06 May, 2004; NOW! 1

C M Y K

Thursday, 06 May, 2004 Vol. 3 No. 36 Gangtok � Rs. 3Bharat Sanchar

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SIKKIM

SARIKAH ATREYA

GANGTOK, 05 May: RajyaSabha MP and SDF spokesperson,PT Gyamtso, said that it would bea “great idea” to introduce a courseon the finer aspects and signifi-cance of the Special Status ac-corded to Sikkim under Article371F of the Constitution.

“There has been a lot of unnec-essary noise and speculation overArticle 371F. It is true that most ofthe people really do not understandthe actual provisions laid down inthis most pertinent Article of theConstitution. It has been misinter-preted and used by many politicalas well as so-called social organi-zations to suit their needs. It wouldtherefore make sense to have a clearunderstanding of the Article andwhat it signifies for the people ofthe State,” he said.

Making it a part of the syllabuswould serve this end well, he feels.

“It has become important toeducate the children of today aboutthis Article at a young age,” he said.

NOW, THE ‘MISSING’ CANDIDATEFROM MELLI SURFACES

Total no. of voters 2, 81, 937Total No. of polling booths 349Total no. of Polling officers 2094Total no. of EVMs 706Total no. of candidates 95General Observers 6Expenditure Observers 2Estimated budget Rs. 1.30 crores

SIKKIM

ELECTIO

NS

2004

DEMYSTIFYING SIKKIMELECTIONS-2004 TURN TO PG3

FOR DETAILS

PURAN TAMANG

NAMCHI, 05 May: The “missing”Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad[SHRP] candidate from Melli,Bhim Kumar Rai, who withdrewhis candidature on 26 April hand-ing SDF its fourth uncontested vic-tory of the Assembly polls sched-uled for 10 May, met the press heretoday and clarified that he had nei-ther been kidnapped, nor made towithdraw under any coercion.

When asked to explain the rea-sons prompting his withdrawalfrom the poll process, Mr. Rai ex-plained that he took the decisionafter he was made to sign an un-dertaking by the SHRP high-com-mand in Gangtok that he would re-

main loyal to the party and notswitch camps later.

“This implied that the partydoubted my loyalty and I became con-vinced that I did not want to remainwith it. So, I decided to withdraw mynomination form. I did not do so un-der coercion or threat,” he said.

“If anyone is to be blamed, ithas to be the SHRP high-com-mand’s suspicious nature. I willsoon resign from the primary mem-bership of the party also,” he added.

Asked to explain his “disap-pearance” after withdrawal, Mr. Rairevealed that he had left forDaramdin, from where he had toproceed to Darjeeling on some fam-ily errand. He claims he did notknow that some believed him to

have gone “missing.”In fact, it appears that even the

district administration was notaware that Mr. Rai was suspectedto have been abducted.

“I came to know of the abduc-tion allegation only after the SHRPfiled a complaint with the ChiefElection Commissioner during hisrecent visit,” said Returning Officer[South] Vishal Chauhan, whilespeaking to the press today.

The SP [South] MS Tuli, whowas also present at the press brief-ing clarified that no missing per-sons report had been filed by the

SHRP about Mr. Rai, hence therewas no search launched for him.

Interestingly, Mr. Rai, who hadfiled his nomination papers as anSHRP candidate would have had tocontest the elections [if he had notwithdrawn] as an independent. Somemistakes in the Form-B submitted bythe party had led to his being con-verted into an independent candidate.

Interestingly, Mr. Rai, who with-drew his nomination paper at 11 AMon 29 April, happened to do so inthe presence of central observerswho checked whether he was doing

turn to pg 4

from OUR CORRESPONDENT

NAMCHI, 05 May: Two Con-gress supporters were allegedlyassaulted by a group of SDF sup-porters at Ravangla yesterday04 May.

The two Congress support-ers, Karma Tshering Bhutia andYangdup Bhutia had just finishedcampaigning for the day andwere resting in the house of oneSham Kazi in Ravanlga when agroup of SDF supporters allgedlyled by one TT Bhutia, attackedthe house and beat up the two,informs SP [South] MS Tuli.

The incident occurred atabout 4:40 PM. Both the victimshave suffered injuries; one wasreportedly attacked with akhukuri.

In pursuance of the case thepolice have rounded up and ar-rested 27 SDF youth, all of whomhave been remanded to judicialcustody till 15 May.

Another case of assault hasalso been reported fromRalong where an SDF sup-porter, BB Chettri, was as-saulted by Kul Prasad Rai, aCongress supporter. The ac-cused has been arrested.

BOOKED FOR THE DAY:27-SDF, 01-CONG

Arrests made in SouthSikkim in connection with

pre-poll violence

Teaching Article371F in schoolswould be great,says Gyamtso

2; NOW!; 06 May, 2004

C M Y K

Artist, filmmaker, keen photographer, columnist withinternational magazines... It’s hard to pin Twan Yangdown. Born to a Chinese father and Tibetan mother, hegrew up in Kalimpong and worked in Sikkim. NOW!serializes Twan Yang’s autobiography, Houseboy in India...

NOW!FIRST WITH THE NEWS

ED-SPACE

VIEWPOINTINDRA BIR SINGH YADAV

The tendency of linking education witheconomics is of recent origin. The oldconcept was “education for the sake

of education”. In other words education pro-motes only physical, mental, moral and spir-itual development of a child. Hence educa-tion was considered as an item of expendi-ture only. As such, whenever need arose forthrifts or cuts in the budget allocations, ex-penditure on education was readily curtailed.The reason was that educational planning wasnot correlated integrally with educationalplanning or total national planning.

Previously economics was considered asa science of wealth only but now a days al-most all modern economists regard economicas not only a science of wealth alone but it isconsidered as vitally and essentially relatedto all those activities of human beings whichare connected with the production, consump-tion, exchange and distribution of wealth.Thus broadened in its field, economic be-comes integrally connected with education,which guides and modifies the activities ofhuman beings in various ways and in diverseareas of activity. The reason for this is thateducation modifies human behavior in allaspects by developing his mental powers ofthinking, planning and evaluating so that heis able to lead a very effective life promotingsocial welfare with his own progress anddevelopment. It may be borne in mind thateducation discharges this important function

-48-

I never have seen so many booksin a single room as in the flat ofmy sahib. There were books in

Sanskrit, in Chinese, in Tibetan,and of course in Dutch and Eng-lish, and in many other languages.I have counted books in more thanthirty different languages, of manyof which I had never even heard thenames. One of the most curious waswritten in the old Egyptian lan-guage in which every letter was apicture of birds and men and flow-ers. It was impossible to understandthis. There were books on historyand religion and philosophy, andall kinds of sciences, and somefinely illustrated picturebooks, some about the sunand the stars and books of somany kinds that I cannot de-scribe them. There weremany hundreds of books allabout Tibet alone and manybooks of travel, more than athousand volumes of all dif-ferent nations and of all kindsof learning. They all stood inrows on the shelves showingtheir backs to the room withthe name of their castes written onthem. I felt that to pass over intothe country of these books was likehaving to invade an enemy coun-try, which was defended by thebarbed wire and guns of many dif-ferent languages and difficultwords, which I could not pass. Nev-ertheless, I liked to look at the manypictures in these books, and one dayI found a book on Tibetan travelwith a fine picture of Potala, the

palace of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. Itook a pencil and made an enlargedcopy of that picture on good paperand then coloured it with my mas-ter’s coloured pencils, and at last itlooked exactly like the original. ThenI framed it and presented it to my sa-hib. He liked it very much. When Ihad nothing else to do I would sitdrawing pictures, for I wanted to keepmy hand accustomed to drawing andkeep this up all my life.

My master would pass his daymostly in writing or in readingbooks, which is the greatest pleas-

ure for the eyes, and hewould read all kindsof learned books inmany different lan-

guages. But in the evenings hewould often read one curious kindof books called the crime Club. Iasked him one day why he likedthese books so much.

“Because I want a change frommy serious reading. They are wellwritten and full of excitement.”Often he would read on till themorning. At other times in the nighthe would play cards alone withhimself, on a table with some cards

and one in his hand. I had neverbefore seen people play cards withthemselves the way he did, and Ifound that he was doing it withdeep thought and careful reflectionfully occupying his mind all overthe table. It was as if he was mak-ing a calculation and then he wouldsay to himself, “No good, it won’tcome out.”

He had another curious occupa-tion. That was drawing lines with asharp pencil, a ruler and a pair ofcompasses, making straight linesand circles. Then I would have tokeep the pencils sharpened, but therewas nothing to interest me in thiswork because lines and circles areonly lines and circles. If he had only

drawn pictures, that wouldhave been of some interest tomy eyes. But these lines andcircles I could not under-stand. However, that was notmy business.

My master’s customwas to go to bed very late atnight and to wake up verylate in the day, when otherpeople are already at work.

His character was al-ways joyous and jolly, notwith-standing his old age. He would al-ways joke with me. Once when hewas taking his bath and I was sit-ting near the door to be ready forhim when he should call me, heasked me what I was doing. I said,“Sir, I am looking at a book.”

He began to laugh and said,“Look at that fellow, like a mon-key reading the bible.”

- to be continued

The first introduction tothe world of books

Education & EconomicDevelopment

by establishing schools, colleges’ librariesproviding required aids and appointing teach-ing personnel. For this, vast sums of recur-ring and increasing amounts of money areneeded. Thus education seeks the help of eco-nomics to achieve its aims of National De-velopments in all fields ofnational life and allspheres of national devel-opment including eco-nomic prosperity and na-tional security. Hencethere is an intimate relationship between edu-cation and economics. Due to this relation-ship where as on one hand the economy of aparticular society influences its education, onthe other hand the return of education affectsthe planning of education of their society. Inthis sense education and economics are inte-grally correlated, as are the two sides of acoin. Now it is not regarded as a thing of con-sumption yielding long-term results.

Kothari commission (1964-1966) empha-sized the vocational education consideringeducational expenses as investment. It in-

cluded work experience in the curriculum andeducation came to be linked with life. In-crease in the productivity was looked uponas the aim of education. For this reason theeconomic development of the country couldbecome strong because education is the most

important means of devel-opment out of all impor-tant means of nationaleconomic development.

Education is an instru-ment for economic devel-

opment. It is the concrete base for develop-ment. More investment does not contributeto economic development. The productionwill remain incomplete in the absence of edu-cated persons. Money, time and energy willbe misused. Education is the only source,which imparts knowledge and training to thepeople and play a positive and constructiverole towards national development.

Education confers great indirect benefitseven on the ordinary workingman. Thus edu-cation can become a means of economic de-velopment and increase personal income be-

cause the person receives education and getsa job, his income increases by productionwith the increase in income, he becomes eco-nomically prosperous. Education provides anopportunity to the individual to think aboutfuture needs in addition to his immediateneeds and develops his abilities to solve hisproblems. It also provides a basis to his ma-terial wealth. Skilled man makes progress inhis standard of life by increasing his produc-tivity. Skilled manpower is contributedthrough education.

Curriculum as per the recommendationsof Kothari Commission should be includingwork experience. Including work experienceshould change the object of Science. Theobject of science should be emphasized.Training of new techniques should be ob-tained for increase in production. The cur-riculum should be related to the life of thestudents, prepare them for a living and be-come a means of national development. In10+2+3 pattern of education, importance isgiven to work experience, science and pro-ductivity; we know that the productivity isone of the components in economic growth.

Education will have to reframe its objec-tives to make it an effective means of eco-nomic development. It will have to changeits form so that it may be according to theneeds and ambitions of the common man.This aim will develop the sense of dignity of

turn to pg 7

Same Again?Most people have reservations about politicians. The first reac-tion to a politician’s statement is to look for the “hidden agenda”behind it. People who are expected to decide on policy matters,drawing their decisions from years spent honing statecraft in thepublic domain, are rarely taken at face value any more. Everydecision, move and promise is slotted to fit an ulterior politicalmotive. The moment a feel-good package is announced, one startssearching out the vote-bank that is being appeased. Doubts arecast on every move, every gesture and never is this more ampli-fied than at the mouth of elections. Through the preceding fiveyears, the ruling clique is too smug to bother and the Oppositiontoo somnolent to notice what the other is up to but come electionsand daily press briefings become the norm and political jostlingthe flavour of the month. For a brief period that does not stretchfor more than a month, some active democratic debate is playedout and even before the people can start believing that there isstill hope for a healthy debate in this small state, the electionswould have come and gone by and Sikkim’s politicians would havereverted to their true selves - the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde routinebetween fervent activism and comatose inactivity.

This definitely holds true for the politicians and will undoubt-edly be repeated after 13 May also. There might be some re-sidual reflexes left in the Opposition for another month, but afterthat there shall be a lull. But what about the people? Where istheir voice?

The Sikkim junta too will follow a stereotype. It will wait andwatch; watch and criticise; criticise and do little else. If our politi-cians are corrupt and unsatisfactory, it is perhaps because we areincompetent too. We ignore issues that confront us. What shouldconcern us from the very start only begins to interest us whenmud starts slinging. Issues get so enmeshed and entangled incaste/ communal/ personal strings by the time various politicianshave run through them that the correct perspective is lost for ever.And this is almost always the point when the public wakes up. Nomatter how much we scream against sensationalism, we have toadmit that only when issues are sensationalised or sentimental-ised do we begin to raise an eyebrow and ask questions - eventake to the streets. Then, can we blame the politicians for over-stating and overreacting? After all, they are only playing to thegallery, even if for a very brief while. If we responded enough,perhaps they too would keep on their toes and play out the rolesthey have been mandated for.

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C M Y K

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GANGTOK, 05 May: Over 670million voters, 7 lakh pollingbooths and 5,435 candidates con-testing for 545 seats. Expenditure- hazardous to a thought. Secu-rity - most wanted. That, is ‘Elec-tion India.’

So, when Chief Election Com-missioner, TS Krishnamurthy side-stepped into Sikkim for a reprievefrom all the tensions of West Ben-gal, it was for what it was worth.Sikkimese hospitality, Sikkimesefood, Sikkimese rhododendrons,Sikkimese Nathula and Sikkimesepeace, Sikkim should be pleased.He did make some noises on theelection scenario here and beforeanyone could think ‘Vote,’ he wasback to Election India mode.

But Sikkim remains, and is go-ing to have its own ‘little’ electionparty. And this one’s not sponsoredby the SDF even though it will seemassive administrative involve-ment. An estimated budget of Rs.1.3 crores, but CP Dhakal, theDeputy CEO is willing to lend itan element of elasticity. “This is thebudget we have calculated but itcould…” It very well might, butthat’s two elections on one budget.

A total of 2,81,937 voters [com-pare that with national figure inpara 1]; 349 polling stations, 91candidates and 32 seats. Four morecandidates for the one Parliamen-tary seat should not add much tothe tension of electoral officersunless you’re posted to the WestDistrict, that is.

The Sikkimese experiment withdemocracy for the new millenniumhas begun. Polling officers, pollingagents, electoral rolls, EVMs, sen-sitive booths and hypersensitivepolitical parties have begun churn-ing the great Sikkimese poll-pooland in a few days from now we willknow who is finally going to swimin it - for the next five years at least.

The number of polling officerstotals 2,094, all loaned by variousgovernment departments. They willman the 349 polling stations witheach booth to be attended by 6 poll-ing officers. The poll stations are,however, going to be more crowdedthan that with polling-agents and aminimum of 2 security personnel.If you see more than two uniformedpersonnel then you know you arein a sensitive polling booth. Thereare a total of 198 polling stations

labelled as ‘sensitive’ by the au-thorities.

The CEC visited the highestpolling station in the state which isGnathang at 12,000 feet. It couldwell be the highest in the country.This particular polling station hasa total of 570 voters. To keep upthe trivial vein, Siktamtikpur poll-ing station under Daramdin con-stituency with 1,521 has the high-est numbers of voters; Pajer Pri-mary School with only 112 votersis certainly going to be the leasttroublesome as well.

East District with 143 pollingstations, is the most populated fol-lowed by West with 94, South with84 and finally the North Districtwith 28 polling stations.

With Elections-2004 the EVMmakes an entry. The Electronic Vot-ing Machine might be all high-tech

but still requires the touch of yourfinger tip. Nothing to feel inferiorabout, though some polling offic-ers being trained on its functioningmight hold a different view. Youhave to just press your button andthe show’s over. The beep let offconfirms your vote. As you willsoon discover, you won’t have tostrain too hard to hear the beep.Each booth will have 2 EVMs - onefor the assembly and one for theParliament vote - or 3 if it includesthe Sangha seat.

With the introduction of theEVMs the counting procedure isexpected to be trimmed with thepress of a button telling the count-

ing officers the number of votespolled in favour of each candidatelisted in the particular EVM.

Counting, which is to begin at8 AM on 13 May should be overwell before the day itself is over.Four counting centres have beendesignated, one each for the fourdistricts. At Mangan the centre isto be the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan;in the South, votes will becounted at the Namchi YouthHostel; Kyongsa Ground for theWest and for the East District, theTNA auditorium will be thecounting centre.

As informed by the ElectionDepartment, there are to be 14 ta-bles at each counting centre wherecounting for the Parliamentary seatand the Assembly seats are to beheld simultaneously.

The Returning Officer of theconcerned district will be the firstperson to be informed of the resultsof the Assembly elections in hisdistrict. These will then be commu-nicated to the RO East. The resultsfor the Parliamentary and Sanghaseat are to be directly communi-cated to the RO East. The ‘grand’result is to be officially declared bythe Election Department.

There is also the provision ofa “lease line” which will connectall the four district headquartersor rather the RO’s offices to theoffice of the Chief Electoral Of-ficer. This will be a ‘hotline’ ex-pediting communication betweenthese offices.

There you have it, Sikkim Elec-tions-2004 in a nutshell.

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4; NOW!; 06 May, 2004

C M Y K

POWERPLAY �

a NOW REPORT

KHAMDONG, 05 May: A decentcrowd had gathered at a small stageput up in the front lawn of a housein Dung-Dung busty in EastKhamdong to hear the Cong [I] can-didate, Santosh Bardewa, addresshis voters from the 22 Khamdongconstituency here on 03 May.

As the former bureaucrat-turned-politician lashed out at theruling Sikkim Democratic Front[SDF] party, the crowd occasionallyclapped and broke into loud cheers.

Campaigning feverishly for thelast one month in the area, Mr.Bardewa is suffering from a sorethroat but still manages to addressthe villagers with much energy andenthusiasm.

He fires at the SDF, accusing theincumbent MLA of “failing to deliver”on promises made to the people.

“The sitting MLA has failed onall counts. He has done nothing forthe constituency. The Congressparty is the only option left for you.

CONDUCTOR

DIES AFTER FALL

FROM BUSSINGTAM: In a freak accident,the conductor of a bus fell downfrom the bus and succumbed to se-vere head injuries. Dev Manger,conducter of a NHPC staff bus, wasinjured when he fell off the bus. Hesuccumbed to his injuries on wayto Singtam Hospital.

RASH DRIVINGUTTAREY: A case has been reg-istered against one Vivek Rai ofNamchi, South Sikkim for causinginjuries to a child due to rash driv-ing. It is alleged that on 3 MayVivek Rai came to Barbotey in hismotor bike accompanied by collegemate Mahendra Subba of Barbotey.

The same evening Vivek Raiaccidently hit Chimila, daughter ofPhurthengay Sherpa at Uttarey Ba-zaar. The child sustained injuries.Vivek was arrested and the case isunder investigation.

INTER SCHOOL

PATRIOTIC SONG

COMPETITIONNAMCHI, 05 May: A sub-divi-sional level Inter School PatrioticSong competition was held heretoday at the auditorium of the NewSenior Secondary School, Namchi.

The competition was organisedby the Dept. of Education, govt. ofSikkim. A total of nine senior sec-ondary and secondary schools tookpart in the competition. Ex DeputyDirector, Statistical Survey, Govt.of Sikkim graced the occasion asthe chief guest. Joint Director, Edu-cation, South, AB Gurung was alsopresent along with other officialsof the Education dept. and teach-ers of various schools.

The judges for the competitionwere Narayan Rai, AK Pradhan, RKPradhan and SB Pradhan. The com-petition was held in three rounds thefirst being the National song, thesecond Regional song round and thefinal was the Judge’s Choice.

Nandugaon Secondary Schoolcame first followed by NamchiNew Secondary School andJorethang Senior Secondary Schoolas third. According to the organis-ers the three schools would nowtake party in the District level com-petition to be held on 7 May at thesame venue which would includeschools from the Rabong sub divi-sion and the Namchi sub division.The winners will participate at thestate level competition to be heldin Gangtok on 15 May.

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so under any duress and were con-vinced that the withdrawal was notbeing carried out under any pressure.Although central observers need notbe present for withdrawals, they hap-pened to be in Namchi on the saidday to sit-in on an adjourned scru-tiny process. The DC [South] addsthat he had videographed even thewithdrawal process of Mr. Rai.

As a result of the withdrawal,SDF’s GC Rai was declared uncon-tested winner from Melli. Thenomination papers of the Cong [I]candidate Taraman Chettri had beenrejected on 24 April itself..

Booked forthe day...

Contd from pg 1

a NOW REPORT

JORETHANG, 05 May: The cam-paign trail of the Jorethang SDF can-didate KN Rai passing throughAmbotey Lauchon Barbotey on 30April reached Chisopani on 01 May.

Chisopani is incidentally thehome of Mr. Rai’s rival Congresscandidate, Purna Kumari Rai, andstill drew a handsome gathering un-derling SDF’s hold over SouthSikkim. Party sources claim thatsome 150 Cong [I] supporters joinedthe SDF at the Chisopani meet.

At the meet, area Panchayat,Uday Rai, in his address said that

subsequent to the meeting therewould be no Congress supporterleft in the village.

Speaking on the SDF ideologyhe reminded the people that theSDF was the party of the people andthe only one capable to bring abouta wholesome change in the area.

“Since the Congress is not go-ing to win the elections, it is futileto waste any votes on it,” he said.

The SDF candidate in turnbranded the Congress of being aparty of losers. He reminded thepeople of the increased respect andsecurity that the SDF governmenthad provided to the women of the

state. Further reminding the peopleof the excesses of the erstwhile gov-ernments, he said that should theCongress come to power womenwould once again be insecure. Healso accused the Congress of luringthe people with money power.

Noting Mr. Bhandari’s speechesin which the SPCC [I] president hastalked of protecting the rights of thepeople of Sikkim, Mr. Rai felt thatthis was equivalent of cats talkingof the security of mice.

He further said that victory ofSDF in Jorethang constituency wascertain as only the SDF could en-sure continued development of the

region. He also revealed that aGumpa worth Rs 19 lakhs had beensanctioned for Chisopani.

A similar campaign meeting wasalso held at Lower Ghum and Sisneyon 04 May where the locals apprisedthe SDF candidate of the need for aschool there since students from thevillage had to travel a long and dan-gerous route to the nearest school.

In his campaign meetings, Mr.Rai was supported by Bina Rai,Binod Rai, Gagan Rai, Ratna SinghRai and former MLA Bhoj Raj Rai.

Interestingly, On 08 May, an um-brella procession by SDF support-ers is scheduled at Jorethang Bazaar.

KN RAI TOURS CONSTITUENCY TOSECURE JORETHANG FOR SDF

Vote for the Congress. We promiseyou equality, justice and economicprosperity of a kind the State hasnever seen before,” he promises.

Allegations of dividing theSikkimse society and corruptionare followed by the problems ofunemployment, roads andeconomy.

These are some of the issuesthat Mr. Bardewa brings up duringhis speech.

About 10,513 voters will de-cide the fate of the two contestingcandidates from this ScheduledCaste reserved constituency. TheSDF candidate is former minister,BM Ramudamu.

Santosh Bardewa addresses villagers at Dung-Dung busty, East Khamdong

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NOTICEA large number of government employees are openlyparticipating in public meetings, including lunch/tea/dinner/picnic, organised by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. Thisis against the model code of conduct of the ElectionCommission and must be stopped forthwith.All Congress leaders, candidates, workers, well-wishers,sympathisers, supporters and other pro-secular anddemocratic forces in the state are requested to immediatelysend the names and relevant details, including proofs, ofgovernment employees engaged in active politics during theelections to the party head office, Gangtok, to enable theparty high command to take up the matter with the concernedauthorities.

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a NOW REPORT

DARJEELING, 05 May: AsokBhattacharjee, the West bengalUD&HD Minister and incharge ofDarjeeling, today stated that theCPI [M] would “rethink” manythings relating to the GNLF-runDGHC. Bhattacharjee’s commentcomes in wake of the GNLF declar-ing its support to the Congress can-didate in the forthcoming elections.

“The political relation betweenthe Writers Building and theDGHC is also under threat,” addedthe Minister.

Divulging more on the WritersBuilding and DGHC relation of thepast, Bhattacharjee said, “ Thoughthere is widespread resentment re-garding the corruption-riddled andundemocratic functioning of theDGHC, we have been keeping silentto maintain peace and stability in theDarjeeling Hills.”

Incidentally, the Minister started

singing a different tune as soon asGhising pledged his support to theCongress. Till recently,Bhattacharjee had time and againstated that the DGHC had been func-tioning normally and audit reportshad not projected any anomalies.

Political observers feel that theCPI [M] can be expected to unleashits entire wrath on Ghising and theGNLF for this betrayal.

“It has definitely upset equationsbut we are positive of our win,” saidBhattacharjee. A lot of politicalchanges are expected to take placepost MP elections in the Hills. “Weask the PDF to rethink its policiesand we will also rethink ours. If theyapproach us for an alliance we willconsider it,” said Bhattacharjee.

He further confirmed that theDGHC election would be held byNovember this year. Incidentally,the present political scenario makesit obvious that ensuing Lok Sabhaelections are just the run-up to the

main battle of the DGHC polls laterthis year.

“People want a strong opposi-tion against the GNLF. The CPI [M]is the only party which can put upa strong stand against the GNLFterror,” added Bhattacharjee.

The CPI [M] was also scathingin its criticism of the Cong [I] and its“opportunistic alliance” with theGNLF. Dubbing it as “MayawatiPolitics,” Bhattacharjee said: “For afew votes, the Congress has stoopedto opportunistic politics and they willhave to pay a bitter price for this.”

He alleged that the Congresshad been negotiating simultane-ously with two opposite poles – thePDF and the GNLF.

“The Congress, as in the past,is maintaining double standards. Inthe Hills they are talking ofGorkhaland and in the plains theykeep silent on the Gorkhaland is-sue,” alleged Bhattacharjee.

“Our victory is ensured by the

CPM DECRIES CONG-GNLF ‘MAYAWATI POLITICS’fact that we have enforced peaceand stability in the Hills for the pastten years. Now, the Congress hasprovoked the GNLF to start theGorkhaland agitation all over againthus disrupting the peace and sta-bility of the hills,” he added.

CPI [M] leaders believe that theGNLF could resort to booth captur-ing and rigging during the electionand have submitted a memorandumto this effect with the Darjeeling Dis-trict Magistrate, today.

Meanwhile, the PDF analysingGhising’s decision to support theCongress candidate today stated thatGhising did so for survival and areviewing it as a victory over the GNLF.The PDF, which has for long allegeda GNLF-CPI [M] nexus, also feelsthat the alliance fell through becauseit was an “unholy one not based onany principles or ideology.”

Ghising, only he knows the real reasonwhy GNLF supports Cong [I] this time

a NOW REPORT

KALIMPONG, 05 May: In a pressstatement issued here today, theKalimpong branch committee presi-dent of the GNLF, Dawa Pakhrin, con-demned recent comments made byWest Bengal UD&HD Minister, AsokBhattacharjee, suggesting that the de-mand for Gorkhaland would tanta-mount to another partition of Bengal.

“When the creation of

Chattisgarh, Uttaranchal orJharkhand did not lead to feelingsof separation or hostility, whyshould our demand be viewed withsuspicion,” Mr. Pakhrin said.

He further argued that theGorkhas of the Darjeeling Hills weredifferent in all ways from the peo-ple in the rest of West Bengal andthus deserved a state of their own.

Meanwhile, following the partysupremo, Subhash Ghising’s deci-

sion to support the Cong [I] LokSabha candidate in the Hills, cam-paigning on this line began in thesubdivision today from Dalapchen.

On the belief that a Congressvictory would win themGorkhaland, Mr. Pakhrin appealedfor all-out support for the Congresscandidate, Dawa Norbula.

After tomorrow’s campaign atGitabling and Singi, Kalimpongtown will witness the GNLF addressin support of Norbula on 08 May.

Kalimpong GNLF see Gorkhalanddeliverance in Cong victory

6; NOW!; 06 May, 2004

C M Y K

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We take this opportunity tothank all relatives, friends and wellwishers who stood by us at thetime of our bereavement and re-gret our inability to thank them in-dividually.

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Kutse SheguThe 49th Day Kutse Shegu of lateSonam Kingay Bhutia who left forhis heavenly abode on 24 March,falls on 08 May 2004. All friends,relatives and well wishers are re-quested to join us in offeringprayer for the departed soul at ourresidence Tinkitam Lall Kothi,South Sikkim. We would also liketo take on opportunity to thanksall who attended them help in ourbereavement.

Mrs. Tshering Choki Bhutia (wife)Mr. Namkha Wangdi Bhutia (son)

Mr. Ugen Gyatso Bhutia (son)Mrs. Kinchen Bhutia (daughter)

Kutse SheguThe 49th-day Kutse Shegu of late Tshering Wangmo [steno, Roads& Bridges Dept], who left for heveanly abode on 26th March 2004falls on 13th May, 2004. All friends, relatives and well-wishers arerequested to join us in offering prayers for the departed soul at ourresidence at Middle Sichey, Gangtok. We would also like to takethis opportunity to thank all those who extended their help in ourhour of bereavement.

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a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 05 May: The SikkimPradesh Congress Committee [I]’scontention that the Nathula shouldnot be opened at the cost of nationalsecurity has the ruling Sikkim Demo-cratic Front [SDF] party seeing red.

“What national security is theCongress talking about? The CentralGovernment, along with the StateGovernment have taken the decisionto open Nathula only after taking intoconsideration the interest of the na-tion of which national security is anintegral part. Anything that couldprove a deterrent to national securitywould not have been endorsed by theGovernment of India,” the RajyaSabha MP and SDF spokesperson,PT Gyamtso said here today.

The SPCC [I] spokesperson,Jigme N. Kazi had earlier said that theCongress would oppose the reopen-ing of Nathula for trade till the politi-

cal rights of the people of Sikkim arerestored. National security concernscannot be compromised solely for eco-nomic benefits, he had said.

To this, Mr. Gyamtso alleged thatthe state-unit was proving that it wasout of sync with ground realities. TheCongress high-command, he said,had been supporting the reopeningof the Nathula for trade and addedthat even the AICC [I] presidentSonia Gandhi had welcomed theMemorandum of Understandingsigned between the two countries.

“Who is the SPCC-I to questionthe MoU signed between India andChina when the AICC has alreadywelcomed it?” he said.

“The decision to reopen theNathula pass was taken by both theIndian as well as the Chinese Gov-ernments after extensive delibera-tions and discussions. This is partof the normalisation of the relation-ship between the two countries,’

Mr. Gyamtso said.“It is unfortunate that the state-

unit of a national party like the Con-gress, instead of supporting thishistoric milestone, is hell-bent onopposing it. If it claims to be trulya national party, then it should sup-port what is in national interest,”Mr. Gyamtso opined.

Reacting to the Cong [I] claimsthat local interests were at stake,Mr. Gyamtso asked the Congress tobe more specific on which localinterests, it feels have been threat-ened or violated and how.

“The decision [to reopenNathula] was taken after takingeveryone from the State govern-ment, to the Army, to RAW, to eventhe Chinese government into con-fidence. While it is true that itwould take some time for the in-frastructure to be fully in place, lo-cal as well as national interests havebeen taken care of. Things like Per-

sonal Account Number [PAN] fortraders of Sikkim are minor issueswhich have already been discussedwith the Central Government andfor which exceptions for Sikkimcan be made. Ironically, the Con-gress high command is supportingthe proposal, but the state-unit isopposing it. This proves that theSPCC-I is raking up the issue onlyfor local consumption,,” he said.

He pulled out examples of moredouble-speak by the Congress, bypointing out that at one time, thestate Congress leaders were tryingto take credit for reopening the passfor trade by claiming that the pro-posal was cleared during RajivGandhi’s prime-ministership.

“If they really believe so, then theSPCC-I should pay tribute to RajivGandhi by keeping quiet and stopopposing the reopening of Nathulawhich they insist was the late lead-er’s brainchild,” he summed up.

SDF criticises Cong double-speak on Nathula

NOTICE

All Sikkim Student’s Asso-ciation (ASSA) registeredwill be holding it’s 1st Gen-eral Meeting on 08 May,2004, at TNSS School Au-ditorium at 1 pm.Two prefects from eachsecondary and seniorsecondary school are re-quested to attend themeeting positively.

a NOW REPORT

KALIMPONG, 05 May: TheBharitya Janata Party [BJP] held itsfirst public address for Kalimponghere today at Damber Chowk.

The party, which has made newsmore with its internal bickering inthe Hills than its campaigning, failedto put a united front even today.

Even as the official BJP candi-date, Ghambir Singh Yonzone, ap-pealed for votes, the shadow of dis-sidence loomed large over thissubdivisional town.

Speaking to NOW!,Bhanwalall Mundhra, a member ofthe BJP National Council, admit-ted that he had seen posters pro-claiming Sanjay Thakuri as the BJPcandidate in some places.

“I request all to pay no atten-tion to such postering,” Mr.Mundhra appealed.

The internal politics apart, theBJP appears committed to play on thestatehood aspirations of the Hills.

“Only BJP supports the policyof new states, that is howChattisgarh, Uttaranchal and

Jharkhand were formed,” said NDMukherjee, the BJP’s DarjeelingDistrict president.

Mr. Yonzone, a Kalimpong lo-cal [he was born in Singi], stressedmore on the identifiable concernsof the Hills. “Since I have servedas a school principal here, I havewitnessed the hundreds of prob-lems evident in the lives of theyouth first hand. I understand themwell and can also help find solu-tions,” he said.

Gopal Chettri of the TrinamulCongress [an NDA member sup-porting the BJP candidate in theHills] joked that the PDF, formed asan opposition to the GNLF now hadnowhere to go ever since the GNLFbacked the candidate they were sup-porting. BJP, he said, was the onlyviable opposition in the Hills.

Yonzone appeals for votes even as

BJP’s internal problems remain

06 May, 2004; NOW! 7

C M Y K

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SARIKAH ATREYA

Enrique Iglesias does it. So doesGloria Estefan, Ricky Martin

and of course, JLo.Dance the Salsa that is.No, we are not talking about the

hot sauce made with chillies, toma-toes and onions, but the even hot-ter kind of Latin American dancemusic of Afro-Cuban and PuertoRican origin, made popular all overthe world by Americans [or so theyclaim]. And mostly yes, throughmusic videos and the likes ofEnrique, Gloria, Ricky and JLo.

Predictably, this sensual and pas-sionate dance form has the rest of theworld swinging to its pulsating mu-sic and even has us Indians movingaway from Bhangras and Bollywoodishstyle jhatkas and matkas to moveto its vivacious beats.

And the one person who can becredited with popularising Salsa inIndia to a great extent, is a youngman from Sikkim.

Kaytee Namgyal’s life revolvesaround Salsa. To say that he is aSalsa enthusiast would be an un-derstatement. Not only has hepopularised this dance form in thecountry, he is also making sure thatSalsa becomes an integral part ofthe lives of all dance enthusiasts.

Dancing, says Kaytee, has alwaysbeen an integral part of his life. “Iloved dancing right from my child-hood and danced my way throughschool and college.” While in collegein Delhi, Kaytee found himself cho-reographing shows. Soon, he wastaking lessons in Jazz and Hip Hopdance forms seriously enough to takeup dancing as a career.

Then in 2000, he was first in-troduced to Salsa. While visitingsome relatives in Japan, he met aleading Salsa teacher from Los An-geles. This prompted him to seri-ously learn the dance form, andwhile he was there, he learned the

Los Angeles style of Salsa.Once back in Delhi, he

set up a small dancingschool, catering to a hand-ful of students. Today, thisschool has developed intothe Salsa India Dance Com-pany [SIDC], the biggestSalsa school in India, withfive studios in Delhi itselfand over 100 students. In thepipeline are studios in Ne-pal, Bombay andChandigarh, where he con-ducts regular workshops.

But this has not stoppedKaytee from working hardon his dancing and teachingskills. Everyday is a newlearning experience for him,he says. He has learned with someof the best teachers of the world.Learnt the Cuban and L.A. stylesof Salsa. Last year, he went to the

US to learn from some of the bestSalsa teachers in the world and isnow a certified teacher by SalsaBrava, arguably the best dancingschool in the world, and trained byEdie [the-Salsa-Freak], and Al‘Liquid Silver’ Espinoza.

Today, his client list reads likea page 3 who’s who list. But thisshy young man does not like to dropnames. And yes, it does include cor-porate heads, fashion designers andcelebrities.

In February this year, he wasthe lone representative from Indiaat the International Hong KongSalsa Festival.

So, why Salsa, we may want toask him.

“Because it acts like a painkillerfor me. I forget all my worries and painwhen I am dancing,” he says. “Salsais a way of life and an expression ofpassion and commitment.”

On a short holiday here,Kaytee’s immediate plans do not in-clude Sikkim. At least not as of now.

He conducted a small workshop herein Gangtok a few years ago but theresponse and the enthusiasm was

not enough for him to considersetting up a studio or hold simi-lar workshops here again.

“Gangtok is still not readyfor Salsa. Maybe in a couple

of years, if things change, Imay think of doing somethinghere,” says.

Sikkim may have to waitfor a while for this Salsa expe-

rience.

Kaytee with Anjali, his regulardancing partner, who is also aSalsa exponent and teacher

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labour. National Income increaseswith its increase in production andthe nation goes ahead towards eco-nomic development. Education canachieve this aim by giving impor-tance to science education, workexperience and vocationalisation.

The economists ate asking to pro-duce skilled talent viz engineers, doc-tors, scientists and teachers. The skillsof the students can be developedthrough the medium of training andthey can be made an integral and sta-ble part of their personality so thatthey may become their permanentasset. In the school, there should beteaching through experiment, projectetc. The physical and mental skillscan be developed through the me-dium of proper scientific methods.They can play important roles in Eco-nomic Development.The writer teaches at GovernmentSenior Secondary School, Ranka,

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Contd from pg 2

8; NOW!; 06 May, 2004

C M Y K

Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Darpan Publications Pvt. Ltd, Siliguri. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Executive Editor: Mita ZulcaNow! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 270949 email: sikkimnow@rediffmail.com

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MANILA: Hollywood action starSteven Seagal made headlines hereon Tuesday by supporting PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo in anupcoming election.

The actor visited the presiden-tial palace to discuss shooting amovie in the Philippines, but endedup rooting for Arroyo - giving hercampaign a bit of the star appealthat thus far has been the advan-tage of her political opponents.

Arroyo was away on the cam-paign trail, but Seagal describedhimself as “a big fan of the presi-dent.”

“I’ve never met her, but myimpression of her is that she’s verystraight, sincere, honest, really tal-ented president, and I hope she getsre-elected,” newspapers quotedSeagal as saying on Monday.

The statement drew criticismfrom the opposition. Arroyo’s rival,Fernando Poe Jr., is a local movielegend, and so is Arroyo’s predeces-sor, former President JosephEstrada, who was ousted in “peoplepower” protests in January 2001.

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Health will be good. Students will have to

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LIBRA: You may spend on your father’s

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SCORPIO: Encouraging news from your

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SAGITTARIUS: This day will be success-

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You will undertake new ventures with con-

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CAPRICORN: Political line will show

promise. You will gain name and fame.

Worries are indicated. You will observe

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Musicians will have a successful time.

Extensive touring is likely.

AQUARIUS: Those in the automobile in-

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Speculation may yield gains. An unex-

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Competitive eater ‘Crazy Legs Conti’ tries to eathis way out of a telephone booth-size structure

filled with popcorn as a stunt to promote a documen-tary film about himself in New York, 03 May, 2004.

Conti, 33, donned a diving mask and snorkel onTuesday inside the lobby of the Manhattan movietheater that will show the film and lowered himselfinto a “popcorn sarcophagus,” a wooden, windowedstructure, to begin munching.

He vowed to eat his way through the 50 cubicfeet of salted, buttered popcorn in about eight hours,in time for the movie’s premiere on Tuesday evening.

“This guy is completely genuine. He is takingevery action he needs to make his dream a reality,”the film’s director, Chris Kenneally, said of Conti,who is from Massachusetts.

The documentary, “Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and the Artof Competitive Eating,” is part of the Tribeca Film Festival.

EATING HISWAY OUT!

45-year-old star, neatly dressed in ataupe suit with matching heels says.

“They want to see me as hav-ing failed.”

By “they,” he means critics,who point out it’s been more thana decade since the re-gal performer domi-nated the spotlight.

The reclusive musi-cian was always some-thing of an enigma. Af-ter his much-publicizeddispute with his WarnerBros. record company,he not only becamemore of a puzzlement,

but one big unpronounceable sym-bol [which is what his name became].As he abandoned major record labelsand released music through theInternet and on his own, his starpower and sales dwindled to a

fraction of their formerlevels.

But Prince - who inperson is chatty, warmand thoughtful, amarked contrast to theunapproachable imageof his past - sees it dif-ferently. In his eyes, hehas been more success-ful on his own. He

mentions two projects that soldmore than 100,000 copies. For asuperstar like Prince, by industrystandards, that would be deemeda failure.

While Prince stresses he holdsno bitterness, he clearly does nothold the music industry with muchregard. He likens it to “The Ma-trix,” and in going independent, hedecided to take the little red pill.

Yet for “Musicology,” he wentto Columbia Records - part of theSony conglomerate - to manufac-ture and release it in conjunctionwith his own label, New PowerGeneration [NPG] Records.

Seems like a guy who’s look-ing to reclaim his throne. And itseems to be working — “Musicol-ogy” debuted on the charts at No.3, selling about 192,000 copies. ButPrince says he never stopped beinga success — it’s just that peopleweren’t paying enough attention.

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