Kalimpong

Zeuxine yonzoneana: A New Orchid Named After a Kalimpong Botanist

Zeuxine yonzoneana – The orchid was first discovered on 13th October, 2017 in the Samalbong area of Kalimpong District. A fragile plant 14 cm tall, it bears yellowish-white flowers, and its features have never been documented before. In a rare honour, the orchid now carries Dr. Yonzone’s surname, ensuring that his contribution will remain etched in botanical history.


Culture of Peace Research Support: How important is this for us and our narrative?

The advertisement for the research grant for the Culture of Peace research programme by Zubaan in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Stiftung becomes significant to us. It is open to applicants from the eight Northeastern states, along with those from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The advertisement further states that our region has been included as a contiguous region. Though the institutions do not have any political reasons for our region’s inclusion but for us it is politically a very significant development. It indicates that certain organisations, have started to understand that our region’s inclusion is of paramount importance to establish the continuity of the northeast region.


Integrated Mountain Initiative Experts Ring Alarm Over Extreme Climate Events in the Himalayan Region

We in the Himalaya, are extremely aware that we have been facing the brunt of these disasters that are the result of global forces like climate crisis as well as development pathways chosen for and by the Himalaya.  There is a need for deep introspection and creating development pathways that are mountain centric and sensitive with a long term vision that is not extractive and destructive. In the face of the climate crisis, which is predicted to worsen, there is a commitment needed at the National and International level that supports development paradigms for the Himalaya that promote resilience and wellbeing.


Revisiting the Old Gorkha Thum Dorjeling: Then & Now The Darjeeling Odyssey – A review

In 1835, through the Deed of Grant, the EIC acquired, “…out of friendship … all the land south of the Great Rungeet River, east of the Balasan River, Kalyail and Little Rungeet Rivers, and west of the Rungus and Mahanadi Rivers”(Mainwaring 1876: viii). Besides, he has elaborated on the ‘push and pull factors’ that led to Darjeeling’s transformation, and the birth of Nepalipan and the emergence of Gorkha.




Mallero: The Off-Limits Sour Fruit of Sugary Childhood Memories

Childhood can’t be weighed in years, but in memory. There are certain things only make sense during childhood—the ridiculous laughter, the skinned knees, and the bizarre pleasure of consuming something so sour it isn’t good for you. For most of us in hills especially Kalimpong, Maldero is the one fruit that embodies all that and more: Maldero a Sour Bite of Sweet Nostalgia. In reality named Mallero, but properly mispronounced by all the children in the community, Maldero was never simply a fruit. It was a feeling and a calling. A sip of liberty smothered in tartness, followed by friendship and a pinch of fear of being caught.


Bade Miyan Toh Bade Miya Chote Miya Subhan Allah

This is an issue that is pent up within the entire driving community in Kalimpong ( I am sure it’s the same elsewhere too but here I address this article only for Kalimpong) but no one has the guts or courage to speak up for fear of repression from the powers that be.


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.


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.