DUCHI AND PEOPLE DEMAND THAT PT GYAMTSO’S BOOK BE WITHDRAWN AND CORRECTIONS INCORPORATED BEFORE RE-RELEASE
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 31 July: A joint-meeting of the monk body and residents and their representative organisations here at Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim on 29 July, Friday, resolved to condemn a section of the book, “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written and published by former Member of Parliament, PT Gyamtso. The section being condemned is the part which details the Bhum-Chu ritual held at the Tashiding Monastery every year. Mr. Gyamtso could not be contacted for his response.
The Tashiding Monastery Duchi, Panchayat members and locals of the constituency have come out strongly against what they allege to be “irresponsible” and “misinformed” facts on the historically significant Bhum-Chu ritual held at the monastery.
They are demanding that the section be “corrected” and copies of the book released in the market be withdrawn. They also want the author to issue a public apology for the “mistakes” included in the book which, as per its preface, was released earlier this month.
“We want Mr. PT Gyamtso to first come and apologize directly to the people of the constituency and also the Duchi at Tashiding Monastery. By making such irresponsible observations without any research, the writer has created a big confusion. He has printed almost 3000 copies of the book which we want to be withdrawn from the market and want him to rectify all the misinformation before he releases the book again. How can a person who has been in such a responsible post write what is not true without the consent of the monastery,” said the Dorjee Lopen, Udzar Choseum, Tashiding Monastery, while speaking to NOW! through a translator this evening.
According to the representatives of the Duchi, the preface of the book states that the “fading out culture, tradition and religious history of the Bhutia community”, necessitated the publishing of the books.
The meeting at the monastery discussed what they see as “misinforming facts” in the book [under the section devoted to Bhum-chu], and resolved that the writer has created a “misconception” among the Bhutia community and all readers regarding the actual significance of the festival which attracts devout by the thousands to this tiny hamlet in West Sikkim.
The meeting condemned contents of Pages 49, 50 and 51 of the book, contending that apart from “misinformation”, the write-up also “diluted” the significance of the ritual.
The Duchi, locals of Tashiding and the Panchayat members have also decided to make a representation to the Chief Minister regarding the issue and also plan to take the matter to the courts if their demands made to Mr. Gyamtso are not met at the earliest.
The Duchi members also informed that representatives from Tashiding Monastery had also come to Gangtok to meet Mr. Gyamtso personally to resolve the issue but he was out of station. As per the representatives, they have spoken to the writer but the matte has not been settled.
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 31 July: A joint-meeting of the monk body and residents and their representative organisations here at Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim on 29 July, Friday, resolved to condemn a section of the book, “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written and published by former Member of Parliament, PT Gyamtso. The section being condemned is the part which details the Bhum-Chu ritual held at the Tashiding Monastery every year. Mr. Gyamtso could not be contacted for his response.
The Tashiding Monastery Duchi, Panchayat members and locals of the constituency have come out strongly against what they allege to be “irresponsible” and “misinformed” facts on the historically significant Bhum-Chu ritual held at the monastery.
They are demanding that the section be “corrected” and copies of the book released in the market be withdrawn. They also want the author to issue a public apology for the “mistakes” included in the book which, as per its preface, was released earlier this month.
“We want Mr. PT Gyamtso to first come and apologize directly to the people of the constituency and also the Duchi at Tashiding Monastery. By making such irresponsible observations without any research, the writer has created a big confusion. He has printed almost 3000 copies of the book which we want to be withdrawn from the market and want him to rectify all the misinformation before he releases the book again. How can a person who has been in such a responsible post write what is not true without the consent of the monastery,” said the Dorjee Lopen, Udzar Choseum, Tashiding Monastery, while speaking to NOW! through a translator this evening.
According to the representatives of the Duchi, the preface of the book states that the “fading out culture, tradition and religious history of the Bhutia community”, necessitated the publishing of the books.
The meeting at the monastery discussed what they see as “misinforming facts” in the book [under the section devoted to Bhum-chu], and resolved that the writer has created a “misconception” among the Bhutia community and all readers regarding the actual significance of the festival which attracts devout by the thousands to this tiny hamlet in West Sikkim.
The meeting condemned contents of Pages 49, 50 and 51 of the book, contending that apart from “misinformation”, the write-up also “diluted” the significance of the ritual.
The Duchi, locals of Tashiding and the Panchayat members have also decided to make a representation to the Chief Minister regarding the issue and also plan to take the matter to the courts if their demands made to Mr. Gyamtso are not met at the earliest.
The Duchi members also informed that representatives from Tashiding Monastery had also come to Gangtok to meet Mr. Gyamtso personally to resolve the issue but he was out of station. As per the representatives, they have spoken to the writer but the matte has not been settled.
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