Columns

Gorkhaland Andolan

Divya Pradhan September 12, 2020

Special Series on Gorkhaland Andolan – Shards of Memories from a Shattered Mirror – Part II

My aunts waited for the cremation to end and sat and gossiped among themselves. They were talking about some place where women had cremated the dead, an unheard of practice, Keti haru lay garnu parcha abo. Someone also mentioned in hushed voices that in some tea garden, a woman had given birth to a dark-skinnned baby, “nikkhur kalo nani”. There was anxiety in their voices. I didn’t really understand the implication of these conversations.

Census 1941 - Hill Tribes

Dinesh Sharma September 4, 2020

The Lost Gorkha Tribes

Our contributor Dinesh Sharma writes about the lost ‘Hill Tribes’ status that was confeered to the GOrkha community until the 1941 census.

NATRABHANAY

Divya Pradhan August 30, 2020

Natrabhanay: Of Threats and Threatened Species

As I was saying, threats have also changed over the years. Cha inchi – probably because we are vertically wanting and are insecure about our Gorkha height – has always worked. So why say ” Marchu” or “tauko kati dinchu”, when you can say “Natrabhanay cha inchi… ” ?

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration

Upendra August 1, 2020

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Review Meeting – A Political Masterstroke or a Bureaucratic Gaffe?

After a hard fought andolan of 4-years from 2007 to 2011, finally the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Agreement was signed between the Center, WB Govt and GJM representatives. The invitation, specifically to GJM is clearly for the resumption of the dialogue from where the center had left it in 2011. The File Number at the top of the letter, F.NO. 12013/01/2011-SR is a dead giveaway. In probability the invitation wasn’t sent to other political parties, as they were not a part of the GTA Agreement.

Exams

Editorial July 13, 2020

EXAMS – At the end of it all, you remain who you are

Life is about celebrating small moments. A small token of appreciation is due to anyone who puts dedication and effort towards a goal and achieving it. Whether its a school topper or even a person picks up a can from the road and puts it into a dust been to keep his town clean. Appreciating few doesn’t mean demotivating others. Only morons would think that way.

COVID-19 Kalimpong

Rinchu May 22, 2020

COVID-19, Kalimpong and The Play of Power and Politics

During this formidable COVID19 crisis, Kalimpong, a small town in the foothills of Eastern Himalaya became an unexpected hotspot. Kalimpong’s infamous and unfortunate COVID19 victim, 49 years old Sunita Devi Singh, who had travelled from Chennai, ended up passing the infection on to 15 other individuals before she herself succumbed in a hospital in Siliguri.

Paatal Lok Snowflakes

Bicky May 21, 2020

“Paatal Lok” – Snowflakes, are we becoming one?

The filmmakers try their best to make their contents as real and as intense as possible, also at the same time weaving subtle messages around the scenes. The colloquial conversations say more than what is actually being said. The scenes of violence and abuse too speak volumes

Freedom Sikkim

Editorial May 16, 2020

A Fragile Freedom – Sikkim could have done better

A small state like Sikkim can turn dictatorial very fast, we know, as we have lived under semi-dictatorship for decades. In the past 30 years or so multiple newspapers have been banned in our Darjeeling hills – Sunchari was banned, later Aja Bholi, later Himalaya Darpan – all because the ruling dispensation wasn’t pleased with what was written. Even today, in their desperate bid to shut us up or shut us down, the powers that be have filed against TheDC too over concocted charges , but irrespective of it all, we will continue to write the truth, because Freedom is worth taking a stand for.

Sikkim Border

Dr. Vimal Khawas, Sikkim May 12, 2020

Why Sikkim has been Able to Maintain Zero COVID19 Cases Till Date

A recent report in a newspaper concerning the efficient handling of COVID19 by Sikkim inspired me to share my thoughts on the subject. Rightly so, the state has been lauded for its efficient handling of COVID19 from many ends. Sikkim and Nagaland are officially the only states in the country to maintain zero COVID19 cases inside their administrative boundaries, so far. Two Union Territories — Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep — have also maintained zero COVID19 cases so far.