Celebrating the Elections and the Newars in Sikkim
RAJIVA SHANKER SHRESTA
Along with the whole Nation, Sikkim too is once again in the grip of the election fever happening this Saturday, the 12th of April and the Newars are also to exercise their franchise again. For a change, and first time ever, for the Chujachen constituency with the highest number of voters in the State, the ruling party has put to test a Newar candidate - their youngest candidate for Elections 2014. A national party has another Newar pitted against him there. The main opposition party, which has become quite popular in recent days, has its own to contest here. Now, we have to wait and watch for the outcome till 16 May to see whom the voters return victorious.
Not a national or regional party found it worthwhile to get a Newar candidate and put to litmus test for the Newar significant constituency of Rhenock. However, a local Newar has jumped into the fray here as an independent candidate. If for nothing, his respect and love for his home constituency along with his desire to serve it deserve praise and appreciation. It is worthwhile to mention here that a former Chief Minister of Sikkim was elected here in the year 1999. A former minister and a sitting minister have been voted to the Assembly more than once but in spite of that, Rhenock finds itself neglected always. Many are of the view that this constituency has always gone against the tide/ wave that makes them believe it to be the fort of opponents. Representing the national party whose wave is believed to be sweeping over the country this time, a local Newar well-educated lady once tried her luck to serve the constituency, but unfortunately Rhenock did not oblige her thus depriving itself of an able hand.
Coming to the capital, Gangtok, its neighbourhood has a Newar candidate each from two constituencies this time. Arithang has one to fetch a seat for the main opposition party. Though not belonging to this constituency, he has promised to visit frequently and work once sent winning from here. This pledge can be taken as the word for a son of the soil or an assurance one can expect from a would be legislator. The other Newar is seen representing the national ruling party for the Upper Tadong constituency. He is known for his long time association with a regional party that has merged lock, stock and barrel thereto not very long ago.
They are all from the East district to have jumped into the fray for the Election 2014. For the rest of Sikkim or for that matter the most sensitive or talked of constituency of the West district, the leader of the main opposition party chief has opted out to contest from Namthang-Rateypani, once the bastion of the Newars in the South district. Working President of this party instead has been put to test in the party president’s traditional constituency in West Sikkim. She is from Rhenock and a Newar by birth.
Whatsoever, we have an unprecedentedly high number of Newar candidates in the fray this time. More than a victory or a loss that depends upon the people’s mandate, their participation alone in such significant numbers is a welcome trend. Many may not take the minority Newars as politically worthwhile or significant, given that majority strength rules supreme in the present day context of the democracy. Fractured mandate brings them to peculiar alliances to rule over the country. The Newars might have been denied any noteworthy role to play in governance, but their contribution to the society, state and the nation as a whole has been historically significant and cannot escape notice. Though the number of Newar candidates put forward may seem miniscule and their future depends on the result, we can acknowledge it heartily and be grateful to all the political parties for their kind gesture. This certainly is a positive step to indicate possibly brighter days ahead in the fast-changing socio-political scenario in Sikkim. This, as such, heralds something new to expect and look forward to. We thank them all and wish the contesting candidates the best to come out successful!
Like in the national scenario, here too many of the minority community based groups and organizations have declared their political allegiance. We wonder why our own Sikkim Newar Guthi that had once issued such a statement in favour of the then predominant party failed to bargain or come forward with one as yet this time. Perhaps the authority there did not find it worthwhile anymore. It is well understood that the Guthi being an apolitical social body, such a declaration is neither permissible nor expected. However, the Guthi central office being situated just adjacent to the headquarters of a particular party, it would not be astonishing to find many of being left dumbfounded of the odd situation of them here in the capital.
We look forward to the State Day 2014 when the state government for the first time ever since Sikkim joined the national mainstream largesse for the distinguished long services will be served generously to numerous retired and a few serving government officers and some figures from the public so dear to them. It is equally heartening to find many Newars in this long list. Congratulations to them for this rare honour bestowed on them though many see this action just ahead of the election politically motivated or/ and targeted towards the vote bank. Whatever be the opinion, we are obliged and happy that in the process many of the Newars may have come into the fold. This does not necessarily mean that those who escaped their notice belong to another camp or otherwise.
It may not be out of place to mention here that two young Newars entrepreneurs have also been honoured for making a difference to the society by the Governor on this Republic Day. One of our youth has also figured in the national scene by bringing home the Tata Literary Award. Such recognition would definitely add miles to the efforts and be enough to motivate the coming generation for a long time to come. It does not matter if they are serving here in the motherland or not. For past several years, quite a number of our youth are serving elsewhere outside the State and many more have left the shores of the country to seek their fortune on foreign soil. They have excelled here and there as well. After all they are the youth full of energy and vigour - the precious human resource on whom depends the future of the state and the nation.
Many may give a communal colour to this account of mine and I do not deny it having been inspired out of my love for the Newars. Like a friend of mine since schooldays once told me so for bringing out our book Newa: Varna, Lipi ra Bhasha Parichaya in 1996. This was not only to express our thanks and gratitude to the state government for being kind enough to accord the status of a state language at par with some others but also to make familiar sharing with our clan how rich and diverse our alphabet, script, language, culture and tradition are. To clear his mind of my intentions and prove him wrong, I had to dedicate to the society Vikasko Goreto: Grameen Proudyogiki, a compilation on low cost rural technologies in the language they are familiar with in 2001 and Sikkim: Three Decades towards Democracy along with many others in 2005 and thereafter. It has thus been quite a relief that my works bring me a great sense of satisfaction. When we do something people term it as communal exercise but if they do the same/ similar thing it would be social service. This is the malady of the present day society. Why should we feel disappointed by the narrow mindedness that soils communal harmony and such an environment stop us from giving back to the society our best – the society from which we have received so much to reach this far!
Books remind me of the Rachna books that we started 35 years ago way back in 1980 at a time when Sikkim saw every nook and corner infested with a foreignmade liquor shop. Many took our sincere efforts otherwise and deprived it of support and patronage that is usually expected for such a venture. Our perseverance paid and the unfailing love of our readers and well-wishers made us sustain and survive till this day in spite of all the odds and adversities familiar to such a trade in the society.
Coming back to the main theme, it is time to stop awhile to think and ponder how much we got and how much we lost. Do we not feel that the Newar identity that our forefathers achieved out of their sheer vision and foresightedness has been lost somewhere along the way? We were and are an able tribe. We do not have to prove our worth nor need anyone to certify us to this effect. What makes us lag behind the rest is our own narrow mindedness that finds us being a hurdle to our own kind instead of inspiring the spirit of amity and competition amongst us. In the process have we not been turned into tools in the wrong hand?
To achieve fame and recognition, we have in the long process sacrificed and lost our mother tongue. As a result, when time comes to stand and speak on certain pertinent issues that matter to us, we feel as if our tongue has been snatched out and are unable to put our point forward. The Newars are known for the trust and loyalty to the powers that be since the days of yore. For some selfish motives and personal benefits have we not devastated ourselves of our rightful place and the larger interest? When such issues are raised, people at the helm of affairs find it pertinent but for a khaanti [purebred] Newar and set aside to ignore altogether. This unfortunate attitude should raise concern and whose voice sells but are silent on the matter much to the detriment of the fate and future of the coming generation. Personal interest and benefit matters and overshadows the rest in politics as they say. Have we been so vivekheen, bereft of conscience, that the circumstances took us to the point best said in the common parlance – Amakodudh khananapugera babuko ghuda chusna pugeka haru, [“Deprived of mother’s milk, resorting to sucking father’s knees”]. Have we grown insensitive to such an extent that we have lost our wit to protest such a favour imposed on us? What was the compulsion that made us to accept such an awkward situation which is still far from a layman’s understanding and perception? Anyway, let bygones be bygones. We have now to rise to the occasion and keep the restored Newar identity intact far above our narrow-minded selfish interests and personal benefit in the larger overall interest of the society.
Nobody can take away our rights if we ourselves do not give it away. This is possible only in our political wilderness. If so, we have not raised a voice against it. We turned a blind eye to it. We have now to go further away and think of the days ahead. Time demands and urges us that we, the Newars, think of not only in the political perspective but also take into consideration our social scenario here.
Some party asks voters not to cast their vote this time on the basis of any caste or religion while others say that the power grabbed on the same plank should be rooted out and people’s mandate should overwhelmingly be for a change. This has really heated up the environment here with unprecedented turn of events sometimes turning violent. Under such an environment, we should be wise enough to use our conscience well and give our mandate to the party under which we feel our future is not only safe and secure but which would fulfil our issues kept on hold for a long while. We are in minority, and our prime concern should be with the party which will come to our rescue and safeguard our interest duly restoring us the Newar identity – the pride our forefathers hard-earned for us amidst hostile atmosphere when they first arrived being invited by the authority here.
A day could come when things would be impartial and just to consider definitely the contributions made to the society, state and the Nation by our people past and present. We have miles to go and have many hopes and aspirations yet to be fulfilled. I look forward to the State Day when the results for this election will be out, besides fellow citizens honoured to be congratulated for their feat and above all for me “Sikkim: Three Decades towards Democracy” enters the tenth year of its publication and a decade more for us here in Sikkim celebrating Democracy.
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