#KalimNews, Kalimpong, 4 December : Some posters were found pasted in Kalimpong town in the wee hours today in the name of GNLF/S (S = Students?). The matter in these posters have urged the hill people to observe accord day on 6th December, 2010 this year to mark completion of the signing of the memorandum of settlement of VIth schedule. It may be recalled that an MoS was signed by Subash Ghising, GNLF Supremo with the concerned authorities to grant the VIth schedule status to the Darjeeling hills in 2005.
The proposal had sanction of the state Govt. of West Bengal and mandate of the then one and only strongest political outfit GNLF with the consent of the central Govt. With the full confidence of these three elements the Govt. of India's Home Minister had proposed constitution amendment bill in the parliament's lower house.
However, the voice of the people was against the proposal. Though the then newly formed political outfit Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) also opposed the proposal tooth and nail it was late Madan Tamang, ABGL President, who dared to raise the voice first against the same at the helm of the GNLF.
It may not be out of place to recall here that Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, both now GJM leaders had welcomed the proposal from their own platform. With the advent of Prashant frenzy (the Indian Idol contestant), Bimal Gurung managed to oppose Ghising on the pretext of the latter's non co-operation to the Prashant's mission. As soon as Prashant won the title of Indian Idol, Gurung took mileage of the situation and started opposing Ghising by way of protesting against the proposal of sixth schedule.
Now, the GJM apprehend that the proposal is still alive in the parliament and the GNLF is also advocating in its favour whereas the hill is likely to witness the signing of an interim set-up soon.
Meanwhile GJM has given some indication of possibility of holding rural & civic poll. Commenting on the statement of Ashoke Bhattacharya, Urban development Minister Roshan Giri, General Secretary of GJM said that if the proposal of indirect nomination is considered we can decide over holding both the polls, if this proposal is send to us by the government, GJM will think over the matter. Bhattacharya said that if GJM allows to hold both the Panchayat and Municipality election in the hills then the elected members of Panchayat and Municipality can be allowed to nominate representatives to rule and administer the GRA. Earlier GJM opined that it is not for any sort of election , later the opinion changed with agreeing on civic polls and all polls only if delimitation of areas and distribution of seats is done accordingly.
Bara in ABAVP
KalimNews: Raju Bara Ex President of Hasimara Branch Committee, ABAVP is reinducted in the Committee, while resignation of Sanjeevan Kujur and Rajesh Lakra are accepted, declared Birsa Tirkey, Presdient of State Committee of ABAVP. Kiran Kalindi is brother in law of Rajesh Lakra, Kalindi formed PPP while the latter formed Terai Dooars Adivasi Sangathan as rivals parties of ABAVP.
Nepali girl raped twice
Gorkha Times, New Delhi: Rape, violence and other forms of crime has gripped the entire northern belt of India and atrocities towards people of Nepal origin also seems to have no end here.
Very recently we saw hordes of media people queuing up to cover the news of a rape of Mizo girl but the plight of a minor Nepali girl seems to have no takers. Obviously what one could expect of a country like Nepal where it can’t protect its people beyond borders. Also the lack of Nepali social organizations at such vulnerable places can’t be denied.
It is very disheartening to see that a minor girl has been gang raped twice and still numbness shrouds over, it is only through a few online newspapers that the correspondent came to know of the brutal incident and have been requested several social organizations and also at networking sites to highlight the issue.
Gorkha Democratic Front (GDF) Delhi unit - a prominent political party having its base at Uttrakhand and Bharatiya Gorkhali united Forum (BGUF) a social organization based at Delhi have requested all the Nepali organization and political parties based at Delhi to immediately look into the matter. Today both the organizations, GDF headed by Delhi unit president- Samir Pradhan and BGUF headed by T.L Shrestha placed memorandum to honorable home minister of India requesting to look into the said incident seriously and also various atrocities meted towards the Gorkhas and northeastern people at Delhi and NCR region.
According to sources she was gang raped by three men most probably at the mid of October 2010 and again very recently on 24 November, 2010 in the same manner and later threw her in railway tracks. The perverts have even threatened the minor girl to immediately withdraw the case. All the three culprits are employees of Agra central jail and the fate of girl is such that she resides close to Agra central jail and born to a labourer.
It is anticipated that every Indian citizen will raise this issue and bring into the notice to the Indian government to stop the brutality against women.
AAGSU’s new central committee to take charge on Sunday after oath
Gorkha Times, Dibrugarh:- The new central committee of the apex Gorkha students’ organization the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union(AAGSU) will be sworn in on Sunday at Dekhiajuli district of Assam, stated a press release issued by Ram Chandra Adhikary its General Secretary . The new committee was selected by the Special Morigoan Convention on 2nd Oct. 2010.
A 21 member central executive committee will be administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Advisor, AAGSU Harkha Bahadur Chetri who is also the Chairman of the Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC). The central executive committee headed by its President Mr. Dil Bahadur Limboo has been by far one of the most successful Gorkha leader of North East was elected at the ‘Central Delegate Session’ at 32nd Duilajaan Bi-nenial Conference held on 23rd Dec 2008 . It was under his leadership that the Gorkha Development Council GDC could come into existence Assam besides many successful social ventures in Assam.
Talking to this contributor over phone from Guwahati the designated Info Publicity Secretary AAGSU Mr. Nanda Kirati Dewan said that it is completely a private affair and cultured traditional curriculum of the students’ body to hand over charge in the swearing ceremony and the new committee to take charge accordingly. “We will have our first of ‘Extended Executive Meeting’ on the same day after the taking over the charge.‘The executive meeting will discuss issues relating to formation of Gorkha Development Council (GDC) and will clear our stand of demand of Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) and will adopt resolutions for the future line actions of the apex body.’ added Mr. Dewan.
All most of all district committees of AAGSU and its affiliated unit are attending the mega ceremony. Mr. Jagadish Khanal from Sonitpur, Mr. Keshav Sharma from Goalpara will respectively be accorded charge as President and General Secretary along with 19 members totaling to 21member executive committee. Its for the first time in history of AAGSU that a President have been elected from Sonitpur district whose district committee was established in 1945. Assam Gorkha Sanmelan, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh; Assam State Committee, Nepali Sahitya Parishad; Assam, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Nepali Sahitya Kala Niketan have extended greetings to the students’ body. All Assam Students’ Union(AASU), All Bodo students’ Union (ABSU) and other students’ organizations of North East too have extended their greetings and wishes to Mr. D B Limboo stated the release.
लीगले गर्ने मोर्चाको बन्दको विरोध
However, the voice of the people was against the proposal. Though the then newly formed political outfit Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) also opposed the proposal tooth and nail it was late Madan Tamang, ABGL President, who dared to raise the voice first against the same at the helm of the GNLF.
It may not be out of place to recall here that Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, both now GJM leaders had welcomed the proposal from their own platform. With the advent of Prashant frenzy (the Indian Idol contestant), Bimal Gurung managed to oppose Ghising on the pretext of the latter's non co-operation to the Prashant's mission. As soon as Prashant won the title of Indian Idol, Gurung took mileage of the situation and started opposing Ghising by way of protesting against the proposal of sixth schedule.
Now, the GJM apprehend that the proposal is still alive in the parliament and the GNLF is also advocating in its favour whereas the hill is likely to witness the signing of an interim set-up soon.
Meanwhile GJM has given some indication of possibility of holding rural & civic poll. Commenting on the statement of Ashoke Bhattacharya, Urban development Minister Roshan Giri, General Secretary of GJM said that if the proposal of indirect nomination is considered we can decide over holding both the polls, if this proposal is send to us by the government, GJM will think over the matter. Bhattacharya said that if GJM allows to hold both the Panchayat and Municipality election in the hills then the elected members of Panchayat and Municipality can be allowed to nominate representatives to rule and administer the GRA. Earlier GJM opined that it is not for any sort of election , later the opinion changed with agreeing on civic polls and all polls only if delimitation of areas and distribution of seats is done accordingly.
Bara in ABAVP
KalimNews: Raju Bara Ex President of Hasimara Branch Committee, ABAVP is reinducted in the Committee, while resignation of Sanjeevan Kujur and Rajesh Lakra are accepted, declared Birsa Tirkey, Presdient of State Committee of ABAVP. Kiran Kalindi is brother in law of Rajesh Lakra, Kalindi formed PPP while the latter formed Terai Dooars Adivasi Sangathan as rivals parties of ABAVP.
Nepali girl raped twice
Gorkha Times, New Delhi: Rape, violence and other forms of crime has gripped the entire northern belt of India and atrocities towards people of Nepal origin also seems to have no end here.
Very recently we saw hordes of media people queuing up to cover the news of a rape of Mizo girl but the plight of a minor Nepali girl seems to have no takers. Obviously what one could expect of a country like Nepal where it can’t protect its people beyond borders. Also the lack of Nepali social organizations at such vulnerable places can’t be denied.
It is very disheartening to see that a minor girl has been gang raped twice and still numbness shrouds over, it is only through a few online newspapers that the correspondent came to know of the brutal incident and have been requested several social organizations and also at networking sites to highlight the issue.
Gorkha Democratic Front (GDF) Delhi unit - a prominent political party having its base at Uttrakhand and Bharatiya Gorkhali united Forum (BGUF) a social organization based at Delhi have requested all the Nepali organization and political parties based at Delhi to immediately look into the matter. Today both the organizations, GDF headed by Delhi unit president- Samir Pradhan and BGUF headed by T.L Shrestha placed memorandum to honorable home minister of India requesting to look into the said incident seriously and also various atrocities meted towards the Gorkhas and northeastern people at Delhi and NCR region.
According to sources she was gang raped by three men most probably at the mid of October 2010 and again very recently on 24 November, 2010 in the same manner and later threw her in railway tracks. The perverts have even threatened the minor girl to immediately withdraw the case. All the three culprits are employees of Agra central jail and the fate of girl is such that she resides close to Agra central jail and born to a labourer.
It is anticipated that every Indian citizen will raise this issue and bring into the notice to the Indian government to stop the brutality against women.
AAGSU’s new central committee to take charge on Sunday after oath
Gorkha Times, Dibrugarh:- The new central committee of the apex Gorkha students’ organization the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union(AAGSU) will be sworn in on Sunday at Dekhiajuli district of Assam, stated a press release issued by Ram Chandra Adhikary its General Secretary . The new committee was selected by the Special Morigoan Convention on 2nd Oct. 2010.
A 21 member central executive committee will be administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Advisor, AAGSU Harkha Bahadur Chetri who is also the Chairman of the Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC). The central executive committee headed by its President Mr. Dil Bahadur Limboo has been by far one of the most successful Gorkha leader of North East was elected at the ‘Central Delegate Session’ at 32nd Duilajaan Bi-nenial Conference held on 23rd Dec 2008 . It was under his leadership that the Gorkha Development Council GDC could come into existence Assam besides many successful social ventures in Assam.
Talking to this contributor over phone from Guwahati the designated Info Publicity Secretary AAGSU Mr. Nanda Kirati Dewan said that it is completely a private affair and cultured traditional curriculum of the students’ body to hand over charge in the swearing ceremony and the new committee to take charge accordingly. “We will have our first of ‘Extended Executive Meeting’ on the same day after the taking over the charge.‘The executive meeting will discuss issues relating to formation of Gorkha Development Council (GDC) and will clear our stand of demand of Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) and will adopt resolutions for the future line actions of the apex body.’ added Mr. Dewan.
All most of all district committees of AAGSU and its affiliated unit are attending the mega ceremony. Mr. Jagadish Khanal from Sonitpur, Mr. Keshav Sharma from Goalpara will respectively be accorded charge as President and General Secretary along with 19 members totaling to 21member executive committee. Its for the first time in history of AAGSU that a President have been elected from Sonitpur district whose district committee was established in 1945. Assam Gorkha Sanmelan, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh; Assam State Committee, Nepali Sahitya Parishad; Assam, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Nepali Sahitya Kala Niketan have extended greetings to the students’ body. All Assam Students’ Union(AASU), All Bodo students’ Union (ABSU) and other students’ organizations of North East too have extended their greetings and wishes to Mr. D B Limboo stated the release.
लीगले गर्ने मोर्चाको बन्दको विरोध
लेप्चा समुदायको आन्दोलनलाई लीगको समर्थन छ-दावा शेर्पा मनोज बोगटी कालेबुङ, 4 दिसम्बर । गोर्खालिगले मोर्चाले प्राधिकरण दिनुपर्ने सम्बन्धमा 48 घण्टे बन्द गर्ने जुन घोषणा गरेको थियो त्यसलाई लीगले विरोध जनाएको छ। सम्पर्क अभियानको निम्ति कालेबुङ आइपुगेका लीग कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष दावा शेर्पाले एक पत्रकार सम्मेलन डाक्दै बन्दको विरोध गरिने बताए। तिनले भने, बन्द भनेको जनतालाई सताउने कार्यक्रम हो। यसले केही हासिल हुँदैन। हुनेथियो भने मोर्चाले अनेकौं थरिथरिका बन्दहरू गरेकै हुन्। तर दिल्लीलाई कुनै असर परेन। पर्दैन पनि किन भने बन्द दिल्लीलाई असर गर्नको निम्ति गरेकै होइन। बन्दले त कृषकलाई असर गर्छ, खटिकखानेहरूलाई असर गर्छ. गाड़ी खेपेर घर चलाउनेलाई, पसल चलाउनेलाई असर गर्छ र असर गर्छ विद्यार्थीहरूलाई अनि आम नागरिकलाई। बन्दको उद्देश्य यही नै हो। यसकारण मोर्चाले डाक्छु भनेको बन्दको विरोघ लीगले गर्छ। तिनले अझ भने, लीगले कार्यनीतिहरू तयार गरिसकेको छ। लिगले जनतालाई दुख दिने कुनै पनि कार्यक्रम गर्नेछैन। लीगले पथावरोध र बन्द कहिले पनि गर्नेछैन। बरू जुलूस गर्ने छ। धर्ना चल्नेछ। त्यसमा पनि मोर्चाले जस्तो आउनैपर्छ भनेर लीगले भन्दैन। जनताको खुसी हो। लीगले जनतालाई नै सर्वोपरी मान्छ। तिनले मोर्चाको जनप्रताड़ित कार्यक्रमबारे मुख खोल्दै भने, मोर्चाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण केन्द्रले दिएको र हामीले थापेको भन्यो। फेरि किन अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण देउ भनेर जबरजस्ती गर्दै जनतालाई सताउने? जनताले बुझिसकेका छन् कि दालमा कहॉं दाग छ। तिनले अझ भने, दिनेले दिइसकेको हो भने मोर्चाले थापिहाल्नु। जनतालाई नसताउनु। मोर्चाले थापेपछि जनताले आफै नै मोर्चालाई त्यसको उत्तर दिनेछ। हामीले कार्यक्रम तयार गरेका छौं तर दिल्लीस्तरीय। गर्दैछौं पनि काम। पेपरमा फोटो छाप्ने हामी होइनौं। हामीलाई कामसित मतलब छ। हाम्रो कामको असर हुँदैछ पनि। तिनले ती नै कार्यक्रम अनुसार जनसम्पर्क कार्यक्रम भइरहेको पनि बताए। तिनले तराई, डुवर्स मात्र होइन लीगले सर्वभारतीय गोर्खाहरूसित नै काम गर्ने पनि बताए। तिनले अहिलेको अन्योलको स्थितिबाट नै जनतालाई डोहोर्याउने काम लिगले गरिरहेको पनि जनाए। तिनले लेप्चाहरूमाथि भइरहेको षड़यन्त्रविरूद्ध लेप्चा समुदायले गरिरहेको विरोधको सराहना गर्दै सरकारले गोर्खाहरूलाई पहाड़को भूमिपुत्र नमान्ने षड़यन्त्र गरिरहेको बताए। तिनले भने, 2004 मा भारतको अन्थ्रोपोलिजिकल सर्वेले बङ्गालको गृहविभागलाई बुझाएको रिपोर्टमा दार्जीलिङमा बस्ने लेप्चा, योल्मो अनि डेन्जोङ जाति सिक्किमे अनि रहेका अन्य राई,लिम्बु,गुरूङ, मगर छेत्री, कामी तथा अन्य जातगोष्टीहरू भने नेपालबाट माइग्रेट आएको उल्लेख गरेको बताउँदै भने, लेप्चा समुदायले कुरा बुझे र यसको विरोध चारैतिर चल्दैछ, यसलाई लीगको समर्थन छ। उनीहरूको लड़ाई र भविष्य भित्र नै हामी सबैको भविष्य र लड़ाई रहेको छ। गोर्खालिगले सरकारको यसप्रकारको षड़यन्त्रको विरूद्ध लड्नेछ। यस्तो अवस्था नेताहरूले पैसाको र चौकीको पछि दगुरेर सरकारले के गर्दैछ भन्ने कुरा वास्ता नगरेकोले भएको हो। तिनले सरकारी लेखाजोखामा पहाड़का गोर्खाहरूलाई नै नरहेको देखाइरहेको बताउँदै भने, पहाड़का बहुसंख्यक नेपालबाट आएको अनि अल्पसंख्यक सिक्किमको हो भन्छ भने यस जमीनको मालिक को हुन्? यसको मालिक चिन हो? यसठाउँको रैथाने हामी हौं। जमीनसित नै हामी भारतमा आएका हौं। यसकारण लीगको पहिलो लड़ाई पहाड़का वासिन्दाहरू भूमिपुत्र हो भन्ने दाबी गर्नु हो। लेप्चा जाति आदिम जाति हुन्, उनीहरू सिक्किमका होइनन्।
चुनाउ गरे जित्ने मोर्चाको दाबी
गणतान्त्रिक पद्धति मान्नु नै राजनैतिक धर्म हो-लीग
मनोज बोगटी कालेबुङ,4 दिसम्बर।गोर्खालिगले पहाड़मा त्रिस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउ र नगरपालिका चुनाउ हुनुपर्ने कुरा गर्दै आइरहेको थियो। लीगले चुनाउ नै नहुनु जनतालाई गणतान्त्रक्षिक अधिकारबाट बञ्चित राख्नु रहेको बताउँदै पहाड़ले गणतन्त्र गुमाएको बताइरहेको थियो। गणतन्त्र बहाली हुनुपर्ने कुरा लीगको मुख्य माग पनि रहेको थियो। दिल्लीबाट रित्तो हात फर्किँदै मोर्चाका नेताहरूले चुनाउ गराए मोर्चा लड्न तयार रहेको बताएपछि विभिन्न चर्चाहरू चल्न शुरू भएको छ। आज कालेबुङ आइपुगेका गोर्खालिग कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष दावा शेर्पालाई यसै सम्बन्धमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, चुनाउ गणतान्त्रिक अधिकार हो। जनताको अधिकार खोस्ने हक कसैलाई छैन। यसकारण हाम्रो मागहरूमा प्रमुख पहाड़मा गणतन्त्र बहाली पनि हो। दल जुन सुकै होस्, उसले गणतन्त्र बिथोल्न पाउँदैन। मोर्चाले पनि गणतान्त्रिक पद्धतिलाई मान्छ भने राम्रो कुरा हो। गणतान्त्रक्षिक पद्धति मान्नु नै राजनैतिक धर्म हो। पहाड़मा चुनाउ मान्ने कि नमान्ने भन्ने कुरा पहाड़मा निक्कै चलिरहेको कुरा हो तर जब अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुर आएको थियो तब मोर्चाले चुनाउ नमान्ने बताएको भए पनि अहिले चुनाउको पक्षमा पुगेको छ मोर्चा। गाजमुमोका नेताहरू रित्तो हात पहाड़ फर्किँदै चुनाउ लड्ने कुरा गरेपछि नगरमा व्यापक चर्चा चलेको सुनियो। चुनाउ लड्दै नलड्ने भनेर हजारौंपल्ट घोषणा गर्ने मोर्चा दिल्लीबाट फर्किँदै चुनाउ लड्ने मन बनाएको तर बङ्गाल सरकारले पञ्चायत चुनाउको निम्ति नयॉं गरी सिमाङ्कन गरे मोर्चा चुनाउ लड्न तयार रहेको बताएका थिए। यता पहाड़का दलहरूले चुनाउ गणतान्त्रिक अधिकार रहेकोले चुनाउ मार्फत नै सबै पहल हुनुपर्ने बताउँदै आइरहेको थियो। यहॉंसम्म कि अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुरा चल्दा पनि मोर्चाले चुनाउ नगरी यसमा प्रतिनिधिहरू मोर्चाको पक्षबाट मात्र बस्ने ढिप्पी गर्दा समेत मोर्चाको यसप्रकारको राजनैतिक पहलले अगणतान्त्रिक संस्कारलाई पश्रय दिइरहेको आरोप अन्य दलहरूले लगाएको थियो। दिल्ली जान भन्दा अघिसम्म मोर्चाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण चुनाउ विना नै गठन हुनुपर्ने कुरामा सरकारसित अड़ान राखेको थियो भने त्यसको निम्ति मोर्चाले केही तर्कहरू पनि राखेको थियो। ती तर्कहरूमा प्रमुख थियो, अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण दुइवर्षे अस्थायी व्यवस्था हो। दुइवर्षे अस्थायी भएको कारण यसको निम्ति चुनाउ हुँदैन। चुनाउ भयो भने, स्पष्ट छ कि यो स्थायी व्यवस्था हो। मोर्चाले प्राधिकरण गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो स्थायीरूपले थापेको होइन। तर दिल्लीबाट फर्किँदै मोर्चाले अचानक चुनाउ गर्न मोर्चा यतार रहेको बयान दिएपछि मोर्चाभित्र नै निक्कै चर्चा चलेको थाहा लागेको छ। मोर्चाले कुनै चुनाउ भए पनि मोर्चाले नै जित्ने विश्वास समेत प्रकट गर्दै मोर्चाका दिल्लीबाट घर फर्केका नेताहरूले यदि 15 दिन भित्र नै नगरपालिका चुनाउ नै भयो भने पनि जित मोर्चाकै हो भन्ने ठोकुवा पनि गरेका थिए। अन्तरिमको वकालत गर्दा चुनाउ नमान्ने मोर्चाले अहिले चुुनाउ मान्ने कुरा गरेपछि अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणले अर्को मोड़ लिएको देखिएको छ। चुनाउ भयो भने अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण स्थायी हुन्छ भन्ने मोर्चाले चुनाउको निम्ति जनतालाई फेरि के भन्ने हुन् भन्ने कुरा निक्कै जोरले चलेको छ।
गोर्खालिग नेता के.एन सुब्बाले दिए घिसिङलाई जवाब
मनोज बोगटी कालेबुङ,4 दिसम्बर। गोरामुमो अध्यक्ष सुवास घिसिङले निक्कै वर्षको मैनतापछि अचानक छैटौं अनुसूची नै पहाड़मा लागू हुनुपर्ने नत्र पहाड़मा आगो लाग्ने बताएका थिए। घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा छोड़ेर छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गर्न थालेदेखि ने गोरामुमोबाट पार्षद वा नेताहरूले घिसिङको साथ छोड़ेका हुन्। यसरी नै घिसिङको साथ छोड़ेर गोर्खालीगमा आएका 24 न.समष्टी गोरामुमो पूर्ण पार्षद के.एन सुब्बाले घिसिङले गरेको छैटौं अनुसूचीमाथिका टिप्पणीहरूको जवाब दिए। तिनले जसले छैटौं अनुसूची विफल बनाए उसैले फेरि छैटौं अनुसूचीको रट लगाइऱहेको भन्दै घिसिङसितको सम्बन्धमा रहेर थाहा लागेको घिसिङको राजनैतिक प्रवृतिको पोल खोले। तिनले भने, घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भनेर गोजीको कुरा गर्दैछन्। गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भने आन्दोलन किन गरेका हुन त तिनले? तिनले छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गर्दैछन्। तर छैटौं अनुसूचीको निम्ति अन्तरिम व्यवस्था चलाउँदै गर्नु भन्ने बङ्गालले दिएको प्रस्तावलाई तिनैले दुत्कारेका हुन्। तिनी एक्लै राज गर्न चहान्थे तर बङ्गालको प्रस्तावमा गोरामुमोबाट दुइजना अनि अरू दलबाट अरू प्रतिनिधिहरू मागिएको थियो। अरू दलको प्रतिनिधिहरूको कुरा आउने वित्तिकै तिनले छैटौं अनुसूचीको प्रस्तावलाई दुत्कारेका हुन्। यत्रो वर्ष चुप लागेर बसेका हुन्। जनतालाई दुख दिएर कुनै पनि कुरा आफ्नो स्वार्थको थाप्न बाध्य गराउने तिनको राक्षसी प्रवृति छ। छैटौं अनुसूची फेल गराउने घिसिङ नै हुन्। तिनले हरियो झण्डा हरियो बनाउन् वा गोरामुमोलाई स्थापित गुरून्, तिनको बुड़ो उच्छा हो तर गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक कुनै व्यवस्थाले पनि भारतभरिका गोर्खाहरूको चिन्हारीको समस्या समाधान हुनेवाला छैन। तिनी गोर्खालिगको सम्पर्क कार्यक्रम गर्न कालेबुङ आइपुगेका थिए। तिनले अझ भने, जुनै नेता आए पनि डमरू ल्याउने भन्छन्। हामीले थुप्रै डमरू देख्यो त्यो बाघ नभएर बाख्रा भयो र बली चढ्यो। जनताले अनुहार, झण्डा र भाषणलाई पत्याउने छैन। जसले काम गर्ने छ उसैलाई पत्याउनेछ अनि लीगले त्यो काम गर्नेछ। तिनले मोर्चाको सेटअप पनि अर्को डमरू नै रहेको बताउँदै भने, उनीहरू नयॉं खेलाड़ी हुन्, दुश्मनको प्रहार कसरी र कताबाट हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा जान्दैनन्। तिनले गोरामुमोकालमा घिसिङको विरोध गर्नै नसकिने अनि विरोध गरे दल निकाला हुने बताउँदै भने, यसैकारण म गोर्खालिगमा आएको हुँ। कप्तान राम्रो भयो भने मात्र जहाज डुब्दैन। गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक डमरूको कुरा गर्ने कप्तानहरू कतिका राम्रा छन् त्यो जनतालाई थाहा छ। तिनले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणमाथि टिप्पणी राख्दै भने, अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण थाप्नुको निम्ति आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्दैन। जस्तो, जयगाउँ डेभलोपमेन्ट अथोरिटी छ। मोर्चाको अथोरिटी काउन्सिल नै हो।
Second Chandan Singh Rawat Veterans Football Tournament 2010 organised by Kalimpong Veterans Club.
चुनाउ गरे जित्ने मोर्चाको दाबी
गणतान्त्रिक पद्धति मान्नु नै राजनैतिक धर्म हो-लीग
मनोज बोगटी कालेबुङ,4 दिसम्बर।गोर्खालिगले पहाड़मा त्रिस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउ र नगरपालिका चुनाउ हुनुपर्ने कुरा गर्दै आइरहेको थियो। लीगले चुनाउ नै नहुनु जनतालाई गणतान्त्रक्षिक अधिकारबाट बञ्चित राख्नु रहेको बताउँदै पहाड़ले गणतन्त्र गुमाएको बताइरहेको थियो। गणतन्त्र बहाली हुनुपर्ने कुरा लीगको मुख्य माग पनि रहेको थियो। दिल्लीबाट रित्तो हात फर्किँदै मोर्चाका नेताहरूले चुनाउ गराए मोर्चा लड्न तयार रहेको बताएपछि विभिन्न चर्चाहरू चल्न शुरू भएको छ। आज कालेबुङ आइपुगेका गोर्खालिग कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष दावा शेर्पालाई यसै सम्बन्धमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, चुनाउ गणतान्त्रिक अधिकार हो। जनताको अधिकार खोस्ने हक कसैलाई छैन। यसकारण हाम्रो मागहरूमा प्रमुख पहाड़मा गणतन्त्र बहाली पनि हो। दल जुन सुकै होस्, उसले गणतन्त्र बिथोल्न पाउँदैन। मोर्चाले पनि गणतान्त्रिक पद्धतिलाई मान्छ भने राम्रो कुरा हो। गणतान्त्रक्षिक पद्धति मान्नु नै राजनैतिक धर्म हो। पहाड़मा चुनाउ मान्ने कि नमान्ने भन्ने कुरा पहाड़मा निक्कै चलिरहेको कुरा हो तर जब अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुर आएको थियो तब मोर्चाले चुनाउ नमान्ने बताएको भए पनि अहिले चुनाउको पक्षमा पुगेको छ मोर्चा। गाजमुमोका नेताहरू रित्तो हात पहाड़ फर्किँदै चुनाउ लड्ने कुरा गरेपछि नगरमा व्यापक चर्चा चलेको सुनियो। चुनाउ लड्दै नलड्ने भनेर हजारौंपल्ट घोषणा गर्ने मोर्चा दिल्लीबाट फर्किँदै चुनाउ लड्ने मन बनाएको तर बङ्गाल सरकारले पञ्चायत चुनाउको निम्ति नयॉं गरी सिमाङ्कन गरे मोर्चा चुनाउ लड्न तयार रहेको बताएका थिए। यता पहाड़का दलहरूले चुनाउ गणतान्त्रिक अधिकार रहेकोले चुनाउ मार्फत नै सबै पहल हुनुपर्ने बताउँदै आइरहेको थियो। यहॉंसम्म कि अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुरा चल्दा पनि मोर्चाले चुनाउ नगरी यसमा प्रतिनिधिहरू मोर्चाको पक्षबाट मात्र बस्ने ढिप्पी गर्दा समेत मोर्चाको यसप्रकारको राजनैतिक पहलले अगणतान्त्रिक संस्कारलाई पश्रय दिइरहेको आरोप अन्य दलहरूले लगाएको थियो। दिल्ली जान भन्दा अघिसम्म मोर्चाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण चुनाउ विना नै गठन हुनुपर्ने कुरामा सरकारसित अड़ान राखेको थियो भने त्यसको निम्ति मोर्चाले केही तर्कहरू पनि राखेको थियो। ती तर्कहरूमा प्रमुख थियो, अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण दुइवर्षे अस्थायी व्यवस्था हो। दुइवर्षे अस्थायी भएको कारण यसको निम्ति चुनाउ हुँदैन। चुनाउ भयो भने, स्पष्ट छ कि यो स्थायी व्यवस्था हो। मोर्चाले प्राधिकरण गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो स्थायीरूपले थापेको होइन। तर दिल्लीबाट फर्किँदै मोर्चाले अचानक चुनाउ गर्न मोर्चा यतार रहेको बयान दिएपछि मोर्चाभित्र नै निक्कै चर्चा चलेको थाहा लागेको छ। मोर्चाले कुनै चुनाउ भए पनि मोर्चाले नै जित्ने विश्वास समेत प्रकट गर्दै मोर्चाका दिल्लीबाट घर फर्केका नेताहरूले यदि 15 दिन भित्र नै नगरपालिका चुनाउ नै भयो भने पनि जित मोर्चाकै हो भन्ने ठोकुवा पनि गरेका थिए। अन्तरिमको वकालत गर्दा चुनाउ नमान्ने मोर्चाले अहिले चुुनाउ मान्ने कुरा गरेपछि अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणले अर्को मोड़ लिएको देखिएको छ। चुनाउ भयो भने अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण स्थायी हुन्छ भन्ने मोर्चाले चुनाउको निम्ति जनतालाई फेरि के भन्ने हुन् भन्ने कुरा निक्कै जोरले चलेको छ।
गोर्खालिग नेता के.एन सुब्बाले दिए घिसिङलाई जवाब
मनोज बोगटी कालेबुङ,4 दिसम्बर। गोरामुमो अध्यक्ष सुवास घिसिङले निक्कै वर्षको मैनतापछि अचानक छैटौं अनुसूची नै पहाड़मा लागू हुनुपर्ने नत्र पहाड़मा आगो लाग्ने बताएका थिए। घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा छोड़ेर छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गर्न थालेदेखि ने गोरामुमोबाट पार्षद वा नेताहरूले घिसिङको साथ छोड़ेका हुन्। यसरी नै घिसिङको साथ छोड़ेर गोर्खालीगमा आएका 24 न.समष्टी गोरामुमो पूर्ण पार्षद के.एन सुब्बाले घिसिङले गरेको छैटौं अनुसूचीमाथिका टिप्पणीहरूको जवाब दिए। तिनले जसले छैटौं अनुसूची विफल बनाए उसैले फेरि छैटौं अनुसूचीको रट लगाइऱहेको भन्दै घिसिङसितको सम्बन्धमा रहेर थाहा लागेको घिसिङको राजनैतिक प्रवृतिको पोल खोले। तिनले भने, घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भनेर गोजीको कुरा गर्दैछन्। गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भने आन्दोलन किन गरेका हुन त तिनले? तिनले छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गर्दैछन्। तर छैटौं अनुसूचीको निम्ति अन्तरिम व्यवस्था चलाउँदै गर्नु भन्ने बङ्गालले दिएको प्रस्तावलाई तिनैले दुत्कारेका हुन्। तिनी एक्लै राज गर्न चहान्थे तर बङ्गालको प्रस्तावमा गोरामुमोबाट दुइजना अनि अरू दलबाट अरू प्रतिनिधिहरू मागिएको थियो। अरू दलको प्रतिनिधिहरूको कुरा आउने वित्तिकै तिनले छैटौं अनुसूचीको प्रस्तावलाई दुत्कारेका हुन्। यत्रो वर्ष चुप लागेर बसेका हुन्। जनतालाई दुख दिएर कुनै पनि कुरा आफ्नो स्वार्थको थाप्न बाध्य गराउने तिनको राक्षसी प्रवृति छ। छैटौं अनुसूची फेल गराउने घिसिङ नै हुन्। तिनले हरियो झण्डा हरियो बनाउन् वा गोरामुमोलाई स्थापित गुरून्, तिनको बुड़ो उच्छा हो तर गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक कुनै व्यवस्थाले पनि भारतभरिका गोर्खाहरूको चिन्हारीको समस्या समाधान हुनेवाला छैन। तिनी गोर्खालिगको सम्पर्क कार्यक्रम गर्न कालेबुङ आइपुगेका थिए। तिनले अझ भने, जुनै नेता आए पनि डमरू ल्याउने भन्छन्। हामीले थुप्रै डमरू देख्यो त्यो बाघ नभएर बाख्रा भयो र बली चढ्यो। जनताले अनुहार, झण्डा र भाषणलाई पत्याउने छैन। जसले काम गर्ने छ उसैलाई पत्याउनेछ अनि लीगले त्यो काम गर्नेछ। तिनले मोर्चाको सेटअप पनि अर्को डमरू नै रहेको बताउँदै भने, उनीहरू नयॉं खेलाड़ी हुन्, दुश्मनको प्रहार कसरी र कताबाट हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा जान्दैनन्। तिनले गोरामुमोकालमा घिसिङको विरोध गर्नै नसकिने अनि विरोध गरे दल निकाला हुने बताउँदै भने, यसैकारण म गोर्खालिगमा आएको हुँ। कप्तान राम्रो भयो भने मात्र जहाज डुब्दैन। गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक डमरूको कुरा गर्ने कप्तानहरू कतिका राम्रा छन् त्यो जनतालाई थाहा छ। तिनले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणमाथि टिप्पणी राख्दै भने, अन्तरिम प्राधिकरण थाप्नुको निम्ति आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्दैन। जस्तो, जयगाउँ डेभलोपमेन्ट अथोरिटी छ। मोर्चाको अथोरिटी काउन्सिल नै हो।
Second Chandan Singh Rawat Veterans Football Tournament 2010 organised by Kalimpong Veterans Club.
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| Second Semi-Final played between Bangladesh Veterans and Manipur Veterans. Bangladesh won 2-1 |
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| First Semi-Final played between Bhutan Veterans and Kolkata Veterans organised by Kalimpong Veterans Club. Kolkata Veterans won 1-0 |
AAGSU’s new central committee to swear in and take charge on Sunday
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| DB Limbu |
Archana Lohrung Rai, KalimNews, Dibrugarh 4 Dec 2010:- The new central committee of the apex Gorkha students’ organization the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) will sworn in on Sunday at Dekhiajuli in Sonitpur district of Assam stated a press release issued by Ram Chandra Adhikary its General Secretary .
The new committee was selected by the Special Morigoan Convention on 2 October 2010. A 21 member central executive committee will be administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Advisor, AAGSU Harkha Bahadur Chetri who is also the Chairman of the Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC). The central executive committee headed by its President Mr. Dil Bahadur Limboo has been by far one of the most successful Gorkha leader of North East was elected at the ‘Central Delegate Session’ at 32nd Duilajaan Bi-nenial Conference held on 23 Dec 2008 . It was under his leadership that the Gorkha Development Council (GDC) could come to existence in Assam besides many successful social ventures in Assam.
Talking to this correspondent over phone from Guwahati the designated Info & Publicity Secretary AAGSU Mr. Nanda Kirati Dewan said that it is completely a private affair and cultured traditional curriculum of the students’ body to hand over charge in the swearing ceremony and the new committee to take charge accordingly. “We will have our first of ‘Extended Executive Meeting’ on the same day after the taking over the charge.” ‘The executive meeting will discuss issues relating to formation of Gorkha Development Council (GDC) and will clear our stand of demand of Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) and will adopt resolutions for the future line actions of the apex body.’ added Mr. Dewan.
Almost all district committees of AAGSU and its affiliated unit are attending the mega ceremony. Mr. Jagadish Khanal from Sonitpur, Mr. Keshav Sharma from Goalpara will respectively be accorded charge as President and General Secretary along with 19 members totaling to 21member executive committee. Its for the first time in history of AAGSU that a President have been elected from Sonitpur district whose district committee was established in 1945. Assam Gorkha Sanmelan, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh; Assam State Committee, Nepali Sahitya Parishad; Assam, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Nepali Sahitya Kala Niketan have extended greetings to the students’ body. All Assam Students’ Union(AASU), All Bodo students’ Union (ABSU) and other students’ organizations of North East too have extended their greetings and wishes to Mr. D B Limboo stated the release.
Alix, Gorkhaland and Yossarians
The new committee was selected by the Special Morigoan Convention on 2 October 2010. A 21 member central executive committee will be administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Advisor, AAGSU Harkha Bahadur Chetri who is also the Chairman of the Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC). The central executive committee headed by its President Mr. Dil Bahadur Limboo has been by far one of the most successful Gorkha leader of North East was elected at the ‘Central Delegate Session’ at 32nd Duilajaan Bi-nenial Conference held on 23 Dec 2008 . It was under his leadership that the Gorkha Development Council (GDC) could come to existence in Assam besides many successful social ventures in Assam.
Talking to this correspondent over phone from Guwahati the designated Info & Publicity Secretary AAGSU Mr. Nanda Kirati Dewan said that it is completely a private affair and cultured traditional curriculum of the students’ body to hand over charge in the swearing ceremony and the new committee to take charge accordingly. “We will have our first of ‘Extended Executive Meeting’ on the same day after the taking over the charge.” ‘The executive meeting will discuss issues relating to formation of Gorkha Development Council (GDC) and will clear our stand of demand of Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) and will adopt resolutions for the future line actions of the apex body.’ added Mr. Dewan.
Almost all district committees of AAGSU and its affiliated unit are attending the mega ceremony. Mr. Jagadish Khanal from Sonitpur, Mr. Keshav Sharma from Goalpara will respectively be accorded charge as President and General Secretary along with 19 members totaling to 21member executive committee. Its for the first time in history of AAGSU that a President have been elected from Sonitpur district whose district committee was established in 1945. Assam Gorkha Sanmelan, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh; Assam State Committee, Nepali Sahitya Parishad; Assam, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Nepali Sahitya Kala Niketan have extended greetings to the students’ body. All Assam Students’ Union(AASU), All Bodo students’ Union (ABSU) and other students’ organizations of North East too have extended their greetings and wishes to Mr. D B Limboo stated the release.
Alix, Gorkhaland and Yossarians
by Raja Puniani
We reach Siliguri Junction. Its 6 pm now. I ask Alix, “The auto for NJP is ready. Shall you get in?” She mimes to wait for a while. I ask again, “What happened? Any problem?” There I see her bag on the hood of the vehicle. She climbs up to the hood herself as the driver is busy collecting fare from passengers and isn’t helping her to pass on the bag from hood. She takes down the bag herself. I ask, “Shall you board the auto?” She mimes the same gesture again. Starts unleashing the bag and tells me, “I want to give you something.” I am astonished and ashamed. I say, “Please get in auto. You will be late. I don’t need anything.”
She disagrees as I repeatedly suggest her to get in the auto. She tries to convince me, “Only a book that I wanted to present you as a token of memory.” The book is ‘Iya-Ile’ (The First Wife), a Nigerian drama in English.
Alix is supposed to catch the train of 8 pm. She intends to go to Kolkata. From Kolkata, she’ll fly toward Goa by air. She is wearing warm clothes and muffler to protect her from the initial hammering of cold. She is British. Firstly, entered Nepal. She is now in India after she roamed around Nepal. She will return home only when she finishes up with Goa. She tells for several times, “I liked Nepal very much.” Especially, Kathmandu, Pokhra, Paataan, Bhaktapur touched deep down her emotional core.
She also came out of vehicle along with me, when driver stopped at Garidhura, a roadside hamlet, for evening tea-snacks. She is in her sweet twenty-fives. She has learned a few Nepali words. She wished to have black tea. Sipping the hot tea, she asked to me, “Do this place also belong to Gorkhaland?” I yessed her. In the meantime, we had informative pieces of gossip about Gorkhaland, Tea Estates, and Cinchona Plantations. After this, she makes it clear about her understanding: the toiling people out here are oppressed and Gorkhaland is an only way out for them. But I explained her, “Alix, Gorkhaland isn’t the last resort that is going to solve the problem of the toiling mass.” She wondered, “Why?”
I answered her in brevity: It’s because Gorkhaland of a handful of ‘New-Rich’ shall not help majority of Darjeeling people overcoming their fundamental crises. The process of making of Gorkhaland is proving to be a tough democratic exercise. But even if Gorkhaland is carved out as a separate autonomous state from the state of West Bengal, the problems might still persist. The problems may even magnify as the corruption magnifies with the creation of laws, system and establishment. The gulf between ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’ is going to increase its depth intensely. This skewed hill will be skewed at more acute degrees of gradient. Suddenly her face is enveloped by a shade of worry. She didn’t query what then the path of final solution may be. I didn’t unleash my opinion, too.
We had to speak aloud. Driver has played his stereo at high volume. She asked, “Who is singing?” I answered her, “Manila Sotang.” I narrated her in English the initial part of the Nepali song “Bhijyo Sihraani Raataima” (pillow has drenched in night). I added that the song carried the very discourse of Darjeeling. The native ‘sons of soil’ migrate both internally and externally in order to fight with their unemployment problem. So, the desperate wives drench their pillow every night in the fond memories of their departed husbands. Children anxiously search for the forgotten faces of their distant fathers. I thought of telling Alix about “Muna-Madan”, a great narrative-long poem by legendary Nepali writer Laxmiprasad Deokota. ‘Muna-Madan’ is a tragic narrative of the departed Muna (wife) and Madan (husband), who migrates to Bhot (the then Bhutan). I thought of telling that “Madan-Muna”, a new ‘deconstruction’ of this work might be done as more and more women are also migrating only to face problems in different places of the globe. Nowa-days, girl-women trafficking are the deepest crisis for the hills of Darjeeling. Earlier, only men flew off, now, women are also into this.
I asked Alix whether I could see the book lying in the seat just besides her. In fact it is the strange name printed in bold letters on forehead of the book that has drove me crazy:
Catch-22! It’s a bestseller of 1961. Written by Joseph Heller. “Its wonderful! Black-Humor! Anti-War,” Alix said at a shot. Catch-22 is the American military law that restricts one from escaping out from the war field or any operation. In book, the very name is an allegory for ‘losing situation’. I am glancing at the back of this bulky book. I try fixing my eyes and concentrating on the tiny letters as it’s really a tough task to read inside moving vehicle topsy-turvy, curvy, zigzag roads of Darjeeling hills. It becomes noticeable that, written on the backdrop of the American invasion on Italy during the final phase of Second World War, this non-sequential, absurd and black-satirical novel is regarded as one of the best work of the twentieth century.
American air force is threatening Italy by air raids operated from the Pianosa, an island of Italy, only twenty two km above the sea level of Mediterrian Sea. Yossarian, the main character of “Catch-22”, is in deadly responsibility of bombarding. He is scared, distressed and disappointed by the lethality of the insane war. He is fed up. Yossarian plans to leave fighting scenario.His tries hard to establish and justify his release from the war field on the groundthat he has become insane. Though his pretention doesn’t work for him, he struggles to prove that he’s insane in front of others. The very circular, non-sequential and ironical elements of the novel thus expose the vulgarity of imperialist greed and expansionist war. I remember here, the catchy lines by Agamsingh Giri, a popular Nepali poet of sixties-seventies from Darjeeling: “War/ Thirst of human blood/ Desperate aspirations of killing and destroying…” (-A. Giri, War and Warrior). I remember here the war poet Wilfred Owen. Earnest Hemingway, too. And the highly popular Bob Dyalan song “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.”
Sobriety and intellect might be prominent features, which might draw closer anybody toward Alix Thorpe. She works as script editor with Soho Theatre at London since last year. She is learned in English literature. One could debate with her. One could talk. I asked, “How is your England?” A sense of worry was concealed within her answer. Her face contracted with wrinkles of gloom. She told, “Just fine.” When I asked whether recession has been tarnished off, she became excited to explain certain things. She informed, “No, no.Recession still hovers around England.” She admits boldly, “What is most disappointing is that unemployment and poverty is rising out there.” In contrary to our general hypothesis that all Americans and Europeans are rich and content, this information may be a shocking one. I enquired about the trends of drama in England. She told that the theatre is trying reducing the gap between stage and viewers in manifold ways. Even IT is being incorporated for achieving this target. Her theatre presents shows everyday professionally.
She expressed her grief on the declining number of viewers of drama. I supported her opinion through my logic. The imposed dominant ‘popular-culture’ is one of the factors for this alienation of art lovers from their call of the genesis. Peoples are opting for illusions against originality. We were feeling equilinear-equivocal disillusionment.
We had a good exchange of ideas. Brecht, Ibsen, Plath, Bronte, one by one became alive in our travel-gossip. I asked whether she has watched ‘Dead Poets’ Society,’ ‘Colour Purple,’
‘Cast Away,’ ‘Schindler’s List.’ “What do you think about ‘One Flew over Cuckoo’s Nest’?” She suggested me to read the novel, this film is based on. “Read the book. Book is better than film,” she told. I thought, some ideological parity can be strike out between this film and “Catch-22.” It seemed that Alix didn’t have any point of difference, when I told her of the failure of globalization almost in the entire globe. Capitalism was almost in coma after the Lehman Brothers of America triggered the global recession.
It’s recovering slowly but it’s not in well tempo. The anti-establishment people oriented forces are capitalizing this crisis to hit at the weakest links of the capitalist socio-economy. Discussion is broadening our thought spaces.
Alix Thorpe has mailed me informing that she has reached Goa safe and sound. She was not feeling well. She is now recharged. She relaxed in the seashore watching the beautiful sunset. I am skeptic, how long our memory, of Alix and mine, may be able to hold the forty minute association that we shared from Kurseong to Siliguri. But, what is sure to last in my memory is Yossarian, the character of “Catch-22”, the book introduced to me by Alix.
It’s because we all are Yossarians. Like this desperate bombardier, we are also pretending to be insane to find escape route from the menace of the chaotic status-quo of insane world order. That the entire world has metamorphosed itself into a prison house for poor insane creatures defined as ‘Human’. Every now and then, there is war. Insane war. We are bound to act as weapons for these vested wars. We, the War-Machines. War is for power. We help winners to win by defeating ourselves. We lose, and they win. Century after century.
Decade after decade. Day after day. We are the losers of this insane war. I can see the pitiable peoples being squeezed, pressed, and slashed in these visible and invisible warfronts. Either, all of them look like Yossarian. Or, Yossarian looks like them. The narrative is unquestionably the same. They are all starving to prove themselves to be insane. O, we poor Yossarians!
(English translation of Nepali essay “Alix, Gorkhaland ra Yossarianharu” written for weekly column ‘Kaalbodh’ for ‘Himalaya Darpan’, a Nepali daily published from Siliguri, India. Translation by author. Date of publication in Himalya Darpan -5th December 2010. )
We reach Siliguri Junction. Its 6 pm now. I ask Alix, “The auto for NJP is ready. Shall you get in?” She mimes to wait for a while. I ask again, “What happened? Any problem?” There I see her bag on the hood of the vehicle. She climbs up to the hood herself as the driver is busy collecting fare from passengers and isn’t helping her to pass on the bag from hood. She takes down the bag herself. I ask, “Shall you board the auto?” She mimes the same gesture again. Starts unleashing the bag and tells me, “I want to give you something.” I am astonished and ashamed. I say, “Please get in auto. You will be late. I don’t need anything.”
She disagrees as I repeatedly suggest her to get in the auto. She tries to convince me, “Only a book that I wanted to present you as a token of memory.” The book is ‘Iya-Ile’ (The First Wife), a Nigerian drama in English.
Alix is supposed to catch the train of 8 pm. She intends to go to Kolkata. From Kolkata, she’ll fly toward Goa by air. She is wearing warm clothes and muffler to protect her from the initial hammering of cold. She is British. Firstly, entered Nepal. She is now in India after she roamed around Nepal. She will return home only when she finishes up with Goa. She tells for several times, “I liked Nepal very much.” Especially, Kathmandu, Pokhra, Paataan, Bhaktapur touched deep down her emotional core.
She also came out of vehicle along with me, when driver stopped at Garidhura, a roadside hamlet, for evening tea-snacks. She is in her sweet twenty-fives. She has learned a few Nepali words. She wished to have black tea. Sipping the hot tea, she asked to me, “Do this place also belong to Gorkhaland?” I yessed her. In the meantime, we had informative pieces of gossip about Gorkhaland, Tea Estates, and Cinchona Plantations. After this, she makes it clear about her understanding: the toiling people out here are oppressed and Gorkhaland is an only way out for them. But I explained her, “Alix, Gorkhaland isn’t the last resort that is going to solve the problem of the toiling mass.” She wondered, “Why?”
I answered her in brevity: It’s because Gorkhaland of a handful of ‘New-Rich’ shall not help majority of Darjeeling people overcoming their fundamental crises. The process of making of Gorkhaland is proving to be a tough democratic exercise. But even if Gorkhaland is carved out as a separate autonomous state from the state of West Bengal, the problems might still persist. The problems may even magnify as the corruption magnifies with the creation of laws, system and establishment. The gulf between ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’ is going to increase its depth intensely. This skewed hill will be skewed at more acute degrees of gradient. Suddenly her face is enveloped by a shade of worry. She didn’t query what then the path of final solution may be. I didn’t unleash my opinion, too.
We had to speak aloud. Driver has played his stereo at high volume. She asked, “Who is singing?” I answered her, “Manila Sotang.” I narrated her in English the initial part of the Nepali song “Bhijyo Sihraani Raataima” (pillow has drenched in night). I added that the song carried the very discourse of Darjeeling. The native ‘sons of soil’ migrate both internally and externally in order to fight with their unemployment problem. So, the desperate wives drench their pillow every night in the fond memories of their departed husbands. Children anxiously search for the forgotten faces of their distant fathers. I thought of telling Alix about “Muna-Madan”, a great narrative-long poem by legendary Nepali writer Laxmiprasad Deokota. ‘Muna-Madan’ is a tragic narrative of the departed Muna (wife) and Madan (husband), who migrates to Bhot (the then Bhutan). I thought of telling that “Madan-Muna”, a new ‘deconstruction’ of this work might be done as more and more women are also migrating only to face problems in different places of the globe. Nowa-days, girl-women trafficking are the deepest crisis for the hills of Darjeeling. Earlier, only men flew off, now, women are also into this.
I asked Alix whether I could see the book lying in the seat just besides her. In fact it is the strange name printed in bold letters on forehead of the book that has drove me crazy:
Catch-22! It’s a bestseller of 1961. Written by Joseph Heller. “Its wonderful! Black-Humor! Anti-War,” Alix said at a shot. Catch-22 is the American military law that restricts one from escaping out from the war field or any operation. In book, the very name is an allegory for ‘losing situation’. I am glancing at the back of this bulky book. I try fixing my eyes and concentrating on the tiny letters as it’s really a tough task to read inside moving vehicle topsy-turvy, curvy, zigzag roads of Darjeeling hills. It becomes noticeable that, written on the backdrop of the American invasion on Italy during the final phase of Second World War, this non-sequential, absurd and black-satirical novel is regarded as one of the best work of the twentieth century.
American air force is threatening Italy by air raids operated from the Pianosa, an island of Italy, only twenty two km above the sea level of Mediterrian Sea. Yossarian, the main character of “Catch-22”, is in deadly responsibility of bombarding. He is scared, distressed and disappointed by the lethality of the insane war. He is fed up. Yossarian plans to leave fighting scenario.His tries hard to establish and justify his release from the war field on the groundthat he has become insane. Though his pretention doesn’t work for him, he struggles to prove that he’s insane in front of others. The very circular, non-sequential and ironical elements of the novel thus expose the vulgarity of imperialist greed and expansionist war. I remember here, the catchy lines by Agamsingh Giri, a popular Nepali poet of sixties-seventies from Darjeeling: “War/ Thirst of human blood/ Desperate aspirations of killing and destroying…” (-A. Giri, War and Warrior). I remember here the war poet Wilfred Owen. Earnest Hemingway, too. And the highly popular Bob Dyalan song “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.”
Sobriety and intellect might be prominent features, which might draw closer anybody toward Alix Thorpe. She works as script editor with Soho Theatre at London since last year. She is learned in English literature. One could debate with her. One could talk. I asked, “How is your England?” A sense of worry was concealed within her answer. Her face contracted with wrinkles of gloom. She told, “Just fine.” When I asked whether recession has been tarnished off, she became excited to explain certain things. She informed, “No, no.Recession still hovers around England.” She admits boldly, “What is most disappointing is that unemployment and poverty is rising out there.” In contrary to our general hypothesis that all Americans and Europeans are rich and content, this information may be a shocking one. I enquired about the trends of drama in England. She told that the theatre is trying reducing the gap between stage and viewers in manifold ways. Even IT is being incorporated for achieving this target. Her theatre presents shows everyday professionally.
She expressed her grief on the declining number of viewers of drama. I supported her opinion through my logic. The imposed dominant ‘popular-culture’ is one of the factors for this alienation of art lovers from their call of the genesis. Peoples are opting for illusions against originality. We were feeling equilinear-equivocal disillusionment.
We had a good exchange of ideas. Brecht, Ibsen, Plath, Bronte, one by one became alive in our travel-gossip. I asked whether she has watched ‘Dead Poets’ Society,’ ‘Colour Purple,’
‘Cast Away,’ ‘Schindler’s List.’ “What do you think about ‘One Flew over Cuckoo’s Nest’?” She suggested me to read the novel, this film is based on. “Read the book. Book is better than film,” she told. I thought, some ideological parity can be strike out between this film and “Catch-22.” It seemed that Alix didn’t have any point of difference, when I told her of the failure of globalization almost in the entire globe. Capitalism was almost in coma after the Lehman Brothers of America triggered the global recession.
It’s recovering slowly but it’s not in well tempo. The anti-establishment people oriented forces are capitalizing this crisis to hit at the weakest links of the capitalist socio-economy. Discussion is broadening our thought spaces.
Alix Thorpe has mailed me informing that she has reached Goa safe and sound. She was not feeling well. She is now recharged. She relaxed in the seashore watching the beautiful sunset. I am skeptic, how long our memory, of Alix and mine, may be able to hold the forty minute association that we shared from Kurseong to Siliguri. But, what is sure to last in my memory is Yossarian, the character of “Catch-22”, the book introduced to me by Alix.
It’s because we all are Yossarians. Like this desperate bombardier, we are also pretending to be insane to find escape route from the menace of the chaotic status-quo of insane world order. That the entire world has metamorphosed itself into a prison house for poor insane creatures defined as ‘Human’. Every now and then, there is war. Insane war. We are bound to act as weapons for these vested wars. We, the War-Machines. War is for power. We help winners to win by defeating ourselves. We lose, and they win. Century after century.
Decade after decade. Day after day. We are the losers of this insane war. I can see the pitiable peoples being squeezed, pressed, and slashed in these visible and invisible warfronts. Either, all of them look like Yossarian. Or, Yossarian looks like them. The narrative is unquestionably the same. They are all starving to prove themselves to be insane. O, we poor Yossarians!
(English translation of Nepali essay “Alix, Gorkhaland ra Yossarianharu” written for weekly column ‘Kaalbodh’ for ‘Himalaya Darpan’, a Nepali daily published from Siliguri, India. Translation by author. Date of publication in Himalya Darpan -5th December 2010. )
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