SAHITYA AKADEMI LITERARY PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

8:26 AM

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nepali

Writes: Dinesh Sharma

Sahitya Akademi, Delhi and Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur jointly hosted a one-day literary meet "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Kathako Pravriti" with a panel discussion on post-Independence Indian Nepali Literature, on 27th March, 2016. The program was held at Charhajare, a tiny Gorkha village in Senapati District bordering the hill district and the valleys of Manipur.

Shri Devendra Kumar Devesh, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Sahitya Academy Delhi and Shri Prem Pradhan, Nepali Language Advisory board (Sahitya Akademi) attended the program as Guests of Honor. Shri Lok Bahadur Basnet, President-Nepali Sahitya Parishad, and Smt. Durga Devi, retired Professor D.M College, Manipur also attended the program.

Other dignitaries present during the occassion were P.V Shelman from North-East Centre for Oral and Tribal Literature (NECOL), Manipur University and Shri Biswajit Roy from Kolkata, Shri Arjun Pradhan from Darjeeling, Sukraj Diyali from Silliguri, and Gopichandra Pradhan from Darjeeling.

PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

The discussion of the one-day program centered around the changing trends in post-independence Indian Nepali literature. Ms. Pushpa Sharma, Lecturer Presidency College, Manipur presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali kathako prabriti", a discussion on the changing trends in Indian Nepali short story.

Dr Tankanath Khatiwada, Lecturer Presidency College presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Sahitya maa Yuddhha", a discussion on post-independence Nepali war literature.

Shri Milan Bantawa from Darjeeling presented his paper on 'Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Katha ani Uttar Adhunikta', a discussion on post-modern elements in Indian Nepali Literature.
The literary program was organized by Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur and was supported by students, organizations and individuals from various Gorkha organizations across the state.

Calling the event a huge success, Kritimani Khatiwada, General Secretary stated that “this is perhaps the first time that a program of this scale was directly organized in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, Delhi. The contribution of Manipur Gorkha scholars to Indian Nepali literature is immense and this is a fruitful recognition of the same.” While thanking all organizations and individuals and organizations for the success of the program, Khatiwada hopes that Manipur Gorkha community continues to witness more such programs in coming days and generate more interest amongst the youths and students towards the language.

POSTSCRIPT: In written records, the first Indian Nepali literature came out of Manipur as “Manipurko Ladaiko Sabai” in 1893 by Tulachand Aale . Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur plans to hold an elaborate celebration of the literary milestone with its 125 years’ celebration in 2018. The proposal has been forwarded to Sahitya Akademi and the Parishad humbly request the support and wishes of everyone for this landmark celebration.

[Pictures courtesy: Rahul Rai]

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Video - Maruni dance in World Culture Festival

10:42 AM

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Video

Gorkha cultural traditional Maruni  is a dance from Sikkim and Darjeeling usually performed by the males in female costumes, whose body movements are extremely graceful. 370 performers dance to the Samala beat , a rhythm expressing celebration with a touch of romance , on the second day of World Culture Festival organized by The Art Of Living.

About 370 participants between 15 to 45 years, from various districts of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Dooars, and some remote villages falling under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will congregate in New Delhi to bring to the world the scintillating folk dance with its own folklore. Sikkim alone counts for 118 young dancers; most of them hailing from West District. Others are from Namchi in South Sikkim and Kokaley and Khesey in East Sikkim. Hon’ble Minister for Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department Government of Sikkim Shri. G.M. Gurung is likely to attend the three-day festival. A huge contingent of Art of Living volunteers from Sikkim will be travelling to New Delhi to be part of this extravaganza.

Watch the video

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Maruni dance to be performed on World Culture Festival by Art of Living

11:56 AM

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Sikkim

Writes: Prashant Acharya

A host of traditional Gorkha 'Maruni' dancers from Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars are set to create a world record by performing at the World Culture Festival on Saturday that is being organised by the Art of Living Foundation at Mayur Vihar in New Delhi.

Three hundred and fifty dancers and their team leaders have already reached New Delhi for performing on Saturday evening on a giant stage sprawled across 7 acres of land. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the function in the presence of officials from 155 nations.

The Maruni dancers from Sikkim and north Bengal have undergone rigorous practice over the past two months and will mesmerize an estimated audience of 35 lakh people during the three-day festival, aimed at celebrating diversity among world cultures and uniting peoples across geographical boundaries.

Ramkumar Lama, the dance coordinator from the Dooars, said, "The almost forgotten Nepali folk dance will see a grand revival and get promoted across the world. We intend to make it into the Guinness Book of world records."

Maruni dancers from Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Dooars en route to create world record

Meanwhile, Raj Sharma, the coordinator from Sikkim, said 118 dancers from the state’s West, East and South districts are participating and a huge contingent of Art of Living volunteers from Sikkim have already reached New Delhi to be part of the extravaganza.

“In the days of yore, men used to adorn women’s attire and enact female roles while performing the Maruni dance because women were forbidden to perform in public. But this has changed now, of course,” said Karuna Pradhan, the coordinator from Darjeeling. She said the song for the Maruni folk dance is in the 'Samala' beat and has been written by Rajen Ghimire while the dance choreographer is Lhamu Sherpa.


Via: ECOI

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THE FACES IN OUR MIDST – NETRA PRASAD SHARMA

9:57 AM

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Sikkim

Bijay Sharma

At 84 years of age, Mr. Netra Prasad Sharma is still as active as most people would be in their 30s. Perhaps even more!!

Locals in his village Adarsh Gaon, Singtam – South Sikkim lovingly call him Netra Baje… and everyone is fond of him.

He retired from his job in the Power Department some 25 years ago and has kept himself occupied with one vocation or the other. But of late he has devoted himself to conserving our traditional instruments and equipments.

He makes - Madal, Damaru, Khaijadi, Kathtal, Khikurim Hatepakha, and various handicraft products using bamboo and mato (mud).

Netra Baje doesn’t make these instruments for money, rather he is passionate about transferring the art to youngsters, whom he hopes will carry on his passion and the dying art of making our traditional instruments are conserved.

Netra Prasad Sharma

Netra Baje is particularly popular amongst school going kids, who have often taken his work and showed it as theirs for the compulsory “Work Education” or “Crafts – Haat ko Kaam” classes and secured 1st class marks in their subjects

Netra Baje says “time is precious and we should all make the most of it… you don’t necessarily have to earn money doing something you love… you just need to keep your passion alive.”
Coming from an 84 year old, those are sage advice which we intend to take… and we hope our readers will as well.

If anyone wants to contact him, he can be reached at: 98323-82494

Bijay Sharma, Via: our partner organization The Times Dooars & TheDC

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Week long Darjeeling Cultural and Tourism Festival 2015

8:47 AM

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Tourism

Tourist in the second day of the ongoing week long Darjeeling Cultural and Tourism Festival (DCTF) did what they had only watched actors do in cinemas and wished. The festival organizers gave enthusiastic tourists a thrilling opportunity, to dance on the moving Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a first for many of them.

And willing tourists did not let go of the opportunity as some of them climbed aboard the open coach of the toy train and showed their moves. “Fifteen years back I had taken my last ride on the toy train. But, today it was an amazing and different experience, to dance on one of them with people on the streets looking at us. I felt like a movies star,” said an elated Prashant Divedhi from Kolkata.

Burdawan resident Animika Bhowkick did not dance but the ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back was a memorable one for her. “I am not much of a dancer so I refrained from joining the others. However, it was just as much a scintillating experience to be a part of the road show. I thank the organizers and wish them well for future, too,” she said.

The DCTF that is organized by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has become an annual affair in the Hills. It is organized every year this month in November with the objective to attract tourists to the Hill station.

This year the festival is being held from November 1 to 7 in Darjeeling sub-division. Similar events will also be organized in the other sub-divisions of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik, till November 8.

The cultural dance (on different Nepali songs) on the moving DHR train however will only be held for three days from today. Performers from the GTA’s information and cultural department will perform every morning for three days on the 10.40 am diesel run train from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back with a break at the Batasia War Memorial. Bhanu Kanta Ghisingh, the GTA information and cultural department assistant director said, “The idea behind having dancers from the department on the moving train is to bring to highlight and promote our cultural. Tourists can even participate with our dancing troupe, which we believe will give them a trilling experience”.

Not only tourists but the performers too were elated with the opportunity to dance on the heritage train. “I have been dancing for thirteen years but this is the first time on a moving train. This experience I will keep till my last days. Of course, dancing on moving train is never easy but I managed it all the same,” said Ram Limboo, one of the male dancers.

The festival will showcase the various culture and traditions of the Hills communities. Stalls have been put up at the Gorkha Ranga Manch Bhawan dishing our traditional delicacies and in the evening local bands will entertain tourist and locals alike for the next six days.

Source EOI

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OPEN LETTER TO GNLF CHIEF MANN GHISING

3:05 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

Open letter to GNLF‬ president Mann Ghisingh on his controversial statement on traditional dress of Daura Sural and Chowbandi Choli in his recent press release.

Writes Dipendra Khati

Dear Mann Jojo,

I am very confused about on what language should I write this letter to you. Though English emanated from England (Official language of England), I found it to be universally accepted, so that is the language that I chose to communicate with you today, hope you will not be displeased with it, as it seems these days you are getting annoyed at things that are not from Darjeeling.

 Late. Subhas Ghising always wore his Dhaka-Topi with pride

According to your official statement dated 21/8/2015, you claim that Daura Suruwal is the official dress of Nepal and people going to Delhi and Kolkata in this dress are ‘पट्ट मुर्खहरु - Patt Murkha haru”.

Here, I would like to inform you that Daura Suruwal is not just Official dress of Nepal, but also the traditional dress of Nepali/Gorkha people, though some communities have their own dresses, but majority of the Gorkhali people wear it. I don’t find any logic behind your statement. Do you want us to not use Daura Suruwal, Chaubandi Choli and all other Nepali dresses and ornaments just because they are – according to you – “Official dress of Nepal?”

Ok let me accept that…

But what about language? Your official statement came in Nepali language… isn’t that “Nepal ko Sarkari bhasa”??

Going by your logic we should not be using that language too, because it’s the “official language of Nepal.” So pray tell me, why did you choose to communicate in Nepali?

Our Nepali proverb, “काम पायिनस बुहारी कनिका पोखौंदै उठा" summarizes what you just did.

I think there are many issue and topic you can talk about, and of all the things you could have talked about, you chose to speak about our जातीय पोशाक??

Late. Subash Ghising must be turning in his grave, for he always wore his “जातीय ढाकाको टोपी” with pride and in fine style. I wonder what he would have said to your comment on our जातीय पोशाक??

Moreover, I found that you sound more hypocrite when you talk about “पुरनो रिती रिवाजहरुले भरिएको बहुमुल्य संस्कृतिलाई सन्बैधनिक सुरक्षा प्रदान गर्नको लागि साथ् साथै गोर्खा जातीको चिन्हारीलाई पनि सजिलै बोक्नसक्ने नयाँ नाम करण भएको "गोर्खा हिल्ल काउन्सिल” this and later you phrase out “नेपाल देश को सरकारी पोसाक लगएर दिल्ली कोलकाता”... don’t those Daura Suruwal come under “पुरनो रिती रिवाजहरुले भरिएको बहुमुल्य संस्कृति”????

Ohh and most important issue here, you said, “गोर्खा जाती को चिन्हारीलाई पनि सजिलै बोक्नसक्ने नयाँ नाम करण भएको "गोर्खा हिल्ल काउन्सिल” really?? If the नाम करण of ‘GORKHA Hill Council’ can carry carry गोर्खा जाती को चिन्हारी then why GORKHALAND Territorial Administration (I am not a supporter of GTA) wouldn’t do the same, if not better?

By the way it seems you were not told why our Aappa Late. Subhas Ghising came and fought for Gorkhaland. As I see no mention of word Gorkhaland in your official statement. May be you forgot or.....??....

You have said “यदी यी कुराहरुमा सरकार अघी बढ़दैन भने गो रा मु मो ले हाम्रो भुभागबारे केन्द्र सरकारसित वार्ता को बाटो खोल्न वाध्य हुनेछ” what was that? What stops you? Why not??

If you want to engage with central Govt. about our land, that will be very appreciable, but I am very suspicious about that comment of yours.

Sorry Jojo, I am no body to judge you, but what I felt is... ‘हजुर पनि त्यहि ढ्यांग को मुला हुनु हुदा रैछ”

Thank you
Dipendra Khati
Well wisher of Maato and Jaati... Not Neta or Party


Via The Darjeeling Chronicle

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GNLF Mann Ghisingh's controversal statement on cultural dress

2:15 PM

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Politics

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

The president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front in a press release today termed the traditional dress of the Nepali community as the the official dress of Nepal, eliciting criticism from all hill parties.

GNLF president Mann Ghisingh controversal statement on traditional dress of Daura Sural and Chowbandi Choli
-Photo of the press release via The Darjeeling Chronicle's

GNLF president Mann Ghisingh stated in the statement in Nepali: "The Darjeeling hills has failed to recognize its own land (that would have come through the inclusion of the area in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution). Everybody became fools not to understand the Gorkha's own land and the Gorkha Hill Council. They started going to Delhi and Calcutta wearing the official dress of Nepal."

Mann's statement did not explain who the "they" referred to.

Many hill leaders have worn the traditional daura sural and chowbandi choli to meet state-level and central leaders on many occasions. Few years ago, the Morcha had issued a diktat making it compulsory for hill people to wear the attire for a month. Following backlash, it had removed the mandatory tag on the order.

"After having scored two major political victories, on August 22 and August 23, 1988, a third major political victory had been achieved by signing the tripartite agreement on December 6, 2005, to form the Gorkha Hill Council, that would have carried the distinct identity of the Indian Gorkhas," the signed statement reads.

The new council under the Sixth Schedule was to be named Gorkha Hill Council.

On August 22, 1988, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council accord was signed and the next day, the Centre had issued a notification stating that all those living in India before 1950 were Indian citizens.

The GNLF is of the opinion that the citizenship issue of Gorkhas in India was clarified by the notification.

The GNLF's statement terming the traditional dress of daura sural and chowbandi choli as the official dress of Nepal has surprised others.

Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha said: "The dress is of our community and he (Mann Ghisingh) must clarify what we should wear now. Subash Ghisingh took our community behind by 25 years by indulging in controversies and now they are again taking our community behind by raking up unnecessary controversies."

Even ABGL and CPRM, allies of the GNLF in the newly-constituted Democratic Front, criticised the statement.

"This is not a correct statement. I hope the GNLF will ponder over the statement and rectify it," said Pratap Khati, general secretary of ABGL.

Govind Chhetri, spokesman of the CPRM, said: "The GNLF must retract and apologise for hurting the sentiments of the Indian Gorkhas."

Mann did not take calls today. Biren Lama, a central committee member of GNLF, said: "I don't think this is a controversial statement."

Towards the end of the press release, GNLF warns that the "Central and State Government will be responsible for any political instability in the future, and anything on toward happens in Darjeeling in the future."

Source: Telegraph

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Charity Event - Ramailo with Gorkha by Run with Roshni

10:11 PM

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Run with Roshni

Run with Roshni Foundation’ cordially invites you to come and enjoy ‘Ramailo With Gorkhas’, an evening filled with rich Gorkhali culture, delicious cuisine and a room filled with warm & friendly Gorkha smiles.

Run with Roshni -a Mission- a Vision- a Dream ! Run with Roshni is a Brainchild of Roshni Rai, a Gorkha girl from a village known as Pedong in the District of Darjeeling, West Bengal. Roshni is Advocate by profession and she is based in Mumbai.

‘Ramailo’ translates as entertainment in Nepali language and since life is short we believe to seek happiness in everything we do. The key objective of this initiative ‘Ramailo with Gorkha’ is to raise funds to sponsor 12 passionate but under privileged runners from Darjeeling looking forward to run the Mumbai Marathon.

This platform aims to provides an awareness about all the Indian Gorkhas, their unsung contribution and showcase their rich cultural heritage that contributes to making mother India, awesome!

So come, engage in conversation with the talented Gorkhas and witness the culture come alive through a short Cultural Program which will be followed by the launch of the book ‘Mountain to the Ocean- Run with Roshni’ written by budding author, Roshni Rai.

We are extremely obliged to have Mr. Adille Sumariwall, President of Atletics Federation of India who will grace the event, as Chief Guest.

With the support of GTA, we are getting some dancers from Darjeeling to perform in ‘Ramailo with Gorkhas’.

You have always supported us with wishes and prayers, this day we look forward to meeting you in person.

Please grace our event with your presence & support us to bring the emotional integrity & Unity in Diversity of India with Gorkha Community.

So Come celebrate with Gorkhas, Celebrate being Indian.

Date: 12 Sept, 2015

Time: 6pm to 8:30pm

Venue: Cidco Auditorium, Vashi, Next to Rajasthan Bhavan

For further information contact Mrs. Poonam Lama- 9819318894 and Mrs. Jaya Chhetri- 9930535126

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