Golden Jubilee and Patriotism
In Sikkim we have been celebrating the Independence Day even before joining the Indian mainstream. I remember my early days in late 1950s when we would be taken from our school, Tashi Namgyal Academy to the Residency (Bara Kothi that was what the present Raj Bhavan used to be known as) and sing the National Anthem with the unfurling of the tricolour by the Political Officer on Independence Days. We were thereafter treated with a packet each of singara (samosa, bundiya and bhujuri) to celebrate the occasion! Our friends studying outside must have been more lucky that way and fortunate enough to enjoy the day more and in better ways in understanding and celebrating the Day. Even Kalimpong used to celebrate it in the Mela Ground in a grand way perhaps the best in the Darjeeling Hills those days, where our Kumar Sportings Club used to be a regular participant in the Independence Day Football Tournament and winner too bringing home the Shield quite often.
We used to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti and perhaps the Republic Day too and the holidays for Dashain, Tihar, Lossong and Maghe Sankranti were of longer duration and occasions comparatively less. Of late, we have many more occasions to rejoice and so have more holidays too. Here we remember and pay homage to the national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi (at the Park with his bust on Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru (at the Park with his bust near the White Memorial Hall), Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (on Teachers’ Day), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (at Sikkim Legislative Assembly premises where his life-size statue is located)and Nobel Laureate Dr. C. V. Raman (on National Science Day).
When I was looking for a Sikkim Flag for designing the cover of this book, all my efforts almost went in vain and proved to be futile until I remembered of the one I had with my parents back home at Rhenock. My mother could dig it out and send it to my son while I was away in the press in Varanasi planning the cover design. I could get by e-mail the visual image of what was left of it.
Coming back to Gangtok when I mentioned of my difficulty in getting a Sikkim Flag, the Hon’ble Speaker mentioned that this could be due to a sort of ban imposed in possessing one during the transit period of the change over process during 1974-75. May be due to this reason I too had sent then this flag in safe custody.
Much water has flown down the Teesta and for the most of the present post-merger generation this flag may not be of much meaning. For them the National Flag means the tricolour and so does the patriotism mean to them what we too now understand and appreciate acknowledging it too in the present day context.
In Sikkim we have been celebrating the Independence Day even before joining the Indian mainstream. I remember my early days in late 1950s when we would be taken from our school, Tashi Namgyal Academy to the Residency (Bara Kothi that was what the present Raj Bhavan used to be known as) and sing the National Anthem with the unfurling of the tricolour by the Political Officer on Independence Days. We were thereafter treated with a packet each of singara (samosa, bundiya and bhujuri) to celebrate the occasion! Our friends studying outside must have been more lucky that way and fortunate enough to enjoy the day more and in better ways in understanding and celebrating the Day. Even Kalimpong used to celebrate it in the Mela Ground in a grand way perhaps the best in the Darjeeling Hills those days, where our Kumar Sportings Club used to be a regular participant in the Independence Day Football Tournament and winner too bringing home the Shield quite often.
We used to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti and perhaps the Republic Day too and the holidays for Dashain, Tihar, Lossong and Maghe Sankranti were of longer duration and occasions comparatively less. Of late, we have many more occasions to rejoice and so have more holidays too. Here we remember and pay homage to the national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi (at the Park with his bust on Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru (at the Park with his bust near the White Memorial Hall), Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (on Teachers’ Day), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (at Sikkim Legislative Assembly premises where his life-size statue is located)and Nobel Laureate Dr. C. V. Raman (on National Science Day).
When I was looking for a Sikkim Flag for designing the cover of this book, all my efforts almost went in vain and proved to be futile until I remembered of the one I had with my parents back home at Rhenock. My mother could dig it out and send it to my son while I was away in the press in Varanasi planning the cover design. I could get by e-mail the visual image of what was left of it.
Coming back to Gangtok when I mentioned of my difficulty in getting a Sikkim Flag, the Hon’ble Speaker mentioned that this could be due to a sort of ban imposed in possessing one during the transit period of the change over process during 1974-75. May be due to this reason I too had sent then this flag in safe custody.
Much water has flown down the Teesta and for the most of the present post-merger generation this flag may not be of much meaning. For them the National Flag means the tricolour and so does the patriotism mean to them what we too now understand and appreciate acknowledging it too in the present day context.
The Census of India 1981 recorded an astounding mind boggling decadal growth of 50.77% in the total population of the State immediately after the merger as is revealed by the figures:
Decadal period Population Percentage of Growth
Total Rural Urban
1971 Base 2,09,843 - - -
1971-81 3,16,385 50.77 39.50 159.73
1981-91 4,06,457 28.47 39.26 (-) 27.56
1991-2001 5,40,851 32.98* - -
*Provisional Figure with absolute growth of 1,34,036; details awaited.
This was the period which had three IAS Officers of West Bengal cadre to help administer the Government the newly formed twenty-second State. That was the need of the hour during the transition period when many came and served and most made Sikkim their home. How many of us now remember these three Officers on Special Duty Sarvasri K. M. Lal (IAS1964), D. K. Manavalan and Jayanta Sanyal (IAS1965), who have now retired perhaps and could give their account of those days they served in the prime of their career in Sikkim. Decade later this writer happened to meet Sri K. M. Lal (served as the Secretary to the Chief Minister Sri L. D. Kazi) once during a Training course and Sri Manavalan could recognize me and stop for a while one evening in his evening walk at Sarojani Nagar market in New Delhi.
The other day celebrating the Decadal Year of the Formation of Sikkim Democratic Front Government in Sikkim in Chintan Bhavan on December 8, 2004, the Chief Minister was clear about what patriotism mean to him. He told amidst the gathering of the political leaders of his party to the Officers present there that who could not accept and reconcile with the changing time have found themselves drifted ashore. For him, since Sikkim became the twenty second State of India, he could be its Chief Minister and the message was clear and crisp!
It is not very difficult either to whom he was referring to and in identifying them too. They are the very people who are conspicuous by their absence in such State functions of national importance, rather habitual absentees; no matter how strong words are used condemning their attitude in these gatherings. Otherwise, they too have benefited out of this process but when the question of patriotism comes they have a second opinion. We cannot have the best of both the worlds. It is relevant to quote the first Governor of Sikkim, Sri B. B. Lal, from a speech he made on January 26, 1979 as also mentioned by Sri B. S. Das in The Sikkim Saga:
“I am sure we all realize fully by now, that time and history only know how to move forward and that it is not possible for the clock of history to move backwards. Anyone, who thinks in terms of history going backwards, obviously suffers from defective vision and has not taken any lesson from the past history of the world stretching over thousands of years.”
Sri Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister often mentions of Sikkim being our home and India our country and advocates, “The slogan Kashmir se Kanyakumari tak should be followed by Kanyakumari se Sikkim tak. This is because that we consider Sikkim the roof of India.” He further says that our people, more particularly the youth, should focus on a broader perspective while preparing for facing the life ahead and equipping themselves with education to think of competing at a broader national perspective and of serving the country instead of narrowing their outlook and limiting the scope confined to and remaining within Sikkim. General impression is that our people cannot think of going beyond Rangpo (the main border town) and attending conferences outside and even holding such meetings here on the plea that we do not have enough infra-structure. This exercise is like climbing high mountains for them though born in mountains we are very hardy and strenuous. Even when a few amongst us have proved their worth, it is either not realized or recognized and is taken with disbelief. Those have contributed much here whole of their career and achieved too early in life in Sikkim would rather prefer languishing here instead of venturing out equipped with the vast experience they already gained serving the Government. Instead, it is rather an encouraging and welcome change in the current attitude and trend in many of our post-merger generation who have now started trying their fortunes outside the State and some even beyond the country!
While Sri Chamling has been speaking about what is the crying need now is the emotional integration and the necessity to win over the hearts too as some even say ‘if we fail to adapt with the changing times, we are doomed to extinction.’
It was during the Kolkata Conference that our Speaker Sri D. N. Takarpa had expressed to have a crest or emblem of our own for official use and display. I have just designed one and submitted for his approval as what could be more opportune time than this celebrating three decades. If I am not wrong and correctly remember, there was perhaps once objection to the use of present crest by the Government of Sikkim claiming it to be the Royal insignia. But that was the early days of the merger taking each and everything whole stock and barrel.
In February 1998 this writer was suspended for what the then Chief Secretary made out through a conspiracy on a flimsy ground of being negligent towards duties as the Chief Electoral Officer when he had to rush his wife for an emergency medical surgery just in Siliguri, not very far off a place from Gangtok to send for and verify! This is his achievement while in Sikkim but it does not cover up the revealing scar.
My first posting on being re-instated (after mental torture of 71 days even after he left) was in the Department of Art and Culture and this gave me the once in a life time opportunity to organise and celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India’s Independence. The Government of India Ministry of Cultural Affairs had provided a sum of Rs.40.00lakh for the purpose and the then Chief Secretary had advised and warned me to be more careful just back reinstated and with the funds else may face even a CBI enquiry (which he did himself later). What could be more opportune time to prove one’s worth by organising the show with funds available aplenty and within few months’ time! The programme was well organised and functions were held in a grand manner in different places throughout the State in all the sub-divisions. Concluding Day Celebrations were held in the evening of the Independence Day 1998 in the Indoor Gymnasium Hall near the Paljor Stadium where dignitaries were present. The State Function, after the dignitaries left turned out to be a public function where people enjoyed singing and dancing with the artistes invited from Nepal and Darjeeling besides those from Sikkim until late night. Colleagues, who earlier thought of the function to be a disaster and a flop and unnecessarily inviting the Governor and the Chief Minister, were now annoyed and said why they were invited when the crowd was overwhelming to the function. Since prior arrangements had been made for telecasting the programme live installing television sets outside the Hall as well as through the cable network, I was not worried but rather happy to receive such a wild response! Fireworks and bursting of crackers in the midnight announcing the end of a year long celebrations came with packets of sweets out of fund made available to and arranged by the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce. Funds were well utilized by bringing out mementos, stickers, posters, certificates, etc. besides the audio cassette with Patriotic songs in regional languages to mark the occasion. Balance fund of Rs.12.00 lakh was left aside for documenting the whole event but transfer out of the Department left me guessing the fate of the work undone and fund thereof.
The title song from the cassette Vande Bharatam is outstanding master piece by all means and it brings back afresh the nostalgia of Patriotism that sparked the whole State along with the rest of the country in 1998. It is reproduced here for the benefit of those interested:
Vande Bharatam !
Jai Janmabhoomi, Victory to land of Birth
Jai Matribhumi, Victory to Motherland
Jai Punya Bhumi, Victory to Holy land
Jai, Jai, Jai Victory, Victory, Victory to thee
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Shubhra Swet Hima Mukutdharini Crowned with radiant white snow
Sushobhitam Richly decorated
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Ati Neer Jal, Sataha Samundra Deep Seas with very clean water
Ati Pavan Jal he Very pure Water
Timi Dhanya Gauravi Janani You are great, Glorious Mother
Janmabhumi He My Motherland
Vande Bharatam …, I bow to thee India, the Great
Samsamya, Samatal Kahin Vast stretches - some plains
Vishal Giri Parvate Majestic Rocks and Mountains
Ati Suswar Kokil Swar Subhashit Filled with very melodious voice of birds
Ati Vimale Very sacred
Ati Dher Dher Gunikari Very beneficial and enriching
Janma Janmayi Ranjite Joyous land of my birth forever and ever
Vande Bharatam …, I bow to thee India, the Great
Sarva Bhatribhav Purna Siddhitaha Universal brotherhood is fully proven
Bharat Bharati He India, Indians
Swarnim Prabhat Ati Kirane Abound with golden rays every morning
Matri Shubhra Dhavale Bright and dazzkling Motherland
Vande Bharatam ...! I bow to thee India, the Great!
My above transliteration may not and can not fully convey the sentiments that the musical composition of Susri Shanti Thatal in the voice of Sri Uttam Pradhan, Smt. Bimla Pradhan, Narendra Gurung and their friends that make rendition of the lyrics of Sri Rudra Poudyal so lively, but it should certainly be able to express and reflect the patriotism prevalent here in Sikkim through this song!
While in the Department of Art and Culture, I also had the opportunity to organise in a few hours notice a function to felicitate Captain Ram Singh Thakuri of Azad Hind Fauz / Indian National Army, who composed the music for the National Anthem Jana gana mana besides for the evergreen patriotic song Kadam kadam badhye ja. The National Song Bande Mataram and Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindusthan Hamara are also very popular here. One can guess the magnitude of patriotism prevalent here whenever there are some sports events like the Cricket match with India winning.
While I remember other patriotic songs like Bharat, Bharat, Hum iske santan (by Chaman Nihal, Pandit Bhajan Sapori, Udit Narayan and Vani Jayaram) frequently aired in All India Radio and Doordarshan, Dil bhi denge, Jaan bhi denge, aye Watan tereliye(Film Karma) and others during Golden Jubilee days, many still recollect with nostalgia those days of Jahan bagchha Teesta Rangeet and Delazong during early 1970s in Sikkim.
Source : Sikkim - Three Decades towards Democracy
Decadal period Population Percentage of Growth
Total Rural Urban
1971 Base 2,09,843 - - -
1971-81 3,16,385 50.77 39.50 159.73
1981-91 4,06,457 28.47 39.26 (-) 27.56
1991-2001 5,40,851 32.98* - -
*Provisional Figure with absolute growth of 1,34,036; details awaited.
This was the period which had three IAS Officers of West Bengal cadre to help administer the Government the newly formed twenty-second State. That was the need of the hour during the transition period when many came and served and most made Sikkim their home. How many of us now remember these three Officers on Special Duty Sarvasri K. M. Lal (IAS1964), D. K. Manavalan and Jayanta Sanyal (IAS1965), who have now retired perhaps and could give their account of those days they served in the prime of their career in Sikkim. Decade later this writer happened to meet Sri K. M. Lal (served as the Secretary to the Chief Minister Sri L. D. Kazi) once during a Training course and Sri Manavalan could recognize me and stop for a while one evening in his evening walk at Sarojani Nagar market in New Delhi.
The other day celebrating the Decadal Year of the Formation of Sikkim Democratic Front Government in Sikkim in Chintan Bhavan on December 8, 2004, the Chief Minister was clear about what patriotism mean to him. He told amidst the gathering of the political leaders of his party to the Officers present there that who could not accept and reconcile with the changing time have found themselves drifted ashore. For him, since Sikkim became the twenty second State of India, he could be its Chief Minister and the message was clear and crisp!
It is not very difficult either to whom he was referring to and in identifying them too. They are the very people who are conspicuous by their absence in such State functions of national importance, rather habitual absentees; no matter how strong words are used condemning their attitude in these gatherings. Otherwise, they too have benefited out of this process but when the question of patriotism comes they have a second opinion. We cannot have the best of both the worlds. It is relevant to quote the first Governor of Sikkim, Sri B. B. Lal, from a speech he made on January 26, 1979 as also mentioned by Sri B. S. Das in The Sikkim Saga:
“I am sure we all realize fully by now, that time and history only know how to move forward and that it is not possible for the clock of history to move backwards. Anyone, who thinks in terms of history going backwards, obviously suffers from defective vision and has not taken any lesson from the past history of the world stretching over thousands of years.”
Sri Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister often mentions of Sikkim being our home and India our country and advocates, “The slogan Kashmir se Kanyakumari tak should be followed by Kanyakumari se Sikkim tak. This is because that we consider Sikkim the roof of India.” He further says that our people, more particularly the youth, should focus on a broader perspective while preparing for facing the life ahead and equipping themselves with education to think of competing at a broader national perspective and of serving the country instead of narrowing their outlook and limiting the scope confined to and remaining within Sikkim. General impression is that our people cannot think of going beyond Rangpo (the main border town) and attending conferences outside and even holding such meetings here on the plea that we do not have enough infra-structure. This exercise is like climbing high mountains for them though born in mountains we are very hardy and strenuous. Even when a few amongst us have proved their worth, it is either not realized or recognized and is taken with disbelief. Those have contributed much here whole of their career and achieved too early in life in Sikkim would rather prefer languishing here instead of venturing out equipped with the vast experience they already gained serving the Government. Instead, it is rather an encouraging and welcome change in the current attitude and trend in many of our post-merger generation who have now started trying their fortunes outside the State and some even beyond the country!
While Sri Chamling has been speaking about what is the crying need now is the emotional integration and the necessity to win over the hearts too as some even say ‘if we fail to adapt with the changing times, we are doomed to extinction.’
It was during the Kolkata Conference that our Speaker Sri D. N. Takarpa had expressed to have a crest or emblem of our own for official use and display. I have just designed one and submitted for his approval as what could be more opportune time than this celebrating three decades. If I am not wrong and correctly remember, there was perhaps once objection to the use of present crest by the Government of Sikkim claiming it to be the Royal insignia. But that was the early days of the merger taking each and everything whole stock and barrel.
In February 1998 this writer was suspended for what the then Chief Secretary made out through a conspiracy on a flimsy ground of being negligent towards duties as the Chief Electoral Officer when he had to rush his wife for an emergency medical surgery just in Siliguri, not very far off a place from Gangtok to send for and verify! This is his achievement while in Sikkim but it does not cover up the revealing scar.
My first posting on being re-instated (after mental torture of 71 days even after he left) was in the Department of Art and Culture and this gave me the once in a life time opportunity to organise and celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India’s Independence. The Government of India Ministry of Cultural Affairs had provided a sum of Rs.40.00lakh for the purpose and the then Chief Secretary had advised and warned me to be more careful just back reinstated and with the funds else may face even a CBI enquiry (which he did himself later). What could be more opportune time to prove one’s worth by organising the show with funds available aplenty and within few months’ time! The programme was well organised and functions were held in a grand manner in different places throughout the State in all the sub-divisions. Concluding Day Celebrations were held in the evening of the Independence Day 1998 in the Indoor Gymnasium Hall near the Paljor Stadium where dignitaries were present. The State Function, after the dignitaries left turned out to be a public function where people enjoyed singing and dancing with the artistes invited from Nepal and Darjeeling besides those from Sikkim until late night. Colleagues, who earlier thought of the function to be a disaster and a flop and unnecessarily inviting the Governor and the Chief Minister, were now annoyed and said why they were invited when the crowd was overwhelming to the function. Since prior arrangements had been made for telecasting the programme live installing television sets outside the Hall as well as through the cable network, I was not worried but rather happy to receive such a wild response! Fireworks and bursting of crackers in the midnight announcing the end of a year long celebrations came with packets of sweets out of fund made available to and arranged by the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce. Funds were well utilized by bringing out mementos, stickers, posters, certificates, etc. besides the audio cassette with Patriotic songs in regional languages to mark the occasion. Balance fund of Rs.12.00 lakh was left aside for documenting the whole event but transfer out of the Department left me guessing the fate of the work undone and fund thereof.
The title song from the cassette Vande Bharatam is outstanding master piece by all means and it brings back afresh the nostalgia of Patriotism that sparked the whole State along with the rest of the country in 1998. It is reproduced here for the benefit of those interested:
Vande Bharatam !
Jai Janmabhoomi, Victory to land of Birth
Jai Matribhumi, Victory to Motherland
Jai Punya Bhumi, Victory to Holy land
Jai, Jai, Jai Victory, Victory, Victory to thee
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Shubhra Swet Hima Mukutdharini Crowned with radiant white snow
Sushobhitam Richly decorated
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Vande Bharatam, I bow to thee India, the Great
Ati Neer Jal, Sataha Samundra Deep Seas with very clean water
Ati Pavan Jal he Very pure Water
Timi Dhanya Gauravi Janani You are great, Glorious Mother
Janmabhumi He My Motherland
Vande Bharatam …, I bow to thee India, the Great
Samsamya, Samatal Kahin Vast stretches - some plains
Vishal Giri Parvate Majestic Rocks and Mountains
Ati Suswar Kokil Swar Subhashit Filled with very melodious voice of birds
Ati Vimale Very sacred
Ati Dher Dher Gunikari Very beneficial and enriching
Janma Janmayi Ranjite Joyous land of my birth forever and ever
Vande Bharatam …, I bow to thee India, the Great
Sarva Bhatribhav Purna Siddhitaha Universal brotherhood is fully proven
Bharat Bharati He India, Indians
Swarnim Prabhat Ati Kirane Abound with golden rays every morning
Matri Shubhra Dhavale Bright and dazzkling Motherland
Vande Bharatam ...! I bow to thee India, the Great!
My above transliteration may not and can not fully convey the sentiments that the musical composition of Susri Shanti Thatal in the voice of Sri Uttam Pradhan, Smt. Bimla Pradhan, Narendra Gurung and their friends that make rendition of the lyrics of Sri Rudra Poudyal so lively, but it should certainly be able to express and reflect the patriotism prevalent here in Sikkim through this song!
While in the Department of Art and Culture, I also had the opportunity to organise in a few hours notice a function to felicitate Captain Ram Singh Thakuri of Azad Hind Fauz / Indian National Army, who composed the music for the National Anthem Jana gana mana besides for the evergreen patriotic song Kadam kadam badhye ja. The National Song Bande Mataram and Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindusthan Hamara are also very popular here. One can guess the magnitude of patriotism prevalent here whenever there are some sports events like the Cricket match with India winning.
While I remember other patriotic songs like Bharat, Bharat, Hum iske santan (by Chaman Nihal, Pandit Bhajan Sapori, Udit Narayan and Vani Jayaram) frequently aired in All India Radio and Doordarshan, Dil bhi denge, Jaan bhi denge, aye Watan tereliye(Film Karma) and others during Golden Jubilee days, many still recollect with nostalgia those days of Jahan bagchha Teesta Rangeet and Delazong during early 1970s in Sikkim.
Source : Sikkim - Three Decades towards Democracy
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