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COVID19 Darjeeling Quarantine

Ira Pradhan March 19, 2020

1986, Lockdown in Darjeeling – Down the Memory Lane

The word “quarantine”, takes me back to 1986 when I was a little girl during the Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling. A 40-day strike was declared, which meant a lockdown with no movement of vehicles, no movement of people, rationing of essentials and no schools – a dream come true for us, children and the worse nightmare for parents. While it wasn’t exactly like being caught in a health pandemic, but it has its similarities – working from home, no schools, restriction on transport and the worst one – stocking up on essentials.

Fitness Tiger's Nest Bhutan

Ira Pradhan March 16, 2020

How to Stick to Your Fitness Goals

Being thin my whole life, I had taken my hilly physique for granted. I could eat together with the boys and still would be the last-woman standing – happy, on the weighing scale. It was only once that I had gone overboard with my weight. I was in college in Kolkata and had a can of cola and ‘kheer-kadam’ every single day for six months. First time in my life I had gained a whole lot of five kilos and suddenly found myself lethargic and fatigued by the end of the day. I checked my eating habits and found the two culprits and was easy peasy for me to get back to being energetic after I quit having these.

Social Media

Ira Pradhan February 23, 2020

Hygiene on Professional Social Media

While there are guidelines and policies for usage of professional social media – external (Linkedin especially) or intranet, there is always a profile/ name/ organisation related information about the person who is connecting or commenting. Naturally, as a communications person, I assume that this is a good enough reason for people to be more wary about their own personal branding and reputation. However, every so often, I receive a connect request or a direct message on professional social media, I am always surprised at those (especially from the senior professionals) that seem downright ‘unprofessional’ online. Perhaps it is ignorance, but once you are out there, there are certain things we must get right.

Gorkhaland

Upendra January 31, 2020

Post Bodo Pact, All Eyes on How Centre Deals with Gorkhaland Issue

As the news of a settlement between the government of India and various factions of Bodo groups started to trickle in, there was much curiosity in Darjeeling hills – home to another demand for the separate state — Gorkhaland. Even though parallels can be drawn between the two, the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland supersedes that of Bodoland by decades, and the unique geographical positioning of Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, makes it one of the most cosmopolitan and at the same time one of the most vulnerable regions in India.

new-years-resolutions

Ira Pradhan December 26, 2019

Now Trending: #NewYearsResolutions

Usually, when the year is passing by to make way for the new one, I sit down, deliberately, in a reading corner, to look back. Usually, what comes to my mind are the big topics at work that made an impact or were close to being damp squibs. Or family holidays which either relaxed me or made me want to take another one right after. This year was different because I took the leap and tried different things.

Sharing Jabeena

Ira Pradhan November 29, 2019

Sharing Economy and Sharing Stories

Keeping all arguments, pros and cons aside, I believe in the merits of the ‘sharing economy’. It paves the way for sustainable living and helps not only people but the planet as well. Which is why when the four-letter, app-based ride-sharing cabs were introduced, I immediately took to it. It makes me feel independent especially when travelling out of town, and free when visiting local places. I have been using it daily for about two years now. But of all the benefits, it was heartwarming to see how the ‘sharing economy’ has liberated people on the supply side as well.

Darjeeling Municipality Notice NRC

Dinesh Sharma November 16, 2019

NRC Issue: The Indian Gorkha Perspective

As the push for a nation-wide National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise gets stronger, there are growing concerns among the Indian Gorkha community settled in various pockets across the country. The discussions are gaining more ground after Assam published its final NRC list on August 31, 2019, the process which was monitored by the Supreme Court of India. As reported by different media organisations, of the estimated 25 lakh Gorkhas living in Assam, about 1 lakh were excluded from the final list.