Nepali Finally Included as an “Optional Subject” in WBCS Mains Exams
We are happy to report that after over a decade of activism, Nepali has been finally included as an Optional Subject in WBCS Mains Exams.
Darjeeling
Amidst Festivities, CST Darjeeling Students Offer “Tenshug” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Amid vibrant cultural festivities, former students of the Central School for Tibetans (CST), Darjeeling, joined by members of the Tibetan communities from New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota, gathered on June 4 at the Tsuglagkhang Temple Complex in McLeodganj to offer a heartfelt “Tenshug – long life prayer ceremony”, to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Tenshug Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Former CST Darjeeling Students Assemble in McLeodganj
Tenshug refers to a ceremonial and devotional request made to a great spiritual teacher to live long and continue turning the Wheel of Dharma for…
“Restoring Democracy” by Beating Up Activists?
On the 2nd of May, an activist from Darjeeling – Sudhan Gurung, was brutally attacked by some men right in the heart of the town. The attack caused grievous injuries to Sudhan, deep cuts on his head and massive blood loss. Fortunately, he could be rushed to the hospital immediately, and was pulled out of danger.
OF THE QUEEN AND THE CLOWNS
The British called our place THE QUEEN OF THE HILLS- if our place was really the queen then her palace was definitely the most beautiful of all. The lush green Hills, the crystal clear air, the view of the majestic Kanchenjunga and her sister mountains, the very amicable climate and the pure mountain springs rushing down the hills to rendezvous with the mighty Himalayan rivers- all made these Hills a palace worthy of the mighty Queen.
PARAKAMPAN – Aftershocks
As we travelled in the airport taxi, he didn’t ask about home, our neighbours, or old friends. Nothing.
After his house was burned down during the 1986 political movement for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling, his parents had passed away the following year. Perhaps it was the overwhelming grief and exhaustion from losing their home. That was what the locals believed, too.
Darjeeling – Queen of the Hills!!
The British discovered Darjeeling by coincidence. It was a stroke of sheer luck that the British chanced upon Darjeeling in the year 1829 and its discovery ended years of search for a Hill station in the Bengal province
Scheduled Tribe Re-Inclusion Will Be Jeopardized
If there is communal strife in our region, it will, in all likelihood, give the Central Government an excuse to deny all the sub-tribes ST status, as center will show law and order problem.
I am therefore requesting all sub-tribes please don’t get involved in this manufactured tensions. The chances that those instigating you are working for the powers that be, or for money to foster communal strife and tension is very high.
il dolce far niente
That’s what we did, we hung around in Chorwasta all day long, doing nothing, watch life happen. I recently realized, the Italians have philosophy and phrase for this – “Il dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing.”
It could mean anything, from looking at time fly by, drinking a cup of tea, “season herdai – looking at people of opposite sex” or simply guffing. When you are devoting your time on do-nothing leisure activities, one is supposed to be experiencing “il dolce far niente.”
Transboundary Teesta River – A Dilemma
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.