Articles

no to racism

Articles June 4, 2020

A Pandemic of Disease or a Pandemic of Hate?

In December 2019 a cluster of pneumonia-like cases was reported in the Wuhan district of China for the first time. Five months later, this previously unknown contagious disease has wreaked havoc across the globe. The COVID-19 aka SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) pandemic has affected – directly and indirectly – almost every individual in the world. It has crashed entire economies, tested healthcare infrastructures, and caused havoc and general panic among the global public. The modern world has come to an uneasy and uncertain standstill.

Loreto

Articles May 28, 2020

LORETO – My Alma Mater – My Home

The first group of Loreto nuns came to India in 1841 and opened a school in Calcutta the same year. Five years later, Loreto came to Darjeeling during the British Raj and started a school at a temporary site in 1846. The school was relocated to the current site in 1847, exactly 100 years before India was to gain independence. At the time of its foundation, the school was the only educational institute at Darjeeling. It is nothing short of a miracle that given the time and place, the Loreto Sisters within a few weeks of their arrival had opened a school with provisions for residential and day scholars. I have often wondered how did they ever manage the logistics?

Paatal Lok Nepali Randi

Articles May 22, 2020

Why Nepalis are offended with “Just a Dialogue” in Amazon’s new series Paatal Lok

Feature cops, underworld, a mysterious Guruji aka Masterji, use “high-profile” in dialogues, let a prominent character cheat on his wife, get the hero-cop suspended in the mid of the investigation, and there you have it, “just another great Indian procedural drama.” But that would be the kind of great that people relish and forget. Say Sacred Games. So, why not make it unforgettable aka a “classic?” Sprinkle a bit, nay, a lot of controversies, and there you have it- “just another great Indian procedural drama” raking high ratings, thanks to baffling dialogues such as “Nepali Randi.”

Public Health

Articles May 15, 2020

Time to Make “Universal Public Health a Fundamental Right” – Addressing Faultlines in Public Health Services

The COVID19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability in our Public Health System. It has opened our eyes to the importance and needs of a robust Public Health Service in our country. At present Multiple fault lines along with a plethora of Laws, that have no clear cut demarcation as to who shall, in times of such exigencies, exercise real authority, exist. This has lead to a weakened and fragmented approach in dealing with the crisis.

Mother's Day

Articles May 10, 2020

Anna Jarvis: The Mother of Mother’s Day

In the contemporary world, many countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. The culture of celebrating this day began from America when Anna Jarvis decided to honour the humanistic contributions made by her mother Ann Mary Jarvis. Anna’s mother was an American nurse during the time of the American Civil War. Professionally, she was neutral and took care of the wounded soldiers of both the camps fighting with one another during the wartime. She even organized Mother’s Picnic Day and invited mothers who had lost their beloved sons in the war. Ann Mary was against the war and fought for peace and unity. Finally, the American government under President Woodrow Wilson declared second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day and made it an annual holiday.

Home Quarantine

Articles May 4, 2020

Home Quarantine is Dangerous for Darjeeling Hills

In this crucial time of the COVID 19 that rendered thousands of migrant labourers, students, medical patients as well as travellers in a difficult situation outside their home, many states including Sikkim has already taken an initiative to bring them back home but with strict norms of 14 days quarantine at designated quarantine centres.

Teaching Online Classes

Articles May 3, 2020

Role of Teaching Fraternity in Combating the Coronavirus Pandemic

Never before have we seen a lockdown of such scale and magnitude, at least in our lifetime. It is our only way to fight the virus and prevent its spread, at least for as long as we don’t develop a vaccine for it. Until then, we have to find ways to carry on our work from the confines of our homes. Technology provides us with the means to do that in a very successful manner.