Chronicle 2008
Princess Pema cremated in traditional Manner
Princess Pema Tsedong Yapshi Pheunkhang Lhacham Kusho, the younger sister of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, the 12th and last king of Sikkim, was cremated in a traditional manner today at Lukshyama, the royal cremation hill above Gangtok.
A large gathering of people from all walks of life attended the funeral procession and the final rites of the princess, who despite being the King's sister was known for her own individuality, grace, charm, wisdom and intelligence. She was 84 and died in Kolkata on December 2. The funeral procession was taken out from her residence at Development area to the area near the Congress headquarter and her body was then driven to Luskhyama for the last rites. The state government declared the day a holiday as a mark of respect and mourning.
The eldest daughter of Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal of Sikkim, widely known as Princess Coocoola, married the Governor of Gyantse province in Tibet and later settled to live in India with personal business interests in Kolkata and the neighbouring region.
Condoling the death of the princess Sikkim Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh said he was deeply saddened and her death had snatched away a lady of enormous charm, grace and wisdom. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling also expressed profound grief and sorrow on the passing away of the Princess.
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) said the Sikkimese people had lost a mother figure in the demise of the princess. She was a source of eternal inspiration and courage to the people during Sikkim's tragic pre-annexation era of the early 1970s.
As the eldest daughter of the Chogyal, Sir Tashi Namgyal, modern architect of Sikkim, she was spontaneous about inherent responsibilities towards her subjects, Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepalese.
The role, she played in the formulation of the Sikkim Subject Regulation in 1961 and many others are unforgettable, SIBLAC convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia said in his condolence message.
SIBLAC mourns the Death of Tantric Practitioner
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has mourned the death of Venerable Gomchen Pema Rigzin Lama, popularly known as Risung Gomchen of Gangyap, Tashiding.
In a press release, SIBLAC says that the passing away of the high practitioner of the Chyangter tradition of the Northern Treasure and Lama Gongdue has created a strong vacuum amongst the assembly of advance Tantric practitioners in Sikkim.
The late Gomchen aged 78, passed away on July 3, 2008 at the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital in Gangtok and immediately emerge into 'Thugdam' (Samadhi trance) for the next two days. Venerable Gomchen spent most of his life in strict meditation and retreats.
The organization has also expressesed its deep sense of regret and condolence to the family members and followers of the Venerable Gomchen. They have also prayed for a swift reincarnation of the Venerable Gomchen who would continue with his legacy of serving the Dharma and sentient beings.
SIBLAC launches official Website
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has launched its official website, today. According to a press release issued by SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia, the creation and inauguration of the site www.siblac.com is an attempt to project Sikkim "before an absolute mirror through the different phases of its trials for a wider spectrum across the globe. It is also an attempt to bridge the past with the present and a sincere effort of the Sikkimese to exhibit themselves to the world as the way Sikkim was and is", the release informs.
"The site will deal with presenting the authentic documentation of the on-going challenges as faced by the Sikkimese in general and the Bhutia-Lepcha of Sikkimese origin in particular, which is often hijacked by the local politicians for their petty political gains", the release reads. It is also informed that the apex committee would keep on updating the viewers and readers on their activities +to survive in this complex democracy.+ At the same time, SIBLAC has invited suggestions, comments and cooperation from well-wishers through the site.
During the launching ceremony, the organization resolved to protect Sikkim "from distortions and misinterpretations of the history and more particularly the Sikkimese history", which according to SIBLAC still requires a more systematic and analytical research. "Ultimately, such distorted omissions and commissions are always disastrous and prone to jeopardize the very socio-cultural fabric of the civil society. More to the point, due to such distortions, the original Sikkimese are becoming scapegoats to such an alien tune where its very political, social as well as even historical events and existence are at stake", the release reads.
"During the last few years since SIBLAC came into being, it has focused, to a fair extent, on the socio-politico-economic rights and interests of Sikkimese people enshrined in Article 371F of the Indian Constitution. In fact, one of the main factors responsible for growing apprehension in the minds of Sikkimese Bhutia Lepcha is the consistent dilution of Article 371F of the Indian Constitution and the spirit and intention of the historic May 8 Tripartite Agreement of 1973, that has deprived the entire Sikkimese people of their constitutional rights and the very basis of their survival. Basically, the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepcha's struggle is a struggle for survival", the release concludes.
SIBLAC worried over Pang Lhabsol 'distortion' in Sikim Study Series
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has inquired the State Information and Public Relations Department on the position of the Sikkim Study Series vis-à-vis errors contained in the chapter on Pang Lhabsol, Culture Part 1, Vol.III, 2004. In a letter to the Secretary of IPR, dated May 26, 2008, the Convenor of SIBLAC, Tseten Tashi Bhutia has pointed out 'certain prominent mistakes contained in the chapter, saying that the festival was never observed on September 2 as mentioned in the said page (line 4, para 1).
According to the letter, "Pang Lhabsol starts on the eighth day to the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, normally corresponding to late August or early September." While stating that the 'grand project like the Study Series is undertaken by the State Government to educate and inform people on Sikkim's history, geography, demography etc, the SIBLAC has sought for correct information that is "not distorted or polluted or tampered in any form."
It has also said that the chapter has received "less coverage and has failed to satisfy one's level of keenness to fully ponder on it. The main function of Pang Lhabsol is and has never been organized at the Statue of Unity, as mentioned in para 1 of page 3", the letter reads further informing that "Thekong-Tek and Khye-Bumsa qualifies the closest equanimity to their original appellations in Lepcha and Bhutia languages respectively, instead of Thinking tok and Bhey Bumsa at para 3 of page 4, which is a gross distortion to a foreign reader."
Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia has also said that the research work on the subject Pang-Lhabsol is incomplete to a book of the stature and standard of the one like Sikkim Studies Series, since there is no mention of the 8th century incidences related to Mahaguru Padmasambhava, Khangchendzonga, etc. "This is a strange and shocking deviation from the religio-historical chronology of the events leading to the observance of Pang Lhabsol", the letter reads.
"Under the circumstances, though we tried to bring to the notice of all concerned about these disastrous aspects through local media last year, we have come to the unconfirmed understanding that your department is redrafting the same. But at the lapse of almost three years now, we want to know as to what is the exact position on the matter now", the letter further states.
"Such action has led to creation of immense apprehension on our mind regarding the standard of the upcoming Sikkim University, which is headed by Mr. Mahindra P. Lama, Chief Editor to the said Study Series in question, while precautions on such matters are strictly maintained in future to avoid any such environment of ill-designs and doubts, it is hoped", the letter concludes.
BLs welcome CM's Announcement of Providing full Protection to them
Organisations request immediate Arrangement to rectify Discrepancies
In a joint meeting, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), the National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO 371F) and the Denjong Chyarig Tsogpa (DCT) have welcomed the announcement of the Chief Minister to provide full protection to the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas in every aspect.
A press release informs that the meeting held to discuss the Chief Minister's State Day speech was presided over by the SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia. The release informs that the meeting expressed apprehensions as to how the Chief Minister's statement could be practical since his government failed to provide BL seat reservation to the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas in the local bodies despite their repeated representations and appraisals to the government including the 12 so-called BL MLAs.
The three organisations have solicited the Chief Minister to make immediate arrangement to address the true BL issues in order to dispel the confusions inherent to the CM's State Day address. The meeting also wished the Chief Minister would take necessary steps to resolve the Dzongu imbroglio in favour of the Dzongu Lepchas by scrapping the controversial power projects of the area. To sort out such discrepancies would be a real sense translation of the Chief Minister's State Day address into practical meaning, the release states.
According to the release, a lot of historic blunder has already been committed by the past regime including distortion of the BLs identity in draconian legislations like the Sikkim Scheduled Tribe Order 1978 and Representative of Peoples (Amendment) Act 1980. It states that the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas have always cherished to rectify such distortions and expect the same from the present regime including proportionate increase of the BL seats in the Sikkim Assembly.
The meeting also expressed its belief that the only way to address the real BL issues would be through a congenial dialogue, for which the members expressed their readiness, anytime and anywhere, with open mind. Unless these issues were addressed, Chief Minister's State Day address would be a hollow compulsion. At the same time, the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas would not give up their struggle for survival keeping firm belief in the democratic and constitutional principals, the release adds.
SIBLAC says Spirit and Objectives of Tripartite Agreement are lost
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has raised several inconsistencies in the State on the real spirit and objectives of the Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973. This has come on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the signing of the agreement between the then Denjong Chogyal, the Indian Government and different Sikkimese political parties to ensure the social, political and economic advancement of the Sikkimese people.
According to a press release, the historic agreement became the most important skeleton to all the later political arrangements in Sikkim including the current Article 371F of the Indian Constitution which is a non-obstinate and overriding provision to all other provisions in the Indian Constitution. To give effect to the agreement, elections were held to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in April 1974 which was later duly recognised by Indian Constitution vide Article 371 F. This shows how valid and significant this historic May 8 document is for the Sikkimese people.
Stating that it is necessary to reflect upon the incidents and its subsequent fallout after the absorption of Sikkim into the Indian Union in 1975 on the eve of the 35th anniversary, the apex committee notes that though Sikkim and the Sikkimese people are completely protected as 'Indian' in the Indian set-up, however, as far as its constitution is concerned the same forms practically a different story altogether.
In the name of democracy, there has been a complete departure from the real spirit and objectives of the historic May 8 document that emphasizes upon the need and necessity on the maintenance of Sikkimese rights and preservation. Politicians are simply more concerned about their own political prospects at the cost of the common Sikkimese destiny. They are concerned only about the periodic opportunity to choose to govern itself after every five years while departing from the real objective and purpose of governing the state in the long run for the stability of our own posterity, adds the release.
Citing that all the members of the first Sikkim Legislative Assembly formed consequent upon to the May 8 Agreement were Sikkim Subjects as necessarily required by the Representation of Sikkim Subject Act 1974 and later duly recognized by Article 371 F of the Indian Constitution, the release points out that the elections to the said assembly were held under total supervision of the Indian Election Commission. It is, and in conformity to the preceding facts, stressed here that the Sikkim Subject Certificate must continue to be a necessary requisite for any aspiring candidate intending to contest election to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. If any contradicting policies or procedure is adopted in this regard, it is highly illegal and anti India policy and shall be construed as an intolerable departure from the basic spirit and objectives of the historic agreement, the release further reads.
SIBLAC has expressed unhappiness to witness a State which is too similar with that of 1975 despite 35 years of Tripartite Agreement. According to the apex committee, the present day Sikkimese society is a fragmented lot, fragmented on the basis of everything, come what may that is possible. It further alleges that the Sikkimese demographic character has undergone and is still undergoing a sea change. The ever changing demographic feature serves as a grim indicator of who is going to overtake genuine Sikkimese people, the release contends.
While blaming the politicians for completely dithering away from their responsibilities for their material gains, SIBLAC maintains that politicians must be aware that they have the glorious responsibility to maintain the state.
Comparing Sikkim to a big hollow vessel in both political and cultural aspects, SIBLAC says that no one is to be blamed but the people themselves and their own weakness of being prone to greed and grasping. "Sikkim is a peaceful state but, sometimes, shouldn't we introspect ourselves in within to compare the same to the peace of a graveyard", the release asks.
Expressing sadness on the turn of the 35th anniversary of the historic May 8 treaty, the apex committee points out that seats for the Sikkimese Nepalese in the Sikkim Assembly have not been reserved and no protection given to the old business community members serving Sikkim since decades, while the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas continue to survive under apprehensions and fear.
SIBLAC has called Sikkimese from all walks of life and political affiliations to keep pace with the contemporary world so that a general consensus is built up amongst all the Sikkimese which includes Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepalese of Sikkimese origin as well as the old Business Community of Sikkim, and look forward for a truly protected Sikkim, socially, politically, economically, as emphasized by the historic Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973.
SIBLAC condemns BB Goorong's anti-BL Statement
Bhutia Lepcha Community to take Action
A delegate meeting of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) was held at the BL House under the chairmanship of Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia. Representatives of the organization from all parts of the State attended the meeting. A number of resolutions were passed during the meeting.
According to a press release issued by Chewang Pintso, Secretary Press and Media Management, the meeting took serious note of the comments made by former Chief Minister and current advisor to the Chief Minister, BB Gooroong, on the Bhutia Lepcha community.
The press release said that the "recent comment by Mr. Gooroong is not only defamatory against the minority Bhutia Lepcha community, but anti-Bhutia Lepcha in its very nature. Mr. Gooroong has reduced the minority Bhutia Lepcha community to a mere vote bank instrument in Sikkim, rejecting their historical existence in the socio-political entity of the Sikkimese social fabric, an intolerable departure from the truth."
The press release further said it was "rather strange that the BL MLAs and all the BL functionaries in the Government kept a stoic silence on this shocking comment of their advisor to the Government."
SIBLAC said that the BL MLAs "must come out with a concrete stand on the matter or else it will be construed that these BL MLAs subscribe to the shocking comment as demonstrated by Mr. Gooroong."
The meeting demandes that the BL MLAs take immediate action in this regard or else "SIBLAC would be compelled to give a look to other options", the press release adds.