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
Kurseong
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.
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.
Memories, Sishnu Culture, and Politics of the Hills
People around the world create fences, walls, and boundaries, not so long ago in our villages of Darjeeling and Kalimpong we did it too, although naturally!
“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’.
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.
CELEBRATING असार ko १५ – Asar ko Pandhra: Marks the Planting Season
Not sure how many have heard the term “Asar ko Pandhra bhai rako bela ma… wakkai na laga ta”. Our grandmother used to use that phrase often whenever she was inundated with work, and we ended up giving her more trouble.
Assistant Teachers Appointment – Who Do We Blame?
Recently, the West Bengal Central School Service Commission released the interview and the final vacancy list related to the 1st SLST [AT] 2016 for the requirement to the post of Assistant Teachers Appointment at Upper Primary Level of schools [Expect work and Physical Education].
Minor Male Child Raped – Accused Arrested
A shocking story of a 14-years-old minor male child raped by a 24-years-old man in one of the villages in the hill region of Darjeeling District has recently come to light. The culprit was arrested on the night of 21st June and sent into Judicial Custody, while the victim was also rescued and has been kept at a children’s home.
It was reportedly found during the investigations that the child wasn’t just raped by the said individual once, but on two separate occasions – the first time in April this year and the second time recently this month. It has been reported that the victim’s father had died while he was still very young and his mother didn’t stay with him. As such, he was living with his uncle, who has been taking care of him as his guardian.
No Country for the Unconnected – Students Suffer (Online Classes) Due to Lack of Access to Networks in North Bengal
“Online Classes” was a term added to the popular lexicon after the COVID pandemic forced schools and colleges across the country to shut down. Today almost everything is being done online – schooling, office work, meetings, and sometimes even wedding ceremonies. The digital world is a great equalizer, it provides equal opportunities for all, as long as they are connected to the network. Tragically for the majority of students from Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars accessing the network itself is a battle, they keep on losing. Other than those lucky few who live in towns, or on the right side of the mountain where network signals are strong, the majority of the people from rural regions here do not have access to cellular networks.