ABAVP against inclusion of Dooars in GRA
KalimNews: Birsa Tirky ABAVP President declared that not an inch of Dooars and Terai will be allowed to be included in the proposed GRA. This is the land of our forefathers so how can we give it to others, Tirky said. He said ask any Adivasi they will simply say we dont want to be included in some other people's body .
TitBits:Manas Bhuiya State Congress President is visiting Darjeeling after Puja .
Binod Rai (35) of Darjeeling hanged himself in a latrine of Dhupguri Police station. He was on duty at Dhupguri for the Puja celebration.
Demons slain but without bloodshed
- Changing face of Puja sacrifices in the hills
KalimNews: Birsa Tirky ABAVP President declared that not an inch of Dooars and Terai will be allowed to be included in the proposed GRA. This is the land of our forefathers so how can we give it to others, Tirky said. He said ask any Adivasi they will simply say we dont want to be included in some other people's body .
TitBits:Manas Bhuiya State Congress President is visiting Darjeeling after Puja .
Binod Rai (35) of Darjeeling hanged himself in a latrine of Dhupguri Police station. He was on duty at Dhupguri for the Puja celebration.
Demons slain but without bloodshed
- Changing face of Puja sacrifices in the hills
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 15: The gusto is still there but Dashain celebrations have changed with times and some forms of rituals done away with altogether.
One old ritual that has slowly faded is the sacrifice of black buffalo and goat for Goddess Durga — once an integral part of the festivity. Animal activists are happy but many old people recount with nostalgia the times when they fasted on Maha Ashtami — or the eighth day of Dashain — and offered sacrifices through Kal Ratri.
While goats were sacrificed as maar on Ashtami, black buffaloes, symbolic representation of the demon Mahisasura, were sacrificed on Navami, the ninth day of Dashain.
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| Pandapara Seshbati Sarbojonin in Jalpaiguri on Friday. Picture by Biplab Basak |
“Earlier, every village used to organise maar. While the Brahmins used to sacrifice goat on Ashtami, the rest of the Nepali-speaking people stuck to black buffalo as maar on Navami. Modernity has seeped in the way the Goddess is worshipped and the sacrifices are no longer there,” said 70-year-old Tika Poudel from Kalimpong.
In fact, maar is slowly vanishing from the villages too. In Darjeeling, it is still organised at Dali where a buffalo is sacrificed on Navami. “The tradition is almost 100 years old but we have scaled down the event. There will be no public viewing and the maar is being organised only to honour local sentiments as people believe that a calamity will take place if this practice is stopped,” said an organiser of the event without wanting to be named.
Old timers recalled how during the fast on maar, a fair like ambience was created in the villages. Once the maar was completed, a feast used to be organised at the spot of the animal slaughter. “These days people prefer to slay a goat in their houses and the community celebration has vanished,” said an elder.
Many believe that the maar has slowly faded with the introduction of idol worship in the hills. “Originally, the Nepali-speaking people used to worship a khukuri as a form of shakti (power) that symbolised the Goddess Durga. However, idols started making their way up the hills from the 1950s onwards and slowly the maar tradition, which was there even a couple of years ago, vanished,” said Sanjay Thapa, an elder.
Not that people have done away with the Shakti Puja of this form altogether. Nowadays, a khukuri tied with red cloth and splashed with vermillion is worshipped as Shakti and kept in the puja rooms of individual families.
In fact, GNLF president Subash Ghisingh had introduced Shakti Puja in the hills when his party held sway but the leader himself flip-flopped and later started worshipping an 18-hand Durga idol. Usually the Goddess with 10 hands is worshipped.
The vanishing traditions of the Darjeeling hills, however, continue to be performed in Nepal. Sacrifices continue, much to the chagrin of animal right activists, who have called upon the people to use vegetables like pumpkins instead of slaughtering animals.
Hill climbers eye Delhi heights
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| Norbu (left) and Sujan (right) with club manager Dawa Gyalbu Sherpa in Darjeeling on Friday. Telegraph picture |
TT, Kalimpong, Oct. 15: Two adventure sportspersons from the hills will represent the East zone at the national-level rock-climbing competition in New Delhi next month.
Sujan Limbu and Norbu Tshering Bhutia booked their berths for the competition scheduled in the first week of November after they won gold at the East zone rock-climbing competition held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta from October 8 to 10. Both Sujan, who is 16 years old, and 24-year-old Norbu have participated at the national-level in the past.
Norbu said Sujan was one of the most promising climbers of the country. “He is the reigning junior rock-climbing champion. He will represent the country at an international competition to be held in Singapore in the middle of December.”
At the zonal competition in Calcutta, Sujan won gold medals both in the speed and lead categories in the junior section, while Norbu won gold in the speed and came fifth in the lead category of the men’s event. “The national-level competition will be conducted by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation on its south campus in New Delhi,” said Norbu.
The sport of rock-climbing was introduced in a formal way in the country in 1991 and has been growing steadily since, Norbu said. “Rock-climbing as a sport is very popular in the European countries. Since its introduction in India, adventure-seeking youths, in New Delhi and Mumbai in particular, are taking to it in a steady way.”
A Class IX student of Bhabra Sheela Memorial Institution, Sujan said he was very happy with his twin wins. “I would specially like to thank my school principal for supporting me. During competitions he readily agrees to grant me leave from school. I hope to do both my school and the Darjeeling hills proud by excelling in my chosen sport of rock-climbing.”
Sujan took to the sport at a very young age, while Norbu started rock-climbing seven years ago.
The adventure sportsmen are members of the Blue Dragon Climbing Club based in Darjeeling.
World tour the Wright way
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| The two-seater aircraft used by Patrick Elliot and his wife for the world tour |
Mrinalini Sharma, TT, Siliguri, Oct. 15: The Wright brothers invented the aircraft in 1903 and more than 100 years later a British couple are following in their footsteps: globe-trotting in their self-made aeroplane.
Sheer wanderlust and thirst for adventure spurred Patrick Elliot, a former pilot with the British Airways, and wife Linda Walker to embark on this journey on September 11 in the Rutan-Long-Ez that took exactly 16 years and two weeks to construct.
“I always wanted to own an aircraft but to buy one was not possible. The only way to own a plane was to build one myself. So armed with a guidebook which I thoroughly read, the building process began in 1991. Initially, I thought it would take me just four years but that was extended to exactly 16 years and two weeks. Linda and her father occasionally helped me but I built almost every part of the aircraft and it cost me around £30,000,” Patrick told The Telegraph at the Bagdogra airport this morning.
“My intention was to build an efficient and fast aircraft that can fly long distances but had never thought at that point that I would embark on this journey,” he added.
The aircraft, an American model of the 1970’s designed by aerospace engineer Burt Rutan, is a combination of blue and white and weighs 748kg. It has a wingspan of 9 metres and a length of 7.5 metres. The aircraft holds space for two seats in tandem configuration, that is, one seat behind another.
The first flight was a short trip of Europe on May 9, 2007 right after the aircraft was completed.
“We have had some trips after that but they were limited to a few European countries and of short duration of around four hours. I had a plan to sail around the world but since I already had an aircraft and knew how to fly, we decided to take on this adventure together,” said the pilot who flew for 31 years before he retired in March 2009.
Having started from Dunsfold airport in Surrey County, the couple have covered France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Pakistan and India so far.
After a three-day stay at Kurseong, they flew to Calcutta today and will leave for Dhaka later in the day.
“We have broken the journey into smaller sections. In between we take breaks to visit the UK for a few days leaving the aircraft at the airport where we have halted. The first leg of the journey covered Europe and the Middle East. The longest flight in the trip was when we travelled from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, which took eight hours. There were problems in getting permissions at several airports but have been managing quite well. At some places we halt for stay but at others to refill our fuel,” Patrick said.
The couple, who arrived in India on October 2, recounted pleasant trips of Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Agra, Delhi, Varanasi and Patna but said they had developed a special fondness for Kurseong.
“It’s our first visit to the Darjeeling hills and the Himalayas are lovely. As we neared the Bagdogra Airport from Patna, the air suddenly grew clearer and much greenery was visible. It was a spectacular scene,” said Linda.
“What amazed me about Kurseong is that despite being located at just 4864 feet, the uphill rise is so steep. My only regret is not being able to visit a tea plantation because they were all closed for festivals,” Patrick added.
Seated in the hind seat of the aircraft, Linda’s duty is to be on the lookout for other aircrafts, taking photos and jotting notes. The latter part of the couple’s itinerary has Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
“We will carry on as long as our resources permit us,” Patrick said. Asked if they had encountered any glitches, Linda said: “So far no…touchwood…We have a teddy bear that we carry as a lucky mascot.”
Siliguri cheers Subhajit
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| The jeep carrying Subhajit in Siliguri. (Kundan Yolmo) |
TT, Siliguri, Oct. 15: The table tennis player who made Siliguri proud by winning gold medal at the Commonwealth Games today returned to his hometown, where a rousing reception was accorded to him.
Subhajit Saha, who had teamed up with Sharath Kamal to beat Singapore at the men’s doubles at the Games, boarded an open hood jeep, accompanied by officials and members of the Siliguri Table Tennis Association and Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad at Bagdogra Airport. As the vehicle rolled out of the airport and proceeded towards Siliguri, hundreds along the road applauded and appreciated Subhajit for his feat at the Games.
“I had hoped to perform well at the Commonwealth Games but had never thought of winning the gold medal. It is altogether a different experience to be a winner at an international event of this scale,” Subhajit told journalists in Siliguri. “The success could be achieved through my partnership with Kamal and our joint effort. I dedicate the medal to my family and coach Amit Dam.”
The gold medalist is now eyeing the Asian Games to be held in China in November. “My intention is to play at best and at least reach the semi-finals in the men’s doubles table tennis at the Asian Games. I will definitely prepare for it,” said Subhajit.
The Siliguri youth wants to play in the 2012 Olympics too. “However, right now, the focus is on the Asian Games and I will join the national camp in Delhi from November 1,” said the player, who was flooded with congratulations from the sports lovers of the town.
After the press conference at Siliguri Journalists’ Club, he left for his home in East Vivekanandapally. Sources said he would spend the next few days at home and celebrate Durga Puja. He is likely to leave for Calcutta in the third week of this month.
Shiva to be supported by Olympic gold Quest
Rapid action: PMO orders Games probe
Shiva to be supported by Olympic gold Quest
WB Govt sceptical about canal project
PTI, Kolkata: The West Bengal Government has expressed reservation over the proposed Sankosh-Teesta canal project which will pass through Buxa Tiger Reserve and other wildlife sancturaries in north Bengal, saying it will cause disturbance to wildlife and damage biodiversity. "The entire area is part of Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve and Buxa Tiger Reserve as well as part of Jaldapara and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuaries. Any disturbance would adversely affect Rhino and Tiger conservation efforts there and cause irreparable damage to biodiversity," Special Chief Conservator of Forest R P Saini said.
Chief wildlife warden of the state S B Mandal said the state government had conveyed its objection to the Union Forest and Environment Ministry about the project's proposed alignment.
Saini, also field director of the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), said Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh, who had visited north Bengal early this month, assured forest officials that the project would not be allowed through BTR.
Saini said recently a team of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education wanted to carry out a survey for environment impact assessment in BTR, but it was told by the chief wildlife warden that permission for any kind of survey in national parks and sanctuaries could only be awarded by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.
Rapid action: PMO orders Games probe
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| Suresh Kalmadi |
SANJAY K. JHA AND ARCHIS MOHAN, TT, New Delhi, Oct. 15: The Prime Minister’s Office today ordered a high-level probe into the allegations of corruption in the organisation of the Commonwealth Games, choosing not to wait even 24 hours after the closing ceremony.
A committee headed by former comptroller and auditor-general V.K. Shunglu will submit its report to the Prime Minister within three months, the PMO said.
It will look into the organisation and conduct of the Games and scrutinise all suspect transactions. Expenses incurred by the Union urban development, sports and tourism & culture ministries, the Delhi government and its agencies, and the Suresh Kalmadi-led organising committee will be scanned.
The terms of reference of the probe panel will be decided later. But sources said it would have the power to utilise the services of any government agency, including the CBI, to find facts.
Kalmadi not invited
Kalmadi and his team were not invited today to the Prime Minister’s reception for the Indian gold medal winners at his 7 Race Course Road residence. Sports minister M.S. Gill was present.
Earlier in the day, the Congress party and sources in the government had said the success of the Games would not shield the organisers from scrutiny because a huge amount of public money had been spent.
“We are satisfied with the successful and secure Games. We congratulate those who won the laurels. It was an amazing performance by the sportspersons. But public money was used and it has to be obviously accounted for,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said.
Tiwari also refused to give credit for the Games’ success to Kalmadi, saying it should go to “the 100 crore people of this country. For anything to succeed, everybody has to make a contribution. It is a collective effort.”
The comptroller and auditor-general of India and the chief vigilance commissioner will continue their routine scan of the Games expenses, and Parliament’s estimates committee and public accounts committee are also studying them.
The CAG, which had put its audit in abeyance for the duration of the Games, today sent its inspectors to the CPWD office inside S.P. Mukherjee Stadium to check the accounts related to Games projects.
Inspection teams will visit other stadiums as well, as part of routine audit.
Sources said Parliament’s estimates committee, headed by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha, had been ready with its interim report but it was not released because the majority opinion was in favour of waiting till the event was over.
The public accounts committee, headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, is closely scrutinising the expenses by the ministries of urban development and sports on Games-related work.
Sources said the Enforcement Directorate and the income-tax department were already investigating certain cases on the basis of irregularities cited in earlier CAG reports.
No clean chit
Congress spokesperson Tiwari refused to directly respond to questions about the role of Kalmadi, who is also a party MP, but said: “All allegations should be probed and the guilty brought to book.”
Asked if the Congress was giving a clean chit to Kalmadi, he said: “We are not in the business of giving clean or unclean chits to anybody. All the financial institutions of the government which are responsible for ensuring accountability should do their work properly.”
Sources in the organising committee accused the sports minister of having plotted to keep Kalmadi out of the Prime Minister’s reception today.
The PMO statement on the probe said: “The government has decided to constitute a high-level committee under former CAG V.K. Shunglu to look into all matters relating to the organising and conduct of the Commonwealth Games 2010, New Delhi, including to draw lessons from it.”
The spokesman added that the terms of reference would be announced in a day or two.
Olympic wish
Officials who did not want to be named said India was keen to bid for the 2020 Olympic Games and the PMO’s statement on lessons to be drawn from the Commonwealth Games should be seen in that light. The bidding for 2020 starts in 2013.
“I have a dream of bringing the Olympics, but when I don’t know,” Kalmadi, who also heads the Indian Olympic Association, had said.
But the sports ministry believes India’s bid will suffer if Kalmadi continues to head the Indian Olympic Association, and is expected to renew efforts to dislodge him. It had scrapped Kalmadi’s attempt to get India to bid for the 2019 Asian Games.
Parliament Winter Session starts from November nine
IE, New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament will commence on November nine, a day after US President Barack Obama addresses members of both the Houses at a joint sitting.
Rajya Sabha Secretariat issued a notification informing members that the House will commence from November nine. A similar notification from the Lok Sabha is expected soon.
Obama, who will undertake his first state visit to India next month, will address Parliament on November eight.
Sources said Obama is expected to arrive in India on November 5 on a five-day visit, his first since assuming office in January last year.
Former US President Bill Clinton had addressed a joint sitting during his visit in 2000. Obama's predecessor George W Bush, who visited India in March 2006, did not have the honour of addressing Parliament of the world's largest democracy.
Bhutia released on bail
KalimNews: Topden Bhutia former GJMM activist and accused in several cases of fire and arson is released on bail. He was arrested on 5 August 2010 by Kalimpong Police in cases of fire and arson and violence against of which 8 were non bailable and 2 bailable . He is accused of vandalising and torching houses of Dawa Pakhrin and Maurice Kalikotay on 29 July 2008 and torching 3 NBSTC buses and 1 private bus and attacking and injuring Mohan Pradhan a police constable during the NBSTC bus attack on 4 February 2010 in Motor stand of Kalimpong.
Topden was erstwhile Organising Secretary of Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha and president of GJYM and was very active in leading the activities of the party till 3 April 2010 when copies of a local daily vernacular was burnt at Kalimpong in his leadership but Topden had disassociated himself from the party. Bhutia was earlier a congress supporter and later joined the GJMM.
Topden was suspended by the party after the GNLF Postering case of 8th May 2010 in Kalimpong. He was keeping himself aloof after his suspension.
नेपाली समाजमा सामान्यतः बिहेअघि किशोरकिशोरी सँगैसँगै बस्दैनन् । तर, एक अध्ययनले काठमाडौं तथा सहरी क्षेत्रमा बिहे नै नगरे पनि सँगसँगै बस्ने किशोरकिशोरीको संख्या बढ्दै गएको देखाएको छ ।
जापान, क्यानडा, अमेरिकालगायतका विकसित मुलुकहरूमा युवायुवती बिहे नगर्दै सँगसँगै एउटै कोठामा केटा र केटी साथीका रूपमा बस्ने गर्छन् । यो प्रवृत्ति नेपालमा पनि देखिएको महिला आयोगद्वारा तयार पारिएको एक अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनले देखाएको हो ।
काठमाडौं तथा सहरी क्षेत्रमा कति जोडी सँगै बस्छन् भन्ने तथ्यांक भने कसैसँग छैन । तर, समस्या परेपछि आएका उजुरीका आधारमा बिहे नगरेरै सँगै बस्ने २६ जोडी काठमाडौंमा रहेको तथ्यांक आयोगले शुक्रबार सार्वजनिक गरेको छ ।
घरपरिवारलाई थाहै नदिई बिहे नै नगरी सँगै बस्ने केटा र केटी साथी लुकेर कोठामा बस्ने गरेको पाइएको छ । सुरु-सुरुमा त उनीहरूको जीवन रमाइलो भए पनि पछि समस्या हुने गरेको आयोगद्वारा सार्वजनिक अध्ययनमा जनाइएको छ ।
'सुरुमा एकले अर्कोलाई हरेक कोणबाट सहयोग गरेका हुन्छन् । केटी या केटाको प्रसंगले एक अर्कोमा विवाद, रिस पनि हुदैन, त्यसकारण केटा र केटीको सँगसँगैको जीवन धेरै हदसम्म सजिलो हुन्छ, तर जब एकले अर्कोलाई धोका दिन्छन् अनि समस्या सुरु हुन्छ,' अध्ययनमा भनिएको छ, 'कोही पछि बिहे गर्ने भनेर, कोही आर्थिक रूपले सक्षम भएपछि बिहे गर्ने भनेर र कोही परिवारले स्वीकार नगरेपछि बिहे गर्न नसकेर सँगै बसेका हुन्छन् । केटी गर्भवती भएपछि भने केटीलाई केटाले वास्ता गर्न छोड्छ, बच्चालाई केटाले स्वीकार गर्न पनि मान्दैन अनि केटीका लागि सँगसँगैको जीवन अभिशाप बन्छ ।'
आयोगका तर्फबाट चेतनाथ घिमिरे र कोपिला रिजालले गरेको अध्ययनका अनुसार सँगसँगै बस्ने केटा र केटी खुला हुन चाहँदैनन् । 'सहरी क्षेत्रमा बिहेअघि केटा र केटी सँगसँगै बस्ने चलन बढ्दै गएको छ । तर, यसलाई कसैले पनि बाहिर ल्याउन चाहँदैनन्,' आयोगकी अध्यक्ष नयनकला थापाले भनिन् । उनले यसरी सँगै बस्ने केटीसाथीको अधिकार सुरक्षाकालागि आयोग संवेदनशील रहेको बताइन् । अध्ययनकर्ता घिमिरेले पनि सँगै बस्नेहरूले आफ्नो नाम र ठेगाना भन्न डराउने गरेको बताए । उनले भने, 'केटीसाथी आफूलाई खुला गर्दै गर्दैनन् ।'
अध्ययनअनुसार अविवाहित युवा-युवती मात्र नभएर विवाहित पुरुष र अविवाहित महिला, अविवाहित पुरुष र विवाहित महिला तथा एकल महिला र पुरुषहरूसमेत यसरी कोठा या घरमा सँगसँगै बिहे नगरेरै बस्ने गरेका छन् । त्यसमध्ये अधिकांश शिक्षित र थोरै मात्र अशिक्षित भएको अध्ययनले देखाएको छ ।
अध्ययनअनुसार हिन्दू ४२.३ प्रतिशत, बौद्ध ४६.१, क्रिश्चियन ११.५ प्रतिशत बिहे नगरेर सँगसँगै बसेका छन् । आयोगमा परेको उजुरीमा दलित ६, जनजाति ११, ब्राह्मण-क्षेत्री सात र अन्य जातका दुईजना रहेको अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनमा देखाइएको छ । बिहे नगरेर सँगै बस्दा सबैभन्दा बढी समस्या महिलालाई परेको प्रतिवेदनको ठहर छ । तर, यसरी सँगै बस्दा सुरक्षित र एकजनासँग मात्र यौनसम्पर्क हुँदा यौनजन्य हिंसा कम हुने र एचआइभी/एड्सको संक्रमण कम हुने प्रतिवेदनमा देखाइएको छ ।
सँगै बस्नेहरूमा महिला बढी पीडित हुने गरे पनि कुनै कारणले पीडित भएमा घरेलु हिंसाभित्र नपर्ने अध्ययनकर्ताहरूले जनाएका छन् । उनीहरूका अनुसार परिवारभित्र नाता पर्नेले हिंसा गरेमा मात्र घरेलु हिंसा मानिन्छ ।
अध्ययनकर्ताले बिहेअघि नै सँगसँगै बस्नेहरूबाट महिला पीडित हुन नदिन कानुन संशोधन गर्नुपर्ने सुझाबसमेत दिएका छन् । उनीहरूले घरेलु हिंसाको परिभाषामा पति-पत्नीसरह सँगैसँगै बसेको भनेर वाक्यांश थप्नुपर्ने सुझाब दिएका छन् । अविवाहितबाट बच्चा जन्मिएमा नाता कायम गर्नका लागि लोग्ने-स्वास्नी नाता तथा अंशवण्डा महलमा संशोधन गर्नुपर्ने सुझाब पनि उनीहरूको छ ।
धोका भयो
- सीताष्मा (नाम परिवर्तन) पीडित किशोरी
एक्लै बस्दा मलाई समस्या थियो । केटासाथीसँग सँगै बसेपछि सुरक्षा र अरू पनि सहयोग हुने भएपछि हामी सँगै बस्यौँ । पछि बिहे गरौँला भन्ने सहमति भएको थियो, मलाई विश्वास पनि लागेको थियो । बिहे नगरे पनि हामी श्रीमान्/श्रीमतीजस्तै भएर बसेका थियौँ । सुरुमा त बच्चा होला र समस्या आउला भन्ने लागेको पनि थिएन । पछि बच्चा जन्मियो । अहिले उसले -अविनाश) मलाई श्रीमतीको रूपमा र बच्चा स्विकार्न मानेको छैन । ममाथि धोका भयो । म न्यायको खोजीमा छु ।
बच्चा मेरो होइन
— अविनाश (नाम परिवर्तन) किशोर
हामी सँगै बस्दा एक-अर्कार्लाई सजिलो भएको थियो । दुवैजनाको सोच मिलेपछि हामी सँगै बसेका हौँ । सँगै बस्दा मलाईभन्दा उस -सीताष्मा) लाई बढी सजिलो थियो । तर, अहिले सँगै नबस्ने सोचाइ बनाएका छौँ । उसबाट जन्मिएको बच्चा मेरो होइन, त्यसैले स्विकार्न सक्दिनँ । हिजोअस्ति ऊ कोसँग थिई मलाई थाहा पनि छैन । अहिले मसँग छ । हामी केही समयका लागि मात्र सँगै बसेका हौँ, बिहे गरेका त होइनौँ नि । उसलाई श्रीमतीको रूपमा स्वीकार गर्न नसके पनि आफ्नो दायित्व निर्वाह गर्नेछु ।
(अध्ययनकर्ता चेतनाथ घिमिरेले गरेको अन्तर्वार्तामा आधारित).
Bhutia released on bail
KalimNews: Topden Bhutia former GJMM activist and accused in several cases of fire and arson is released on bail. He was arrested on 5 August 2010 by Kalimpong Police in cases of fire and arson and violence against of which 8 were non bailable and 2 bailable . He is accused of vandalising and torching houses of Dawa Pakhrin and Maurice Kalikotay on 29 July 2008 and torching 3 NBSTC buses and 1 private bus and attacking and injuring Mohan Pradhan a police constable during the NBSTC bus attack on 4 February 2010 in Motor stand of Kalimpong.Topden was erstwhile Organising Secretary of Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha and president of GJYM and was very active in leading the activities of the party till 3 April 2010 when copies of a local daily vernacular was burnt at Kalimpong in his leadership but Topden had disassociated himself from the party. Bhutia was earlier a congress supporter and later joined the GJMM.
Topden was suspended by the party after the GNLF Postering case of 8th May 2010 in Kalimpong. He was keeping himself aloof after his suspension.
शहरी क्षेत्रमा बिहे नै नगरे पनि सँगसँगै बस्ने किशोरकिशोरीको संख्या बढ्दो --भुवन शर्मा - नयाँ पत्रिका (Naya patrika.net)
जापान, क्यानडा, अमेरिकालगायतका विकसित मुलुकहरूमा युवायुवती बिहे नगर्दै सँगसँगै एउटै कोठामा केटा र केटी साथीका रूपमा बस्ने गर्छन् । यो प्रवृत्ति नेपालमा पनि देखिएको महिला आयोगद्वारा तयार पारिएको एक अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनले देखाएको हो ।
काठमाडौं तथा सहरी क्षेत्रमा कति जोडी सँगै बस्छन् भन्ने तथ्यांक भने कसैसँग छैन । तर, समस्या परेपछि आएका उजुरीका आधारमा बिहे नगरेरै सँगै बस्ने २६ जोडी काठमाडौंमा रहेको तथ्यांक आयोगले शुक्रबार सार्वजनिक गरेको छ ।
घरपरिवारलाई थाहै नदिई बिहे नै नगरी सँगै बस्ने केटा र केटी साथी लुकेर कोठामा बस्ने गरेको पाइएको छ । सुरु-सुरुमा त उनीहरूको जीवन रमाइलो भए पनि पछि समस्या हुने गरेको आयोगद्वारा सार्वजनिक अध्ययनमा जनाइएको छ ।
'सुरुमा एकले अर्कोलाई हरेक कोणबाट सहयोग गरेका हुन्छन् । केटी या केटाको प्रसंगले एक अर्कोमा विवाद, रिस पनि हुदैन, त्यसकारण केटा र केटीको सँगसँगैको जीवन धेरै हदसम्म सजिलो हुन्छ, तर जब एकले अर्कोलाई धोका दिन्छन् अनि समस्या सुरु हुन्छ,' अध्ययनमा भनिएको छ, 'कोही पछि बिहे गर्ने भनेर, कोही आर्थिक रूपले सक्षम भएपछि बिहे गर्ने भनेर र कोही परिवारले स्वीकार नगरेपछि बिहे गर्न नसकेर सँगै बसेका हुन्छन् । केटी गर्भवती भएपछि भने केटीलाई केटाले वास्ता गर्न छोड्छ, बच्चालाई केटाले स्वीकार गर्न पनि मान्दैन अनि केटीका लागि सँगसँगैको जीवन अभिशाप बन्छ ।'
आयोगका तर्फबाट चेतनाथ घिमिरे र कोपिला रिजालले गरेको अध्ययनका अनुसार सँगसँगै बस्ने केटा र केटी खुला हुन चाहँदैनन् । 'सहरी क्षेत्रमा बिहेअघि केटा र केटी सँगसँगै बस्ने चलन बढ्दै गएको छ । तर, यसलाई कसैले पनि बाहिर ल्याउन चाहँदैनन्,' आयोगकी अध्यक्ष नयनकला थापाले भनिन् । उनले यसरी सँगै बस्ने केटीसाथीको अधिकार सुरक्षाकालागि आयोग संवेदनशील रहेको बताइन् । अध्ययनकर्ता घिमिरेले पनि सँगै बस्नेहरूले आफ्नो नाम र ठेगाना भन्न डराउने गरेको बताए । उनले भने, 'केटीसाथी आफूलाई खुला गर्दै गर्दैनन् ।'
अध्ययनअनुसार अविवाहित युवा-युवती मात्र नभएर विवाहित पुरुष र अविवाहित महिला, अविवाहित पुरुष र विवाहित महिला तथा एकल महिला र पुरुषहरूसमेत यसरी कोठा या घरमा सँगसँगै बिहे नगरेरै बस्ने गरेका छन् । त्यसमध्ये अधिकांश शिक्षित र थोरै मात्र अशिक्षित भएको अध्ययनले देखाएको छ ।
अध्ययनअनुसार हिन्दू ४२.३ प्रतिशत, बौद्ध ४६.१, क्रिश्चियन ११.५ प्रतिशत बिहे नगरेर सँगसँगै बसेका छन् । आयोगमा परेको उजुरीमा दलित ६, जनजाति ११, ब्राह्मण-क्षेत्री सात र अन्य जातका दुईजना रहेको अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनमा देखाइएको छ । बिहे नगरेर सँगै बस्दा सबैभन्दा बढी समस्या महिलालाई परेको प्रतिवेदनको ठहर छ । तर, यसरी सँगै बस्दा सुरक्षित र एकजनासँग मात्र यौनसम्पर्क हुँदा यौनजन्य हिंसा कम हुने र एचआइभी/एड्सको संक्रमण कम हुने प्रतिवेदनमा देखाइएको छ ।
सँगै बस्नेहरूमा महिला बढी पीडित हुने गरे पनि कुनै कारणले पीडित भएमा घरेलु हिंसाभित्र नपर्ने अध्ययनकर्ताहरूले जनाएका छन् । उनीहरूका अनुसार परिवारभित्र नाता पर्नेले हिंसा गरेमा मात्र घरेलु हिंसा मानिन्छ ।
अध्ययनकर्ताले बिहेअघि नै सँगसँगै बस्नेहरूबाट महिला पीडित हुन नदिन कानुन संशोधन गर्नुपर्ने सुझाबसमेत दिएका छन् । उनीहरूले घरेलु हिंसाको परिभाषामा पति-पत्नीसरह सँगैसँगै बसेको भनेर वाक्यांश थप्नुपर्ने सुझाब दिएका छन् । अविवाहितबाट बच्चा जन्मिएमा नाता कायम गर्नका लागि लोग्ने-स्वास्नी नाता तथा अंशवण्डा महलमा संशोधन गर्नुपर्ने सुझाब पनि उनीहरूको छ ।
धोका भयो
- सीताष्मा (नाम परिवर्तन) पीडित किशोरी
एक्लै बस्दा मलाई समस्या थियो । केटासाथीसँग सँगै बसेपछि सुरक्षा र अरू पनि सहयोग हुने भएपछि हामी सँगै बस्यौँ । पछि बिहे गरौँला भन्ने सहमति भएको थियो, मलाई विश्वास पनि लागेको थियो । बिहे नगरे पनि हामी श्रीमान्/श्रीमतीजस्तै भएर बसेका थियौँ । सुरुमा त बच्चा होला र समस्या आउला भन्ने लागेको पनि थिएन । पछि बच्चा जन्मियो । अहिले उसले -अविनाश) मलाई श्रीमतीको रूपमा र बच्चा स्विकार्न मानेको छैन । ममाथि धोका भयो । म न्यायको खोजीमा छु ।
बच्चा मेरो होइन
— अविनाश (नाम परिवर्तन) किशोर
हामी सँगै बस्दा एक-अर्कार्लाई सजिलो भएको थियो । दुवैजनाको सोच मिलेपछि हामी सँगै बसेका हौँ । सँगै बस्दा मलाईभन्दा उस -सीताष्मा) लाई बढी सजिलो थियो । तर, अहिले सँगै नबस्ने सोचाइ बनाएका छौँ । उसबाट जन्मिएको बच्चा मेरो होइन, त्यसैले स्विकार्न सक्दिनँ । हिजोअस्ति ऊ कोसँग थिई मलाई थाहा पनि छैन । अहिले मसँग छ । हामी केही समयका लागि मात्र सँगै बसेका हौँ, बिहे गरेका त होइनौँ नि । उसलाई श्रीमतीको रूपमा स्वीकार गर्न नसके पनि आफ्नो दायित्व निर्वाह गर्नेछु ।
(अध्ययनकर्ता चेतनाथ घिमिरेले गरेको अन्तर्वार्तामा आधारित).
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