Letter:
This has reference to the rejoinder of the Tashiding Duchi to the book “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written by Mr. P.T. Gyamtsho, former bureaucrat and Parliamentarian of Sikkim which appeared in the 01 August 2011 issue of Sikkim NOW! and his counter to the rejoinder which appeared in 04 August edition. It is very heartening to see the evolution of survival instinct in the Denjong Aku-Lhopo people. The seed of dialogue for settlement of conflict has germinated. We pray that the seed grows. This is how a civil society is begun.
Mr. P.T Gyamtsho, whom we would simply address as Gembo deserves our appreciation. He is truly a Gembo of the community. Perhaps he is the only senior bureaucrat of the community who realized, albeit belatedly, that the days of existence of the Denjong Aku-Lhopo are numbered. He knew more than anybody else where the BLs stand in the scheme of things in the state. He personally experienced that the interest of the BL is not allowed to be represented. The concern for the community cost him a lucrative life. He has expressed his lamentation as well as repentance in the book. Writing a book is not easy. Therefore, the discrepancies and factual errors visible in the book are understandable. This scribe is very happy that the message of Survival Sikkimese has germinated in no less a person than Gembo who doggedly opposed us in the beginning. The Bible says when the seed is sowed many will fall on stones, or exposed on bare ground which are eaten up by birds and other insects and very few fell on the earth to germinate. Gembo should also see his effort in this vein. Gembo has said in his counter that he is happy that his book stirred up the people concerned from slumber.
The grievance of Tashiding Duchi is genuine. The way the Vum-chhu is ridiculed by Gembo, no sane people would tolerate it. It is true Gembo did not dilute it but ridiculed it. It is a matter of faith, and faith is held beyond logic. When people fail to solve their problems through organizational skills, they turn to supernatural power for help. This is how a body of faith called religion was evolved. Hindus believe the water of the Ganges is blessed with power which washes away all sins. In the western world they thought of Elixir which gave new life and turned all metals to gold. There were Lamas called Alchemists who devoted all their lives in search of the water. It is said Guru Rimbuchhi found it and concealed it. The Christians held Jesus as son of God and his mother Mary as virgin. Gembo cannot question them. Salman Rushdie was condemned because he ridiculed the Koran which has the second largest following in the world. The enlightened western world forbade teaching of the theory of evolution by Darwin in schools. Darwin theorised that mankind and monkeys originated from a common ancestry. This was against Bible which said mankind was created by God in his own image.
Since Gembo wanted feedback from the readers for improving upon the book, we are obliged to provide the in-put. The book should have been brought out in two volumes. The photo history which is least relevant to the text should have been treated separately. Being a man with IPR background, Gembo could have given fair coverage of the life of his time in the photo history. That way the book would have made sense. Although Gembo denied it, the book looked very much dedicated to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. He shied away from the truth by concealing the photograph inside the book. The position of the photo tells us everything. It is preceding even the Chhogyal in the hidden album. He should have placed the photograph in the front as epilogue to the book with few words of ‘serkem’.
The book contained many flaws apart from the Vum-chhu. If the book is meant for the progeny as given out to be it required thorough review. It could not be passed on to the future generation in the present form. The work involved is basically documentation of the oral history which came down the ages by word of mouth. The author cannot give comments and opinion which are unwarranted and misleading to the impressionable mind of the youngsters. This present edition be treated as draft edition.
The Tashiding Duchi erupted out like a volcano. And curiously it did so with a territorial constituency. The Duchi is accompanied by the Panchyats and the locals as if the Vum-chhu is a public property of that particular assembly constituency. The Vum-chhu is the common heritage of the entire people of Bhutia race. It is more than a religious object for the Bhutias. The petty minded people have totally misunderstood the significance of Vum-chhu. It is not just a magic water as understood to be. It is the symbol of the Bhutia empire which ruled in the 8th Century AD. It also tells how old Denjong is. Guru Rimbuchhi revealed the Vum-chhu in the court of the emperor Disong-Detsen at the insistence of the latter. It is a written history. The event took place in 750 AD. We did not need to write about it. The Guru Rimbuchhi told the emperor that it was not the time for the revelation of the sacred water. After revealing it to the emperor he re-concealed it to remain as termo. The termo may be understood as a time capsule which is revealed at the specified future date. The Guru told the emperor when it would be revealed and named Tashiding in Denjong as the place where the Vum-chhu would be kept.
Gembo has drawn the attention of the Tashiding Duchi to the struggle waged by SIBLAC, NASBO and other monk bodies for preservation of the sanctity and the historical significance of the Vumchhu against the state policy. We wish Gembo joined the force himself in the struggle leading from the front. Given his social and political stature Gembo could make a vast difference. He could write to any one as his letter pad carries protocol and weight. The Rathong Chhu from the source lake called La-tsho Karpu to the Rangit River is hardly 20 km in length. Gembo could get it declared as a sacred river and the Vumchu as a national heritage.
Two projects have been stalled so far but on environmental grounds. SIBLAC and NASBO have been persistent. They are struggling for the cancellation of the third one. But we do not know how many more would come again as is evident from the mindset of the colonial regimes. The withdrawal of the projects for the present could be tactical ploy. The environmental laws are easily bent or amended. Therefore the Bhutia people should know that the future of Vumchhu is as good as closed.
May the readers know the vum-chhu lost its historical significance due to schism in Lamaism. The history of Bhot is an example of how religious bigotry and intolerance rooted out Bhutia nationalism. People may say philosophy of Buddhism is tolerance. But schism is the result of intolerance. It resulted when members become intolerant of each other. Except the Nyingma sect rest of the sects of Lamaism did not give much respect to Vum-chhu. The Nyingma itself is again divided into countless sects. The Lamas try to gloss over the schisms as traditions. The schism is best explained by the nuclear fission reactions. Lamaism is radioactive. It goes on breaking and multiplying.
Sidkeong Tulku was much averse to Lamaism for good many reasons. He was a great educationist. He found the Bhutia people utterly lacking in the spirit of inquiry, research and humanism. They were just breathing fossils. He held Lamaism responsible for that. In Lamaism he found reason irretrievably chained and thought enslaved. There was no scope for growth of knowledge. It shunned people from making progress in science. He planned to modernize Sikkim by freeing it from the grip of lamaism. He decided to introduce Theravadin branch of Buddhism in Sikkim. He imported few monks to start with. Unfortunately he did not live long. His untimely demise at young age saved Lamaism in Sikkim.
The Vum-chhu can become safe only if we can get it recognised as a national heritage and then a UN heritage. The Vumchhu qualified for both as it is one of the oldest object of the universe and a legacy of the historical Bhutia empire. The Tibetan Government in exile could get it declared as a UN Heritage. The last resort is to re-conceal it as termo. This is possible while Dodrupchen Rimbuchhi, Lachhen Gomchhen and other Nyingma teachers are still living
In the meanwhile the Tashiding Duchi have to prove how sincere they are for the cause. The locals of the area have demanded for implementation of the project. We are getting different message from their wrathful behaviour towards the Gembo who is not in good terms with the Government. If they are genuine then we dare them to felicitate all those who got the Rathong Chhu 30MW project scrapped and then the members of SIBLAC and NASBO who got the Lethang 91MW project stalled. A devout follower of Dodrupchen Rimbuchhi who is popularly known as “American Gomchhen” risked his life by undertaking fast unto death in protest against the Rathong Chhu Project. He was a family man with minor children at the time.
Karma Lhendup Kaleon [recvd by email]
This has reference to the rejoinder of the Tashiding Duchi to the book “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written by Mr. P.T. Gyamtsho, former bureaucrat and Parliamentarian of Sikkim which appeared in the 01 August 2011 issue of Sikkim NOW! and his counter to the rejoinder which appeared in 04 August edition. It is very heartening to see the evolution of survival instinct in the Denjong Aku-Lhopo people. The seed of dialogue for settlement of conflict has germinated. We pray that the seed grows. This is how a civil society is begun.
Mr. P.T Gyamtsho, whom we would simply address as Gembo deserves our appreciation. He is truly a Gembo of the community. Perhaps he is the only senior bureaucrat of the community who realized, albeit belatedly, that the days of existence of the Denjong Aku-Lhopo are numbered. He knew more than anybody else where the BLs stand in the scheme of things in the state. He personally experienced that the interest of the BL is not allowed to be represented. The concern for the community cost him a lucrative life. He has expressed his lamentation as well as repentance in the book. Writing a book is not easy. Therefore, the discrepancies and factual errors visible in the book are understandable. This scribe is very happy that the message of Survival Sikkimese has germinated in no less a person than Gembo who doggedly opposed us in the beginning. The Bible says when the seed is sowed many will fall on stones, or exposed on bare ground which are eaten up by birds and other insects and very few fell on the earth to germinate. Gembo should also see his effort in this vein. Gembo has said in his counter that he is happy that his book stirred up the people concerned from slumber.
The grievance of Tashiding Duchi is genuine. The way the Vum-chhu is ridiculed by Gembo, no sane people would tolerate it. It is true Gembo did not dilute it but ridiculed it. It is a matter of faith, and faith is held beyond logic. When people fail to solve their problems through organizational skills, they turn to supernatural power for help. This is how a body of faith called religion was evolved. Hindus believe the water of the Ganges is blessed with power which washes away all sins. In the western world they thought of Elixir which gave new life and turned all metals to gold. There were Lamas called Alchemists who devoted all their lives in search of the water. It is said Guru Rimbuchhi found it and concealed it. The Christians held Jesus as son of God and his mother Mary as virgin. Gembo cannot question them. Salman Rushdie was condemned because he ridiculed the Koran which has the second largest following in the world. The enlightened western world forbade teaching of the theory of evolution by Darwin in schools. Darwin theorised that mankind and monkeys originated from a common ancestry. This was against Bible which said mankind was created by God in his own image.
Since Gembo wanted feedback from the readers for improving upon the book, we are obliged to provide the in-put. The book should have been brought out in two volumes. The photo history which is least relevant to the text should have been treated separately. Being a man with IPR background, Gembo could have given fair coverage of the life of his time in the photo history. That way the book would have made sense. Although Gembo denied it, the book looked very much dedicated to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. He shied away from the truth by concealing the photograph inside the book. The position of the photo tells us everything. It is preceding even the Chhogyal in the hidden album. He should have placed the photograph in the front as epilogue to the book with few words of ‘serkem’.
The book contained many flaws apart from the Vum-chhu. If the book is meant for the progeny as given out to be it required thorough review. It could not be passed on to the future generation in the present form. The work involved is basically documentation of the oral history which came down the ages by word of mouth. The author cannot give comments and opinion which are unwarranted and misleading to the impressionable mind of the youngsters. This present edition be treated as draft edition.
The Tashiding Duchi erupted out like a volcano. And curiously it did so with a territorial constituency. The Duchi is accompanied by the Panchyats and the locals as if the Vum-chhu is a public property of that particular assembly constituency. The Vum-chhu is the common heritage of the entire people of Bhutia race. It is more than a religious object for the Bhutias. The petty minded people have totally misunderstood the significance of Vum-chhu. It is not just a magic water as understood to be. It is the symbol of the Bhutia empire which ruled in the 8th Century AD. It also tells how old Denjong is. Guru Rimbuchhi revealed the Vum-chhu in the court of the emperor Disong-Detsen at the insistence of the latter. It is a written history. The event took place in 750 AD. We did not need to write about it. The Guru Rimbuchhi told the emperor that it was not the time for the revelation of the sacred water. After revealing it to the emperor he re-concealed it to remain as termo. The termo may be understood as a time capsule which is revealed at the specified future date. The Guru told the emperor when it would be revealed and named Tashiding in Denjong as the place where the Vum-chhu would be kept.
Gembo has drawn the attention of the Tashiding Duchi to the struggle waged by SIBLAC, NASBO and other monk bodies for preservation of the sanctity and the historical significance of the Vumchhu against the state policy. We wish Gembo joined the force himself in the struggle leading from the front. Given his social and political stature Gembo could make a vast difference. He could write to any one as his letter pad carries protocol and weight. The Rathong Chhu from the source lake called La-tsho Karpu to the Rangit River is hardly 20 km in length. Gembo could get it declared as a sacred river and the Vumchu as a national heritage.
Two projects have been stalled so far but on environmental grounds. SIBLAC and NASBO have been persistent. They are struggling for the cancellation of the third one. But we do not know how many more would come again as is evident from the mindset of the colonial regimes. The withdrawal of the projects for the present could be tactical ploy. The environmental laws are easily bent or amended. Therefore the Bhutia people should know that the future of Vumchhu is as good as closed.
May the readers know the vum-chhu lost its historical significance due to schism in Lamaism. The history of Bhot is an example of how religious bigotry and intolerance rooted out Bhutia nationalism. People may say philosophy of Buddhism is tolerance. But schism is the result of intolerance. It resulted when members become intolerant of each other. Except the Nyingma sect rest of the sects of Lamaism did not give much respect to Vum-chhu. The Nyingma itself is again divided into countless sects. The Lamas try to gloss over the schisms as traditions. The schism is best explained by the nuclear fission reactions. Lamaism is radioactive. It goes on breaking and multiplying.
Sidkeong Tulku was much averse to Lamaism for good many reasons. He was a great educationist. He found the Bhutia people utterly lacking in the spirit of inquiry, research and humanism. They were just breathing fossils. He held Lamaism responsible for that. In Lamaism he found reason irretrievably chained and thought enslaved. There was no scope for growth of knowledge. It shunned people from making progress in science. He planned to modernize Sikkim by freeing it from the grip of lamaism. He decided to introduce Theravadin branch of Buddhism in Sikkim. He imported few monks to start with. Unfortunately he did not live long. His untimely demise at young age saved Lamaism in Sikkim.
The Vum-chhu can become safe only if we can get it recognised as a national heritage and then a UN heritage. The Vumchhu qualified for both as it is one of the oldest object of the universe and a legacy of the historical Bhutia empire. The Tibetan Government in exile could get it declared as a UN Heritage. The last resort is to re-conceal it as termo. This is possible while Dodrupchen Rimbuchhi, Lachhen Gomchhen and other Nyingma teachers are still living
In the meanwhile the Tashiding Duchi have to prove how sincere they are for the cause. The locals of the area have demanded for implementation of the project. We are getting different message from their wrathful behaviour towards the Gembo who is not in good terms with the Government. If they are genuine then we dare them to felicitate all those who got the Rathong Chhu 30MW project scrapped and then the members of SIBLAC and NASBO who got the Lethang 91MW project stalled. A devout follower of Dodrupchen Rimbuchhi who is popularly known as “American Gomchhen” risked his life by undertaking fast unto death in protest against the Rathong Chhu Project. He was a family man with minor children at the time.
Karma Lhendup Kaleon [recvd by email]
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