Cable-car ripples near Changu - Ropeway adds to list of attractions for tourists near Sikkim lake

Writes : Rajeev Ravidas 
 

Tsomgo (East Sikkim): A cable car that climbs to 14,500 feet on the snow-covered slopes near Changu Lake is fast becoming a major attraction for tourists to Sikkim.

Built after an almost a decade-long struggle, the Tsomgo Passenger Ropeway started operation in July 2017.

In a short span of less than a year, the ropeway has become an added attraction for tourists visiting Tsomgo Lake, which over the years has become a tourism hotspot of the Himalayan state.

Tsomgo is about 40 kilometres from Gangtok and 15 kilometres short of Nathula, the border pass between India and China, which has become a must-visit for tourists in Sikkim.

Given the fact that Tsomgo -Nathula is designated as a sensitive nature area, tourists need a special permit to visit the rugged mountain terrain which for better part of the year is covered with snow.

K. B. Gurung, the local partner of the company that built and operates the ropeway, said people are drawn to the cable car service because of what they get to see on the upper station of the ropeway. "The upper station opens up to a flattish hillock from where you, on a clear day, can get a majestic view of the Kanchenjungha mountain. Even if the weather is not clear, the visitors have a whale of a time playing with the snowflakes. The Tsomgo ropeway at its upper point is the highest ropeway in Asia," he said.

On Saturday, scores of people were seen taking a ride on the ropeway. "We feel like we are in Europe. This is incredibly beautiful," said Tribhuvan Prakash Dubey, a visitor from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

" Aisa jaga hamara India may hai (such a place exist in our country)," chimed Ashok Purohit. Both Dubey and Purohit are police officers from Gujarat and were in Sikkim to spend their holidays with their families.

"To set foot on snow after descending from the cable car is incredible. We have a ropeway in Nepal that takes you to the Manokamana temple (in Gorkha district), but this short ride is wonderful," said Ram Kesar Bogati, the president of Nepal Film Artistes' Association.

Source : The Telegraph

Hill youth shares Everest honour

Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, a youth from Darjeeling who is into travel trade, took an Australian paraplegic youth to base camp of Mount Everest.

Scott Doolan, the youth from New Castle, is the first paraplegic person who could reach the base camp of the highest mountain peak of the world.

Sherpa, who had helped the Australian youth to achieve the unique feat, is a member of Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association (EHTTOA) and was felicitated here on Saturday for his success.

According to Sherpa, the youth from Australia paralysed his both the legs after he faced an accident when he was 17. But his quest for adventure led him to reach the base camp of highest mountain peak.

"I took month long preparation to organise the expedition, as there was a physically challenged part of it. Though the journey usually takes 15 days to complete, but we had taken 18 days to complete it," Sherpa said.

The youth of Darjeeling started the expedition on March 16 with his seven-member expedition team and reached the camp on March 25 at around 9.45am.

The 29-year-old youth from Darjeeling was the only Indian who got the opportunity to help the youth of Newcastle to achieve his target.

Among the rest of the members five were from Australia and one from Nepal.

"We have felicitated him (Sherpa) for his unique achievement. We will support him in future expeditions. We would also appeal to the government and all concerned to extend their cooperation to achieve his goal in future," Sandipan Ghosh, the general secretary of EHTTOA, said.

In Pic : Sherpa (centre) being felicitated by EHTTOA representatives in Siliguri on Saturday. (Passang Yolmo)

Source : The Telegraph

दार्जिलिंग के विवादित आइसी को मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड

एसपी और शहीद अमिताभ मलिक के नामों की भी घोषणा

दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के विवादित आइसी सौम्यजीत राय को मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड के लिए चयनित किया गया है. हाल ही में सौम्यजीत राय के खिलाफ एक गोजमुमो कार्यकर्ता के साथ फोन पर गाली-गलौज करने व उसकी मां-बहनों के संबंध में धमकी देने का मामला सामने आया था. 

उन्होंने पुलिस अधिकारी सौम्यजीत राय के साथ मोबाइल पर हुई बातचीत की ऑडियो रिकार्डिंग सोशल मीडिया पर अपलोड कर दी थी. इस मामले को लेकर सौम्यजीत राय के खिलाफ विभागीय जांच का आश्वासन भी दार्जिलिंग पुलिस अधीक्षक अखीलेश कुमार चतुर्वेदी ने दिया था. 

लेकिन जांच की अभी क्या स्थिति, यह अब तक रहस्य है. मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड के लिए सौम्यजीत राय के साथ दार्जिलिंग जिला पुलिस अधीक्षक अखिलेश कुमार चतुर्वेदी, अलग राज्य गोरखालैंड आंदोलन में शहीद हुए दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के एसआइ अमिताभ मलिक व दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के एसआइ अभिजीत विश्वास का चयन किया गया है.

Courtesy : Prabhat khabar

ढिकी

ए ! दाज्यू, उठ ! धान  कुट्नु पर्छ
घान  हाॅले  है मैलै -उठ ।
भन्थिन्  मेरी आमा!

चार  बजे बिहानै उठिन्थ्यो कठ्याङग्रिने जाडोमा सबेरै।।
ट्वाङ ट्वाङ ढिकीको  आवाज कानभरी ।।

आज  ढिकी  पनि  छैन्, आमा  पनि  छैनन्
धानबारी  खलेगरोमा रूजीभिजी काम गर्ने
मेरो  मेहनती  पिता  पनि  छैनन् ।।
ढिकी  पनि  छैन, खलेगरो ,धान-खेत  पनि  छैन।।
एक्ले  ढेडु  जस्तो आज  घरमा एक्लो  भईयो
घरभरी  भाई  बहिनाहरू ,कहिले बाझो ,कहिले  रमाईलो
आॅधीमा  बालुवाको  थुप्रो  तहसनहस भए  झै छरपस्ट भए  सबै ।।

हेर्छु  नित्य  आँगनको  डीलवाट म--
मकै  बारी, कोदोवारी  ,धानबारी
आमाको  कोठेवारी, हलगोरू  बाॅधिने गोठ, माली  गाईको  थला- बाख्राको खोर
डिकीसार, दाउरा  कटेको सबै  खण्डहर भए ।।
चौडादार  सडक  बनियो  खलेगरोवाट -प्रगति  भो भन्छन्  नयाॅ  पुस्ताकाहरू।।

गाउॅ  सुनसान छ -- सबै पलायन भए, बन्धु -वंशहरू ।।
घरको  माथि आमाको  मसियाम, करेला, पिँडालु  ,सकरखण्ड फल्ने  घुमाउने  डाँडो ,होम  स्टे पो  भा 'छ ।
मधिसे बन्धुहरू छन्  डाॅडाभरी, हाम्रो  भाईहरू  गाउँका  कुखुरो  ,निगुरो  ,सिमरायो इत्यादि खोजेर  होम स्टेमा  मालिकलाई  पुर्याउॅनु  ब्यस्त  छन् ।।

ट्वाङ ट्वाङ कुटिने ढिकी,  होम  स्टेको  बाहिर सजाएर  राखिएको छ ।
भतिजोहरू सोध्छन्  मलाई--बड़ावाबा  यो के  हो भनेर  ढिकी  देखाउदै ।।
म  भनि  दिन्छु  ठट्टा गर्दै - यो  हजुर 'बा  ,हजुर 'मा को जमानाको धान  पेल्ने  मेसिन,
कोदो, फापर  फल्ने  (भूस  उप्काउॅने ),गुन्द्रुक  बनाउॅने  साग कुट्ने
दशैँमा  धानको चिउरा  कुट्ने, सेलरोटीको  पिठो  कुट्ने यो हाम्रो जिजु  हजुर 'बाहरूले  आविष्कार गरेको मेसिन  हो! !
मलाई  हेरेर -निच्च  हासें - भतिजोहरू ।।

कवि : अर्जुन शर्मा /गीतखोला

Alipurduar TMC leader makes Congress switch

Alipurduar Trinamul Congress leader Anirban Banerjee, along with 100 other workers, joined hands with the Congress party here on Friday. A programme was organized by the Congress to mark the occasion at the ‘Alipurduar District Congress Karyalaya’ in College Halt in the town on Friday.

Alipurduar district Congress president, Biswaranjan Sarkar, handed over the party flag to the new comers at the programme. “Anirban Banerjee, a PHD scholar associated with Hyderabad Central University is a popular leader in the district.

He is a candidate for Booth No- 12/110 and he switched over to our party along with his followers of the Banchukamari gram panchayat under Alipurduar block-1 in the district. The Congress will now become stronger in the district after Mr Banerjee’s inclusion,” Mr Sarkar said.

The booth was once dominated by the Congress. Later with Mr Banerjee’s efforts, the ruling Trinamul Congress became stronger there by working for the Adivasi and Rava people living in the area, political observers said.

“I have lost my faith in the Trinamul Congress. I was abused by my partymen two days back. Trinamul Congress is not giving importance to local development and that is the reason why I, along with my supporters, joined the Congress on Friday,” said Mr Banerjee.

“I don’t have any information regarding the shuffle. I will be looking into the matter and will talk to them regarding their grievances,” said the district president of the Trinamul Congress, Mohan Sharma.

Source : The Statesman

गुन्द्रुक

- अर्जुन शर्मा, गीतखोला /लाभा

अति  स्वादिष्ट गुणकारी ब्यञ्जन
अमिलो, अमिलो पेट सन्चो
जातिय पहिचान, स्वास्थ बर्धक जसरी खाए नि हुने
जति राखे  पनि कहिले  नकुहिने, जातिय  सिकुटी ।।

झोल बनाएर खाएॅ नि  हुने
साँधेर खाँदा  पनि  भो
अचार खाँदा झनै  उत्तम
जाउलोको माड़, डल्ले खोर्सानी ,हालेर खाँदा जिब्रोमै  झुन्डिइने ।।

रायोको साग गुन्द्रुकको जनक
ओइलाईकन खाडीमा गाड़्ने, अमिलचिएपछि निकाली  सुकाउॅने
यो  हाम्रो  पहिचान ,यस्तै गरियो बखान
जय  होस  तिम्रो ,गुन्द्रुक तिमी महान ||

FACES IN OUR MIDST: Dr. Samar Sinha - Author of the new book "Indian Sign Language: an analysis of its grammar"

Special Correspondent: Shruti Bridgette Chettri

TheDC team takes pride in Gorkhas who have managed to carve a niche for themselves. Our sons and daughters have always excelled in many fields, and a field that we have always been proud of is academics. One such name that stands out in the field of academics is Dr. Samar Sinha. A well-known name in the field of academics and research, Dr. Sinha  completed his schooling from Central School for Tibetans, Kalimpong and is a resident of Rangbull, Darjeeling.

Currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nepali, Sikkim University, Dr Sinha is also the co-ordinator of the Centre for Endangered Languages at the same university. Harbouring a keen interest in languages, Dr. Sinha has a Doctoral degree in Linguistics with a specialisation in signed linguistics and syntax from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

He is primarily interested in features (the atomic elements of linguistic structures) and their relation to architecture and modality in linguistic theory. Along with working on sign languages and Nepali language varieties, Dr Sinhacollaborates with speakers of endangered languages of the Himalayas to document and describe their languages and institutions, with researchers on corpus and computational linguistics, and with writers on translation. He is the Assistant Treasurer at the Formal Studies in the Syntax and Semantics of Indian Languages (FOSSSIL) society.

TheDC sat down with Dr Sinha to gather some information about his latest book "Indian Sign Language : an analysis of its grammar" and the inspiration behind it.

TheDC : Tell us about your book and what it focuses on.
Dr. Sinha : My book is based on my PhD thesis that I did under the guidance of Prof. Ayesha Kidwai. It is a pioneering research on the grammatical properties of Indian Sign Language (ISL), used by the members of the Deaf community in India. The book covers analysis of various linguistic structures of ISL in detail. Besides, it is supplemented with illustrative descriptions, as well as by comparative and theoretical analyses. . The book also includes a description of the Indian Deaf community and highlights the need for greater awareness regarding ISL. More importantly the book adds to the growing understanding of natural human languages in general and ISL in particular.It also contributes to the empowerment of the Deaf community in India. This book can also be used as a resource for teaching, development of pedagogical resources and for further linguistic research.

TheDC: Is this the first book you’ve written?
Dr. Sinha: Yes, as a solo writer this is the first book I have written; but I have two other books to my credit that have been jointly edited and one that has been jointly written.

TheDC: What generated your interest in linguistics ?
Dr. Sinha: In my school days, grammar was my interest. After my Class 12 exams, I read a book on the history of English language which sparked an interest in me to pursue linguistics. I thought of taking linguistics in college but unfortunately it was not provided as a subject in the colleges near by so I studied English Honours in Darjeeling Govt. College and proceeded with Linguistics in my Masters. I also read one of the oldest grammars of Lepcha language by Lt. GB Mainwaring which inspired me to take up linguistics as well. Initially, I wanted to work on Lepcha language; but still it is my wish to be fulfilled.

TheDC: Do you plan on writing more?
Dr Sinha : As I am in the field of academics, it is generally expected that I will write more. It is a part and parcel of the field that I am in. Right now, I don’t really have anything particular in mind about writing a book but I will definitely write something more on sign languages, as well as on areas that interest me specially on Nepali spoken in India, and endangered languages of the Himalayas Yes, I have few draft articles to meet their deadlines — as always.

The DC: Please tell us about your other works too
Dr. Sinha: My initial job as Senior Lecturer cum Junior Research Officer at the Linguistic Data Consortium for Indian Languages,Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore where I worked on a computational grammar of Nepali. I did an extensive fieldwork on Nepali in northeast India primarily collecting spoken as well as textual Nepali data. During my tenure at Mysore we jointly produced work on computational grammar. We also developed 'PoS or Parts of Speech' tagging system for more than 14 Indian languages which was a novel initiative from our side. Later, we have summed it up as a book. 

The DC: Is there anything else you’re working on currently?
Dr. Sinha: I’m working on the Nepali language particularly spoken in Sikkim and Darjeeling. I’ve come up with some articles and conference presentations, but I am yet to come out in a major way. Currently I am also writing one such major article on Darjeelinge Nepali (spoken in Darjeeling-Sikkim and Doars)Also I am planning to write on the endangered languages of Darjeeling and Sikkim with my colleagues from the Centre

TheDC: Any words for youngsters who may want to follow on your footsteps?
Dr. Sinha: I would advise them to be hardworking, have lots of patience, be passionate about their vocation, be dedicated to it, and be responsible towards the greater community.

Dr. Sinha also credits his supervisor Ayesha Kidwai (JNU). Others who are instrumental for him are Tanmoy Bhattarcharya (University of Delhi), Gaurav Mathur (Gallaudet University), Roland Pfau (University of Amsterdam), Anvita Abbi (JNU), his father, Dr. Gokul Sinha and his family members.

Our team congratulates him on his book and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.

Source : The Darjeeling Chronicle