Padma Bhushan for Dravid, Mary Kom

New Delhi: Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid and London Olympics bronze medalist boxer M.C. Mary Kom were Friday named for the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award while six other sportspersons were been named in the list of Padma Shri awardees.

London Olympic silver medallist shooter Vijay Kumar, bronze medal winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, para athlete Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha, boxer Ngangom Dingko Singh, mountaineer Premlata Agrawal, and rower Bajrang Lal Takhar were chosen for the Padma Shri Awards.

Dravid, who retired last year after playing 164 Tests and 344 ODIs piling up more than 24,000 runs in international cricket, was the only cricketer to receive the award this year.

The Bangalorean is the third highest run-getter in Tests behind former teammate Sachin Tendulkar and Australia's Ricky Ponting. The 40-year-old won the Padma Shri award in 2004.

Five-time world champion Mary Kom is the only woman boxer to have won a medal at the Olympics.

She was the only Indian boxer to return home with a medal with the rest of the contingent, which included a 2008 Beijing Games bronze medalist returning home empty hand.

The boxer from Manipur won bronze at the Olympics in the 51 kg category.

Vijay Kumar won the silver in 25 metre rapid-fire pistol shooting event at London, opening India's tally of medals at the 2012 event.

he 27-year-old hailing from Barsar village of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh is presently a serving Subedar Major in the Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army

The 30-year-old, Yogeshwar won a bronze in the 60kg free style category and was the second wrestler to win a bronze. Sushil Kumar was the other wrestler, winning a silver.

At the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Yogeshwar overcame a career-threatening knee injury to win the 60 kg title.

At 48 years, mountaineer Premlata went into the record books after she became the oldest Indian woman to scale the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest.

Through her feats, she earned a listing in the Limca Book of Records.

Takhar, who is a Naib Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles regiment of the Indian Army, won India's first individual rowing gold medal for India at the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou.

Dingko Singh, a Manipur boxer, is one of the biggest proponents of boxing in India.

He won the gold medal at 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and also won the King's cup in Bangkok in 1997.

Girisha Hosanagara gave India its first medal at the Paralympic Games after bagging a silver in the Men's High Jump event in London. (IANS)

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Stray dogs maul youth in Darjeeling

DARJEELING: The stray dog menace continues unabated in Darjeeling. On Monday night, another person was attacked by stray dogs at Toongsoong, the same place where a man was killed in a suspected dog attack a couple of weeks back. The victim, 22-year-old Sahdev Lepcha, is undergoing treatment at the Darjeeling district hospital after the dogs ripped off some flesh from one of his legs. was attacked by stray dogs at the very spot where a similar incident had taken place and is recuperating in the Darjeeling district hospital with grave injuries to his body.

Lecpha is still in a state of shock. "It was around eleven at the night when I was returning from a friend's place in Toongsoong. , I was attacked by some dogs.

The dogs, more than eight in number, I tried to get out of the situation but the dogs more then eight in numbers were unyielding and forced me on to the ground and started biting me from all sides."

On January 11, Chyangba Sherpa from Toongsoong was found dead at the same spot where Lepcha was attacked. The residents and district officials had suspected a leopard attack. But CCTV installed outside a cage to trap the animal revealed that a group of stray dogs was behind the attack. trap with goat bait by forest officials, to identify the killer revealed dogs attacking with one of them even trapped inside.

There were marks of dog bites on Lepcha's neck, legs and arms. The ferocious nature of the attack could be gauged by the fact that the dogs bit off flesh from one of his legs after ripping apart the jeans he was wearing. from underneath the jeans the youngster was wearing.

"I would have died the way the dogs attacked, I would have been dead actually felt that I would be eaten and dead by the way the dogs attacked me," said Lecpha.

Some residents of the area, who heard his screams, rushed to help him. save him he would have been dead by now.

"I heard the frail cries for help from Lepcha. Since the last dog attack, we were alert and came out to find that a group of dogs attacking Lepcha. We splashed water to shoo away the dogs, but they were in no mood to leave Lepcha. When we started pelting stones at them, they ran awaywith stones did the dogs run away and we managed to save the man," said Akhtar Ali, a local. resident whose house is just a stones throw from the attack spot.

The Darjeeling Municipality officials admitted that the trend of stray dogs attacking humans was getting dangerous. "The incident is sad. We are communicating with the district officials to deal with the situation," said Sukh Bahadur BK, the municipality's vice chairman. In fact, the municipality is not ruling out the possibilities of shooting the stray dogs.

Darjeeling SDO Kaushik Kumar Nag said that he had not received any communication from the municipality. According to him, a decision could only be taken after consulting the animal resource development (ARD) and forest departments. "We have to seek the views of the forest and ARD department to know if it was possible to shoot the dogs. But as of now no communications has come to us," he said.

U S Tamang, the ranger of the Wildlife Senchel Range, said that the forest department could not provide permission to shoot stray dogs. "The dogs are domestic animals and not wild. So, we have no authority to give permission to shoot them," he said.

He agreed that the incident was dangerous as the dogs were showing man-eater traits. "This kind of behavior is dangerous. This has to be checked urgently by the district administration and the municipality. The two attacks on two different persons has lot of similarities," asserted Tamang.

Dr Samir Chhetri, the veterinarian in-charge of Darjeeling Animal Shelter in Lebong, expressed the inability to take in the stray dogs given the inadequate infrastructure.

"We have around 24 kennels but they are used to sterilize and house the dogs which have undergone surgeries. Since we don't have a boarding facility, we leave the dogs after the surgeries," he said. O

On shooting the dogs, Chhetri pointed out, "Due to certain animal laws, we cannot shoot them. Only when the dogs have rabies or some injuries which are incurable and life threatening, we can put them to sleep."

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निर्वाचित सदस्यहरुको चौकिको अस्तित्व खतरामा ?

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 24 जनवरी । गोजमुमो पार्टीले शुरु गर्ने भनिएको दोस्रो चरणको गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनले निर्वाचित सदस्यहरुको अस्तित्व संकटमा पर्ने संकेत कालेबुङका बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले जनसभाबाटै दिएका छन। तिनले आज यहाँको मेला ग्राउण्डमा आयोजित मोर्चाको जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै उक्त संकेत दिए।

“हामी आन्दोलनकारी हौ अनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन हामीले जारी राखेका छौ। सरकारले तेलेंगना गठन गरे मोर्चा चुप लागेर बस्दैन। बिपक्षी पार्टीका साथीहरुले सामुहिक राजिनामा दिएर आन्दोलन गर्ने सुझाव दिन्छन। जुनसुकै समय राजीनामा दिएर हुँदैन। ठिक समयमा ठिक ठाउँमा राजीनामा दिए त्यसको प्रभाव राम्रो पर्छ। यदि अहिलेको अवस्थामा अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुङले राजीनामा दिन लगाए हामी सामुहिक राजिनामा दिएर आन्दोलन गर्न तयार छौ” – डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले भने।

यसै अवधी तिनले अब अगामी दिनहरुमा आफ्नो भेटघाट सडकमा, जुलुसमा अनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति डाकिएको जनसभाहरुमा भेट हुने पनि बिधायक छेत्रीले बताए। जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्ने क्रममा डा छेत्रीले तेलेंगनाको मुद्दालाई गोजमुमो पार्टीको आन्दोलनले उर्जा प्रदान गरेको दाबी गर्दै गोजमुमो पार्टीले भोकहडताल गरेर सरकारलाई दबाव दिएकै देखेर तेलेंगना माग्ने चन्द्र शेखर रावले पनी भोक हडताल गरेको दाबी गरे।

दोस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन हिंसक हुने ?

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 24 जनवरी । गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति गोजमुमो पार्टीले गर्ने भनिएको दोस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन हिंसक हुने प्राय निश्चित बनेको छ। मोर्चा अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुङले गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन गर्दा हजारौ शहिदको बलिदान दिन परे पनि तयार रहेको घोषणा गरे पछि आज कालेबुङको जनसभामा पनि सबै नेताहरुले दोस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन शान्तिप्रिय नहुने संकेत दिए।

यस सिलसिलामा गोजनामो कोर कमिटि अध्यक्ष आशा गुरुङले बिगत दिनहरुमा गान्धीवादी आन्दोलन भएको कारण आफुहरुको हातमा कलम रहेको बताउँदै अबको आन्दोलनमा कलमको सट्टा झाँसीको रानी बन्दै खुकुरी बोक्न पछि नपर्ने बताईन।

यता जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै गोजमुमो सांगठनिक सचिव बिजय सुन्दास, सभासद सामुएल गुरुङ, जीटीए डिपुटी चिफ रमेश आले, सावन राई आदिले पनि आगामी आन्दोलन कठोर हुने बताए। जीटीए गठन पछि कालेबुङमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको माग गर्दै पहिलोपल्ट डाकिएको उक्त जनसभामा गोजमुमो कालेबुङ महकुमा क्षेत्रका बिभिन्न समष्टिका सभासदवर्ग, नगरपालिका पार्षदगण लगायत सबै भातृसंगठनका नेताहरुको सहभागीता रहेको थियो।

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Manager blames tea trio

Alipurduar, Jan. 24: The management of Chamurchi Tea Estate in the Dooars has blamed the deteriorating work culture among a section of labourers, for suspension of work announced at the garden yesterday.

The notice announcing suspension of work was issued after G.P. Dixit, the general manager of Chamurchi, was gheraoed by a section of workers in his office on Tuesday evening. Later that night, he and other managerial staff left the garden.

The notice mentioned that the gherao was led by a trio — a sub-staff and two daily workers. The workers had demanded that full wages be paid to them even though they had failed to do their scheduled tasks during the fortnight for which wages were disbursed on Tuesday.

“The incident clearly shows that there is no administration in the garden and management has no authority to continue the operation of the garden in a meaningful manner,” read the two-page notice issued by Dixit late last evening.

“The recalcitrant workers during the confinement period have abused the managerial personnel in unparliamentary language, with destructive attitude damaged office equipment and tried to assault the undersigned (Dixit), but with the intervention of a section of workforce they failed to do so (assault Dixit and the other managerial hands),” the notice said.

According to representatives of Chamurchi Agro (India) Limited that owns the garden, the management had issued several notices and spoken with representatives of unions in the garden over the issue of non-fulfilment of tasks. It was clearly intimated to them that non-performers would be paid regulated wages as per their performance.

“The workers, led by Kamruddin Ansari, Gaffar Ansari and Muktamani Rabidas, instigated other workers and resorted to illegal confinement and intimidated the management representatives,” said a representative of Chamurchi Tea Estate.

Chitta Dey, convener of the Coordination Committee of Tea Plantation Workers, however, said: “The management hardly takes any steps against such disobedient workers to remind them of their service through notices but straightway goes for a lockout or suspension of work.”

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Decision on Telangana likely to be delayed

Disappointing the protagonists of Telangana, the Centre on Wednesday sought to buy more time to take a decision on the demand for a separate State.

Emerging from a meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi held here to discuss the issue, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also in charge of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, said: “We will try to resolve this very important issue as early as possible.” The party was making sincere efforts to resolve the vexed issue as early as possible. Once it was resolved, “We [the government/the party] cannot keep it [the decision] within the four walls.”

When it was pointed out that Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who said after an all-party meeting on December 28 last that the decision might out in one month, Mr. Azad said he did not think that one month meant exactly 30 days. It could be a few days more. “When one says tomorrow, it does not mean tomorrow morning. When one says one week, sometimes it is two weeks,” he said.

Besides Mr. Shinde and Mr. Azad, the meeting was attended by Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, who is the additional in charge of the party affairs in the State.

Congress MPs from Telangana Ponnam Prabhakar and G. Vivekanand said the delay amounted to an injustice to the people of the region, who were eagerly expecting a decision before January 28, as promised by Mr. Shinde. They suspected that Seemandhra leaders were behind it.

Informed sources said there was another reason for deferring the decision as Andhra Pradesh was witnessing protests by Muslim groups against the arrest of the Owaisi brothers; Hyderabad witnessed a bandh a few days ago. In this surcharged atmosphere, any decision on Telangana would aggravate the law and order situation, they pointed out.

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Three cricketers from Kalimpong have got an opportunity to partake in the Cricket tournament

Three cricketers from Kalimpong have got an opportunity to partake in the Cricket tournament to be held in Kolkata. The players are Awishkar Sharma from Saptashree Gyanpeeth, Jain Hassan from St Augustine and Kechin Ghising from St Augustine. They were congratulated by the club today, during which their parents were also present.“If the parents and guardians support their children in the field of sports then they can do well”, said the club’s Secretary, Raju Pradhan. One of the parents, Binay Ghising also added that if the children are encouraged then their confidence level increases. All the parents present appreciated the support delivered by the club to their children and thanked the club. It may be mentioned that the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had organized the under 14 Cricket Cup all over the state last year, under which the United Veterans Club had taken the sole responsibility of conducting the event in Kalimpong. Under the guidance of the club, children were being trained at St Augustine. After a team from Kalimpong was ready, a Sub Divisional Level Cricket Tournament was organized in December last year and in the 1st week of January 2013 at Siliguri by CAB. The Kalimpong team stood first out of the other 3 teams of the hills, i.e. Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik team. While in the district, Kalimpong stood 2nd and Siliguri stood 1st. These 3 best cricketers from Kalimpong were selected due to their performances in the said event.

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Hunter in hills, in danger in Dooars Leopard kills man in Darj

Darjeeling, Jan. 11: The body of a man, with flesh torn away from several parts, was found barely a kilometre from the Mall, raising suspicion that a leopard had mauled him.

“The body of Chengba Sherpa was found on Lower Toongsoong Road this morning. The deceased is a resident of Jawahar Busty and we suspect he was mauled by a leopard,” said Kunal Aggarwal, the Darjeeling superintendent of police. About half a kilometre from where 47-year-old Chengba’s body was found is a forested area.

Lower Toongsoong is not an area where tourists stay, but holidaymakers do stay barely a 10-minute walk away from where Sherpa’s body was found. The Mall, which is the Darjeeling tourist’s favourite spot, is close to Toongsoong Road.

According to Pete Bhutia, the wife of the deceased, Chengba, who did odd jobs for a living, had been coming home early after a murder in the area. “In the same area where his body was found, there had been a murder recently. After the murder, Chengba used to return home early. He did not come home last night. My 15-year-old daughter and I waited for him. There was no electricity in the area last night,” she said. Pete had a shop on Nehru Road here but was recently evicted by the civic body as it was an illegal structure.

“Around 4.30am, we came to know that a body was lying on the road and the villagers recognised it as my husband’s,” Pete said. Local people out for their morning stroll and drivers of trucks that ferry drinking water to various parts of the town first saw the body.

“I was going for an early morning jog when truck drivers passing by said there was a body lying on the road a little further down,” said S. Pradhan, a resident of the area. A part of the left thigh, portions of the palms, chest and abdomen seems to have been ripped apart. The body also seemed to have been dragged for about 50ft. Foresters, suspect a leopard attacked Chengba.

“We have found pugmarks a few meters away from the site where the body was found. The pugmark is rectangular in shape, which suggests that it could be an adult female leopard that might have attacked the man. The victim seems to have been attacked on the head which is how a leopard strikes,” said R.C. Roy, assistant divisional forest officer, wildlife I. The foresters have decided to set up a camp to capture the leopard.

New in zoo Three Satyr Tragopan and six Temminck Tragopan will be arriving in Darjeeling tomorrow from Glasglow, Scotland. A.K. Jha, the director of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, said: “The Tragopans will be quarantined for a month at Dow Hill (peasantry) in Kurseong. After a month, we will probably keep a pair of the tragapons for public viewing.”

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Over 500 guitarists pay tribute to Delhi gang-rape victim in Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Over 500 guitarists assembled to pay a tribute to the December 16 Delhi gang-rape victim in Darjeeling, West Bengal, over the weekend, crooning John Lennon's famous song ''Imagine''.

Sharing his views, renowned north-east musician Lou Majaw said that participation in this event was close to his heart and gave him contentment.

“I had heard about this event for the past two weeks from what I gathered from telephone calls and stuff like that, it is bubbling, it is happening. We just reached today morning,” said Majaw

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separate state of Gorkhaland must be formed if the Centre decides to form Telangana

Darjeeling,TT Jan. 10: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation has told the Union home minister in Delhi that a separate state of Gorkhaland must be formed if the Centre decides to form Telangana.

The hill leaders have also said that if the Centre fails to do so, the Morcha will have no alternative but to launch an agitation.

“We have made it clear that Gorkhaland must be formed if Telangana is created. Otherwise, we will have no option but to launch an agitation in the region,” Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said over the phone from Delhi. The Morcha delegation comprised party president Bimal Gurung and senior leaders Giri, Binay Tamang and Jyoti Kumar Rai.

The response of home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was not immediately known. Giri said the delegation also demanded that the special central assistance of Rs 200 crore per annum for three years to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration must be increased and it should cover more years.

“We have demanded that the amount should be increased to Rs 400 crore and the duration must be increased to 10 years instead of three years,” Giri said. The Rs 200 crore assistance was agreed upon when the Centre, the state and the Morcha signed the memorandum of agreement on the GTA July 18, 2011.

Other demands raised by the Morcha include the extending the benefits of the North East council to the GTA, relaxation in age and qualification for recruitment of “GTA Youths” (Gorkhaland Personnel) and granting of backward region status to the GTA area.

The leaders also demanded the transfer of reserved forests to the GTA and granting of Scheduled Tribe status to all hill communities except the Scheduled Castes. Observers in the hills believe that Morcha’s threat to start an agitation is out of compulsion.

“They have realised that if Telangana is formed, they cannot lie low and tell people that they are committed to Gorkhaland and that the GTA is only a stepping stone for statehood,” said an observer.

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Apropos the book ‘Gorkhas and Gorkhaland’

The book is an encyclopedic historical compilation of the features composing the ethno-political aspects of the Gorkhas which has been meticulously loomed in constructing the pattern of the society existing in the Himalayan regions. In unfolding these features he has painstakingly delved into almost all documented evidences and assembled them in chronological order in attempting to define the Gorkha fold as a social miscegenation of the Tribes of the Himalayas – amongst the Khas and the Kiratas. This is in similar sequence to the story of subcontinent where the Deva, Asuras (Nagas) and Kiratas composed the trilogy of Bharata.

No doubt with the magnitude of his research incidents of a few improbabilities are only probable. One such glaring example which requires clarification is the question regarding the yogi Gorakhnath (Goraksanatha) usually alluded as a Hindu, infact, “According to the view of Dr. Grierson, Goraksanatha was a Nepalese Buddhist Yogi; and indeed his connection is borne out by ancient coins of Nepal inscribed, Sri Sri Sri Goraksanatha”. The lineage of Goraksanatha as a religious cult appeared in various centuries between the 8-16 Centuries following the religious order precepts set by Lokesvara Padmapani Matsyendranatha (refer A History of Cooch Behar by S.C.Ghosal, First Ed.1942, First Reprint 2005; Chapter-VI, p.65,66,67)

In Chapter I ‘The Hindi Language and its Neighbours’ p.18 - A History of Hindi Literature, in subtitle Other Poets of this Period: “There is also a certain Gorakhnath who is regarded as the founder of an order of Yogis, and as the author of both Sanskrit and Hindi works. Some doubt has been expressed as to his being a historical person at all, but it seems likely that he was, and that he lived about 1200 A.D. The Hindi works, which include one in prose, are almost certainly not written by him. They are probably the works of his followers. They have been placed by some as early as the middle of the fourteenth century, but their date at present must be regarded as very uncertain”.

With the above information in hand it is probable the shrine of Goraknath in Gorkha predates the emigrants from the south who eventually became the dynastic Gorkha monarchy of Nepal after Prithivinarayan Shah’s conquest of the indigenous tribes of Nepal. In other words, Gorkha was a local term and not migratory to the settlers from the south. To support this contention I.S.Chemjong in his book, ‘History and culture of Kirat People’ indicates that the word Gorkha (Gur Khan) is derived from Mongolian language ‘King of Kings’ probably originating from either the early Magar settlers (Magyars in Hungarian referred to Mongolians) whose women married in assimilation with the emigrants in arriving at the title Gorkha. The miscegenation of the emigrants is also remarkably present with the indigenous Gurung tribes.

On the other hand Barun Roy’s explanation of “Go rakkha”- ‘protectors of cows’, is substantially acceptable citing its context to ancient times and believed to be distorted in Pali in Buddhistic 13th century as Gorkha. Which could be the reason why Dr. Grierson asserts that Goraksanatha was a Nepali Buddhist (probably following Vajrayana practice within Sivaism which itself is an ancient cult of the Himalayas probably originating in the Naga (Serpent) worshipers amongst the southern Asuras).

It is also appreciated the book draws chronological inferences in citing the general history of Darjeeling within the term of the Gorkha understanding and imagination. The references are replete exhaustively in guiding towards this end however it is still insufficient to conclusively decide on the terminology as generically specific. This for the simple reason for argument sake, the Anthropological Survey of India, Calcutta asserts “Likewise the Gorkha or the Gurkha is a blanket term which include those communities who originally came from Nepal”. In common parlance this presupposes Gorkhas as an ethnic terminology for Nepalese in diaspora. It is important therefore before attempting to consider Gorkhas as a dispensation the term require to be fine tuned before definition.

As regards the complementary title of the book- Gorkhaland which is totally a political concept implying various presuppositions and attributes which require to be seriously studied. Although numerous aspects of Gorkhaland have been dealt by the author it is still felt that quantum deficit is observed in his attiring the Gorkhaland issue with fiction more otherwise than facts. This criticism is pertinent in considering the fact that the book hardly deals with the constitutional and legal jurisprudence which presumably more fundamental to the issue than other credentials. To wit and rather to be precise it is pathetic that the chapter on Gorkhaland hardly comprises three and half pages (pp.300-3) in the entire book of 304 pages. The paucity of references in regard to the legal aspects of Gorkhaland displays the inadequacy of the book to deliberate on the topic. As a result of which it is quite transparent to deduce that the author is not acquainted with the crux of the matter in regard to state formation.

In the few pages contributed in this regard (legal aspects of state formation) it is abundantly clear that despite his mention in the pages addressed there is ample precedental materials in predetermining the legal criterias in functioning a statehood demand. To wit, the constitutional terms Excluded Area, Non Regulated Area, Scheduled District and Backward Tracts are exclusive to the issue. But at the same time these are not explained to its proper context exposing the author’s deficiency in interpreting the reality of the various designations. Infact it is the accumulated forwarding of these terminologies in the history of Darjeeling District and its adjoining areas since the very inception, which forms the ground swell of the basic concepts and complimentary ideas which eventually determine the legality for the demand. These are important aspects which the book is enabled in expressing leaving the reader to sheer imagination in conceiving a state purely on the recognition of Gorkha as a magic word in imagining a new state out of the blues.

All state formations whether in India or at the international arena require fundamental grounds based on the democratic rights of the national minorities. There are various categories of national minorities recognised for their individual protections viz. linguistic, religious, economic, social and political. But the most important are the national minorities – the indigenous people whose human rights safeguard guaranteed by their right to self-determination in a democratically elected government.

Despite the Hillman’s numerous articles expressing every detail and aspect of state formation, at least in India, through the pages of Darjeelingtimes.com and Himalayan Beacon it is regrettable to note Barun Roy seemed to have overlooked the pages. Had he paid the slightest attention to the views expressed by the former his book would have been more complete for authentic reference, at least regarding the constitutional aspects of Gorkhaland.

However as that maybe this writer has compiled a book which should fill up the deficit absent in Barun Roy’s book Gorkhas and Gorkhaland. The Hillman’s book is due to be printed shortly. This book titled ‘Roadmap on the Trial to Gorkhaland’(Partially Excluded Area – the constitutional guarantee). This book intends to deliver to every reader the understanding of why, how and when state formation of Darjeeling District is a constitutional formality require to be addressed, even if the demand is for Gorkhaland. After all it is the demand for a state which is the pivotal issue.

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'First Flush' of Darjeeling tea feared to get delayed due to cold wave

SILIGURI: Snowing Darjeeling hills and freezing foothills, the moist, the fog and chill of northwestern wind, all these might have brought delight to the tourists. But added wrinkles on the tea planter's foreheads with concern for quality and quantity of the yield of high priced post winter 'First Flush' tea.

As the practice goes, after around ten weeks long winter time no-plucking and maintenance period of bushes since mid December, the first new batch of leaves come in heavy quantity and high quality. Plucking of them begins in end February. This output, known as 'First Flush', brings in highest price and thus remain at focus for all associated to tea world.

"This ten weeks long inactive period is too important for tea bushes general health rejuvenation. Tea bushes need bright Sunshine and humidity too at this cold season for proper development of new leaf through breaking of tiny new buds. But less humidity and low sunshine can significantly delay this process and thus first flush," said Darjeeling planters.

Jalpaipguri, the epicenter of Dooars and Terai region tea belt with over 200 organized gardens, has witnessed lowest 4 degree c temperature, lowest for last 48 years.

According to Mr. D. Bargohain, Scientist from Tea Research Association, tea is a chill loving plant that withstands low mercury during this winter season. But chilly spell with low Sunshine and lower than normal humidity without winter rain, the kind of climate prevailing here now, retards metabolic function of bushes hampering its health rejuvination. If continues for long, this can be highly detrimental for the first flush production.

In addition, "low temperature associated to dry weather increases risk of a fungal disease called Blister Blight that needs heavy dose spray of high potency anti fungal agents. Though that saves the bush, increases the contaminant content in made tea that is highly disliked in international market," said planters in Dooars. However "We are waiting for Sunshine and winter rainfall. Lack of rainfall now may trigger post winter pest attacks that can spell doom for us," said Mr. S. Seal, a senior planter from Terai region.

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ILYA announces developments through LDC

Mukesh sharma: Kalimpong, January 06: The Indigenous Lepcha Youth Association (ILYA) today announced that it will be working towards the development of the underdeveloped areas through the Lepcha Development Council (LDC). The President of the ILYA, Dorjee T Lepcha who is in Kalimpong at present expressed his sadness over the issues faced by the people here. Dorjee was present at the function organized by the Vidha Kyom Sejum at Malbongtar remembering the last Lepcha King, Gaebu Achyok. The function conducted under the presidentship of Padmashree, Sonam Tshering Lepcha had Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA) President, Lyongsong Tamsang as the chief guest. The ILYA President, highlighted that Lepcha’s has a totally different history. He stressed that everybody’s needs to be united in order to preserve this indigenous tribe. After the formation of LDC developments will occur in every remote areas, he declared. The ILTA representatives also inspected the Lepcha school situated in the area. Sensing the need of the school to be developed, the ILTA President announced that ILTA will be granting Rs 10,000/- for the school’s maintenance. Books, notebooks and blackboards will also be given by the association. Keeping in mind the water scarcity problem in the area, Tamsang assured that necessary steps will soon be initiated. The ILTA Secretary, PT Simick in his address highlighted the life history of the last Lepcha king. Likewise, the ILTA, Kalimpong Secretary, NT Lepcha appealed all the Lepchas to stay disciplined. Earlier, the chief guest unfurled the Lepcha community’s flag. A Lepcha dance competition was also held. Upper Pemling, Nok Dara and East Kabi Samthar stood 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The 2nd phase of the function had the presence of RB Tamang, Nimbong Gram Panchayat Assistant. He edified the gathering about the beneficial schemes delivered by the Gram Panchayat. The 2nd half of the function also witnessed different sports competitions. Courtesy: Mukesh Sharma

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Krishi mela at four different places in Darjeeling Hills

After the success of the Tea and Tourism festival in the Hills, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) now will be organizing Krishi mela at four different places in the Hills.The GTA agriculture department in charge Kalyan Dewan said that considering the development of the farmers of the Hills the mela is being organized.

A meeting headed by the Dewan was held today where they discussed about the features of the melas which also had the presence of the sabhasads, the departmental officials and others.The mela will be organized in the second week of January. It is from 14-19 at Mungpoo and Jogidhar, from 12-16 at Relly, 13-17 at Dalgoan, 12-27 at Jamuney said Dewan.The mela is being organized on the advice of the GTA chief Bimal Gurung who has been always working for the benefit of the Darjeeling Hills farmers as they lie in the Non Ceral Zone he added. The mela will have agricultural displays, free distribution of the animals, krishi loans, free check-ups for animals, rural sports, painting competitions, traditional stalls, distribution of the saplings, sensitization to the farmers etc. The mela will also have host of attraction which include the local and the guest artists. The mela will also have the stalls of the line department, floriculture and ARD department. Dewan has also appealed the concerned department to contribute optimum to make the event successful.

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Tea panel

Siliguri, Jan. 7: Representatives of the Tea Association of India (TAI) have demanded the constitution of a tea committee for the industry in north Bengal.

Vijay Dhandhania, the senior vice-president of TAI, while speaking at the annual general meeting of the north Bengal branch of TAI on Saturday, said: “Our association has suggested to the chief minister to constitute a tea committee for north Bengal under the state commerce and industry.”

He said: “The committee, we have suggested, should comprise representatives from the state government, Tea Board of India and tea producers. It will help in the periodic review of the problems and prospects of the industry in Bengal.”

According to stakeholders of the industry, no such forum exists at the state level. “It is always advisable to form such a body which can act promptly during hours of crisis. Right now, the mechanism is inter-departmental where officials and ministers from different departments need to be consulted. It delays the decision-making process,” a tea industry source said.

“In north Bengal, the tea industry is not entitled to benefits like capital subsidy, transport subsidy and other assistance provided to gardens in Assam and Tripura by the central government. This increases the expenditure. On the other hand, the prices of teas are higher in Assam than in the Terai and Dooars. Altogether, we have found that gardens in the foothills of north Bengal are losing around Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kilo of tea,” the senior vice-president of TAI said.

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Bimal Gurung to visit Delhi

Darjeeling,TT Jan. 7: Bimal Gurung is tomorrow scheduled to leave for Delhi where he is expected to discuss Telangana, on which the Centre set a one-month deadline in December. Although the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership is tightlipped about the visit, sources said the delegation led by party president Bimal Gurung will have Roshan Giri, Binay Tamang and Jyoti Kumar Rai.

“The delegation will leave for Delhi tomorrow and return on January 12. During their stay in Delhi, the team is scheduled to meet the Union home and finance ministers,” a Morcha source said.

He said the hill party had sought an appointment with the central ministers earlier. Although the exact schedule was not divulged, the source said the Morcha leaders would also try to meet the Prime Minister. According to the source, the party was looking at getting a feel of the Centre’s intention on Telangana.

“If the Centre is preparing to grant statehood (to Telangana) then we cannot afford to remain silent spectators. The Morcha is monitoring the developments in Delhi.” The Centre had set itself a one-month deadline to decide on statehood for Telangana, home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said on December 28. Gurung has earlier sent Roshan Giri to do most of the talking with the Centre regarding the GTA. But this time, despite his packed schedule, he has decided to go to the capital himself. “Gurung is extremely busy with the preparation of the Krishi Mela, which is scheduled to kick off on January 12. Gurung has attached a lot of importance to the mela since last year and he was personally supervising every aspect of the fair. Despite his hectic schedule, he has decided to go to Delhi,” said a central committee leader of the Morcha.

The fair will be held at Jamuni in Darjeeling, one of Gurung’s favourite spots where he is known to have spent a lot of time recently. Fairs will also be organised at Dalgoan and Relli in Kalimpong subdivision and Jogighat in Kurseong subdivision simultaneously. Morcha leaders said that the party would be forced to start an agitation if the Centre agrees to create Telangana soon. In January last year, the Morcha had announced a three phase 27-day general strike in the hills, despite signing a memorandum of agreement to set up the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) after the formation of the Srikrishna Committee was made public.

Although the committee had suggested substantial autonomy for the Telangana region, the Morcha was of the opinion that the process for the creation of a separate state of Telangana had been initiated by the Srikrishna report. Sources said apart from discussing issues related to the GTA, including raising the special three-year grant of Rs 200 crore per annum to Rs 400 crore, Gurung would also inspect the site where the hill body is setting up a Gorkhaland Bhavan.

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