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July 27, 2017, 12:23 am

A TRIBUTE Nar Bahadur Bhandari

Too late to talk about Sikkim when battle tanks roll down Nathula and non-Sikkimese occupy seats of power

(This article is being republished as a Tribute to Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who passed away on July 16, 2017)

Having retreated to my small corner – the fourth estate – after quietly bidding adieu to my two-and-half-decade-long struggle to fight for the common cause of all Sikkimese I reluctantly accepted the offer to give a piece of my mind during a day-long seminar organized in Gangtok on January 28, 2010 by an enthusiastic group of young people who work under the banner of All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Unemployed Association.

The topic was “Article 371F” – a dead horse which still needed more flogging! – and many of those who were present and actively participated in the debate-cum-discussion were distinguished personalities in Sikkim’s social, political and intellectual circles.

(L to R) Jigme N Kazi, N B Bhandari, P M Subba and K N Upreti at the seminar on Art 371F in Gangtok on Jan 28, 2010

Anti-merger veteran and former Chief Minister and President of the Sikkim unit of the Congress party, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, was there. His former Lok Sabha MP, Pahalman Subba, often regarded as the grand-old-man of

Sikkim

politics, who has fallen out with both Bhandari and his former colleague, the ‘Mandal Messiah’, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, was there.

Former Minister and senior Congress leader, Kharananda Upreti, the man who accompanied Ram Chandra Poudyal during the famous hunger strike at the lawns of the Palace in early April 1973 that led to the Indian-backed agitation, which culminated in the signing of the historic 8^thMay Tripartite Agreement of 1973, ultimately leading to the ‘merger’ in 1975, was also present.

Among the younger politicians present at the seminar were Padam Chettri, who only very recently took over the State unit of the BJP as its President, Biraj Adhikari, President of Sikkim National People’s Party, which still demands restoration of Sikkim’s pre-merger “Associate State” status, former Communist leader and now the Convenor of Matri Bhoomi Suraksha Sanghathan, Duk Nath Nepal, and former Minister and Convenor of Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who is regarded as one of the few vocal leaders of the minority Bhutia-Lepcha tribals.

Conspicuously absent from the scene were representatives of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, which often claims that it has restored democracy and removed fear psychosis in Sikkim after Bhandari’s dictatorial rule (1979-1994).The truth is Pawan Chamling is now faced with the same charges leveled by dissidents within his ruling elite.

Yesteryears’ ‘revolutionary’ and one of the valiant soldiers of ‘democracy’, R C Poudyal, suddenly turned ill and failed to come! With his absence Poudyal missed a great opportunity to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder with sons and daughters of

Sikkim

to save what is left in order to pass it on to the generations of Sikkimese yet to come. Others were invited but fear of what may happen to them if they come chose not to grace the occasion.

Let them live on hope and die in despair. There is no space for spineless walking corpses, who are neither black or white and who will surely fade away into nothingness, to mingle with honourable defenders of the Sikkimese cause during the time of crisis when the need of the hour for unity and solidarity, despite personal and political differences, has never been felt so much.

Added to this unique and historic gathering representing the multi-faceted Sikkimese society were Nagrik Sangarsha Samiti Coordinator and prominent critic and member of the old business community, Prem Goyal, Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) activists, Gyatso Lepcha and Mayalmit Lepcha, former District Collector, S P Subba, and former police officer, Jiwan Pradhan.

I not only offered my heartiest congratulations to the organizers of the 10-hour-long marathon session but also salute those who spoke out their mind and warmed our hearts and hopes. Together we made history on January 28, 2010, two days before the 28^th death anniversary of the late Chogyal of Sikkim.

I was certainly the odd man out as I did not belong to any political or non-political grouping. The organizers created the right mood for Sikkimese from all communities and from all walks of life to speak their heart out on an issue that is dear to them for a very long time. That the speakers, mindless of who they were and what positions they held, spoke eloquently and with conviction and emotion on a wide variety of subjects on one-point theme – Article 371F – is indeed a rare treat for any viewers.

With tears in my eyes and heart full of burden I made my stand clear. “I have no wish to dethrone anyone or help anyone to get the top job. This is mainly because I have gracefully and very reluctantly accepted the death of my dream,” I told the gathering.

I made it plain that the casual and directionless manner in which the political leadership among the majority Sikkimese Nepalese tackled the Assembly seat issue in the past so many years led to the death of my dream of a united Sikkim, where all people live in perfect peace, harmony, freedom and prosperity and where the country’s security concerns were fully safeguarded.

New Delhi ought to realize by now that security, particularly in Sikkim, depends on the loyalty of its people, not just territorial acquisition whether by force or consent.

I took a dig as I often do when the opportunity arises on those who often make the right noises but the wrong moves: “I quit everything when some of my friends and former colleagues who are educated, have some political experience and feel for Sikkim and the Sikkimese could not look beyond Chamling and Bhandari despite the pressing need to stand firm and pursue our common objectives.”

I warned that activities of agents of division and disunity actively serving New Delhi, which seems least concerned about what is happening in Sikkim besides pumping huge amount of funds (and perhaps taking some back on the quiet) to its former Protectorate keeping the people perpetually drugged with power and money, will not only finish Sikkim and the Sikkimese people but greatly and surely endanger the country’s territorial integrity.

Didn’t I make it clear in my book, “Sikkim for Sikkimese – Distinct Identity Within the Union” (published in Feb 2009) why Sikkim is facing a crisis of our own making: “Phony revolutions led by fake revolutionaries and democrats have created a system that thrives on lies, deceit and corruption. We are all victims of the ‘democracy’ that we longed for in1973 and 1993.”

We may blame the Centre for the gradual erosion of our special status and dilution of our distinct identity. But we, too, are responsible for failing to look after our long-term interests and live up to the hopes and aspirations of our people.

My message during the seminar was sharp and incisive: “It will be too late to talk about Article 371F when battle tanks roll down Nathula pass and non-Sikkimese occupy seats of power in Mintokgang (CM’s official residence) in the near future.” (Sikkim Observer)

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August 5, 2017, 1:56 am

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ON MY OWN

In the remaining days of my life on earth and when I’m finally gone I would like to be remembered by these words of Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

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August 13, 2017, 3:12 am

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IF PEACE DOES NOT PREVAIL

If peace does not prevail because of our ego and stubbornness, because of our determination to defend our territory and sovereignty irrespective of consequences – we face the risk of war. Even small skirmishes may lead to a full-fledged war. This can and must be avoided at all cost.

As the final hour toward that fate approaches the leadership of the world's two largest populated countries must re-think their decisions to go to war and avoid any move that would ultimately lead to a nuclear disaster on this planet.

Sikkim – a sacred, hidden land, the last frontier of peace in the Himalaya – now faces the risk of being turned into a battlefield. If peace does not prevail in the Himalayan frontier it is not only because of those who are bent on destroying each other because of their hatred and greed and their lust for power, it is also because of our fate and destiny. The coming situation will remind us that “the peace of the grave or security of the slave” that we have witnessed in Sikkim in the past several decades will not last forever.

On April 15, 1975, the Hindustan Times warned: “Security depends on people, not territory.” This applies to both India and China.

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August 18, 2017, 4:15 am

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CHARLES SWAN: A HERMON KNIGHT

Dr. Charles L. Swan and I share something in common. Both went to school, MH college (he, the Language School and me TTC) and later joined the staff. He joined our Queen's Hill School, then located above the Railway Station, Darjeeling, way back in 1914 in KG, and later taught in the present Mt. Hermon School - 1929-1936.

He is most remembered by us for his 'Going Home Day' songs. I met him in MH when I was teaching there in mid-'70S. I still remember how, one fine day in the staff room, he thundered: "You are APPOINTED to write!" What?

Was he a prophet? I have written three books already and am now preparing a souvenir on MH as a Tribute to these giants of MH - I refer to them as "HermonKnights".

When I edited the school's annual Hermonite magazine in 1978, this is was he said in the magazine:

"When I was a small boy in old Queen’s Hill, Miss Knowles, the founder of the school, was still Principal, and Miss Stahl was Vice-Principal. When I was appointed to teach at Mt. Hermon, Miss Stahl had only just retired from the principalship. So my memory leads me to think of the original purposes of the school. It was patterned after the Public Boarding Schools of England, but the pattern was given an American flare, and some major adjustments were made to fit to the Indian scene."

Dr. Swan died many years back. May he rest in peace. Hail Mt. Hermon!

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August 23, 2017, 6:38 pm

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REMEMBERING

Our beloved Principal, Mr. Graeme Armstrong Murray (August 24, 1931-April 7, 2015), on his 86^th birth anniversary.

In MH (Mount Hermon School) we used to get a holiday on August 24^th because it was Mr. Murray’s birthday. On this day we recall the days of our youth in MH when Mr. Murray was there – 1955-1978.

A former student, Ved Prakash Agarwal (SC 1971), paid a brief tribute to Mr. Murray in 1978, the year he left MH after serving for 24 years:

“I did not know that this would be his last year, but somehow I was not surprised. I respected him as most children respected their teachers, and I suppose I was a bit infatuated with him. As a man I liked him and I hope I look at him honestly, good points, warts and all. I have never known him anything but honest, abrasive certainly, aggressive and blunt always, be it on the cricket field, in the classroom, or in the chapel where he is expounding a theory on the current trends of discipline among students.

Mr. Murray is one of those most casual and immediately likable persons I have ever met. He knows character instinctively and is always in a hurry to impose the force of his own which is considerable. Perhaps the secret of his rugged good nature is that he is an incurable individualist, certain of himself that he can afford to be sure of others. This trait has always invited comments and he has been described by an NP (St. Joseph’s School) teacher as petulant, rude and stubborn. However, there is one yardstick about people I know. The ones who don’t change are the genuine ones. Bhuntay(a Nepali term for a fat person) has not bothered to change. He is always going to be his own man and do his own thing. He is loved by his students and although he endangers more arguments, more fury, more passing than others, he definitely is the most intriguing man I have ever met.

Mr. Murray has been here for twenty-four years now. Thousands studied at his feet, united in reverence and love for him. I don’t know what he taught us and I don’t really care. He taught us to think and that was enough. That was the heart of it all, Bhuntay made us think. He was his own man. Non Scholae Sed Vitae Discimus (Not for school but for life we learn). That was his legacy to us – he made each of us what to be his own man.”

In his final year at Mount Hermon, 1978, Mr. GA Murray in his Annual Principal’s Report on Speech Day, urged staff and students of the need to keep alive the spirit of Mount Hermon School.

“Overall, I think, three things characterise what Mount Hermon is for me. I hope that they also speak to you of what is at the heart of our school, and that they will ever continue to do so. They are Friendship, Fellowship, and Worship. Perhaps I should have put Worship first, for it is in the worship and praise of God that we first find that friendship and fellowship which must characterise all we do in the Mount Hermon community.

These are things I found at Mount Hermon when I came first with my wife, way back in 1955. These are things which I trust I have tried to cherish and develop through the years that have followed. These are now those values which I pass on to you, staff and students alike, for you to cherish and preserve and strengthen through the years that remain to you at Mount Hermon, that they may by you in your time be transmitted to many others in the years to come.”

On this special day we also remember – with love, thanks and gratitude – Mrs. Murray, Adrienne, Stephen, Bronwyn and Johnny for their service and friendship.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, Bible)

Hail Mt. Hermon!

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September 1, 2017, 12:24 am

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Gurudongmar Lake Controversy

Ever since the closure of the Indo-Tibet border in north Sikkim in 1962 local residents of the region, particularly in far-flung areas of Lachen and Lachung, have learnt to tolerate and get along with the growing presence and clout of the Indian army in the region. The peaceful co-existence between the two groups in the past so many decades has always been mutually beneficial.

However, there are times when even the best of relations are soured by mutual disrespect and unfriendly postures. The deteriorating relations between army personnel and local residents bordering on hatred and bitterness was evidenced in 1997-98 when a zealous chief of 20 Punjab Regiment made concerted efforts to convert the holy lake of Gurudongmar, a sacred pilgrimage centre for Buddhists in Lachen, north Sikkim, into a Sikh pilgrimage destination.

Matters reached a dizzying height of confrontation when the Lachen Pipon, head of the Lachen Dzomsa, the traditional assembly of the people, openly and quite defiantly, refuted allegations made by the army that the Lachenpas supported the army’s bid to construct a Gurudwara, a Sikh temple, at the lake’s vicinity.

“We wish to point out that at no point of time that the local people of Lachen had requested the army to construct anything at the premises of the holy lake, leave alone the Gurudwara shrine. Furthermore, let me as an elected representative of the people of Lachen state clearly that it is neither in their interest nor the aspiration of the local people to let anyone destroy the sanctity of this lake,” said the Lachen Pipon, Anung Lachenpa, in a statement published in the Sikkim Observerin April 1998.

The Pipon also pointed out: “Construction of a shrine belonging to another religion in the name of national integration at our holy place of worship and pilgrimage does not reflect the hopes and aspirations of the Lachenpas and other local people who visit the area.” He also urged the “concerned authorities”, which included the State Government, to “rectify the mistakes” and restore the “original look and sanctity of the Gurudongmar Tso area.”

The first party to raise objections to construction of the “highest Gurudwara on earth” (Gurudongmar is located at 17,200 ft. above sea level) was the Forests Department, which alleged that the project was carried out without the mandatory clearance of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Besides the concrete construction of the Gurudwara shrine four huts and a parking area were also built on the shores of the lake. Apart from the ecological damage done to the area, which boasts of being a home of some rare and endangered birds and animals such as Blacknecked Crane and Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, the locals viewed the renaming of the Gurudongmar Tso as Guru Nanak Jheel, an obvious bid to dilute and gradually erase the unique and distinct Buddhist cultural heritage of the former Buddhist kingdom.

Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, quoting Guru Rinpoche (Lord Padmasambhava, widely revered as the Second Buddha), point out that Sikkim is one of the seven sacred and hidden lands for Buddhists in the Himalaya. Except for Sikkim, all others are said to be in Tibet, where religious freedom has been curtailed after the Chinese takeover in 1959. Locals believe that when Guru Rinpoche visited Sikkim in the 8th century he blessed the lake and thereafter it came to be known as “Gurudongmar Tso”, meaning Guru with red face or red-face Guru (‘guru’ means master/teacher, ‘dong’ means face and ‘mar’ means red).

It is possible that Guru Rinpoche manifested at the lake in the form of Gurudongmar or Gurudrakpo (Gurdak in short form), which is one of the main aspects of the tantric master who established Buddhism in Tibet and the Himalayan region in the 8th century. Gurudramar – the red-face deity of Guru Rinpoche – is one of the main protecting deities of several important monasteries in Sikkim, including Lachen and Pemayangtse monasteries. It was the same deity who appeared to the ancestors of Sikkim’s ruling Namgyal dynasty in a vision in the 13th century, instructing them to go southwards to ‘Bayul Demazong’, the ‘hidden valley of grains’, meaning Sikkim.

The conversion of the area around the sacred rock in Chungthang in north Sikkim, enroute to Lachen and Lachung, also said to have been blessed by Guru Rinpoche, into Guru Nanak Jheel, has also been opposed by the locals. There exists a Gurudwara besides the sacred rock and the entire area is fenced and renamed “Guru Nanak Jheel”. Many influential local politicians, contractors and suppliers, who benefit financially and otherwise from their dealings with the army, discourage locals from raising issues, including religious matters, that would go against the army.

The Green Circle, one of the few credible NGOs (non-governmental organization) in the State devoting to preserving the fragile eco-system in the State, while reacting against the army’s “blatant undermining of local culture and total disregard for a fragile and threatened ecosystem” in the Gurudongmar controversy, in a statement published in the Observer (Feb 1998) said: “As you are aware, the Gurudongmar lake is not only one of the most beautiful lakes of Sikkim but also held sacred by the locals. The army, because of its proximity and influence over these area cannot go about misrepresenting facts. Such gradual and systematic distortion of history only serves to sow the seeds of discontent and tension for the present and future generations…Construction of a permanent structure at 17,200 feet with marble, chandeliers and works is totally uncalled for and changing the surface of the lake by moving earth to create parking space is most deplorable. In an extremely sensitive ecosystem where even footprints stay for months, the army, we hope will take more responsibility and care of their environs which would be better served than find itself championing chauvinistic cultural imperialism.”

Though rather late, the Chamling Government finally woke up and came to the people’s rescue and opposed army intervention in the Gurudongmar controversy. A committee, whose members included State Government officials, was set up by the Government to investigate into the controversy and restore the lake area to its original glory.

Though the task is still incomplete as the concrete structure of the Gurudwara has still not been removed, the army’s attempts to takeover the area and convert it into a Sikh pilgrimage centre has failed.

(Ref: Jigme N. Kazi: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland, pub 2014 by Hill Media Publications, Gangtok)

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September 15, 2017, 4:56 am

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LIVING IN SELF-IMPOSED EXILE IN MY OWN HOMELAND

“Only dead fish go with the flow”

The Press Club of Sikkim conferred the “Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar 2012” award to journalist-cum-writer Jigme N Kazi at a function in Gangtok on July 17, 2012. The following is the full text of Kazi’s acceptance speech:

Hon’ble Chief Guest, Secretary IPR, Press Club Advisor, Press Club President, distinguished guests and friends,

On Receiving the Award: I feel very privileged to be here today to receive the Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar award from the Press Club of Sikkim on its decadal foundation year. I am told by the Press Club that it had “unanimously decided” to confer this award for my “outstanding contribution and dedication” made during the last three decades (1983-2012) in the field of journalism.

I believe that by conferring this award to this long-time black-listed man, who is forced to live in self-imposed exile in his own homeland, the Press in Sikkim is sending a clear message to those who care to listen. And that message is loud and clear: the Press in Sikkim wants to be more free and independent and those in power and the people at large should take note of it and respect its stand.

(L to R) IPR Secretary KS Tobgay, Chief Guest CK Shrestha, Sikkim Observer Editor Jigme N Kazi, Press Club Advisor CD Rai, Press Club General Secretary Joseph Lepcha and Press Club President Bhim Rawat at the Press Club of Sikkim function in Gangtok on July 17, 2012.

I enjoy doing what I do – be it eating, taking a walk or writing. I seek no reward and recognition in doing these things even if what I do benefits those around me.

People often criticize me of being stubborn and always swimming against the tide. Let me remind them of what US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said: “Only dead fish go with the flow.” Living with walking corpses all these years has been a very painful experience. It is better to be exiled in foreign shores than having to undergo constant suffocation at home. However, if this is the cross that I was born to bare then I must live with it whether I like it or not.

Yes, we have more journalists and more newspapers today than when I started in this profession 30 years back. But I’m not too sure whether we are more free, objective and independent in our reporting. What is more important in life is quality, not quantity, and this also applies to the Fourth Estate, particularly when so many people depend and look up to the Press to make the right decision.

Sikkimese Society: If we cannot uphold certain basic and fundamental values of human existence such as freedom, democracy, justice, self-respect and the rule of law we miss the opportunity that life offers to each one of us. The first indication of a society’s degeneration is when individuals live and work only for themselves. Sikkim is on the verge of being a dead and decadent society. Our constant efforts to camouflage ourselves will not work in the long run. We will be fully exposed when the time comes.

We locals often distance ourselves from the byaparis, the business community, for encroaching into our economic and political rights and interests. Little do we realize that while they sell potatoes, tomatoes etc. we are the real byaparis. We have sold our king, our flag, our country, our distinct identity and political rights. Not content with this we are still selling our hills and valleys, our lakes and rivers, our land and people, our religion and culture, and worse of all our self-respect and dignity. Is it really worth sweating it out for such people?

Sikkim Politics: Me and my kind have lived through this bitter period in Sikkim’s history. In our efforts to fight for the common cause we have brought down five chief ministers and made four chief ministers in the past so many years. We did this for a good cause and without any selfish motive. We are not to be blamed if our political leadership continuously fails us and lets us down the moment they come to power.

I took leave from the Fourth Estate at the end of the year 2000 to make my personal contribution to Sikkim politics when I was convinced that those we backed were betraying us and the issues we raised for petty considerations. Unlike many others, I could not hang around and hide myself safe and secure in a small corner when I was convinced that we were being led to a dead-end street. I left active politics after three and half years in August 2004 when I was fully convinced that I was heading nowhere and those around me were still deeply involved in petty politics. There is no future for Sikkim and the Sikkimese if our political leadership – ruling and opposition – fails to rise above mundane things and continues to mislead the people while making great promises.

It is futile to fight for the distinct identity of Sikkim within the Union if the leaders of our larger community are not sure of who they are, whom they represent, and what they really want. Nepal’s political situation, where ethnic communities are being reduced to a minority in the land of their origin, has still not opened our eyes. This is because while our head is still not clear our heart is full of greed. When will we ever live in a place where the mind is without fear and the head is held high? When will this non-stop looting stop? Corruption has reached a point of no return. Disillusionment has set in and this seems to be irreversible. These are dangerous trends in a sensitive and strategic border State like Sikkim.

India’s Role in Sikkim: Even if our political leadership has failed us time and again,India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people. If it continues to ignore the hopes and aspirations of those who sacrificed their country so that this nation may live in peace and security there may come a day when Sikkim will become a hot-bed of international politics. We may not see that day but that day is not afar if India fails to honour its commitments made to Sikkim and the Sikkimese people during the takeover.

The gradual dilution of our distinct identity, political rights and social harmony originates from New Delhi. The erosion of our unique and distinct cultural identity, the systematic manner in which seeds of division are sown in our social fabric, and finally the destruction caused to our fragile environment and ecology cannot and must not be easily condoned. We cannot blame our leaders only; we, too, have shamelessly become agents of division, disunity and destruction. We have sown the wind; we will surely reap the whirlwind.

Hope and Gratitude: I’m grateful to the Press Club of Sikkim for recognizing my work and honouring me on this very special day. This is the time and the moment to renew our pledge for a strong, united, free and independent Press in the State.

On this special day I want to remember those who have helped me in my three-decade-long career. Some of them are late Chukie Tobden, Suresh Pramar, Devraj Ranjit, Tenzing Chewang and Pema Wangchuk. I also owe a deep sense of gratitude to the Chamling Government and to those who worked or in any way associated with my printing press and publications.

Living the way I did is a risky business and I want to say how happy and grateful I am to my wife Tsering, her parents, and my four kids – Tashi, Yangchen, Sonam and Kunga – for letting me live my life freely and dangerously for so long.

I hope my endeavours will light up your path and help you to bear the burden of being free and independent in a hostile climate in the days and years to come. My message to you on this day comes from Rev. Jesse Jackson: “Stand up, don’t bow! Stand up, don’t bow!”

On Myself: French Emperor Napoleon Bonarpate (1769-1821) once said: “There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.”

I have already said “I have accepted the death of my dreams” a few years back and I stand by it.

However, I have filed my petition in the court of Khangchendzonga, Sikkim’s Guardian Deity, to seek justice – for Sikkim, the Sikkimese people and for myself. I am still patiently waiting for the verdict. That this award should come at this time and in the name of our Presiding Deity is not only very auspicious but meaningful as well.

Thank you all, both for this wonderful award and your determination to preserve the integrity, independence and freedom of the Press in Sikkim. (Full text published in Sikkim Observer, July 21, 2012)

July 14, 2012

SIKKIM OBSERVER Editorial

TAKING A STAND

Local Press: Regaining Lost Ground

The editor of this paper –whether he likes it or not – finally gets some kind of recognition. The question being asked is not ‘why’ he is getting the award but ‘why now’. This question is relevant and needs to be explained. When the President of the Press Club of Sikkim, Bhim Rawat, rang up Sikkim Observer editor Jigme N. Kazi last week and told him that he was being awarded this year’s Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar award by the Press Club Kazi wanted to know why he was being conferred with this award and at this time. Was it politically-motivated or has the local Press come of age, Kazi asked. Rawat’s two colleagues, Joseph Lepcha and Bishnu Neopany, both senior journalists in the State, met Kazi and reiterated the Press Club’s recent efforts to regain the local media’s independent image. While appreciating the new development within the local media, Kazi informed them that the Press Club and its members should be ready to face any consequences for associating themselves with a ‘black-listed journalist’, who has been living in self-imposed exile in his own homeland for nearly three decades mainly because he refuses to be ‘bought over’. Kazi is among the few public figures in the State who has kept his credibility intact – personally, professionally and politically (he ‘flirted’ with politics for a while in early 2000s but for a good cause)

However, Kazi’s decision to accept the award will surely evoke mixed reactions. While one gentleman close to the editor said, “They had the guts to give you the award,” (to which the editor replied, “You have judged well.”) one senior journalist said, “The Press Club is not as independent as its members claim.” Another senior journalist commented: “They have finally come to their senses and rewarded you.” And yet one contractor from North Sikkim, who is close to Kazi, said, “Does this mean you have Chamling’s blessings?” The fact of the matter is that in Chamling’s Sikkim all those who do not bow down to the powers-that-be are harassed or ignored. Anyone or any organization that tries to identify itself with those who fail to toe the official line are perceived to be digging their own grave.

While the image of the local Press, by and large, is not too impressive there are those within the Fourth Estate in the State who are not happy with the way the Press has been projected and perceived in a State where dissenting voices find it very difficult to be heard. And yet the people depend on the Press and expect it to ventilate their grievances all the time and take on the high and mighty at times. The Press, too, depend on the people to react and respond to situations. It also expects the people to come to its aid when it is being attacked and hounded by the authorities. The sad part of the story is that people keep mum when the Press is under pressure. Did you even take the trouble to talk to Hamro Prajashaktijournalists who were beaten up in their own work places in Gangtok on July 4, 2008? Did you care to call on this editor when his press was ransacked in early 1990, his Press vehicles set on fire in October 2001 and June 2004 in front of his printing press building in Gangtok? And which newspaper-reader even bothers to take a casual glance at the ongoing economic suppression of many local newspapers, including this paper, in the State? If the local Press is trying to set itself free help and support must be given by the people at large. By accepting the award Kazi has, once again, made his stand clear and sided with the foot soldiers of freedom and democracy in Sikkim. The local Press, too, has spoken – loud and clear.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN July 28, 2012

‘Black-listed’ Kazi finally gets recognition, appeals for Press freedom

“India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people”

Gangtok, July 17: Journalist-cum-writer Jigme N Kazi was today honoured with this year’s ‘Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ award by the Press Club of Sikkim.

Kazi, editor of Sikkim Observer and Himalayan Guardian, was conferred the award for his “outstanding contribution and dedication made during last three decades in the field of journalism,” according to Press Club Working President Vishnu Neopaney’s letter to Kazi informing of the Press Club’s “unanimous decision” to confer the award on its decadal foundation year.

The “Most Promising Journalist” award went to Bishal Gurung while Mohan Lama, Darjeeling correspondent of Sikkim’s Samai Dainik, was also felicitated by the Press Club. Gurung is the State correspondent of Hindustan Samachar news agency.

Theatre activist and senior journalist CK Shrestha of Kalimpong, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion, urged the media in the State to remain united in “thought” and side with the people in all situation. “Merely reporting will not do. You must tell the truth,” Shrestha said.

While IPR Secretary KS Tobgay assured the Press that the government would positively look into all the problems faced the media in the State, Press Club advisor CD Rai, who was the chairman of the function, said Kazi not only deserved the award but his writings were “balanced.”

While urging the media to remain strong, free, united and independent, Kazi called on the people, including the authorities, to respect and respond positively to the urges of the media to remain free and independent.

“I believe that by conferring this award to this long-time black-listed man, who is forced to live in self-imposed exile in his own homeland, the Press in Sikkim is sending a clear message to those who care to listen. And that message is loud and clear: the Press in Sikkim wants to be more free and independent and those in power and the people at large should take note and respect this stand,” Kazi said in his acceptance speech.

Kazi, who has authored two books, “Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide,” and “Sikkim forSikkimese”, also appealed to the Centre not to ignore the “hopes and aspirations” of the Sikkimese people and honour the terms of Sikkim’s ‘merger’.

“Even if our political leadership has failed us time and again, India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people. If it continues to ignore the hopes and aspirations of those who sacrificed their country so that this nation may live in peace and security there may come a day when Sikkim will become a hot-bed of international politics,” Kazi warned.

SIKKIM OBSERVER July 21, 2012

Press rewards Kazi for three-decade contribution to journalism

Honour ‘merger terms’, Kazi tells Centre

Gangtok, July 20: Senior journalist Jigme N Kazi said his acceptance of this year’s Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar award, conferred by the Press Club of Sikkim here on Tuesday, was proof enough that the Fourth Estate in the State is trying to set itself free and improve its image as a strong and independent institution.

Kazi, also a writer, was conferred with the award in recognition of his “significant contribution” towards “development of journalism” in the State in the past three decades.

Kazi, who has authored two books, “Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide,” and “Sikkim forSikkimese”,also appealed to the Centre not to ignore the “hopes and aspirations” of the Sikkimese people and honour the terms of Sikkim’s ‘merger’.

SIBLAC, NASBO pat for Kazi, Press Club

Gangtok, July 20: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has congratulated writer-journalist Jigme N Kazi for being conferred with this year’s Khangchendzonga Kalam Award by the Press Club of Sikkim.

This is “an honor overdue since long back,” SIBLAC General Secretary Pem Tshering Lepcha said in a Press statement.

The organization, which represents the indigenous Bhutias and Lepcha tribals in the State, also thanked the Press Club of Sikkim for “rightly nominating” Kazi for the award.

It said Kazi’s “spirit and quality” of “fighting with wisdom” was “outstanding and simply awesome.”

SIBLAC Convenor and former Minister Tseten Tashi Bhutia and National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO - 371F) President Sonam Kaleon met Kazi, who received the award at a function here on Tuesday, at his residence here and offered traditional khada to congratulate him.

The Sikkim-Darjeeling Unification Forum (SDUF) General Secretary Shankar Hang Subba also offered a khada and congratulated Kazi here last week.

Padam Chettri, President of Sikkim unit of the BJP, also complimented Kazi for his achievement.

Sikkim Observer May 5, 2012

Editorial

PRESS FREEDOM

We Mourn The Closure Of Gangtok Weeklies

Ever heard of Female Journalist Association? We have one in Sikkim by that name and surprisingly while other media organizations are busy entertaining the public and at times playing the role of a public relations body, the Female Journalist Association has urged the State Government to give a better deal to Gangtok weeklies in matters regarding release of government advertisements. The IPR Minister CB Karki has again assured the Press that the government would respond positively on the issue. Perhaps it will do something this time as the next Assembly polls are nearing.

Sadly the death of several credible Gangtok-based weeklies and other journals in the past few years is something that free societies should be worried about. Weeklies such as Weekend Review and Mid-Week are no more. We mourn their untimely death or indefinite closure. The Sikkimese and Sikkim Observer (Nepali edition) are also off the newsstands for a long time. Journals such as Talk Sikkim and Hill Peoplehave been forced to shut down due mainly to financial constraints. In such a scenario the claim that the Press in Sikkim is free and vibrant has no basis. Quality is what people are looking for in the media and this is in short supply in today’s Sikkim. A casual glance at which newspapers are getting government advertisements and how often will reveal the state of the Press in Sikkim. Let the facts be revealed and the truth will be out in the public domain.

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September 17, 2017, 11:53 pm

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INDIAN MEDIA FACING A CRISIS OF CREDIBILITY

Journalism in India is facing a serious crisis. The mainstream media is increasingly vested in the hands of a select few and refuses to question authority. Murali Krishnan from New Delhi examines this disturbing trend.

Just recently Indian President Pranab Mukherjee resoundingly drove home the point to the Indian media that "discussion and dissension" are crucial for a vibrant democracy, and it must hold public institutions accountable for all their actions and inactions.

"There should always be room for the argumentative Indian, and not the intolerant Indian. The media must be the watchdog, the mediator between the leaders and the public," Mukherjee emphasized while delivering a seminal lecture honoring former press baron Ramnath Goenka.

His words could not have been timelier, with the mainstream media's independence currently being questioned, and how ultra nationalism has dominated the political narrative, refusing to accept dissent.

A mouthpiece?

Commentators criticize how in recent years the media has lowered the quality of India's public discourse. Media expansion has led to a shrinking of the public sphere, resulting in the spread of elitist and socially conservative values.

"The true test of a robust democracy is the independence of its media. Over the past few years our media has become the mouthpiece of the party in power. Coupled with the fact the corporate owners of media houses share close links with the government, the Indian media has tragically lost its voice," criminal lawyer Rebecca Mammen told DW. Mammen has defended many cases related to press freedom.

Serious issues like the beef ban, the crisis in Kashmir, dissent in universities and even the unrest in societies where Dalits - the lowest level of India's caste system - have been discriminated or killed, have received scant mention in media coverage.

Still, there hasn't been a bigger debate about why the media has failed to effectively perform the critical tasks it's supposed to do in a representative democracy.

Poor quality

India has over 400 news channels in various languages and another 150 channels are awaiting clearance. The South Asian country also has tens of thousands of news papers and magazines. But the quality of Indian journalism is poor, as evidenced by the fact India ranks 136 among 180 countries in the index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, an NGO.

When it comes to press freedom, India fares worse than even countries like Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

"Over the last few years - especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi won the general election of 2014 - the Indian mainstream media has allowed itself to be undermined by the transcendent political power that he represents,"Pamela Philipose, an ombudsman for The Wire, a media outlet, told DW.

In fact, given the current state of how the mainstream media works it will be difficult to expose tweaked data and opacity in government functioning.

"A new note of muscular nationalism has crept into media discourse. Also conspicuous is the curbing of dissent and the rise of the surveillance state - developments that bode ill for the independence of the Indian media," says Philipose.

Giles Vernier, a political scientist, has a different take.

"One reason why we don't see much criticism in the media is that the government, in the person of the Prime Minister, has the ability to completely dominate the media's agenda, by saturating the public and media sphere with the message, image, and his voice."

"Thus the media is bound to only react to the news agenda offered by the government, rather than investigate its action independently," Vernier told DW.

Filings with the registrar of companies in the ministry of corporate affairs have revealed that five Indian news media companies - NDTV, News Nation, India TV, News24 and Network18 - are indebted to either Mukesh Ambani, the richest Indian and the owner of Reliance Industries, or Mahendra Nahata, an industrialist and Ambani associate, who is also on the board of Reliance's new telecom venture, Reliance Jio.

"What more do you expect when the media industry is dominated by such big players? The Indian media is now the B team of the Bharatiya Janata party and the Modi government," says Mammen.

Indien Protest gegen Morde an Journalisten (Getty Images/AFP/I. Mukherjee)

At least 54 journalists were attacked in India between January 2016 and April 2017, according to a report published by The Hoot

'Sensation above sense'

According to a report published by The Hoot, a website that tracks media, at least 54 journalists were attacked between January 2016 and April 2017.

Sevanti Ninan, who runs the site, says many attacks on journalists go unreported, as reporters often succumb to threats from local politicians, policemen, and self-appointed vigilantes.

In 2014 alone, 114 journalists were reportedly attacked, but only 32 attackers were arrested or prosecuted.

Celebrity anchor and journalist Rajdeep Sardesai sees the decline and concurs that the media views the actions of citizens through the lens of nationalism, condemning those who question the state narrative as "anti-national."

"I think there is a credibility crisis, in that television news media in particular is driven by a tendency to put sensation above sense in the search for ratings," Sardesai told DW.

But he was quick to point out that there is also unwillingness across the media to robustly challenge the official narrative on key issues partly out of its own failings but also largely out of fear of being denied access to those in power.

Debates on private news channels have been censured for being strident and shrill. India has one of the world's most vibrant and competitive media environments. It is now time to conduct a reality check and ask whether all is well with it.

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October 18, 2017, 5:32 am

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TRIBUTE TO NAR BAHADUR BHANDARI

When Sikkim Humbled India
The victory of Sikkim Parishad party in the Assembly polls in Sikkim in October 1979 is a reminder that if the Sikkimese people are united nothing is impossible. The Parishad, led by Nar Bahadur Bhandari, a Sikkimese patriot hailing from the majority Nepalese community, had the tacit backing of the Chogyal of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, who was unceremoniously dethroned by anti-Sikkimese forces projecting themselves as ‘democrats’ in early 1975. Ever since the Indian-backed phony revolution for ‘democracy’ began in the former kingdom in early 1973, Bhandari and other nationalist leaders from all three ethnic communities – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese – struggled for seven long years to deliver justice to the Sikkimese people. Bhandari’s Parishad won 16 of the 32 seats in the Assembly and with the help of an independent candidate formed the government and ousted pro-India party led by LD Kazi from power. Significantly, the independent legislator was the Late Lachen Rinpoche, who won from the lone Sangha seat.

The rest of the seats in the Assembly were won by Ram Chandra Poudyal’s Congress (R) – 11 seats – and Nar Bahadur Khatiwada’s Prajatantra party – 4 seats. Poudyal won 11 seats mainly because he raised the demand for restoration of Assembly seats reserved for Sikkimese Nepalese in the Assembly, which were abolished in 1979. Kazi’s Sikkim Janata Party drew nil in the polls and Kazi himself lost from the Dzongu constituency in North Sikkim. While Bhandari’s party promised de-merger, Poudyal projected himself as a Nepali leader and focused on the seat issue. Unlike Khatiwada, Poudyal did not want merger but greater political power for the majority Nepalese. After the ‘merger’ in 1975 Khatiwada, too, revolted and said it was not the wishes of the Sikkimese people to merge its country with India. While the result of the Assembly polls in 1979 was hailed as victory of the Sikkimese people the fact that the Sikkimese people’s political leadership has failed to give justice to the people ever since is Sikkim’s greatest tragedy.

(SIKKIM Observer/Editorial)

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November 12, 2017, 10:43 pm

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NO CHANGE OF MIND

“No regrets, no hard feelings”

In days and weeks to come you may be told by some people – genuinely or mischievously - that I would be joining politics and contesting the next Assembly elections (slated for early 2019 but may take place in 2018) from the prestigious Gangtok constituency, which has equal number of voters from all four communities – Bhutia-Lepchas, Nepalese and byaparies (business community).

This is far from the truth. I have been out of politics and political affairs of Sikkim since 2004. I made an effort to form a credible team and make a comeback in 2008 but this was unsuccessful. Since then this part of my life has been a closed chapter. I intend to keep it that way. The details of what took place are recorded in great detail in my last book, “The Lone Warrior: Exiled in My Homeland” (now unofficially banned in Sikkim) for posterity to take note of.

My political thoughts, recorded in my three books (“Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide” – published in 1993, “Sikkim For Sikkim: Distinct Identity Within the Union” – published in 2009, and “The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland”– published in 2014), in my numerous newspapers, including Sikkim Observer, and other writings focus on preservation of Sikkim’s ‘Distinct Identity within the Union’ and restoration of the political rights of the Sikkimese people as assured by New Delhi during the ‘merger’ era in 1973-75 and reflected in Article 371F of the Indian Constitution. These are two major issues raised by the Sikkimese people through their social and political organisations in the past four decades.

But despite this New Delhi has failed to meet the hopes and aspirations of the Sikkimese people. So far we have demanded preservation of our ‘distinct identity’ within the Union and within the framework of the Constitution of India. We have never demanded Independence. And yet New Delhi has gone about eroding the credibility of our political leadership and diluting our ‘distinct identity’ and political rights, leading to their eventual death.

Let me again warn New Delhi of what Hindustan Timeswrote in April 1974: “Security depends on people, not territory.”

Is it because of New Delhi’s mischievous activities in Sikkim that a people like me have given up on Sikkim and the Sikkimese people? No. I have opted out because I truly believe that our majority Sikkimese Nepalese and their political leadership have made a U-turn along the way and are now not interested in preserving their political rights and distinct identity. They have every right to pursue their own political future and objectives and we must genuinely respect it.

My dream has been that the three ethnic communities (Bhutias, Lepchas, Nepalese), the old business community and others live side by side unitedly and harmoniously with their distinct identity intact and within the bounds of India.

So, with a heavy heart I have come to accept the reality and the death of my dream and called it a day. No regrets, no hard feelings. Its over.

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November 13, 2017, 12:32 am

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RIGDZIN SOGDRUP AND RIWO SANGCHO

Lhatsun Namkha Jigme

The famous cycle of terma teachings called Rigdzin Sokdrup (‘Accomplishing the Life-Force of the Vidyadharas’), emerged in a pure vision while Lhatsun Chenpo was in retreat in the cave of Lhari Rinchen Nyingphug near Tashiding in west Sikkim. These teachings, of which Riwo Sangcho forms the mengak or innermost instruction, are unsurpassed instructions on Dzogchen Atiyoga.

Terton Lhatsun Chenpo, Sikkim’s Patron Saint, discovered the “Attainment of the Vidyadhara Life” (rig 'dzin srog sgrub), from which the “Riwo Sangcho” (ri bo bsang mchod), meaning “Mountain Smoke Offering”, a terma hidden by Guru Rinpoche, comes from and “The Spontaneous Song of the Clouds: the Nucleus of Indestructible Reality” (rdo rje snying po sprin gyi thol glu).

Rigdzin Sogdrub (rig 'dzin srog sgrub) is a cycle of more than 800 pages in five volumes. The terma is a collection of core teachings of the Southern Treasure Text Lineage (lho gter) of the Dzogchen Tradition popular in Sikkim. The fifth volume is the famous Neysol (gnas gsol = 'Worship of the Place') often referred to in connection with the religious history of Sikkim.

Through his practice of Riwo Sangcho, Lhatsun was able to remove all human and non-human obstacles to the Dharma in Sikkim, opening it as a ‘secret land’ of the teachings. Because of this, he was able to teach Dzogchen very widely in Sikkim in the remaining years of his life, establishing a vibrant and unbroken lineage that continues to this day, known simply as ‘Sikkim Dzogchen’.

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche

More than two hundred of Lhatsün Namkha Jigme’s writings have survived. Accomplishing the Life-Force of the Vidyadharas and The Spontaneous Song of the Clouds have continued to be transmitted and practised throughout Tibet and particularly in Sikkim right up to the present day without any decline.

THE TSUKLAKHAG TRUST

This month, under the leadership and guidance of the Chogyal Wangchuk Namgyal of Sikkim,who is engaged in the revival of Dharma, particularly the Rigdzin Sogdrup tradition, H.E. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche will bestow Rigdzin Sogdrup and Dorje Nyingpo Wang-Lung (empowerment and initiation) at Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim, from November 16-22, 2017.

Dzongsar Rinpoche will also bestow Kawang at the Tsuklakhang Royal Chapel in Gangtok on November 26, 2017.The two functions are being organized under the auspices of The Tsuklakhang Trust.

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November 15, 2017, 2:27 am

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RIWO SANGCHOD: Mountain Smoke Offering

Lhatsun Namkha Jigme

Mountain Smoke Offering: from the Life-Force Practice of the Vidyādharas (Rigdzin Sokdrup)

revealed by Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé

༈ྃ བྷྲཱུྃ༔ རིན་ཆེན་སྣ་ཚོགས་དྭངས་མའི་སྣོད་ཡངས་སུ༔

droom rinchen natsok dangmé nö yang su

Bhrūṃ! In the vast lustrous vessel, made of the essence of various jewels,

འཇིག་རྟེན་སྲིད་པའི་འདོད་རྒུ་དམ་ཚིག་རྫས༔

jikten sipé dögu damtsik dzé

The samaya substances, all the desirable objects in worldly existence, are

འབྲུ་གསུམ་ཡེ་ཤེས་བདུད་རྩིར་བྱིན་བརླབས་པས༔

dru sum yeshe dütsir jinlabpé

Transformed into the nectar of wisdom through the blessing of the three seed syllables oṃāḥ hūṃ,

སྣང་སྲིད་མཆོད་པའི་འདོད་རྒུར་འཁྲིགས་པ་འདི༔

nangsi chöpé dögur trikpa di

So that all that appears and exists becomes an offering of all that is desirable.

བླ་མ་ཡི་དམ་ཌཱཀྐི་ཆོས་སྲུང་དང༌༔

lama yidam daki chösung dang

This I offer to the gurus, yidams, ḍākinīs, dharmapālas and

ཕྱོགས་བཅུ་རྒྱལ་བའི་དཀྱིལ་འཁོར་ཇི་སྙེད་དང༌༔

chok chu gyalwé kyilkhor jinyé dang

All the mandalas of the buddhas of the ten directions,

འཛམ་གླིང་གཞི་བདག་རིགས་དྲུག་ལན་ཆགས་མགྲོན༔

dzamling shyidak rik druk lenchak drön

To the local deities of this world, beings of the six realms and the guests to whom I owe karmic debts.

ཁྱད་པར་བདག་གི་ཚེ་འཕྲོག་སྲོག་རྐུ་ཞིང༌༔

khyepar dak gi tsé trok sok ku shying

And especially to those who would steal my life and deplete my life force,

ནད་གཏོང་བར་ཆད་རྩོམ་པའི་འབྱུང་པོ་དང༌༔

né tong barché tsompé jungpo dang

To the malicious jungpo demons who inflict sickness and obstacles,

རྨི་ལམ་རྟགས་མཚན་ངན་དང་ལྟས་ངན་རིགས༔

milam tak tsen ngen dang té ngen rik

Bad signs in dreams and all types of evil omens,

སྡེ་བརྒྱད་མ་རུང་ཆོ་འཕྲུལ་བདག་པོ་དང༌༔

dé gyé marung chotrul dakpo dang

The eight classes of negative spirits, the masters of magical illusions,

ཟས་དང་གནས་དང་ནོར་གྱི་ལན་ཆགས་ཅན༔

zé dang né dang nor gyi lenchak chen

And those to whom I owe karmic debts of food, place and wealth,

གྲིབ་བདག་སྨྱོ་འདྲེ་ཕོ་གཤིན་མོ་གཤིན་དང༌༔

drib dak nyodré poshin moshin dang

To forces that bring obscuration and madness, to the shades of men and women dead.

གྲི་བོ་ཐེའུ་རང་གྲོང་སྲིན་འདྲེ་མོ་བཅས༔

driwo terang drong sin dremo ché

To all the spirits, térangs, ghouls and female ghosts!

ལན་ཆགས་དམར་པོའི་མེ་ལ་ཇལ་ཏེ་བསྲེག༔

lenchak marpö mé la jal té sek

Now all my karmic debts are paid, burnt in the scarlet flames.

རང་རང་ཡིད་ལ་གང་འདོད་འདོད་རྒུའི་ཆར༔

rang rang yi la gang dö dögü char

Whatever each one desires, may the objects of their desires rain down:

ཇི་སྲིད་ནམ་མཁའ་གནས་ཀྱི་བར་ཉིད་དུ༔

jisi namkha né kyi bar nyi du

For as far and as long as space exists

འདོད་པའི་ཡོན་ཏན་ཟད་པ་མེད་པར་བསྔོ༔

döpé yönten zepa mepar ngo

I dedicate an inexhaustible amount of sensual stimulants!

བདག་གི་དུས་གསུམ་བསགས་པའི་སྡིག་སྒྲིབ་དང༌༔

dak gi dü sum sakpé dikdrib dang

May my negative actions and obscurations accumulated in past, present and future,

དཀོན་མཆོག་དད་གཤིན་དཀོར་ལ་སྤྱད་པ་རྣམས༔

könchok dé shinkor la chepa nam

And misuse of the offerings made to the Three Jewels, in devotion and for the dead,

སྦྱིན་སྲེག་མེ་མཆོད་འདི་ཡིས་དག་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

jinsek mechö di yi dak gyur chik

Be purified in the fire of this sang offering!

མེ་ལྕེ་སྣང་སྲིད་གང་བའི་རྡུལ་ཕྲན་རེས༔

meché nangsi gangwé dultren ré

Let its flames fill the entire universe and every minute particle of flame

ཀུན་བཟང་མཆོད་པའི་སྤྲིན་ཕུང་མི་ཟད་པ༔

kunzang chöpé trinpung mizepa

Become an inexhaustible cloud of offerings like Samantabhadra’s

རྒྱལ་བའི་ཞིང་ཁམས་ཡོངས་ལ་ཁྱབ་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

gyalwé shyingkham yong la khyab gyur chik

Pervading throughout all the buddha realms!

མེ་ལྕེ་ཡེ་ཤེས་འོད་ལྔའི་མཆོད་སྦྱིན་ཟེར༔

meché yeshe ö ngé chöjin zer

May these flames, offering-rays of five-coloured lights of wisdom,

རིགས་དྲུག་མནར་མེད་གནས་སུ་ཁྱབ་གྱུར་པས༔

rik druk narmé né su khyab gyurpé

Pervade throughout the six classes of beings, down to the Avīcī Hells,

ཁམས་གསུམ་འཁོར་བ་འཇའ་ལུས་འོད་སྐུར་གྲོལ༔

kham sum khorwa jalü ökur drol

The three realms of saṃsāra be liberated into the rainbow body,

འགྲོ་ཀུན་བྱང་ཆུབ་སྙིང་པོར་སངས་རྒྱས་ཤོག༔

dro kün changchub nyingpor sangye shok

And all sentient beings awaken into the heart of enlightenment!

ཨོཾ་ཨཱཿཧཱུྂ༔ ཞེས་བརྒྱ་སྟོང་འབུམ་ཕྲག་མང་པོས་འབུལ་བར་བྱའོ༔

om ah hung

With Oṃāḥ hūṃ, make the offering a hundred, thousand, or several hundred thousand times.

སྐུ་གསུམ་དག་པ་སྣོད་ཀྱི་གཞལ་ཡས་སུ༔

ku sum dakpa nö kyi shyalyé su

All is purified into the three kāyas: the environment, a heavenly palace where

ཆོས་ལོངས་སྤྲུལ་གསུམ་སྣང་སྲིད་གཟུགས་ཕུང་རྣམས༔

chö long trul sum nangsi zukpung nam

Dharmakāya, saṃbhogakāya and nirmāṇakāya—appearance and the form aggregates of existence

བདུད་རྩིར་ཞུ་བས་འཇའ་འོད་བར་སྣང་གང༌༔

dütsir shyuwé ja'ö barnang gang

Melt into nectar, flooding the whole expanse of the sky with rainbow light.

འཁོར་བ་མྱང་འདས་ཟག་མེད་བདུད་རྩིའི་བཅུད༔

khorwa nyangdé zakmé dütsi chü

Saṃsāra is liberated into nirvāṇa; this essence of immaculate nectar,

ཐོག་མེད་དུས་ནས་ད་ལྟ་ཡན་ཆད་དུ༔

tokmé dü né danta yenché du

I share with all those who, from beginningless time until now,

སྣང་སྲིད་མགྲོན་དུ་གྱུར་པ་ཡོངས་ལ་བསྔོ༔

nangsi drön du gyurpa yong la ngo

Have been guests in worldly existence.

ས་ལམ་འབྲས་བུའི་ཡོན་ཏན་མཐར་ཕྱིན་ཞིང༌༔

salam drebü yönten tarchin shying

Having attained all the noble qualities of the stages, paths and fruition,

ལྟ་སྒོམ་སྤྱོད་པའི་བར་ཆད་ཀུན་བསལ་ནས༔

ta gom chö pé barché kün sal né

And dispelled all obstacles in view, meditation and action,

རྨད་བྱུང་ཀུན་བཟང་ཐུགས་ཀྱི་མཁའ་དབྱིངས་སུ༔

mejung kunzang tuk kyi khaying su

Within the sky-like space of Samantabhadra’s wondrous wisdom mind,

གཞོན་ནུ་བུམ་སྐུར་གཏན་སྲིད་ཟིན་པར་ཤོག༔

shyönnu bumkur tensi zinpar shok

May we seize the stronghold of the youthful vase body!

འཁོར་བའི་རྒྱ་མཚོ་ཆེན་པོ་སྟོངས་པའི་མཐར༔

khorwé gyatso chenpo tongpé tar

And when at last the great ocean of saṃsāra is emptied;

འོག་མིན་པདྨ་དྲྭ་བར་སངས་རྒྱས་ཤོག༔

womin pema drawar sangye shok

May all beings attain buddhahood in the Lotus Net of Akaniṣṭha!

ཕུང་ཁམས་བསྲེག་རྫས་བཀྲག་མདངས་གཟི་བརྗིད་འབར༔

pung kham sekdzé trakdang ziji bar

The sang offerings of the aggregates and elements blaze in vivid, brilliant splendour!

དཀར་དམར་བྱང་སེམས་བསྲེག་རྫས་བདེ་སྟོང་འབར༔

kar mar changsem sekdzé detong bar

The sang offerings of red and white bodhicitta blaze in bliss and emptiness!

སྟོང་ཉིད་སྙིང་རྗེའི་བསྲེག་རྫས་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་གང༌༔

tongnyi nyingjé sekdzé chöying gang

The sang offerings of emptiness and compassion fill the dharmadhātu!

སྣང་སྲིད་འཁོར་འདས་རྡོ་རྗེའི་འོད་ལྔའི་གཞིར༔

nangsi khordé dorjé ö ngé shyir

Upon the ground of five-coloured vajra light of phenomenal existence, saṃsāra and nirvāṇa,

ལྷུན་གྲུབ་རྫོགས་སངས་རྒྱས་པའི་བསྲེག་རྫས་འབུལ༔

lhündrub dzok sangye pé sekdzé bul

I offer the smoke offering of spontaneously accomplished perfect buddhahood.

སྔོན་གྱི་ལན་ཆགས་ཐམས་ཅད་བྱང་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

ngön gyi lenchak tamché jang gyur chik

May all my karmic debts from the past be purified!

ད་ལྟ་རྒྱུད་ལ་མི་གནས་མཐོལ་ལོ་བཤགས༔

danta gyü la miné tol lo shak

In the present so they do not remain in my mind-stream, I confess them!

མ་འོངས་སྒྲིབ་པའི་འཁོར་ལོར་མ་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

ma ong dribpé khorlor magyur chik

In the future, may I never be drawn into the wheel of obscuration!

སོ་ཐར་བྱང་སེམས་རིག་པ་འཛིན་པ་ཡི༔

sotar changsem rigpa dzinpa yi

All impairments of the vows of individual liberation, bodhisattva precepts,

སྡོམ་བཅས་བསླབ་པ་གསང་སྔགས་དམ་ཚིག་རིགས༔

dom ché labpa sang ngak damtsik rik

And samayas of the vidyādharas,

ཚོར་དང་མ་ཚོར་ཉམས་པ་མཐོལ་ལོ་བཤགས༔

tsor dang matsor nyampa tol lo shak

Conscious or unwitting, I openly admit.

ནད་གདོན་གྲིབ་དང་མི་གཙང་དག་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

né dön drib dang mitsang dak gyur chik

May illness, harmful influence, obscurations and impurities be purified!

ནད་མུག་མཚོན་གྱི་བསྐལ་པ་ཞི་གྱུར་ཅིག༔

né muk tsön gyi kalpa shyi gyur chik

May this age of plague, famine and warfare be pacified!

མཐའ་མི་དབུས་སུ་འོང་བའི་བསུན་མ་ཟློག༔

tami ü su ongwé sünma dok

May the attacks of invaders be repelled!

ཆོས་མཛད་བླ་མ་གདན་འདྲེན་བར་ཆད་ཟློག༔

chödzé lama dendren barché dok

May the forces that create obstacles by inviting the spiritual teacher to leave this world be averted!

བོད་ཡུལ་བཀྲ་མི་ཤིས་པའི་ལྟས་ངན་ཟློག༔

böyul trami shipé te ngen dok

May inauspicious bad omens for the land of Tibet be averted!

གཟའ་ཀླུ་རྒྱལ་པོས་སྲོག་དབུགས་སྡུད་པ་ཟློག༔

za lu gyalpö sokuk düpa dok

May the planetary forces, nāgas and arrogant king-like spirits, who cut short the breath of life, be repelled!

འཇིགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་བརྒྱད་དང་བཅུ་དྲུག་ཟློག༔

jikpa chenpo gyé dang chudruk dok

May the eight great fears and sixteen lesser fears be overcome!

བདག་ཅག་འཁོར་བཅས་བཀྲ་མི་ཤིས་པ་ཟློག༔

dakchak khor ché trami shipa dok

For me and all those around me, may all that is inauspicious be averted!¹

དམ་སྲི་འགོང་པོའི་མཐུ་སྟོབས་ནུས་པ་ཟློག༔

damsi gongpö tutob nüpa dok

May the powers and strength of samaya-breakers and gongpo demons be averted!

ས་མ་ཡ༔

samaya

ཞེས་ཤིང་སྣ་ཚོགས་པའི་བསངས་ཁ་བརྒྱ་དང་བརྒྱད། སྦྱིན་སྲེག་གི་ཆོ་ག་ལས་བྱུང་བ་ལྟར། རི་བོ་བསངས་མཆོད་འདིས་འཆི་བསླུ་དང་། དཀོར་སྦྱོང་། བར་ཆད་ཀྱི་རིགས་སེལ་བ་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཕ་ལམ་ལྟ་བུ་འདི། སྦས་ཡུལ་འབྲས་མོ་གཤོངས་ཀྱི་གནས་སྒོ་འབྱེད་པའི་ཆ་ལག་ཏུ་མཁའ་འགྲོས་གནང་བ་བཞིན་ནོར་འཁྲུལ་མེད་པར་སྦྱར་བའོ།། །།

As indicated in the ritual for the fire offering, use 108 incense burners and various kinds of wood. Through this diamond-like practice of Mountain Smoke Offering, one will be able to ‘ransom’ death, purify the misuse of offerings and avert various kinds of obstacle. In accordance with the ḍākinī’s instructions, this was set down, without any error, when revealing the hidden land of Sikkim.

Bibliography

Ri bo bsangs mchod in Rig 'dzin srog sgrub, 5 vols, Delhi: Chos spyod dpar skrun khang, 2000, (TBRC W13779) vol. 1, pp. 829–834

| Rigpa Translations, 2008. Corrected, 2016.

1. (Ref: Lotsawa House)

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December 2, 2017, 4:39 pm

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PEACE WITH HONOUR

We may scale new heights or bite the dust but we have renewed our friendship and rededicated our commitments to work together for the Common Cause.

Thank you all for being with us through thick and thin, through our trials and tribulations, through good times and bad times. Wish us well, wish us luck; stay with me for...

“I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”

Add caption(With Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintokgang in Gangtok on November 28, 2017)

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December 13, 2017, 3:34 am

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A MILESTONE FOR CHAMLING, MILES TO GO FOR SIKKIM

It is a proud moment for Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as his ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which he heads, completes 23 years in office (Dec 12, 1994-Dec 12, 2017) this week. Chamling’s political maturity is reflected in his admission that while his government has made tremendous progress in all fields there is much more still to be done.

He has blamed the bureaucrats for failure to implement much of his government’s pro-people policies and programmes. At the fag end of his first term in office (1994-1999) the Chief Minister openly admitted that he lacked the right team to lead Sikkim on the right path.

Hopefully, if and when he makes a comeback in the forthcoming Assembly polls (2018 or early 2019) Chamling will have the ideal team that will give top priority to economic and political empowerment of bonafide Sikkimese while preserving Sikkim’s closely-knit social fabric, which at times has taken a battering mainly because of vote-bank politics.

This is a time not only to rejoice in one’s accomplishments but it is also a time for reflection and rejuvenation. Chamling has come a long way but Sikkim has miles to go.

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January 15, 2018, 3:30 am

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SIKKIM: PEOPLE & PLACES

HAPPY LOSOONG, LACHENPAS

Traditionally, we Lachenpas do not celebrate the annual Denzong Losoong (celebrated on first day of the 11^th month in the lunar calendar), which normally falls in the month of December, nor the Tibetan Losar in February-March, but Losoong. This day falls on the first day of the 12 month in the lunar calendar. This year it falls on January 17. Only the Lachenpas in Sikkim have been celebrating this day as their New Year for centuries.

So, may I wish Happy Losoong to all the Lachenpas. May Lachen and Lachenpas be blessed with good health, wealth and long life. May Lachen bloom forever!

Normally, the annual Chham(ritualistic lama dance) takes place two days before Losoong (on the 29^thday), followed by Bomko (Bom-kor, procession of holy scriptures of Lachen Gompa around the village) on Namkhang, the 30^th day of the month. Sadly, nowadays the Chham is performed a few weeks earlier (this year it was held on January 4) to enable the local people to attend the annual Monlam pujas at Bodhgaya. The annual chodok pujas in each household in Lachen are performed after Losoong.

Apart from changes in the annual schedule of important traditional events I have also noticed the change in what people wear on these special events. Many people are now sporting the stylish costumes of Mongolian and Tibetan people on such occasions. During important traditional events such as Losoong festival we must always retain our own unique traditions and customs.

HAPPY LOSOONG!

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February 12, 2018, 11:17 pm

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Chogyal: ‘Soul of Sikkim’

Palden Thondup Namgyal ‘one of the greatest sons of Sikkim’:Chamling

On the occasion of the 36^th Funeral Day of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal (1923-1982), (the historic funeral took place in Gangtok on February 19, 1982), let me re-publish what was published in my Sikkim Observer in 1999 on the Chogyal of Sikkim.

The Governor, Choudhary Randhir Singh, described the late Chogyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, as a “noble soul”, a “moral giant” and a great friend of

India

. Laying the foundation stone of the statue of the 12^th Chogyal in Gangtok this week the Governor said he was proud to be associated with the works of the late Chogyal and the people of Sikkim.

The Governor said the Chogyal represented the cultural history of the State which dates back to several centuries. He said the installation of the statue at the complex of the Research Institute of Tibetology (SRIT) had not only raised the stature of the Institute but the choice of the location was apt as the former Chogyal was the “soul” behind the establishment of the research centre.

He said the Choygal, who many years ago invited Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to inaugurate the Institute, was a “noble soul who left his impact on Tibetology and preservation of the cultural history of

Sikkim

.” He added, “The Choygal in heaven must be happy that his soil is safe with Mother India.”

The Governor expressed his happiness over the decision of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, and his Cabinet members to install a statue of the late Chogyal. “I’m proud to be associated with the installation of the statue. I congratulate you all from the innermost recesses of my heart on this decision.”

Paying rich tributes to the late Chogyal, the Chief Minister said the 12^th Chogyal was “one of the greatest sons of Sikkim” and it was apt for the people to acknowledge his greatness and remember him for all times to come. He said, “While we are proud citizens of this great country the 300 years of history of the State should not be forgotten.”

Chamling said on completion of 24 years as a part of the Indian Union it was important to “keep the history of

Sikkim

alive.” He said during the Chogyal’s rule the foundation of the State’s economic development was established. While urging the people to preserve the State’s rich cultural heritage, history and communal harmony, the Chief Minister said, “Whatever has happened and lost its gone. Now let us look forward and build a better future for Sikkim and the Sikkimese.”

The Chief Minister revealed that the idea of installing the statue of the Chogyal came when the State Government decided to scrap the Rathong Chu hydel project in west district two years back. “It is our duty to preserve our history,” Chamling said while adding that “these historical sites” will become a part of the State’s history which was ruled by the Namgyal dynasty for over 300 years. Yuksam, the first capital of the former kingdom, has now been turned into a heritage centre after the controversial hydel project was scrapped.

The Chief Minister said the Cabinet last week decided to change the name of the Sikkm Research Institute of Tibetology (SRIT) to Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. The Institute was previously known as Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. The Board of Directors of the SRIT had earlier decided to restore the name “Namgyal Institute of Tibetology”, which was changed in 1975-76. The premises of the statue will be declared as “Palden Thondup Memorial Park”.

The PWD Minister, D.D. Bhutia, said the late Chogyal was “the greatest son of Sikkim”. Bhutia said, “Our government will not only install the statue of the late Chogyal but will also improve and create the surroundings befitting the status of one of the greatest sons of Sikkim.”

“I feel that we should not forget our history, our rich cultural heritage and communal harmony,” Bhutia told the distinguished gathering of royal family members and former Chief Minister, L.D. Kazi, and ex-secretaries, Jigdal Densapa, Kunzang Sherab and L.B. Chettri.

(Ref: Sikkim Observer, May 22-29, 1999)

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March 31, 2018, 12:45 am

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SIKKIM SALVO ON DOKLAM

With Xi firmly positioned and the Modi magic fading it is time to take a realistic look at the Doklam issue.
Sikkim, now a part of India, became a British Protectorate in 1890. Till early 20th century the Sikkim King (Chogyal) had his Palace in Chumbi Valley, which was then a part of Sikkim.

The 'gifting' of Darjeeling to British India in 1835, led to the annexation of Darjeeling (then a part of Sikkim) in 1860. Britain virtually took over Sikkim after annexing Darjeeling.

The 1890 Convention between China and Britain ignored the two other stakeholders, Tibet and Sikkim.
Today, only China and India are busy debating over Doklam, where yaks once grazed. Sikkim, Tibet and Bhutan must have their say.
The two giants of Asia must note that “Security depends on people, not territory.”

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March 31, 2018, 12:49 am

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LAST CALL FOR SIKKIMESE UNITY & IDENTITY
Bonafide 'Sikkimese Nepalese' possessing genuine 'Sikkim Subject Certificate' must be included in the Scheduled Tribes list as 'Sikkimese' and not as Gorkhas as in the case of Sikkimese Bhutia-Lepchas.
Seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly must be reserved for bonafide Sikkimese on the basis of them being 'Sikkim Subjects' and not on the basis of them being Gorkhas.

(L to R ) Journalist Jigme N Kazi, former Chief Minister, Late NB Bhandari, former Lok Sabha MP, Pahalman Subba, and former Minister, KN Upreti, at a seminar on Sikkimese identity in Gangtok several years back)

Let all Gorkhas in Sikkim, other than Sikkimese Nepalese, be included in the ST list as Gorkhas. Give maximum benefits to the old business community in Sikkim. And let other residents of Sikkim feel that they too belong to this place; treat them with respect and dignity.
HOWEVER, if the Sikkimese Nepalese want to part ways with Sikkimese Bhutias and Lepchas this is the time to speak up loud and clear. Silence is consent. Whatever decision they take must be respected. We may part ways but must live together in peace and harmony. There is no other way.

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April 11, 2018, 3:06 am

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RAI BAHADUR LAMA UGYEN GYATSO OF YANGANG
This is the residence of Rai Bahadur Lama Ugyen Gyatso of Yangang. Here he is seen with his wife Chum Changchub Dolma at Yangang Kothi in 1900.

My grandfather Lobsang Gyaltsen and grandmother Chum Seden Kazi of Libing House, who inherited the Yangang Estate, is seen here in front of Yangang Kothi in the 1960s.
The third photo of my wife Tsering T. Namgyal and I were taken at Yangang Kothi during a family wedding in the early 2000.
The Sikkim University is located around Yangang Kothi, Yangang, South Sikkim. Progress means change. And yet there is the need to preserve the sanctity of the past.
“Take from the altars of the past the fire - not the ashes.”
―Jean Jaures

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April 21, 2018, 12:05 am

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GURUDONGMAR-GURU NANAK CONTROVERSY

The latest story on the Gurudongmar-Guru Nanak controversy in Lachen, North Sikkim, carried in The Week this week gives a distorted picture of the issue that refuses to fade away.
There is no Chinese hand in the controversy. The issue needs a fresh look if the authorities are keen on maintaining peace and tranquility in this strategic and sensitive border State.

The authorities have failed to take note of what I said in my book, "The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland" (published in 2014), where I quoted the statement of the Green Circle (NGO) on the issue:"As you are aware, the Gurudongmar lake is not only one of the most beautiful lakes of Sikkim but also held sacred by the locals. The army, because of its proximity and influence over these area cannot go about misrepresenting facts. Such gradual and systematic distortion of history only serves to sow the seeds of discontent and tension for the present and future generations...
Construction of a permanent structure at 17,200 feet with marble, chandeliers and works is totally uncalled for and changing the surface of the lake by moving earth to create parking space is most deplorable.
In an extremely sensitive ecosystem where even footprints stay for months, the army, we hope will take more responsibility and care of their environs which would be better served than find itself championing chauvinistic cultural imperialism."

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