Kurseong

KURSEONG, KALIMPONG and MIRIK MUNICIPALITY

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”.

Isabella Gurung

Global June 19, 2024

Shout Out to Isabella Gurung of Kurseong

Sikkim Express journalist Isabella Gurung is representing India at the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled ‘Call to Climate Action: Building Public Awareness through Media Advocacy’- a project for India at the United States of America (USA) from June 15 -July 6.

Parliamentary Standing Committee

National July 14, 2022

Parliamentary Standing Committee Scathing Findings on Darjeeling and Dooars Tea Industry – Recommends Legislative Action for Ensuring Parja Patta Rights and Other Reforms

The report takes note that “the tea garden workers in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars do not have land or ‘Parja-Patta’ (land rights) on their ancestral tea growing lands. To dwell on their ancestral homes, they must send at least one family members to work for the tea company. On failure to send a family member for work, they lose their rights to live on their ancestral lands. Since the land rights are vested with tea company, there have been instances when the aged workers having no children were denied the right to even repair their houses on their ancestral lands.”

J.C.B

Articles May 6, 2022

The Politics of J.C.B

One of our readers has written the following to highlight how J.C.B led politics could lead to environmental catastrophe and how the silence of the government/authorities in this whole sordid saga is alarming

Bhangera - Sparrow

Bicky April 5, 2022

The Lost Charm of Darjeeling: Of Bhangera and Aiselo

It was just another March morning. My eyes were half awake and my fingers were already scrolling the phone screen shuffling between the headlines and news articles corresponding to my conventional practice of starting a day. Just then, I happened to come across a picture of a bhangera – sparrow. The moment hit me hard somewhere and took me for a long travel down my memory lane.

Stories

Articles February 1, 2022

Safekeeper of Stories

Back in 2017, when the agitation of Gorkhaland was going strong. People were killed, jailed, the internet was banned but the hope then was strong. At least for me- I had an entrance exam at Shillong. A good escape from the reality of being inept to the land, which I loved the most.

Permanent Political Solution Gorkhaland

Upendra October 7, 2021

“PERMANENT POLITICAL SOLUTION” – A Guide for Dummies

Much has been said and written about the so-called ‘Permanent Political Solution’ from many quarters. There are online discussions, zoom meetings, and political rallies galore, on ‘Permanent Political Solution’ (PPS). Some seem to believe it will be the panacea to all the issues confronting our region and people, while others believe it will be just another ‘Hawa-Mithai’.

Darjeeling politics Gorkhaland

Articles August 24, 2021

Politics in Darjeeling Hills – Race to the Bottom

I came to Darjeeling for my college 10 years back and one of my dear friends who was staying in Darjeeling for many years gives me a tip on the first day that was “you cannot predict and trust the weather in Darjeeling it is unpredictable ” anytime it can be rainy, sunny, cold, windy and so on”. It was very hard for me to understand until I went to Lebong to watch the Gold cup match on a very sunny day and ended up seeing fog most of the time, and the players and football only occasionally.