewcan fathom how dangerous agame is afoot specially because itis in the hands of such amateurs.

GANGTOK: On the invitation ofSikkim Tourism, a eight memberdelegation of Travel Agents As-sociation of India (TAAI), whichis a national Apex Body for travelagents from all over the countrywas in the State from 11-14 De-cember and interacted with themembers of Travel Association ofSikkim(TAAS), and officials fromSikkim Tourism Department.

The eight-member delegationwas headed by Rajji Rai, chair-man, TAAI for the Northern re-gion, who were received by seniormembers of TAAS and officialsfrom Sikkim Tourism at theBagdogra Airport.

The business interactive ses-sion was held on 12 December.PK Dong, Executive Director,Sikkim Tourism DevelopmentCorporation (STDC) while ad-dressing the gathering said thatthere was a need for co-operationand co-ordination amongst thedifferent travel organizations inorder to promote the region effec-tively. He said that both TAASand TAAI should work in closeco-ordination with each other.

He also spoke on the prepared-ness of the local TAAS members

in handling professional tour op-erators and their clients.

Paljor Lachungpa, PresidentTAAS, while thanking the presentgovernment for prioritising thetourism sector in the State, saidthat environment conservationwas an important issue with boththe public as well as the privatesector. “The principles of eco-tourism that we have adopted arebearing fruits. Today we can seethe real benefits of eco-tourismpercolating down to the local vil-lage level.”

The latest infrastructure devel-opments that is taking place in theState at present speaks volumesof the long-term tourism promo-tion strategies adopted by theState government, he said. Open-ing up of new areas for tourismin remote but beautiful interiorsof the State has led to sustainabledevelopment and economicgrowth in the State, Mr.Lachungpa added.

Increase in the frequency oftrains between the North Easternregion and Western India wouldfacilitate easier access of visitorsto the region. Granting theBagdogra Airport at least theSAARC airport status would alsogreatly help in the promotion ofthe region.

He sought the help of TAAI totake up the matter at the nationallevel. He requested the TAAImembers to include Sikkim intheir tour itineraries and projectthe State in the international tour-ism market as well. “Perhaps, atie-up between TAAI and TAASat an organizational level mightbring more synergy between thetwo association for a more fo-cused promotion of the region.TAAI can be a key player in thisendeavour of us,” he said.

Mr. Rai, while describing thevisit as “fruitful,” said that theSikkim has the potential to be amajor tourist destination.“Sikkim’s USP would definitelybe its peace and tranquillity andthe abundance of natural beauty,”he said. He, however, felt that theState lacked marketing savvy,which resulted in its low visibil-ity in other parts of the country.Both the private and public sec-tor should adopt an aggressivemarketing strategy through morecomprehensive websites, Mr. Raiadded.

Inviting TAAS to be an asso-ciate of TAAI, Mr. Rai said thatissues put forward by TAAS suchas railway linkages and BagdograAirport would be taken up at thenational level.

GANGTOK: Barahi Mizong, the ancestral festival of the Mangarcommunity was celebrated with traditional gaiety and devotion onDecember 13.

Mangars from all over the State and outside, gathered atAssangthang, South Sikkim on the fifth day (Panchami) of MangsirPurnima to celebrate the festival which was organised by All SikkimMangar Association.

The chief guest on the occasion was YB Thapa, President, ASMA.Vice-President, DB Thapa, Jeewan Rana, President, Akhil BharatiyaMangar Sangh, along with other dignitaries and representatives fromDarjeeling Hills and Dooars were also present on the occasion, whichsaw a gathering of more than 5000 people.

The ceremony began with a traditional puja performed by Mangarpriests of offering special prayers to the local deity.

In the Mangar language, “Bahari” means God and “Mi” or Minaatmeans worship or prayer and “Zong” means fort or safety. On thisday, Mangars worship their “Kuldevas” or forefathers and pray forthe well-being of each individual and the entire community as a whole.Prayers are also offered for world peace and harmony.

The ancestors are also thanked for the bounty harvest.The puja is usually performed by the head of the family or the

village head. No idol or image is worshipped during the puja. Themain offerings consist of newly harvested grain. Incense is put in thefire to honour the deity.

History tells us that the Mangars, in ancient times, built Zongs orforts, where the King and the Queen lived. The Zongs were surroundedby houses of commoners. Such clusters of Mangar dwellings werecalled Mangerzongs. Known for their simplicity and honesty, theMangars grew various crops, fruits and vegetables throughout the year,through sweat and toil. These crops were harvested in the months ofNovember and December, believing it to be the blessings of theKuldevas.

During the festivity this year, traditional Mangar Folk dances likeKawra, Sorathi, Ghatu, Madal along with Maruni were performed bycultural troupes from Gangtok, Kalimpong and Assamgthang.

Speaking on the occasion, the president of the ASMA, YB Thapaasked the Mangar community to work towards the promotion and pres-ervation of its unique cultural heritage and save it from extinction. Heexpressed his appreciation and gratefulness towards the present gov-ernment led by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for its efforts towardsthe upliftment of the Mangar community and preservation of theMangar language, literature and art.

Mr. Thapa also announced that a Mangarzong or a traditionalMangar house would be constructed in the near future where the an-nual festival of Mangars could be celebrated.

Noted historian from the Mangar community, Santosh Alley briefedthe gathering about the history of the Mangars in Sikkim that datesback to as early as the fifth century. He also spoke on the significanceof the Barahi Mizong festival.

a NOW REPORT

TAAI PUTS EMPHASIS ON CO-

OPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION

TAAS INTERACTS WITH NATIONAL TRAVEL AGENTS’ APEX BODY

a NOW REPORT

continued from pg 9

The Ecstacy And The Agony

GANGTOK: Members of ArmyWife’s Welfare Association ofNew Cantt, Gangtok, went on acharity mission on Wednesday,December 8. First on the itiner-ary was a visit to the Missionar-ies of Charity, at Sichey Busty.

Spending some time with thefifty children there, they donatedration, stationery, and sports itemsto the center.

Later in the day they went tothe Lepcha Cottage at Chandmari.Here too gifts and donations weregiven for the children. On Decem-ber 10, children of Balika Niketanwere given lunch and gifts by themembers of the association. Ac-cording to Rita Anand, President,AWWA, contributions were madeby all the officers towards theprogramme and this year it wasthe first such programme for or-phans.

‘Kaala Cheetah’ in Tsomgo

FRIDAY; December 12:Bollywood hunk Sharad

Kapoor takes some time offfrom a climax scene shoot of

‘Kaala Cheetah’, a Bengalifeature film being shot exclu-

sively in Sikkim, to pose with areporter from NOW! in Tsomgo.

Army

Wives on

Feel Good

Missiona NOW REPORT

22; NOW! ; 17-23 December, 2003

C M Y K22

THEGU: At 13, 200 feet, andonly 12 Kms ahead of NathulaPass, Thegu now has the distinc-tion of having the world’s high-est Automatic Teller Machine(ATM). UTI bank installed theATM on December 12, the inau-guration of which was done byMajor General Deepak Anand,VSM, General Officer in Com-mand, 17 Mountain Division,Sikkim. Set up in partnership withthe Indian army, the ATM will beespecially useful for the army per-sonnel posted at the border, aswell as local residents and tour-ists. “We are also targeting the in-ternational traders when the pro-posed trade route is open throughNathula,” says Jayanto Chatterjee,Manager, UTI.

Even areas as far flung as

BUSINESSBUSINESS

NEW DELHI : The North East Pavilion showcased by the North East-ern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) with finacial as-sistance from the North Eastern Council (NEC), was adjudged first inthe Public Sector Pavilion category and awarded the gold medal at the23rd India International Trade Fair, held in New Delhi from November14-27. There were 26 stalls representing all the northeastern states in-cluding Sikkim. Sikkim was represented by Khangri Tours & Travelsand Walk Around Inc. (a local footwear manufacturer).

The award was received by Dr. Phani Deka, GM, NEDFi and wasgiven away at Shakuntalam Theatre by Vijay Kapoor, Lt. Governor ofDelhi, in presence of prominent personalities.

Titled Exposition of North East Products, an initiative of NEDFiand NEC, the pavilion was the maiden initiative of the NEDFi and theNEC, both of which are administered by the Department of Develop-ment of North Eastern Region. NEDFi has set up a small initiative atGuwahati named NEDFi Haat, which has a year round calendar ofevents. The initiatives are part of NEDFi’s development activities toprovide market linkages to the small artisans and producers, bypassingthe middlemen.

The award was the culmination of unique display, systematic ar-rangement and the response of participants, exhibitors and the hardwork of officials, designers, and fabricators.

Tamze, Sherathang, Tsomgo,Kudup and Gnathang will nowhave access to the bank’s service.“With no banking facility be-tween Lhasa and Gangtok, UTIbank has taken a landmark stepin active partnership with the In-dian army. Taken together withthe online railway bookingcounter at Thegu, we can say thata lot of conveniences are beingplaced at the disposal of thepeople residing in the higherreaches of the mountains,” addsMr. Chatterjee.

Expressing his gratitude to thebank, GOC Deepak Anand saidthat this service will be very use-ful for the army personnel andtheir family as the bank providesjoint accounts too.

The ATM is manufactured byNCR Corporation, one of the larg-est suppliers of ATM’s in the

HIGHEST ATM IN THE WORLD AT THEGUUTI takes the lead in

Silk Route Banking

world. The ATM at Thegu is madein Scotland and purpose built towithstand sub zero temperatures.The satellite equipment is sup-plied by Comsatmax, another re-

puted name in satellite technologywhile the ATM runs on its owncaptive power plant manufacturedby Kirloskar.

UTI has taken the lead by be-

ing the first bank to invest realmoney in the proposed SilkRoute, it will be interesting to seehow much business this willtranslate into.

ANAND OBEROI

STANDING TALL: The highest ATM in the world at 13,200 ft at Thegu. A NOW! pic

NEDFi bags Gold

Medal for Excellence

in Display at IITF

Sikkim Tourismsincerely thanks the Sikkim Police, Deptt. of Power, UD & H Deptt. and

above all, the participants, media and the public for making the

Sikkim Food & Culture Festival a Grand Success!

Tourism Department, Govt. of Sikkim

Usha Products werehighly appreciatedat the recently held

23rd India InternationalTrade Fair, held at PragatiMaidan, New Delhi, fromNovember 14. According toa press release issued byUsha Industr ies, thecompany’s products gener-ated curiosity and interestamong local as well as for-eign buyers.

The fair which was inau-gurated by the President,APJ Abdul Kalam hadUsha products displayed inthe “Exposition of NorthEastern States ProductsPavilion”. “Everyone likedthe products displayed byUsha and this has encour-aged us here,” adds DKDass, Managing Director,Usha Industries, Sikkim.

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GANGTOK: Sikkim TaekwondoAssociation (STA), has sent a 15member team to Chandigarh toparticipate in the 9th Male Blackbelt, 19th Female (senior) and 21st

Colour belt National TaekwondoChamionship to be held from De-cember 19-21. The championshiphas been organized by TaekwondoAssociation of Chandigarh, underthe auspicious of Taekwondo Fed-eration of India (TFI).

The tournament will see seniorcolour belt male and female par-ticipants of different weight cat-egories battling it out for a prize atthe tourney. The Championshipwill offer all participants an oppor-tunity to demonstrate their highestphysical and mental development.

The team from Sikkim is ledby Coach Sangay T Lepcha andManager, LB Cintury. Both werehopeful that the rigorous practicesessions held at White MemorialHall, will bear fruit and see some

medals coming home.STA has been functioning as

an apex body in Sikkim since1976 and is now heading for awider spread of its activities, ac-cording to Suren Subba, GeneralSecretary, STA.

Although STA has been seek-ing affiliation with the TFI for along while, it has been only a yearsince STA got the affiliation. Infuture, STA will only participatein tournaments and championshipsorganized by TFA, says Mr. Subba

MANGAN: The Dr. Lobzang Tenzing Memorial Cricket Tour-nament, hosted by President, North District Cricket Asso-ciation, kicked off on December 10, with the first matchbetween Lower Singhik vs Karma Brothers.Lower Singhik won the toss and elected to bat first. Scor-ing a skilful 242 runs in 30 overs, they set a high scoringrate of 8.33 per over for Karma Brothers. But the matchwas soon over when Karma Brothers were bowled out foronly 146 runs.With 17 teams from north, east and south district havingconfirmed their participation, the matches in the comingdays promise to get interesting.

GANGTOK: For the first time inSikkim, a FIFA Referee MGSuvarna, who is also the AsianFootball Confederation (AFC)Referee Instructor and currentlySecretary, All India Football Fed-eration (AIFF) Referee Board, isin Gangtok on the invitation ofSikkim Football Asociation toimpart training to interested per-son who would like to becomeprofessional referees.

A seven days coaching campis being held from 14-20 Decem-ber, at Tashi Namgyal Academy,Gangtok. The camp is being con-ducted free of cost by SikkimFootball Asociation with 24 can-didates, including women, takingpart in the training.

Talking to NOW! TempoBhutia, President, SFA, said thatseeing the good potential of ourlocal boys and girls at state as wellas national level for football ref-

15 member Taekwondo team leaves for Chandigarha NOW REPORT

ereeing, this training camp is be-ing held.

Menla Ethenpa, Secretary,SFA, informed that Sikkim is for-tunate to have MG Suvarna trainthe local referees as he is the au-thority in this field in India.

With the successful conclusionof the training camp, SFA hopesto strengthen its Referee panel tocater to the increasing demand ofreferees throughout the yearwithin and outside the state.

FIFA Referee to coach

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C M Y K

Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Darpan Publications Pvt. Ltd, Siliguri. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Executive Editor: Mita ZulcaNow! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 270949 email: [email protected]

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TARUN DEEP RAIAfter an excellence performancenationally, Tarun Deep Rai ofNamchi was selected to partici-pate at the 44th World ArcheryChampionships held in the UnitedStates in July. In November,Tarundeep set a national record atthe 3rd National Ranking ArcheryChampionship in Hyderabad.He is also the hero of the Indianarchery team which he helped toqualify for the Olympics nextyear.

NADRE SHERPAOn a day when screaming windson the world’s highest peak beatback more than hundred climbers,Nadre Sherpa, a 35 year old in-structor with the Sonam GyatsoMountaineering Institute inGangtok, conquered MountEverest. In 1996, Nadre Sherpa

became the first Indian to havescaled Everest from the northernface and now he also holds theunique achievement of havingsummitted Everest again on the50th anniversary of the first suc-cessful ascent by Hillary andTenzing on May 29, 1953.

TRILOK SUBBAChief Instructor of Sikkim Ama-teur Taekwondo Association be-came the first Sikkimese to rep-resent the country at the 1st WorldTaekwondo Muye championshipheld at Seoul, South Korea inNovember.Subba, a fifth Dan Black belt fromSikkim has worked as a coach formore than 19 years, training 600students in various part of the state.Under his guidance SikkimTaekwondo contingents have wona total of 39 national silver medals.

PHOOLMAYA

TAMANGShe created mountaineering his-tory when she along with threeother women became part of anall women group to scale the vir-gin Argan Khangri peak inLadakh on July 20. About the as-cent made in the early hours ofthe morning, Phoolmya, an in-structor at Sonam Gyatso Moun-taineering Institute, said “Upthere all that matters is to reachthe top”.

CHAMCHUK LAMASikkim Football Association’sChamchuk Lama, anempanelled national referee be-came the first Sikkimese to con-duct a senior national level

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Achievers 2003The year 2003 was good for sports in Sikkim. From mountaineering to archery, Sikkimese

sportsmen displayed that rare grit that makes champions. NOW! Pays tribute to some of

these sportsmen who bought sporting glory to the state.

match. This is the first time thata referee from Sikkim has beenselected to conduct matches atsuch prestigioustournaments.