DGU to host North East Nepali Symposium cum felicitation programme

2:31 AM

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Sikkim

The Mir Mirey Kanchenchunga, a Gangtok based weekly journal in collaboration with the North Eastern Nepali Writers, Poets & Journalist, has decided to organise "North East Nepali Symposium cum felicitation programme in Dimapur, to be hosted by the Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU), apex body of the Gorkhas in Dimapur district, on February 1 at Dimapur Town Hall from 10 AM onwards. Delegates from Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunananchal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim and Darjeeling would attend the programme.

Dimapur Gorkha Union

The proposed programme was scheduled on January 25 but due to the threat perception during the Republic Day, the programme was postponed. The organizing committee is headed by Ganesh Biswakarma as convener, and Dipak Lama as programme director cum PRO, while Kumar Subba would be the overall in-charge of the programme. The Monitoring Cell Office is located at the Old Industrial Estate Colony, Near CRPF Camp, Diphu Road, Dimapur, Nagaland.

Interested individuals could contact the officials on phone nos. 09436012825, 09774746509, 09402889272 or emails: dimapurgorkhaunion@gmail.com, dipak.lama16@gmail.com, pandey.sanjay1967@gmail.com for further information.

Nagaland Post

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Gorkhas weighing ‘NOTA’ option in Mizoram elections

2:46 PM

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Gorkhas in Mizoram

Mizoram: Deprived of OBC status by Mizoram Government and the alleged step-motherly attitude of Mizos, Gorkhas, who are one of the largest minorities in the state, are weighing the NOTA option provided by the Election Commission in the November 25 Assembly elections.

Deprived of OBC status, Gorkhas weighing
‘NOTA’ option in Mizoram elections 

"The Gorkhas in Mizoram deserve OBC status. We have been fighting for it for a long time. We want OBC status for securing central government jobs. We are not interested in OBC status for state government jobs," Mizoram Gorkha Joint

 

Action Committee, chairman, H B Thapa, said here.

 

"So this year the Gorkhas in the state might use the NOTA option to register their grievances," he said.

 

There are around 25,000 Gorkhas in the state out of which 9771 are eligible voters. The Gorkhas are present in 23 of the 40 assembly segments in the state.

 

"All state governments since 1987 have denied us our rights. Now if our community decides to go for the NOTA option then it is only due to their apathy. We thank the Election Commission for this option," said Mahesh Rai, a prominent

 

Gorkha leader.

 

The Election Commission has given the NOTA option meaning 'none of the above', for voters unhappy with candidates or those who do not want to vote for any political party.

 

The present Congress government had formed a committee, which gave its report accepting the demand of the Gorkhas for OBC status for central government jobs. But nothing has moved further since then.

 

Gorkhas started settling in the late 1880’s and had backward community status when Mizoram was a part of Assam. But when Mizoram became a separate state in 1987, the backward status was taken away and Gorkhas were made a 'general  category' group, denying them the special privileges that they used to enjoy while applying for jobs in either the Central or the state government.

 

Thapa claimed that the present state government could not move forward with the recommendations because of the diktat of the influential Mizo Students’s Union, which had openly opposed granting of OBC status to Gorkhas.

 

The political parties too did not dare take on the Mizo Student’s Union, as they were very influential among the Mizo youths and students and their support for a political party was a deciding factor, he claimed.

 

"The issue has been lingering for quite some time. There are certain groups who have raised their opposition against the proposal. The state cabinet will take a decision on it in an appropriate time," Education minister Lalswata said.

 

The main opposition alliance, MDA led by MNF, too is non-committal to the grant of OBC status to the Gorkhas if it comes to power.

Source: Daily Bhaskar

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Gunu Gharti: The ‘Idol’ of Mizoram Gorkhas

10:53 PM

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northeast gorkhas

Mizoram based social activist and recipient of several national awards and the first recipient of International Award from amongst the Mizoram Gorkhas, Dr. Gunu Gharti may not need introduction among the Mizos.

Dr. Gunu Gharti

The minority Gorkhas living in Mizoram are united and bonded firmly under the umbrella of Mizoram Gorkha Youth Association (MGYA). Dr. Gharti has helped in cementing and promoting brotherhood among the Mizos and Gorkhalis and that he has made Mizoram proud through his contribution in music. He founded the ‘Bairagi Sangeet Parivaar’ on 26th July 1988. Since there was no one in Mizoram who has expertise in arranging Nepali music so in 1989, he took a team of singers comprising Ravi Tamang, Minu Tamang and Madan Pun for their first recording in Kathmandu. Many people enter the music world to make money but Dr. Gharti’s aim was that with music he would bring change in society. In the process, he made a lot of sacrifices and even had to sell his land in the pursuit of music.

Dr. VR Ralte, Director Universal Hindi Communications, Aizawl came to know about him and his missionary zeal for music in 2009. Dr. Ralte deemed him fit to be recognized and he was awarded ‘Excellent Music Achievement Award’ by the then Governor of Mizoram Lt. Gen. M. M. Lakhera. After getting this award, Dr. Gharti gained confidence and thought that he should do something for Mizoram – the land of his birth.

Dr. Gharti was Born on the 26th July 1958 at Durtlang, he is the youngest of six children of late Dal Bahadur and late Zo Maya. During the troubled years that followed 1966, his family lived for a couple of years in Assam, but later they returned to Mizoram. At present he and his family live in ‘King House’ at Thuampui.

Having limited economic means, he realized that he could not do something great and noble; this gave him many sleepless nights. Coming from a humble and modest background and despite not having much educational attainments, he, was from his childhood very interested in literature and social work. He has written four books and perhaps he is the only Nepali novelist person from Mizoram. He has also penned a number of compositions in Hindi. Besides being a composer, he is also a singer. He has released eight Nepali audio cassette albums; seven of them were released in Kathmandu and one in Aizawl.

He soon realised that his talent was God given. So, he set out to make the first ever Hindi music video album ‘Lovely Mizoram’ which would showcase Mizoram, its people and its natural beauty not only to the other parts of India but to the entire world.

Gharti said that he hoped that the album will help strengthen the relationship between the Mizos and the Gorkhalis besides bringing different communities closer. He further added that if these are accomplished the aim of making Lovely Mizoram would be fulfilled. Gharti showcased the natural beauty of Mizoram through his Hindi Music Video ‘Lovely Mizoram’, which was released by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on the September 5, 2012. ‘Lovely Mizoram’ album earned him the prestigious 22nd Lelte Award in the category “Best Hindi Music Video Album of the Year” on 19th April 2013, and he is the first Gorkha to receive Lelte Award.

On September 14, 2012, on the auspicious occasion of the 63rd National Hindi Day, the Mizo Hindi Zirlai Pawl (MHZP) & Rashtrabhasa Vidyarthi Sangh, Mizoram, awarded Gharti “Foremost Mizo-Gorkha Unity Devotee Award”.

Miseries and hardships in life hurts, but sometimes the tough people overcame it and they left exemplary footprints for others. Gharti is also one of such tough people struggling through all those miseries and hardships. But due to his untiring efforts and courage, some anthropologists came to know about him. Gharti’s biography ‘Anmol Ratna’ (Precious Pearl) has been published in three languages namely Nepali, Hindi and English. It is reported that publishing the biography of a Gorkha man in three languages is a world record.

Gharti is humble and gentle in nature, he always shows respect to others. In the meantime, he hates injustice and bad governance as he is fair and honest. He wants to have good governance and justice in the society. Even though he did not pursue higher education, no one could argue that he got a talent from God as hehad composed many songs that contributed a lot for better society. He has another major project ahead of him. He is now busy preparing Hindi Gospel Song Audio Album. He said he will donate the album to Masihi Sangati for the glory of God. “Just as a tree sheds its leaves to bring forth new buds, I hoped people will remember me for my contribution in music and literature,” he said.

Dr. Gunu Gharti came in the limelight after being recognised by YUVA MANCH (a Nepali magazine published from Siliguri) in 2010, Recognition by Rang Bhang Samawaya Sahitya Sadan, Darjeeling in 2010. He has received almost 30 awards from various quarters. The awards he received include Akhil Bhartiya Nepali Bhasha Samiti (28/8/1995), ‘Best Lyricist Award’ by Aizawl Gorkha Chess Club (6/2/1998), ‘Pioneer Award’ by Apek(Nepali literature magazine) Nepal Kathmandu (14/12/2009), Certificate of Appreciation by Mizoram Gorkha Youth Association (Central) on 22/8/2004 and again on 24/1/2010; ‘First Late Khem Shore Subha Memorial Award’, Darjeeling on 4/3/2012, the ‘Vishist Academy Award’ (Distinguished Academy Award) by Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy, Jalandhar on 25/11/2012. In the INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT, Bangkok, Thailand on 11th May 2013 organised by GLOBAL ACHIEVERS FOUNDATION (GAF), New Delhi, Dr. Gunu Gharti was honoured with the “Global Achievers Award for Social/Public Services”; he received the Certificate from the hands of His Excellency, Ambassador (Dr.) Anil Wadhwa, Ambassador of India, Kingdom of Thailand; and received the Trophy from the hands of Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Korn Dabbaransi. National Organisation VIKRAMSHEELA HINDI VIDYAPEETH, Bhagalpur, Bihar conferred two (2) Honourary Doctorate Degrees to Dr. Gharti namely Honourary Hindi Doctoral Degree ‘VIDYAVACHASPATI’ on the 14th December 2012, and Hindi Honourary Degree “VIDYA SAAGAR” (D.Litt.) on 13th December 2013 in the Convocation held at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh due to his “Remarkable Contributions to the Community and Society through Literature and Music”. The Delhi based ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH ON NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION & VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES (known as “ARNOVA”) honoured Dr. Gharti with “ARNOVA AWARD” on the 10th December 2013 at Gorkha Bhavan, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi. Dr. Gharti received this Award from the hands of Shree Manoj Shankar, President of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Darjeeling at the TALENT AWARD CELEBRATION. Dr. Gharti is the first Mizoram Gorkha who has been conferred Honourary Degree “VIDYA SAAGAR” (D.Litt.). Due to all these achievements, Dr. Gharti was honoured by ‘Thuampui Local Council’ (his locality) on the Silver Jubilee of BAIRAGI SANGEET PARIVAAR (founded by him) on the 26th July 2013. After the All India Radio, Aizawl Station broadcasted “An Interview with Dr. Gunu Gharti”, Exclusive Interview with him has been broadcasted from various Radio Stations and TV Channels like AIR Kurseong Darjeeling, BBC LONDON Nepali Service, Kanchanjungha FM Radio Birtamod Nepal, and TV NEPAL CHANNEL 1.

By James Ramdinmawia
Source: mizonews

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Gorkha Mizo unity

12:06 AM

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northeast live news

AIZAWL, December 29:  "Gorkhas in Mizoram are never perceived as other community by the Mizos; they had also participated during the Mizo National Front (MNF) movement too", said Lal Thanzara, Health, ICT and Minor Irrigation minister.

Call for Gorkha Mizo unity

He said this when he graced and addressed the programme of the 37th Mizoram Gorkha Youth Association General Conference held at Oasis Hall, AMC Building, Thuampui.

Lal Thanzara said that Gorkhalis are among the first settlers of Aizawl, adding, Mizos and Gorkhalis have been living together in good harmony and with good brotherhood.

He urged the gathering Gorkha youths to uphold this brotherhood and the attitude of favoring one another. The Minister continued saying that so far as his knowledge is concerned, Mizoram Gorkhalis are never looked as other community by the Mizos. In the same way, the Gorkhali also do not regard themselves as other community. They also had participated in the MNF Movement, the Minister added.

“As being minority, Mizoram Gorkhalis are well attended upon as a minority by the government and will continue to do so,” Minister Lalthanzara said on the occasion."Without disturbing the integration of Mizoram, we can uphold each of our cultural values” the Minister added. Lal Thanzara expressed his wish for Mizoram Gorkhalis to feel at home in Mizoram with indigenous mindset, adding, "Provided we live in harmony, Mizoram can see further progress in various fields,” he said.

The Health minister stated that the Gorkhalis are brave, faithful, trustworthy, and hard working, “Traits are to be upheld further in future,” he advised the gathering. Mizoram Gorkha Youth Association, established on August 18, 1976. It presently has 15 Branches and 1 Sub-Headquarter, with a total of more than 3000 members, all over Mizoram.  On the occasion of the General Conference, a business session was also held in the afternoon programme.

Source : morungexpress

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