An open letter to Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri - "Thank You for Your Intellectualism"

3:00 PM

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Politics

Dear Sir,
First of all, I would like congratulate you for forming a new party which is allowed by constitution of India. And of course parting ways with Bimal Gurung and his party, for I guess it was no longer possible for you and your group to continue with the dictatorial attitude of the president of GJMM.

And like butter on the toast, you were able to get the sub-dvision of Kalimpong turned into a District, magically, in a very short period of time as you had promised. Overnight “Z” kind of security was there in your house which is another feather in the cap.

I wonder how a straight forward person like Bimal Gurung could compete you in the politics which we had never seen in the history of Darjeeling/ Gorkhaland. Honestly, you are far far better Politician than , any of the hill politician like Ghising and Gurung. You know how to survive, how to appease people. You know how to follow the footsteps of great politicians like Mamta Banerjee, and to appease Lepcha, Bhutia, Magar, Tamang etc was one of the best strategy. Instead of giving 100 crore to the whole group if, 1 crore each is given, the individuals will be more happy than to share 100 crore among them. The lack in mathematical skills of the Gorkhas was nicely ‘Utilised’ here.
You know people of hills and Dooars are still wondering, what has Mamta Banerjee seen on you? May be what Rama has seen on Vivisan. You are our Vivisan, you will save us from Ravana, and help Mamta Banerjee, take over our land and build our place like Switzerland like Malda. There will be so many tourists from Bangladesh that our dignity/wealth will sky rocket.

You will live forever, in the history of Indian Gorkhas.
But still I get amazed by stupidity of “our” people who are still following a leader who has no political skills. He doesn’t know how to make the Chief Minister of Bengal Happy. He doesn’t know how to give developments boards, except organizing the Melas.
I wonder what people see in him?

May be people have a perception that Mr. Gurung is like them - arrogant, fool and Stupid.
I guess we all are Except you.

We all are arrogant from time unknown. Our ancestors were arrogant, fool and stupid… so we are, and I guess we will continue to be.

You are the only Gem of Gorkhas. You will lead us to the place where nobody could. You will give us Development. There are so many hoardings in Bengali, which our people fail to read, but I guess you can.

You took a correct step to let go of the stupid people. And I guess more stupid people will join Mr. Gurung and I guess they will continue with stupidity called Gorkhaland till the end of time. Because we are stupid unlike you.

You are a Gem of our society.

“Darjeeling is smiling,” only stupid people are weeping from their hearts.
How stupid are we that our people get carried away by the Stupid word “Gorkhaland”, and you still haven’t mentioned the stupid word “Gorkhaland” but are able to have “good number of people” following you to each and every rally of yours... It is also surprising that no matter where you go to speak, it is the SAME “good number of people” attending every rally.

It is said in the psychology that, like minded people befriend each other. So like how smart and intelligent you are, your followers are also like you. Not Stupid like us.
I guess it is the touch of “Smartness” from the plains which is helping you guys behave smartly.

It’s always better to learn their culture, language, and habit but the sad part is you will never be able to look like them, except…

Honestly, I would also like to join you and act smartly, but my family members are still stupid, hence I also tend to be stupid. Who would have cared these stupid bunch of people whether they live, die or get humiliated in their own place, if we are acting smartly.
Last but Not the least

Best wishes and may you have landslide victory in the coming election. May Madam bless you to suppress the stupid demand of stupid people.
May the stupid people called Gorkhas always remain like this forever or even better be ruled over by Intellectual class from Bengal or better yet imported vote bank intellectuals from Bangladesh.

Hill People have all time high Moral Because of You Only

Regards
Anoop Ghonday
(A Stupid Gorkha)

Via TheDC

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An Open Letter To Mr. B. M. Garg About Hotel Mount Everest

7:17 PM

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Opinion

Adwiti Subba Haffner is an entrepreneur, social worker, writer, freelance journalist, world traveler, mother, wife, meditation teacher and a Darjeelingey who loves Darjeeling writes an open letter to Mr. B. M. Garg, also a Darjeelingey, who recently bought Hotel Mount Everest.

 Mr. B. M. Garg who bought  Hotel Mount Everest 

Dear Mr. Garg,

Please preserve and save Hotel Mount Everest.

On the morning of August 7th, I woke up to the startling news that the epochal Hotel Mount Everest in Darjeeling was sold! Instantly fond memories of the iconic historical structure flooded my mind --the road that lead to the beautiful garden, and the grand dining room with orange and saffron carpets where guests were introduced to high teas in the plush surroundings. A place that has played a substantial part in shaping our memories growing up in the Queen of hill-stations.

I was immediately relieved to read that you were the buyer, a local resident, our very own Darjeelingey, and not some uninformed out of town commercial corporation that would never appreciate or understand the significance of its priceless legacy.

I am appalled and extremely disappointed to learn that you actually plan to raze Hotel Mount Everest to the ground to make way for a high-end housing complex and hotel.

In circumstances where information is decentralized, the vox populi or shared wisdom, is demonstrably greater to the judgment of experts alone and in this case I humbly suggest you listen; for the public expects your business to operate in a manner that enhances the image of the community as a whole. It is indeed a good business practice to build or operate around resident’s well wishes and popular sentiment.

1. Please know that heritage structures such as this which is also a landmark building in our community is vital to the identity and cultural integrity of our unique home town. I urge you and your group to preserve the façade and the roofline while perhaps modernizing the structure behind it so that it compliments the existing historical register.

2. Business is important. We understand that. It fundamentally deals with the allocation of resources and often businesses are key players in averting economies from being sluggish or inert. Architectural monuments and buildings are main attractors of tourists. Everyone likes to experience eras and the “spirit” of the place. Again I invite you and your group to not demolish the structure. The Hotel has weathered fire, nature, landslides, storms, political unrest and now this very structure should not be facing a bull dozer.

3. Darjeeling is a tourism-dependent city and if you preserve the historical structure and the architecture of the building then the Darjeeling diaspora, along with the foreign and national tourists are more likely to take advantage of this place than what you are planning to build which is perhaps like any other concrete structure with no personality or character.

4. Why preserve? Why keep the old and decaying? Why save historical structures when instead a shiny skyscraper or mall can be erected? Because you, sir will be resurrecting and rehabilitating something that everyone in Darjeeling and lovers of Darjeeling treasures. Without some tangible prompt of the past, history is difficult to understand, particularly heritage buildings that remind us of what, where and how we were. This is part of national history. Buildings can be among the most valuable living structure that defines a community’s architectural profile. We cannot request you to keep the building as is, we are again encouraging you and the group not raze or demolish the basic architectural structure of this beauty.

5. You may ask where the people were when the Hotel was decaying, putrefying and crumbling for three decades. For thirty five years we had hope that when the economy and the political climate improved the hotel would be restored to its former glory. It was not threatened like it is now. Now a slice of history is endangered. The collective memories and the history of the Darjeelingeys are vulnerable and in your hands. Here is a petition to Stop Demolition of the Hotel : http://tinyurl.com/MountEverestHotelDarjeeling

In life there comes a time where one is at a crossroads. You have an immediate choice right now to completely erase a portion of history of Darjeeling or you have the power to preserve it, to nurture it and to give yourself the opportunity to be celebrated as someone who stood on the right side of history. The very reason that the public is protesting is because they have hope. We strongly believe you will not disappoint us and yourself. And, you will do the right thing!
Thanking you in anticipation,
Adwiti Subba Haffner

Footnote: Here is an excerpt about Hotel Mount Everest from my father, Late Mr Nayan Subba’s much awaited book “Heritage Buildings of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong” due to be published this Autumn 2015.

“ Hotel Mount Everest was built on the land where once stood the Rutland House and the Newstead House. On the 14th March 1914, a deed was delivered in favour of Mr. Arratoon Stephen by Mr.N. C. Bose, the solicitor who owned the place along with Encee Cottage that became the Manager’s bungalow. Encee Cottage is a heritage building more than a hundred years old. The hotel was completed on the 12th October, 1915. It was built on principles of continental hotels by Mr. Arratoon Stephen. It was designed by Mr. Stephan Wilkinson, the architect.”

[You can find her at https://www.facebook.com/AdwitiHaffner and her website is www.alivewithadwiti.com]

Via - DT

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