Mamata receives warm welcome from GNLF, and Development Boards

10:13 AM

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Trinamool Congress

Writes: Prashant Acharya

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was given a grand reception yesterday afternoon at the Bagdogra airport and in Rohini near Kurseong by hill communities that included the Khambu Rai, Lepcha Development Council members as also cadres of the Gorkha National Liberation Front.

This was the first time that GNLF supporters were seen welcoming the chief minister with khadas and Nepali scarves and reflects the ongoing bonhomie between the Trinamool chief and Mann Ghisingh, who the chief minister has appointed as vice chairman of the North Bengal Board of Sports and Games.
Thousands of people from both the plains and the hills had gathered at the airport since morning to welcome the chief minister, who landed around three in the afternoon and proceeded directly to Darjeeling without uttering a word to the press people present.

In Rohini, she was accorded a grand welcome with flowers, khadas and traditional garlands. The chief minister even alighted from her car to accept the greetings. Banerjee will be in Darjeeling for five days and welcome President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday who will be flying directly to the Lebong helipad from Bagdogra. On Wednesday, July 13 the President and Banerjee will attend a function observing the birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya. The chief minister is also slated to attend the annual meeting of the Darjeeling Tea Association during her five-day stay.
Over 400 members of the Bhujel community met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Bagdogra airport yesterday and submitted a memorandum demanding a development board.

Mamata receives warm welcome from GNLF, and Development Boards

The state government has formed seven development boards in the hills - for Lepchas, Bhutias, Sherpas, Tamangs, Rais, Mangars and Limbus.

"A couple of days ago, sources in the government had said they would form a board to cover three (more) hill communities. This encouraged the Bhujels to approach the chief minister," an observer said:

On Saturday, a government official had said the state intended to form the West Bengal Biswakarma Welfare Board for the development of communities like the Kami, Damai and Sarki.

[With additional inputs from Telegraph]

Via TheDC

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Rai Development Board has started its operation

11:05 PM

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West Bengal

Writes: Rajeev Ravidas

The West Bengal Rai Development Board has started its operation with  30 general body members owing allegiance to the Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan, although the objection raised by the Khambu Rights Movement was yet to be addressed.
M.S. Rai, the chairman of the Rai board, said the first governing body meeting of the board had been held in Darjeeling on Saturday. "The board belongs to all Khambus living in Bengal. It will work for their development. Today, we distributed Rs 1 lakh each to 20 poor Rai families from the hills. This is the first instalment of Rs 2 lakh we intend to give to each of these families for constructing houses," he said in Darjeeling.
The KRM has expressed unhappiness at the board's functioning without taking it into confidence. "We were told by both the Darjeeling district magistrate and S.K. Thade (principal secretary, backward classes welfare department) that even though the notification constituting the general body had been issued on February 12, it would not be acted upon till the differences between us and KKRSS were resolved. This is totally unexpected. We will decide on our next course of action later," said A.K. Rai, the KRM president.
The KRM had staged a hunger strike from February 17 to 24, demanding that its supporters be made the board members.
The 31-member general body has just one supporter of the KRM.
Observers say that the notification could be potentially backdated to skirt around the PIL and upcoming elections code of conduct.

via TheDC

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Nine on hunger strike in hospital - Khambu Rights Movement

11:10 AM

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kkrss

Kalimpong, Feb. 21: Nine members of the Khambu Rights Movement, who were on an indefinite hunger strike at Tricone Park here, have been admitted to the Kalimpong subdivisional hospital in the past three days.

The hunger strike demanding that the organisation be allowed to form the Rai development board started on Wednesday with 14 participants. Since then, the number has gone up to 25, including the nine who have been hospitalised.

Manoj Rai, the KRM spokesman, said those admitted to the hospital were suffering from complications ranging from severe dehydration to low pulse rate. "All nine are refusing to eat and they have been given intravenous drops. We will continue our protest till our demand is fulfilled," he said.

A doctor at the hospital, H.S. Das, said: "The condition of all those admitted is stable."
The KRM was formed on January 16, 2013, and initially it functioned under the Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sansthan (KKRSS) to spearhead the demand for granting a Scheduled Tribe status to the Rais. The two organisations had differences over the board issue with the KRM alleging that the KKRSS was never in favour of a development board.

Khambu Rights Movement launched an indefinite hunger strike at Tricone Park to protest against interference

The KRM claims that it should be given the right to form the Rai development board that was announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on January 22 as it spearheaded the campaign to secure the board.

The KKRSS, which claimed to have backed the board demand, said it deserved to form the body as it was the primary association of the Rais and enjoys the support of more than 90 per cent of the community members.

Manoj Rai said a four-member team of the KRM headed by president A.K. Rai had reached Calcutta and was in the process of fixing up appointments with ministers and government officials to lay claim to the creation of the board.

"We are also seeking a meeting with the chief minister," he added.

Via Telegraph

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Now GTA to form Development Boards for 19 hill communities

10:36 AM

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Mamata Banerjee

Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Feb. 15: The GTA has decided to form development boards for 19 communities in the hills and allotted Rs 5 crore for each of them in an apparent move to neutralise Mamata Banerjee who set up similar bodies to the chagrin of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The Morcha has been alleging that Mamata has adopted "divide and rule" policy in the hills by forming development boards for different communities. Till date, the state government has created development boards for the Lepcha, Tamang, Sherpa, Bhutia and Mangar communities and also promised to look into the demands from the Rais and Limbus.

The Morcha-controlled GTA Sabha, however, passed a resolution on February 12 to form development boards for 19 communities which have significant population in the hills with an initial grant of Rs 5 crore for each of them. The 19 communities are Gurung, Bhujel, Newar, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakkha (Dewan), Khas, Mangar, Jogi, Limbu, Tamang, Dukpa, Lepcha, Sherpa, Bhutia, Yolmo, Scheduled Caste and Adivasis.

Bimal Gurung with Mamata Banerjee in the past

"While the government formed boards selectively to divide hill communities and weaken our Gorkhaland demand, we have created development boards for all hill communities to strengthen our unity and the Gorkhaland demand," said Bimal Gurung, the chief executive of the GTA.

Observers believe Trinamul has been able get a toehold in the hills largely because of its decision to form development boards. "The Morcha definitely feels Mamata's development board politics needs to be countered and that is why the GTA launched similar bodies for all communities," said an observer.

The state government has so far sanctioned Rs 131 crore for the development boards. The Lepcha board alone has been given about Rs 86 crore.

The GTA receives funds from the central and state governments, but the actual amounts are not known. There was an agreement that the GTA would be given a special annual grant of Rs 200 crore for three years once the hill body was formed.

Asked about the activities to be taken up by the GTA's development boards, Gurung said: "We will have to first chart out the composition of the boards and their tasks. The boards will then decide what is best suited for every community."

G.N. Lomjel, the general secretary of the All India Nepali Scheduled Caste Association, today said: "We welcome the GTA's decision to form development boards."


Source: Telegraph

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Khambu Rai and Limbu Development Board to be formed: Mamata Banerjee

8:32 PM

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Mamata Banerjee

Khambu Rai and Limbu Development Board will be soon announced by Mamata Banerjee who is in a visit to Darjeeling. She is likely to announce these development boards on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary celebration event on 23rd Jan in Chowrasta Darjeeling.

This has come as surprise to many because the Kirat Khambu Rais were fighting for Tribal status. "All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association Strongly condemn the use of our flag for the demand of Development Board. Our organisation ideology do not allow us to accept "Development Board" given by State Government of West Bengal. The use of the Flag without the permission of the organisation is unethical and crime" one of the social media post read.

"I have received several requests for setting up of development boards for various communities, among them, Khambu Rai and Limbu Board will be formed, meanwhile, we will consider for other communities too", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the concluding ceremony of Himal Terai Sports Festival 2016 held at North Point today.

She also gave away prizes at the sports festival, which was jointly organised by Siliguri Police Commisionerate, West Bengal Sports Department and Darjeeling Police.

‘I will continue to work for you always. I don't pay attention to hate-mongers. I just do my developmental work,’ she said.
‘We are providing Rs 1 lakh each to the Sherpas for their development. We have provided a grant of Rs 131 crore for uplift of the Hills communities,’ Mamata Banerjee said.

‘We are providing sports equipment and jerseys to the sports-persons who are taking part in these events. All the clubs have been granted Rs 25,000,’ she added.

She will be present during the official celebration to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary at Chowrasta tomorrow.

Source The Darjeeling Times

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Rais differ in Development board opinion

6:58 PM

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West Bengal Tribal Development Board (WBTDB)

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Oct. 18: A youth association of the Rai community has opposed the All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association’s decision to not accept a development board.

The general secretary of the Khambu Rights Movement, Sandip Kulung, today said: “We condemn the decision of not accepting a development board for the community. We have raised the demand after consulting our members from the grassroots level and we are leading the movement.”

The All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association had recently said that it would not accept any board because it could create rifts among the Rais and the main demand of the community is a Scheduled Tribe status. The Rais are now enlisted in the OBC category.

Association president Sachin Rai Dumi had said: “We fear division within the Rai community as the board will not be able to build houses for 3 lakh Rai families in the BPL category. Some Rai members will receive benefits, while the others will not.” Other leaders had said it would dilute their main demand of a ST status. 

The total hill population is about 15 lakh and around 5 lakh Rais live in the hills. The community has three associations, Khambu Rights Movement, All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association and Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sansthan, which hasn’t yet made its stand clear. The recent development, however, seems to have created a rift in the community. 

Kulung said: “We do not believe that the board will dilute our Scheduled Tribe demand and we have been organising events in Delhi demanding ST status. There were no problems when the Lepchas, Tamangs, Sherpas, Bhutias and Mangars accepted the boards. Why will there be disunity in the hills only because the Rai community will accept a board?

Recently, Mamata Banerjee had declared a board for the Mangars and said she would look into the demands of the Rai and Limbu communities. 

Source Telegraph

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Rai community rejects development board under West Bengal govt

7:25 AM

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West Bengal Tribal Development Board (WBTDB)

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

An association of Rai community members today said it would not accept a development board for them as such an arrangement would divide not only the hill population but also their own community.

This is the first time that any community-based organisation in the hills has taken a stand against the state government's development board.

The Mamata Banerjee government has already announced development boards for five communities in the Darjeeling hills, Lepchas, Tamangs, Sherpas, Bhutias and Mangars.

The All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association today held a meeting at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall to decide whether the community should accept a development board.

"The meeting was attended by the office-bearers of the association and 95 per cent of those present were of the opinion that we must not accept the development board," said Sachin Rai Dumi, the president of the association.

The Rai community has another organisation, Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sansthan, which hasn't yet made its stand on the development board clear. Both the organisations are equally influential in the hills.

Sachin Rai Dumi, the president of the association, (centre) in Darjeeling on Tuesday.
Picture by Suman Tamang

The association led by Sachin said its members would even sit on a hunger strike and bring out protest rallies if the development board was accepted by any other section of the Rai community.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to Kalimpong in September, had said in a public speech that she was considering the demands made by the Rai and Limbu communities for development boards.

"We have come to know that some individuals are approaching the chief minister for a development board. We will tell the chief minister that we do not want the board. If the need arises, we will organise protest rallies and hunger strikes to protest the formation of the board," said Hem Rai, the general secretary of the All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association.

Explaining their opposition to the board, Sachin said: "First of all, the board is not a permanent body and it cannot fulfil the aspirations of 5 lakh Rai community members. The board will divide not only the Gorkha community but also the Rai community."

The development boards have been registered as societies and are under the backward classes welfare department of the state government.

"We fear division within the Rai community as the board will not be able to build houses for 3 lakh Rai families in the BPL category. Some Rai members will receive benefits, while others will not. This will create a rift in the community," said Sachin.

M.K. Rai, the president of the Darjeeling subdivisional committee of the association, said: "Moreover, our main demand is to declare the community as a Scheduled Tribe. If we start running for houses and toilets, we will not have time to pursue our ST demand with seriousness."

Rais are now enlisted in the OBC category.

The total hill population is around 15 lakh and Sachin's association claims that 33 are the Rais.

The decision by an association of the Rai community to reject the development board has come as a major relief to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which has been alleging that Mamata Banerjee is trying to divide and rule the hill people through the formation of development boards.

"It is a very positive thought and we welcome it. Such thoughts will go a long way in strengthening the unity among the Gorkhas in the hills," said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha.

Prominent Rai leaders in the Morcha are Jyoti Kumar Rai and Phoebe Rai, both of whom are executive GTA Sabha members.

Jyoti Kumar Rai welcomed the decision.

"The benefits that come through the tribal status are far more than those given under the development board. After all, the development board only divides the hill population," he said.

Tara Rai, the president of the other Rai association, Kiranti Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sansthan, could not be contacted today.

However, a senior member of this association on condition of anonymity said: "Our main demand is the Scheduled Tribe tag for the Rais. Nevertheless, some youths want the development board. Our association has formed a fact-finding team to study the implications of the development board and it is only after it submits a report, will we take a stand on the matter."

Binny Sharma, the spokesman for Trinamul (hills), said: "A lot of people from the Rai community have met the chief minister with the demand for a development board. They want development and to preserve their culture like other communities in the hills. I haven't heard much about the association which is saying that they do not want the board. As far as the tribal status is concerned, the state government was the first to write to the Centre. It is the BJP government which has not yet shown any interest towards the demand."

Source: Telegraph

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KKRSS met tribal minister Jual Oram at Delhi

10:22 AM

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tribal news

Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan Delhi NCR unit lead by the newly elected convener of Delhi NCR unit Sachin Bantawa Rai met the Tribal minister Jual Oram today in his office. The team, who were there thanked the tribal minister for helping the Khambu community along with the 10 other communities of  Darjeeling in their demand for the tribal status. KKRSS Delhi NCR Unit was formed on 8th June 2015 in the meeting attended by Central Committee General Secretary Binita Khambu Rai, Central Committee members Prof Jog Chamling Rai and Shankamani Rai in Hauz Khas New Delhi.

KKRSS met tribal minister Jual Oram at Delhi

Bantawa said they had a positive talk with the tribal minister. He also stated as per the discussion on 8th June with General secretary Binita Khambu Rai , the main reason behind the formation of KKRSS DELHI NCR unit was to make the demand for schedule tribe status stronger . There are many Khambus in Delhi and North India and we can bring them together to spread awareness about our culture, rituals and languages.

The other main reason behind the formation of KKRSS Delhi unit is Delhi being the heart and soul of India many Khambu students go to Delhi for further studies, many youths decide to try their luck with employment in Delhi. When they come for the first time they face many difficulties hence this KKRSS Delhi NCR unit will be helping any people from our community coming in from Darjeeling, Sikkim or any part of India. Also many people come in for their treatment in Delhi and at such point our unit will be helping them in every possible way .This unit is not just for the Khambus but for any community coming from the hills and who require help.
By Prashant Acharya

Source : http://www.khabartaja24.com/

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First statue of Yalambar of Kirati community unveiled in Mirik

10:25 PM

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tribal news

The first statue of Yalambar of Kirati community was unveiled on Sunday at Mirik on the occasion of Sakela. The massive  statue was laid by the Kirat Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan of Mirik Unit at the Mirik Lake Kirateshwar temple complex. With the demand of Tribal status for the Kirati community the organization is highlighting their primitive culture and tradition. Today a large rally was organized at Mirik, where Kiratis showcased their traditional culture wearing own outfits, traditional instruments and much more.

First statue of Yalambar of Kirati community laid down in Mirik

Students and other members of the community took part in the rally holding placards demanding tribal status for the socio-economic development of the community.The community members also celebrated their traditional ‘Udhauli’ festival where thousands of Kiratis from Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars and Sikkim participated in the cultural programme.

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Sakela Udhwali celebrated in Assam with festive fervour

6:21 PM

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tribal news

Margheritha, Tinsukia 15th Dec 2015: Sakela Udhawli the harvest festival of Khambus was celebrated at Pawai Bongoan, Ketetong near Margheritha in Tinsukia Assam organised by Kirat Rai Mahasabha, Assam supported by Gorkha civil society organisations of the region. The daylong festival began with offering prayers to ancestors and deity followed by Silli group dances. Khambu youths performed rituals in presence of Mangpa and offered prayers to Paruhaang and Sumnima for well being of the society.

Sakela Udhwali celebrated in Assam

Several thousand Khambus being nature worshippers assembled to celebrate the he Sakela which is celebration is a prayer to Mother Nature for healthy crops and protection from natural calamities. Therefore, the festival is also known as "Bhumi Puja". Sakela Udhauli is celebrated in the monrth of Novermber and December suitably after a full moon day which is harvest season, as a part giving thanks to nature for providing them a good harvest.

 Khambu Rai cultural attire

The open session of the daylong celebration was presided by Siddhiman Thulung while Deo Kumar Rai addressed the Khambus as Key Note Speaker where he spoke at length about Kirat Khambu Rai culture and traditions. Abhijeet Khambu Rai elected General Secretary of Kirat Rai Mahasabha, Assam (KRM,A) informed the gathering about the mission, vision and current focus of the organisation and its structure. Convenor of the North East Kirat Rai Sanskritik Sansthan and Central Executive Member of All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU) Nanda Kirati Dewan graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and said,’The formation of Kirati Rai Mahasabha, Assam and its maiden Sakela celebrations here is a testimony of amalgamation of Khambus in an organisation to research, study and follow and most importantly preserve its culture and tradition. The celebrations today is proof of Kirati are indigenous and Sons of the Soil in Assam since time immemorial and deserving Scheduled Tribe of the country.’

Khambu people Dancing in the tribal tune in Sakela Udhwali celebrated in Assam

‘Development and uplifment of tribes of Assam like Khambu, Limbu, Tamang, Mangar, Gurung etc. will definitely strengthen the AAGSU ‘, Dewan added calling it Gorkha in Assam today is not just a tribe or caste but it is a composite society a community. He further stressed that Khambus of Assam should join the national demands of inclusion Khambus of country in central Scheduled Tribe list under article 342 of the Indian Constitution.
Prem Sampang elected president of KRM,A , Former President of Assam Kirat Sammelan Pradip Limboo, Senior Advocate Rajesh Rai, Literaturer Shanta Bahadur Dewan, Sol Bahadur Loh were some of the invited guests who spoke on the occasion. The cultural evening attraction was kid celebrity singer of the region Nandita Rai and dance performance by Sakela Silli Dance group lead by Rahul Lamsong Rai. Guest Artist s Parashmani Rai of Zee Bangla famed Sa Re Ga Ma fame from Darjeeling performed in the evening.

Source : Nanda Kirati Dewan

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Aparajita Rai First Gorkha Female IPS Officer of Sikkim.

11:38 AM

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Sikkim

Aparajita Rai , 28 years old girl, have become the First Gorkha  Female IPS Officer of Sikkim. She has not only done the Gorkhas of Sikkim proud but also to the Kirat Khambu Rai Community and to the whole Indian Gorkha Community. She is now posted in Hoogly in West Bengal.

Aparajita Rai the First Gorkha Female IPS Officer of Sikkim.

Daughter of late Gyanendra Rai and Roma Rai, Aparajita Rai, had cracked UPSC Examinations in both 2011 and 2012. She ranked 358 in UPSC 2012 Examinations and was allocated IPS cadre.

During the course of her training she won many awards, which highlight her ability. In all she won the prestigious trophies such as 1) 1958 Batch IPS officers' Trophy for the best Lady Outdoor Probationer. 2) Shri Umesh Chandra Trophy for Field Combat. 3) The 55th Batch of Senior Course Officers Trophy for Best Turn Out and 4) West Bengal Govt Trophy for Bengali.

Education

She did her nursery to UKG from the Holy Cross Montessori School, and studied from class-I to III at St Thomas School. She went on to complete her ISC from Tashi Namgyal Academy as a topper, where she was awarded the Founders Medal for best all rounder student in 2004. She was the state topper in the ISC board exams 2004 with 95% aggregate marks [best of 3]. She belonged to the commerce stream

She graduated in law in 2009. BA LLB (Hons) from the WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata with gold medals in Jurisprudence and Public International Law. She appeared for CSE in 2010 where she secured the 768 rank out of 920 in her first attempt itself.

Achievements
She is the School topper (TNA ISC) 95%, recipient of the Best girl all rounder Shrimati Ratna Pradhan Memorial Trophy in TNA (Tashi Namgyal Academy) in Gangtok,Sikkim. She is the Gold medalist from National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in both Jurisprudence and Public Administration. A 28 year old Aparajita Rai is now the First Female IPS Officer of Sikkim.

Aparajita is not just about studies though. She loves to play guitar and has won many intra and inter university competitions in art and western music.

With inputs from Sikkim Messenger / sikkimnow

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Bishal Khambu Rai died due to 'Scrub Typhus.'

10:20 AM

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kurseong

Kurseong: Bishal Khambu Rai,General Secretary of KKRSS Central Committee and one of the eminent Khambu Rights Movement youth leader,a social worker and a teacher, died On 25th September evening at around 5:30 due to Scrub Typhus. It was learnt that four days ago he had been admitted at a nursing home in Siliguri due to severe headache and sickness. Only yesterday he was shifted to another nursing home in the ICU unit.

Bishal Khambu Rai died due to 'Scrub Typhus.'

The cause of the death of 36 years old youth leader has been said to be a bite by a microscopic insect which is also called Scrub Typhus. The insect is said to be found among mice.

Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, a tiny parasite

What Is Scrub Typhus?Scrub typhus is an infectious disease that is transmitted to humans from field mice and rats through the bite of mites that live on the animals. The main symptoms of the disease are fever, a wound at the site of the bite, a spotted rash on the trunk, and swelling of the lymph glands.

Scrub typhus is caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, a tiny parasite about the size of bacteria that belongs to the family Rickettsiaceae. Under the microscope, rickettsiae are either rod-like (bacilli) or spherical (cocci) in shape. Because they are intracellular parasites, they can live only within the cells of other animals.

Scrub Typhus in the hills
So far this year alone, 16 cases of "Scrub Typhus" have been reported from Mirik Hospital. Other such cases have been reported from various hospitals and clinics all over Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

If this disease is ignored for long, then it can cause death.

Hill organizations and individuals including the GJMM and the GTA chief, Bimal Gurung has also paid condolence and expressed grief following the sudden demise youth leader Bishal Rai.

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Gorkhas in Delhi Celebrate Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary

10:15 AM

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photos

Gorkhas in Delhi Celebrate 70th Martyrs Day of the First Indian Gorkha Martyr Major Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary by Donating Blood

Delhi residents including residents from Delhi NCR, social organizations like Kirat Khambu Rai, Delhi Gorkhas Forum, Gorkhas Students union, Gorkhas 'ARNOVA, Women Federation and representatives from political groups - GJMM and CPRM all joined hands to remember the Saheed Durga Malla the first Indian Gorkha Freedom Fighter who was kept in the prison at Red Fort, New Delhi as a prisoner of war. He was prosecuted by military court under section 41 of the Indian Army Law and section 121 of the Indian Penal Code. He was given death sentence by the Court Martial, the court of trial before which he was tried at Red Fort.

Some of the Photos Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delhi

Photos Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delh by Gorkhas

Blood Donation Camp on Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delhi 

Blood Donation Camp on Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delhi Photos

Blood Donation Camp on Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delhi by Gorkhas in Delhi

Blood Donation Camp on Saheed Durga Malla's Death Anniversary in Delhi 

All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association Delhi

[Pics and report: Bishan Rai for TheDC]

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Brif Pre-history of Khambu Rai

7:27 PM

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Kirat Khambu Rai

A piece of basic pre-history of Khambu Rai by Kiran Khambu Rai

The Khambu Rais or Rais are one of the most ancient indigenous Ethnolinguistic groups of Nepal, the Indian State of Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills. They were Raipa meaning king (Rai means King in old Khas kura). Once someone was recognized as a ruler, Hindus awarded them the title Rai.

Pre-history of Khambu Rai

When the Nepalese Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah couldn't defeat Khambu king, he somehow took them in confidence that the land is theirs forever and gave them the title Rai in around B.S. 1832 . The title of Rai instead khambu kirant people who used to live in wallo kirant and majh kirant for particular reason.

The Rai are the Khambu (people living in Mud Hut). Then the post Rai was provided to the topmost leaders of the region. They were given the power to collect land tax.That's why sometimes Rai people are called jimmi or jimmi-wal. The Rai belong to the Kirati group or the Kirat confederation that includes Limbu, Sunuwar, Yakkha and Dhimal ethnic groups.

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Kul Puja of Khambu Rai Kirats

11:07 AM

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Kirat Khambu Rai

The Rai Kirats have till today, remained true and faithful to the advice of their forefathers who had told them to continue and lead to prosperity, their custom of Kul-Puja. They firmly believe that at the time of creation of Khamuhang Rais, the creator Ninapa (Brahma), the foster father Bishnu, and the destroyer Paruhang, had advised them to do so. They still consider the place as sacred mother, where they were first created, and in its honour, Rais dig a small hole in a corner of their house and place three stones in a triangular shape which they call as Hengkha Malung, meaning earth mother. In between these three stones other stones are placed and a fire is made in the middle. The fire thus made is considered to be the mother of fire which is duely, worshiped by all Rais. The three stones which they place in a triangular shape represent Dewallung, meaning the stone placed in the name of God, Sawalung, the stone placed in the name of male gender and Chekkulung, meaning the stone placed in the name of female gender. But as a whole this sacred place is known as Sharnkhalung and it is here that the Kul puja is performed.

Kul Puja of Khambu Rai Kirats

No other than Rais are permitted to enter into the room where Shamkhaling is installed. One who indulges in unholy and offensive activities in this place of Kul Puja, is sure to get Dewa or the curse, for the redemption of which he should employ the services of a beejuwaha to beg for forgiveness for his mistakes. These beejuwahas (witch doctors) are also the right persons through whom the ancestors and other deities are worshipped and paid homage to. They enchant a typical mantra known as Mundum in performing all religious rites and rituals. A new bride is not taken inside the house without making a kukut sacrifice at the threshold of the house. Thereafter she is taken straight to Sharnkhalung where she is accepted as a new member of the family invoking Chhekulung for approval and blessing the bride. This custom is known as Langthim Bhuma. Similarly, when their daughters get married, they bless the couple, pronouncing the names of the spouse while beating a bronze bowl with a stick again in the Shakhalung, to uprise the kul of the marriage of their daughter and to bless her for her new life. This is also to handover the entire responsibility of their daughter to their son-in-law. It is called Chan-Chin and is carried out through mundum which they call Bulukchung Sangma.

The three stones placed in Sharnkhalung are also considered to be the symbol of Brahma, Bishnu and Rudra and are believed to be the representation of three spheres, Lung-heaven, Taralung-earth and Hawalung the hell.

The Rais who believe in rebirth, consider themselves to be the descendant or Paruhang of the king of Himalayas-Shiva and of Shumnima the mother of parvat-Parvati.

There are abound ant references, in support of this claim of Rais, in Puranas, Mahabharat and other Sanskrit literatures where Lord Shiva has been referred to as Kiratayshwar Mahadeo.

According to their custom the purohit called beejuwa, solomnise both the arranged and eloped marriages. In consummating these marriages the beejuwa worship Kul and make fire in the Shamkhalung to bear witness of the ceremony enchanting mundum. Enchantment of mundum is so important that even in the event of death mundum is used in transporting the departed soul either to Suptulung-heaven or to Hawalung, the hell.
This sin fearing tribe uses Ganga Jal or the pure water of the Himalayas, stones brought from the mountain and two types of vegetations in matters of repentance for their sins.

Among other custom of Rais, Boilungma is of prime importance. Boilungma in Nepali is known as Ghar Paicho. On the day when a Rai shifts to a newly built house he takes locally prepared liquor called washim in a container made from dried gourd, which they call chindo and sprinkle the same all over the house with a small portion of banana leaf and declare that there remains no wood or stone in the house they may cause trouble and inconvenience to the family members.

They perform Kul Puja twice. annually, called Mang Bhuma and Pachowa. During Pachowa puja newly harvested crops are offered to the deity and during Mang Bhuma puja roosters, hollow dried gourd, locally prepared liquor, a piece of ginger, banana leaf and axcheta are offered. The other items needed during Pachowa are new stalks of corns, axe, hoe, sickle, dried gourd, roosters, a piece of ginger, axcheta, cooked food and meat, etc.

During Mang Bhuma puja a pinch full of ginger and a few grains of axcheta are placed on the head of the cock, few drops of washim, are sprinkled on its head thrice enchanting mundum and the rest of the ginger is offered to the deity but in Pachowa, ginger is pinched apart and sprinkled on the ovan with three stones that denote the trinity Brahma, Bishnu and Rudra and over the earthen pot which they call as Ghampa kept near by.

Machha Kuma, the old woman who symbolizes strength is also worshipped and revered by Rais since ancient times. Similarly, the naming ceremony of a newly born chile called Nauran and Bhatkhoy, the weaning ceremony, are also conducted by Beejuwas by making use of dhol-dhangro (drums), bow and arrows and other ritualistic items.

Different communities have different set of customs and traditions which are not recognised by other communities. Therefore, it would not be absurd to say that these customs and traditions are caste and community based.

Source: sikkim-culture.gov.in

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Jitu Rai Wins First Gold in ISSF World Cup for India

1:00 AM

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sports news

Jitu Rai wins gold in ISSF World Cup

An Indian Gorkha Shooter, Jitu Rai, after two silver medals, bags first ever Gold medal in shooting world cup for India. Someday's ago we had brought you news about Jitu Rai winning India's lone medal at the ISSF World Cup in Munich.

Indian Gorkha Pistol Shooter Jitu Rai Bags Historic
First World Cup Gold for India

He has now won a historic gold medal in the men's air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia. According to information received here, Jitu, who had won a silver medal in the free pistol competition here, shot 200.8 in the final round to clinch the yellow metal in the air pistol event.

Jitu, thus, became the first Indian shooter to have won two medals in a World Cup. The gold here was Jitu's third medal in back-to-back World Cups. He had won the air pistol silver in the last World Cup in Munich.

India’s Jitu Rai on Thursday won a historic gold medal in the men’s air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia.

According to the information received, Jitu, who had won a silver medal in the free pistol competition, shot 200.8 in the final round to clinch the yellow metal in the air pistol event.

Jitu, thus, became the first Indian shooter to have won two medals in a World Cup. The gold was Jitu’s third medal in back-to-back World Cups. He had won the air pistol silver in the last World Cup in Munich.

Jitu shot 584 out of 600 and was ranked third in the qualification round. He had a series of 98 98 97 98 97 96.

Carrera Pablo of Spain won the silver with a final score of 198.7, while Russia’s Gourianov Anto bagged the bronze with a final score of 177.2.

Another Indian in fray, P N Prakash finished fifth with a final score of 137.4. Prakash was fourth in the qualification round with a total score of 581 out of 600.

Source: indianexpress

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Kirati Khambu Rais welcome fresh criteria for inclusion in ST list

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tribal news

KKRSS welcome report of Panda Panel

Darjeeling: In a meeting of KKRSS (Kiranti Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan)  held in Darjeeling on June 12, the KKRSS has whole heartedly Welcome the recommendations and supports fresh criteria for inclusion in ST list recommended by a panel, headed by union tribal affairs secretary Hrushikesh Panda appointed by the UPA on the eve of the general election.

Mangpa

Meanwhile, KKRSS has been pursuing the issue of ST in Delhi at various levels. KKRSS had already converse on the issue of Khambu Rai and Hinduism with Govt. authorities at RGI (The Registrar General of India), a home ministry arm that oversees censuses and collects demographic data, during the process, govt had assured to form a committee to look into the matter. KKRSS had also requested of Ordinance for the Khambu Rai.

In the year 2010, RGI rejected enlistment of Gurung and Khambu Rai to ST status, however, in the same year, government granted Central OBC to Khambu Rai. The striving by KKRSS for ST status materialized Central OBC for Khambu Rais. Initially, KKRSS categorically rejected OBC as government had provided OBC instead of ST status for the Khambu Rais. KKRSS repeatedly filed RTI, why it was rejected. Following 4 RTI filed by the KKRSS / Janam Rai (RTI activist) and it took complete one year to accomplished proper reply from the government, KKRSS found out that RGI had pointed out 8 reasons for the rejection. Following the RTI replies from the RGI, KKRSS held an interactive session among the distinguished Khambu legal experts in Siliguri to counter the RGI stand. Accordingly a fresh report was separately submitted by KKRSS in the year 2012.

During the exercise for the ST status in Delhi, KKRSS invited Smt. Ranee Narah, former Honorable Minister of State for Tribal Affair to Darjeeling, accordingly Honorable Minister visited Mirik on the occasion of Sakewa 2013. During the occasion, Honorable Minister witnessed the Khambu culture and participated in Sili dance along with Khambu women. “The demand of Khambu Rais for the ST status is genuine demand, I will extend my all support”, said Honorable Minister during her short speech. This was indeed helpful later.

After the visit of Smt. Ranee Narah in Darjeeling, V. Kishore Chandra Deo, former Union tribal affairs minister was invited in Sikkim by Sikkim Khambu Rai Association alias AKRS. AKRS also has been actively working with KKRSS on ST issue. During the visit of Union tribal affairs minister in Sikkim, he had also assured possible support on the issue of ST status for Khambu Rais. KKRSS submitted the memorandum demanding ST status for Khambu in India.
KKRSS has now decided to elect its General Secretary as soon as possible and hold a solidarity rally in Darjeeling hills. The post of General Secretary is vacant after the resignation of Bishal Khambu Rai from its post.

Meanwhile, KKRSS has expressed its solemn concern over the withdrawal of proposal of ST status for 10 Gorkha tribes. KKRSS further stressed to work jointly on ST issue.

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Kirat Khambu Rai Association splits

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tribal news

Darjeeling, June 1: There are two Khambu Rai Associations in Darjeeling hills now, Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan (KKRSS) established in 1990 and All India Khambu Rai Association (AIKRA) established in 2014. The Kurseong unit of KKRSS has unanimously decided to associate with AIKKRA. Meanwhile, Bishal Khambu Rai, who is also General Secretary of KKRSS Central Committee and Kurseong unit of KKRSS has resigned from the post.

The resignation of Bishal Khambu Rai from the post of General Secretary, Central Committee, KKRSS has been accepted by the Central Committee KKRSS, in a meeting held in Darjeeling today. The meeting also decided to form new KKRSS unit and assigned Balaram Rai (Retd. Director, Kurseong Radio) as a new convener of the Kurseong unit. The meeting also decided the Joint Secretary Binita Khambu Rai will work as General Secretary till further notice.

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All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association formed - Press Release

9:04 AM

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tribal news

Bishal Khambu Rai wrote "I the President of All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association would like to request your good self to publish the following facts:

That a unanimous meeting was held on 4th day fo march 2011 at Bagdogra between Akhil Kirati Rai Sangh of Sikkim and Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sanstha of West Bengal.
The main resolution of the said meeting was to form one associations be amalgamating all Khambu Rai associations of India under the name and style "All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association" and an Ad-Hoc Committee was formed on the same day.

Dr. D.K.Rai, from Sikkim was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Ad-Hoc committee of "All India Kirati Khmabu Rai Association"

All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association is Non Political Organization, organized exclusively for culture, religious, charitable and educational purposes.

Registration process was taken up with the initiatives if Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan, Kurseong under the Presidentship of Mr. Basant Khaling Rai(Lee Banga) from Delhi.

With representatives of Khambu Rai Associations of eight states viz:West Bengal, Delhi, Sikkim, Utrakhand, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Bihar, Non Political Association namely All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association's registration was approved on 24th February 2014, being Resgistration No S/ND/395/2014 with the motive of including Khambu Rai community in the Schedule Tribe list of India, preserve and protect cultural heritage and promote the language, culture and tradition of Khambu Rai community and to promote awareness of Khambu Rai history, languages and culture to the general pulbic.

Today i.e 25/5/14 under the chairmanship of Mr. C.B.Rai, the members of Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sanstha, Kurseong, have affiliate to All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association, unanimously electing Sri Khemraj Rai as President and Sri S.B.Rai as General Secretary.
Furthermore, All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association will now be talking up the demand of including Khambu Rai community in the ST list of India.

Therefore, any Khambu Rai Association in India willing to be affiliate with All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association may contact President/Secretary, All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association, P.B.Road, Kurseong, West Bengal."

Khemraj Rai,
President,
All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association,
Kurseong, West Bengal Committee

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Kirat Kirati or Rai history and Culture

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Kirat Khambu Rai

Kirat or Kirati are indigenous ethnic groups of the Himalayas (mid-hills) extending eastward from Nepal into India, Burma and beyond. They migrated to their present locations via Assam, Burma, Tibet and Yunnan in ancient times. Prototype Tibeto-Burmans originated in the Yellow River basin around 10,000 years ago.

Kirat or Kirati history and Culture

Although only the Sunuwar(the people who inhabit the region westward of River Sun Koshi),Khumbu or Khambu (also known as Rai),Limbu (also known as Yakthumba or Subba) and Yakha (also known as Dewan or Zimdar) are generally called Kirati, the vast majority of ethnic people of the region eastward of Nepal too call themselves as Kirati. These people are also best known as modern Gurkhas. Their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages.

The original inhabitants of the Dooars region of India, i.e., the Koch and Mech, also claim themselves to be Kiratis and so do the Bodo and Kachari tribes of Assam.. They derive their titles from the original place of their dwelling, i.e., Koch from the Kosi River, Mech from the Mechi River and the word Kachari is derived from Kachar which means river basin. The basis of these claims relies on the fact that they areMongoloids even though they distinguish themselves from Mongolians elsewhere. They are therefore often identified as Kirati-Mongolians.

Kirat King Yalamber, who defeated the last
Yadava king, Bhuvan Singh

ETYMOLOGY

The source of the word Kirat or Kirati is much disputed. One school of thought says that it comes from the Sanskrit word Kirata found in the Yajur Veda, describing the handsome mountain people and hunters in the forests. It is also described as Chinese in the Mahabharat, Kirtarjuniya.

RELIGION

KIRAT PEOPLE PRACTICE SHAMANISM BUT THEY CALL IT “KIRAT RELIGION”. THE KIRATIS FOLLOW KIRAT MUNDHUM. THEIR HOLY TEXT IS THE MUDHUM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE KIRAT VEDA. KIRAT RAI WORSHIP NATURE AND THEIR ANCESTORS. ANIMISM AND SHAMANISM AND BELIEF IN THEIR PRIMEVAL ANCESTORS, SUMNIMA AND PARUHANG ARE THEIR CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. THE NAMES OF SOME OF THEIR FESTIVALS ARE SAKELA, SAKLE, TASHI, SAKEWA, SALELADI BHUNMIDEV, CHYABRUNG, YOKWA AND FOLSYANDAR. THEY HAVE TWO MAIN FESTIVALS: SAKELA/SAKEWA UBHAULI DURING PLANTATION SEASON AND SAKELA/SAKEWA UDHAULI DURING THE TIME OF HARVEST.

Kirat Limbu people believe in a supreme god called Tagera Ningwaphuma, who is also known as the supreme knowledge. The Kirat ancestor Yuma Sammang and god of war Theba Sammang are the second most important deities.
Kirats in Nepal were forced into taking Hindu names and accept Hinduism during the Prithvi Narayan Shah’s Khasnization Policy and the later Khas rulers of Nepal maintained this policy. Many of the Kirat initially stayed away from Hinduism but were encouraged to convert by the ruling elites of later Nepal.

There is a giant linga of the Kirat at Kirateshwara. It believed that all Kirat names, language and traditions were suppressed by the Khas rulers and people, but all such evidences were destroyed by the next rulers of Nepal.

HISTORY

The Kiratas mentioned in early Hindu texts are tribes of the forest and mountains. They are often mentioned along with the Cinas (Chinese). In Yoga Vasistha 1.15.5, Rama speaks of “kirAteneva vAgurA”, “a trap [laid] by Kiratas”, so about BCE Xth century, they were thought of as jungle trappers, the ones who dug pits to capture roving deer. The same text also speaks of King Suraghu, the head of the Kiratas who is a friend of the Persian King, Parigha. Hindu myth also has many incidents where the god Shiva imitates a Kirat person.

Contemporary historians widely agree that a widespread cultural exchange and intermarriage took place in the eastern Himalayan region between the indigenous inhabitants – called the Kirat – and the Tibetan migrant population, reaching a climax during the 8th and 9th centuries. Another wave of political and cultural conflict between Khas and Kirat ideals surfaced in the Kirat region of present-day Nepal during the last quarter of the 18th century. A collection of manuscripts from the 18th and 19th centuries, till now unpublished and unstudied by historians, have made possible a new understanding of this conflict. These historical sources are among those collected by Brain Houghton Hodgson – a British diplomat and self-trained orientalist appointed to the Kathmandu court during the second quarter of the 19th century – and his principal research aide, the Newar scholar Khardar jitmohan.

For over two millennia, a large portion of the eastern Himalaya has been identified as the home of the Kirat people, of which the majority are known today as Rai, Limbu and Yakkha. In ancient times, the entire Himalayan region was known as the Kimpurusha Desha (also, Kirata 

Pradesh), a phrase derived from a Sanskrit term used to identify people of Kirat origin. These people were also known as Nep, to which the name Nepala is believed to have an etymological link. The earliest references to the Kirat as principal inhabitants of the Himalayan region are found in the texts of Atharvashirsha and Mahabharata, believed to date to before the 9th century BC. For over a millennium, the Kirat had also inhabited the Kathmandu Valley, where they installed their own ruling dynasty. This Kirat population in the valley along with original Australoids and Austro-Asiatic speakers form the base for later Newar population. As time passed, however, those Kirat, now known as the Limbu, settled mostly in the Koshi region of present-day eastern Nepal and Sikkim.

Kirati traditional dress

From around the 8th century, areas on the northern frontier of the Kirat region began to fall under the domination of migrant people of Tibetan origin. This flux of migration brought about the domination by Tibetan religious and cultural practices over ancient Kirat traditions. This influence first introduced shamanistic Bon practices, which in turn were later replaced by the oldest form of Tibetan Buddism. The early influx of Bön culture to the peripheral Himalayan regions occurred only after the advent of Nyingma, the oldest Buddhist order in Lhasa and Central Tibet, which led followers of the older religion to flee to the Kirat areas for survival. The Tibetan cultural influx ultimately laid the foundation for a Tibetan politico-religious order in the Kirat regions, and this led to the emergence of two major Tibetan Buddhist dynasties, one in Sikkim and another in Bhutan. The early political order of the Kingdom of Bhutan had been established under the political and spiritual leadership of the lama Zhabs-drung Ngawang Namgyal. Consequently, Bhutan used to be known in the Himalayan region as the ‘kingdom of [Buddhist] spiritual rule’ (in old Nepali, dharmaako desh). The Tibetan rulers of Sikkim were also known as Chogyal, or spiritual rulers.

Both of these kingdoms adopted policies of suppression of indigenous practices, replacing them with those of Tibetan Buddhism. Bhutan’s religious rulers established a tradition of appointing religious missions to other Himalayan kingdoms and areas, through which they were able to establish extensive influence in the region. Bhutan’s ambitious missions were sent as far west as Ladakh. Even before the founding of modern Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha in 1769, Bhutan’s rulers were able to establish spiritual centres in several parts of what was to become the former’s territories, including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur,Gorkha and Vijayapur in the midhills, and Mustang, north of the central Himalayan range.

The Kirat were the earliest inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. Dhimal,Hsyu, Koch, Thami Tharu Chepang and Surel ethnic groups also consider themselves to be of Kirati descent. According to recent DNA and HLA typing done on the Kirat people of Nepal, Bhutan and India, these people’s ancestors migrated from south-east Tibet near the Burma border. However, Kirat people are not Khampa. Recent DNA studies on Tibeto-Burmese peoples have shown them to have both Southeast Asian and Northeast Asian origins. According to Kirati folklore, their ancestors migrated in a great volkerwanderungen from their ancestral homeland eastward to South-East Asia and beyond when Buddhist monks returned with glowing tales of availability of vast fertile lands.

That the monks-emissaries traveled to South-Eastern Asia spreading the doctrine of Four Noble Truths is evident from the fact that traces of pre-Brahminic culture is strongly visible in these lands. For example, the Hindu worshippers on Bali practice a mainly pre-Brahminic form of Hinduism, which early Chinese pilgrims categorized as Deota-Worshipping (deva-worshipping in Brahminic spelling). This peculiar form of Deota-Worshipping, mixed with an archaic form of Buddhism, in Balinese culture has roots deep inside the Kirati culture of pre-Brahminic Nepal.

The Sage of the Sakyas, soon after his Enlightenment had visited the Kiratdom of Kathmandu and worshipped at the Temple of Swayambhunath, the Adi Buddha, the Primordial Buddha during the reign of Kirati King Jite Dasti. Tradition has it that King Jite Dasti and his subjects were converted to the path of Nirwan (Brahminic spelling Nirvana) during this visit. However, King Jite Dasti decreed that his subjects were free to continue to worship Paru Hang (brahmnic name Shankar) while following the Four Noble Truths and this is the provenance visible in Nepal as well as Bali.

Furthermore, the Balinese worship Pancha-Dhyani aspects of the Buddha of Nepalese culture e.g., Akshobhya, Amitabha, Amoghasiddha, Bhairochana and Ratnasambhawa referring to them as various Deotas of the Brahminic pantheon. These divinities are totally unknown in Hindu India. The Balinese also worship the Nepalese deity Manjusri, the Celestial Architect, which is also unknown to the Hindus of Brahminic culture. None but the Kirati-Mongolians of pre-Brahminic Nepal could have transplanted their culture to Bali, a culture which had remained virtually unknown to the world outside until its presence was discovered by a Dutch scholar in 1814.

Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe and Kirat revival:

Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe or Teyongshi Ziri Dzö-nga Xin Thebe was an 18th-century Limbu scholar, teacher, educationist, historian and philosopher of Limbuwan and Sikkim. He was formally known as Sirichongba but his more popular name was and remains Sirijanga. Sirijanga researched and taught the Kirat-Sirijonga script, language and religion of the Limbus in various part of Limbuwan and Sikkim. He revived the old Kirat script.
History of Limbuwan: Kirat people of Limbu nationality

Limbuwan had a distinct history and political establishment until its unification with the kingdom of Gorkha in 1774 AD. During King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s unification of Nepal, the present-day Nepal east of Arun and Koshi rivers was known as Pallo Kirat Limbuwan. It was divided into 10 Limbu kingdoms of which Morang kingdom was the most powerful and had a central government. The capital of Morang kingdom was Bijaypur (present-day Dharan). After the Limbuwan Gorkha War and seeing the threat of the rising power of the British East India Company, the kings and ministers of all the 10 Limbu kingdoms of Limbuwan gathered in Bijaypur to agree upon the Limbuwan-Gorkha Treaty. This treaty formally merged the 10 Limbu kingdoms into the Gorkha kingdom but it also had a provision for autonomy of Limbuwan under the “kipat” system.

Gorkhali hegemonies

The next phase of military and cultural threat faced by the Kirat people was at the hands of the Gorkhali expansionists of Nepal, shortly after Sirijanga’s death. The nature and intensity of this hegemony was to prove significantly different from that of the earlier Tibetan one, however. From the very beginning, the Gorkha court’s intention in the region was not the extension of its Hindu-based culture. Rather, Gorkha’s was a clear military campaign of territorial expansion.
After the completion of the conquest of the Kathmandu Valley in 1769, the Gorkhali army marched east towards the Kirat territory. The Sen rulers of eastern Nepal, known as Hindupati, had established a weak rule in the Kirat region by adopting a policy of mutual understanding with the local Kirat leaders. The Gorkhali military campaign, in contrast, brought with it a forceful and brutal occupation. During the conquest, the invading authorities adopted a harsh divide-and-rule policy: they first asked the Kiratis to surrender, assuring them that they would retain local rule and their traditional order. After many took up this offer, however, the conquerors instead demanded that Gorkhali rule be obeyed and Gorkhali traditions be followed. Manuscripts in Hodgson’s collection make mention of Kirat men, male children and pregnant women having been murdered in great numbers.

The Gorkhalis ultimately divided the Kiratis into two groups, the sampriti and the niti: the former were those who had surrendered to Gorkhali power and cultural traditions, while the latter maintained their own traditions. The Gorkhali authorities naturally favoured the sampritis, killing the nitis or forcing them to flee their lands. As a result, much of the niti population migrated towards Sikkim and Bhutan. But Gorkhali wartime policy changed, particularly after the conquest of the territories of Kumaun and Garhwal far in the west. By the end of the 18th century, the authorities in Kathmandu were in need of more state revenue, and implemented a policy to bring people into Nepali territory in order to make barren land arable. The Kirat who were ousted from their lands during the Gorkhali military conquest were also asked to return home, albeit under the condition that Gorkhali rule and traditions were strictly followed. Relatives and friends of those who had fled were recruited to call them back, and people moved again between the state-given identities of niti and sampriti.

The History of Sunuwar

This ethnic group belongs to the deity of Pandava lineage as Raja Kooli duma mooli. They do not belong to Kirati grouped but inadvertently grouped by the Indian Scholar compiler of Veda called Ved Vyas as indiginious Kirati. They are the direct descendants of great pandava prince Bhimsena by Ghatotkacha’s son Bar Barey. Though Bar Barey was never married in his life time his head was miraculously severed by Sudarshan Chakra and was kept in meditation with the resurrection by the power of Cosmic divine light which helped him see the cosmic drama and witnessed about who actually fought Mahabharata war. He was kept as cosmic invissible witness to see the great war of Truth and evil. He explained his Pandava grandfathers the details about who won the great war. He confirmed that it was the Sudarshan Chakra who actually fought single handedly all the entire war. It killed Bhisma Pitamah, Karna, Dronacharya but spared the life of majority of Kiratis at the will of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna has never fought the war and never killed any sentient beings. After almost all the scenes of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna showed the Cosmic Divine Transcendental to Bar Barey and declared thus ” My dear son, Bar Barey, I am pleased by your meditation and witness fot the truth over evils. Your progenies will be called Sunu varam(Sunuwar), who shall be come forth out of your eternal light of your Third eyes as the part and parcels of your soul in the form of golden dove and shall live forever. Your progenies were previously gopies and gwalas who will be reborn again as a brown complexioned as your speech incarnation. They shall go, multiply and be fruitful. Their look will symbolize like doves which is the sign of love and peace. You will never perish, you have now got an eternal life in the Supreme abode of mine the Spiritual world. They will worship my unpronounced primordial Word, and meditate upon it. This will be called Sruti Veda, i.e. original veda, the source of four vedas. They will be revered by yogis and Brahmins, Kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras as an epitome of my Name. Your progenies shall be recognised as my eternal sons and remain on this earth till my next reincarnation as Isha, the beloved son of Me, the God Father. They will cooperate with my Supreme Son as brothers and sisters to help him spread the good messages of my Word. They shall always meditate upon inconceivable Name of mine, not within the domain of alphabets. They will mix with these Kiratis and guide them to come to me. They will do all religious services to all Kiratis. They are not Kiratis but will be among them. My blessings to you all.

Source - .inasociety.org

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