What could be a better month than the one in hand to start a new Series much deserved than our visit to the US after the one dedicated to the place we belong... the Black Hill! It was after a gap of five years previously but this time sooner than expected. We suddenly decided to be with our daughter as it also helped us unwind. This needed immediate wrapping up of the project in hand half-done there at Rhenock. We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Priority thus changed suddenly to make ourselves available to an assignment calling us for yet another  American sojourn during the best part of the year around the same time we first visited the place way back in 2010. During our week-long stay preparing for this visit in Gangtok the season was pleasant Mahatma Gandhi Marg already crowded with tourists and taxis in shortage as tourists needed them more or was it the other way round - taxi owners/drivers rather needed more. Commuters were at a loss as they were the most to suffer in the process. Yet the season was welcome and much needed after the long winter spell with rainy season hurriedly lurking in taking the control over the weather unannounced as usual with the place. Known to be in rains 300 days a year, Rain God reigning supreme attributing much to make the capital cleanest in the region!
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Knew that we could be summoned any time but how the time lapsed and were soon to leave. It could not even wait for the marriage in the family since our presence was more needed here in the USA. Fortunately, bride would be Sneha and her brother Barun had arrived by then from Bangalore and we could be with Bhai Bijoy and family to bless in advance wishing a very memorable wedding ceremony both here at Gangtok and at the place both siblings studied well, got satisfying job to make their career for happy living Sneha to come across and meet the Prince Charming of her dreams to tie the nuptial knot. Story very similar with most parents to have by now accepted the realities of modern era and come to terms with the compulsions of life when most of us have to send their children off to educational institutions away from home to some big cities wishing them a bright future. We never realized, once sent our children would be off our hands too pursuing their own career taking wings to meet the challenges of life in the best manner they could to reach higher and higher. For, it is their life and own battle to win coming out with flying colours! 

I well remember years ago when we had admitted after much efforts getting a seat our daughter Rachna for studies in Pune, we could not leave her in the hostel of Maharshi Karve Cummin's College of Engineering for Women even after staying a whole month there and visiting her every evening to see that she was well-acclimatized and adapted with the new environment there. She was late in the first semester and had to sit in the examination immediately after getting admitted there. She had fared well with two back papers to tag for the next semester. When we enquired about the result in the College office, one of the staff said that previously too there was a similar instance when a student arrived late and had papers backlog but never mind, Rachna would also fare well in studies the way she did and come out successful by the next semester. Exactly, the same happened later and we thank even this day the kind heart who gave us such an assurance much needed to parents to hear of and console. Finally, we decided to move on with our life and full of tears and hugging our daughter together as we bade her good bye in the last evening. No, the next morning it was not easy for either of us to leave the place without meeting our daughter once again. We reached the hostel early morning before the classes started to have one more meeting with welled up eyes. Vice-principal Thade was in utter surprise to find us still around there over a month. He just asked us if it was difficult to leave your daughter here, what would we do later when she was married off - would we too go along with her. She had been with us right throughout her childhood and loved much - so much so when we were with TNA principal Chandran for admission, she just climbed up to my lap and with ease she started sucking her thumb that made him ask if it was age for her to school!

Soon she completed her studies to get employed after a campus placement interview and in due course was sent to the US to work with assignment for three months for the company based on performance. This was at a time when going abroad was not that easy and that too with a job in hand as common as it is today. Back home she was soon a role model for many when worked for the UN Peace Keeping Force at New York. How this little thumb sucking shy girl reached that far was just a matter to make all of our family proud of. We were in Pune/Mumbai to see her off with heavy heart but somewhere happy inside as she was flying off the shore to the land of dreams to wish every success in all her endeavours once again.We well remember the date she was off the shore that year 2003, May 16. How quickly time flies away, we are together this time around to celebrate 15th year of stay here and to celebrate the occasion our choice was fantastic #World of Beer that boasts of 600 kinds with 530 brands plus 30 in draught!

She visited home quite often in between  and also most of the places here. In one of her visits, she confided with us that she has decided to tie marital knot with her friend for long time. I had seen the boy at Pune a year or so ago to hand over the packet she sent. The only question I asked her was did they really loved each other so much as to decide entrusting  life to making the future in foreign soil together. A meeting of both the families followed to cut the ice if any - fortunately, no such matter to come in between as we simply accepted the fate and agreed to make our children happy! Nairs are believed to have many commonalities to attribute them to be the origins of the Newars in Nepal as we also found on web search with some instances to put across and establish the point. Not much needed too as it matters hearts that brought together thus far. Her next visit home was to get married and she was already five years away in the US. Today, it is nine years she was married off and we were here one more time with the door opened as they settled down!
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It was indeed a pleasure to have a welcome note from friends known and unknown here every time before we land. When we first came it was little cumbersome to collect the baggage at the transit points with domestic and international terminals located apart. This time at final destination JFK we paid a dollar more for carts earlier at $ 5 each. For past few years there has been tremendous improvement back home in the way we travel. While it was en route Delhi last time, with direct flight to Mumbai introduced since May 6, we had this route with baggage deposited with the airlines while checking in at Bagdogra. Like last time, boarding passes were issued to us for all three places Bagdogra, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi and we were to collect our baggage on arrival at the final destination JFK/New York. Incidentally, Mumbai airport is reported to be the world's busiest single runway airport with one flight in every 65 seconds. Like last time, we had US Pre-Clearance at Abu Dhabi to save us from immigration formalities landing here. No jet lag as such though the long journey was somewhat tiresome. Could be excitement to meet all here taking over our age coming in between!

Vimal Jwainsaheb was there at JFK to pick us up while Rachna waited at home for health reasons this time avoiding the long journey to and fro. We stopped awhile at service plaza for some coffee to reach home refreshing our memory with the place seeing ever developing process en route. Environment was refreshing green with trees bearing new leaves with flowers abundant wherever our eyes reached!

May or May not please you all but May is one of the most rewarding months for us rather me personally. For, this month we could repay rich tributes along with several of his students and well-wishers coming together to celebrate "Sahasrachandra Darshanam/Maharatharohan or Jankwa" of Buba Jai Shanker Lall Shresta better remembered as Head Sir with Muma Indira Devi at Rhenock. This ritual is in honour of life to celebrate the age - from May 27 to June 02 in the year the millenium turned new. It was keeping with the rich Newar tradition of celebrating the age attaining different stages of life first being at 77 years 7 months. Everyone does not reach that far while some reach even farther to celebrate yet another and again another milestones of the journey called life. Ours was the second one Buba attaining 83 years 4 months accomplishing sighting of a thousand moons to be exact. It was also in May 2010 we landed here first time to be with our daughter and Jwainsaheb that soon saw us meeting many friends, well-wishers and relatives that made us feel homely making our long stay pleasant and memory ever cherishing.

May has many such momentous moments of life pleasant added by one more joyous to be blessed with this USA Sojourn 2017 - an episode best ever!

Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" by him is available at www.facebook.com/rachnabooks

It has been a wonderful journey past few months almost a year around sharing you with what I like most, recollecting from memories old and new  to keep with my promise to be here Thinking local. There were moments when my busy schedule to cope with the vagaries of life in routine made me shun from the commitment promised to myself and be free of this additional responsibility self imposed.This made me take leave for a few weeks away ushering in the year 2017 but when again the New Year 2074 BS came knocking at the door, I could no longer resist myself from resuming the duty as faithfully as it could be. A few episodes more and the Black Hill Journals conclude with this account with trails down the memory lane, for the better! Previously away, but in between friends and well-wishers, wherever we happened to be and meet, mentioned of the column they missed all these days. 

We were at Martam with Bhansari Family to condole the death of a centurian, Dr. Hitler Pradhan's father as well as that of octogenarian mother-in-law of my cousins Usha/Gitanjali, also Dr. Arjun Pradhan's mother. My Buba* and me had the opportunity to meet the former, a World War II veteran, in one of social gatherings we attended - my sister Anita is married to Bal Krishna Pradhan of Duga from the family. While we have the Newar Guthi in Rhenock since the days of yore - first formed by Taksari Chandrabir Newar - the Bhansaris have their own to come under an umbrella organization since 2003 in the name and style of Charman Singh Nyabhu (Kasa:) Khala: after the forefather. He is supposed to have come to Sikkim around the same time Taksari Laxmidas and Taksari  Chandrabir Newar entered Sikkim invited by the authority to usher in development of the tiny Himalayan Kingdom some 150 years ago. He is best remembered for constructing the Jhingeti Ghar built at Duga, now in a dilapidated condition in spite of being a heritage no body cared. They have also brought out a family-tree/directory tracing out the roots in the mainland Nepal like most of the people here have. This reminds me of the family tree Mama Keshab C. Pradhan compiled and brought out for the Taksari Pradhans (Kasaju) of Sikkim - Genealogical Chart of the Descendants of Taksari Laxmidas and Taksari Chandrabir Pradhan (Kasaju) of Sikkim a decade back in 2007. A copy of this can be had of Rachna Books as well. 

There at Martam a colleague from the Kharel family of Ranka, Ramesh too mentioned of having enjoyed my column till the last it appeared. His elder brother K. C. Kharel* (remember the flamboyant trio he, Ganesh Kumar Pradhan and Pradeep Chandra Pradhan with Kalawati Subba firebrand leader of the Sikkim Government Employees' Association in those tumultuous post-merger days of 1975. With her as Speaker I was the Principal Secretary in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to bring out my magnum opus Sikkim : Three Decades towards Democracy) known from my school days were with us when we had gone to condole at a similar social gathering at Darjeeling. Jwain Saheb Uday Chandra Pradhan*(whom we lost with sister Sunita* five years ago in a tragic road accident near Melli) had lost his father (also of my another colleague Pradeep and architect Prakash) first Bhanu Puraskar awardee / first municipal commissioner Manik Chandra Pradhan* at Haridas Hatta. We all - K. C., Hare Ram Pradhan, Binod Kumar Century, Bijoy Pratap Pradhan, Ganesh  and me - escaped with minor injuries while the hired Tourism jeep we were travelling in went off the road soon  after we crossed the Ghoom railway Station. Driver was a young lad from Development Area, who too is now no more. Familiar with the place during my long stay there in Darjeeling, we rushed to nearby dispensary for the first aid. Meanwhile, our good friend Rohit Kumar Pradhan, who too was returning from the same place, happened to see and helped us (me and Ganesh) get admitted in the Victoria Hospital for observation overnight. Next day, when we reached home, Gangtok was all white due to thick carpet of hailstones to remind me of such a scene from the veteran evergreen hero Devanand*-Vyjantimala-Ashok Kumar*-Anju Mahendru* starrer Jewel Thief first Bollywood movie to be shot here way back in 1967! Besides, it is also remembered for a local artiste Madan Kumar Pradhan* who  played a key role. He later functioned as Treasurer of the Sikkim Newa: Guthi when first constituted with Mohan Pratap Pradhan* as the president and Bhim Singh Pradhan* as the general secretary. Incidentally, this Guthi has elected a new executive committee to infuse fresh lease of blood to the august body of the Newars in Sikkim. Besides many other things, the much ambitious and long awaited Newar House (proposed to be constructed on a  site purchased nearby in the capital) is expected to be possible during their regime with yet another instalment of generous grant of Rs.50.00 lakh received from the Government. Worthwhile to share Daju Mitra Kumar Pradhan, a founder/life-member SNG wrote pertinently on wall of the Newars in Sikkim sharing the news portal e-Samata post, "I would heartily congratulate the Team of office bearers, some old and some new, a blend of both, and I also would like to felicitate the entire team for their success. To make their work successful it is equally important to lend helping hand by all in all manner. The office bearers are all honorary and their work is purely voluntary and free. However the works needs to be transparent. So, it is the community's responsibility to support them in making our organization a success and complete our projects etc. Great that we are coming together for this and I wish all a very great success GREAT."

Another incident related to the Kharels was that some years back a guest came with a reference from Durga Dai (of the Uday, Varanasi and Govind Prasad Shrestha of Ratna Pustak Bhandar Kathmandu.) We also just back from Siliguri after a Delhi tour, sat down to know each other. Medini Kharel introduced me to be their nephew while his wife Sandhya was a Shrestha from Kupondole. I too had a good friend Maheshwor Shrestha from the same place with whom much connections were possible through NESOCA over a decade ago. It was his dedicated and sincere efforts through the aegis of NESOCA that much road was paved for starting the World Newar Organization (WNO) in 2010 while in the US to get a formal global launch (and also that of our www.karunaguthi.com) with friends like Tribhuvan Tuladhar, Daya Ratna Shakya and Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha followed by its First Convention in London next year. Dr. Shrestha is known for his major contribution by doing the scholarly work on the Newars in Sikkim, whose findings later came out in the shape of a book. He was unanimously elected as the president of the august world body till 2016 when he handed over the charge to another able friend and former general secretary and president of the Newah Organization of America (NOA) Season Shrestha, the present incumbant elected during the Second WNO Convention held at Baltimore, USA. Soon we could know Sandhya to be Maheshwor's sister. What a pleasant surprise and I immediately contacted him over phone to share the joy!
 
Last month I was at Lifeline to replenish my stock of medicines with new prescription from Dr. Suresh Mohan Rasaily. There I met Thakur Prasad Koirala another colleague while doing a brief stint as Special Secretary in the Finance before moved to be the Secretary in charge of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department (1994) and complimented me for my writings. He shared that many then found my notes in files thoroughly good and explicit but never thought of me to turn out such a writer to share in my Thinking column so regularly. He too was good in his notes those days and wish he could use his skills in jotting down his experiences especially his long innings there to retire from. Such goodwill gestures too made me come back as readers like him have always been a pleasure to meet through my writings and to know about their feedback!

I thought that the episodes for the Black Hill Journals would end without a single response in writing from the readers, but some known to me doing so whenever we come across. Once I even asked the editor if he received any feedback while he continued with my articles for years on but never let me be known. My email address and contact number were given in the Disclaimer with every episode in the hope that someone would use it but  rarely happened. Some years ago a reader and retired teacher R.S. Chettri from Melli had rang me up one evening after going through the article to find some factual error about the portfolio held by the then youth leader R. C. Poudyal as a minister in the Kazi government. Upon checking found that the editorial desk had erroneously corrected what I mentioned in the article. The popular local vernacular newsdaily had honoured the much valued response and brought out a corrigendum the very next day. This time, I had one at last and it was from Bimal Kafley who wrote to email me "Ref. Historic Literary Pursuits... Sikkim Express 30 April.. Nirmohi is not R.K. Pradhan's novel.The story, though filmed by R.K. Pradhan, is mine. Also published in magazines. RK Pradhan's novel is 'Neelam'. May kindly be rectified." Thank you dear reader and the position is rectified accordingly here and now itself. 
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We would be out to the another part of the world for a much deserved vacation but hope to be with you all from there too sharing whatever possible in spite of all my limitations being in a foreign land. So, I was once again at Lifeline to stock up  medicines to last for whole course of our sojourn. Niranjan Bhai was kind enough to leave the shop and rush to fetch whatever shortage. Met outside B. N. Sharma, who retired from Mines and Geology, to share his views about and soon to join was Dorji Tsering to tell why he liked reading my articles compared to others. I met him first in 1974-75 as our head assistant in Home department, where I was under secretary (accounts) in my first posting after two years' course  as I. A. & A. S. probationer. Sonam Wangdi was seen passing by in hurry but to know from Dorji of their younger days together schooling here both being from Martam at 'Khadge (Khadga Bahadur Chettri*) Compounder's place and later to work together when he was the chief secretary. He, however, found his popular column Little Knowledge quite critical while for most of us quite informative with full of data and statistics well documented in support of what he propounded. By the way, Khadge Compounder's elder son Prem* (Piku to his friends who likened him to the evergreen film star Devanand as he used to hum sometimes Dil ka bhanvar kare pukar, Pyar ka raag suno, Pyar ka raag suno re ..... from Devanand-Nutan starrer Tere Ghar ke Samne 1963 Mohammad Rafi/S.D. Burman/Majrooh Sultanpuri) and me were together in school (TNA 1956), while we worked together in Agriculture department (1963) and later he was in Land Revenue where I served a stint as district collector south at Namchi (1986.) Younger son Lal too worked with me while in Information and Public Relations (1995.) Lal helped get our son Raman a camera his friend Mithun from Bangladesh lost when visiting Gangtok. They contacted a photo processing shop in the hope the founder would try selling it there. But no, it was found by his sister on her way to bazar just on the road side in front of Rachna. Mithun had dropped while coming out of taxi. She informed Lal and they got back leaving both grateful and happy to find the lost camera, unbelievable indeed to carry back home sweet memories from Sikkim!
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Before I wrap up and take leave from the Black Hill Journals with this episode, it could be deemed concealing something if I do not share a few lines about the Historic Literary Pursuits of this writer himself. It was soon after my B. Sc. (Honours - Zoology) from Darjeeling Government College second batch under the newly established North Bengal University in 1967 that I was in my usual visit to Nini's place in Birgunj. There I was offered teaching assignment in the Maisthan Vidyapeeth during winter vacation. Seeing the need of a good textbook on Biology written in Nepali language that was medium of teaching as well there, students depended on textbooks in Hindi. I immediately entrusted the responsibility upon myself and reposed to prepare one for the benefit of the students and society there in Nepal. Saral Jiva Vigyan with scientific terms first ever attempted into Nepali, profusely illustrated with sketches mostly by the author himself was thus ready in these three months or so. A local publisher Rashtriya Prakashan was also ready to bring it out. More than the royalty that was meager, it was the joy and thrill of bringing out one's book printed that too with his name as a writer. This book has turned out many of the students to be a doctor, a great satisfaction even if I could not be one even after being selected to undergo the course with the Government of India Merit scholarship way back in 1963 as the Education department failed badly to arrange seats spoiling a precious one year of my youth but for good as life later turned out to be grateful for whatever I had. The other candidate so suffered was Tashi Yangzum. In the Preface of this book I could pay rich tribute to my Guru Dr. B. Dasgupta*, longest serving Professor/Principal there. I am grateful ever as a student could be to his teacher/s. He summoned me one fine morning to his chamber and asked me to pay more attention to my studies rather than extra-curricular activities. Besides, told me also to shun from affairs like contesting in the Students' Union  election. I was elected to be in the executive body and to be the assistant editor of the College Annual Pines and Camellias 1964. My other editorial contribution was magazine Yeti brought out for pen-friend club Yeti Exchange from Birgunj, where we with friends like Pushpa Prasad Amatya and Bhupendra Bahadur Shrestha had also revived Juneli Pustakalaya started by some seniors like Dhruva Chandra Gautam, Ishwar Chandra Gautam, Lav Prasad Amatya and others. It was in 1963 back home at Rhenock that we had started Navjivan Sandhya Club (name suggested by Buba to see the charm it reads Navjivan backward as well besides reminds of the Najivan Trust of Mahatma Gandhi) Santosh Pradhan and others to take social works to some height to be noted. Thulo Mama*  recollected that he and others too had started one  in their youth and such bodies die natural death with career and other compulsions of life take you away to many other challenges to pursue. It was my principal's love and advice that prompted me to complete my M.Sc. five years hence. Being a science student I needed someone to help me look into the niceties of my language in the said book. It was none other than our friend from Rhenock doing her B.A., whom the Nepali literary world today know as Dr. Shanti Chettri, in the same college. Along with her Prem Pradhan and Desh Ratna Subba were among other friends to fill up the form for my admission while away doing this book. Buba rushed that winter to Birgunj to bring me home to pursue  studies further and so my first ever book had to be and was dedicated to my parents, whom I owe for everything, naturally! No wonder, many of the acclaimed writers and litterateurs, my contemporary there then had not even a streak of such inclination, forget about bringing out a book. This book, therefore, made my friends, teachers and family proud of me. It was half a century ago, quite a contribution from the Black Hill, which I would like to put forth in record humbly but without any hesitation, of course!
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Next week : New Series - Off the shore again
Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim by him is available at the Rachna Books.

This article, originally published by the Nepa: Pasa Pucha: Amerikaye  in 'Dabu', is dedicated to the Newars in Sikkim on the occasion of their congregation today in Gangtok to elect a new governing body for the Sikkim Newar Guthi.
All the Best! - May the Best win, Serve the Best!!
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Many were not aware that we have been here for such a long period as most of the people here are under the presumption that either we came with the land much before or since some generations back we do not know exactly. Most of us have forgotten the outstanding epoch-changing contributions made by our forefathers to make Sikkim what it is today. This might be due to lack of proper records even of historical background of this once Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, perhaps. Mere our presence here in Sikkim make us proud to be a descendant by virtue of their foresight, grit and determination, dedication and courage that they came here invited finding them already a successful business entrepreneurs in neighbouring Darjeeling. This Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim was not like the present Sikkim, where industrialists find choice paddy fields as their playfield to take best out of the place with hills and vales as the best resort to extract its resources. Taksari Chandrabir Newar and his brother Taksari Laxmidas Newar had come invited to the malaria infested thick forests at a terrain deemed not be very productive but to be received by a hostile residents. It was the tact and shrewdness, dedication and determination, courage and strength all combined that saw them emerging successful in the power tussle that followed when they first came to Sikkim. Slowly and steadily they not only established their supremacy in the region but also soon won the heart of those who were earlier much against them and their settlement with much needed man-power to bring in civilization and development in  Sikkim from that part of the little Himalayan Kingdom now known as Rhenock for place called the Black Hill.
 
Durbar Era (till 1900): a. the first and only Sikkim Durbar/ Government coin minted from the copper out of the mines excavated here only exactly after 50 years when the Newars had started it in Bhojpur that celebrated recently 200 years of the Mint in Nepal; b. agriculture land for cultivating rice and other crops by land terracing system hitherto unknown in this part of the Himalayas though the place was also known as Denjong, the valley of rice; and c. introduction of the revenue system that much added to the government exchequer to facilitate many other development activities thereafter.  

British Era (1901-1946): a. Recognition of their outstanding contributions in the region to bring home for the Newars much honoured and coveted title of Rai Saheb as many as six to the illustrious Taksari family that out-poured to neighbouring Kalimpong sub-division in Darjeeling Hills; b. The Chandra Nursery established by Rai Saheb Ratna Bahadur Pradhan with his brother Babu Durga Shamsher Pradhan of Rhenock in 1910 that catapulted to put this tiny Himalayan Kingdom in the world floriculture map to make it possible at that time when Sikkim was yet untouched by modern conveniences.  

Modern Era (1947-1975): Post Independence era saw Sikkim much embroiled politically that  ultimately led to the merger with the country not much to the comfort of the people who loved to be dependent but not to that extent as to the loss of their unique identity since the ages. It was a fate accomplish that they had to swallow at the cost of their dignity with its ruler dying a martyr's death to many. 
Present Era (1976-2015): Turn of events that followed merger of Sikkim with the mainland India, good or bad the Himalayan State has benefitted a lot bringing in again good and bad of the intermingling with the winds of change from the plains sweeping the hills though some gushes came from the neighbouring hills to influence much the otherwise calm and tranquil environment here. What the unrest of the majority population aggrieved brought has far been overdone by the subsequent inflow from the plains, it seems. Plenty of funds from the central government saw changes to be noticed between this side of the Teesta and the other side. So much so was the difference or the division four decades later that even they found a different classification of the Gorkha with the Nepali people in this part of the Himalayas. When the Nepali language was given the status of the official language here at a national level three decades ago, both the terms were mentioned lest there be any doubt or ambiguity on the issue. This has given much scope to play with to the people taking miles out of it, instead of benefitting what it actually could be best utilized for in the development of the language and literature besides matters associated with it.

As regards our own Newar language much has to be done to reach the stage when people here in Sikkim can see it at high school level. During the Book Preview function held recently for 'The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim', higlighting the historical background of the Newars in their mainland Nepal, Prof. (Dr.) Pratap Chandra Pradhan rued about the status of the Newar language that was listed as one of the threatened languages in the country. Die-hard Newar friends in Nepal do not accept their language to be threatened or dying but it is so here. The position here was clarified to them when they asked as a comment to a picture that we had posted showing us (Ranjana and I) being interviewed by the lecturer-in-charge Dr. Samar Sinha of the Sikkim University with a research scholar two years ago. Dr. Pradhan had opined that if they had text books approved at least up to the senior secondary school level, it would be easier for them to push forward from the Sikkim University side for its recognition at the college and higher level gradually. Recently some of the languages spoken here in Sikkim viz. Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu have been accorded the status at the M.A./University level. This shows us how far we have to reach in respect of the Newar language as such, while most of the people concerned are happy getting it recognized at as the official language even after two decades along with some other favours that had to be there at par with that given to the others. How much and what we have lost in the process has not even been thought of and realized. They are not satisfied felicitating the same people again and again at the simple pretext year after year without achieving much of their own. So much so is the trend that like someone on Facebook had commented, this side of Mechi we would honour you and that side of Mechi you felicitate us for whatever reasons whatsoever be the occasion as often as possible. This goes very much as a part of our culture here too. 

As such it was a poser for many of us when we decided to celebrate 150 Years of the Newars in Sikkim while presenting our recent work 'The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim'. It was launched within a span of five days at three different places (Gangtok, Baltimore and Kathmandu) known for the contributions of the Newars have been predominant in spite of its people being in insufficient number where voice often goes unheard but the custom and tradition, culture and rituals, architecture and heritage have been now assumed to be their own without owing much to our language and literature by according rightful status even in the mainland itself. 

It is 150 Years of the Newars in Sikkim and also two decades of the recognition of the Newar language as one of the several regional languages in the state that was recognized at par with the already existing languages Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Limbu and English. An extra-ordinary notification brought out by the government  of Sikkim in 1995 brought the Newar language along with five other languages spoken here viz., Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sherpa and Tamang ( and later Bhujel also) came into the official status fold.This major decision of  the government to accord official recognition also made the language lovers proud. This generous policy had made us pause awhile and ponder where we actually stood and what was the status of our language and what steps we should take so that to make best out of it.  Besides thanking the Government for the kind gesture, it was an eye-opener this author with his wife Ranjana on advice of the late father/founder of our family trust Karuna Devi Smarak Dharmarth Guthi (established 1995) had brought out immediately thereafter Newa: Varna, Lipi ra Bhasha Parichaya in 1996 with its modified and revised edition in 2001. This book had far reaching effect that reached the message crisp and clear and awareness far and wide about our letters, scripts and language besides showing in a nutshell how varied were these besides the rich culture, tradition and heritage we had to many not only here in Sikkim and its neighbouring Darjeeling hills in this country but also beyond in Nepal. The book was brought out at a time when our language was slowly but steadily losing ground to the influence of other languages and culture. This little book was, therefore, equally helpful to those even in Kathmandu valley, the mainland of the Newars that makes us proud of. So much so that someone wise had once commented that the Newars in Sikkim showing us the way, the day might not be far off when we the Newars in Nepal might have to go to Sikkim to see and seek their help in this regard. But I find that more than here in Sikkim, it is much more in America what to be found during my last two sojourns and tell people the wonderful works towards the preservation and promotion of our culture, language, customs and traditions done by the Nepa: Pasa Pucha: Amerikaye that celebrates their Silver Jubilee later this year during the Nhu Dan 1137 and the Newah Organization of America established 15 years ago with its five chapters doing with some more such organizations like the Newa: American Dabu in Chicago doing there of late. Similarly, we hear of the good deeds of the Pasa Pucha: U.K., Guthi Australia or of those in Denmark, Japan and many other parts of the world where the Newars have reached to explore the fortune for themselves as true to their entrepreneurial trait. So, the reality back home is something different that many here rue about. We could not get a piece of land allotted in  the capital that all other communities have got granted from the Government while a Newar himself  was the Minister-in-charge of the urban affairs and another claimed to be so to influence. We have, as such, still to go many miles ahead so much so that there is not even a proper Newar Bhavan of our own in spite of the Government grant a decade back.

People here still love to call the place Black Hill and wondering its charred face due to frequent fire rages that engulfed the bazar is true to keep its ancient name for Rhenock (where the Newars landed first 150 years ago and have the Sri 3 Dhaneshwar Mahadev Shivalaya Mandir built in 1884 with the  Newar Guthi from the days of Taksari Chandrabir Newar) to signify its fate in spite of its being an ancient heritage blessed land with the golden chapter of our history hidden covered by dust of time and their outstanding contributions being lost in the oblivion much ignored. Or is it thus due to the discomfort of our forefathers in heaven seeing their descendants not coming upto the mark and their influence weaning away slowly and gradually here in Sikkim too that, otherwise, had a brilliant and big influence in the general life of the people and society at large till recently as it should have been keeping to the true colours and rich tradition of being a successful ruling class.

Disclaimer: Since the author owes much to the Taksari Family of Rhenock for they being his maternal lineage, it is but natural the views, as such, more devoted to them in his writings on The Newars in Sikkim. We welcome and invite any further step towards a thorough proper  research by scholars seriously to understand and evaluate their contributions or that of the Newars to this Himalayan State and beyond ever since they made Sikkim their new home 150 years ago. 'The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim' by the author could be had of www.rachnabooks.com