Regional significance

Teesta Basin forms a part of the larger Brahmaputra Basin in the Eastern Himalaya. The river drains a total geographical area of about 12159 km². Around 2004 km² of the basin (about 17 percent) area lies in Bangladesh with the rest being in India. The Eastern Himalaya is considered as an important global ‘biodiversity hotspot’.

The region besides being source of varied forms of natural/bio-resources also acts as a global ecological sink. The basin currently is home to more than 30 million souls representing several social groups in Sikkim, northern West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh. Starting from the Lepcha Tribe, Ethnic Bhutias and the Ethnic Nepalis in Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya to the agrarian communities of North Bengal and Bangladesh, the region is the source of livelihood for several socio-cultural groups. Moreover, the basin has been source of etho-cultural and ethno-religious basis for many social groups in Darjeeling-Sikkim region since historic past.

Further, Teesta is the primary source of water to the agricultural crops of the thirsty Northern Bengal and North Western Bangladesh. Besides, other associated livelihood options including rafting, sand/stone mining and fishing also have thrived across the basin since long. Teesta basin, therefore, provides significant human and environmental security to the region and its geography milieu.

Climate Change and Teesta’s Hydro Burden

Climate change has been at the centre of the debate for the changing Himalayan geo-environment. Scientists are repeatedly warning that the Himalaya are warming comparatively faster than their lowland counterparts. The rapidly warming Himalaya has led to an acceleration of various geomorphic processes, including melting of glaciers. The rapid melting of glaciers has further given rise to many potentially dangerous Glacial Lakes, in recent times. The changes in the geomorphic processes have been rapid and dam planners/engineers were unable to foresee their increasing intensity and frequency over 25 years ago when many of the dams in Sikkim-Darjeeling hills were planned. 

In view of the inherent vulnerability of the Himalaya to various environmental, geomorphic and geologic process; scientists, researchers and activists had been warning about the unplanned and haphazard hydro development in Sikkim-Darjeeling hills for over two decades. The Governments, both Central and State,  and development proponents, however, dismissed the concerns communicated through scientific reports, papers and other means as fear mongering. They hardly take researchers and research papers seriously. Science and policy hardly work in coordination in India.  Consequently, Sikkim and Darjeeling catchment of the Teesta basin were dotted with many mega hydropower projects during much of the 2000s and 2010s. In fact, Sikkim today has one of the highest densities of hydropower projects in the country.

It is also important to understand that the Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya being a backward and less-researched region did not have long-term data on the table when many dams were planned and designed in the early 2000s. That is the reason why anti-dam activists often question the technical, environmental and human procedures followed by the proponents of hydropower dams in the Himalayan region including in Sikkim.  

Approval to Reconstruct the washed away Teesta-III

On October 3, 2023, the South Lhonak glacial lake in Sikkim burst causing a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and reportedly killing 179 people, displacing thousands, and affecting over 100,000 of the population in Sikkim and downstream Darjeeling hills. The flood also washed away the 1,200 MW Teesta-III Dam located 55 km downstream at Chungthang. The lake that outburst its dam was one among many potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Sikkim Himalaya.

Less than 15 months  after the GLOF ravaged major parts of Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya and washed away a 60-metre-high rockfill concrete dam of the 1200-MW Teesta-III hydel project, an environment ministry panel has cleared a proposal to build a new 118.64-m-high concrete gravity dam in its place. The proposal by Sikkim Urja Ltd, the project operator, was approved by the Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on January 10. Reportedly, the EAC nod for the new dam comes in the backdrop of concerns the panel had itself raised over the structure’s safety and stability. The reconstruction plan broadly includes:

• New Design: The rebuilt dam will be a 118.64-meter-tall concrete gravity dam, replacing the previous concrete face rockfill dam. This change aims to provide greater resilience against flash floods and GLOFs.
• Increased Spillway Capacity: The spillway capacity will be significantly increased to handle potential extreme flood events, including those caused by GLOFs.
• Early Warning System: A robust Early Warning System (EWS) will be implemented to monitor glacial lakes and provide timely alerts for potential floods.
• Safety Measures: Worker safety will be improved by relocating the dam control room to a higher elevation.

However, Teesta-III dam reconstruction plan has faced significant criticism from the experts and antidam activists primarily due to concerns about safety and environmental impact following the devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) of  October 3, 2023 that destroyed the dam.

Major points of criticism may be highlighted as under:

• Safety Concerns: Critics argue that the reconstruction plan does not adequately address the risks of future GLOFs, especially given the increasing frequency of such events due to climate change. They point out that the new dam design, while claiming increased spillway capacity, lacks sufficient credible data to validate these claims.
• Lack of Updated Assessments: The environmental ministry has approved the reconstruction without insisting on updated environmental and hydrological assessments, including a revised probable maximum flood (PMF) assessment, which is considered crucial in light of the changed circumstances.
• Bypassing Public Hearing: The decision to bypass a fresh public hearing is seen as a disregard for democratic principles and the rights of the local people, especially considering that the previous hearing was held in 2006 and does not reflect the current realities or the impact of disasters.
• Impact on Fragile Ecosystem: The reconstruction in a fragile Himalayan ecosystem raises concerns about long-term environmental consequences and the safety of the people in the face of potential future GLOFs and similar disasters.
• Community Concerns: Local communities have raised concerns about the project’s impact on their lives and livelihoods, as well as the potential risks of living downstream from a large dam.

Transboundary Issues

As an international river, there have been serious issues on table with regard to the management and sharing of its water between India and Bangladesh. Besides several existing and proposed mega hydro-dams in the Sikkim-Darjeeling catchment, the Government of West Bengal has diverted almost entire Teesta Water via artificial canals at Teesta (Gajoldoba) Barrage in Jalpaiguri to irrigate its thirsty North Bengal leaving little or no water for Bangladesh. It has led to the glaring decline in the basin water in the lower catchment (Bangladesh) resulting in large-scale protests against India across the spaces of Bangladesh including Dhaka. Further, in the absence of reliable data and official agreement, technical issues regarding the quantity, division and share of the waters has become the bone of contention between India and Bangladesh. We need to understand that upstream water usage determines downstream options in water management and therefore sets the stage either for conflict or cooperation. In this regard, experts often project that the next 20- 25 years shall witness depressing intra and inter-State water disputes if policy makers both in India and Bangladesh do not come up with viable solutions for the sustainable management and sharing of Teesta Water.

Discussion and ways forward!

Many argue that the October 03- 04, 2023 disaster was a direct result of insufficient spillway capacity and failure to account for GLOF risks in the original dam design. There are concerns about the accountability of financial institutions that are bankrolling the reconstruction project, given the environmental and social risks involved. Many are also calling for the decommissioning of the dam altogether, citing the immense impact it has had on local communities and ecosystems including downstream impacts and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to minimize these effects and protect the environment and communities that depend on the river.

We need to take lessons from the largely human-made GLOF disaster of October 2023 and move ahead with caution taking into account the geologic and geomorphic specificities of the region.  There is now a common voice in the region – no more dams. Sikkim should now concentrate on the efficient handling of the already constructed and commissioned hydropower projects instead of venturing into new ones. There should be proper human coordination and an Early Warning System (EWS) in place to manage its functional dams. A small mistake upstream shall have tremendous human and environmental impacts downstream as it is a common river basin that we share in the Darjeeling hills, North Bengal plains and parts of northwest Bangladesh.  Sikkim needs to evolve a comprehensive regional hydropower policy in view of its unique regional environment, ecological setup and geography. Mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change with hydropower policy also needs to be prioritised. There is also an urgent need to re-look India’s regional water management/ diplomacy strategy and neighbourhood policy.

The post Transboundary Teesta River  – A Dilemma appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Save Teetsa – Petition for proter scientific re-examination and democratic decision-making regarding the Fate of Teesta-3 HEP in Sikkim

The Teesta is a unique glacier-fed river that flows through the ancient, spiritually significant and deeply religious landscapes of Sikkim. The cascade of river dams consecutively constructed along the Teesta basin had fueled fear and foreboding for the people of Sikkim. In Dzongu, the Lepchas had opposed the desecration of their sacred land for many years. For decades, scientists had questioned the wisdom of siting major river-valley hydroelectric projects near glacial lakes in the Himalayan region. They warned that glacial flooding someday could result in catastrophic water release, triggering a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), with devastating consequences even for regions located hundreds of kilometres downstream.

South Lhonak lake which feeds the Teesta is among the largest, fastest-expanding, and hence most hazardous lakes in Sikkim. The potential of this lake to cause widespread devastation downstream in the event of a GLOF had been noted by scientists long before the glacial-catastrophe of 3^rd October 2023. The fears expressed related to the incalculable harm that would be done to the fragile ecosystem, and also to the unique cultural fabric that had welded society together in this protected and highly vulnerable Himalaya region.

GLOFs that involve complex and cascading multi-hazard processes are fast becoming evident across steeply mountainous Holarctic regions like the Himalaya. Already reeling from the combined impact of climate change and rapid melting of glaciers, the occurrence of another GLOF event in the region is inevitable. Then ultimately, as the pattern of precipitation changes, our mountain rivers will dry up, severely impacting agriculture. habitation and drinking-water accessibility, and threatening the long-term survival of human beings and other living species, as well as the natural world.

When on 3^rd October 2023, South Lhonak lake in Sikkim burst its banks because of the collapse, which toppled frozen lateral moraine measuring 14.7 million cu. m., into the water, thus raised a tsunami-like wave measuring 20 metres in height.

The predicted multi-hazard catastrophe was triggered as about 50 million cu. m. of water drained out from the breach. The result was unprecedented and catastrophic devastation, as an estimated 270 million cu. m. of sediment flowed out, resulting in massive infrastructure destruction including hydropower installations along the Teesta River.

Innumerable lives were lost, and many more persons went missing. State and private properties were damaged. The flood washed away the 1200 MW Teesta III Chungthang Dam located 55 km downstream of the lake, and damaged several other hydropower dams further down on the Teesta River

It wasn’t only Sikkim that was hit hard. The South Lhonak Lake outburst had cataclysmic outcomes downstream in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, and Sub-Himalayan Bengal, all the way down to the where the Teesta meets and merges into the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh.

Despite the warnings we received from the 2023 experience, now in January 2025, the Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on River Valley Projects has given its approval to resume construction of the 1200 MW Teesta III hydroelectric project.

We note, with enormous concern, that,

• The EAC has given approval without any fresh environment impact assessments, public hearings, and fresh appraisals.
• The EAC has ignored and not resolved the issues raised about this project at the earlier meetings. With this decision being made in such an unscientific and undemocratic manner, we are likely to see the catastrophe repeated all over again, possibly with even greater devastation than hitherto seen. In an already challenged environment, this has grave implications for our mountains, our rivers and our people, and also for those living in areas lying far beyond.

This year, 2025, has been declared the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with UNESCO. The effort must be focused on preserving our glaciers and their Holarctic environment in the midst of the fast-advancing effects of global warming and climate change.

We demand an immediate halt of the Chungthang Dam Project, along with all activities which further endanger our fragile environment, threatening lives and property, with brazen disregard for scientific prudence and democratic decision-making processes, including the free and prior informed consent of the people of Sikkim.

Please SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.change.org/p/save-our-rivers-the-sikkim-petition

WRITES: Debabrata Laifungbam

The post SAVE TEESTA! SAVE OUR RIVERS! SAVE OUR GLACIERS! SAVE OURSELVES! appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

This feat was exhibited yet again when Sohan Biswa from Sungma TE, Pokhriabong, Darjeeling was diagnosed as having congenital anomalies (birth defects). Sohan is a 7-year-old boy studying in class 1 who needed immediate surgery to rectify his problems as the problem was growing which was causing him lots of suffering with each passing day.

Sohan was first taken to a hospital in Darjeeling for his medical checkup and the doctors there suggested immediate surgery. However, they also informed the parents about the lack of surgeons in Darjeeling needed for the lifesaving surgery. He was then taken to one of the Private hospitals in Siliguri, where the costs of the surgery were estimated to be in the range of 70 -80 Thousand. Sohan’s parents, being tea labours, the amount was too big for them even think about it further. They tried donations and support from neighbours but that wasn’t enough.

A suggestion was also made to take him to North Bengal Medical College (or any govt hospital nearby), where this kind of surgery is supposed to be done at a very less cost than what was estimated in private hospitals. But with no availability of pediatric surgeons in NBMCH, it was suggested they take him to Sikkim’s STNM hospital.

Word of Sohan and his need reached Mr. Sanjeev Lama jyu from Chamong and he talked with his friends and contacts in Sikkim. Sohan was then transferred to Sikkim and admitted to STNM Hospital in Sikkim on 9th May. After a week-long round of checkups his surgery was completed on 18th May. The Doctors informed us that the delay was caused by his weak health. Sohan was given best possible treatment and finally got discharged on the 21st of May. For the relief of all Sohan is fine and doing well now on his way to recovery.

None of this would have been possible without the help of many good Souls from Sikkim who came forward to help a child in need.

We from Darjeeling send a big shout out to all the people who made this possible. Special Thanks to Mr. Sanjeev Lama (Chamong, Darjeeling), Mr. Pravin Khaling ji (Journalist, Sikkim), Sri D. B Chauhan ji (BJP State President, Sikkim), and a Very special thanks to Dr. K. B Gurung ji, Superintendent, STNM Hospital Sikkim. We also send our very heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Bikram Khadka ji, Pediatric Surgeon, STNM Hospital Sikkim and all his medical team for the surgery and treatment and care given to Sohan.

We would also like to thank Shri Mani Kumar Sharma ji, Honorable Health Minister, Govt of Sikkim who personally got involved to make everything goes smooth and possible for Sohan and his family.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Sikkim. May the almighty bless you all. Keep doing your good work. Jai Hos.

This news about Sohan and his recovery by the hard work of the doctors and medical staff of STNM though it elates us with happiness, it also compels us to ponder over about our own situation, STNM Hospital, Its Staff, its medical Facilities leave us wishing we had better medical facilities here in Gorkhaland region itself. We are also left wishing we had better policies to upgrade the socio-economic capacities of our people from our region. Wish we had better politicians, better policy makers here in Gorkhaland region who could think beyond the mere luster of money and power.

Some Wishful thinking.

Writes: Dipendra Dipzo

The post Thank You, Sikkim appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Today, we join the Trishakti Corps in remembering them and honouring their legacy.

1967 – Here is what had happened

On the morning of October 1, 1967, a Chinese platoon got into a heated argument with a forward platoon commander (Naib Subedar Gyan Bahadur Limbu) over the ownership of a boulder demarcating the boundary at Cho La, another pass on the Sikkim-Tibet border a few kilometres north of Nathu La.

In the ensuing scuffle, the Chinese bayoneted Limbu and took up aggressive positions. The famously gritty Gorkhas (of the newly formed 7/11 Gorkha Regiment) stood their ground. The Indian troops retaliated with a fierce counterattack against their enemy – who was forming up for an assault.

Section commander Lance Naik Krishna Bahadur led this charge and was hit by thrice by Chinese bullets. Despite being unable to use his weapon, the injured braveheart nevertheless urged his men on, gesticulating with his khukri till he was killed in a machine-gun volley.

Rifleman Devi Prasad Limbu charged at the Chinese with his Khukri after all his ammunition had been exhausted, taking five of them down before he too was martyred. His raw courage was later honoured with the Vir Chakra.

Another Vir Chakra was awarded to Havildar Tinjong Lama, who used his 57mm recoilless gun to knock out a heavy machine gun being used by the Chinese to unleash withering fire. Colonel KB Joshi, the commanding officer, too personally led a company attack to recapture Point 15,450.

An intense gunbattle at Cho La pass continued for the next 10 days. The Gorkhas’ fierce reaction eventually pushed the Chinese to withdraw three kilometres to a feature named Kam Barracks, where they remain deployed to date.

In a way, at least some ghosts of the 1962 war had been laid to rest at Nathu La and Cho La. And ever since, both the passes have remained firmly under India’s control. So has Sikkim.

Heroes of “Battle of Cho La”, Sikkim:

Debi Prasad Limbu and Tinjong Lama (11 Gorkha Rifles).

Debi Prasad Limbu alone with his khukuri dismantled Chinese forward defense wall opposite point 15450. He cut off heads of 5 PLA men and killed few more. Even Chinese officer asked the Indian counterpart ‘Who the hell was he?”. They were calling him ‘Tiger of Chola!’
He was awarded Vir Chakra.

The post THE GORKHAS BRAVES – Who Bloodied Chinese Nose in Cho La, Sikkim 1967 appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

The civil society organization demanded that Sikkim Chief Minister PS Golay dismiss Khaling as his political secretary for a “fair investigation”.

“Serious allegations have been leveled against Jacob Khaling. So, we want him (Khaling) to be removed from all government posts that he is currently holding for the sake of a fair investigation,” the SNS had said.

Meanwhile, Jacob Khaling had rubbished the alleged rape case against him, saying he was not even in Gangtok on November 11, 2020 (the day of the alleged incident).

“I was in Daramdin, Soreng, and Hee Gaon from November 10, returning to Gangtok only on November 13. On November 10, I was attending the funeral of former Chief Minister Sanchaman Limboo in Hee Gaon,” he said in a press conference.

Khaling, on August 23 defended himself surrounded by the members of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha’s women wing. He stated, “Passang Sherpa is 1000% wrong, all claims are false, they are self-generated lies. A well-crafted FIR written by Bharat Basnet and through the experience of Tseten Tashi. I have filed an FIR against all three of them, along with Sonam Sherpa and a few others like Khusboo Verma and Avinash Yakha, who were plotting the rumor between me and Doncee Lama days before Sikkim Nagrik Samaj made the fake FIR public”.

The very next day, the alleged victim, who is also an SKM functionary claimed the FIR to be fake and said that the incidents mentioned in the letter had never happened.

The ‘victim’ said that accusations against Khaling, which were widely reported as ‘false’ and ‘fabricated’. She further filed a counter FIR against Sikkim Nagarik Samaj pressing defamation amongst other charges.

Amidst the controversy, on August 18th, the alleged ‘victim’ was appointed as a member of the Sikkim State Commission for Women.

The post DANGEROUS GAMES IN SIKKIM: CM’s Political Secretary Faced Rape Allegations – Alleged Victim Denies Writing the Letter appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Avinam, originally from Dikchu, East Sikkim, was born and brought up at Tibet Road in Gangtok by parents D.N. Manger and Jashodha Gurung.

The 21-year-old is currently pursuing literature at Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College, Tadong. He is also a writer and a poet.

Avinam, spoke on the topic ‘Vocal for Local: Pathway to Transformational Change to make India an Economic Superpower’ at the Central hall of the Parliament.

Earlier he had told Sikkim Express, “When I am representing Sikkim in the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF), it is time to raise my voice. I want the Central government to know what Sikkim is capable of. Vocal for Local’ is a new concept started by the Central government, so I don’t want to limit myself to national articles, but try to take examples from my own State.”

I admire Avinam's lively and passionate speech. He hails from Sikkim and spoke at length about India’s development. Do listen. pic.twitter.com/bsta9SRpHU

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2021

“The lockdown has been very productive for me as one of my poems has been published in ‘Aulos’, an anthology of poems, and one research paper has been published by the University of California,” Avinam had said earlier.

He is also an active NGO member and had participated in Sai Youth Parliament at Kodiakanan in 2019.

We CONGRATULATE Avinam for his success and we are hopeful that his win will inspire thousands of our youths to attempt to be the best in their vocation.

Take a bow Avinam!! You have earned it!!

The post GORKHA PRIDE: Sikkim lad Avinam Manger Stands 3rd in National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) 2021 appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Ties between Sikkim and Tibet date back to the time when Sikkim, nestled as a small kingdom, south of Tibet, was still a sovereign country under the Namgyal Dynasty. People in Sikkim, irrespective of their faith have an affinity to the Dalai Lama. When you are in the heart of the state Capital in Gangtok’s MG Marg, a detour upwards from the City’s Square will lead you to a street named ‘Tibet Road’. The name was never changed as it embarks on the historical exchanges between the two kingdoms. Walk into the living room of an average Sikkimese, and you will see a portrait of the 14th Dalai Lama hanging by the wall. He is an embodiment of god to many Sikkimese, and perhaps Bharat Ratna amplifies a voice that has been silenced for 61 years.

On the occasion of Dalai Lama’s 85th birthday, EastMojo caught up with the members of the Tibetan Youth Congress in Sikkim.

“Perhaps the border dispute in Galwan has made India realize what we have said to India for 60 years, never to trust the Chinese. For all these years, our brothers in Tibet have been struggling, revolting. One voice raised against the Chinese government leads to the end of an entire family. We don’t have freedom of speech, expression, movement or religion. We cannot resort to violence and perhaps it is time now for India to show the World, the Tibetan struggle and what it feels like to have a neighbour like China,” says Chung Chung, former president, TYC.

“The Boycott China movement has been a resonating call of the Tibetans in exile for years, India is merely adapting to it now. Tibet being free is beneficial for India as it shares most of its borders with Tibet and not China, technically,” Tenzing Palber says president TYC.

On the night of March 7, 1959 Dalai Lama left Lhasa and is yet to return, generations of Tibetans have tried to fulfil the promise given to their forefathers of taking Dalai Lama back to his palace in Lhasa.

“So wherever he is, that is epicenter of the Tibetan movement. Among the other countries, His Holiness knew India would give the best healthcare and education to the Tibetans because India and Tibet’s culture, belief, roots, and spirituality are similar. All calculations led to India, we are thankful to our forefathers who brought religion from India, who brought the alphabets to Tibet drawn from Sanskrit language. We could have gone to Mongolia or even China, but we got all of that from India”, stated former Tibetan Youth Congress President Chung Chung.

Ever since 1959, the Tibetan government in exile functions from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, fondly referred as the ‘Second Lhasa’ or even the ‘First Capital of Tibetan Freedom Struggle’.

India has not merely given asylum to Tibetans but also given them voting rights. In Sikkim, where some of them settled before Sikkim became part of India, they are also recognized as holders of Sikkim Subject, the ancestral citizenship document.

“Our forefathers just as every Sikkimese had Sikkim Subject, 90% of Tibetans today have Certificate of Identification, the subsequent recognized document to the Sikkim Subject. We guarded the erstwhile Chogyal during the time of the 1974 agitation. We have a municipal councillor in Pema Wongda, who is a representative of the Tibetan people in the Gangtok municipality. We do have a Representative Officer here in Gangtok, who takes all our queries to the Tibetan Government in Exile as well”, stated Chung Chung.

In the past and even today, some of the recognized schools in Sikkim such as Tashi Namgyal Academy, Paljor Namgyal Girls Senior Secondary School and Enchey School teach Tibetan language. “All of which were ascertained in the erstwhile Chogyal regime, when Sikkim was still a country. In the heart of town, there is the presence of Tibetan Private School which teaches in Tibetan, English, Nepali and Hindi and caters not merely to the Tibetan population but also students from other communities. Indian Government has allowed the Civil Services Examination to the Tibetan Refugees, and Residential Certificate holders can also apply. We are eligible even for bank jobs, it has existed for decades now”, said TYC President Tenzin Palber.

Most Tibetans in Sikkim are sentimental about being Sikkimese, partly because taking the Sikkim Subject document into account, they get equal rights just as anyone in Sikkim.

Before 1959, there was a lot of exchange between Sikkimese and the Tibetans. There is a town in Tibet called Dhoktapa, which had a healthy Sikkimese population. It served as the Sikkimese town and is not very far from the current existing border in Southern Tibet, maybe an overnight journey on foot. The town was gifted to the king of Sikkim as relations between the kingdoms was excellent. “After Tibet was occupied by the Chinese, those Dhoktapas were also displaced and had to come to Sikkim, and that makes the most of us, as well. Tibet, did have a sound population of Tamangs and Gurungs from the Nepali Buddhist community,” stated Chundi.

On the terminology of refugee being used, many Tibetans feel they are part of India now. “The struggle was of our forefathers, and they are the ones who have seen Tibet, for us, it is Shangrila, a place we have never seen. If you go to the fundamental right, we were born in India, and we are citizens here now. Still our country is our country, even if we have not seen it. Home is home; freedom is freedom; our place is our place. Sikkim has never dented such efforts of ours. We can openly be ourselves here in Sikkim, carry out work and businesses. Sikkim has blessed us, always. But when we term the border as China border, we are showing or exhibiting a wrong message to the world; it is Tibetan border. There is existence of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and not Indo-China Border Police, for a reason,” said Chung Chung

On the existing border dispute in Tibetan Autonomous Region under China, the Tibetans in Sikkim say, “Don’t just see Galwan, but see other neighbouring countries of India as well. China has been investing, giving them the platform to wage war against India. Pakistan is facing the issues of encroachment, Nepal is and so is Bhutan now. It is the right time for India to raise its voice against China. The boycotting of apps gives us the advantage. We have been crying since 1959 and have done so much. Foot rallies, protest, Bharat Jagao Yatra, hunger strike for 48 days in Jantar Mantar in 1998 where the first-ever self-immolation took place, we wrote with our blood, we went for Tawang Yatra with RSS. Yet, our voice was not heard, China can never be trusted”, said Palber.

On their identity as Tibetans in refuge, another Tibetan youth added, “I feel proud to call myself a Tibetan, there was some shame among our people years ago, but that doesn’t exist. If Tibet were free, that shame would dissipate, the fear of being refugee dissipates. China has been tactical from COVID 19, economic crisis and now border disputes In 1949 when China started invading Tibet, India was freshly out of its own struggle, so India didn’t get time to stand on its feet and help Tibet. Still, now India is a much stronger country and having Tibet as your neighbour will harbour the teachings of the Great 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, that compassion, inevitably wins over struggles.”

This article was originally published here.

Writes: Pankaj Dungel

The post Tibet is Shangri-La, A Home We Never Saw appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

In the advertisement, the eligibility criteria for applicant is mentioned as “Citizen of India or a subject of Sikkim or of Bhutan or of Nepal and a resident of Delhi”. Arvind Kejriwal later apologized for the goof-up, but the damage had already been done.

Protesting against the advertisement, PS Golay, Chief Minister of Sikkim, tweeted “This advertisement published by the Delhi Government in various print media mentions Sikkim along with countries like Bhutan and Nepal. Sikkim has been a part of India since 1975 and celebrated the State Day just a week ago.”

He further added, “Sikkim is a part of India and should this is condemnable and I would request the Delhi Government to rectify this issue.”

As the news gained more popularity over social media, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi stated there will be Zero tolerance for such gross misconduct and directed the Delhi Government to immediately withdraw the advertisement. He further stated that “A senior officer of Directorate of Civil Defence (HQ) has been suspended with immediate effect for publishing an Advertisement which disrespects the territorial integrity of India by making incorrect reference to Sikkim on the same lines as some neighbouring countries.”

‘Big Silly Mistake’ or Selective Amnesia?

As the news caught more attention in the media, many others came forward that the accusation on Arvind Kejriwal is a BJP-led attack. That similar notice was published even by the Uttar Pradesh Government in the website of UP Civil Defence.

One of the leading online media from the Northeast had cited the official website of the Directorate General Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards (under MHA) and has reported that even the central government document makes the same mistake.

The mentioned news portal has uploaded The Civil Defence Regulations, 1968 (including Amendment issued vide notification G.S.R. 520, dated 6th April, 1971, and G.S.R. 382, dated 30th March, 1973). Please note the date of the amendment here, which is before Sikkim’s merger with India.

It was difficult to believe that a notification which was issued before Sikkim’s merger still held true.

We did our own little research upon some sagely advice that any notification issued by the MHA should be checked up with MHA itself before making any claims.  

THE CIVIL DEFENCE ACT, 1968 uploaded in the MHA website, in its very first Chapter, Pt 1 (2), it states that the act “extends to the whole of India.” The word ‘Extends’ has a footnote which states that “1st October, 1975, vide notification No. S.O. 478(E), dated 8th September, 1975, extended and brought into force in the State of Sikkim.”

While all the outrage has been directed against the MHA for its 1968 regulation, a time when Sikkim existed independently. Every report has conveniently ignored to note the notification No. S.O. 478(E), dated 8th September, 1975, which extends the act to the State of Sikkim.

Ignorance or Deliberate Malice?

What is most baffling is the timing of this controversy. The recent skirmish between Indian and Chinese forces in Naku La and Ladakh region cannot be forgotten. More importantly, the recent publication of a ‘New Map’ by Nepal at the behest of China aimed at ruffling Indian Government cannot be ignored too. With attempts at terrorist incursions by Pakistan at its peak and repeated references to sabotaging the “Chicken Neck” region by anti-national forces, this fresh attempt to bring the contentious Sikkim Subject issue does raise certain concerns.

The subject issue is a very sensitive topic in the state, as well as its implications as enshrined in Article 371 of the our Constitution is closely watched in the rest of North East India. There are legitimate fears that those who brought up knew exactly what they were doing.

Intellectuals Much

What is even more shocking, but not surprising is to see self-proclaimed ‘intellectual brigade’, from outside Sikkim leading the outrage on Social Media, with highlighted screenshots about the nationality section in the Act, but conveniently ignoring the very first Chapter of the Act as published by MHA.

One needs to be careful.

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The state stopped issuing Inner Line Permits to foreign tourists from March 5, as per reports but did not restrict the movement of people from other states till March 16

Reportedly, Sikkim implemented a ban on tourists, both domestic and foreign, starting from March 16, 2020 after receiving notification from the government of India that all the border states should ban the entry of foreigners. However, the state stopped issuing Inner Line Permits (ILPs) to the foreign tourists from March 5, as per reports, but did not restrict the movement of people from other states till March 16. Sikkim also needs to be appreciated for its early start of thermal screening of persons entering the state at various entry points.

Some of the factors that has played a role in the safe passage of Sikkim and withholding of COVID19 virus beyond its southern border, so far, may briefly be summarised below:

Geographical location

Sikkim has greatly benefited from its geographical location. It represents a small piece of land that sits isolated above the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (West Bengal). It is internationally bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal in east, north, and west respectively. Its southern base shares a boundary with the state of West Bengal.

International borders bounding Sikkim are, anyway, always closed given its strategic location. Therefore, once the state’s border with West Bengal in its southern base was sealed in the third week of March, cross border demographic exchanges were completely halted. This was not the case with majority of other states of India where inter-state people’s movement has been going on till date. It is not possible to entirely seal bigger states of the country.

Small size of the state

Sikkim is the second smallest state in the country after Goa in terms of its geographical area, measuring just 7096 sq km. It is the smallest state in terms of its population registering only a little over 6 lakh as per the Census of India, 2011. The neighbouring Darjeeling district (including present Kalimpong) had recorded over 18-lakh population in the same year. There are many sub-divisions in the country with more population than that of Sikkim. Small size of the state has rendered Sikkimese polity and administration to orient and re-orient the state much faster and easier to achieve public consensus.

This again brings on table as to how smaller states can handle problems at hand timely, efficiently and effectively. Bigger states, on the other hand, have mostly made mess out of all critical problems including developments and disasters.

Sikkim has been a relatively disciplined state in comparison to many other states in the country. This is true concerning most of the Himalayan and Northeastern states of the country.

Swift, bold and timely decisions

Smaller size of the state has made lives of the decision-makers relatively easier in Sikkim unlike bigger states in the country where uncountable ideas/viewpoints and conflict of interests, not to talk of politics, have been recorded often negatively impacting the efficient decision making processes at this time of pandemic. Sikkim has, therefore, taken full advantage of its small population size and relatively homogenous public psyche by taking swift, bold and timely decisions. Timely decisions are very important at the time of disasters.

Public discipline

Sikkim has been a relatively disciplined state in comparison to many other states in the country. This is true concerning most of the Himalayan and Northeastern states of the country. Small population size, unique socio-economic and cultural features, peripheral location, complex historical antecedents and efficient decision-making process of the state have played notable role in this connection. It’s also important to highlight here that people living in the hills and mountains in general are comparatively soft, disciplined and law abiding souls unlike the so-called ‘mainstreamers’ who are vastly different than the hillians with regard to approaches and ways of lives.

Luck by chance

Last but not the least, Sikkim has been extremely lucky not to have recorded any COVID19 cases inside the state, so far, although sizable Sikkimese students and others reside outside the state for various reasons and who have been gradually returning home. The nearby Kalimpong district was not so lucky when its resident brought home COVID19 in the third week of March while she returned home from Chennai. After infecting several in the family and neighbourhood, the patient died on March 30, 2020, at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

Let’s hope and pray that this trend and pattern continue well into the future and Sikkim can keep itself safe and clean of COVID19 hazard.

To sum up, in the backdrop of extraordinary bio-disasters like COVID19, we need to undertake critical analysis of the ‘state of our resources and capabilities’ at our disposal at various levels- country, state, district and GPU. All disaster management plans should have a dedicated chapter on ‘Resources and Capability Analysis’, which needs to be revised periodically. Important sectors that need analysis may include health, education, administration, human resource, police and communication. This becomes important because the future is uncertain and newer disasters may hit us more frequently in the days to come. Changing global climate may bring about very many risks and challenges that are unheard of to humans at the moment.

At the moment, COVID19 has been our single most critical challenge to tackle upon. This pandemic has suddenly reminded us of the importance of the health sector and essential resources therein. It has blatantly exposed how our governments and policy planners have neglected this critical sector over the years. Sikkim is no exception in this regard. Someone has to map the geography of health infrastructure in Sikkim and show the policy makers the actual status of health in the state.

We should ask ourselves, why does every second Sikkimese prefer to visit Siliguri to secure her/his health?

This article was originally posted here.

The post Why Sikkim has been Able to Maintain Zero COVID19 Cases Till Date appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

The tourists, who were already in panic and worry, and were hoping for a miracle to save them. Too much of their relief, the Indian Army immediately jumped in the situation and initiated a massive rescue operation. The tourists, who also included many children, women and senior citizen, were taken and accommodated to the army camp where they were provided proper food, accommodation, warmth and medication.

Bulldozers and JBCs were employed immediately by the army to make sure that the road was cleared as soon as possible so that the tourists could be shifted to Gangtok as soon as possible.

We salute the selfless act of the Indian Army and stand highly proud of them. Conducting such massive operation in such climatic conditions itself is a challenge, but then they gracefully pulled it off.

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