The AC3PT: A story of the deleted country
When I first read about the AC3PT and the ham radio sometimes back in one of the chapters of a much sough-after merger book on Sikkim “Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim” by Sunanda K Datta-Ray I could hardly materialize what in the world is this ‘ham radio’? A very little is known about amateur radio in Sikkim, so when I first surf around the web pages the very first person I came across was Ulrich Bihlmayer, a wonderful gentle man in his late sixties from Tuebingen, Germany. I am very pleased to say that it was ” Uli” (as he wanted me to call him) who made me understand the distinct world of Hams. A known name among Ham radio users Uli has his call sign DJ9KR.
Sikkim’s first minting “Taksari” bi-centennial history and History of 52 Door Bungalow- Part I
Subash Khatiwada an enthusiastic Sikkim History team of VoiceofSikkim.com has finally cracked the “Pandora Box”, these sets the most amazing fact about Sikkim coinage system during old days. What, where, how was Sikkim administration like, before the merger and Sikkim as a independent Kingdom under Chogyal dynasty. Most of Sikkimese people still remembers Shri Laxmidas Pradhan alias Baburam, the eminent person who is still remembered when Sikkim History page opens every time. There are no such Sikkimese who do not know the tunes of Baburam’s song, Kasko Baja .. Kasko Baja …? Baburam ko Baja. … Even now century old established Sikkim Police Band play the tunes during special parades in Capital.
Oldest Sikkim Herald, IPR Publication 1969 – Shital Pradhan
Sikkim History: Sikkim Herald is the official newsweekly of the Government of Sikkim published by the Department of Information and Public Relations has been a regular feature of the State ever since its inception in the early 1956. Sikkim Herald comes out in thirteen different state languages, viz. English, Nepali, Newar, Lepcha, Gurung, Limbu, Tamang, Sunwar, Manger, Sherpa, Bhutia, Rai and Tibetan and printed at Goverment Printing press of Gangtok.
World’s highest 13,025 ft Golf Course at Kupup, East Sikkim
The ‘Yak Golf Course’ was started on 19 Sep 1972 at Kupup. The course was re-designed in 1979 by Brig JM Singh, Cdr 164 Mtn Bde and since then it has been developed into one of the finest by Avid Golf Lovers. As on date under the guidance of Brig Ranbir Singh, Cdr 63 Mtn Bde and Col T K Murali, Dy Cdr 63 Mtn Bde the course is been redesigned and expanded to 18 holes.
Kupup, located at an Altitude of 13,054 feet above mean sea level in East Sikkim boasts of a eighteen hole golf course ‘The Yak Golf Course’ which is the highest in the world. It rivals the very best for its beauty and picturesque surroundings.
When did the Great Khali came to Sikkim
I still remember it was in early 90s when The Great Khali then he was only Dilip Singh visited Gangtok, and i believe i have that newspaper from Sikkim Express that carried an article on this giant man on their front page but in the racks of over thousand newspaper in my collection, it is somewhere hidden. There were talks then how he was carried inside the van with the second seat of the van being removed and replaced with smaller muurah (local sitting item). We were still in the final years of the schooling session and we too rushed to watch him at Developmental Area, where he was at one of the hotel.
History of Deusey and Bhailo on Laxmi Puja
In the Nepalese tradition Nepalese community performs deusey and bhailo rituals during laxmi puja, the female group is called ‘Bhailey’ and male group is called ‘Deusey’. Here in this ritual they go to each house enchanting praises and cherishing the deity all about Beautiful eve. The male and female songs are different on tone but theme of enchanting song are similar. Let us extract a bit of notation from male verse “Jilimili , Jilimili Deu Sir Daan, Hami tesai ayako hoyna bali maharaja ko hukum ley hunda…goes on…” it says houses are seeing decorated in colorful and beautiful marigold flowers with distinct aroma, oil lights in clay cups burning like stars in night making a warm welcome appearance for deity (Bali Maharaj) tonight and goddess of wealth Laxmi. This is a verse extracted from ‘deusey’ and ‘bhailey’ song, who is Bali Maharaja and what is the relation of ‘bhailey’ and ‘deusey’ with Laxmi Puja?
Those early man tools found in Sikkim-II
Once while surfing the web page on internet I came across the name of K.N Dixit, member of Indian Archeological Society, through him another chapter of the prehistoric exploration in Sikkim was about to be unfolded. Dixit was kind enough to send me an attachment of two scanned pages on Sikkim Prehistoric exploration in 1980 published in Indian Archeological Society “Puratattva”. The article reports on the pre historic potentialities of Sikkim exploration undertaken by Prehistory Branch of Archeological Survey of India, Nagpur in October- November 1980.
Those early man tools found in Sikkim-I
Not only old, but existence of the Himalayan land of Sikkim is looked upon more of being a part of ancient times. The archeological findings of different Neolithic tools in this part of the Himalayas over the last three decades speak its antiquity.
It may be of little importance to many but still findings of various Neolithic tools from the remote pockets in Sikkim over the past five decades have collected vivid interest in people beyond this region. On three separate occasions Neolithic tools had been dug out from Sikkim that unfolded the age of this Himalayan mountain land much against the period we were supposed to. “The term Neolithic Period, or
Sikkim History for Rs 1
I bought Sikkim history in a rupee. I might sound crazy but I am not. It is rather an interesting incident that happened sometime back at Singtam, my hometown. I was in one of the newspaper shop looking for old magazines for my self made library where a title of a mouse munched Hindi novel took my attention. The title read “ Jagat ki Sikkim Yatra” that is “Jagat’s Journey at Sikkim” in English, it was a great discovery at least for me.
Although novel reading is not my taste but the heading of the book was enough to capture my imagination and my curiosity. I went through each piece of paper of the book and when I was over and done with it I was rather amazed about the content in it. Though it says the story of the book and its character is coincidental but entire theme of the book shows the true picture of the agitation of the 1973 at Gangtok and how India took Sikkim.
A Dream that made the Rhenock Shivalaya
Sikkim is a spiritual place where historical presence spring out from every corners. It is here myth and legends are part of day-to-day life. No matter the days are not the same as it used to be some century ahead. Still facing the time immemorial are folklore and traditions of places that are being witnessed even to this date, while there are few that got lost along its golden past and are just a part of memory, a sweet forgotten memory.
I found an interesting story at Rhenock about how the Shivalaya was set up. The century old Shivalaya near Bhanu Bhakta’s statue at the heart of the bazaar is one of the many few doyens of distant past. People say that this Mandir is in its present site ever since their parents were a child.
