Sanjaya Baru’s Book on the Prime Minister… Not Done

KC PRADHAN, MF (Yale)

I am following the comments on the book [Sanjay Baru’s “The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh”], both in national dailies and online, for last one week with a little bit of sadness. I thought it was a non-issue as far as Sikkim was concerned but since it did appear as headline in a local daily, I could not resist expressing my thoughts.

As a fellow Yalee having gone through the same mould at Yale University, the book is a sad outcome and does not reflect well on the product of the prestigious varsity. Manmohan Singh picked him as his Media Advisor and he had his full trust in him for a good five years. Taking advantage of inner stories accessed being in high position and to publish such intimate details on the eve of the election for some personal gain is sad and shows an abject lack of finesse. Once you serve your master and served in full faith, to pull the rug from under him when the going is not good is not a done thing. It is utter betrayal of trust. If every confidential secretary of a person in high position goes about bringing out such publications, where will the country stand?

The details given in the book are already in the public domain and there is nothing new to be surprised of. But to give a seal of authenticity to all such gossip as if to empower the opposition in the election fray and importantly on the eve of his relinquishing office has raised many eyebrows besides hurting the feeling of such a saintly figure.

Manmohan Singh, from an Indian standpoint, might be a weak Prime Minister. But among all the extrovert personalities of the Indian polity at present, he is the only person whom the world Leaders at large listen to. He is a gem of a man. Honest and well meaning. He is demitting office within a month and a half anyway and moving quietly to a Government allotted quarter at 3, Motilal Nehru Place, formerly occupied by outgoing CM Sheila Dixit presumably in his antiquated 1996 Maruti 800. And along with him is Gursharan Kaur, graceful and most dignified better-half of a person of that stature India had ever seen. Her grace, simplicity and vastness of knowledge in her own right, especially Sikh religion, helped the Prime Minister immensely to glide in the high society of world leaders where the better halves play equally important roles. The late Kushwant Singh had written sometime back: “I returned home happily exhausted and served myself a hefty Patiala to re-charge my battery. I began to muse over the work of wives of men in positions of power. In Western democracies they play positive roles. Besides looking after their homes and children, they receive visiting heads of States, sit beside them at State banquets and join their husbands at social functions.” And has rightly said “Gursharan Kaur is the first woman who has performed the duties expected of the wife of the Prime Minister of India”

Leaders of the world powers that gather occasionally hardly care for a Leader who lacks niceties, no matter how large a country is. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fully fulfilled the space and made considerable efforts to make them embrace India in their inner circle. It is accepted he is not a politician per see with all the tags attached but a gentleman politician alright. He is a thinker and an academician by training and rightly, Prime Minister by accident or rather ‘necessity’. An unassuming person like Sonia Gandhi, who by sheer compulsion had to be in political arena, turned into an ace and shrewd politician that awed not only India but world at large turning herself into one of the most powerful women in the world in so short a time. So there was a happy mix of politically shrewd Party President and Prime Minister as a thinker. India with such diverse regional politics and ethnicity with their won way of thinking is the most difficult country in the world to govern. Yet the duo did their best with best of intention for the country. People at large should understand ‘silence is not spoken’. On the other hand, Gandhi family has instilled in themselves a sense of purpose for India by dint of their family background going back to five generations. In Indian politics they have their uses and would continue to be so. Mudslinging for the sake of vote banks does not augur well. Elections come and go. But the citizens in this rather transparent world, thanks to tele-communication technology, continue to be more educated, enlightened and matured to chalk out their destiny.  

Adieu Mr. Prime Minister, you will always be in Sikkimese hearts for the blessings you bestowed in your won silenced ways and we wish you well.

THREE SIKKIMESE GIRLS CLEAR UPSC 2012! Congratulations, my dear Girls! You have made every Sikkimese proud!

LET’S HOPE WE TAKE INSPIRATION AND LEARN FROM YOUR SUCCESS
KC PRADHAN
To learn that our girls competed in the AIS examinations at the national level and came out successful out of hundreds of thousands is a matter of joy. Our present Chief Secretary heads the list for Sikkim as the first from here to secure direct recruitment into the IAS followed by only a few others in the decades since, the latest breakthrough is hence of significant importance. To know that Sikkim has come of age on the educational front is very comforting. The Chief Minister’s educational scholarships for meritorious children at the primary level, so thoughtfully considered, is bound to make a considerable impact in the years to come. This is a long term investment par excellence which the people of Sikkim will realize only in the future.
When I come across bright young officers, like the 40-odd who underwent a short course in administration in Singapore, I wonder why they did not give the AIS examinations. Apprehensive perhaps that they will be slotted to some obscure posting in the country. But compete for competition’s sake and if you get a slot not of your liking, you can always opt out, but your prestige will grow manifold. You are as good as any AIS officer. Just some sincere advice.
One also remembers here the brilliance of the late Sangay Doma, who, selected in the IAS in the UT Cadre, made a mark in Arunachal Pradesh as one of the finest officers they have ever had, a service they have immortalized in Arunachal by naming the Institute she got established there as a World Bank project in her memory.
Now coming back to these bright three girls. It would be worthwhile to analyze who they are. What was their early educational schooling? The story of each of them speaks volumes of their hard work and determination for others to emulate. To know Aparajita, daughter of one of our finest forest officers who lost his life in a torrential flood that struck Pani House in Deorali some ten years back, did the State proud with her ranking of 358th. Her consistent attempts, right since 2009, and coming 768th in her second attempt and getting offered Indian Defence Accounts Service did not satisfy her. She appeared again as an in-service candidate and in her third attempt she secured a ranking good enough for IPS which she likes, it appears. Her determination and consistency speaks volumes. She had her schooling in TNA and graduated in Law.
Yangchen, with her 542nd ranking, hails from the far away village Tinkitam of Baichung Bhutia and Orchid Fairrieanum fame, has excellent educational background with her early schooling at the coveted St. Joseph’s Convent, Kalimpong, and again finishing her schooling from TNA and ultimately graduating from St. Stephens in Delhi, products from where are the policy-makers of the country, and completing her post graduation from JNU.
Then comes Tshering with her 838th ranking. She comes from Pelling with her primary education in Kyi-de-Khang, completing schooling from TNA and Masters from University in Delhi.
So it is TNA that comes in as a common factor for all three, attesting the good schooling provided there. To know we have school of such standing good enough for our youngsters to go out and compete in the national level speaks volumes and people of Sikkim at large should applaud the institution as a whole and its teachers in particular with a deep sense of gratitude. It would go good for the Government to give all impetus and support to this school so that it can continue to groom the younger generations with a sense of competitiveness and determination to plunge in this wide competitive world where brilliance rules. TNA has one of the finest campuses with 12 acres of sprawling compound and a school groomed by eminent educationists like VN Langer (he headed TNA for a good 16 long years), Madhusudhan Singh, Fantomes (father and his son) and such other eminent educationists in its formative stage of establishment. It was the vision of the Durbar as early as 1956 to establish a premier public educational institution in Sikkim to prepare youngsters for the best institutions in the world. The school could take shape only after 1966 once the TNHS was moved out to its new campus at Development Area. As Sikkim is marching ahead in all fields with commendable success, it is even more necessary that the vision behind TNA’s establishment is remembered and efforts made to raise it to such prominence public schools like Doon, Sanawar, Rishi Valley or Mayo.
But primary education is quite a different matter. It needs a set of teachers with quite different caliber. In this region, it is St. Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong that has produced and is still producing the best brains. One can know a girl is from this premier school just by seeing the handwriting- a real calligrapher. So far, our Primary Education has received a shoddy deal. Only in recent years has there been a serious effort to improve it. The neglect of the past led to mushrooming of so-called private English Schools in every nook and corner of Sikkim. On a short drive from Reshi to Jhum via Hatidhunga we came across a dozen. So is the case in faraway Daramdin as also anywhere else in the state. How we can bring the best primary education system to Sikkim, whether based on Montessori, Kid-zee, Kindergarten or with some of the improved version like the Alice Project- an offshoot of Montessori based in Italy- in Sarnath and Bodh Gaya- is food for thought. Manjushree, the brain child of Lodey and Wendy –the well qualified and well travelled husband and wife team- with a small beginning at MG Marg and now off to Temi is the forerunner of truly best schooling Sikkim could possibly offer. It will do good to establish a Primary Education Teachers Training Institute with the best of methodology as adopted in Finland, Korea, Singapore and elsewhere which are rated among the 20 best in the world in this field. That should be our benchmark. In the process, even if we slide halfway, the job is well done.
I also strong feel that the so called English Primary Schools established by private initiative should also be brought under the fold as even students there are after all our children. Parents from the interiors like Karchi and Dhupidara have moved to Rabongla working menial jobs only so that they can give their children English School education. This is the story I heard wherever I travelled. They are of the view that English Education is the only security for the future of their children.
So, as we clamour for higher education and Universities of which we have lined up so many for reasons unknow, it is time we gave more thrust to our Pre- and Primary Education where 70% of our children are currently enrolled. This, not by pumping more money alone, but by providing the best of teachers who are temperamentally and psychologically well tuned to teach children in their formative, impressionable age and working in the knowledge that “Every child is unique and has infinite potential”. These teachers should be offered the best salary and accorded the highest respect and status as they are the persons who lay the foundation on which the future of Sikkim will be built. May the tribe of the late Hon’ble Mary Scott, Shankha Gurung, Ganga Devi Rai, Pedong Guruama (Lydia Lucksom) etc. proliferate. We remember them with a deep sense of gratitude as teachers who had love and concern for the mental makeup of every child under their care as they marched ahead in their noble mission without wavering. They had in them the essence of ‘child centric learning methodology’.
Thanks to the vision of the present Chief Minister, this blessed land of Guru Rimpoche has really become the Mecca of all religions with special emphasis on Buddhism and Hinduism at a time when the world at large is beset with materialism and consumerism – the maddening trend set by economic pundits. The inner philosophy of all religions is to imbue in every human being, a true sense of tolerance, humility with wholesome personality. This has been repeated by HH the Dalai Lama during a recent visit in clear terms at his sermon to the at large at Rabongla and to the children at Mannan Bhawan in Gangtok. While we search for such schooling based on values and ethics percolated from religious saints, Gurus and philosophers, we come across Rishi Valley based on the vision of eminent philosopher J. Krishnamurti, Vivekananda University on the philosophy propounded by Swami Vivekananda, Alice Projects as an off-shoot of Maria Montessori philosophy of child education and in operation in Sarnath and Bodh Gaya, Sai Schools based on the philosophy and preaching of Satya Sai Baba. It will augur well if we establish educational institutions based on such values and ethics to enable our future generations to give be able to reevaluate and rethink, rather unwind, the past and the present and come up with a balanced approach of a wholesome living ethic for the world order. This is the only remedy to overcome the ills currently inflicting the society.
In the same vein, it is good to understand how important it is to be Scheduled Tribe or OBC at the national level. Food for thought for all Sikkimese to be Tribals. Let the loaves continue to be divided between tribes, castes, class and non-class with all their Constitutional rights within the State, but outside the State let all Sikkimese have a common level playing field. This is possible only if all Sikkimese as clearly defined in the Financial Act are bestowed with deemed Tribal status. It is time everybody, irrespective of their differences, political or otherwise, pulls up their socks and ponders on the possibility. It is an issue where there should be no differences. Time is now. Tomorrow is too late.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim]

We Remember

KC PRADHAN
Three years have passed since we lost some of Sikkim’s finest souls in Tashi, Wangchuk and Chukie to a terrible road mishap on 06 April 2009. Years pass, but memories linger and the feeling of loss deepens as I mull over some of the vexed issues that confront us so frequently and so often. They were analysts in the truest sense of the word and understood with rare clarity where the destiny of Sikkim lay. Both, Tashi Tobden and Wangchuk Barfungpa, worked with me as able lieutenants cum facilitators for long years in the administration. They were always by my side when I had to confront any hassle in the administration. Their help was always readily available whenever called for and at times even without being asked. They dropped by the moment they sensed a situation developing. If we managed to steer away from some of the worst financial tangles, it was Tashi who put forth his considered thought and put the situation on the rail.
Temperamentally, they were poles apart. But in times of crisis, when the situation needs to be grasped clearly and immediately, their minds met and in their free and forceful deliberations, unfailingly delivered clear and simple solutions. Such occasions were many during my long tenure in service, and after their passing away, I consider, and do so very strongly, a void has been created which remains very difficult to fill. Their reservoir of knowledge on all matters Sikkim is now lost forever.
They were the real custodians of Sikkim’s rules and regulations and knew precisely how to position Sikkim in the national context. Their erudition fired a forthrightness which expectedly led to misunderstandings, but they remind upright in their thinking and never minced words or held back if they had to speak out against any issue which was detrimental to Sikkim. Such confidence and commitment does not come so easily. They belonged to families which go back as long as Sikkim’s written history; this rootedness to the land, backed by education in the best of public schools and colleges in India, and then being scions of ace diplomats of the times of the British Raj, infused in them an inherent strength to speak loud and clear, without fear or favour. They were men of substance and I had high admiration for them always.
Petite Chukie was a real fighter, an environmental activist with a clear vision. Even she was misunderstood and misrepresented, but what she was crusading for, we are realizing only now to the right issues. It was her relentless fight that finally got through to people at large and eventually, four of the five hydroelectric projects proposed for Dzongu were abandoned. She was the Daughter of Dzongu in the real sense.
Sikkim is progressing on all fronts in a rapid - rather hurried - pace. What the State desperately needs at present is an intelligentsia which can point out where things are going wrong and suggest course corrections in time. But where is this intelligentsia? This is the dilemma that we find ourselves in. There are many arm-chair critics, but none with the commitment or depth to point out, with well studied reasoning, not just what is wrong, but also what the right option is. This will greatly help the policy-makers to give a considered thought - rather re-thinking – to the path charted out for the future. As our Chief Minister often reminds us, if the intelligentsia does not speak, it will be fools who occupy the public domain and influence public opinion. Needless to add, the whole State will then become a fool's paradise.
On this rather somber anniversary, it would be advisable for the people of Sikkim to remember the three we lost on 06 April three years ago from the perspective of what Sikkim has lost with their passing away and pay them a homage they have earned because of how they lived their lives.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim]

Is boycott advisable?

PUBLIC HEARING FOR TEESTA STAGE IV

KC PRADHAN
The Public Hearing for the much in the news Teesta Hydroelectric Project Stage-IV to be located between Dikchu and Sangkhalang has been re-scheduled for 29 March 2012 at Namprikdang in North Sikkim. The project entails generation of around 520 MW of hydro power on a run-of-the-river system through the GoI organization- NHPC. Unlike private sector developers which are to run hydel projects for 35 years and hen hand them over to the State Government, projects implemented and operated by NHPC will be for perpetuity.
The NHPC has, in the past, constructed the 510MW Teesta Stage V which was commissioned some three years back and the 60 MW Legship HEP at Rangit in West Sikkim which was commissioned some ten years ago. As per the terms of the agreement with NHPC, the State Government will get 12% of free power. It is understood the generation indicated in project formulation is at peak period - the monsoon. It would be good for people at large to be told how much revenue has actually accrued to the State exchequer from these two projects during the period in question. This should give a fair idea about how much revenue is likely to be forthcoming after the commissioning of the new project [Stage-IV] for which the State Government has called a Public Hearing as per GoI rules. This is an important matter and all stakeholders – nay, all the people of Sikkim - should give a considered thought. It should be fully supported if the economic gains far outweigh the damages likely to be caused. If the people do not attend the public hearing and the project goes ahead with all the usual sugar-coated pills and smooth talk, it will be the people who are solely responsible and it would be un-ethical to blame the Government or the project developers after the project is commenced. Such is the importance of the Public Hearing and it has great legal sanctity.
I have seen in the local dailies that some people of the affected area are once again likely to boycott the Public Hearing slated for 29th March as the various assurances given by the organization to the stake holders while extracting their consent for Teesta Stage V have not been delivered. People’s apprehensions have been further aggravated by to Sept 2011 earthquake as the main Central Thrust (MCT) line is said to be located in the area from the geological and seismological standpoint. Whether this has been scientifically confirmed or not is different matter, but fact remains the trauma of earthquake, during which Dzongu was badly hit, is still fresh in the minds of the people and they are still in a state of shock. It is premature to rake up the issue of a fresh hydroelectric project though the idea was mooted many years back.
It is pertinent to add here that the stretch from Dikchu to Sangkhalang holds the only expanse of tropical jungle in Sikkim and is the abode to some of the prized plant species like wild bananas, terrestrial orchids, various species of palms, bamboos of great plant genetical interest, besides  home of butterflies. Identifying some rescue homes and rehabilitating these species should be seriously considered. For butterflies, the best option is to go in for massive plantation of both nectar and caterpillar food plants suited for the butterfly species of the area. This could best be undertaken by an independent nature conservation trust with funds forthcoming from the project developers. It is equally important to take into consideration that this stretch of the river Teesta border the protected region of Dzongu - the home of the Lepchas.
The objective of entering into agreements for generation of hydroelectric power in the State is basically, besides Sikkim chipping in its share towards national interest with much-needed clean energy, to augment the financial resources in the State and thus serve not only in its developmental programmes but also meet the expenditure of a bloated Government establishment. The internal revenue generated by various sources at present can barely meet the expenditure of less than half a year. This gives a fair idea how important it is to augment internal resources, and in the given situation, to bank on hydro power generation and get the much needed resource thereof is the only ray of hope. The days of New Delhi pouring money for the asking are over. Unless you stand on your own, you will have no voice – you will rather be looked down upon in the corridors of power in the Centre. They are generous towards all developmental programmes and money will come anyway as allotted annually based on population pro-rata as ascertained by the Planning Commission. In the federal system of governance, this is an inherent right of a State of a Union.  But to run your house for day to day affairs is entirely your resposibility. As someone said: “We might have all the resources for grandiose programmes, but may not possibly have resources to buy even the basic need as salt”.
Taking this point into consideration, at the Public Hearing, if at all held, the concerned department should be able to throw these facts and figures to the participants to gauge whether the project will in reality will fulfill our aspirations. We are harping about earning between Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,500 crore by way of revenue by generating around 3000 MW of hydroelectricity within a few years and thus offering Sikkim and the Sikkimese people reasons to be to confident about a bright future – a future in which there will be no financial crunch to launch programmes of our liking with which our younger generation will be well equipped educationally besides maintaining our revered heritage as bequeathed in ancient monasteries, temples etc. in  a befitting manner. And then we will also be able to ensure proper maintenance of infrastructure constructed over the year under Plan Fund which are now lying in state of despair. If this is possible, there is reason to accept some immediate pains for a better tomorrow.
There are reasons for people at large to be unhappy with the deals which are not the most transparent and have been cleared with undue hurry. This has definitely brought some undue hardship, including environmental degradation - not forgetting the religious sentiments in some of the locations endowed with exceedingly rich religious significance and sanctity. But having gone so far as to nearing commissioning of projects, to retract will only lead to litigations which do not always resolve issues. If the economic projections are accurate and State really in a position to make substantial gains, there should a concerted effort to come to a meeting point. The best we could do is to apportion a sizeable portion of the revenue accrued from such projects for the upkeep of religious endowments, besides the welfare of the people in the affected area so that they develop a stronger bond and attach a sense ownership in the Project in question and even help expedite the commissioning at the earliest so that the project-related influx is cleared quicker as well. For all new projects, of course, they can clamour, but remonstrate with a well-studied and clearly reasoned line of argument. The Government, in its wisdom, has scrapped seven projects- 4 in Dzongu and 3 in the West Sikkim. This is in itself a bold political decision and people at large should appreciate the gesture.
All we could possibly say, on the lines written on monolith of Kohima War Cemetery: “For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim]

Community Participation in education essential but lacking

SEKHAR CHETTRI

I am just making an endeavour to accustom you with the latest buzzword doing the rounds in every sphere of life, with beautiful and universal appeal – Community Participation. This sounds pretty simple and unequivocal to a general listener but when it comes to a realistic situation where you collide head on with the intricacies involved, it’s easier said than done.
Community involvement, general awareness, shouldering of responsibilities, support and impetus from the governmental machinery, honesty of purpose and most prominently fanatical willingness on the part of every stake holder to fight against the odds when the chips are down would determine whether legislative provisions would actually travel the desired distance.
There are in fact very few sectors who could dare to defy the writing on the wall. But, we might have to wait a little longer till this realization gets the better of their deeds.
Confining to educational parlance, the idea is not new to our society. Since ancient times, community institutions like ‘pathsalas’, ‘madrassas’, ‘shedas’ etc were entrusted with the responsibility of transmitting knowledge, skills, culture and traditions to the new generation. Even in the recent past, the fact that almost every village of our state used to own ‘Committee’ run schools till as late as early seventies of the last century gives testimony of the willingness on the part of community to support the educational pursuit of the young generation.
Perhaps, they had realized then that education is a social process and participation of community in the process of education is a pre-condition. However, with growing formalization, governmentalization and  commercialization of education, the linkage between the school and community has invariably weakened leading to a widening gap.
Most of the thinkers have put the blame squarely on the colonial Britishers for this debacle. They have claimed that their system of education was designed solely to fulfill their vested interest. Community participation therefore has been the chief concern of modern policy makers.
Even an organization of international repute like UN has felt the need to define community participation as ‘the creation of opportunity to enable the members to actively contribute to and influence the development process to share equitably in fruits of development.’ Thus, participation requires voluntary and democratic involvement of the people.
The National Policy of Education 1986 and POA ’92 have emphasized the importance of decentralization, planning and management of education at all levels and most importantly people’s participation in education. Again, when we talk about decentralization, we are bound to sub divide it into its vital components like de-concentration, devolution (of resources and power) and delegation (of roles and responsibilities).
Have we been able to inject these minute but vital details in our system in the real sense of the word?
The 11th schedule of constitution has entrusted the Panchayat bodies with the responsibility of looking after formal and non-formal education. It was expected that as part of decentralization, local communities through appropriate bodies would get involved in improving the functioning of the schools as the destiny of this great nation is being shaped in the four walls of its classrooms.
The CABE committee on decentralized management of education suggested the constitution of VEC at Village level and Panchayat standing committee on education at intermediate and district levels.
The RTE has so impeccably delineated the role of each and every stake holder that on paper its fool-proof claim can even thrash the Indian Cricket Team by a tremendous margin. But when it was actually dished out with a venomous cocktail of CCE, it has bewildered the teachers, students and the parents alike to a greater extent than a die hard cricket fan would have reacted to an unexplained batting collapse of the Great Indian Batting line-up.
All these fool-proof policies have failed to deliver the goods because of one and only reason - they were not able to and still are not able to generate community participation. Though every school boasts of having SMC, SMDC, PTA, MTA etc among its rank yet we realize that their contributions vary from person to person as well as from one place to another.
The three major issues of education in today’s world, namely access, equity and quality need to be addressed in a holistic manner to ensure that our systems of education and research not only contribute to nation building but also to create a knowledge society, with values of sustainability, peace and development. This is the vision of our Hon’ble Chief Minister. Let this vision ultimately underline all our policies and programmes.
[the writer is a resident of Melli, South Sikkim]

“OPINION ON ISSUE WITH REGARD TO APPOINTMENT OF TEACHING STAFF UNDER HRDD”

I have been seriously following the news items appearing at different local news papers about the current issue regarding the appointment of teaching and non – teaching staff recruited by the HRD Department under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. From these news items I understand that these employees were recruited on ad – hoc basis till the end of this academic session. Now this representative of the so called ad – hoc staffs are on hunger strike demanding regularisation of their services in the same post where they were working. I further understand from these news papers that HRD Department has taken a firm stand not to accept the demands of these agitated teachers on the ground that their appointment letters clearly mentions that their appointments were purely temporary till the end of 2011 session.
I as a well qualified educated unemployed youth with all required qualification to become a graduate teacher, fully support the stand taken by the Department/Government. Like me there are many aspiring educated unemployed youth eager to compete to get a job in the government sector. Therefore it will be a right decision for the government to hold competitive exams to select the best candidates. This issue of competition becomes more important when it comes to selection of teachers, there should be no compromise on this issue as teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of coming generation. Government looks committed to deliver good quality education for which teachers are the key players.
We all know that very recently also a viva – voice interview was conducted by the department to select teaching and non teaching staff under SSA, again on adhoc basis. However, this also seems to be only a temporary solution, In this background not only me but all the educated unemployed youth of the state fully support the stand taken by the Department and look forward to early competitive examination to fill the vacancies on regular basis. This will not only solve the administrative problem of the department but also benefits the students and society in general. This exercise will also lessen the burden of unemployment problem on the government in view of the growing unemployment problem in the state.

Received on email
An Educated Unemployed Youth

Education of First Generation Students

SEBASTIAN V.J.
Almost in all underdeveloped and developing countries, educating the first generation is a great challenge. Who are the people belonging to the first generation? Those who are receiving formal education for the first time in the family can be called first generation students. There is also a degree of difference with reference to the level of education (primary, secondary and tertiary-under graduate, post graduate and doctoral degree) of the immediate parents.
Very often, educators get frustrated with first generation students. They don’t have self initiative in the learning process, lack of motivation and interest, high level of fatigue, poor retention, less exposure to mass media etc. Home environment is not always conducive for learning, lack of self discipline and prone to bad habits may even have anti-social behaviour. What else the teacher requires to get frustrated? If you are a frustrated teacher there are some other reasons also to point out. In psychology all these come under defense mechanism.

Public Undertakings and New Enterprises in Sikkim

by KC PRADHAN

I SAW WITH A tinge of sadness that the industrial flagships of the yesteryears - Sikkim Jewels and SITCO - are in the process of closing down with golden handshakes offered to its staff- the package varying from 4.5. lakhs to 10 lakhs. It was at the time of PP Pherwani and even Gyamtso Tashi in earlier times in Sikkim Jewels and Taga Khampa in SITCO that these institutions reached their zenith and were must-visit institutions for all dignitaries, from the Presidents to Prime Minsters to Ministers, from the Centre.
The world has changed, times have changed and so has the technology. It was expected that the executives in these institutions would be keeping abreast as to what was going around and keep changing the technology and the product as the market demanded. It is simple logic.

Civil Society of Darjeeling and Dooars condemns Sibchu firing, wants century-old aspirations of people fulfilled

“Condemn this act of Desperation and Violence”
Issued by: Prof MAHENDRA P LAMA, a concerned citizen, on behalf of the Civil Society Members of Darjeeling district and Dooars

We write this note to vehemently condemn the killing of two innocent persons from Dooars and Kalimpong by the state security agencies at Shibshu and also those who instructed to carry out such brutal act. In a democratic country like ours, protests, strikes and resentments for any reasons are both common and very normal. It must be more so in a state like West Bengal where the ruling party and the govt themselves have called for several bandhs and strikes in the past. Has anyone calculated the losses and damages triggered by these govt sponsored bandhs?
The duty of a responsible state is to look for and provide a durable solution to such kind of protests which have hit the hills of Darjeeling for almost three decades now. A civilised society like that of Bengal would never celebrate the use of guns against  hapless, unarmed and innocent human beings. Given the history of inquiries and their revelations in the aftermath of such killings in West Bengal no one would even have faith on such inquiries let alone asking for the same.

Cease character assassination of the Karmapa, his office appeals to media

GANGTOK, 05 Feb: Those who have been following the Karmapa affair would have noted, definitely with some consternation, the street-corner gossip which appears to be informing not only reportage in the media, but also influencing the government machinery.
Every since Himachal Pradesh police tom-tommed as “unexplained”, its recovery of donations in cash from the Karmapa’s office at Gyuto Monastery at Sidhbari, frequent aspersions have been cast on the Karmapa, with the concerned agencies allowing reports suggesting that the GoI suspected him of being a Chinese agent to continue unchallenged.
More recently, officials in Himachal Pradesh have “shared” more information on how the Karmapa has displayed pro-China tendencies when he was in Tibet. The Karmapa fled Tibet a decade ago when he was barely a teen.
Only the most poorly trained and insensitive of security/ police officials can find the gumption to pick out incidents from a person’s conduct when barely 12 to 14 years old to accuse him of an ideological stand when he is a mature youth of 26 [the Karmapa’s age now]. The authorities in Himachal are and central agencies are keeping busy with just such a game, with the media at large offering itself up as willing hand maiden to such mindlessness.
Thankfully, the Karmapa’s office of administration has also become quicker and clearer in releasing its side of the story as well.
The Karmapa’s office, in a statement issued late last evening, has “firmly” denied “published allegations that His Holiness the Karmapa has rallied in support of the communist Chinese government”. The statement stressed that the Karmapa fled the oppression of communist China eleven years ago and that “the preposterous claim that His Holiness is a Chinese spy or agent is a complete fabrication, utterly baseless and reckless slander”.
“The Karmapa Office of Administration appeals to the press to cease its character assassination of His Holiness the Karmapa, one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism, and a spiritual leader to Buddhists worldwide.
The Karmapa Office of Administration respectfully requests the press to refrain from publishing further uncorroborated and unfounded charges,” the statement adds while releasing details of the Office’s spokesperson, “beseeching” the press to seek confirmation or denial from them, “in accord with the standards of responsible journalism.”
The details of spokespersons, Karmapa Office of Administration:
Karma Topden, Former Indian Ambassador to Mongolia, Former Member of Parliament, Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration
Deki Chungyalpa, Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration
koapress@gmail.com; (91) 8894 502 910

16th Karmapa Gave Me My Name

KARMA PALJOR, senior correspondent with the CNN-IBN television news channel, on how he weathered through the media mindlessness which hounded the Karmapa issue and where things stand at present. This is his blog posting on the CNN-IBN website.

Times Now, disturbing indeed

A child in Gangtok walks with candles in support of the Karmapa

RESPONDING TO A PANEL DISCUSSION AIRED ON TIMES NOW

TASHI WANGYAL, a Gangtok resident, reviews a panel discussion broadcast by Times Now [a national TV news channel] on Monday evening, cuts through the poorly informed speculation of supposed experts on the Karmapa issue and shares his disconcertion over how casually superficial journalism is casting aspersions suggesting that the country’s Buddhists residing along the border with Tibet could be co-opted to serve Chinese interests….

Last evening [31 January, 2011], Times Now, a TV news channel, aired a panel discussion in its 9:30 p.m. slot on the subject of Chinese designs on India. The pael comprised of 2 Defence experts, 2 Tibetans, one Chinese gentleman from Hong Kong and a European. The discussion was conducted by Arnab Goswami.

From the discussions what could be understood is:

1) The experts feel that the Chinese were trying to create trouble in the North East and the border regions of India [with China] which were populated by Buddhists.

2) They [the ‘experts’] were trying to link the Karmapa issue with the happenings in the North East.

3) They were casting suspicions on the Karmapa being a spy because of the money found in the [Sidhbari] monastery.

4) They were implying that the Karmapa’s position as the Karmapa was disputed because of other claimants.

5) The Tibetans were denying that the Karmapa was a spy.

6) The money found in the monastery was from donations, they [the Tibetan panelists] insisted.

7) That they were grateful to India for giving them refuge and agreed that the law of the land was to be followed.

8) The Chinese denied any ill intentions towards India.

9) The European was not too involved in the discussion.

Now I, as an Indian Buddhist, watching this telecast felt that all Buddhists of India were being viewed suspiciously, especially us who live in the border regions of Ladakh, Himachal, Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh.

This is a total lack of understanding of us Buddhists by the rest of the country.

The experts should realize that it was the Chinese who destroyed monasteries, burned and destroyed our religious books and statues. In recent times, they have tortured and killed nuns and monks and are trying to wipe out Buddhism and the Tibetan culture, language and traditions. Which Buddhist, Tibetan, Indian or others, in their right mind, would collaborate with the Chinese and participate in the destruction of their own religion and culture?

Further, I would like the experts to note that the regions of India which have sizeable Buddhist populations, are the only places in the country which are still peaceful. Where in these regions have there ever been any anti-India activities, as the experts suggest. To cast suspicions on us Buddhists is a great harm being subjected to us and to India.

To suggest that the Karmapa’s position is disputed is also wrong.

All the religious leaders except one and 99.9% of the Buddhists have accepted this. Some national papers have reported the supposed intentions of the Government to place another candidate as the Karmapa. The experts also by their implication in this matter were towing this line. If this does happen, then Buddhists of India would feel alienated and let down by their Government as this would be no better that what the Chinese did with the Panchen Lama.

No amount of state help to the other candidates will help change the beliefs of the people; it is a question of faith and faith cannot be bought, coerced or tricked.

We Buddhists know how offerings are made to Lamas, so for us it is not surprising that money was found in the Monastery. As in Hinduism, Islam or Christianity, the followers of Buddhism are from different communities and origins. There are Indian, Tibetan, American, British, Chinese, Malaysians, Taiwanese etc. Buddhists and they all make offerings, some in their respective currencies, so it is not surprising that money was found. The investigations, if conducted fairly, will prove there is nothing to this.

After listening to the discussion, I find that the experts have based their opinion on a report prepared by KS Rao, the former Chief Secretary of Sikkim. His report is flawed and factually incorrect, one-sided and could have been influenced by certain parties with vested interests. It is to be noted here that the report, which was supposed to be a top secret document, was reproduced in its entirety by Eric D Curren in his book, “Buddha not Smiling”. One can draw his/her own conclusions.

The comments of the Chinese gentleman [in the Times Now panel discussion] were designed to make us more confused.

One question that Arnab put enquired why the Karmapa went to Hong Kong to meet Chinese officials in 2009. The only time, since the Karmapa came to India in 2000, that he was allowed to travel out was when he went to USA, that too under tight control and supervision of the Indian and Tibetan Governments. I don’t think he has ever been outside India other than this one time. Yes, one of the other candidates and his mentor have been travelling freely throughout the world and even to Hong Kong and we understand, collecting funds without any restrictions or supervision. Arnab should verify this.

However, as the Tibetan gentleman said in the discussion, there is no doubt that the Chinese have evil designs on India and we have to be wary of them. They have supported anti-Indian groups in the past and will do so in the future as well, but as far as the question of suspicion on the Karmapa is concerned, we are barking up the wrong tree. In fact, by doing this, we are playing into the hands of the Chinese. I can picture them having a good laugh at us.

Further, I agree with the Tibetan who said that India should help the Tibetans in throwing out the Chinese from Tibet. The first step would be to declare Tibet independent and then to issue stapled visas to people like the Uighurs, Chinese Mongolians and Tibetans.

My appeal to my fellow countrymen, Media and Government is to have confidence and faith in us Buddhists. We are also part of the Indian society and know what happens in China to our fellow Buddhists. We are not blind and foolish.

Jai Hind.

Tashi Wangyal,

Below West Point School, Upper Tathangchen, Gangtok