21 March, 2004; NOW!
1
TURN TO pg3 FOR DETAILS
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The Election Commission has decided that Sangram continues
in Sikkim, now prepare for the next controversy…
GHISING PREDICTS HIS
NEW AVATAAR
AMITAVA BANERJEE
DARJEELING, 20 March:
Subash Ghising today declared that
he had been acting like a Chairman
[of the DGHC] thus far, but soon
people will see him as the GNLF
“Supremo”. An attempt to decipher
his statement leads one to suppose
that Mr. Ghising is preparing to reemerge in the political battlefield.
Mr. Ghising, who usually has a
habit of shying away from the media, was more than voluble today
as he held court, patiently answering media queries at the Shruberry
Nightingale Park after the visit of
the West Bengal Chief Minister,
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Mr.
Bhattacharjee, in contrast, remained tightlipped today.
The DGHC chairman was
speaking to the Press shortly after
he paid a courtesy call on the visiting CM at Richmond Hill where
he invited him to visit the Shrubbery Park.
While on the rounds of the park,
Mr. Bhattacharjee was asked why
his promise of solving Darjeeling’s
water problem within six months
was still not fulfilled. Mr.
Bhattacharjee denied having made
more on pg6
SARIKAH ATREYA
GANGTOK, 20 March: The decision of the Election Commission
of India that the faction of Sikkim
Sangram Parishad, led by its working president, Rajendra Upreti, will
henceforth be recognized as the
SSP in Sikkim has breathed fresh
life into a controversy that has been
simmering for quite some time and
will surely erupt now – the ownership of the erstwhile Sangram
Bhawan at Development Area
which is now known as Congress
Bhawan.
Although the SSP leaders have
welcomed the Election Commission’s decision, taken in regard to
cape
X 2 Lahore
former SSP chief and now Sikkim
Pradesh Congress Committee
president, Nar Bahadur Bhandari’s
petition requesting it to derecognize
SSP since it no longer existed having merged with the Congress, they
are unwilling to present more
elaborate comments either on the
judgement or their future course of
action until they receive the still
awaited copy of the EC order.
The SSP working president is
however on record for having
threatened to sue the Congress for
“illegally” occupying Sangram
property. Speaking at a public meeting at Pakyong on 14 September,
last year, Mr. Upreti had claimed
that Sangram Bhawan was “con-
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structed from donations and contributions made by party supporters” and had challenged its new
address as Congress Bhawan,
which he claims was made “without taking the people who built it
into confidence.”
The victory at the Election
Commission must have surely
strengthened their resolve to take
the Congress and its state president
to court. As to when they do, remains to be seen, but it will surely
open another front of battle for Mr.
Bhandari who already has his hands
full with strategizing for the
upcoming simultaneous polls in
May.
more on pg6
600 year old
Gangkha
lhakhang in
Bhutan destroyed
CHUKHA, 20 March: Buddhist
scriptures written in gold and several other ancient treasures have
been destroyed in a fire which completely razed to the ground the 600
year old Chapcha Gangkha
Lhakhang in Chukha dzongkhag
around 8:30 pm last night.
“None of the lhakhang’s Kuten
Sungtens and other priceless religious relics could be salvaged,”
said a resident of Gangkha village
where the ancient lhakhang stands.
The 63 households of Gangkha
including villagers from the neighbouring village of Shema tried to
fight the flames but could do little.
The koenyer [caretaker] and the
lam of lhakhang who stay outside
the lhakhang were the first to notice the fire which started from the
altar.
Many of the villagers broke
down in frustration unable to do
anything as the lhakhang went up
in flames. The lhakhang had been
renovated in 1998 with personal
contributions from the community.
With the lhakhang gone, the
Gangkha community will this time
have to conduct their annual
bumdey, which falls during the second Bhutanese month, in tents.
Courtesy KUENSEL
Watch India take on Pakistan on
digital projection
at 6 feet X 6 feet at X’cape.
IT DOESN’T GET ANY BIGGER THAN THIS!!!
2; NOW!; 21 March, 2004
NOW!
FIRST WITH THE NEWS
Manifesting Issues
Soon we shall have the political parties hit the electorate with their
poll promises in the form of flamboyantly written and expensively
produced manifestos. These documents can be expected to cover
just about every aspect of public and private lives and serve a
comment and promise for each. This cannot be ridiculed since the
demands of securing vote-banks are such that these aspects
cannot be ignored. That granted, there are issues which political
parties can choose to ignore only at their own peril and at the peril
of their term in power should their promises sell with the people.
While it is all too well to make populist assurances, there remain
issues lurking in the horizon ready to pounce on Sikkim the moment
the election process is over.
The first, and also the one loaded with the most divisive possibilities,
is delimitation. When the process first visited Sikkim last year, it
cleaved the Sikkimese society into slivers of sectional concerns,
the after-shocks of which are still rumbling through the State. Sikkim
has already had a close shave with delimitation and should actually
be more prepared to face it this time around, now that it is more
aware of the concerns and hopes that the people harbour about
the process. The Sikkimese electorate deserves to know each
party’s version of what the new constituencies should look like
and how they propose to get the reorientation process to resemble
their version. No comment is really required on the reservation
policy because the delimitation process will deal solely with the
shape of constituencies and decide which should be reserved, not
how many. But reservation of assembly constituencies will come
in regard to the Limbus and Tamangs who will have to be given
seats after the present poll process is over and before the next
one is announced. Thus far, all that political parties in Sikkim have
done is make assurances and announce claims of sitting on the
magic formula. Now is the time for them to come on record and
explain how and how many seats they propose to reserve for the
new members of the Scheduled Tribes list.
Another public concern which has still not expressed itself, but will
surely boil over to the surface within a couple of years will be that
of the youth. Unemployment as a problem is obvious and every
party must have already incorporated some sops on this front. But
it is not just unemployment that haunts the youth of Sikkim. The
whole gamut of social and personal problems which get amplified
by the frustration of going jobless need to be identified and
addressed. This, perhaps is of more importance for the ruling front
to address than the Congress. Many electors will be voting for the
first time in May 2004. Their strength at the ballot is further bolstered
by the fact that they are the most likely to exercise their franchise
since they have their entire lives ahead of them and thus more at
stake than any other age-group. It is more important for the ruling
front to address their problems because most of these voters don’t
remember governance before the SDF came to power in 1994.
The anti-incumbency factor, which has never really expressed itself
in Sikkim, is most likely to find voice in this segment of the
population. This is especially true since there are still some voters
from the older generation who remember what it was like when the
Bhandari diktat ran supreme in Sikkim, but the youth have no
recollection of that period to force a second thought. That apart,
since the generation which matured in the past decade did so in
the Chamling era, the SDF owes them a detailed account of how it
proposes to make them self-reliant.
O
ne little item of news two weeks ago escaped the notice of most
people: the Home Ministry’s announcement that the number of
Nepalis killed in the past nine years of the ‘People’s War’ had
crossed the 10,000 mark. That this is now a five-digit conflict, in itself,
shouldn’t make it any more serious than it already is. But it is
a milestone that underlines the point that this has always been
a senseless and unwinable conflict. Adding another zero to the
total toll just drives the point home.
At the rate we are going, with 30 reported deaths a week
on average, it won’t be long before we hit 20,000. Then, 30,000.
And then, what? Will the Maoists be any nearer to a republic?
Will the Royal Nepali Army be any nearer to wiping out the Maoists? All
we will achieve is more Nepali deaths, thousands upon thousands will be
orphaned and widowed, millions will be forced to leave their homes. What
kind of Maoist utopia commands that sort of a price in blood and misery?
The comrades have to ask themselves this question and find an honest
answer.
The Maoists gave their revolution an ethnic edge with the declaration
of seven autonomous zones in January. It is now in danger of going the
ED-SPACE
BEYOND KALIMPONG FOR
THE FIRST TIME
-9y new master treated me
nicely as long as I was
with him in Kalimpong,
but I could not know what he might
do later. He bought some new
clothes for a Nepali hat, to show in
the Punjab that I was a Nepali boy.
In this new place I was very content, for I could eat as much as I
wanted, as my mistress told me not
to be ashamed in eating. My master was a good man and kind to me,
but my mistress not so much as my
master himself. Sometimes my mistress got angry with me for slowness or mistakes in my work and
scolded me in her own language,
but I did not understand what she
said, as it was in Punjabi.
After I stayed with this family
for three months in Kalimpong, we
were one day to leave the place at
ten o’clock in the morning. I was
wearing that day my Nepalese costume and hat and looked like a real
Nepali boy. Not even from my adoptive family came to say good-bye.
I felt excited and full of curiosity to be going to India, but sad at
leaving my childhood and beautiful Kalimpong behind. For
Kalimpong was a place to delight
a man’s heart and make him wish
to stay there. Anyone who sat on
the hill slopes at daybreak would
lose his heart when he saw the sun
rise over the mountains, coming to
shed brightness on the world. As
M
the sun rises higher and higher,
Kalimpong looks as if it’s catching
fire, and at last the golden rays
shine directly on the peaks of
Kanchenjunga, turning its snows
into gold. Then almost instantly the
gleam disappears, to be replaced by
the cold white appearnce, which
self looked as if it was in a sad
mood for my going away. The sky
was dark, the sun had gone behind
the clouds, and everything was
gloomy. Before noon we set out
toward the south from Kalimpong
bazaar to the Tista. This was the
second time I had ridden in a motorcar. But for the first time, along
the Tista road, which went down
steeply, winding like a great snake,
I felt great fear when looking down
the deep valley, where I could see
Artist, filmmaker, keen photographer, columnist with international magazines...
It’s hard to pin Twan Yang down. Born to a Chinese father and Tibetan mother,
he grew up in Kalimpong and worked in Sikkim. NOW! serializes Twan Yang’s
autobiography, Houseboy in India...
remains all day long.
Anyone who was born in the
hills loves the mountains, the skies,
the valleys, and the rivers and feels
happy among them.
It may be cold sometimes, and
windy, or there may be rain or hail,
but these are like short moments of
anger of a loving mother who nearly
always smiles and is always kind.
The day I left, Kalimpong it-
the Tista bazaar far away in the
distance. My master and mistress
occupied the back seats while I
was sitting in front next to the
driver, holding the baby. In an hour
and a half we had reached the bottom. I felt as if we had come down
flying, for there had been none of
the trouble and fatigue it used to
cost me to walk it.
-to be continued
Our Vanishing Vultures
USHA LACHUNGPA
L
ocally called ‘Gidha’ or
‘Gut’ or ‘Tcha gyu’, how
long ago did we see a vulture in Sikkim? As far as Gangtok
is concerned, they have followed
the slaughterhouse or ‘goshkhan’
down towards Rangpo and so we
no longer see them wheeling over
Lall Bazar as earlier. In the Tso
Lhamo cold desert on the Tibetan
Plateau in North Sikkim, the great
Himalayan
Griffons
and
Lammergeier or Bearded Vultures
are sighted sometimes. We also do
not have such a large cattle or livestock population like in the plains
where often their carcasses are disposed off along open country sides
to be picked clean by White-backed
and Long-billed Vultures.
However, a dilemma has been
slowly manifesting in the Indian
subcontinent over the last decade
or so. These vultures, one of Na-
way everyone feared: turning a class war into a caste war. The Maoists
have enlisted the support of their wavering allies in the east by announcing the Kirant Autonomous Region, and crowned it with a major attack
on Bhojpur. The Tambuwan and Tamasaling are blockading highways to
strangle the towns.
It is now getting
more and more difficult to believe that this
revolution is moving
along a pre-determined
game plan. It looks seriously out of control. Giving the struggle an ethnic tint smacks of desperation, pointing to fatigue at its political centre. In any civil war, hardline
militant or ethno-separatist elements gains supremacy when the political
part of the struggle erodes or gets sidelined.
Lately, we are seeing signs of a movement that needs to invent new
ways to stoke social anger for support. A political call for revolutionary
transformation doesn’t seem to be enough to carry the momentum for-
10,000+
turn to pg 6
ture’s most efficient environment
cleansing systems, have been
gradually vanishing. The phenomenon was first noticed by the Bombay Natural History Society. Conservationists and wildlife researchers started working on possible
reasons like viral diseases. Surprisingly, another branch of researchers after a three-year study suggest
that the possibility of veterinary
use of a painkiller drug called
Diclofenac Sodium could be the
reason. In fact a countrywide survey is being conducted by Dr.
Vibhu Prakash of the BNHS to
corroborate the fact that the use of
Diclofenac is indeed quite common especially over the last decade or so. The vulture crisis seems
to have spread from India to Nepal and Pakistan and in January
2004 a manifesto on Diclofenac
and Vulture Conservation was endorsed by many conservation organizations.
We need to become aware and
ponder the long-term significance
of this crisis.
-The writer is a Senior
Research Officer, Wild Life, with
the Forest Department
C M Y K
NEWSSCAN
21 March, 2004; NOW!
3
IT’S THE ORCHID VS. THE WILLOW IN DELHI
Western Union sees livewire
NEXPO loses visitors
transactions in Sikkim
to Indo-Pak series,
Sikkim holds on
ANAND OBEROI
a NOW REPORT
GANGTOK, 20 March: A direct
clash is underway between the brilliance of Sikkim’s orchids and the
flamboyance of Sachin’s bat. Given
the fanaticism with which cricket
is followed in north India, Sachin
is scoring in viewership at the cost
of the visitors making it to Pragati
Maidan in New Delhi where the
first North East Trade Expo
[NEXPO] 2004 is presently
underway.
It’s not a complete drubbing for
Sikkim though.
“Compared to other states,
Sikkim is definitely attracting a lot
of attention because we have so
much to offer and our exhibits are
much more diverse and interesting,” a State government official
told NOW! from Pragati Maidan
today, a day which saw a “handsome” turnout after Friday was a
near washout thanks to the IndoPak match which kept people indoors in the afternoon, when trade
fairs attract the largest crowds.
Although details of trade enquiries have still not been tabulated,
officials in Delhi reveal that individual interest in Sikkim stalls has
been very encouraging. While the
exotic orchids woo the Delhiites,
the State’s exquisite handicrafts,
along with local products such as
Sikkim Supreme, Temi Tea and Alpine Cheese are also proving big
hits. Locally produced consumer
durables are also doing extremely
well at the Expo, it is learnt.
Sikkim as the next holiday
destination is also receiving a
lot of attention from potential
visitors.
“Sikkim is fast becoming the
preferred tourist destination in
the Eastern Himalayas because
of its rich natural biodiversity
and adequate infrastructure. We
are receiving a lot of queries on
tourism destinations in the State
at the Expo, especially the Buddhist pilgrimage destinations,”
PK Dong, Executive Director,
Sikkim Tourism Development
Corporation [STDC], said while
speaking to NOW! over the
phone from New Delhi today.
T h e f o u r- d a y E x p o c o n cludes tomorrow [21 March].
Apart from Sikkim, Arunachal
P r a d e s h , A s s a m , M a n i p u r,
Meghlaya, Mizoram, Nagaland
and Tripura are participating in
the Expo. The event is organised by the Department of Development of North Eastern Region [DONER] in partnership
with the India Trade Promotion
O rg a n i s a t i o n [ I T P O ] , N e w
Delhi.
GANGTOK, 20 March: Money
transfer may be a new concept as
far as the rest of nation, still more
comfortable with the snail-mail
form of money-orders is concerned,
but receiving wired finances from
abroad is growing in popularity
among the Sikkimese.
The Western Union Money
Transfer booth at the Head Post
Office here is second only to
Kolkata in revenue generation and
transactions in the eastern circle,
beating bigger industrial cities like
Malda, Durgapur and Siliguri,
claimed the Post Master General,
A Day for
meteorology
GANGTOK, 20 March: World
Meteorological Day will be celebrated here on Tuesday, 23 March
at Meteorological Observatory located in the Raj Bhawan complex.
The theme for the day will be,
“Weather, Climate and Water in the
Information Age.”
On this occasion, an exhibition highlighting various scientific activities of this department pertaining to weather
study will be arranged. Students and teachers of various
schools and colleges as well as
the general public have been invited to attend the exhibition
between 10 am to 4 pm.
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Siliguri and Sikkim, John Samuel,
at a press conference recently.
The Gangtok post master, R.
Khujur, offers more details as he
reveals that the Head Post Office
here has seen a 200 per cent increase in transactions since it
started in January last year. February, 2004, was the busiest month
for the Western Union Transfer
booth here when forty-three transactions were recorded, he disclosed. The 43 transactions were
worth Rs. 12.34 lakhs, he detailed.
That is indicative of the fact that
most clients were using the money
transfer system to the maximum
permissible limit – Rs. 30,000.
The Gangtok HPO staff are
convinced that the transactions will
start spiraling now. March has already recorded more than twenty
transactions and Mr. Khujur is confident that the value of transactions
will cross the Rs. 20 lakh barrier
very soon.
Incidentally, Western Union
Money Transfer comes thanks to a
special tie-up between US-based
Western Union and the Indian
Postal Department which enables
recipients in India to instantly withdraw money “wired” to them from
abroad. The transactions are only
one-way at present and money cannot be sent out.
10 crore Vajra Guru
recitations completed
at Enchey
tary contributions offered by them.
On the concluding day,
Gonzung Rinpoche conferred
Tsewang initiations to the lamas
and the devotees.
GANGTOK, 20 March: The
Vajra Guru Dhundrup Recitations,
which began here at Enchey Sanga
Rapdenling Monastery here on 6
February, concluded on 16 March.
Prohibitory orders
clamped in north
Sikkim
SIKKIM
ROUND-UP
The Vajra Guru Mantra were recited over ten crores times by the
monks and devotees during the 40
days that the recitations lasted.
These sacred recitations invoke
the blessings of Guru Rinpoche for
diverting the forces of evil which
confront humanity in the form of
diseases, wars, communal disturbances, unrest and other evils
plaguing mankind.
The Duche of Enchey Sanga
Rapdenling Monastery and Enchey
Teschu Tsogpa have expressed their
appreciation and gratefulness to all
the devotees who participated in this
programme and also for the volun-
MANGAN, 20 March: The District Magistrate, North District, has
implemented Prohibition Order under Section 144 of CrPC of 1973
(2 of 1974) has made the order that
no person shall carry fire-arms, explosives, sharp edged and deadly
weapons and other such deadly
weapons like iron rods, missiles,
petrol bottle bombs, explosive
gadgets, grenades, hand bombs in
the public places, streets, bazaars,
roads and in any form of conveyances within the jurisdiction of
North District and areas falling
within all the Police Stations in
North District.
The order came into force from
15 March 2004 onwards and shall
continue to remain in force till the
election process is declared over.
[IPR]
POWERPLAY 4; NOW!; 21 March, 2004
WILL ELECTIONS RUIN THE SEASON?
a NOW REPORT
GANGTOK, 20 March: Sonam
Wangdi is in a hurry to get his tourist lodge ready. It is almost complete
except for the furnishings. He has
been waiting eagerly for the onset
of the tourist season and hopes to
recover some of his investment.
Anil Gupta has stocked up his
souvenir shop well in advance. He
knows he’s going to be busy once
the summer “season” starts.
Kiran Pradhan, a travel gent, is
busy tying up all loose ends like
arranging guides on call, taxis and
permits before the season begins
and hordes of tourists besiege him
for the Tsomgo visit.
Apart from being part of the
tourism industry, one thing that all
three have in common this year, is
the fear that the tourist season may
not go as planned. That, because of
the elections, people may in fact
prefer not to travel. They are not
alone in this. Suddenly everyone is
asking the question. Will elections
ruin the Season for us?
“Since elections for West Bengal and Sikkim are scheduled for
the same date, it will definitely affect tourism,” states TAAS President, Paljor Lachungpa, adding, “Maximum numbers of
domestic tourists travel after
the school examinations in the
plains held sometime in AprilMay. That is when there is a
rush of tourists in Sikkim. This
clashes with the election-dates
this year. Also, maximum numbers of domestic tourists arriving in Sikkim, are government
employees, so they as responsible
citizens who would definitely stay
back to vote and would have no
time for tours.”
The fear of poll-related violence is another factor that could
prevent the tourists from travelling.
But some feel that since this fear
will be more in North Bengal, it
could actually mean more tourists
coming to Sikkim and bypassing
Darjeeling.
And then, there are the foreign
tourists.
Kelsang Bhutia of Wisdom
Tours & Travels believes that although tourism through domestic
tourists will be affected this year,
there will be no impact on foreign
tourist arrivals.
He also suggests that the only
WHEN
A
CM
COMES
TO
TOWN
Bauls, jhakris, camaraderie and photo-ops
from OUR CORRESPONDENT
DARJEELING, 20 March: The
Shrubbery Nightingale Park reverberated with the melodious voice
of Purna Das Baul belting out from
the hi-fi speakers surrounding the
park, as the Buddhadeb-Ghising
cavalcade made its way via the
Governor ’s House, the only
motorable road right into the park.
Excitement was in the air as inquisitive tourists and anxious officials
waited for the heavy-weights to
make their appearance.
In a display of overt camaraderie, both got down from the
sparkling white Ambassador, and
were instantly surrounded by the
security personnel and the await-
ing media.
A quick look around and
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, exclaimed “Khub Bhalo,” expressing
his satisfaction and approval of the
light and sound extravaganza.
The two then proceeded to the
two-storeyed rest house and made
a public appearance together on the
balcony, obliging the crowd and
waving at the photo-hungry media.
This was followed by a round of
high tea and watching a performance by the Cultural Department of
the DGHC in the open air stage.
The show included various ethnic
dance forms of the Hills including
the Maruni and the Chyabrung, followed by the ever popular Bhangra.
It was then time for Ghising to
in
Association
show the CM around. The CM even
paid his reverence at the shrine of
a local deity where a Jhakri performed the rituals.
Purna Das [via the sound system] took over again as the CM left
for the Richmond Hill Government
Guest House while Ghising stayed
back to oblige the media – a rare
phenomenon.
“I had invited the CM to visit
the park and he accepted the invitation” said a beaming Ghising.
At the Richmond Hill the CM’s
table was laid out with chicken and
fish dishes.
“It will be Aar and Katla since
Pabda [all different varieties of
fish] couldn’t be obtained,” said a
kitchen staff.
real sufferers among the travel
agencies will be those who deal
with walk-in tourists. “Bookings
through the proper channels are still
healthy,” he adds.
While travel agents and others
in the tourism industry remain worried about the impact of elections
on tourists, one lot who are
quite unruffled are the taxi
drivers. They know that it is
going to be business as
usual, if not better, for
them.
Arun Pradhan, booking
in-charge, Sikkim Bus
Workers Association, says:
“We have a good chance for
making double profits, what
with the elections and the season happening at the same time. But even if
tourists don’t come, our taxis will be
busy with election duty.”
But for some, tourists remain
their first priority. Says Soltee,
booking in-charge, United Sikkim
Taxi-Jeep Drivers Association: “We
will make alternative arrangements
for tourists so that they don’t suffer any difficulties. Even though
our vehicles will be booked for
campaigning, our association will
ensure that no tourist is left
stranded.”
Even TAAS seems to have
woken to the possible scenario of
a good season, but no vehicles.
“That could well be the alternate
scenario. To be prepared for it we
are soon meeting the Transport Secretary with a request to issue temporary permission to vehicles to ply
all over the state,” informs the
TAAS president while adding that
tourism is, after all, the mainstay
of the State economy.
Sharing his sentiment is Suraj
Rai of the Siliguri Main-Line
Driver Association, who says, “As
a driver, I think that we do not earn
more on election duty. Our financial sustenance is dependent on
tourists. If they come, we make
money; if they don’t, we don’t.”
On final count then, business
continues as usual. Those in the
hospitality industry are as prepared
for a summer flop as they are ready
with alternatives should the tourist
traffic actually surge.
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HOTEL MANAGEMENT
AND CATERING TECHNOLOGY, PUSA COMPLEX, NEW DELHI -110012
[UNDER MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE, DEPTT. OF TOURISM, GOVT. OF INDIA]
AND
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
ANNOUNCES JEE - 2004
FOR ADMISSION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF 3-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.SC.)
PROGRAMME IN HOSPITALITY AND HOTEL ADMINISTRATION
Last date for sale of Information Brochure and Application Form for
admission to the above course has been extended upto April 6, 2004
IMPORTANT DATES
Sale of Prospectus at Institute of Hotel
Management, Near Ayurvedic Hospital,
Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim 737102
Last Date for receipt of completed
Application Form
Date of JEE Written Test
Centralized Counselling for allotment of Inst.
Commencement of academic session
Up to 5th April 2004
7th April 2004
18th April 2004 [2:30-5:30pm]
7th June to 16th June 2004
19th July 2004
for details access www.nchmct.org or contact Institute of Hotel
Management, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim. Ph: 270735, 270557
OPPORTUNITY
International Call Centres are looking to recruit 100 250 customer care executives.
ELIGILIBITY: Graduates / Final Year students may also
apply. SALARY: Rs. 9000 to 12000 per month + incentives. LOCATION: Delhi.
WALK-IN-INTERVIEW
Venue: Hotel Tashi Delek
Date: 26 to 27 March. Time: 10AM to 5 PM
Ph: 94341 79280
with NOW!
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C M Y K
NEWSSCAN
RANJIT SINGH
GANGTOK, 20 March: The valedictory function of the GLOBE
Teachers Training was held at the
PNGSS School here today.
Dinesh Sharma, Additional Director, State Council of Educational
Research and Technology, presided over the valedictory function as the chief guest.
Presenting an overview of the
four days of training, Dr. Avinash
Tiwari, a resource person from
Jiwaji University, Gwalior, informed that on the first day the participants learnt much about the soil
and atmosphere including analysing them to provide relevant information as may be required. Dr.
Avinash said that information had
to be compiled in a stimulative
way so as to arouse the interests
of the students.
The trainees were taken to
Adampool on the second day during which they handled the equipment themselves. Dr. Avinash
suggested that since these instruments were cheap, school students could be involved in the
21 March, 2004; NOW!
TEACHERS READY TO TEACH ENV.
SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS
making of the same.
A hydrologic site was selected
for the third day while the last day
was for the summing up and compiling of information and converting it from hand-written documents
to electronic data sheets. These will
be sent to the GLOBE headquarters
in the USA for further analysis.
According to one of the participants, Sanjay Acharya: “This
workshop was a good opportunity
to delve into the environmental issues which have long been neglected. Now that we have been
trained we can notice minor details
and make inferences and are ready
to involve the students of our respective schools to take practical
interest in the environment.” He
did however voice doubts about
successful and thorough implementation in the schools which
still rely heavily on classroom
teaching and are quite averse to
disturbances in their routine.
He, along with two other participant teachers, SR Adhikari and
IBS Yadav, will be writing a handbook on environment to guide
teachers on the subject in the
schools. According to Mr. Adhikari,
“The workshop was very interesting. It has enhanced our experience
and knowledge of the environment.
We are now ready to teach our students on various aspects of the environment”.
JB Niraula, Joint Director, Education, in his talk said that it was
mandatory for the trained teachers
to implement the environmental
activities in their schools.
“There is a signed agreement
between the Secretary, Education
and the Govt of India to this effect
and only on this basis will the central govt. release funds.”
He further revealed that there
would be a meeting of all the heads
of schools in the state and the message conveyed to them on the desirability of the earliest implementation of the given environmental
activities. The deadline for the completion of these activities, he said,
was 30 June.
The workshop, which began on
17 March, was a hands-on environmental learning programme involving 42 teachers from various schools
in the state. Since Environmental
Science has been incorporated into
the school syllabi from the current
academic year, the workshop aimed
at bringing awareness among the
students and teachers about current
environmental issues.
The workshop was part of a
bigger project called GLOBE [Global Learning and Observation to
Benefit Environment], an international society of scientists, teachers and schools which follow its
training programmes.
Dexterous display of Manipuri skills in Gangtok
a NOW! pic
A LIFESTYLE STORE
Hotel Central
31A NH Way
ph: 222553, 222573, 222105
The latest offerings
from Internal
Affairs Exclusive Wall
Frames, Flowers
and Decorative
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Stylish Homes.
a NOW REPORT
GANGTOK, 20 March: Another crafts exhibition for the finer tastes of
Gangtokians opened today. The Babumashai Restaurant at New Market
is serving a rather unconventional menu which although it is totally inedible certainly has a consumption value of its own. The restaurant is the
site of a crafts exhibition-cum-sale of exclusive Manipuri handicrafts.
The exhibition opened today and will continue till 29 March. The
timings when this particular helping is served are from 10 in the morning
till 6 in the evening.
The event is being organized by Women’s Development Welfare Association, Imphal, Manipur and sponsored by Development Commissioner
[Handicraft], Ministry of Textile, New Delhi. This is their first exhibition
in Sikkim.
On display are embroidery materials in traditional Manipuri design
such as shawls, bed sheets, pillow cases, table cloths to name a few.
Also on display are the traditional bamboo crafts along with jewellery.
The prices of the items on exhibit range from a meager Rs. 10 for a
beautifully embroidered handkerchief to a handsome Rs. 3,500 for a
mosquito net.
Their chief purpose of the exhibition-cum-sale is to encourage young
talent in their home state by giving them exposure and introducing them
to the markets around the country. An interesting activity of the Association, as disclosed by its secretary, Purnima Devi, is the programme they
conduct for raising AIDS awareness in their state which is specially directed at the youth. Similarly, they are also involved in combating drug
abuse among the young. In fact, a training programme they conduct also
serves as a rehabilitation programme in which the recovering youth are
provided with new skills, new responsibilities and a new life.
The organizers plan to go to other states as well with their wares.
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5
A unique Floral
experience awaits
Kalimpong
KARAN SHAH
KALIMPONG, 20 March:
Kalimpong was once known for its
dairy products and the Swiss Dairy
was a popular tourist stop. Today it
is the horticultural industry that has
taken on the mantle of being the
number one tourist attraction in
Kalimpong. There are many nurseries in the region and the weather
too is perfect for the garden cultivation of various types of flowers.
In this respect, a brief meeting
of the Horticulture Society of
Kalimpong, held recently, resolved
that horticultural exhibitions cum
competitions be organized on an
annual basis. This would help improve the prospects of the
horticulturalists and give a boost to
the flower industry. To this effect a
four day exhibition-cum-competition will be held from 14 to 18 April
called the “Kalimpong Garden
Competition – Spring 2004.”
The event is open to educational institutions, hotels, guest
houses and tourist lodges, private
homes, regional establishments –
churches, mandirs, gumpas,
mosques etc, and commercial establishments.
The fact that it will patronize
such a varied range of participants
is what is tipped to make it unique.
Another unique feature is that there
is to be no specific venue and all
the participants will have to arrange
theirs displays at their respective
places. For the judges, it will be a
hop from one venue of exhibits to
another. Beauty, specimen collection, varieties, rarity [for nurseries]
and general arrangement will be the
judging criteria.
“A similar competition had
been organised by the society in the
year 2000 and it was quite successful,” said a Horticulture Society of
Kalimong member, but he adds that
due to lack of funds the contest
could not be repeated.
FOR SALE
MARSHAL DI
4WD,MODEL 2002.
INTERESTED PERSON
MAY CONTACTMobile:
94341-64556.
(PRICE 2.96.lakhs.)
NOW! can be contacted
at 953592 270949
or emailed at
sikkimnow@
rediffmail.com
ELSEWHERE 6; NOW!; 21 March, 2004
NDA mulls law
to bar Sonia
becoming PM
NEW DELHI, 20 March: Stepping up the offensive on the issue
of foreign origin, BJP today said the
NDA coalition, on return to office,
could enact a law to bar non-natural born citizens from occupying
high constitutional posts.
“If need be, we will bring a law
barring people of foreign origin
holding the highest constitutional
post. It is not a personal attack on
any individual, but it concerns the
country,” party President M
Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here
at a programme at his residence to
mark the Telugu New Year.
He said the need for a legislation barring people of foreign origin holding high constitutional
posts in the country would also
be incorporated in the NDA Common Agenda of Governance.
Asked whether this meant that
the party was training its attack
on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said “it is no personal attack on any person, but it was
concerning interests of the country.”
Naidu said it was BJP’s stand
all along that people of foreign origin should not occupy high constitutional posts in the country like
those of President, Prime Minister
and Chief Justice of India.
WHO OWNS
THE BHAWAN?
from pg1
The SPCC [I] general secretary and spokesperson, Biraj
Adhikari, who was recently announced as the party’s Lok
Sabha candidate, however sees
no problems on this front.
“There is absolutely no dispute
over the ownership of the
Bhawan,” he said when asked to
comment on the possibility of
SSP staking claim to what is
now known as Congress
Bhawan.
It is also possible that Mr.
Bhandari had also sensed such a
turn of events which could explain
why, while he was still in the SSP,
the party high-command passed a
resolution empowering the president [Mr. Bhandari] to not only discuss and finalise pre-poll alliances
and mergers, but also sell or mortgage Sangram properties to fund
the party’s preparations for polls.
What legal arguments are presented by either side to justify their
claim over the building at Development Area, we shall know only
after a case if filed. While the
Sangram/ Congress Bhawan surely
has impressive real estate value, the
squabble over it is about more than
just property rights, it is about show
of resolve and loss of face.
the otissey
the
otissey
Few things are more annoying and obnoxious than those lame advertisements for jobs, which don’t even mention the job but rattle on
the qualities of a good citizen. considering most of us are imbeciles
who don’t know what a job looks like or how we would look like in a
job, NOW! helps you discover your vocation.
IF
- Your only office infrastructure is a mobile phone
- You can talk on it for six hours at a stretch
- Can put a customer on hold on the phone for six hours at a stretch
- Aggravate him further by replying to all he says with that exquisitely
supportive phrase – “I understand” – even when he curses you in
Telugu
- And then can finally talk him into paying your mobile bill
Why, then you’ll make a good stockbroker’s agent dealing in the
transaction of non-existent shares!
IF
- You are a pessimist
- Believe in the law of averages
- Believe in conspiracy theories
- Have a nightmare everyday
- And can look like death at the best of times
You will make a very good Life Insurance Agent.
IF
- The only English word you know is ‘Hello’
- Can climb up a pole as easily you can slide down it
- Loved playing with papa’s calculator when you were a kid
- Can look incredibly busy with an umbrella in your hand
- And believe in letting things follow their own natural course
The Telephone Department can do with another Linesman.
IF
- You are a loser / underachiever
- Do not expect anything from yourself (with good cause)
- Have read the book “How to win the confidence of you kidnappers”
- Have read the book “How to keep your wife and mistress happy at
the same time”
- And have always contemptuously defied the Diwali ban on crackers and so are quite deaf
We believe you will make a very good Middle East Peace Negotiator!
IF
- You have no talent or skill
- Have a lot of time to kill
- Don’t have any Qualifications
- Nor have any sort of education
Well, the country can always do with one more Farmer!
IF
- You can talk non stop without pausing for breath
- Can talk customers into spending more than they actually need
- Can make a house that’s falling apart sound great by talking about
its extra closet space
- You believe that you are actually not there and can convince your
victims of the same
- And all this with a very straight face
You will definitely make a very good door to door salesman!
FROM CHAIRMAN TO
SUPREMO
from pg1
such a commitment.
The CM arrived at Darjeeling at
around 5:25 pm and was visited by
Mr. Ghising five minutes later. The
two held an half-an-hour long closed
door meeting before proceeding for
the Shrubbery Nightingale Park.
When asked what talks were
held behind closed doors, Mr.
Ghising said it was just “an informal chat in which nothing political
was discussed.”
“We relaxed by the fire drinking Darjeeling tea,” is all Mr.
Ghising offered.
With the hills rift with rumors
that GNLF will boycott the Lok
Sabha polls again, Mr. Ghising was
questioned regarding his stand on
the same. “Parliamentary election
is just a routine work. I will only
decide in the first week of April and
then declare our stand. As most of
the parties have not declared their
candidates as yet, we will wait and
watch. Our stand could be anything,” he said.
He, however, added that the
GNLF was not interested in any
coalition. Regarding the constant
sledging of the opposition camps,
Mr. Ghising said, “Darjeeling is a
small place but small politics does
not stand a chance here.” He is convinced that the Hills are all in support of the GNLF.
Regarding the School Service
Commission stalemate, in which
empanelled candidates from the
Hills have not received appointment letters to date, Mr. Ghising
said that no Bill has yet been passed
in the Assembly to transfer the SSC
[Hills] to the DGHC.
“The problem will be solved
but it needs a lot of diagnosis, xray and finally an operation,” was
his opinion on the problem.
IF
- You believe the solution to all problems is patience
- You can talk for hours on end and still say nothing
- Believe the secret to a long and peaceful career is to be indecisive
- Can convince people that the empty glass is actually full of condensed liquid
Congrats, you already are a seasoned Politician
IF
- You believe the Indian Police Service is slightly overpopulated
- You believe the streets are slightly overpopulated
- You believe the nation’s population control programme is going to
take a very long time to show results and would really like to chip in
with something more effective and efficient
- You believe that Bollywood stars and starlets need protection from
being mobbed
- And generally like meeting interesting people
Join the mafia.
- OTIS
10,000+
from pg 2
ward. That may be why the Maoists don’t seem to see a need
anymore to consider public opinion. It doesn’t seem to matter what
the people think, in fact the strategy now seems to be to punish the
people by assassinating anyone still
left in the villages, declaring multiple bandhs and blockading urban
areas to inflict pain and panic on
the public. Cold-blooded murders
of innocents, ambushing dairy tankers, torching buses, lynching six
people in Saptari and leaving their
bodies to rot by a school all indicate that violence has now become
an end in itself.
It is the responsibility of our
current rulers, the underground
comrades, the political parties who
represent the Nepali people to take
immediate steps to stop this slaughter before many more thousands
die. Why should the people be
made to suffer any more for their
endless power struggle? Announce
elections, agree on a ceasefire, and
let the people decide who they want
to be ruled by.
-editorial in
NEPALI TIMES,
a Kathmandu-based weekly
- QUESTION OF THE WEEK Europeans first added chocolate
to their coffee in
1600
1900
2002
fresh everyday
NAME: .........................................
sundaycoffee
ADDRESS: ...................................
CONTEST
Tick the right answer and rush entries to NOW! office at Tadong to
WIN A COFFEE & SNACKS COUPON
WORTH Rs. 100 AT BAKER’S CAFE,MG MARG, GANGTOK
j
VA RA
M O V
I
E
Contest
A correct entry (decided
by draw of lots) will win 2
FREE TICKETS to the
latest flick playing at
VAJRA CINEMA, Digital
Surround Sound.
Winner will be
announced next
Sunday.
1. Name the lead character from the movie School Of
Rock?
2. WHo played the female lead in Maqbool?
NAME:
ADDRESS:
C M Y K
SPECIALS
21 March, 2004; NOW!
Bharat Sanchar
Nigam Ltd.
Jack Black
gives lessons
in rock!
a Govt. of India enterprise
Office of the General Manager Telecom
Gangtok : Sikkim
NOTICE
All BSNL subscribers are
hereby informed that all telephone numbers in Gangtok
beginning 222, 223, 224 and
225 are being changed in a
phased manner to now begin 20, ie is the second
number of these phones will
henceforth be “0.”
MOVIE REVIEW by BHAI SCOPE
I
n “School of Rock” Jack Black
plays Dewey Finn, a rock star
(in his own mind) who takes
a substitute teaching job at a prestigious prep school in order to
make ends meet. How does he get
the job? He pretends to be his
roommate - Ned Schneebly. So,
he happens to overhear the kids
in his class during their music
lesson and gets the brilliant
idea of putting these kids together as a rock group to compete in the upcoming Battle of
the Bands.
The movie dwells on all the
adventures that Black and his band
of little musicians go through, hilarious, idiotic and distinctly
funny. This is the ultimate Jack
Black movie for all the fans of
this Tenacious D. And good for
him - he deserves it.
Sure, it’s a kid’s movie, but
it’s worth checking out just for
how fun it is. Couple that with an
amazing soundtrack, I’d say this
movie rocks!
I
f u liked the previous Indian
Ocean music then obviously
you will like this one. This is
their fourth album JHINI the other
three being Indian Ocean, Desert
Rain (live) and Kandisa.
Side A: JHINI: This a poem written by the 15 th century poet Sant
Kabir Das. It is an excellent composition and though the lyrics might
go over your head at times ( like
most of their songs do) but then it
grows on you upon repeated listening (like most of their songs to
again). LET ME SPEAK: This
one is an instrumental and seriously
good. It reminds u of some kind of
victory u might have had in recent
times. BHOR: This means a bird’s
flight. It is all about a bird’s
C M Y K
HOUSING
IN SILIGURI
Minor acts in the bigger industries of Entertainment:
Street performers in Gangtok. pic: KARCHOONG DIYALI
Everyone knows the calculation between
words and pictures. “A 1000 Words,” is a
contest which will feature every Sunday in
the pages of NOW! Interesting
photographs which Speak and not
necessarily Report are invited for this
section.
Hear The Call
journey;how it would love to fly in
the open sky and then how it is captured by the hunter.
Side B: DES MERA: This one is
an enthusiastic number and one
wishes that it should go on for a
longer time than its actual length.Its
all about the wonders of our country. Don’t mistake it for some track
from a Bhagat Singh movie.
TORRENT:Another instrumental
wonderfully composed and makes
for superb listening.This one is a
lil’ sad though and reminds you of
any sad things u may have experienced recently.
AFTER THE WAR:An excellent piece of music with hard hitting lyrics.This song may sound a
little too hard and loud compared
to other numbers in the album. It’s
got varying paces and describes
how man has become so insensitive to war and it’s consequences.
NAM MYO HO:An extremely laid
back track with a title that sounds
like a meditation chant from one of
the many cults popping up like
mushrooms, but the music will take
you places. Believe me.
Indian Ocean is not a band you
listen to with friends, their music
is not something you try to categorise, JHINI is not an album you buy
just because someone recommended it to you. Let it call you.
- BY DIGITAL HARI!
7
Although digital images [at 200 dpi resolution
and minimum width of 10 cms] are preferred,
even well produced chemical prints are
welcome. Inkjet or laser printouts cannot be
considered solely because they cannot be
reproduced well enough. The winner will be
decided by NOW! and for now will have to
make do with seeing his/ her name in print.
send in your images by friday to
NOW!, Gairi Gaon, near Ayurvedic Clinic
Tadong - 737102
Ph: 270949 email: sikkimnow@rediffmail.com
or leave your entries at any of our outlets
ADMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT
AIEE & AFMC
For 2004 Entrance Exam [Starting 1st April, 2004]
BY A GROUP OF EXPERTS FROM SACHDEVA INST.
REGULAR COURSE FOR 2005 AIEE, PMT,
AIIMS, AFMC, CET, DCE ETC.
RIMC COACHING IS ALSO GOING ON
Contact: Mrs. Dey, Career’s Counselling Institute, Tibet
Road, Gangtok. ph: 226510, 94341-53355
C.C.I CONDUCTS COACHING FOR C.E.T. (SIKKIM) UNDER STATE QUOTA
CONTACT IMMEDIATELY
No Experience / No Education Bar / No Age Bar
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CONTACT:
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Sarda Building, 6th Floor, MG Marg, Gangtok.
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Contact:
Modern Associates
Mayadeep Building, 2nd
Floor, 11/22, Kalibari
Road,
Siliguri - 734404
ph: 2661362, 2543684,
98320-57663
WANTED
Computer Engineer,
Software Programmer
Knowledge in Visual Basic
and Oracle a must.
Please send in detail resume
with passport size photographs and quote expected
salary to NOW!, Gairi
Gaon, Tadong, East
Sikkim.
SALE
For immediate sale [4
Nos.] Maruti, Gypsy
contact: 98320 95295
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APPEAR WITH COMPLETE
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FOUND
An identity card bearing # 2001/
06 belonging to one Tashi
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Bhawan premises. CONTACT:
Karma Tamling, B.Sc. (IInd Yr.)
Tadong OR Phurba Rongkup, Six
Realms, Gangtok.
THEFINALONE 8; NOW!; 21 March, 2004
today in
POSH AND NAOMI FALL OUT AGAIN
History P
21st March
1871 - Journalist Henry
Stanley began his famous
search to Africa for missing
Scottish missionary David
Livingston.
1961 - The Beatles made their
debut in an appearance at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, where
they became regulars in a matter of months.
1965 - Martin Luther King, Jr.
lead more than 3,000 people
in a march in Selma, Alabama.
ODDLYENOUGH
DON’T STEP ON THE
BLUE SUEDE SHOES!
T
hieves broke into the ELVIS
PRESLEY museum in LAS
VEGAS earlier this week
and made off with bounty worth
over $300,000 (£180,000).
The raid, at Elvis-A-Rama, took
just five minutes as the criminals
rammed a back door of the museum
with a stolen truck, then used lead
pipes to break into three display
cases.
They made off with rings, a
gold-plated pistol and other belongings, according to Rolling Stone.
However, the museum staff
were relieved to discover that one
of their most prized possessions –
a pair of blue suede shoes – were
left untouched.
The museum was established
by Elvis devotee Chris Davidson in
1999. His collection, built up over
many years, houses more than
2,000 pieces.
op singer VICTORIA
BECKHAM
and
supermodel
NAOMI
CAMPBELL’s truce appears to be
over already - after POSH slammed
models as “stupid”.
The two Brits had a public rivalry for years after bitter meetings
on the celebrity party circuit, leading Beckham to label the Londonborn beauty a “bitch” and “complete cow” on her TV show VICTORIA’S SECRETS.
Last year (03) the two stars
shocked the British media when
they called time on their feud, after
they both signed to model hip-hop
mogul
DAMON
DASH’s
ROCAWEAR collection.
However after hearing Beckham
questioning the mental capacity of
catwalk queens, Campbell has re-
newed her frosty glare for the wife
of
soccer
hunk
DAVID
BECKHAM. Campbell fumes, “Do
you know what she said?
“‘I’m not a model. Models are
stupid!’
“Well I do it nearly everyday.
I’m blessed to be working. Flattered.”
EMINEM POKES FUN AT JANET
SHOCKER IN D-12 VIDEO
R
apper EMINEM has become the
latest star to poke fun at JANET
JACKSON and JUSTIN
TIMBERLAKE - in his new D-12
video MY BAND he can be seen ripping off portly bandmate BIZARRE’s nipple star.
The heavyweight star is seen
ripping the microphone out of
Eminem’s hand during a boy band
segment in the promo, and then proceeds to rip off his white suit to reveal a shiny green leotard.
Eminem dives back into the frame,
embraces his pal and rips off his nipple
jewellery - copying Timberlake’s actions
at the SUPER BOWL half-time show last
month (FEB04), when the pop star ripped
open Jackson’s bodice open to reveal a
bare breast.
Bizarre also spoofs Eminem’s protege
50 CENT in the video - the chubby rapper
recreates 50’s IN DA CLUB video by appearing to hang upside down from a beam
in his gym.
The cheeky video also features Eminem getting a massage from a
team of sexy ladies and scenes of the nearly naked rap superstar on a
tanning bed.
Modern technology also allows Eminem to double up as two trailer
trash fans who want to bed him backstage in the video.
Ramola
MOBILE PHONES
CELLULAR
SALES & SERVICES
ZELLWEGER TURNS
REAL-LIFE HERO
R E N E E
ZELLWEGER
turned real-life action hero when she
saved a woman who
had collapsed when
out hiking in California’s remote Runyan
Canyon.
The actress was walking with her personal trainer
when she saw the lady faint and
fall down part of the canyon - and
with no thought for her own
safety she rushed to help.
A friend says, “Renee and a
friend were just about 50 steps behind the lone woman hiker. Luckily, they saw her when she collapsed and fell partially down the
steep canyon.
“Instead of waiting for help,
Renee risked her own safety and
slid down to help the woman.”
As Zellweger’s personal trainer
went to get help, Renee
attended to the
stricken woman - and
received plaudits
for her quick
thinking when
paramedics
arrived.
O n e
says, “If
it wasn’t
f o r
Renee
and her
pal, anyt h i n g
could have
happened,
considering
the area is
plagued by
coyotes.”
rial:
edito
753
0 80
2
983
202
0 17
9832 ss:
e
busin
096
0 42
2
3
8
9
838
0
8
0
9832
SWASTIK
AD
SILIGURI
Tharo Line,Lal Market Road.
Ph: 221004, Mobile: 9832062684
SNOOKER BOARD
FOR SALE
Snooker Board
measuring 6 x 12 ft.
in good condition
is for sale on
reasonable price.
Interested party may
contact this Mobile No.
98320 77630
Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Darpan Publications Pvt. Ltd, Siliguri. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Executive Editor: Mita Zulca
Now! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 270949 email: sikkimnow@rediffmail.com
C M Y K