Are We Drinking Sips of Misery? Darjeeling’s Tea
Many have said, wrote, screamt their lungs out, then disappeared into thin air.
Blood Tea
Tea Garden Bonus – Some Thoughts
I sometimes wonder what feeling would Narayan Gopal be having when he sang – “Aljhecha Kya re Pachyawri timro chiya ko botaima.” Was “chiya ko bot” a resemblance of wealth? Was “chiyabari” a happy and prosperous place? While the former may still be true, the latter is most certainly not – and that has today become a concern for every citizen in the Hills – be it the residents or the non-residents of the tea gardens.
G20 Tourism Meet in 5-star Hotels in the Tea Gardens – While Tea Workers are Landless
The so called “tea tourism” venues chosen for this summit is the prime example of unsustainable tourism. The UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization defines Sustainable Tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”
These massive constructions in a fragile mountain ecosystem are not at all sustainable. Further, I would be surprised if any of these 5-star resorts that have come up had their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done. The impact these massive hotels place on local resources are huge, and other than working paltry jobs, these massive hotels don’t benefit the local communities in any way, shape or form.
RETHINKING THE TEA INDUSTRY – Tea Garden Familes Aren’t Bonded Labourers
The way the tea industry is set up is highly feudalistic with the workers having zero rights. This was a model championed by the colonial Britishers. They did not want the natives to have any rights, and to remain bonded to the tea companies. This modern day bonded labour practice has continued in the tea gardens of Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars.
When Hope Was Murdered – Recalling the Historic Tea Garden Workers Agitation of 1955
From Ranbir Kapoor trying to woo Ileana D’Cruz in Baarfi, to Rajesh Khaana singing Mere Sapno Ki Rani Kab Aayegi Tu for Sharmila Tagore in Aradhana,…