Adieu dear friend Ameet Oberoi

We lost a dear colleague and close friend in Ameet Oberoi [1971-2015] when he passed away on 24 August 2015. He will be sorely missed and is deeply mourned. It is difficult to express the sorrow one feels at such times, but even the process of sharing some memories helps as much to heal as it does to celebrate a friendship. SUBASH RAI musters the courage to say good bye...

Early on the morning of 24 August, I was surprised to receive a call from Pema [our editor] enquiring whether I had any details on Ameet. He had apparently received a call that Ameet had been admitted into the Central Referral Hospital with some severe complications. He checked with me because my father-in-law had also been admitted there and thought I would know more details about Ameet’s condition. But I didn’t have any information to pass on since my father-in-law had been discharged a day earlier. I informed Pema about the same and assured to try and find out about Ameet.

Sikkim has lost a great son in the passing away of Balchand Sarda

(L to R) Jigme N Kazi, KC Pradhan, LD Kazi, BB Gurung and Balchand Sarda.

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE

by JIGME N. KAZI

Before time passes and memory lapses I would like to record a few things that have impressed me about Balchand Sarda. Loved, respected and admired by a cross section of Sikkimese society, Balchad Sarda created history when he trounced former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari’s influential wife, Dil Kumari Bhandari, in the Assembly elections of 1985.

Obituary Reference to Late Prince in Assembly

During the Assembly session on Friday, Speaker KN Rai and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling participated in an Obituary Reference session on the late Gyalsey Kushon Jigdal Tsewang Namgyal and registered deep and profound sorrow on the sad demise of the prince who passed away on 30 October.

The Chief Minister, while remembering the Late Prince, said that Gyalsey Kushon Jigdal Tsewang Namgyal was fondly remembered as Gyalsey Georgela who received his education at the most prestigious School of the Country and was a brilliant student who majored with History honours. He was a man of the people who loved him profoundly for his simplicity and modesty. After completing his education, Prince Georgela became the first Development Commissioner of Sikkim and initiated various developmental works and made immense contribution in shaping the state in the right direction. His demise has created a huge void in the Sikkimese society, said the CM. He also prayed for the departed soul and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the House also observed two minute silence.

On the passing away of Changanlall Sarda:

KC PRADHAN, a Senior Citizen.

On the demise of octogenarian Chhaganlall Sarda, Sikkim is poorer for his sage advice on all matters related to health. He was neither a doctor nor a pharmacist by profession, yet, his was the sound advice for treatment of any illness.
He was a tall figure at MG Marg in his own right and every senior citizen of Gangtok, or Sikkim for that matter, knew him well and in turn he knew them all very intimately and greeted them with grace whenever they stepped into his shop or passed by. Later, the little shop was named Life Line Medical Centre. In keeping with the times almost all the shops on the MG Marg donned a new avatar but he and his family continued to lead an unpretentious lifestyle and the shop too retained its simplicity with the traditional gaddi covered with white cloth – big enough for four to sit on. It was a real adda for the Gangtokians with the jovial Late PC Yapla topping the list of regulars. He was such a frequent visitor that he knew where the various types of medicines were stacked.
The shop was a hub for gossip to gather the latest news around town and collect mails and all sundries – virtually a post office – besides, of course, collecting the monthly course of medicines. Everybody relies on their meticulousness and in times where spurious drugs tend to sneak in, their supply is considered safe and reliable without an iota of doubt.
Interestingly, the old man with all his sagacity used to advise one and all to refrain from taking too much medication. As an old timer, and knowing how the pharmaceutical companies are taking us for a ride, his sage advice was samai ko phal khanu hos. In other words, develop the habit of eating fresh vegetables and fruits that Sikkim’s bountiful climate produces seasonally. This was his mantra for good health.
The Late Changanlall Sarda, and for that matter the reputed families of Motilal Lakhotia, late Khyaliram Singhi, late Chiranjilal Khatri, late Mamraj Agarwal, late Ridhkaran-Madangopal, the well extended Sarda-clan and many others are all part of a very old business community settled in Sikkim many generations ago. Their contribution to Sikkim in the field of trade is great. In the passing away of Chaganlall ji, a dignified personality and gentleman in the truest sense, we lost another stalwart. We pray that his soul rests in peace and his family continues to serve the people of Gangtok in the field of medicine as usual in the high standards set by their patriarch over decades of perseverance.

A Tribute - on the Passing Away of Mrs. Reechung

Mrs. Rinchen Doma Reechung at the reception she organized for the visiting President of India, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy [seated], at Pemayangtse Tourist Lodge, in October 1979.

KC PRADHAN
Rinchen Doma Reechung did her Preliminary Law from Mumbai and joined the Sikkim Durbar Service in 1969 as Assistant Superintendent, GICI (Govt. Institute of Cottage Industries). She was one the ablest administrators and a no-nonsense officer blessed with drive and artistic talents.
During my long tenure in Sikkim Tourism, I got to see her administrative capabilities from very close quarters and feel no hesitation in endorsing that every assignment entrusted to her was carried out with perfection and finesse unknown at that time. She was at the Department when tourism was in a nascent stage in Sikkim and we tried to use her prodigious skills to the best extent possible. For example, when Sikkim was allotted a corner for a Sikkim Tourism Counter at the Bagdogra airport, she was assigned the task to design and execute it. She did it so well that it remained a real showcase to project Sikkim. She was meticulous - a perfectionist par excellence I should say – which is a rarity in the administration. She was undoubtedly a one person army and once a job was assigned she did not tolerate any interference. She was a workaholic to the extent that she ruined her health many times by stressing herself too much. I remember the way she organized several functions, including the visit of the then President of India, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, to organizing Sikkim Evenings at Sikkim House in New Delhi with poise and finesse that flowed in her so effortlessly. Her contributions to the realm of Sikkim Tourism are immense.
As Secretary Culture, she brought in many innovative ideas and the various programmes performed in various parts of the country were highly appreciated. Her contributions at GICI, where she brought in a breath of fresh air, are equally praiseworthy. It needs to be accepted that she laid the foundations of many of the departments that she was associated with. She was a hard task-master and considerate at the same time and her subordinates loved her. As for her bosses, they needed special skills to handle her.
It is hard to get an Officer so dedicated to her job, such a perfectionist and honest to the core. Like her late father, Tse Ten Tashi (TTT), an eminent personality in his own versatile manner, she was a person in a hurry. Idleness was not in her nature and she did not tolerate it in others either. In many ways, like her father, she was ahead of her times.
She accompanied her late husband Reechung Rinpoche, hailing from the illustrious Pheunkhang nobility of Lhasa in Tibet, and also once Director of the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, to many foreign sojourns. He, a very humble personality, was an authority on the Tibetan system of medicines and his book published in France was very well received and he was highly respected. Temperamentally they were poles apart, but yet they had high regard for each other. If Rinpoche was the fountainhead of knowledge on very many intricate Tibetan rituals, Rinchen Doma was the driving force who brought grace wherever they travelled abroad. She was a rare personality infused with Sikkimese ethos. Aggressive and yet humble and knew perfectly well how to glide in high circles with grace and humility.
Sadly, her health deteriorated over the years and she remained mostly confined to her apartment in Development Area. Her large family was however always by her side to boost her morale.
We miss her immensely. We pray to the Almighty that her soul rest in peace.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim. He has also authored the book, “Life and Times of a Plantsman in the Sikkim Himalayas”]

Assembly makes Obituary Reference to late Ram Lepcha

GANGTOK, 10 Sept: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly today paid rich tribute to former member, the late Ram Lepcha who passed away on 05 September, last week following a prolonged illness.
Five-time MLA and two-term Minister under both Nar Bahadur Bhandari and Pawan Chamling’s chief ministership, Ram Lepcha was one of the tallest leaders of the Lepcha community as well as Sikkimese society, the Assembly noted today.
MLA Menlom Lepcha said that the late Ram Lepcha was a pro-democracy leader and participated in various social reforms as a political and social activist. He further added that late Lepcha was not only his political mentor but also a good human being.
Leader of the House, Pawan Chamling said that the late Mr Lepcha’s contribution in Sikkim politics will be remembered for a long time. The tallest tribal leader of Sikkim, Late Lepcha was a sincere and dedicated political figure, said the CM.
Speaker KT Gyaltsen read out the obituary reference on the passing of Late Ram Lepcha and said that he was a social worker who devoted his time for the welfare and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. His demise is a great loss to the Lepcha community and the State as a whole, said the Speaker.
Late Lepcha was born to late German Lepcha and late Chukit Lepcha at Namthang, Turung Basti, West Sikkim on 02 May, 1947. He passed away on 05 September, 2012 at his residence at Marchak, near Ranipool at the age of 65 after prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Late Lepcha was elected to the Second Legislative Assembly in 1979 and served as Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Chairman, Estimates Committee and also served as the Minister for Local Self Government, Mines and Geology Department. He was again elected in 1985 to the third Assembly from Pathing Constituency and served as Deputy Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
In 1989 he was re-elected to the fourth Assembly from the same constituency and was inducted in the Cabinet as Minister of Land Revenue, Survey and Settlement, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department. He was again elected from Pathing Constituency in 1994 and served as Finance Minister from 1998-1999.
Two minutes silence was observed in the house as a mark of respect to the departed soul and heartfelt condolences were conveyed to the bereaved family.

In tribute to the litterateur Sharad Chhetri

RAJIVA SHANKER SHRESTA

Many may still be unaware that Sharad Chhetri – a prolific writer of the Nepali literary world is no more amidst us. Even I could not believe my ears when another eminent writer friend of mine, Gupta Pradhan of Darjeeling, broke the tragic news to me on the morning of 05 July. That day, busy with writing, I had not checked the e-mail or read the Himalaya Darpan’s e-paper, otherwise I would have learnt of this sad news earlier. Gupta informed that Sharad had been admitted in the ICU of the Mitra's Nursing Home in Siliguri where he had breathed his last the previous morning itself and the news came as a shock to me. I soon sent a SMS to his brother Subhash with a condolence message to the bereaved family and posted the news on Facebook.
Sharad Chhetri (1947-2012), an eminent writer better known for his short stories that earned him the sobriquet, KathakaKamdhenu (goldmine of stories), was also a poet, essayist, dramatist and critic. He has 32 books to his credit. He was awarded the Bhanubhakta Puraskar (West Bengal 1986), Sahitya Akademi Award (New Delhi 1986) and Ratnashree Gold Medal (Kathmandu 1988) for his stories in the Chakrvyuha (1985). He has been felicitated and interviewed often. His works appear in newspapers and periodicals regularly and many have been translated into Hindi, Bangla, Assamese, Telegu, Oriya besides English.
We have seen instances where such recognition early in one's life often turns a writer away from the love of writing, but for Sharad Chhetri it served as an incentive and he dedicated himself to the cause of Nepali literature and worked devotedly till the very end despite his ill health. So diligent was he that he took time out to collect all his published and unpublished works from various newspapers and periodicals including the interviews he gave to a veteran literary critic like Guman Singh Chamling in the Hindaiharu: Aalapharu (2009) and published them as books enriching the Nepali literary world. Simple and modest, when I met him last on 29 April at his residence in Darjeeling I asked him if he was still contributing articles as I had seen his writings in periodicals like Hamro Dhwani from Guwahati and he said that they were all his earlier writings. Not only did he contribute one such work for the Udaichand Pradhanprati Shraddhanjali brought in the memory of my sister Sunita and her husband whom we lost together in a tragic road accident earlier that month, but also called to confirm whether we had received it or not. His gesture towards use was exceptionally kind and humane.
His greatness is evident in the tribute he paid to the honour we bestowed on him for his contributions to literature in the Karuna Smarak Samman as well as on every opportune moment in his books and life-sketch that we felicitated him with during the Rachna Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2005. We were preparing for a bigger felicitation but since the family was in mourning he wanted us to wait till the year got over – so magnanimous was he in this consideration he had for our family!
He is survived by his wife Shobha, son Vivek, daughter Shailika and son-in-law Sachin Thapa.
A perfect gentleman with a pleasing personality, I always found him in robust health ever since we met during our Darjeeling Government College days in 1964. When we met last, he shared with me that during his entire life serving the State Bank of India there was not a single occasion when he had to take sick leave even for a day nor did he get even a rupee in the name of the medical reimbursement. Things however changed, soon after his retirement. The story he narrated in his Bhranti ra Vastaviktako Dwandwama was about the first attack and thereafter he had another bout that took him to the nursing home. He was able to pull on and accomplish more things in between.

OBITUARY: Kunga Gyatso Bhutia

Remembering a Life Well Lived
Late Mr. Kunga Gyatso Bhutia was born on 20 June, 1951 in Gangtok, Sikkim. He did his graduation in Bachelor of Science [Agriculture] for which he was awarded the gold medal for topping the university. He did his post graduation in Master of Science [Agriculture] with distinction. He also participated in several international training courses, including ones in University of Philippines and in Virginia in U.S.A.
He joined the Sikkim Government services in 1972 as Technical Research Assistant and seerved as Agriculture Extension Officer, RPO, Plant Breeder, Joint Director, Additional Director & Director in Agriculture Department; as Principal Director in Horticulture Department; as Secretary in Department of Science & Technology, and retired as Secretary, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Government of Sikkim on 30 June, 2009.
He started the first mushroom cultivation in Sikkim; introduced cabbage cultivation in Lachung, intensified seed potato cultivation, established base data for agricultural development and strengthened development of field crops in Sikkim being in agriculture; provided concept, action plan and initiation in respect of organic farming in the State; brought a breakthrough in floriculture and off-season vegetable development activities, including green house and participatory technologies; tried to promote science & technology and in effecting State Science Museum; reformed the activities of irrigation and flood control programmes, introducing Participatory Irrigation Management and formation of Water Users Associations and in drafting State Water Policy.
He is also associated with the publication of several scientific papers published in national and international journals and periodicals. He edited the bimonthly Krishi Samachar of Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim and was engaged as the Chief Editor of Sikkim Science Society Newsletter for the initial five years.
He also brought out many books, such as Crop Area Statistics of Sikkim [a survey-based technical book brought out in 1992]; Land Utilization Statistics of Sikkim [a survey-based technical book brought out in 1996]; A Himalayan Bouquet [a literary, poetic work in English, brought out by UBSPD in 2001]; A poem is selected by The International Library of Poetry, U.S.A., and brought out under a compilation, titled Roomful of Starlight in 2002; Binding Undulations of Sikkim [a literary, poetic work in English, brought out by UBSPD in 2004]; a poem in the Sikkim Akademi’s compilation, titled Himavarta, souvenir of Seventh World Poetry Day in 2006; Cliché of Awareness [a literary, poetic work in English, brought out by UBSPD in 2007]; Dream of Complacency [a literary, poetic work in English, brought out by UBSPD in 2011] and Florid Haiku and Pseudo Haiku which is dated to be released by UBSPD in the month of February, 2012.
He has also won many awards and honours. In Academics, he won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Gold Medal for topping the H.P. University in 1972. In Profession, he is the recipient of the Bharat Excellence Award from the Friendship Forum of India in 1997. In Literature, he is the recipient of the Editor’s Choice Award February 2002 from the poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry, U.S.A. [for poetry in English]; Commendation by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Gangtok, Sikkim in 2002 for contribution in literature; Winner of the International Poet of Merit Award for 2002 presented by the International Library of Poetry, U.S.A. [for poetic works in English]; Recipient of the Editor’s Choice Award March 2003 from the poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry, U.S.A. [for poetry in English] and Recipient of the “Best Poet of the Year 2003” Award, presented by the Poets International, Bangalore, India [for poetic works in English].

Shri Kunga Gyatso Bhutia passed away on 02/02/2012, after a brief illness of Cancer. His funeral was performed on 08/02/2012 at Dicheling, Chandmari. The funeral was attended by hundereds of well wishers, family members, relatives and office collegues, Ministers, Chief Whip to the Government of Sikkim, MLAs, former Chief Secretary, former Secretaries, etc., who bid tearful Adieu to Shri Bhutia.
Shri Bhutia also participated in the High Level Team delegation led by Hon’ble Chief Minister to Holland [Netherland] in the year 2006 regarding International Floriculture Show.
With the demise of Late Shri Kunga Gyatso Bhutia, the people of Sikkim have lost a man of great personality, a bureaucrat, a poet extra ordinaire, an expert and pioneer in the field of Agriculture and Horticulture of Sikkim. He is survived by his wife Dauden Bhutia, one daughter Pema Laden, two sons Sangay Chophel and Dorji Namgay, son-in-law Tenzing D. Denzongpa, two daughter-in-laws Linda Palmo and Stepheny and one grand-daughter Yosel Zangmula.

Dr. Tsewang Y. Pemba Tsering: A Tribute

KC PRADHAN

A doyen among the medical fraternity in the Hills of Darjeeling, and the first to become a doctor in western medicine from his community, is no more. A distinguished medical surgeon who made a mark not only in Darjeeling but also in faraway London and more importantly in the Kingdom of Bhutan where he was highly revered.

In Memorium

Remembering Dr. Pemba of Darjeeling
MENLA ETHENPA
One of the most outstanding sons of the queen of the hills, Darjeeling, Dr. Tsewang Yishey Pemba breathed his last at Siliguri on 26 Nov 2011. He was 79 years old. After passing out from Victoria School, Kurseong in the year 1948, he joined St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling.

Sonam Lama: Some Memories Never Fade

[Sonam Lama, a multifaceted talent, and a teacher by profession, passed away on 14 June, 2011. His Anthyesti Kriya falls on 04 July, 2011]

By SHITAL PRADHAN

Sonam Sir, as he was fondly called, was a house of talent who can never be replaced. His passing away is a great loss for Singtam… a person of such brilliance will never be seen again. He was a year short of 40, and yet he has given us enough memories to remember him for a long, long time. Sonam ‘Bhena’, to me, was a dear friend with whom I shared many close moments over the last few years.