CM envisages NGSSS as a model school

Namchi: Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling announced Saturday 30th April 2011 that NGSSS will be the first government girls model school of Sikkim and ordered to submit project report. He was addressing at the 32nd Foundation Day Celebration of Namchi Government Girls Senior Secondary School (NGSSS).

He said that government will provide all the infrastructural development for the school. To make it a model school, teachers and the students have to work hard to achieve it, he added.

CM started his address with a poem on the students which he composed while he was flying from Delhi to Bagdogra days ago, he said. He said “I love people of Sikkim’, which is my strength to do my works and it is above my politics.

He said that the government has introduced different scheme but the education standard has not been raised in our state so the government introduced Chief Minister’s Meritorious scheme for the poor students who are good in studies. Minister HRD NK Pradhan also spoke on the occasion.

CM earlier inaugurated the statue of Sarvapalli Radhakrishan at school premises and also visited Science and Craft exhibition.

Courtesy: Sikkim Reporter

Modern Senior School gets its new building worth Rs 1,19,26000

Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Mr. KT Gyaltsen along with Minister Human Resource Development Department (HRDD) , Mr. NK Pradhan inaugurated the new building of Modern Secondary School here at the school premises, Tathangchen on 25th April.

The new three storied RCC building even possesses an auditorium hall on the top floor. Addressing the function Minister HRDD Mr. Pradhan said that this new building is dedicated especially to the people of the area. He stressed that the maintaining of good discipline would help the institution to come into the forefront and will also help the overall development of the school.

Responding to various demands placed by the school, the Minister has assured to look after the demand for constructing new primary school building and said that he will send the engineers of his department to see the matter as soon as possible. Minister further assured to take up the fencing of the school premises along with the main gate seriously along with the short falls of the teachers in the school. Minister Pradhan also informed that the equipments for the school laboratory will be availed shortly.

The Speaker in his address mentioned that the new building is an asset for the forth coming generation and the property has been built due to the government’s priority to the education and positive vision of the Chief Minister.

Speaker further mentioned that it is a gift to the Syari constituency by the government to cater the need of the students and the school.

In his message to students he said they should build and prepare themselves for the challenges and competitions in future and further urged the students to work hard in their studies to be successful in life.

Speaker even mentioned that there has been remarkable change in the education system in the state due to the dynamic vision of the Chief Minister and a good teamwork from HRDD.

Earlier, the Headmistress of the school, Ms.DK Pradhan presented the annual report of the school. During the occasion, the school has also felicitated its two retired teachers, Ms. Agnes Lepcha and Ms. Neelam Agnihotri and a colorful cultural programme was also presented by the students of Modern Sr. Secondary School during the inaugural function.

courtesy: iSikkim

Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba passes away

"Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect My devotees - SAI BABA"

HYDERABAD/PUTTAPARTHI: Sathya Sai Baba, who had millions of followers across the world, is no more. Baba's heart stopped beating at 7.28 am on Sunday morning.

He had been on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing. He was being treated at the super speciality hospital that he himself had created for the masses. Doctors confirmed that Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure.

The last rites of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba will be performed on Wednesday with full state honours. This was announced by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who rushed to the town after news of the death.

Baba's body will be kept for darshan at Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi for two days - Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan after 6:00 pm today at the hall. About 4 lakh people are expected to come to Puttaparthi, a small town of 25,000 in Andhra Pradesh's Ananatpur district. This includes VVIPs, VIPs and common devotees from across the globe and India.

A pall of gloom descended on this town, 450 km from Hyderabad, as the news of Sai Baba's death spread. His family members, four ministers and government officials rushed to the hospital following reports that Sai Baba's condition had deteriorated further. (Read: Pall of gloom descends on Puttaparthi)

There has been a complete shutdown in the town since morning following reports about deterioration in the condition of Sai Baba.

For the first time since Baba was admitted to Sathya Sai Baba super speciality on March 27, the doctors did not issue a morning bulletin on Sunday.

Although everybody was preparing for the inevitable for the last few days, a decision had been taken by representatives of Baba's family and members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust to not pull the plug from the ventilator.

Devotees had been praying for a miracle and had kept their faith that the 86-year-old Baba would rise once again and give darshan to the faithful.

The Central trust was headed by Sathya Sai Baba himself and had luminaries like PN Bhagwati, former chief justice of India, SV Giri, retired central vigilance commissioner as members amongst others. A nephew of Baba, Ratnakar was also part of the trust. The trust secretary, K Chakravarthi, who influenced by Baba resigned from the IAS to devote himself to the service of the godman, executed all the programmes of the organisation.

Since this is all powerful body, it has to be seen as to who becomes the new chairman. But indications are that nephew Ratnakar who otherwise runs a cable TV operation and a gas agency will play a more active role.

Satyajit, the personal caregiver of the Baba and a product of the university at Puttaparthi set up by the godman will also play a key role. It is believed that Satyajit, still in his early thirtees, has the support of most trust members and also that of Chakravarthi. A whole array of philanthropic activities including water supply is carried on by the trust.

source : TOI

RIP Shri Satya Sai Baba - Sikkim's Students

This..... wasn't my dream!!

Cars have always been a part of my dream. I had always been dreaming of having a car from my childhood days. I had just one strong vision in my mind that if I ever earn money, the first thing I would buy is a car. This dream was something that motivated me to study hard and get good grades at school.

I got this dream so early in my childhood days when I couldn't even differentiate between two cars. When every car looked same to me, same four wheels and a familiar shape. All I wanted was a car no matter what.

As a kid, I dreamt of my father driving our car, my mom sitting next to him and we kids at the back seat with lots of eating stuff. But this never happened. My father never bought a car and my mom could never sit on the front seat with my dad. Similarly we could never sit at the back with loads of eating stuffs.

Time went by, I grew up as a good student, did well in academics and as a result got a job. Now it seemed that my dream was going to be fulfilled. But by this time, my dream had got little modifications. I wanted to drive the car and have my girlfriend sitting next to me. I worked day and night in the company as I wanted to get a car as soon as possible.

Days went by and months too and slowly years. I got married and started a family. My dream of a car was still unfulfilled when I got bigger responsibilities in my life. I had a family of my own now. During this period my father got retired and my mom left for heaven. My dream had become very weak and I hardly thought about it.

But after some years I got a promotion. Combining all my savings and the increased salary gave a new hope to my dream. The dream again got ignited.

Today, I have a Skoda Laura parked outside my house. We are going on a trip for the first time in our car. My dream of my childhood day is fulfilled. I am so happy and excited. I sit on the driving seat and put on some music. Wow... I have always been waiting for this day. I close my eyes and try to feel the moment.

I am driving the car with the same music and my girl friend sitting next to me..... I am on the top of the world.

Suddenly someone opens the front door of the car and gets inside. The 'bang' sound brought me back to reality and I take a look. She isn't my charming and cute girl friend who always held her head in my shoulder. She is a middle aged woman. The make-ups are unable to hide the wrinkles on her face. No charm in her face and not at all willing to rest her head in my shoulder.

My kids sit at the back and we set off. The music going on, a nice car and the kids cheering behind. I look at my wife but she don't seem to be happy. Nor am I. This wasn't my dream. I realised that I was too old to live my dream. I look at my wife and say 'I am sorry... Its too late....' and she gave me a fake smile and looked away.

- Amir Bhandari, Soreng

Jhakri Mama's story: Believe it or not!!

You may not get surprised, nor will you bother when you are in NJP Railway Station or SNT at Siliguri and a guy walks upto you and tells you his story. A story that seems to be written by a director who is used to giving flop films for decades.

Something like this happened with us too. As soon as we disembarked from the SNT bus and thought to rest for a while in the resting shed near SNT, a guy greeted us. We greeted him in return as we were quite surprised. He seated next to us and started his conversation.

His name as he said was Sunil Kharga, belonging to Dara Gaon, Tadong, East Sikkim, popularly known as 'Jhakri Mama' around his locality. Aged around 43 years, he was a driver by profession a decade ago when he met an accident and was crippled. The owner of the vehicle and the honorable CM had given him some amount for the treatment as he was hospitalized in a Nursing Home at Siliguri.

Unfortunately, his wife ran away with the money and his treatment wasn't complete. He went back home and spent his years. But a month ago, his problem again started and he came to Siliguri for treatment. But the little money he came with couldn't help him for too long. He was soon out of money and was on street.

'I have Sikkim Subject, Voting card and Ration Card too. My Ration Card number is 6293. I am not lying,' he said. According to him, he has two sons who is already settled and they don't look after him. Further adding to his statement, he also showed us some medicines that he took out from his shirt pocket and an old 5 rupees note.

When asked about why he is not going back to Sikkim, he said 'nobody gives me lift and I don't have enough money to pay the fare. Sometimes I even have to sleep hungry.' But later on he also said that 'There is no use of going back to Sikkim, I don't have family now.'

'I didn't eat food yesterday and today whole day I slept in the floor as I am feeling so weak,' he added. On asking whether we could put his news on newspaper and taking his photo he happily

agreed and also pleaded us to help him if we could. We helped him for the evening meal and left him as it was too late and we had been talking with him for over an hour.

We arent sure whether we helped the right man or we are fooled but we did what we thought was right for him. As we talk about it now, many people think that we are fooled and say that they all make those story to take alcohol. Only god knows the truth.

~ Admin, SSG

Students rejoice as HT visits college for selecting Role Idol

Sikkim Students studying at Meerut has yet again small story to share. It was an event organised today at DVSIET by the team of Hindustan Times to select a role idol for the institute. Hindustan Times organises this type of event in different colleges selecting a boy and a girl student depending upon their confidence, dressing sense, gestures, body language, etc.

Around 20 students were selected as the contestants from the college. There were two students from Sikkim viz. Amir Bhandari and Pravesh Chettri among the contestants. The program started with students introducing themselves in front of the jury that comprised of 4 faculty members randomly selected from the institute.

It was an interesting session that lasted for couple of hours. After the first round, three boys and girls finalists were selected respectively depending upon the way they introduced themselves. Interestingly, there was an student from Sikkim Mr. Amir Bhandari in the finalist.

The six students again competed for the first place. They went through different question and answer round where they were asked question based on GK, IQ, and some other stuffs.

After some tough hours, finalist were declared which comprised of Renuka Singh from Jharkhand pursuing B.Tech in EC field and a boy student from 3rd Year pursuing B.Tech in IT field.

The winners were awarded prizes and coupons and they also got a chance to appear on a page of Hindustan Times. Unfortunately there was no prizes for students from Sikkim.

'When you fight a battle you never loose, either you win or you learn', said smiling Amir .Further Pravesh added 'Competition drives innovation and we are not going to shy away from it', after the program. They added , 'It was a great fun and the program was quite exciting. We are looking for some similar kinda programs in the near future' posing for the photo shoot.

4th DB Subba Memorial inter school TT championship 2011 kicks off GANGTOK

The 4th late D.B Subba Memorial Inter School Table Tennis Championship 2011 kicks started on 15th April here at Gymnasium Hall, Palzor Stadium organized by Sikkim Table Tennis Academy, Tadong under the aegis of Sikkim Table Tennis Association (STTA) which will last for three days. Total of 200 players from all four districts, school have participated under different age groups events that are below 12 years, Sub-Junior and Open tournament etc.

The main purpose of conducting the event is to provide best opportunities to the players through the tournament, informed the Director of Sikkim Table Tennis Academy, Tadong Mr. BB Subba, who is also the son of Late. Mr. D.B Subba. This is the 4th time that the championship is being conducted informed the Director. Further more Mr. Subba added that the Academy also provides training to the students of surrounding areas of Tadong for the tournament and since 2007 the academy is operating and training the players.

Adding further Mr. Subba mentioned that this time St. Xavier’s School (Pakyong), Greendale Academy did not participate in the tournament but believed that other participating schools will definitely make the event a grand success.

The schools part taking in the tournament are Tashi Namgyal Academy, Enchey School, PNGSS, Deorali Girls School, Daffodil, Bahai School (Tadong), Bahai School (Saramsa), New Lite Senior School, Namchi, Ranipool School, Army School (Libing), Army School (Lingdok), Modern School (Tathengchen), West Point School (Tathengchen), Sai School, Sichey School, Lingdok School (9 Mile), including some players from schools from Kalimpong.

source : isikkim.com

Muhammad Albar, bottlewala's son

We always thought that Sikkim is a beggar free state. We boosted saying that 'you will never find a single beggar in our state'. But this time, we were proven wrong. On a recent trip to Gangtok, we were completely shocked and sad at the same time when we encountered some beggars across the state.

Out of those beggars, we were very much surprised with one young lad whom we found begging on the way to Deorali Gumpa, Gangtok. We walked passed him unknown of the fact that he was there asking money to the passerby. 'Daju, 2 rupee dinuhos na!! [Brother give me 2 rupees]' a voice so innocent that we were compelled to have some talk with him.

He was around 12 years old and his name was Muhammad Albar*[as he said]. He narrated his story as, he studies in Bihar and has come to Sikkim to his parents. His parents collect bottles and earns a living. He also collects bottle sometimes.

'Hijo ta 12 ota bottle bhete hai! anta tesko 22 rupiya paye hai! [I collected 12 bottle yesterday and earned 22 rupees]', he said.
'Anta k garcha tyo paisa ko?[What do you do with that money?]' we asked.
'Chamal kincha!! [I buy rice]'.
'Anta aama-baba le kindaina? [Your parents dont buy rice?]'
'koi bela unarle kincha hai, koi bela mo kinchu hai [sometime they buy and sometime I buy]'.

We tried to make him understand that it is not good to beg, what more could we do.
'aja chai kati paisa bhayo? [How much did you earn today]'
And he replied '6 rupiya!'
'mo tala thiye hai, euta lama daju le prasad dinchu bhanera lyayo hai, anta ek jhola prasad diyo hai [I was begging down there in the market, a monk said he will give me prasad and brought me here and gave a one bag of fruits]' and he showed his bag which had apples and bananas in it.

Though people say that beggars should not be encouraged but those innocent talks..... we gave some amount to him and asked him not to stay there as many tourists were visiting the place. When we returned from the gumpa, he had left.

The intention in writing this article was just to make you feel the mentality of the poor boy. What will Muhammad Albar become when he'll grow up? For him, life is all about earning two meals a day. Hope he will not take the profession of his parents!!

SSG wishes him best of luck for his future.

Admin, SSG

Winners of NE Youth festival returns Home

A group of 47 young representatives from Sikkim who had participated in the recent North East youth festival 2011 held at Shillong, Meghalaya has bagged three awards under different competitive event for the state.

The representatives of sikkim have returned home on 11th April with much higher hope to compete in the forth coming events in any level organised and to win for state along with to shine the name of Sikkim across the nation.

Addressing media group leader of the Sikkim state Mr. Praveen Pradhan said that the festival started from 7th till 9th of April at Shillong, Meghalaya and there were about six competitive events where Sikkim only participated in five events leaving the rock band competition and out of which they were able to bag three awards during the festival and said that it is for the first time sikkim have bagged awards in the NE Youth festival.

Mr. Dhiraj Pradhan from Rhenock had participated in Painting competition with a theme “Youths Anticipation” where he occupied the second position and in the solo aquastic instrumental competition with a theme “Western Classical” Mr. Sonam Waiba was positioned to third place and in one act play completion Sikkim occupied the third place Mr. Pradhan stated. Adding further Mr. Pradhan informed that Sikkim presented that play on corruption in Hindi language and the artist consisted to about nine, the act was written by Mr. BP Bajgai and directed by Ms. DK Pradhan.

Furthermore Mr. Pradhan even thanked Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Sikkim along with the department of Sports for sponsoring them for the festival.

Whereas Director of one act play Ms. Pradhan in her address said that the play was tough as we had to perform in Hindi language and till date we have been only performing in Nepali but the artist participating in the play did really well and attended the third position which we are proud of.

Adding further Ms. Pradhan informed that English in North Eastern state is must as most of the people of NE does not understand other languages and said that from next time the state of Sikkim during any events must perform in English to attain higher position.

Mr. Pradhan added that the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma attended the festival as the chief guest along with Secretary Sports and Director Sports..

source : isikkim.com

If Anna Hazare can than why not Sharmila ?

They went all out to support Anna Hazare's fast against corruption, and now netizens are rooting for Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for 10 years to demand repealing of AFSPA, a controversial law that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces.

Sharmila is on a fast since Nov 4, 2000, demanding repealing of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Manipur and other states of the country's northeast.

Her story, more than a decade old, started with the infamous Malom massacre of November 2000 when 10 people, including a 1988 National Child Bravery Award winner, were gunned down by security forces in Malom town of Imphal valley.The paramilitary forces claimed the civilians died in cross-firing.

On the evening of Nov 4, after taking blessings from her mother, she launched her hunger strike against the wider problems of AFSPA. In due course she extended the scope of her demand to all regions of India's northeast where AFSPA has been imposed.

AFSPA confers special powers upon the armed forces in "disturbed areas", including most of the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. Enacted 52 years ago, it gives sweeping powers to the security forces to curb terrorism - and many like Sharmila say it has been widely misused.

"She has not met her mother once these 10 years: her pact with her unlettered mother is that they will see each other only after she achieves her political goal. Her body organs have begun to degenerate irreversibly; her menstrual periods have halted. The tube through which she is forcefully fed is continuously painful," reads a cause dedicated to demanding a Nobel prize for the woman, who is popularly called the 'Iron Lady of Manipur'.

The page has so far been supported by over 8,400 people.

Sharmila is fed forcefully, three times a day, through a nasal tube, which has become a part of her identity being featured in all her pictures.The younger generation of Manipur is indeed inspired by this Iron woman deeply. We all stand by Sharmila and for the cause. It's all about a balanced democracy and governance all over the country. Certain section of Indian society, specially NE (northeast) and particularly Manipur, should be treated differently or step-motherly.

Micro-blogging site Twitter too has comments comparing Sharmila's fast to that of Gandhian Anna Hazare, reminding people about her and asking why her fast has not been heard.

source : ummid.com

Many FB page from Sikkim is supporting Sharmila.

"Sikkim Students will always stands and give support"

Now, no forms needed to apply for DU admissions

NEW DELHI: From this year, there will be no forms for applying to the various courses and colleges in Delhi University. The admission process is set to go through a sea-change from 2011-12 session as DU is doing away with the current application process.

Instead, colleges would be announcing cutoffs on the basis of their past experiences and students who have made the cutoff would be applying to the college of their choice. The university is likely to notify the new system within the next two days while the cutoffs may be released only after June 15.

Although the process appears simple at first look, several college principals visualized complications. They said cutoffs would now be done on guesswork and if a college didn't guess right, it would have to take in many more students than it can accommodate. The ostensible reason for the new system is to save time and the time saved would be used to finish semester teaching.

DU received around 1.2 lakh OMR (centralized) forms last year for a total of 54,000 undergraduate seats. DU officials announced this decision to principals of its constituent colleges in a three-hour meeting held on the North Campus on Monday. DU V-C Dinesh Singh told TOI after the meeting, "We will shortly announce a new process for applying to colleges which has been designed to ensure greater transparency and efficiency. Students will be put through far less trouble. Our decision will be notified in a couple of days."

Stunned principals raised doubts about the feasibility of the process, but DU officials assured that the process will save time and make it much easier for students.

source : TOI

Excellent libraries but hardly any readers

A State Central Library and the library at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok abodes two major libraries. Both places store the treasure of knowledge with ancient books to modern read. A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life.

Library at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a research library focusing on Tibetan Buddhism. It has got the 3rd largest collection of books on Tibetan Buddhism and teachings. Library attracts researchers from Germany, US, Varanasi, Dharamsala and many other parts of the world and India. But the irony is hardly any local visit to this library.

Tenzin Samphel, main Librarian at NIT says “Very few locals visit to this library, say 10-15 in a month and sometimes even less than that”. On the question of why there is not much of enthusiasm among readers to come and read, he asserted “Ours is a research library and deals with a specific subject. I also feel that still there is some lack of awareness about this library among locals. Apart from it people don’t have reading habits over here”.

NIT Library
Few students visit to libraries these days. Most of them just to complete their assignments

The vintage section of the NIT library lodges the rarest books on Buddhism, Ancient Sikkim and Tibetan history and books on Central Asia. Sometimes students from Sikkim University and Government College do visit, but only for their assignments.

Chandra Prakash Adhikari, a third year student at Government College viewed “We go to library only when we want to do our assignments otherwise we hardly bother to go”. Same views were echoed by a second year student Dinesh Induriya “I never felt like reading. But since I came here for three times I am developing my interest to read and would love to come back, not to do assignments but just to read about Sikkim history”.

Same irony is being felt at State Central Library. Though, in terms of membership this library is pretty better off. There are about 1200 registered members where most of them are from Gangtok. Officers and families from Central government posted in Gangtok are also in huge numbers.

Curator of State Central Library, P.D. Lepcha revealed that among all the visitors’ students are the maximum that turn up. But still response from general public is not that encouraging. He says “The footfall is not up to the mark. We have got very good collection of books and want people to come forward and take advantage of it. It seems that when we had less collection there were more readers but no when we have more collection, readers are few”.

The amount government spends on bringing new books and maintaining 4 district and 5 sub divisional libraries is immense. But lack of zeal among local people to read books make this money run into mill.

State Central Library
State Central Library sign board.

P.D Lepcha felt that with the advent of new technologies people don’t want to spend their time in going to libraries. They find everything on internet or through movies and DVD’s. Present generation lack reading habits and most of them come under compulsion.

Raman Shresta of Rachna Books and Publications has different views. He felt that reading habits are improving and people do want to read especially kids. It is just about making reading exercise cool. He shares a very interesting anecdote “Some days back a child visited to my store. He study in a government school but was on leave because of a broken arm. Somehow he ends up visiting my shop. For the first day he spent 3 hrs and turned next day too. For the rest other days he kept on reading for hours and hours. I even had to provide him lunch on some days. That was his enthusiasm”.

As famous proverb goes “The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television.” Are people of Gangtok ready to embrace those worthy ideas?

source : isikkim.com/

Students on strike against corruption

One visit to Jantar Mantar where 72 year old Anna Hazare is holding an indefinite hunger strike along with members of India Against Corruption (IAC) and you will witness the electrifying feeling of what Tahrir Square or our own 1921, 1942, 1947 or 1975 would have been like. Reports suggest that similar is the temperament among people across the country.

Three days into his fast,Anna Hazare is getting unprecedented public support.On Thursday,over 500 people joined the 72-year-old in his fast 341 for fast-unto-death and about 350 for a relay fast.Jantar Mantar was packed with his supporters which included many schoolchildren,college students and professionals.And the number continues to grow. Many students from Aligarh Muslim University and Allahabad University and some from Delhi University colleges,like Lady Irwin,Lady Shri Ram and Dyal Singh,joined the protest.A total of 25 students from AMU are joining the strike today.Its time the youth send a stern message to the politicians who are hellbent on looting the nations wealth, said Mohammad Kasif,a protester.

Indians in Los Angeles are organizing a day-long fast Saturday in support of Indian social activist Anna Hazare's fast against corruption in India.

The fast in support of Hazare's fast has been sponsored by the same NRI group which organized Dandi March II, a 240 mile walk against corruption in the US last month. Similar one-day fasts are also planned in several cities across US. Dandi March II in US, inspired by the historic Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi, from March 12 to March 26 culminated with supporting events in 14 US cities with major gatherings in San Francisco, Seattle, New Jersey, Houston and Carbondale.

As many as 45 cities in the US, 40 cities in India and 8 other countries globally joined the movement.

source : TOI/isikkim