GNLF Stand Against Grassroots Democracy is Baffling
Politics and Political Activism in Darjeeling is Taking a Strange Turn. GNLF Stands Against Grassroots Democracy. In the last few Days, Gorkha Politics is Abuzz with the Issue of Panchayati Raj
Articles
The Curious Case of Article 243m(3): Raju Proposes, Neeraj Disposes
The father of our nation Gandhiji once said, “Panchayat Raj represents true democracy realized. We would regard the humblest and the lowest Indian as being equally the rules of India with the tallest in the land.” He had envisioned Ram Rajya through village republics where real freedom began through self-reliance and people’s participation in self-governance.
Three-Tier Panchayat in Darjeeling – A Context
We, the people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, wholeheartedly welcome the initiative to initiate Constitutional Amendment to implement the three-tier Panchayati Raj in these two districts. Panchayati Raj has been the backbone of Indian democracy. It envisaged incorporating all the villages and its population in the nation-building processes. Further, as the majority of the population lived in the villages it was an endeavour to make them equal stakeholders in the decision-making the process and the developmental activities. Panchayati Raj system came into existence when the Community Development Programmes failed due to the lack of governance and monopoly of the few. Panchayati raj was implemented to decentralise democracy.
Growing up in the Mountains and the Stories of Jogi’s, Jhakri and Rakey-Bhoot
What thoughts sent chills down the spine when you were a growing up in the mountains? Was it this unknown person blowing his ‘feri’(horn) in a certain pattern?, was it the hooting of laat-kosera(owl), or was it the sight of flying lights?
The Bravest of the Brave
On a freezing and unforgiving November night, 123 Indian soldiers – frostbitten, weary, hungry and heavily outnumbered – defied the might of the rampaging Chinese Army.
Of Cinema, My Grandmother and Me
How do people remember Grandmothers? Most of the time, it is due to the stories that they tell. Stories enriched with mythology and folk tales. But my Grandmother (Maternal) was a bit different. I did not enjoy the good fortune of having grandparents from my father’s side. They departed this world pretty early even before my parents got married. My father was left alone brazing this world all by himself.
Oh Darjeeling! Where have all the Wildflowers Gone, Where are You?
Two decades, not a very long time passing, I walked away from the hills leaving behind the perfect chill hanging in the air, the muscatel cuppa tea amid those mountains, life then was always beautiful with the lovely smell of the pines and the burning dry leaves. The mist and the medley of the sun rays passing through the burnt orange leaves of the solitary maple across the famous patisserie “Glenarys” still resonate in my mind as I keep walking my imaginary walk through the mist towards the tempered sunlight of yore….
Information Security for Everyone
In today’s era information is key. You may have met a person taking a survey in a mall who notes your details and registers you for a free lucky draw. In the cybersecurity world, this is a simple form of a social engineering attack. The information that you so freely disclose is sold in the market for as less as 0.10p per individual to advertisers and scammers.
STD or Subscriber Trunk Dialling and the Forgotten Love Romances
I was delivering a lecture in one of my classes, where I stumbled upon the word STD. Something struck me at that instant, and so I happened to ask one of the boys about what he understood by the word term STD. He was prompt, loud and clear – he replied that it’s a disease which is sexually transmitted. I wanted to hear something else from him, so I asked if there were other meanings of STD. He was silent. Then I opened the question for the entire class, and still, nobody knew any other meaning.
Things Mirik Says
Mirik is a small hamlet with lots of interesting people who really knows how to humour. There are regional dialogues and sayings that would never get old and some of which will just be a fad. Mirik comes up with many that I have experienced myself originating within the circle, here I have mentioned most of the things that I remember and please let me know if you want to add more. And if you somewhere think that I am wrong, just know that I am never wrong and neither are you. We might just it do it our way. Shanti hai!