Prof. Mahendra P Lama gets clean chit on sexual harassment case

8:53 PM

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sexual assault

JNU sexual harassment case: Panel clears professors, warns complainants

The first complaint relates to an alleged incident in 2013, and the second to an incident last year — the complaints in both the cases were registered in January this year. The probe report, along with the ICC’s recommendations, in the first case was submitted on June 29, and in the second case on July 25.

Written by Aranya Shankar , Shradha Chettri
When contacted by The Indian Express, the ICC’s presiding officer, Vibha Tandon, declined comment. Kharat did not respond to requests seeking comment. The complainants could not be reached for comment.

The internal regulator of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has cleared two professors named together in two different complaints of sexual harassment — and instead, issued identical warnings to the complainants for “advertising” the issue.

In separate recommendations following probes in both the cases, JNU’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) concluded that “no case of sexual harassment” could be made out against Mahendra P Lama and Rajesh Kharat. Lama is a professor at the Centre for South Asian Studies, where Kharat was former chairperson. However, both sets of recommendations contain the same warning in identical paragraphs.

“It was observed during the proceedings that the complainant herself was advertising about her complaint on her Facebook and through other electronic media and informed the public at large. Hence, the complainant should be issued a warning to not indulge in such act in future because this kind of act by any of the complainants, defendants and witnesses damages the inquiry procedure and the affected parties. This kind of a public propaganda also damages the image of the institution,” it reads.

When contacted by The Indian Express, the ICC’s presiding officer, Vibha Tandon, declined comment. Kharat did not respond to requests seeking comment. The complainants could not be reached for comment.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Lama said: “It was a fake and frivolous case lodged by non-performing students in collaboration with non-performing teachers.”

The first complaint relates to an alleged incident in 2013, and the second to an incident last year — the complaints in both the cases were registered in January this year. The probe report, along with the ICC’s recommendations, in the first case was submitted on June 29, and in the second case on July 25.

In the 2013 complaint, the ICC concluded that “no case of sexual harassment is made out against Lama and Kharat”. In the 2017 complaint, too, the ICC found “no case of sexual harassment”.
In the second case, however, the ICC noted that there was an “administrative lapse” on the part of Lama for denying the complainant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for changing the supervisor. It noted a similar “lapse” on the part of Kharat for not discussing the complainant’s application for a change of supervisor in the faculty meeting.

In the 2013 complaint, the ICC concluded: “Professor Mahendra P Lama was a strict teacher who wanted his students to work hard and perform up to mark, which cannot be termed and/or understood as sexual harassment at all. The complainant could not complete her thesis on time and also it is clear from the deposition of the complainant that on the basis of some rumour she developed “Lama phobia”, which triggered the present complaint. It is also clear (Lama) gave NOC to the complainant without delay for the change of supervisor.”

On the same complaint, the ICC observed that “Kharat did not perform his duty of maintaining the records and files of the PhD students properly. But this act of Kharat cannot be termed as sexual harassment in terms of the Act”.

In the 2017 complaint, ICC recommended that Lama and Kharat be “censured”. Lama was censured for “creating uncertainty by not giving NOC to complainant as well as directing (the) complainant to de-register against her will”.

Via Indian Express

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म माथी लागेको दुवै केस फेक हो:- डा•महेन्द्र पी•लामा

12:03 PM

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Mahendra P. Lama

बिगत केही दिन अघि गोर्खाली गौरव डा•महेन्द्र पी•लामा माथि यौन उत्पीडन अनि मानसिक यातना जस्तो गम्भीर आरोप लागेपछि सम्पुर्ण गोर्खाली समाज स्तब्ध साथै दुःखित बनेको छ।

यहि सिलसिलामा गोर्खाल्याण्ड 24x7ले डा• एम•पी लामा संग फोन मार्फत सम्पर्क गर्यो। फोन अन्तर्वार्तामा उनले आफुमाथी लागेको सम्पुर्ण आरोप निराधार अनि झुटो हो भन्दै सरासर खारेज गरेका छन्।फोन अन्तर्वार्तामा उनले भने,' यो एकदमै साधारण केस हो।स्टुडेन्टहरुले पिएचडीको निम्ति चार बर्ष भरिमा च्यापटर बुझाउने पर्ने हुन्छ। त्यसलाई प्रोफेसरहरुले जाच्ने गर्दछ।अनि म माथी आरोप लगाउने दुई छात्राहरुले अहिलेसम्म एउटै पनि च्याप्टर बुझाएकी छैनन।जुलाई 2018 साल भरिमा थेसिस बुझाउन पर्ने हुन्छ।मैले ती दुई छात्राहरुलाई भनेको थिए।तिमी दुईले थेसिसको च्यापटर चाहिँ बुझाउ यदि बुझाउन सकेनौ भने युनिभर्सिटीमा दी रेजिस्टर नियम अनुसार जब च्यापटर तयार हुन्छ तब बुझाउ भन्ने सुझाव दिएको थिए। दी रेजिस्टर नियम अनुसार युनिभर्सिटीको होस्टेल छोडन पर्छ।तर यो बिध्यार्थीहरुले च्यापटर पनि न बुझाउने नियम पनि पालन नगर्ने हुँदा मैले तिमिहरुले या त दी रेजिस्टर नियम पालन गर अथवा च्यापटर बुझाउ भन्दा युनिभर्सिटीको इन्टरनल कम्प्लेन कमिटीमा मेन्टल ह्यारेस्मेन्ट(मानसिक यातना) को केस दर्जा गर्यो।मैले ICC(Internal Complain Committee) लाई दुई छात्राहरुको सम्पुर्ण ब्यवहार अनि वास्तविक कुरा उल्लेख गर्दै पत्र लेखे।अहिले आएर हामीले केस हार्ने रहेछौं भनेर आभास पाए पछी बाहिर निस्केर मेरो बदनाम गर्ने कोशिस चलीरहेको छ।यो एक सोची सम्झेर गरिएको साजिस हो।होस्टेल बाहिर निस्केपछि यिनिहरुले राजनैतिक दलको बिध्यार्थी संगठनको समर्थनमा अहिले आधारहीन आरोप लगाइरहेका छन्।अहिले युनिभर्सिटीको आन्तरिक मामिलाको कारणले गर्दा १५ दिन देखि युनिभर्सिटी बन्द छ।

के यसलाई एक राजनैतिक षड्यन्त्रको रुपमा मान्नु हुन्छ भन्ने गोर्खाल्याण्ड 24x7 को प्रश्नको उत्तर दिदै डा• लामाले भने,' हुन सक्छ, म यसलाई नकार्न सक्दिन तर त्यो भन्दा पनि मुख्य कुरा के हो भने मेरो सबैभन्दा कमजोरी के भयो भन्दा अरुले नपाउने जम्मै कुरोहरु मैले पाए।भर्खरै म चाइनामा एक हाइ एन्ड एक्सपर्टको रुपमा गए।जुन एकदमै दुर्लभ पद हो।त्यसमा धेरैले म संग आहृस गरेका छन।साथै म प्रधानमन्त्रीको भारत सरकारको एमिनेन्ट पर्सन्स ग्रुपमा पनि परे।जम्मै भारत अनि नेपाल सम्बन्ध मैले नै सम्हाल्ने दायित्व छ।त्यसमा सबैको आँखा जलेको छ।तर यसमा म के गर्न सक्छु केही गर्न सक्दिन भन्दै लामाले आफ्नो कुरा राखे।

र माथी लागेको सम्पुर्ण आरोपहरु झुटो हो।तपाईहरु कोही पनि सुर्ताउन पर्दैन।म जे भन्दैछु साँचो भनी रहेको छु।अनि ICC(Internal Complain committe) मा केस दर्ता भएको छ।त्यहाँ मैले बाहिर गएर केही भन्दिन भनेर Oath Of Confidentiality(गोपनियताको  सपथ)लिएको कारणले गर्दा मात्रै बाहिर निस्केर भन्न न सकेको हु नत्र भने मैले प्रेसवार्ता ढाकी अस्तिनै सबै खुलस्त पार्ने थिए भन्दै डा•महेन्द्र पी लामाले आफ्नो कुराहरु राखे।सरलाई त पद बाटनै हटाउन पर्छ भन्ने कुराहरु उठदैछ नि भन्ने प्रश्नको जवाफमा डा• लामाले हास्दै भने,' त्यो त जे भन्दा पनि हुन्छ।फेसबुकमा त जे भन्दा पनि हुन्छ जे लेखे पनि हुन्छ।अब मैले तपाईलाई ब्यक्तिगत रुपले नचिने पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड 24x7को चिफ एडिटर राई भाई त यस्तो पो हो भनेर आरोप लगाई लेख्दा हुन्छ नि हैन? त्यसर्थ यस्ता कुराहरुलाई भाव दिन पनि हुँदैन।

सरलाई 2019 सालको चुनाव लडन पर्छ भन्ने तपाईंँको समर्थकहरुलाई के संदेश दिन चाहनु हुन्छ भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तरमा म अहिले चुनावको बारेमा केहि सोचेको छुइन। त्यो समयले बताउने छ डा• लामाले गम्भीर संग उत्तर दिए।अनि कोही पनि डराउनु अनि आत्तिनु पर्ने छैन कारण म माथी लागेको सम्पुर्ण आरोपहरु झुटो अनि निराधार हो।

Source गोर्खाल्याण्ड 24x7

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Dr. Mahendra P Lama in Myanmar Energy Forum

10:00 PM

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Mahendra P. Lama

Prof Mahendra P Lama of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi was invited from India to make a special presentation on how cross border energy exchanges could be done with Myanmar’s South Asian neighbours particularly the immediate North East region of India

In order to implement the promises and issues related to the energy security in Myanmar mentioned in the election manifestoes of the first democratically elected Government led by the National League for Democracy, the Myanmar Energy Forum Meeting was organised by the famous Parami Energy at Nay Pyi Taw the new capital of Myanmar. Myanmar formerly Burma has now country’s first civilian President Htin Kyaw in more than 50 years. The military rule was imposed in Myanmar in 1962 and ruled the country till very recently.

The National League for Democracy is actually led by its President and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi who won commanding majorities in both houses of parliament in the last November 2015 election. Suu Kyi is the youngest daughter of the Father of the Modern Burma Aung San. However, the valiant fighter for democracy who was jailed and remained under house arrest for almost 21 years could not become the President of Myanmar this time also as the constitution debars anyone with a foreign spouse or children to become the President. It may be noted that Aung San Suu ki is married to late Prof Michael Aris from England and has two sons. Suu ki however, has taken over the coveted portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of President’s Office.

In photo from left : Shri Ken Tun, CEO of Parami Energy of Myanmar, Prof Mahendra P Lama
and Shri Gautam Mukhopadhyay, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar

A large number of top energy specialists from all over the world gathered in this Energy Forum Meeting led by Myanmar’s top energy specialist Ken Tun. This Forum specially met to draw a policy document for energy security in Myanmar. Prof Mahendra P Lama of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi was invited from India to make a special presentation on how cross border energy exchanges could be done with Myanmar’s South Asian neighbours particularly the immediate North East region of India. Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Shri Gautam Mukhopadhyay also participated in the Forum meeting held in the very beautiful Horizon Lake View Resort.

The Forum finally produced a policy document for the Government of Myanmar which aims including many other issues to reach electricity to every nook and corner of Myanmar by 2030 and also scientifically harness its huge gas and water resources.


[You can reach Prof. Mahendra P Lama at: Mob 9818686637]

Via DarjeelingTimes

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देशमा हार्‌यो, कालिम्पोङमा जित्यो - महेन्द्र पी लामा

9:27 AM

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nepali

- महेन्द्र पी लामा

हामी छुट्टै राज्यका निम्ति संघर्षरत सबैको लागि गत केही सातामा विभिन्न अखबारहरूमा निस्केका चार–पाँचवटा समाचार अति नै चिन्ताजनक छन् । प्रथमतः १३ मेको टाइम्स अफ इन्डियामा दार्जिलिङका सांसदलाई संसद्को एक प्रमुख पब्लिक एकाउन्टस् कमिटीबाट हटाइएको खबर छापिएको छ । यस कमिटीबाट दार्जिलिङको सांसदलाई आफ्नै पार्टी भारतीय जनता पार्टीले नै हटाएको हो । यसअघि दार्जिलिङको सांसदलाई बीजेपीको उत्तरपूर्वी क्षेत्रहरूको देखरेख गर्न पदबाट पनि हटाइएको थियो ।

त्यसअघि दार्जिलिङका सांसदको नेतृत्वमा बनिएको जमिन उपलब्धि अधिग्रहण विषय संसद्को संयुक्त समितिको अवधि बढाइएपछि पनि कुनै ठोस रिपोर्ट नै प्रस्तुत गर्नु नसक्दा एनडीए सरकारले जमिन अधिग्रहण जस्तो महत्त्वपूर्ण मामलामा हार मात्रै नमानेर संसद्मा यसको परिचर्चा नै बन्द गर्‌यो । प्रश्नै–प्रश्न उठ्छ यहाँ ? एकपटक गोजुमुमोले ‘हामीले पठाएको सांसद केन्द्रीय मन्त्री' हुन्छ भन्थ्यो अहिले ऊ सांसदलाई नै आफ्नै पार्टीले यस्तो हालत बनाएपछि, दार्जिलिङमा आएर २८ दिनमै भोट जितेर गएको सांसदले संसद्मा छुट्टै राज्यको नामसमेत पनि उच्चारण गर्न सक्ला ? अब तीन वर्ष छ ।

दार्जिलिङका मानिसहरूले भूमिपुत्र र जातिको चिनारीसमेतलाई गलहत्याएर पठाएको सांसदले खोइ केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय ल्याएको स्मार्ट सिटी खोइ ? दार्जिलिङलाई उत्तरपूर्वी क्षेत्रको काउन्सिलमा हालेको खोइ ? चिया कमानमा मानिसहरू बेसहारा भई भोकभोकै मर्दा पनि सांसद कहाँ छन्, सांसदलाई दार्जिलिङ ल्याएर जिताउने पार्टी कहाँ छन् ? पञ्चायत व्यवस्था के भो ?

महेन्द्र पी लामा

दोस्रो खबर, १३ मईको टाइम्स अफ इन्डियामा नै यत्रो ठूलो छापिएको थियो । बिहारको समस्तीपुरमा राजेन्द्रप्रसाद कृषकीय विश्वविद्यालय स्थापना गर्ने बिललाई लोकसभा र राज्य सभामा एकै दिनमा पारित मात्रै नगरिएर त्यही दिन राष्ट्रपतिले पनि स्वीकृति दिए । संसदीय इतिहासमा यो एउटा नौलो घटना थियो । अर्थात् सरकारले चाहेको खण्डमा विश्वविद्यालयको बिल एकै दिनमा पनि पारित गरिन सकिनेरहेछ हाम्रो सांसदले चाहिँ के गर्दैछ ? गोजामुमोले तीन–तीनवटा बजेटमा विश्वविद्यालयको घोषणा गरिनेछ भनी चारैपट्टि ढोल पिट्यो । डीपीआर बनाउनलाई लाखौँ रुपैयाँ खर्च गर्‌यो ।

मङपुमा आफ्नो हक अधिकार नहुँदानहुँदै पनि विश्वविद्यालयको निम्ति जमिन देखाइ टोप्लयो । तर विश्वविद्यालयको नमोनिशान छैन । विश्वविद्यालयलाई केन्द्रले दिँदा न डीपीआर चाहिन्छ, न बजेटमा घोषणा गर्नुपर्छ, न पहिल्यैबाट जमिन देखाउनुपर्छ । हामीले बारम्बार यी सत्य कुरा भन्दै आएका छौँ । केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालयको निम्ति संसद्मा सरकारले बिल मात्रै ल्याउनुपर्छ, अहिले बिहारको कृषि विश्वविद्यालय झैँ । सो बिल सरकारले ल्याउनुपर्छ, सांसदले ल्याउनुपर्छ ।

खोइ हाम्रो सांसद, खोइ हाम्रो बिल ? एउटा केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालयसम्म त ल्याउन नसक्ने सरकार सांसद र गोजुमुमोले छुट्टै राज्यलाई त ‘आकाशको फल आँखा तरी मर' नै बनाइदियो । भोट दिने जनता किन चुप छ ? एक दिन खाएर पाँच वर्ष भोकै बस्नु नै रुचाएको हो कि कुन्नि कहाँबाट हुत्तिएर आएको मान्छेलाई सांसद बनाउने हाम्रो जनताले ?

तेस्रो, रहेका सबै गोर्खा जातिका जातिलाई जानजातिको सूचीमा गाभ्ने जमर्को चल्दैछ । दोहोरी र फेद न टुंगैबिना ‘हाई लेभल' कमिटी केन्द्र सरकारले बनायो भनेर फेरि नाच्यो गोजुमुमोका भाइ भतिजाहरू । एकपटक मुखैमा, आँखाको अगाडि नै र गोर्खे छातीकै सामुने ‘बंग भंग हो बेना' भन्दा पनि यसरी नै अर्थनव्यर्थमा नाचेका थिए यिनीहरू र नाचेका नाचेकै छन् आज पनि । चुनावको अगाडि एनडीए सरकारले एउटा ‘संयुक्त सचिव' स्तरको कमिटी गोर्खाका जातलाई अनुसूचित जनजातिको सूचीमा हाल्नलाई विचार–विमर्शको निम्ति गठन गर्‌यो । यसलाई गोर्खाल्यान्डभन्दा ठूलो उपलब्धि हो भन्नेहरू पनि छन् ।

नोकरशाहीको सबैभन्दा तलका अधिकारीको नेतृत्वमा कमिटी गठन गर्दा मान्छे किन रमाएको ? सचिवस्तरमा, राजनीतिक स्तरमा वा विशेषज्ञ र न्यायाधीशको स्तरमा यो कमिटी बनिनुपर्ने थियो । यो केको ‘उच्चस्तरीय' ? पुङ न पुच्छरमा किन रमाउनु ? यो कमिटीको टर्मस् अफ रेफरेन्स खोइ ? जनजातिको सूचीमा हाल्न पाँचवटा खुड्किला चढ्नुपर्छ । तेस्रो खुड्किलो पुगिसकेको मागलाई फेरि यो कमिटी बनाएर प्रथम खुड्किलोमा किन झार्‌यो ? हिजोअस्ति जनजातिको माग प्रधानमन्त्रीको टेबुलमा छ र प्रधानमन्त्री विदेशबाट फर्किनासाथ पास हुन्छ भन्नेहरू कहाँ छन् आज ?

केही गर्नुपर्दैन । आसामका ६ जाति कोच–राजवंशी, मुतिया, ताई अहोम, मोरान र मुटोकलाई एनडीएका प्रधानमन्त्रीले लोकसभा चुनाव जितेको खण्डमा ६ महिनाभित्र नै जनजातिको सूचीमा हाल्छु भनेर आश्वासन दिएको दुई वर्ष भयो । भर्खरै भएको विधानसभाको चुनावअघि नै हाल्छौँ भनेर सात सदस्यीय कमिटी पनि बनायो, तर केही भएन । दार्जिलिङको सांसद र गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्यान्ड झैँ यसलाई २०१७ को जीटीएको चुनाव र २०१५ को लोसभा चुनावको मुद्दा बनाउने नै छ । कारण यी दुवैमा यी दुई मुद्दाहरूलाई पार लगाउने न क्षमता छ, न लगनशीलता, न त इमानदारीता नै छ ।-

चौथो गत १५ मईमा टेलिग्राफ खबर कागजमा हामीले भन्दै आएको कुरोलाई नागाल्यान्ड सरकारले लैजान सुरु गरेको खबर छापियो । जापान सरकारले नागाल्यान्डबाट १५ हजार प्रशिक्षित नर्सहरूलाई जापान लगेर त्यहाँका बूढापाकाहरूका हेरचाह गर्नमा रोजगारका निम्ति निम्तो दिने । जापान र विश्वका विकसित राष्ट्रहरू अमेरिका, जर्मनी, फ्रान्स, इङल्यान्ड, क्यानडा आदिमा बूढापाकाहरूको संख्या अति बढी मात्रामा भएकाले चारैतिरबाट नर्सहरू लगेर जाँदैछन् । जापानमा भने बूढापाकाले हजारौँ रुपैयाँ तलब दिएर फिलिपिन्सबाट नर्सहरू ल्याउँछन् । कोरिया–चीन आदि राष्ट्रबाट ऐतिहासिक कारणले जापान नर्सहरू रुचाउँदैन ।

हामीले दार्जिलिङको कुना–कुनामा लोकसभा चुनावको समय दार्जिलिङबाट हजारौँ नर्सहरू जापान र अन्य राष्ट्रहरूमा पठाउने प्रस्तावना र कार्यक्रम अघि ल्याएका थियौँ । हामीले भनेका थियौँ– नर्स ट्रेनिङ स्कुल र केन्द्रहरूमा हाम्रा चेलीबेटीलाई भर्ना गरी, विदेशी भाषाजस्तै जापानिज सिकाएर, यी विदेशी सरकारसँग सम्झौता गरी, हाम्रै दार्जिलिङ र सिक्किम क्षेत्रका हजारौँको संख्यामा विदेश पठाउन प्रबन्ध मिलाउँछौँ भनेर । चुनाव हारेपछि पनि धेरै ठाउँहरूमा यस्तो प्रस्ताव राख्यौँ । म आफैँ जापानका विश्वविद्यालयहरूमा पढाउँदा र त्यहाँका उच्च अधिकारीहरूसँग कुराकानी गर्दा यसमा सहमति सबैले जनाउँथे । संस्कृति, रूप, रङ, लवाइखुवाइ आदिमा हाम्रा ठिटीहरू जापानसँग घतलाग्दो प्रकारले मिल्छन् । तर कसैले यो कुरो अघि बढाएन ।

गत ६ महिनामा उत्तरपूर्वी क्षेत्रका उच्च अधिकारी र राजनीतिक नेताहरूकहाँ विभिन्न कार्यक्रममा मैले यो प्रस्ताव राखेँ । आश्चर्यजनक कुरो, भारत सरकारका उद्योग वाणिज्य मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीहरू र उत्तरपूर्वी दुई राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्रीहरूले यो सुझावलाई टिपेर आज कार्यान्वयन पनि गरेकाले नै, नागा ठिटीहरू र खसिया ठिटीहरू नर्स भएर जापान जाने तरखरमा छन् । जीटीएले यस्तो कुरो सोच्न पनि सक्तैन ? सांसदलाई अत्तोपत्तो छैन हाम्रा ठिटीहरू र उनीहरूका परिवारले झेलेका पिरमर्काबारे । अनि नै दुःखलाग्दो कुरो हो, फोहोरमैला, दुःख–पीडा र अन्धकार भविष्यमा लादिएर पनि जनता ब्युँझिँदैनन् । यो ज्वालामुखी कहिले फुट्ने ? भित्रभित्रै लामाहरू खरानी भएपछि फुटेर पनि ज्वाला ननिस्केला एक दिन ।

पाँचौँ सिक्किमको एउटा नेताले सिक्किमे नेपाली हो, अरू गोर्खा हो, जो नेपालबाट आएर यहाँ बसोवास गरेका हुन् भन्ने एउटा खबर २२ मेमा छापिएपछि सर्वत्र भयानक हिसाबले भत्र्सना गरियो । गोर्खाहरूचाहिँ भारतीय सेनामा भर्ना भएर आएपछि देशको विभिन्न कुनामा बसोवास सुरु गरे ।

यिनी नेताले यस्तो खतरनाक भाषण दिएकोमा आफैँ लज्जित हुनुपर्ने हो । आफ्नो ज्ञानको सीमिततामाथि आफैँ घोत्लिनुपर्ने हो । तर लज्जित हुने नेता होइनन् यिनी किनकि यिनले आफ्नो नेतागिरीको दौरान भारतीय गोर्खा जातिको विरोधमा अनगिन्ती काम गरेका छन् । समयले यी सब जातिविरोधी कामलाई उजागर मात्रै नगरेर, भावी पुस्ताले धिक्कार्ने छन् ।

पाँचवटा प्रश्न राखौँ है त ? गोर्खा जातिलाई जातजातमा सिक्किम टुक्रा कसले पार्‌यो र पछि त्यही हावा सिक्किमदेखि बाहिर कसले बहायो ? के पश्चिम बंगालका मुख्यमन्त्रीले जातिगत बोर्ड बनाई गोर्खाहरूको गढ दार्जिलिङमा वीभत्स वातावरण जन्माउनुमा सिक्किमको हावाले प्रभाव पारेन होला ? भारतीय गोर्खाहरूका चिनारीको माग गोर्खाल्यान्डको एउटा प्रमुख हतियार दार्जिलिङ सिक्किमको राष्ट्रिय माग बन्द गर्ने प्रथालाई भारतको सर्वोच्च न्यायालयमा लडेको मुद्दामा करोडौँ खर्च गरी यसलाई गैरकानुनी घोषणा गर्नु कसले लगायो र पछि मागको यो दाहिने हात नै काटेपछि सहानुभूति देखाउँदै, सिक्किम विधान सभामा पुङ न पुच्छरको गोर्खाल्यान्डलाई सघाउने प्रस्ताव किन पास गर्‌यो ? त्यहाँको नेता भएको २२ वर्षमा भारत सरकार र कुनै उच्च आयोगलाई भारतीय गोर्खाहरूका चिनारी अस्तित्व र मागबारे कुन एउटा ठोस ज्ञापन दिएको छ, देखाउन सक्छ ?

सन् २००५ मा इन्डिया टुडेले गरेको दिल्लीको मुख्यमन्त्रीहरूको कन्क्लेभमा यिनी नेताले गोर्खाल्यान्डमाथि बोल्न किन मानेनन् ? सिक्किमबाट पठाएका गोर्खा नेपाली भाषा सांसदहरूले यिनी नेताले छत्रछायामा, छुट्टै राज्य त के भारतीय गोर्खाहरूले भोगेका पिरमर्का उत्पीडनमा किन प्रश्न उठाउँदैनन् र उठाएनन् ? फेरि त्यही सिक्किमबाटै गएकी सांसद सदस्यले कसरी नेपाली भाषा मान्यताको लागि लडिन् र तिनताकका नेपाली भाषी मुख्यमन्त्रीले कसरी भारतीय नेपाली राष्ट्रिय परिसंघ स्थापना गरेर गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति त्यतिविघ्न कार्यहरू गरे ? सन् २००३–२०१६ सम्म पनि भारतीय गोर्खा जातिमा रहेका तामाङ र लिम्बू जातका अनुसूचित जनजातिका सिक्किम विधानसभामा किन सिट आरक्षणको लागि यिनले लडेन र आज चारैतिर विरोध सुरु भएपछि किन लड्ने चासो देखाउँदैछ ? २००८ मा सिक्किम आएको डिलिमेटेसन कमिसनलाई यिनी नेताले के भनेर लट्पटाए ? अति नै भयानक र चिन्ताजनक यी कार्यले भारतीय गोर्खाहरूलाई सधैँ झक्झकाइरहनेछ ।

कालिम्पोङमा गोजुमुमोको जित भयो तर यो पार्टी र यसको मुद्दा देशमा धेरैपटक हार्‌यो । ... जित्ने सम्भावना नै छैन ।

तर फेरि जित्नु भनेको लड्डु बाँडेर कन्ट्रयाक्ट बाँडेर, सरकारले जनतालाई दिएको विकासको कोस आफू, भाइभतिजा, दलाल, संगिनीबीच बाँडचुँड गर्नु मात्रै होइन । जित्नु भनेको जाति, क्षेत्र विकासको लागि केही पाउनु हो, छुट्टै राज्य ल्याउनु हो । टक्कर दिनु हो । भूतको छाया भएर टक्कर दिन सक्तैन । विधान सभा र संसद्मा छायाको खेल हुँदैन, पैसाले जिताएको सदस्यको मोल हुँदैन । कहीँ न कहीँ, केही न केही कुरोमा झुक्याएर पठाएको सदस्यले आफ्नो रङ देखाइदिइहाल्छ । र नै देशमा जित्नुपर्छ, कालिम्पोङमा होइन । समुद्रमा पौडी खेल्नु पर्छ, खोल्सामा होइन ।


Via: Annapurna Post

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Mahendra P. Lama seeks apology from the TMC on Harka Bahadur's nomination

7:06 PM

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Trinamool Congress

Darjeeling 8 Mar 2016 A lot of questions are being asked and speculation is rife among political circles in the hills ever since Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee announced the name of MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri as the TMC candidate from Kalimpong for the state Assembly election. Many among the general public too have expressed dismay and are wondering as to how Chhetri, the president of the Jana Andolan Party, could have accepted the nomination, if at all he has.

However, JAP National Bureau chairman Mahendra P. Lama has sought to clarify the party’s stand in the wake of this controversial development. In a press statement, Lama said, “JAP has got nothing to do with the announcement made by Trinamool Congress. This issue was never discussed in any forum of JAP including its highest policy and decision making body, the National Bureau. JAP therefore, totally disagrees with the announcement made by Trinamool Congress and also seeks apology from the TMC for doing so without consulting the JAP and hurting the feelings of its esteemed party members and the people at large.”

Mahendra P. Lama

He went on to say that JAP has already started its own internal inquiry into the matter and is also examining “various misleading and unfounded versions” of the entire incident carried by the print and the electronic media. According to Lama, JAP will field its candidates from all the seats it deems fit to contest, both in the hills and the plains, and will announce its candidates shortly. The party will also discuss the feasibility of seeking the support of other political parties in due course of time, he added.

(EOIC)

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Why Jana Andolan Party ? - Mahendra P Lama

9:12 AM

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Politics

Mahendra P Lama

The Jan Andolan Party (launched on 27 January 2016) is founded on the principles of democracy, social justice, inclusive development and safeguarding national interest. In this region of India, most of the political parties have used the term Andolan for negative purpose and petty gains only. This has led to destruction, violence and killings. More than this, it has caused inter-community and intra-community misgivings and hatred in this region where people lived for centuries with harmony, peace, cooperation and fellow feeling.
Look at the tea gardens. Which trade union is not there and for how many years. What is the result ? Tea industry is dangerously sick, workers are facing hunger deaths, the minimum wages have never reached them, panchayats are no longer there, thousands of workers have not got their provident funds and gratuity and in total they live in inhuman conditions. Even after 160 years of serving tea gardens thay donot have their land and home address . Are we in hunger torn Ethiopia or war torn Sudan ? How much of foreign exchange these gardens have fetched for the country and how these gardens have made profits for the filthy rich owners for their generations to come ?
The management and owners of these gardens change like the fashions in the Oxford Street in London, 5th Avenue in New York and Harajuku in Tokyo. Who will stop this process in this 160 years old national and global heritage ? Who will bring the tea garden owners and management to books ? Why trade unions have become ineffective ? These are some very basic questions.
As a result, all these andolans resulted into achieving very little or nothing in terms of main goals and public welfare and development. For me the only time the term andolan was used positively was during the movement for the recognition of Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. It was a protracted “Bhasha Aandolan” which brought belated yet overwhelming success. And we got the recognition successfully in 1992. At the national level, the “Chipko Andolan” in Uttarakhand region became so successful in 1980s. Ably led by Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhatt this andolan became the model of forest and environment conservation for the entire world and more so for the people of the hills and mountains. These were the real andolans.
JAP will do andolans in three major areas i) changing people’s mind and making people more dedicated and responsible for the societal, regional and national development and construction. For this we shall have to revive all the traditional institutions which actually founded our societies and blend them with modern institutions. We shall also have to build confidence and trust among the younger generation about their ability to do something good and big for their families, societies and the country.
Once we do this, all the negative elements in the society that thrive on corruption, violence, fear, looting and more importantly political patronisation will be sidelined. It is a difficult process, a tough andolan and a Herculean task and may take a long time. However, JAP will initiate this process. This is what the Japanese did after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated with atom bombs in the Second World War. This is what the Chinese did after the dangerous phase of Cultural Revolution (1965-75) of Mao-Tse Tung was ended. Look at these two countries today, no one can believe that they could do so well and stand on top of the world as a society and the economy that were literally devastated.
ii) Our second andolan will be in the arena of achieving our goal of separate state comprising of Darjeeling district, Dooars and adjoining areas. This is going to be an all inclusive state with all the communities like Bangalis, Biharis, Adivasis, Rajbongshis, Koche and Meches, Gorkhas, Lepchas, Bhutias, Marwaris etc participating in the andolan and achieving the long cherished dream of a separate state. The name of the state could be anything like “Simanta Pradesh”, “Darjeeling Dooars Pradesh” or “Kanchenjunga Pardesh” etc. Followers of all the religions and faiths will constitute this new state. Given the high economic potentials, natural resources, strategic location of our state with four international borders and more importantly given the quality of our people, we have a dream of making this state the best in the country.
This is going to be a movement based on history, geography, culture-ethnicity, national security and economic deprivation and political alienation. An andolan that will be taken directly at the heart of India’s democracy that is the Parliament of India. We shall do this andolan without violence, hatred and bloodshed and destruction.
And iii) we shall have andolans in education, health, tea, cinchona, tourism, water and forest resources and more critically in building a robust-resilient systems that would be people-centric and communities friendly. In the process we will bring all the prominent national and international and multilateral institutions including the United Nations Agencies, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other bilateral development agencies and other international NGOs to this region. We shall attract the best domestic and foreign investors. We shall make it a health destination, our state will be another education hub and we shall be the custodian of overland trades with the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Nepal and even Myanmar and other South East Asian countries. We shall be the key player in India’s core foreign policy strategy of “Act East Policy”.
All our demands are interconnected and deeply integrated. These are well and will be widely discussed in the National Bureau which is the highest decision making body of JAP.
There cannot be a state without development and there cannot be development without a state. So far we were not able to develop because we did not have our own state. We were not clear about what is our priority and criticality. All our resources tea, cinchona, forests, minerals, water, flora and fauna were exploited and siphoned away. We remained silent spectators. It is a question of priority and strategy. JAP has a clear policy of ‘zero enemy’ and ‘zero corruption’, we are sure the State Govt and the Central govt both will like it and of course the people want this.
There is no other alternative than a separate state for the people of this region. It will happen like other 29 states in India. 50 years back India was different than 50 years later today. Another 50 years will again be different than what we have in India today. Our political parties while fighting for Gorkhaland have done serious mistakes in the past. We give them the benefit of doubts. We donot want to tread the same path and commit the same fatal errors.
The people of Dooars were shown golden goose when our leaders approached them and asked them to join the demand for Gorkhaland. Whereas our leaders gave them simple lollypops with a thin plastic stick inside. Naturally they are disillusioned, angry, upset and feel deeply betrayed. They joined the political movements because of the dream of a separate state whereas both DGHC and GTA did not even give them some basic development benefits.
Now its going to be an andolan of all of us. Every community will have an equal say during the andolan and after the statehood is achieved. All the communities have their own reasons for striving for a separate state. For instance, for the Indian Gorkhas it is their identity and nationality for which a separate state is very essential and must. How some provisions of the India-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty topped by reciprocal and free movement of people through open borders have diluted their Indian identity ? This is a serious question that engulfs the entire Indian Gorkhas across the country. JAP has already started addressing this sensitive and protracted issue.
Who will stop an Adivasi lady to become the first Home Minister of our state, a Rajbongshi youth to become the first Finance Minister, a Bengali to be the first Chief Minister, a Gorkha to be the first education Minister and Bihari and Marwari to be a Commerce Minister in our new state and a Lepcha or Bhutia to be a Forest, Water and Environment Minister ? Who does not want a state of their own ? This is the only solution for all the future of all our youths and children like that in Telengana state. It is only a question of how you fight for it and how you achieve it and how you accommodate all the communities living in this new state. We shall have to convince both the state and the central governments like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Telengana did in the recent years.
It is going to be a transformation (Rupantaran) and not a change (Parivartan) only. This will be done in every facet of peoples life in the region like in tea and cinchona, income and employment generation, sports and education, health and tourism, transport and communication, water and electricity, houses and agriculture, industry, trade and commerce, institutions and youths career. For this everyone has to participate so that the gains and results are owned by everyone.

Via JAP

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Prof Mahendra P Lama in Eminent Persons Group (EPG)

12:17 PM

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National

Feb 21, 2016- India has formed the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to review treaties and relations between the two countries and it is proud moment for all Indian Gorkhas that Prof Mahendra P Lama is part of it. Dr. Lama is one of the four members representing the country in EGP.

Former Indian ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Nepal expert Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Professor Mahendra P Lama and Professor BC Upreti, a senior fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation have been named as the members.

An agreement to establish the EPG was reached in 2011 during the official visit of former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai to India. The two countries agreed to prepare the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EPG in 2014 during the third meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission in Kathmandu.

Nepal formed its EPG last month. Former secretary and chief commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Surya Nath Upadhyay, former ambassador Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, former ambassador Nilambar Acharya and UML lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai are the EPG members from the Nepali side.

Prof  Mahendra P Lama 

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made the announcement of formation of the EPG on Saturday during a press briefing coinciding with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s six-day visit to India.

Members
Indian side
Jayant Prasad, former ambassador to Nepal
Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, BJP leader
Prof Mahendra P Lama
Prof BC Upreti, senior fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation

Nepali side 
Surya Nath Upadhyay, former chief commissioner, CIAA
Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, former ambassador
Nilambar Acharya, former ambassador
Rajan Bhattarai, UML lawmaker
* Nepal formed its EPG last month

Via kathmandupost

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Dr. Mahendra P Lama addresses India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue VIII

8:50 AM

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National

The prestigious Delhi Dialogue VIII organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India to promote and strengthen the political, economic, socio-cultural and strategic relations between 10 countries of South East Asia (Association of South East Asian Nations) and India will be over on 19th February in Delhi.

It started on 17th Feb 2016. It is attended by the high level Ministerial and business delegation from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia. Indian delegation is led by the Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, Chief Ministers, top bureaucrats, eminent academics and well known business houses.

The India-ASEAN trade has already reached a level of Rs 450000 Crore in 2015. ASEAN countries receive the highest amount of US foreign investment. Prof Mahendra P Lama was invited to address a specific session on “Promoting Cross Border Trade with ASEAN: Capitalizing on Comparative Advantage”. He primarily focused on the following issues. i) India’s Look East Policy has reached a crucial phase where the participation of the North East region is very vital. It is because the NER will be a physical gateway to the South East Asian countries as this region has 98 percent of its borders with neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Bhutan and Nepal and 2 percent with the rest of India. Socio-culturally and historically this region had had very close relations with all these countries. ii) There are several opportunities as the concept of borders is fast changing. Borders are now becoming borderlands where there are huge opportunities for exchanges and interactions in areas like trade, investment, tourism, energy, disaster management, natural resources exchanges, education and health among many countries.

Dr. Mahendra P Lama addresses India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue VIII

After the reopening of Nathu la trade route between Sikkim and Tibet the warming up in reconsidering the exchanges in borders have started. Government of India wants this to be consolidated. iii) There are several opportunities emerging particularly in the arena of small and medium enterprises, energy and services sector like tourism, education and health and agriculture, horticulture and floriculture.

For instance, in the Small and medium enterprises like in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand the top multinational with widely accepted brand names like Toshiba, Apple, Sony, Hyundai and Samsung could be invited to Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim. The products could be exported anywhere in the world. iv) In the energy front the NER has almost 40 percent of India hydro power potentials and 18 percent of hydro carbon including gas, oil and coal. Therefore NER could play the role of a centre of energy pool. This could be connected with the Greater Mekong Sub-region where Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunan and Guangxi Zhuang the two provinces of China have made huge cross border electricity exchange projects.

This has been a huge success. v) The small and medium enterprises in the NER should be opened to the investors from the ASEAN countries and whatever they produce could be sold in India and other South Asian and South East Asian countries under the India-ASEAN Free Trade agreement.

For instance, the bamboo shoots, pine apples, avacado, lichis, ginger, cardamom, flowers could be harnessed by the companies like Makro and Alligator Industry of Myanmar. It was suggested that clauses to promote such integration of trade and investment could be included in this agreement. vi) The Ministry of Development of North East Region (MDoNER) could now be located in the North East region only from its present location in New Delhi. This way Ministry can devote exclusive time both to the development of NER and also to strike linkages with the South East Asian countries for promotion of India’s Look East Policy. This way the MDoNER and North East Council could effectively use the huge funds for infrastructure provided by the Central Government. vii) The Darjeeling and Dooars region of West Bengal could also be incorporated in the North Eastern Council so that this regional also get all the facilities. The session was chaired by the Dr Rajat Nag , former Director General in the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

Source: Kalimpong News.

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Harka to launch new party with GJM corruption as its main agenda on 31st January

7:30 AM

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Politics

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Mirik, Jan. 10: Harka Bahadur Chhetri today announced that he would launch the new political party in Kalimpong on January 31 with corruption by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as one of its main agendas.

Chhetri, who had quit the Morcha in September, said at a public meeting in Mirik: "We are all ready to float a new political front. Lot of people talk about lack of alternative (to the Morcha) and we are ready to come out as an alternative in hill politics. We will launch our political party in Kalimpong on January 31 and yes, we can (take on the Morcha)."

The Kalimpong MLA said, ahead of the launch of the party he would reveal its constitution at a public meeting in Sukna on January 16.

Amar Lama, one of the main speakers at the event, said: "One of the biggest problems in the hills is corruption and this will be one of our major agendas and we will make it a big issue in the hills."

Elaborating on corruption, Chhetri said: "During my tour in my constituency (Kalimpong), I have found that funds have been sanctioned from three or four departments (of the GTA) for the same road and yet, the work is not completed. We will soon form an RTI cell and get all details to ensure that the guilty are booked."

The meeting was organised under the banner of the Kalimpong District Demand Committee, Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation (headed by former Sikkim University vice-chancellor Mahendra P. Lama) and Parcha-Patta Demand Committee.

Mirik is about 45km from Darjeeling.

Later, asked about the Gorkhaland issue, Chhetri told journalists: "If anyone will work for Gorkhaland, it will be us. We want to reach there (statehood) through work and not through slogans. Other friends (Morcha) want to reach there through slogans. If we can get 10 years, we will show what we can do."

The MLA said Gorkhaland was about bringing and giving all facilities to the people. "Right now, political parties are only making it a slogan to remain in power. We will work to empower our people and reach such a stage that the government will willingly say that you can take statehood as you can administer it now. Right now, it (statehood) is only a sentiment to be in power."

Speakers at the meeting sent a clear signal that the new outfit would be of intellectuals with a clear vision.

"Our biggest bane is that we have had no good leader with a vision. Our history is also of missed opportunities because of lack of vision of our leaders. Unless our people become aware, there will be no change in the hills. In fact, the situation in the hills is such that instead of a change, we need to do more and that is to transform ourselves," said Mahendra P. Lama.

He also rued the people's decision to elect S.S. Ahluwalia as the Darjeeling MP and not a local resident). "Had we been elected, we would have already contributed substantially by implementing the panchayat system, getting the Jelep-la pass opened (for trade between India and China), setting up a central university and so on," said Lama.

Calling upon the educated people to come together and bring about a change, Chhetri said: "I left the Morcha because I did not want to be a tail. The public think all major decisions were taken by the party's Study Forum which was comprised of intellectuals. In reality, all decisions are taken by one man (Bimal Gurung) and other people in the party only have to nod in agreement. The nodding of head is akin to wagging of tail and I did not want to be a tail."

Source Telegraph

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Indian Gorkhas–Why we must play and win the game

11:05 PM

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Politics

writer: Mahendra P Lama

Mahendra P Lama,EOI, 11 December 2015: Indian Gorkhas are at the crossroads today. India is vying for a global position. 

Diverse sets of nationals and sub-nationals in the country are reasserting their role and striving to get maximum mileage from India’s global entry. Many of them have already taken a significant portion of the political and development pie. In this competitive theatre, every community wants to be a player and a difference maker. 

The game is on. Indian Gorkhas have to decide now and today what we really want and where we go from here. Should we go with the rest of India to compete at the regional, national and global levels and get maximum benefit from India’s foray at the global level? Should we reorient our community thinking, redesign our societal approaches and restructure our collective action? 

All these are aimed at making our children and upcoming generations re-focus on education, making them professionally competitive, and more critically, making them think big. This nurtures and builds confidence in them that they can achieve their goals. At the same time, strongly reconnecting them to their roots is very crucial and essential.

Should we continue to be Khukuri and emotion-centric, or become an example of knowledge generation and knowledge leaders. We could use the same blood, sweat and tears (ragat-pasina-aanshu) to re-identify and re-position ourselves as the “gyan-vir” (knowledge brave) and “rashtraneta” (national leader). We have done it in the past at a very individual level and now we have to do it in a “hul-bathan” (collective and ample numbers) mode-level. This is going to make the real difference to the Indian Gorkhas as a national entity.

We are known for our honesty, integrity, courage and perseverance. We have rich cultural traditions and an unwritten yet affluent intellectual heritage. We have a distinct advantage as we have made immense contributions in almost all fields of the nation building process, both in the pre- and post-independence periods. It is a historic folly on our part that nobody made an effort to de-construct and again re-construct our history. The historical narratives at the national level are, therefore, biased and remain largely untold. In fact, nobody wrote an exclusive history of us. This is where we failed and showed a shocking degree of intellectual-gap, unlike in other communities. This is a major societal failure and reflects self-centric political leadership.

We also have an equally distinct disadvantage as we are scattered geographically; population-wise we are a minuscule lot; we are one of the least educated communities; economically we remain deeply downtrodden; we do not have a national forum to fight for our cause, and more seriously, our political leadership has been of sub-regional character with a myopic vision.

In other words, our political leaderships have failed us in every respect. They have been so lacklustre, underrated at all levels; ignorant to the hilt; marginalised by virtue of their background and acts; harmfully short sighted and self-centric at the highest societal cost. They are seemingly a bunch of emotions, hollow promises with dangerous instincts of self-prophesy and survival. They do not count at the national level at all. They have become local lords and regional cocoons. As a result, the national image and power of the Indian Gorkhas have eroded steadily and remain widely stigmatised, thereby putting the very future of coming generations in total jeopardy. Some of them have done irreparable damage by playing dangerous cards like dividing the Gorkhas into different caste-religious entities. In a country with 125 crore people, how retrogressive has been this thinking of some political leaders. History will never forgive them.

Therefore, our agenda for the next 30 years will be to first make the Gorkhas in India educated and competitive, then empower them with their basic and constitutional rights, and make them a formidable socio-political force and knowledge driven community at the national level. 

The gradual yet steady induction of the Indian Gorkhas in the policy and decision making process, in institutions such as Parliament and state assemblies; apex national commissions; governance, bureaucracy, financial and political institutions; corporate houses, media, education, culture, science and technology security and justice related institutions and in the implementation agencies, are essential and could bring a new future to the Indian Gorkhas. We have to compete and just compete and nothing else. Many of our people have done so in the past in the fields of education, national security, sports, media, music, corporate institutions, literature and even politics. This means we can. The only difference we want now is - unlike just a trickle in the past, we want a constant flow of streams which will ultimately join the sea of India’s Who’s Who.

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Mahendra P Lama blames GTA for sluggish development in the hills

10:44 AM

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Politics

Renowned educationist and former vice chancellor of Central University of Sikkim, Dr Mahendra P Lama has blamed the GTA for sluggish development in the hills, accusing the hill body of being wielded by the state government just to administer the region. Sharpening his attack on the GJM chief Bimal Guung, Lama said: “The GTA has failed to work effectively in the Darjeeling hills as it is always running under the clutches of the Trinamool run state government. There are not much important development works done by the department, as people in many remote villages are still deprived of basic necessities. GTA chief Bimal Gurung and his aides should learn foresightedness, as it seems they are unable to see history repeating itself in the hills. During the administration of the GNLF party headed by Subash Ghising, the CPIM who was in power then cleverly devised the DGHC to sidetrack the party from the statehood demand. Likewise, following the footsteps of its arch rival, the TMC coined the GTA to distract Gurung and his party from demanding Gorkhaland. If the situation persists for long, then the GTA chief may have to shoulder all that Subash Ghising underwent.  

Lama blames GTA and Gurung for sluggish
development in the hills

“The TMC has built the GTA as a helicopter for the people of Darjeeling hills, but fitted the wheels of a tractor underneath. So how can the engine take flight? Inert polity and static development in the region will one day lead to vigorous agitation which would pulverize not only Darjeeling district but also north Bengal,” said Lama speaking to Hindusthan Samachar over the phone.

Expressing happiness over the Kailash Masarovar pass being opened in Sikkim, Lama said, “In the years 2005 and 2006, I had sent a report to the Centre asking for opening of the route wherein I had even mentioned areas of north Bengal such as Malbazaar, Gorubathan and Pedong be opened for the sacred pilgrimage.” Opening of the routes will boost the economy of the region, he added. (HS)

Source- EOI

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GYASA met Mahendra P. Lama at JNU Delhi

2:23 PM

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Mahendra P. Lama

27th July, 2015: GYASA (Gorkha Youth and Student Association) expressed their gratitude to Professor Mahendra P. Lama , the founding president of the DDUDF, for taking time to see them at Jawaharlal Nehru University. It was a fruitful session where they felt intellectually enriched they said. As he was very supportive of the social movement initiated by GYASA, and encouraged them to stay focused in their vision. As the movement grows, staying focused on the goal will be challenging and crucial to the success of the movement.

GYASA met Mahendra P. Lama at JNU Delhi

Prof. Lama says that EDUCATION is the prime key of the upliftment of the Gorkha society. Where he said “Shisha ko kheti” or “Gyan ko kheti” is what we must do to get more Gorkha people into our policy-making and governance in the country. Most of our people, despite being first or second educated generation have achieved quite a feat in all spheres – be it civil services, academics, military service, or private sector. Our people are extremely talented but we do not have proper guidance and counseling for the students.

While education is essential, we also must not forget our roots. NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER FOR PETTY GAINS! THINK BIG! NEVER FORGET YOUR ROOTS, says Prof. Lama. This is because we must inculcate the culture of giving back to the society in our own little way. An institutionalized effort for research and development must be done on our language, culture, and history. While our language has been constitutionally recognized not substantial had happened for research and study into the language.

Prof. Lama in his own words says, “Unfortunately our political leaderships have failed us in every respect. They have been so lacklustre, under-rated at all levels; ignorant to the hilt; marginalised by virtue of their background and acts; harmfully shortsighted and self centric at the highest societal cost. They are seemingly a bunch of emotions, hollow promises with dangerous instincts of self prophesy and survival. They have become local lords and regional cocoons. As a result, the national image and power of the Gorkhas have steadily eroded and widely stigmatised thereby putting the very future of coming generation in total jeopardy.

Hope lies in the resurrection, commitment and re-emergence and active role of the Gorkha youths to come together nationwide and question these leaderships and imbibe in them larger issues of aspirations of the youths. Only this will bring about a healthy and far reaching transformation. It is some sort of a beginning of renaissance within the pan-India community.”

We must be aware of the changing cosmopolitan needs in terms of skills and career growth. Nurturing a READING HABIT amongst the youth is of prime importance to spread the message. We have all the traits of the most civilized society – polite and respectful to others, humble, communally and religiously tolerant, and so on. However the basic premise of a civilized society, EDUCATION is missing. Once we have the weapon education with us, nothing can stop the Gorkhas from achieving what we aspire to be.

Educated youth and individuals must take part in social movement and contribute more towards changing our social mindset and channelize the energy of our coming generation into more socially constructive activities.

Source - GYASA

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All members of Prof. M P Lama's Party DDUDF election trust quit

8:31 AM

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Politics

Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, May 22: All five trustees of the DDUDF (Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation), which was formed to push the candidature of Mahendra P. Lama in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency in the last general elections, have resigned from the board saying the entity has been dormant ever since its inception.

Mahendra P. Lama

The five trustees of the foundation, B.K. Pradhan, Bharat Prakash Rai, Rev. C Baruah, Hem Baraily and Udhyan Rai, said in a signed statement: "It has been unanimously resolved that the following trustees of DDUDF have agreed to renounce from the trusteeship of DDUDF owing to the fact that the board of trustee has remained dormant and non functional since its inception."
The decision was taken by the board of trustees at a meeting held in Darjeeling on May 19 under the chairmanship of Pradhan.

Lama, the former vice-chancellor of the Sikkim University, had contested the last Lok Sabha election as an Independent and got 55,767 votes. On March 9 early this year, Lama had said he would form a political party soon as it was the "people's wish".

Pradhan today said: "The very fact that a meeting of the board of trustees hasn't been held even once since its inception propelled us to renounce the trusteeship."

Asked if Lama's decision to form the political party had forced the resignation, Pradhan said: "Well, I was the one who had asked Mahendra bhai to contest the (Lok Sabha) election... there is talk of a political party and we might unnecessarily get dragged into this without our involvement."
Told about the trustees' resignation, Lama, who was in Delhi today, said: "It is their voluntary decision and I have nothing much to say. We will soon constitute a new board."

Asked if his plan to float a political party would be affected, Lama said: "We will definitely float a party as it is the people's wish. We are still working on the date to float the party."

Source: Telegraph

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Prof Mahendra‬ P Lama to speak on Energy Security in Pakistan

6:12 PM

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Mahendra P. Lama

Prof ‪P Lama has been invited by the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, to speak in the Global Conference on Narratives of National Security on November 25-26 at Islamabad.
Institute of Strategic Studies is the most eminent think tank of Pakistan on various issues of International Relations in Pakistan.

Prof Mahendra‬ P Lama 

Very noted speakers from around the world will be addressing this Conference on various themes of national security. The Conference would be inaugurated by Shri Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Water and Power & Additional Charge of Defense Ministry – Government of Pakistan.
Prof Lama would be speaking on “Security Issues in Cross Border Energy Trade: Framework for South Asia”. He would mainly highlight the strong possibility of signing of an agreement for the free exchange of energy among South Asian countries in the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on 26-27th November.
He would present the security issues related to cross border transmission lines on which Prof Lama has worked extensively in the last 20 years.
While on his way to Pakistan he would also speak in the University of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Source: kalimpongnews

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DDUDF organisational meeting in Kurseong

10:22 AM

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Politics

Darjeeling Dooars United Development Forum, (DDUDF), an apolitical organisation in the region, today organized its organisational meeting at Gorkha Jan Pustakalay in Kurseong. The meeting was called to make people aware that the DDUDF is still active and is still focused and working for the overall interest of the people of the Hills.

The DDUDF chief Dr. Mahindra P Lama talking
to reporters after the meeting in Kurseong on Saturday

The meeting in Kurseong today was DDUDF’s first meeting after several months. The meeting had the presence of large number of supporters and foundation activists from Kurseong and other places in the hills.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, DDUDF chief Dr. Mahendra P Lama said that today’s meeting was held to inform the people about the organisation’s activities following the Lok Sabha election debacle. He also highlighted the various programmes decided to be organised by the DDUDF in future.

Dr. Lama informed his organization has already written letters to different union ministers on various issues including demand for a separate state and three-tier panchayat elections.

“Had we won the elections, the scenario would have been different by now. However, we have still continued to work and many issues that we have demanded are being considered or initiated, directly or indirectly by the state and the central government,” Dr. Lama claimed. Citing examples, he further claimed, Mansarovar development project, issue of Jalep la Pass, Bagdogra international airport, Red Bank tea estate issue and many more were initially proposed by him. “I will continue to work for these issues for the betterment of the Hills,” he emphasised.

As per Dr. Lama, his organization is still working for the overall interest of the people and people must come forward with their different issues and grievances. His organization is always ready to help them.

Speaking on the GTA, Dr.Lama said, “In India, different institutions have their own budget, policy and plan but it is really surprisingly that such a government authorized organisation like the GTA is running without budget, policy and plan. If they really have such provisions, then they must publicise it, so that people may have a better prospective about the GTA’s activities.”

Dr. Lama also criticized the GJM‘s proposed Delhi dharna programs and said the party had staged several dharna in Delhi in the past, without any major success. “Therefore, they must publicize the outcome of the previous dharna staged in Delhi, so that people can know what actually is happening,” he added.  “What is the need to stage dharnas in Delhi, when they have their own MP and their own government in the centre? They could instead simply bring the bill for a separate state in the parliament when their ally is running the country,” Dr. Lama suggested.

Source: Eoi

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Dr Mahendra P Lama on Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through Nathu La in Sikkim

10:02 AM

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Sikkim

The decision taken on Thursday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to facilitate the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through Nathu La in Sikkim has been lauded by noted academician Dr Mahendra P Lama, who headed the Nathu la Trade Study Group in 2004-2005 that had been initiated by the Sikkim government in the year 2000 in an effort to reopen the historic trade route.

Dr Mahendra P Lama

The Nathu la trade route has remained closed since 1962 following the India-China war. The formation of the study group stoked a national-level debate on the significance of reopening this trade route. Lama and his group even took the pain of inviting several eminent journalists to Nathu la and convincing them that the reopening of the trade route would bring together two of the world’s oldest civilisations once again.

During former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Sikkim in April 2003, he was fully briefed and convinced about the demand of the people of Sikkim and neighbouring regions on the benefits of reopening the trade route. Eventually, a memorandum of understanding on expanding border trade by reopening the Nathu la trade route was signed between Vajpayee and his Chinese counterpart on June 23, 2003 during the former’s visit to Beijing.

The group headed by Lama submitted a comprehensive report in August 2005, and after prolonged negotiations between the Indian and Chinese governments, the route was reopened after 44 years on July 6, 2006. It also made 29 major recommendations that included integration of trade with tourism by 2012 and movement between Indian and Chinese tourists, both on package and individual basis by 2015, along with integration of SAARC tourism by 2018.

The recommendations also focused on making Siliguri an entrepôrt for overland trade between India and China and converting Bagdogra into a full-fledged international airport. Construction of an alternative highway to Nathu la and a museum and opening of another historical trade route through Jelep la Pass in Kalimpong were also suggested by the study group.

Praising the MoU signed on Thursday between the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries, Lama said, “This is a highly welcome decision as it will not only integrate trade with tourism, but also make cultural contacts between India and China very robust and far-reaching. It will also generate huge forward and backward linkages for the eco-tourism industry in this part of the country.”

He further expressed his gratitude to Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma’ Swaraj for bringing forth the issue during the Chinese president’s visit and also thanked Jinpeng for making such a historic decision.

Lama also urged the prime minister to reopen the Jelep la pass trade route to Tibet at the earliest, which, according to him, would significantly bolster the development of the whole of North Bengal, especially Darjeeling district.

Source: EOI

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GJM should introduce Gorkhaland Bill in Parliament within a year - Mahindra P Lama

10:05 AM

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Mahendra P. Lama

The Darjeeling Dooars United Development Front (DDUDF) chief Dr. Mahindra P Lama urged the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to introduce the Gorkhaland Bill in Parliament and has offered assistance for the process. “If the GJM want to prove its worth as the leading party in the hills, it should introduce the Gorkhaland Bill in Parliament. The DDUDF is ready to provide assistance if the party is having any difficulties in making the bill,” Dr. Lama told reporters in Mirik. He was in town today for an official tour of the region to revamp the party’s base after the defeat in the Lok Sabha Elections 2014.

Dr. Lama Tells GJM to Introduce Gorkhaland Bill Within a Year

“Before turning into a political party, the DDUDF will first prove its worth through constructive works,” Dr. Lama emphasised. He claimed there are a lot of foundation stone laying ceremonies taking place in the name of development, but there has not been any actual development in the hills. He alleged the state government of interfering in the Gorkha Territorial Administration’s works in bringing development to the hills.

On the current workers wage issues in TGs across Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai, the DDUDF chief said, “The BJP-led central government will not be able to influence a lot in the wage hike issue, even if the GJM seeks support. Therefore, everyone should press for Minimum Wage Act to increase the daily wages of TG workers.

Dr. Lama urged the GJM and Darjeeling MP to introduce the Darjeeling-Dooars-Terai region into the North Eastern Council. He also question the GJM about the number of times Hill MP SS Ahluwalia has spoken in Lok Sabha or the number of questions he has asked and even the number of times he was present in parliamentary sessions. He also urged the GJM to promote three-tier panchayat elections in the hills.

During his Mirik tour, he visited Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalaya in Chabbisey and took note of the problems and informed he will soon meet HRDD Minister Smriti Irani and other senior departmental officials to discuss about the issues. He also attended a DDUDF committee-level meeting in Mirik bazaar.

Source:EOI

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M.P Lama justified the DDUDF’s 11-point deputation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

9:27 AM

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Politics

Kalimpong: Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) president Dr. Mahindra P Lama has justified the organisation’s 11-point deputation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an initiative for the development of the hills and the overall welfare of the Gorkha people. Addressing a press meet here today, he said the deputation aims to highlight the Gorkha people’s political ambition, identity and overall development.

DDUDF chief Mahendra P Lama (R) at the
press meet in Kalimpong.

Lama was unable to represent Darjeeling in Parliament, but the deputation sent just after 15 days of Modi taking office was to put pressure on Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia to work for the development of the hills.

The key issue in the deputation includes the demand for a separate state. Lama wants Darjeeling district, the Dooars, Chopra and Islampur integrated to form the proposed state.

“The DDUDF is currently preparing a plan for a separate state keeping in mind the people’s political aspirations and identity, along with its boundaries and name,” Lama informed.

The remaining 10 points in the deputation include the demand for the formation of a high-level committee to accord minority status to the Gorkha community; three-tier panchayat elections in the GTA area; inclusion of Darjeeling and the Dooars in the North Eastern States Council; reopening of the Jalepla trade route; revamping of tea and cinchona production; development of educational and research institutes in Darjeeling and the Dooars; tax holiday for the Darjeeling-Dooars region; encouragement for investment, amendment in forest regulations; and ST status to the Gorkhas.

Lama said the DDUDF had also written a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Sauraj for reopening the Jalepla trade route.

“She has responded positively and has assured to look into the issue,” he added.

The organisation also wants the central government to intervene in the daily minimum wage issue of tea garden workers and increase the wage to Rs350 per day, the DDUDF president informed.

“We have written the letter in the form of a guideline. We expect the Darjeeling MP to use the guideline and work for the betterment of the people of the hills. We do not want him to be startled by our aspirations and questions, which is why we have formulated this overtly comprehensive letter,” Lama further explained.

He went on to say that his organisation has demanded the MP to provide timely updates on his activities in the hills.

“We want a half-yearly report on the work done and in the pipeline by the MP along with a detailed account of the usage of the MP fund,” added Lama.

When asked as to when the DDUDF would register itself as a political party, Lama just said the announcement will be made at the appropriate moment.

Source: EOI

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