23 July, 2004; NOW! 1

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CONFUSION OVER THE CONVENORS

a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 22 July: Three per-sons have died of drug overdosethis week in Gangtok, bringinghome once again, the horror ofaddiction. In its general meetingheld yesterday, Hope Centre, adeaddiction and rehabilitationcentre based in Gangtok, touchedupon these issues while present-ing a report on its activities.

The centre, which providesdeaddiction as well as counsellingservices to recovering addicts, hashad a total of 65 persons check infor treatment since it started op-

WILL HOPE FLOAT?erations in August last year. In its3-month follow-up programme, itreported 8 relapse cases, 15 ad-dicts who had checked in for treat-ment ran away without finishingthe programme, while 10 personsare still continuing treatment at thecentre. This year alone, 25 newcases have come in.

The list of addicts keeps grow-ing in the state, but precious little isbeing done about it. The state gov-

ernment, inspite of public proclama-tions to fight the menace of drugabuse has yet to formulate any seri-ous plan of action. It is left to smallNGOs like Hope Centre to pick upthe pieces of destroyed lives and tryand make them whole again.

But, the problems faced bythem are many.

These range from dismissiveattitude of the people who refuseto acknowledge the time-bomb

staring at them in the face, toopen hostility.

“The problem is assuming se-vere proportions but no one seemsto be interested in doing anythingabout it,” complains Raja, themain counsellor at the centre. Andhe knows what he is talking about,having spent the last few yearsworking towards rehabilitatingaddicts from all walks of life.

“We have very little money

and there are not enough contribu-tors,” he tells us.

Hope Centre, which more of-ten than not picks up addicts fromthe streets or those who want togive up addiction but have nomoney for treatment, feels thepinch often.

“If we could, we would pro-vide free treatment for all but thecost of food, medicine and other

Gangtok’s only deaddiction and rehab centre perseveresdespite indifference, hostility and shortage of funds

turn to pg 6

a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 22 July: TheSikkim Bhutia Lepcha ApexCommittee [SIBLAC] has a newset of Convenors. Or does it?

It all depends on which sideof the story you believe. A pressrelease issued by SIBLAC spokes-person, Tenzin C’wang, informsthat SIBLAC’s steering commit-tee met at the BL House here yes-terday and decided to elect Cong[I] leaders Kunga Nima Lepchaand Tseten Tashi Bhutia as its con-venors. While Mr. Lepcha had

contested from the Assam Lingzeyconstituency on a Congress ticket,Mr. Bhutia had contested fromPathing. Both had lost.

Contradicting this claim is apress release issued by NimaLepcha, who continues to insistthat he is the sole convenor of theapex committee. In fact, Mr.Lepcha contends that at a SIBLACmeeting held today at KabiLongchok [after “successfullyconcluding anniversary puja cer-emony of guardian deities” there],members of the apex committee“took strong exception” of the re-

ported election of the two conven-ors a day earlier.

Claiming that SIBLAC has al-ways prided itself for being anapolitical body, it feels “irrepara-ble damage” has been done to itsimage with the announced electionof two politicians as convenors ina meeting chaired by another poli-tician, Sangha MLA, AcharyaTshering Lama.

Incidentally, the press releaseissued by Mr. C’wang reports thatthe meeting was presided over bythe head lama of Sang Monasterywith the Sangha MLA present as

the Chief Invitee. This meeting,Mr. C’wang adds, was attended bysteering committee members fromall districts.

In fact, Tseten Tashi Bhutia,while speaking to NOW! addedthat the former Convenor, NimaLepcha, too was invited for themeeting, but failed to turn up.He further revealed that Mr.Lepcha has been “promoted” tothe post of Advisor of the apexcommittee.

The steering committee meet-ing in question was expressly

turn to pg 6

The rescue fromPune brothel

completeKARAN SHAH

KALIMPONG, 22 July: Themuch in news Kalimpong Policetoday notched up another achieve-ment when news came in that ithad rescued to two local girls fromthe red light district of Pune.

Shruti, 23, and Preeti, 25,[names changed], both fromMunsong were first cheated withpromises of employment only tobe sold later to brothels at Pune.

Both were working in Delhifor the last couple of years and ontheir way back to Kalimpong ear-lier this year, they got introducedto three men - Kumar Tamang,Sanjay Chettri and Jeevan Rai -who promised jobs for them. Fi-nally, on 19 March, earlier thisyear, they left for Bombay to thepromised jobs.

The case reached the copswhen the parents lodged a com-plaint on 29 March. They had

THE COMPLETE TRANSFER LIST- ON pg 4

2; NOW!; 23 July, 2004

NOW!FIRST WITH THE NEWS

ED-SPACE

PASSING THE BUCK

AND THE ROT

I fully agree with the view thatthere is interference of politi-

cians in administrative matters andthat senior bureaucrats have be-come politicians rather than ad-ministrators. [“The rot in the sys-tem defeats the best of intention,”letters section, NOW! 17 July,2004]. When I asked a formerminister of this state of affairs, thisis what he had to say: “We politi-cians make policies with the helpof the secretaries. We expect thebureaucrats to implement suchpolicies but find that there is somuch red tapism. We have to pushthem to make anything happen.Since we have a 5-year term only,it is natural for us to want the com-pletion of a project or a scheme

within this period. Unfortunately,the secretaries put up so manyobstacles we have to intervene torealize our goals.

Similarly, in political interfer-ence in transfer and promotion,this is what he had to say, “Em-ployees have genuine problems inpostings and the secretaries shouldtry to solve the genuine ones.However, it is reported that thesesecretaries are unapproachableand if a person is lucky enough tomeet one, the treatment meted outis brusque and unsympathetic. Inmost cases, these secretaries askthe employee to meet the chiefminister or a minister with theirrequest. In cases of promotions, itis for the concerned department toprocess the files of employees whoare due for promotion. Strangely,

the employees are directed to meetthe CM and the file is only proc-essed after getting the go ahead

from the CM. Transfers and pro-motions are day to day adminis-trative matters which the politi-cians would not like to ventureinto but the bureaucrats havepassed these responsibilities to thepoliticians.”

So readers can make up theirown minds on who is in thewrong. I would also like to re-quest the secretaries to leave theirbaggage of ego and self impor-tance at home when they come tooffice as they, like all other em-ployees, are servants of the gov-ernment. If you serve the people,

�LETTERS

that is the best service the gov-ernment can ask for.Topden Lepcha, Tathangchen

FIRE VICTIMS SHOULD

NOT BE LEFT TO SUFFER

ALONE

In recent times, fire has causeda lot of loss of property in the

different parts of our state. Due tothe fire hazard eleven houses atRhenock, seven at Rangpo and onehouse at Chandmari were completelyashed out, only in the period of twomonths i.e. May and June 04’.

Recently a fire broke out atSoreng Bazaar in which threehouses were completely burntwhich caused injuries to some ofthe people residing in those houses.

In another fire at Sichey Bustythe report says that the fire was trig-

gered off by bursting of a liquidpetroleum gas cylinder. One lifewas lost. Then there was the fire atDevelopment Area, Gangtok, inwhich a portion of a building be-longing to former Minister TulsiPrasad Pradhan was burnt.

By the above made confirma-tion I would like to draw your at-tention that coincidently most ofthe victims were Pradhans andright now they are all in miserablecondition.

The Sikkim Newar Sangathanis concerned and has asked all thepeople of Sikkim for their help andprayers to facilitate in the rehabili-tation and recovery of the affectedfamilies. We should make sure thatthey do not feel left alone in theirtime of torubles.P. Shreshta, Gangtok

...and this is why social organisations

should remain apoliticalThe Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee is tearing at theseams. Negotiations might cover up the cracks which appear tohave developed in this apex body, but there is no denying thatfissures have developed. This was only expected. The momentan organisation is politicised, politics will be played and topplingand conspiring should be expected. SIBLAC, the moment it tookon Tseten Tashi Bhutia, then an MLA of the ruling SDF party, asa convenor wore its politicisation on its sleeve and showed itscards when its members returned from Kabi Longstok wavingCong [I] flags. But that is a thing of the past, but since we aredelving into the issue, let’s see what impact the politicisation ofavowedly apolitical organisations had at the polls - since theAssembly election was the reason why these organisation wereforced to reveal their political side. SIBLAC’s support for the Cong[I] could not translate into votes. Even Mr. Bhutia, a SIBLAC con-venor till barely a month before the elections, lost. At the otherend was the Gorkha Apex Committee. While SIBLAC had onlyextended support to a political party, GAC actually opened apolitical wing of the organisation and contested from a lone As-sembly constituency. Its candidate, GM Rai, lost too.

What does this mean?While political analysts might suggest that these organisa-

tions did not get enough run-up time to make a difference, factremains that people are generally uneasy with social organi-sations which take on political avataars. There are enough poli-ticians in our midst doing whatever it is that politicians do torisk having them infiltrate what are essentially social organisa-tions. People want their organisations to be led by representa-tives who do not have the extra baggage of their current politi-cal ideologies limiting their ability to negotiate on their behalf.As far as GAC and SIBLAC are concerned, the voters wereperhaps even offended that these organisations won their truston an apolitical plank only to turn around and demand voteswhen the elections neared. As far as the people are concerned,they have spoken. As for the organisations; if SIBLAC is trulyheaded for a split, then nothing worse could have happenedfor the communities it claims to represent. Differences with theirideology and style of functioning apart, this was the only or-ganisation which could mobilise the funds and muscle to drivehome a point. A slight moderation in approach could have ac-tually given the Sikkimese BLs an organisation that not onlyspoke about their issues, but also solved their problems.SIBLAC had proven well that it was good at the “Cry Wolf”game, the ideal progression for it would have been the role ofa negotiator. That is unlikely to happen now. And that is sad.

TASHI CHOPHEL

Three weeks have passedsince the demise of MarlonBrando. The first week was

exasperating as the death wasmentioned only in passing, in briefscribbled lines among the nationalpapers, provoking this article. Thesecond week however saw full-page articles, thoroughly deserved,in the Sunday editions of TheHindu and The Asian Age. So whythis article you ask? Well, how canany movie buff and aspiring-writerlet his death pass unremarked?

My encounters with Brandohave all been on the small screen,some on those early scratchy VHStapes, while others on the Mecca ofmovie buffs, Star Movies and HBO,and lately on DVDs. They can all beactually counted on the fingertips –The Godfather, Superman, Don Juande Marco, On The Waterfront, TheIsland of Dr. Moreau, The Brave,Apocalypse Now and The Score. Ahyes, one poster of him from his earlydirectorial venture One Eyed Jackson my almirah during schooldays andsome steamy pictures from the LastTango In Paris in a second hand for-eign magazine. A eulogy based onthe above lines may seem unjustifiedbut once you have seen his perform-ances, then this article will have a lotleft to be desired.

Brando’s characteristic por-trayal of Don Vito Corleone in TheGodfather – the famous muffledspeech, aided by Kleenex stuffedin the jaws, and the mannerisms –has now been imitated an ump-teenth time in all the gangsterflicks to the point of being calledclichéd. But when it first appearedon the screen, it was a terrific per-formance in Method acting, the

craft that he had practiced andperfected in the last three decades.

Although comparisons are odi-ous, just like Christ who straddlesover the Roman calendar, Brando toostrides over the world of cinema. Inthe decades before him, the actorswere larger than life and their actingflamboyant – Errol Flynn, Clark Ga-ble, Lawrence Olivier, HumphreyBogart come to mind. With him and

after starts the era when acting be-came a craft. To him and him alone,rarely does that happen in life, goesthe credit for bringing the Methodstyle from the workshops ofStanislavsky and Stassberg to the sil-ver screen. The style wherein the ac-tor immersed himself into the char-acter he was portraying.

Although Brando began his ca-

1. The Men (1950)

2. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

3. Viva Zapata! (1952)

4. Julius Caesar (1953)

5. The Wild One (1953)

6. On The Waterfront (1954)

7. Desiree (1954)

8. Guys And Dolls (1955)

9. The Teahouse Of The August Moon

(1956)

10. Sayonara (1957)

11. The Young Lions (1958)

12. The Fugitive Kind (1959)

13. One Eyed Jacks (1961)

14. Mutiny On The Bounty (1962)

15. The Ugly American (1963)

16. Bedtime Story (1964)

17. Morituri (1965)

18. The Chase (1966)

19. The Appaloosa (1966)

20. A Countess From Hong Kong (1967)

21. Reflections In A Golden Eye (1967)

22. Candy (1968)

23. The Night Of The Following Day (1968)

24. Queimada! (1969)

25. The Nightcomers (1972)

26. The Godfather (1972)

27. Last Tango In Paris (1972)

28. The Missouri Breaks (1976)

29. Superman (1978)

30. Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

31. Apocalypse Now (1979)

32. The Formula (1980)

33. A Dry White Season (1989)

34. The Freshman (1990)

35. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery

(1992)

36. Don Juan De Marco (1995)

37. The Island Of Dr. Moreau (1996)

38. The Brave (1997)

39. Free Money (1998)

40. The Score (2001)

Filmography

turn to pg 6

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The Man Who BroughtCraft To The Act

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Kunchok Chidu-Tsewang on 25 Julyby H. E. Dzongsar Jamyang KhyentseRinpoche at Tsuklakhang Monastery

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a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 22 July: TheSikkim-Manipal University[SMU] has announced 5 new ca-reer oriented courses in Journal-ism & Mass Communication,Fashion Design, Applied Biotech-nology and Teaching Technologythrough its Distance EducationProgrammes. Admissions for theAugust 2004 session are open.

SMU, informs a press release,has the largest network of 500learning centres and 300 VSATterminals in the country providinginteractive learning sessions. Dis-tance Education also provides ad-ditional courseware for select mar-kets which include Sri Lanka, theMiddle East, China, Mauritius andselect African partner countries.These courses are offered jointlywith well-established channel

partners who have a strong net-work in these locations, it is learnt.

In addition to the wide range ofdiploma, bachelor and postgraduatedegrees in IT, Management, andAllied Health new courses offeredare BA in Journalism and MassCommunication, BSc in FashionDesign, BSc in Applied Biotechnol-ogy and BSc in Teaching technol-ogy. At the Masters level, SMU of-fers MA in Journalism and MassCommunication. Some of the regu-lar courses are MBA, MCA,BSc(IT), MSc(IT) to name a few.

Conforming to UGC norms, thedistance education course of SMUis industry oriented to both studentsas well as working professionals.The university encourages continu-

ing education while creating numer-ous opportunities through lateralentry. All courses have the optionof multi entry and exit based onwhich the corresponding degrees areawarded subject to the completionof the relevant semester.

Programmes are delivered byManipal faculty from a studio atManipal ensuring access to qual-ity education supplemented byreal-time synchronous teaching.This facilitates a unique mix ofinstructor-led courses throughonline delivery.

Visit the websitewww.miteindia.com/courses/center.asp for application forms aswell as information on courses andlearning centres.

Sikkim-Manipal University announcesnew career-oriented courses

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NGO membersdonate blood

GANGTOK, 22 July: Membersof Nav Deep Sangh of Rhenockvoluntarily donated blood atBlood bank, STNM Hospital onThursday, 22 July. Proper screen-ing and investigation was donebefore the blood donation pro-gramme. A press release issued bythe State Information Educationand Communication Bureau,Health Care, Human Services &Family Welfare department saysthat ‘Voluntary blood donation isa divine act which can save a life,’and goes on to commend the goodexample set by the NGO. It alsoappeals to other NGOs to comeforward and donate blood volun-tarily so that a life can be saved.

a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 22 July: The harm-ful effects of Tobacco consumptionwas the main topic of discussionat the 2-day 3rd Annual GeneralBody Meeting of Voluntary HealthAssociation of Sikkim which be-gan here at the Youth Hostel, 6thMile, today. Not surprisingly, sincethe theme and main focus this yearfor VHAS is “Tobacco Hazardsand the role of NGOs.”

VHAS was established on 22July 1997 to work towards the wel-fare of the community in health care.VHAS is a member of VHAI, NewDelhi with a network of 4000 NGOsand 10,000 health workers. VHASis also a federation of 32 NGOsfrom all over Sikkim.

The meeting was attended byDC, East, K. Srinivasalu as the chiefguest; others present were HLepcha, President, VHAS, Dr TNamgyal Sherpa, Medical special-ist, STNM, Gangtok, Dr Y Verma,Consultant, Pathologist, STNM, K

Doma, Law Department, Govern-ment of Sikkim, Dr. B Cintury, RCHConsultant, VHAS, NGO membersfrom all over the state and VHAS,Executive Board Members.

Dr. H Lepcha, in her address,stressed that a NGO could onlywork effectively by good network-ing, coordination and collaborationwith the general public. Money, suf-ficient manpower and coordinationwere three other prerequisites. Ask-ing NGOs not to lose hope in theirline of work, she said that they must

work together towards a set goal.Saying that health was central

to the concept of quality life sheadded, “Health and its mainte-nance is a major social investmentand only with the active partici-pation of NGOs in generatingawareness can this world widesocial goal be achieved.”

Dr. BB Rai, Executive Direc-tor, VHAS in a slide projectionshowed how tobacco was respon-sible for over 25 diseases. There are4.9 million deaths due to tobacco

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NGOs sensitised on their role in craftinga non-smoking society

every year with about 1 milliondeaths occuring in the developingcountries. World Health Organisa-tion has stated that in 20 years, theleading cause of death and disabili-ties would be tobacco with 10 mil-lion deaths due to tobacco relateddiseases every year.

The Chief Guest while speak-ing about the role of an NGO inspreading awareness on the harm-ful effects of tobacco said thatNGOs could play a major role inensuring that young people do notget into the habit of smoking. Theythemselves could be non-smokingrole models and could also influ-ence anti-smoking legislations.

4; NOW!; 23 July, 2004 NEWSSCAN �

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Oberoi’s Oscar State

the transfer list1. Nalini G Pradhan, SCS, Special Secretary, from UD&HD to Finance Deptt.2. KT Chankapa, SCS, Special Secretary, Finance Deptt is transferred to

Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Deptt.3. SK Gautam, SCS, Special Secretary, from Social Justice to Sports &

Youth Affairs4. RP Chingapa, SCS, Special Secretary, from Food & Civil Supplies to

UD&HD.5. HK Karki, SCS, Special Secretary, from Planning to Tourism Deptt.6. KK Pradhan, SCS, Special Secretary, from Tourism to Food & Civil

Supplies Deptt.7. Sonam Topgay Lepcha, SCS, Project Director, Social Justice is

transferred and posted as Secretary, State Election Commission.8. Nim Yethenpa, SCS, Secretary, SEC transferred as Additional Secretary,

Planning.9. Dhondup Lepcha, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Forest Dept. to IT/ ST.10. Sangay Laden, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Transport to Forest,

WL & EM Deptt.11. AK Chettri, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Power to Transport Deptt.12. Dawa Samdup, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Land Revenue to

Horticulture.13. Wangmu Tenzing, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Horticulture to

Commerce & Industries Deptt.14. Lhendup Lepcha, SCS, Additional Secretary, Culture given additional

charge as Addl. Secy Tourism.15. SP Subba, SCS, Additional Secretary, Land Revenue will also report to

Tourism.16. Jemima Pradhan, SCS, Additional Secretary, Culture posted as

Additional RC, Sikkim House, New Delhi.17. Chumden Nagpa, SCS, Additional Secy, from Culture to Power Deptt.18. Pratap Tiwari, SCS, Additional Secretary, from Transport to Livestock,

Fisheries and VS Deptt.19. HB Rai, SCS, Additional Secretary, from IT&ST to UD&HD.20. N Laden Yethanpa, SCS, Joint Secretary, from Tourism to Sports &

Youth Affairs.21. SK Pradhan, SCS, Joint General Manager, posted from Transport Deptt,

Siliguri, as Joint Secretary, Transport.22. KN Pradhan, SCS, Joint Director, from AATI to CEO, Khadi on

deputation.23. KC Lepcha, SCS, Joint Secretary, from RDD to Science & Technology

Deptt.24. DK Pradhan, SCS, Joint Secretary, from SPCS to AATI.25. KK Kafley, SCS, Joint Secretary, from Food & Civil Supplies to

[Archives], Cultural Affairs and Heritage.26. LP Pandey, SCS, CEO, Khadi is repatriated and posted as Joint

Secretary, RDD.]27.Dadul Tshering Lepcha, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from Food & CS to

Health, Namchi.28. Ganga Pradhan, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from Road & Bridges to Health.29. Binita Rai, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from TNA to Tourism.30. Siphora Targain, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from Home to Tourism.31. CC Bhutia, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from Excise to HRD [Administration],

South District32. Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from UD&HD to

[Administration], HRD, West District, Gyalshing.33. Dawa Gyatso Bhutia, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from RDD to

[Administration], HRD, North District, Mangan.34. MT Sherpa, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from IT&CT to ADC, West District.35. Mangala Pradhan, SCS, Deputy Secretary, from STNM Hospital to TNA

on deputation.36. DP Dahal, SCS, Under Secretary, from PHE to Road & Bridges.37. Jyotshna M Karthak, SCS, Under Secretary, from Forestto HRD, East

District.38. PP Gautam, SCS, Under Secretary, from SIRD to HRD, South District.39. KT Lepcha, SCS, Under Secretary, from Home to HRD, North District,

Mangan.40. LM Subba, from Editor [Limboo], IPR Deptt to DIO, West District,

Gyalshing.41. AK Chand, IPS, SP [West], is posted as Commandant IRBn.42. Sarda Rani Lepcha, SPS, from Commandant, IRBn to SP, Vigilance.43. Pravin Gurung, SPS, from SP, Vigilance to SP [West].44. On return from UN Mission, Sonam Gyatso Bhutia, SPS, is transferred

as Dy. SP, Vigilance.45. BB Pradhan, from Addl. CE [Civil], RDD to Buildings & Housing.46. LK Vijiyan, DE [Civil], from Irrigation to Power.47. Khirod Megi, AE [Civil], from Planning, Irrigation and FC Deptt to Tourism.48. Raja Rai, DE [Mech.], from Transport, Jorethang, to Roads & Bridges,

Jorethang.

GNSF-govt schoolstand off on fees

a NOW REPORT

KALIMPONG, 22 JULY: The reaction from heads of schools here tothe memorandum submitted by Gorkha National Students Front [stu-dents wing of the GNLF] has been quite firm.

Justifying his fee structure in a more concrete form today, NR Pradhan,principal, SUMI, said: “The 641(s) gazette notification issued by the Govtof West Bengal in the year 1974 states that all missionary schools canimpose fees as wished, besides, the fees we charge is not excessive ascompared to the modern amenities provided to the students here.”

In the memorandum placed yesterday, GNSF had claimed that asper rules, government sponsored HS schools could not charge morethan Rs. 77.

“The school fees charged yearly ranges from Rs. 600 to Rs. 1600.This a proving too expensive,” said the GNSF, President, Anil Lopchan.

In response to this press statement, Mr. Pradhan said: “It’s fine withthose who can afford our present fee structure but we have always beengranting fifty percent concessions and even more to the many studentswho cant afford to pay the fees.”

Parnab Mukherjee, an of the Third-Theatre performs “The Himalayan Bed of Cressida,” his

play based on Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida and layered with local issues, aboard the

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The play was dedicated to the 400th Birth Anniversary of

Shakespeare, 50th Anniversary of Kendall’s [of the Shakespeareana fame] visit to Darjeeling

and the 136th birth anniversary of Hemlata Sarkar. The Kendall’s had visited Darjeeling thrice

and had staged 16 performances of a rotation of 4 plays.

Incidentally, Parnab himself has been visiting Darjeeling for the past 9 years, conduct-

ing quizzes and has also been the pioneer in introducing third theater to the hills. His site-

specific productions include “Muktadhara” staged last year at Paglajhora, where Tagore is

believed to have written the piece and Durasa at Castleton, where he had penned it.

[turn to pg 8 for detailed report]

stated that their daughters who hadinitially left for jobs were missing.

The first lead came when ancall intimated Preeti’s parents thatshe was in Pune. The caller alsogave them a phone number overwhich he cold be contacted. Whenlocal sleuths called the number,they were told that Preeti had beensold into a brothel in Pune.

The Kalimpong Police thencalled up Rescue Foundation, anNGO from Bombay to inquireabout the location of the brothelsand identify the place where mostof the Nepali girls were held. Act-ing to this information, the PunePolice then conducted a raid insome red light areas of Pune. Inone of these raids, Preeti managedto flee the brothel.

She reached Kalimpong in theend of June.

Two SIs of Kalimpong Police,Ashok Shah and N Kundu werethen sent to rescue Shruti.

“They have succeeded in theirmission and are on their way backto Kalimpong along with Shruti,”informs the ASP, S. Gazmer, add-ing: “We are still in pursuit of thethree men who sold them into theflesh trade.”

Contd from pg 1

The rescue fromPune brothel...

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GANGTOK, 22 July: The NewSikkim House, meant to be a homeaway from home for the Sikkimesein New Delhi, is proving to beanything but that. At least that iswhat some people allege. They saythat hospitality is scarce and themanagement is not very friendlyto the people from Sikkim!

According to Sonam of EncheyCompound, Tibet Road, who hadgone to Delhi for his wife’s treat-ment, his stay in Sikkim House wasa total nightmare.

“Sikkim House is meant forthe convenience of the Sikkimesepeople, a home away from home,

but the situation there is just theopposite. The management thereis one of the worst I have everseen. How can such a managementbe running Sikkim House whenSikkimese hospitality is supposedto be the warmest of all,” he asks.

Many parents who had goneto Delhi with their children to seekadmissions in college there havesimilar complaints.

They say that reservations aremade by the Home Department atGangtok and a maximum stay ofseven days is sanctioned, with noleeway given even to deservingcases.

“The admission process formy child took a little longer than

anticipated. When I approachedthe Residential Commissioner foran extension he told me that I haveto check out immediately or goback to Gangtok and get the ex-tension from the Home depart-ment,” says an anguished parent,just back from the ordeal of hav-ing to find another place to live inDelhi on short notice.

“What can parents do? Can weafford hotels at Delhi rates? On topof that we have to face the tensionof getting the children admitted inschools there,” complains another.

In similar fashion extensionsare not provided to even those whogo for medical treatment.

“Medical treatment is unpre-

dictable, it may take more timethan anticipated, seven days areover soon and with no one help-ing us with an extension, thewhole situation becomes very dif-ficult,” says a local resident, whosuffered this problem.

Another complaint beingmade is that with the restaurant inSikkim House being leased out toan outside party, the whole focusis on making profits as a result ofwhich outside guests are givenpreference over those staying atSikkim House.

Sonam claims that he experi-enced only second-rate treatmentfrom the canteen with orders formeals taking a long time to be de-

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GANGTOK, 22 July: The StateUnit of the BJP held a meetingtoday to review the Single Win-dow System and the practise ofproviding vital government-re-lated information throughwebsites.

While welcoming the systemintroduced by the governmentwith the purpose of providingquick and hassle free informationto the public, the party agreed thatthe initiative should be encour-aged and further extended towardscomplete e-governance.

Through a press release, thestate-unit of the BJP has, however,alleged that after the “initial takeoff,” the system seems to havegrounded in many departments.Further, websites of many depart-ments contain old informationwith even the website of SikkimHerald, a State governmentweekly, not updated.

Single-window system is notadequate if other formalities aretoo many, BJP believes. A case inpoint is of Land Registration

livered. Cleaning of rooms is alsonot frequent enough and bedsheetsare changed only after repeatedrequests, he adds.

“The rooms are infested withcockroaches and there are cob-webs everywhere. The heat, if thelights go out is stifling, as there isno generator servicing the build-ing,” says Sonam.

“Sikkim House should be forthe Sikkimese people but it is oth-ers who get the best facilities, isthis fair?” he asks.

Allegations abound and in theabsence of the story from the otherside, it is hoped that these arelooked into and service, if it is in-deed below par, is improved.

Visitors complain of indifferent service at New Sikkim House

where a notice issued by the Dis-trict Collectors’ office clearly in-dicates that any one having anyobjection should file the samewithin a stipulated time of onemonth and the copies are to be sentto all concerned departments andorganizations.

When the copies are sent to allthe concerned departments, theBJP believs that the requirementof getting ‘No Objection Certifi-cates’ is not necessary. At present,the public has to run from one of-fice to another seeking this certifi-cate. The troubles of the laymanare further compounded as one hasto pay a certain charge for an NOCwhich again has to be depositedin a bank rather than handed overat the office/ department con-cerned, thus lengthening the proc-ess further. It is also time consum-ing and when a particular file islost, the affected individuals aretold to search for it themselves, therelease alleges further.

The BJP unit of the state hassuggested that after the districtcollectorate has sent a copy of thenotice by registered post or through

peon book or possibly by e-mail as astep toward e-governance, the prac-tice of obtaining the no objectioncertificate should be done away with.

In keeping with the principle ofsingle window system, the regis-tration process should be com-pleted by the stipulated date unlessthere is an objection from any party.This will also make the concerneddepartments/ organizations/ banksto become more vigilant to realisetheir dues, if any, rather than mak-ing the people run even if they haveno dues, feels BJP [Sikkim].

The previous central govern-ment of NDA may have providedfunds to the state to computerizethe land records and pave the wayfor cheaper and faster process ofland registration and obtaining thecomputerized land details, thepress release adds.

Single-window system - a good ideathat remains grounded, feels BJP

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Kutshe SheguThe 49th day of Kutshe Sheguof Tashi Thendup Bhutia wholeft for his heavenly abode on11 June, 2004 falls on July 29,2004. All friends, relatives andwell wishers are requested tojoin us in offering prayers forthe departed soul at ourresidence at UpperTathangchen, Gangtok, EastSikkim.

We would like to take thisopportunity to thank all thosewho extended their help in ourhour of grief and bereavement.

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things add up to a substantialamount and we get no subsidy ofany kind,” says Jesse Targain,chairperson, Hope Centre.

They are hoping that the stategovernment listens to their pleas forallotment of a place to operate from.

“So many religious and otherorganizations have been accommo-dated by the government. If theycould do the same for us it wouldbe a big help,” adds Targain.

Meanwhile, the Centre surviveson funds collected in-house, with alittle help from friends in the formof sponsors. They have a system ofissuing a Privilege Card, whichmeans you pledge to give a certain

amount every month. Breakfast forthe recovering addicts at the centreis provided free of cost by Triptisand Glenary’s. However, contribu-tions of money and supplies is al-ways welcome at the centre.

“Those who can pay for treat-ment can also afford to go out of thestate for it. What we need to be con-cerned about are the hundreds whoare stuck in the web of addiction andwho cannot get out without help. Wehave to provide the escape route forthem but for how long can we sur-vive like this?” they ask.

A collective effort is desperatelyneeded to keep centres like theseafloat. In the absence of any otherinitiatives, they play an important rolein the fight against substance abuse.

Contd from pg 1

Will Hope Float?

reer as a Broadway artist in 1942, itwas his electrifying performance asStanley Kowalski, the likes of whichhad never been seen before, in the1947 Elia Kazan production AStreetcar Named Desire [later madeinto a movie] that marked him forgreatness. He was a star even beforethe release of his first Hollywood filmThe Men, where he spent months ina War Veterans Home studying para-plegics for his role. His portrayal asthe boxer, who could’ve been thechamp, in On The Waterfront, thereckless biker in The Wild One, MarkAntony in Julius Caesar, the Mexi-can revolutionary in Viva Zapata!and the enigmatically terrifying Col.Kurtz in Apocalypse Now set thetempo for the likes of James Dean,Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, RobertDe Niro, Daniel Day Lewis, TomHanks, Johnny Depp and Sean Penn.

With Hollywood dominating

world cinema it wasn’t long beforethe storm created by Brando rippledinto the shores of the Indian film in-dustry. Amitabh’s studied rage in hisroles in Anand, Zanzeer and Deewar,which touched a raw chord in the In-dian audiences, is a case in point thateventually paved the way forNaseruddin Shah, Om Puri, SmitaPatel, Shabana Azmi and Aamir Khan.

On the personal front howeverreal life imitated reel life. Like inThe Godfather, his son murderedhis daughter’s boyfriend and wassentenced to 10 years imprison-ment, she later committed suicide.Like the painter Gauguin he settledin Tahiti, but unlike him, bought anisland [shades of The Island of Dr.Moreau]. And like the brilliant Col.Kurtz he too became a recluse.

Much of his eccentricitiescould be attributed to his geniusbeing incompatible to the machi-nations of the film industry. He wasinto Rimbaud, Kafka, Nietzsche

and considered the movie industrybeneath him. He once said, “Theonly reason I’m here in Hollywoodis because I don’t have the moralcourage to refuse the money.” Hewas reputedly paid four milliondollars for a brief cameo as Ka El,Superman’s father, much more thanChristopher Reeve who played thelead role. But again refused rolesin Godfather II and Superman IIdespite being offered three timesthe sum he got for the original. Hehad now come to revile the filmindustry and the acting career call-ing it worthless and inartistic. Butluckily not loath enough as he con-tinued appearing till the last years.Just before his death he was get-ting involved in a couple of films.

Marlon Brando, unlike VanGogh, has not left posterity tojudge his works. He has, in hisown lifetime, with the sheerstrength of his performances sin-gle-handedly altered the way peo-ple now look at acting.

Contd from pg 2

The Man Who Brought Craft To The Act

called to “decide on a two-pointagenda,” namely: electing of con-venors and constituting delegationof SIBLAC to visit New Delhi topursue its demands.

Mr. Lepcha, in his press re-lease, contends that his former co-convenor, Mr. Bhutia, while re-signing from his post withSIBLAC on 10 April at KabiLongchok had stated that he wasdoing so to let SIBLAC remainapolitical. He had accepted theCongress ticket at the time. Hegoes on to add that SIBLAC’s lastSecond Saturday meeting held on10 July had “unanimously agreed”

that “since SIBLAC was a non-political body, no person involvedwith politics or any political partyshould hijack the demands ofSIBLAC.”

On this point [the apoliticalidentity of SIBLAC], both sidesagree. The “newly elected” con-venors are reported to have reiter-ated at yesterday’s meeting thatSIBLAC “would remain a non-political body.”

The two also hinted at at-tempts afoot to “divide” the BLcommunity and stressed that suchmoves should not be tolerated. Inthe meanwhile, Mr. Nima Lepchareveals that his meeting withSIBLAC members today resolved

that the Union government, theState government and any otherbody should not “entertain” anydelegation or memorandum apartfrom those coming from the “of-ficial Convenor Shri NimaLepcha.”

Mr. Lepcha goes on to state that“being a matter of grave concernfor the 1 lakh indigenous Bhutiasand Lepchas, it was also unani-mously agreed [at the meeting atKabi Longchok] that if ever therewas a need to elect a new body or aconvenor or a steering committee,this would have to be carried outthrough a general body meeting ora convention where all memberswere to be present.” The meeting,

informs Mr. Lepcha, also “felt” thatan “appropriate time” for such ameeting was yet to be decided.

Interestingly, Mr. Kunga NimaLepcha’s name for the convenor’spost was proposed by SIBLACvice-convenor, Norden Lepcha,while Mr. Bhutia’s name was pro-posed by Norbu Pintso Bhutia.

Commenting on Mr. Lepcha’scontention that yesterday’s steer-ing committee meeting was “ille-gal and unconstitutional,” Mr.C’wang said that this must be Mr.Lepcha’s personal interpretationof the events. “Fact is that thesteering commitee is the mainbody to decide on such issues andwe had the required quorum to doso on 21 July. Of the 50 membersof the steering committee, morethan 30 were present for the meet-ing,” he said.

Sikkim, which has only barelygotten over the SSP-Cong [I]merger drama played out in thepublic domain now has anotherconfusion within an organisationto witness.

Contd from pg 1

SIBLAC: CONFUSION OVERTHE CONVENORS

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MISSING

VVVVVAJRAAJRAAJRAAJRAAJRAULTRA STEREPHONICSURROUND SOUND

11:00, 2:15 - Hindi film POLICE FORCE

GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTGANGTOK

NOTICE

The Department of Human Resource Development, Government of Sikkim,invites applications from LOCAL eligible candidates having Post Gradu-ate Degree from the recognised Universities to fill up the Posts of PostGraduate Teachers on Adhoc basis in the following subject:1. History2. Mathematics3. English4. Commerce5. EconomicsThe terms and conditions are as follows:i) The appointment will be on adhoc basis till the end of academic ses-

sion 2004 or till the posts are filled up by regular appointment which-ever is earlier.

ii) The Teachers will be paid consolidated salary of Rs. 10,600/- per month.iii) The Adhoc appointment will not confer any right to claim for regular

appointment.iv) The selected candidates should be ready to go to any Senior Second-

ary School of the State of Sikkim.v) Non-Local candidates may also apply in the subjects like Mathemat-

ics and Commerce.vi) Applications written in a plain paper giving complete Bio-data along with

attested copies of mark sheets and certificates from class X onwardsand other supporting documents should reach the Office of the JointSecretary - 1, Human Resource Development Department, Govern-ment of Sikkim, Gangtok on or before 31 July 2004.

vi) The candidate should appear in the Interview (Viva Voce) to be held on04.08.2004 in the Chamber of the Special Secretary, Human ResourceDevelopment Department, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok at 10.30 a.m.No separate calling letter or any information will be given to the appli-cants for attending the Interview. The candidates should bring all origi-nal documents at the time of interview.

sd/-Release Order No: 91/IPR/04-05 Joint Director (HQ)date: 19.7.04 Human Resource Development Department

ONLY PHARIYA CHOLO

The proposed move to codify adress code for government

employees is creating a flutter inall offices. It is believed that if thecabinet gives its nod to the pro-posal the female employees willno longer be able to sport westernclothes like skirts and trousers towork. The thought is quite disturb-ing for some fashionable typeswho feel that formal suits shouldbe permitted along with the ever-popular kurtas and sarees. Never-theless, many ladies in anticipa-tion of the new dress code aremaking a beeline for their favour-ite tailor. Guess what the mostpopular demand is for? Yes.Phariya Cholo!

Now, wouldn’t that be verypolitically correct.

WHY NOT US?

Talking of government serv-ants, a major bone of conten-

tion has arisen among the civilservants over the posting of addi-

tional SDM to districts. These newSDMs, they allege have not passedtheir civil service examinationwith one not even a gazetted of-ficer. When there are so manyqualified people, why should onlythose who seek favour get ap-pointed, they ask. Some mightsuggest they are being a little naïvehere but apparently the Civil Serv-ice Association is quite agitatedover the issue. Why not come onrecord? They are not that naïve.

TRYING HARD

Here is some more on a seniorofficial of the Education de-

partment. Apparently, the gentle-man is very proper in conduct anddetermined to improve the ways ofhis department. His school inspec-tion checks have now become wellknown. A story goes that in one ofhis inspections in north Sikkim, hecame across a teacher who was ina drunken condition. He has appar-ently brought this teacher along inhopes of rehabilitating him. Andyes, also to punish him. The newpost is reportedly not somethingone would write home about.Teachers who have heard of thiswere quite vocal about the humili-

ation meted out to one of them, butthe gentleman is more than happyabout his new job, and enjoying his‘power’ so much that recently hedid not allow even his former head-master to enter the room withoutan appointment!

MOST WANTED

Just when we thought it wasJyoti Brahmin who stole the

scene at the Sikkim SammanSammilan, it turns out the mainattraction was Mala Sinha. Thelady had many admirers, espe-cially among the babus and theirpolitical masters, who remem-bered with nostalgia the manyfilms she had starred in. The la-dy’s curiosity and interest in eve-rything Sikkimese so impressedall that the all in all invited her toextend her stay for as long as shewanted.

But Mala Sinha eventuallyleft. But not before she had vis-ited the army canteen to pick up asuitcase to pack all the souvenirsgifted to her. Last heard she’s plan-ning a repeat visit next year.

�

8; NOW!; 23 July, 2004

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

today in

History23rd July

THEFINALONE �

ARIES: Your quest of the spiritual mayrequire you to travel. Traders will dowell. Association with the stock mar-ket will be favourable. Financial crisiswill be brought under control. Thoseemployed will have little to worry aboutin their present position.TAURUS: Shifting residence may doyou good. Business partners will giveyou their full support. You will enjoygood health. Family life will be com-fortable. The trade and lease busi-nesses will be beneficial.GEMINI: A new line of business willcome up. Unnecessary expenses willbe reduced. You may go on a longtrip. Mental tension will be reduced.You may face financial strain. Litiga-tion will be postponed. You will en-joy good health.CANCER: Business will be brisk.Unnecessary tension with yourspouse is indicated. Your social sta-tus will be good. Uncommon ex-penses are indicated. Partnershipbusinesses will be beneficial.LEO: Business will be very dull. Achange of surroundings will do youa lot of good. New business oppor-tunities will come your way. Thesewill help improve your social status.Business may create tension.VIRGO: You will have no monetaryproblems. Health will be good. Stu-dents will have to work hard to getgood results. Family life will bepeaceful. A long business trip is likely.Social status will be good.LIBRA: You may incur medical ex-

636: Arabs gain control of mostof Palestine from the ByzantineEmpire1253: Jews are expelled fromVienne France by order of PopeInnocent III1298: Jews are massacred atWurzburg Germany1798: Napoleon capturesAlexandria, Egypt1829: William Austin Burtpatents “typographer”(typewriter)1880: First commercialhydroelectric power plant beginsin Michigan, USA1904: Ice cream cone created byCharles E Menches during LaPurchase Expo1914: Austria-Hungary issuesultimatum to Serbia leading toWW I1931: France announces theycan’t afford to send a team to1932 LA olympics1940: “Blitz” begins, all-night raidon London1952: General Neguib seizes power,Monarchy overthrown in Egypt1965: Beatles “Help” is releasedin the UK1968: PLO’s 1st hijacking of anEl Al [Israel] plane1984: Vanessa Williams, firstblack Miss America, resigns dueto posing nudeReligious ObservancesAncient Rome: Neptunalia,honoring Neptune

penses related to your father ’shealth. You must be cautious intransactions involving a partnershipbusiness. You may purchase a newhouse or plot. Long drawn litigationwill turn out to be advantageous.SCORPIO: Encouraging communi-cation from old clients will cheer youup. Foreign tours will generate a goodprofit. Your neighbours will supportyou through all difficulty. Students willhave a constructive time.SAGITTARIUS: This period will be suc-cessful for students as well as busi-nessmen. You will undertake new ven-tures with confidence and responsibil-ity. Family life will be smooth. You mayget new job opportunities.CAPRICORN: The political line willshow promise. You will gain nameand fame. Worries are indicated. Youwill observe many changes in yourbusiness career. Family memberswill render you their full support.Musicians will have a good time.Extensive touring is indicated.AQUARIUS: Those in the automobilebusiness will find little improvement.A financial crisis is indicated. Loanswill be cleared slowly. New partnerswill take over your business commit-ments. Litigation will be postponed.PISCES: Peace and prosperity will bemaintained. Social status will im-prove. Speculation will be productive.An unexpected piece of informationwill raise your hopes. A change ofenvironment and promotion are indi-cated for those employed.

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BIRENDRA SHANDILYA

DARJEELING, 22 July: Swordsand sandals seem to be the flavourof all things entertainment. WhileHollywood got Gladiator and Troy,Darjeeling witnessed “TheHimalayan Bed of Cressida,” a playbased on Shakespeare’s Troilus andCressida. Moulded into the thirdtheater [so no swords and sandals]the play took the theme fromShakespeare and layered it withlocal problems and issues. What’smore, it was staged ‘in’ theDarjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The stage was unique for thismono-act - the F1 Coach of theDHR’s Joyride trip.

Why the DHR? Actor-directorParnab Mukherjee reveals that hisinspiration was a news report onDHR’s food for work proposal forthe settlements along the tracks.

“Once Ladenla, an eminentcitizen of Darjeeling had com-mented that if the hill station hasto stay, it has to follow a circularroad, I think he meant preservingthe DHR,” says Parnab.

There was more that promptedParnab to launch this productionin Darjeeling.

“Once I came across a remark-able photograph of Maharani Girls

High School, Darjeeling dated1912. The photograph depictedstudents with their hair down. Thiswas a complete revolution as dur-ing that era, schools across thecountry insisted on tied or braidedhair,” shares Pranab.

Armed with this bit of infor-mation, Parnab again stumbled ona line of Troilus and Cressida [Act1:Scene 1, Line 102] in whichTroilus talks about Cressida byremarking “…her bed is India.There she lies; a pearl…”

“The two [the photograph andCressida’s Bed in India] seemedto be overlapping. Though Shake-speare has preferred to remain si-lent regarding India and Cressida’sBed, I felt Darjeeling is the miss-ing link in terms of the metaphor,”believes Parnab.

Digging into Darjeeling’s past,Parnab further refined the link.

“The metaphor of a search. Ofjuxtaposing, the liberation of awoman along with liberation of

womanhood. Cressida andHemlata Sarkar’s [the first womanto become a Municipal Commis-sioner and also founder of Maha-rani Girls School], I found a thea-tre metaphor. Life in terms of asearch has a definite parallel,” headds - hence today’s play.

The play deftly interwove con-versations between Troilus andCressida and the changing sce-nario of the Darjeeling Hills. Thenatural calamities, the politicalinstability, the problem of theLepchas, all were amalgamated.As the heritage train passed the 8kms of beautiful landscape from

Darjeeling to Ghoom, the audi-ence was transformed to and frobetween the Shakespearean origi-nal and present day Darjeeling.

“The 1911 era saw Darjeelingresponding to national lines.Mohun Bagan defeated the Brit-ish, the students of Maharani lettheir hair down,” proclaimedParnab. Relating to Troilus andCressida - the love story whichpaused waiting for the war to end,Parnab added “We have the Troyembedded deep inside us. Theeternal fight which goes on in ourminds. The confusion of role mod-els being an example.”

THE HIMALAYAN BED OF CRESSIDA