Kalimpong

Articles April 17, 2025

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.

Sandip C Jain April 16, 2025

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.

Sandip C Jain April 10, 2025

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.

Dr. Vimal Khawas, Sikkim February 17, 2025

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.

Sandip C Jain February 9, 2025

Gyalo Thondup And His Place In Modern Tibetan History

Any book on Kalimpong which intends to document the past and present of this town would be shorn of its credibility if it does not tell the story of Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and arguably the most colourful personality in Tibetan politics in the second half of the 20th century.

Sandip C Jain February 8, 2025

FALL OF THE LAST T

The Hills of Darjeeling have traditionally always has had its 4Ts – tea, tourism, timber & teaching to sustain itself economically. The lay of the land and the lack of natural minerals never allowed us to be a manufacturing or trading hub and through the ages the 4Ts have been the main stay of our economy. The last of the 4Ts, though definitely not the least T, has been the Teaching industry.

Know Our Icons, Obituary January 22, 2025

Padma Shri Kajee Singh – In Memorium

Born on July 25, 1945, in Phoobsering Tea Estate, Darjeeling, Kajee Singh’s lifelong dedication to the preservation and formalization of Nepali folk music began in his early years. The son of Maadalaacharya Indrajeet Singh Sardaar, he inherited a deep-rooted passion for music from his family, which had been cultivating the classical folk music tradition of the Gorkha community for generations. His father’s influence, along with his own keen interest in traditional culture, would shape his path and inspire him to bring the Maadal — a revered Nepali musical instrument — to the forefront of Indian music.

Sandip C Jain September 20, 2024

Pandora’s Box

As per Greek mythology, when Prometheus stole fire from Heaven and brought it to the mortal world, Zesus, the King of Gods angered by this act, decided, in vengeance, to create Pandora, the first mortal female, and presented her as a wife to Epimetheus, who was the brother of Prometheus. The Gods presented her with a box and instructed her never to open it but unable to contain her curiosity, she opened up the forbidden box, unleashing sickness, death and many other evil effects, which the box contained. The Greeks believe that her stupidity is the root cause of all worldly evils. This is the story of the Pandora’s box.

Local, Regional September 13, 2024

KURSEONG, KALIMPONG and MIRIK MUNICIPALITY ELECTIONS – Calcutta HC Gives 6 Weeks to WB Govt

HC observed: “Despite the constitutional mandate and the observation of the Supreme Court, we find that the State of West Bengal has not taken any action to hold elections and form Board of Councillors for Kurseong and Kalimpong municipalities, and Mirik notified area.”

The court directed the Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department to consider the representation of the petitioner and “take a proper and legal decision bearing in mind constitutional mandate and the Supreme Court decision”.

Articles September 4, 2024

What Does It Mean To Be A Woman In India?

Imagine the traumatic experiences every Indian woman can recount from childhood to adulthood: unwanted glances, unwanted touches, and unsolicited advice on how they should conduct themselves to stay “safe” forever etched in their core memory.

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