By Pahalman Subba

FOREWORD

The present translated version of the book Sikkim bigarney ho Koh? by former Sikkim MP, Mr. Pahalma Subba has been designed for people not versed in local vernacular. Honest care has been taken to carry the message unhampered. In the process, however, some essential terms and linguistic variations in the original languages has been substituted by more familiar words and phrases used in English Language. Effort has been made to condense some social norms, customs, and language of everyday use in Sikkimese society into a Pattern of prose which best explain the essential contour and nuances of regional character. In this translated version of the political literature , some lines from religions texts have sacrificed for want of adequate correlatives , without losing the perspective, though .

The Publisher

History Repeats

The Ancient concept of Satya Yuga, Tetra Yuga, Dwaapar Yuga and Kally Yuga is Parallel to the change of seasons in today’s world. Behind the making of the ‘Haves’ lies grave crimes whereas sincere service breeds dignity and honour. Connecting human activity to the influence of a star in today’s scientific era is like hoping to catch god’s vision while meditating on the shore of Ganges. Every living object possesses soul. Love begets love-tigers and the deadly cobra if reared with love and affection would reciprocate with similar sprit. How much they try to suppress and oppress the ignorant masses, the so-called affluent class occupying ‘big’ chairs cannot go against the laws of the nature. The ignorant and the voiceless people at least understand this but wait for the all-powerful TIME to take its own course with a patient heart. Nobody can get away from the cycle of time which finally consumes him. He who can control himself can control the world. In the golden Satya Yuga, men were equal to god. To associated present age i.e Kally yuga with intrigue and falsity alone amounts to dehumanizing ourselves. Science has provided us with every possible ease and comfort but the same force would become the source of our destruction some day. For their survival the old generation need not resort to falsity; doest not, however, mean that the old age was free from evils. The age played host to Dusaashan, Dhritarastra mama Sakuni, Kangsha, Kaikeyi , Mandaaney, Sudeyahama and Manthara who were the physical personifications of evils. Scores of events and stories were recounted those days which still live amongst us. The same class division between man to man, the same week days, joys and sorrow, the same propagation of belief that too much transgression and crimes would bring down god from heaven and the nerve-chilling hypothetical cauldron of hell – the inferno. Of Belief that too much transgression and crimes would bring down god from heaven and the nerve-chilling hypothetical cauldron of heel-the inferno. Today, looking through the analytical prism, it dawns on us that that there is nothing like heaven and hell or caste supremacy as such and no authority exists to judge man’s work as good and bad, because men themselves are born as part of divinity. Our own observation has convinced us that those who failed to respect their parent’s wishes and that of teachers have failed and reaped bad names and suffered degradation. Good services bring but good result and anybody doing good or authority. It only takes some amount of time before deeds are recognized and acknowledged. Of all the living things, human being is the highest expression of God’s creation the pinnacle of glory. Why should anybody be afraid of any man who is equal and similar to himself? Be afraid of the eternal Truth that is omnipresent and omnipotent. He fears none who fears the Truth. He who betrays people and whose existence hang on falsehood is finally consumed by the fire of remorse and self-recrimination within himself. There is balance, an equilibrium, in Nature. As an innocent child we were the reflection of the very god. As we grow , the world corrupts us. The given circumstances and a given atmosphere determine the making of a man-devil or god. The accomplishment of work and achievement above ordinary is godliness. He who degenerates himself into the lowest spiritual pit is a devil. The age and time stand blameless. The success lies in the proper use of time.

Socrates (BC 469-399) was born into a poor family in Greece but possessed sharp brain. Not a good man to look at, Socrates was a philosopher of highest intellectual calibre. He was popular among the common masses. A good man can be identified with his good work. Good be identified with his good work. Good man alone is happy. Out of mutual debate and conference emerge good work and faith. But the people including his own followers failed to understand penalty. Socrates did Not turns back to the impending death but faced it calmly with a smile. He drank hemlock and died but left behind his followers stunned in a state of living –death. Greece was infested with discrimination, low caste and high born and under the atmosphere Socrated lived a discarded life among his own followers. Time is so strong that if it is so wish, the most versatile prophet would be a misfit and even his own followers would force hemlock into his life blood, like Socrates. Thus ended the remarkable life of the philosopher at the age 70.

Jesus Christ who gave us the all-important Anno Domino accomplished mysterious achievement and feats during his lifetime. The mysterious birth which is not endorsed by today’s scientific age but revered by the old age came to an end in a manner contrary to scientific justification. Hence , we find the lives of grate men, personalities, their lifetime and death as above ordinary and beyond the comprehension of the ordinary. Such a man is foolish in the eyes of the ordinary people. His principles and philosophy do not concur with that of the prevailing age. Different emerge. The society boycotts him and even crucifies him like Christ. But who Kills? By his own people who are being seduced by Satan into doing the crucification-like pork sheltering worms within itself and is finally destroyed and finished by it. The worms do not infiltrate into the pork from any alien meat. The house owner has to be on the guard against the very house. The is the world as we experienced it all these ages. First gruesome murdered and a statue at some corner, slower wreath around his statue and a Gazetted holiday! What god and why, if selfishness is to mark the ultimate end? The god and goodness of the cosmos were once the great souls. All the epic compositions are the selfless contributions of the great souls of yesteryears. Neither god nor divine script nor the subjects-all are like grouping into the darkness. Today it is only ridiculous to punish dog for the lunar eclipse, scientists are setting up tourist lodge on the surface of the moon. There is only one stationary God. And that is the sun God. Truth , god and beauty is a joy for ever.

Many people in our motherland have suffered for want of recognition of their abilities and versatility. Many a talents in the far corners of the state have stopped short of blooming in the absence of suitable environment and atmosphere and are sleeping into eternity. Joan of Arc of Franch belonged to an ordinary family , born into this world in the year 1412. While tending her sheep, one day, a prophesy hit upon her eardrum. Franch was under attack from the British . The king sought help from Joan f Arc. She improved upon the war strategy and added a new dimension to the art of fighting . The morate of the French soldiers was doubly boosted when the 17- years old lady took the lead. Coined slogans pregnant with patriotic fervor a provided able guidance to the soldiers. In her voice was present the divine power calling for selfless sacrifice for the protection of the nation. French overtook Britain. War ended. Cold war started. Joan of Arc had made the impossible possible. Donning soldier’s attire, she fought like a committed fighter. The unparalleled power, faith towards god, protector of the nation and the sprit of patriotism which god, protector of the nation and the spirit of patriotism which she exhibited could not go well with the clergy and she was outright condemned as sorcerer. Order issued to immolate her alive and the same was solemnized in 1431 as martyr day. In Christian calendar the day was a dark spot as the historical blunder. The French people recognized her after 24 years and mourned her death. The vision and the deep thought which characterise great people are usually a misfit in the eyes of the ordinary people. Hence, Socrates chose Hemlock and John of Arc for immolation. Both came from ordinary families from distance villages. The first with 90 summers behind him and the latter just 17 years. Quite untrained to falsehood, they preferred death with their heads high then live under humiliation.

Let us turn back to our very own Sikkim. The pathetic accounts of ordinary lives under monarchy system and the recounting of woeful tales and chilling sensation run through our nerves today. Of the many kings who rules Sikkim include Sdonkyu Tulku . The tenth king in the hierarchy was educated at Cambridge in Britain The Glorious land where the sun never set. Educated from the centre of world culture, Tulku had assimilated the essential values into his thinking pattern along with academic achievements. He had that longing for pumping such values in to the State making it an ideal and great country under the sun. Sidonkyu Tulku was born as king-incarnate to Sidonkyu Sr. in 1879 and rules Sikkim for a brief period from February 1914 to December of the same year. It is not for how long you rule that constitute greatness but how well you govern which is more significant. Live for a single day-but as a man. The cowards die many times before their deaths, the brave die but once. Due to his cultured Training and education, Tulku was able, versatile and wise. As a Prince, the departments of Ecclesiastical, Education and Forest were under his charge. The spiritual lamas were debarred from taking cigarette, alcohol, fish flow and meat. They had to live a life of absolute non-indulgence. The king-landlords nexus held the spread of education among the common masses would spread awareness posing a threat to their unquestioned monopoly. Breaking through this tradition the new king established educational institutions all over Sikkim and provided basic education and development is correlated. He would say that education is the ornament of an individual. Tulku was instrumental in raising the issue of environments conservation and encouraging afforestation among the people. He had to face a stiff resistance when he questioned the logistic behind Zamindari system. Land reform Act was hijacked and scuttled. Government extended loan to the people, but the defaulters could be imprisoned unless the Court passes the order. Road and transport was rare and the rule covered rural areas on foot. Intimate understanding of the peoples’ problems was made possible and a rapport was established between the ruler and the ruled. This intimacy posed a threat to be intermediaries comprising the Kazis, landlords and the Bririshers. They started looking for some ways to get rid of the King. They started looking for some ways to get rid of the King. Tulku caught cold and a British doctor was engaged by the Bengal govt. to treat the ailing king. The treatment was so successful that the king went to sleep forever. An unrest descended upon the people. Princess Chuni Ongmu questioned the death of her brother under mysterious circumstances, but the people remained quit throwing the lot on divine dispensation . This was an unfortunate events for the Sikkimese plotted by the Kazis and the white despots. There is a folktale among the Limbooni community. The two-syllable Han meaning king, and Seeh meaning wood. Hanseeh was the king of the wood. A complaint was lodged, one day, about the reckless felling of treed in the jungle, with the Lion supporting the cause. The axes cut down trees but the gilt was made of wood. The meaning that without the gilt as a handle the axes alone would not have been effective to cause such havoc. That means the real enemy exists within the very family and encourages outside enemies to disturb domestic peace. Sanchaman Limboo, in a bid to appease Bhandri, Waved deadly pistol against his own Limboo brothers. The trigger can be pulled against any and opposing a Minister, The Minister is above law’- a sort of home spun statement was circulated, renting the air unmentionable adour of death. The same man (i.e. Sanchaman Limboo) today reaches for your hand for the humble handshake with very generous smile.

On top of Timburbong village under Sikkim can be founded many moving testimonies of the cruel subject who once lived under the monarchical system. Timburbong was once under the heartless Khamthak (a Limboo sub-caste) which was followed by the Mangmoh and the Nugoh. Anybody owing a big houses was identified as influential and rich. Big house belonging to the Lepchas and Khewas were pulled down by the Khamthak and the Mangmoh(s). The village produced renowned pundits and Astrologers but no social workers. The parasites fed on others and prospered by sucking others’ blood but finally got disintegrated and finished. The village chief used to commission policy force to imprison village people and they were meted out the most inhuman treatment in the forms of physical torture and stripped at the dead of night . Today they are being stripped themselves by the vicious cycle of time.

On top of Timburbong village (West Sikkim) lived one Ms. Tshering with her mother, a very bold lady, a scorner of the old unrealistic tradition prevalent in those days. Wild animals were the reckless ruler pouncing upon the helpless fowls and pigs at their own discretion-any hour of the day. They used to linger around and disappear with one of the calf or a sheep. Here lies a hung stone formation like the tusk of an elephant and is named Elephant rock. In broad day light , one could see tigers and elephant idle away their hours upon the rock. Ms. Tshering used to passed close by the rock many times a day fearless of the wild presence.

Those days the jungles was rice with flora and fauna, the spring bloomed extending without end and it used to give to give a cheerful feeling with the strange sense of unity. They would frighten away wolves casting their hungry looks at the innocent lambs. The mother-daughter due used to live a life of ruler simplicity, used to make bamboo baskets and were engaged in rural cultivation. They had a pair of oxen but no ploghman. Under the circumstances, Ms. Tshering braced up herself to act as a He-man and ploughted the land. This was an act unprecedented in the history--- a girl ploughing the earth. This unprecedented act on the part of Tshering raised many eyebrows and it was viewed as an aberration of the established tradition. A summon was issued which brought Tashring before the Mandal (i.e. village chief). The meeting with the Mandel did not even provoke a mild chastisement to the erring lady, rather he engaged the lady to plough his own filed. The village elders ruled that the Mandal failed in his office by not punishing the lady. A signature campaign was undertaken overnight and compliant was lodged with the police outpost. The police returned the case without any hearing because they opined that it was a social issue. A day was appointed when all the village elders assembled to question the lady. A cross – questioning ensued on the constitutionality oft the lady. A cross-questioning ensure on the constitutionality of a lady ploughing the land. The adamant Tshering did not budge. She blurted out, “ In the plain women drive tractor, car and fly planes……….” History ended and began with that single act.

The year is 1977. Gulshing Kumar was born into a poor family but made his fortune by dint of hard work and commitment . He became a cassette baron. Well-known in cine world, a social worker, a messiah of the poor, Mr. Kumar transformed a neglected shanty town into a pattern of concrete one-Storey settlement for the poor . He popularised the basis of hygiene among the people. Gambling and alcoholism came to an end. Donated money generously to the needy and for the welfare of the people. For he was hard-working, fortune smiled on him very often, But money is the source of all evil. Thugs and decoits started salivating and the unfortunate happened . He had built a temple for the spiritual fulfilment and establishing a communion with the Almighty. As usual, he emerged out of the temple at 10.10 am. But the morning was different. Well targeted bullet blown off his head, Gulshan tried take refuge in a nearby house but the door was hastily shut against him, He tried the next door and the third and failed to secure admission in either and died. It has been established that with eye on his huge wealth, his follower had sponsored the murder on that fatefull morning. Thus, history repeats itself again……

Are We Any Better?

The story goes back to the Satya Yuga. As Khudehamma did not conceive, she decided to marry her own sister with her husband so that she can have a son in future. The arrangement paid and a son was born to his sister. But Khudehamaa increasingly felt her husband and also the son neglecting her in preference to her sister. The son Shivdhan, who was taken as a blessing from Lord Shiv could not became her own son. The maidservant strongly argued that the source of all her woes is Shivadhan. Hence with a wounded pride and a sense of vengeance against her sister, Khudehamaa threw the baby into the Ganges to die.

In the Subsequent age (Dwarpar Yuga), Kaikeyi under Mantharaa’s suggestion, ask King Dashareth to pass on the throne to Bharat and send Rama to exile. King Dasahareth agree to the proposal and a royal decree was issued calling Rama to go to jungle for ascetic living and Bharat to take over the Kingdom in his hand. Kaushalya, a loyal wife, and Rama’s mother was shattered by the royal order but was compelled to part with her son. Hence for ages it has been a regular ritual on the part of the wives to torture and betray other woman and mislead and lure the husbands into false decisions. In similar fashion our own Dilkumari will never let the noose relaxed around Bhandari’s neck! One thing, however , deserves mention here is that women, for avoiding people’s wrath would go headlong into the inferno along with her husband. Any question on her self esteem is viewed as great loss. Hence, men prefer to cajole their wives and flatter them to the highest esteem while they play Don Juan outside their marriages. Bhandari’s marriage to Bedmaya Baniya of Tharpu was an arranged marriage. She had generously sponsored Bhandari’s schooling and collage education out of her own private saving including the collection of her jewellery. Once he became Chief Minister, Bhandari alleged that the jewellery belonging to her mother, and not his legal wife. The villagers and eyewitnesses confirmed that the marriage was solemnized as per the Hindu customs –Bhandari and Bedmaya going round and round the marriage pandal for precisely seven times.

The auspicious moment was recorded vividly by many people under Soreng constituency. Later , The Chief Minister Bhandari alleged that Bedmaya was an illiterate. Literacy was a damn word when he was under the grip of animal passion? Two sons were born to Bhandari and Bedmaya. The interest in educational qualification suddenly surfaced when he stumbled upon the education Dilkumari in Darjeeling. Dilkumari’s father was a Limboo and her mother a Rai. And the accident of her birth became an easy political handle for Bhandari and Dilkumari. While in Limboo village, she became Limboo and suddenly became Rai in Rai-dominated villager, and the pointer would move on Bhandari while in upper caste-dominated areas. They used their rerspective caste s begging bowl to capture votes. I Sikkim, Bhandari had many mistresses, Dilkumari was one of them. She had the enviable reputation on being the chief mistress of Bhandari. Under Hindu custom, and especially among the upper caste Chettri-Bahun community, the married wives apply sindoor along the parting of hairs , wear poteh (a specially designed necklace worn by Hindu wives) and glittering bangles around the wrists. Dilkumari wears none of these ceremonial ornament , which is imperative for a Chhetri’s wife shorn of their official privileges, Dilkumari now lives in isolstion at the mini palce and Bhandri in his yakshya (means hut; actually a huge mansion costing about 9crores). But in the house at New Delhi, both become ardent lovers and go about together. There is limit even to dramatization. These days, both live together under the same roof in Sikkim.

Bhandari started living separate life with Dilkumari when they both left collage and joined as teachers at Choking school. Bedmaya smelt something sinister about the relationship and left for her home in Assam along with two sons. Later, when Bhandari became the Chief Minister, Mr Dharma data Sharma initiated negotiations and Bedmaya was persuaded back to Soreng with the help of Baniyas. Bedmaya was guided to lay claim on her right as the legal wife of Bhandari, the Chief Minister. The process of reconciliation begun n right earnest. On one occasion in a Dashera festival, Bedmaya went to Bhandari along with her sons to seek his blessing as the rightful father. The gate never opened for them. They were turned back but the negotiation did not stop. After a spell of protracted talk, Bhandari obliged to buy a paddy farm for his legal wife and sons. Court formalities were met and Bhandari put in his signature on the document , and handed over to Bedmaya. Instead of generous offer, the land document. Writer in English, was fraught with risky proposition. The Xeroxed photocopy reached Bhandari and the original copy was displayed and circulated to the print media , and in political meetings, Dilkumari, to avert public criticism , sought to extend some financial assistance to Bedmaya’s son Mr. Khushen Parsed in his collage education. The famous Mini Palace was hurriedly registered in her personal name so that Bedmaya would d not be entitles to lay claim on the building. She left no stone unturned in trying to implement the Hindu Marriage Act to get rid of Sarala Rai. Bedmaya and Sarala broke her peace without end. “ I am Gorkhas’ daughter” she yelled, but alas, time and tide waited for no one! Bhandari made it to the marriage of one of his party men at Soreng but Bluntly ignored his own son’s (youngest) marriage at Mangsaari. Bhandari’s intimacy with Dilkumari was restricted to the physical and carnal. The letter she wrote to Bhandari compares her own fate with that of Mandodharaa. But, women are really myopic. The English version of a pamphlet was circulated to the press Trust of India. We possess that and are well aware of the translator. Let the sleeping dog lie. Had Bhandari and Dilkumari been successful to eyewash Bedmaya, they would have legalised their union through court marriage. But the universal wheel has its own motion and laws . Dimkumari was not destined to apply the holy sindoor, to wear poteh and the ceremonial bangle around her wrist, and Bhandari was condemned to live a life---a kind of Oedipus of Sophoclean tragedy--- husband yet no father, father yet no husband.

On the 23rd of August 1998, Dilkumari Said, “ Chamling jyu US president spoke the truth, you don’t’ tell lie”. What does she mean? She still think the Sikkimese as sub humans? People living in glass houses need to be extra audacious to throw stone at others. The emotional letter written by Dilkumari to Bhandari are in our custody , so are the cassettes recording Bhandari’s filthy rhetoric (against Dilkumari) in public speeches. Both of you are senior to Chamling. Senior must show the way first, the juniors will follow the suit. Now she suddenly realises that she is a matured politician, and a women activist! Sikkim may have been blesses, at last with a champion of women’s cause? Speak les, do it. AS you have completed Chamling’s diary. So have we maintained data on Bhandari’s and your own lascivious adventures over the decade. At least, on this count, both Bhandari and yourself have put the US President to shame-how inconsequential Clinton looks before you! Don’t lose time. It is better if you appear before national Television like the very Clinton. Both you have fallen into the bottomless pit—your moral corruption is final. Your political fort are being infested by the termites, it continues to smoulder and is falling into pieces. Bhandari once suffered from the childish fancy that he would remain Chief Minster for ever, and his Dilkumari the M>P Dhritarastra always found all other people unfit for the post. He would have secured his future by installing all his children as MLSs has they been 18years of age then! The wealth accumulated through monopolising the fate of the poor Sikkimeses—now will it help Bhandri bye his freedom and secure Yamaraj’s favour??

Criminal Case Follow You Like Death

The man who never learnt to respect parents, teaching, great souls, religion, justice and women would swear at the drop of a hat---- this is only a manifestation of his troubled soul. In his first term after the fall of L.D. Kazi, he had 17 MLAs, all other were lured into his flod.The 17 MLAs were committed to the interest of the State, Togethe in ups and downs , but Bhandari betrayed them for political chair. When Bhandari merged janata Parishad with the national Congress, our friends beat their chests and shed copious tears-“Kazi sold the body, Bhandari sold its soul”. Many said “Narey effected the registration and pushed ue nowhere” and the night they tried to find solace in wine. The man who shouted at the dhotis had the dhoti embraced in grate style and then Bhandari ran headlong into wealth and women. He underestimated his own co-mates. These days he betrays a flashing smile but then he is sick at the bottom of his heart, his lives at the mansion at Ranipool minus Dilkumari, minus Bedmaya. But who cares? He is the unchained bull at the shina shop.

In his second term, Bhandari thoroughly ransacked Sikkim Bank and the dignity of women in the State. Dhotis suffered inhuman torture, the famous Dharmadatta formula was applied indiscriminately to suppress any rational voice . Every caste and community became the butt of his ridicule. He used all his filthy vocabulary to compose the choicest communal abuses against different communities living in the State. He Abused the very source of his strength and power. He forcefully propagated one region, one party and one leader slogan to brutally suppress the existence of other opposition parties. Bhandari dubiously maintained double standard as his political policy. An arch anti-Congress in Sikkim, He would became an ardent supported of Congress in New Delhi.

As his own fiefdom, Bhandari did everything to interfere and monopolise the State of Sikkim . Like the unrestrained bull, he poked his nose everything and in everything. Sensing a clear violation and misuse of power, Advocate R.B. Subba in the public interest submitted a petition at the High Court seeking an access to the total number of seats reserved at different national institution under the sate quotas and the list of meritorious Sikkimese thereof. Bhandari was obviously disturbed, as any dog chewing on a healthy bone would be highly displeased at its master’s call!

A man sincerely unaware of gazetted posts, T. N. Dhakal was Bhandari’s number one chamche.. The general Secretary of the Sikkim Employees coordination committee, Dhakal was treated with patriotic mantras, Sikkim Subjects, and the intriguing dhotis. Dhakal agreed to hold DDO’s post and sold his soul to the Machiavellian Bhandari as a political tool.

Ms. Gauri Nayar, (daughter of one Mr. S.M. Nayar, an official from Swastik Project) and Ms. Herbind kaur Bedi (daughter of Lt. Col. T.P.S. Bedi, Army Doctor on deputation at STNM) moved to the High Court against the decision of the State Education department to a award State education quotas to the less meritorious candidates. While the Court admitted their case, Bhandri incited local Associations and other hungry jackals to organise mass rally and adverse poster-war against the Judges, the Court and Ms. Bedi. Bhandari used Sikkim Students’ Union and sponsored anti-Bedi. Postar-war “we would sacrifice blood but not seats”-------- and poster like “Mudabad Bedi”

Hearing date was fixed and the court proceeding began. The effect of poster-war and public rally was not wholesale, and next Bhandari played with the sentiments of the innocent school students. All the educational institutions in the capital were closed down from July 10 t0 17, 1986. Innocent students were forced to take part in filthy slogan-shouting around the town, officials bunked their duties. While the Court ‘s proceeding was on, the court was pelted with stones. Highhandedness was the key tool with Bhandari against the Judges. It was a sheer violation of the Constitution which he had promised to safeguard while taking oath. While underestimating the existence of High Court, he violated the constitutional provision for the independence of judiciary . Covertly or overtly, he played a dirty politics to pronounce the existence of High Court, as irrelevant .The people sent him to make the State prosperous, but he did break it by playing with the future of the innocent students. What would be the amount of loss when the innocent children suddenly find themselves on the street? It is beyond the comprehension of the hungry politician who is concerned only with the ‘here and now’. Poster-war and slogan- we understand it. But Bhandari himself should come down on the street. Why did he exploit others’ interest to reap him a rich divided? This is against nature’s law.

The fox in tiger’s skin--- Bhandari finally handed over loaded guns to T.N. Dhakal and his friend and he followed them keeping a distance. It was exactly 11.30 towards midnight of July 17, 1986. First they headed towards the residence of R.B Subba, who had summoned the State Government through court order. The air carried the sound of their revengeful steps inside the house they stopped short of knocking the door. Nest they headed towards the residence of R.K. Agarwal with that singleness of purpose—guns in hand. They were too early---Agarwal was yet to returns home from the court. Next, they hurried on to the P.N .G Road. There shot at Prem Pal, her husband and Manju Sharma from a very close range, but missed the target. The target could not prove fatal, because they were only a amateurish hit-men under Bhandari. Prem Pal’s sister darted out to Advocated living nearby and the police was informed. The wounded victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. Bhandari followed the episode. The print media deported that Bhandari returned as a satisfied man after the gun exploded on the fateful night. Bhandari failed to comment on this report. He issue reached Supreme Court in a written form and Bhandari receive a copy of the same,., but still maintained an uneasy silences. More than one individual is involved in CM’s Activities, hence that cat bound to come out of the bag sooner or later.

After the initial investigation, the police directly landed at T. N. Dhakal's residence and arrested him. It is common knowledge that a Bachelor of Law does not sleep with guns and ammunition. No ammunition was seized from Dhakal's residence. Incidentally, Dhakal earned the distinction of the first criminal to be released on bail the very next day even' after committing such heinous crime. The police did not lodge any objection. Chief Minister Narbahadur Bhandari, P. P. and M. P. Pradhan were responsible for making a scapegoat of the whole judicial process and the independence of the police force.

On the 18th July, 1986 T. N. Dhakal had called a bandh. There was no effect. The East District Magistrate clamped Section 144 around the High Court and peace returned to the capital the same day. Dr. Bedi on hearing the news visited his Advocates in the hospital and before reaching back to his residence had a telephonic call threatening his life. The whole of the bullet scandal was a pre-planned project with Bhandari at the helm of the thing. Thus, Bhandari would run two parallel governments the seeming and the being. The one to show, the other to chew and Bhandari heading both. Hence, Advocates from within and outside the State were threatened with their lives. But he would lose his voice against the Congress party’s Advocates from GNLF camp in Darjeeling. Advocate R. B. Subba wrote a petition expressing his inability to attend court in view of the threat to his life. Ms. Bedi sent a telegram briefing the Supreme Court about the circumstances obtaining in the State. Her father got transfer to South Indian city, and her mother left her job. All the family members left for Delhi under security cover. An application was submitted for the transfer of case from High Court to the Supreme Court. The Sikkim Court Bar Association termed the bullet-scandal as highly objectionable and passed a resolution to boycott court proceeding from 18th July to 22nd July 1986, the same resolution also demanded that the criminal should not be released on bail. On the other hand, Dhakal was released on a personal bond of Rs. 5000. Bhandari, thus, misused his official position to throttle the voice of the Constitution and independence of the Judiciary.

The High Court begun its work under heavy security. No Judges attended the court. Whereas Mrs. Manju Sharma and Prem Pal continue to right with death in the hospital, Mr. R.K. Agarwal went down to Siliguri to save his life. When RB. Subba expressed his inability to attend the court in person, Dr. Bedi himself volunteered to present his case in the court and appealed for the transfer of his case to another court. The subject of transfer being outside its jurisdiction, the High Court suggested seeking permission from the Supreme Court.

Bhandari became effeminate when the case spilled out of his hands.. He called a cabinet meeting to amend the existing old laws on state reservation and thereby allotted 15 % of state seats to "others" other than bonafide Sikkim Subject holders. It was an act of cowardice to divide the privilege of the Sikkimese people. The political chair was uppermost in his mind when he dishonoured the old law followed since the Chogyal's regime. In a State where there is no Medical college or institution of higher studies, the Centre allots seats for the students coming from such states. All the State seats rightfully belong to us. R.C, Poudyal lost his case on the basis of the old laws, but why did Bhandari dishonour the very same old law? Ms. Bedi approached the Supreme. The Court but it did not pass any judgement favouring her. The sangram government , however received a serious indictment, a rap on the knuckle, for failing to safeguard the dignity of the Court saying that such exercise would lead to loss of faith among common people on judiciary and the judges. The Supreme Court tremed the incident as a serious threat to Democracy.

The case progressed in the District and Special Courts but T. N Dhakal was let free for want of witness. No judgement order was ever passed. James Basnett petitioned the High Court in the interest of the public. The government did not co-operate with a single judge. The High Court ordered fresh investigation, T. N. Dhakal approached the Supreme Court with the special leave petition. The Bhandari government did not part with a judge to dispose the case. The Supreme Court provided one. The judge prepared fresh petition. The case is now destined to go miles. One thing is established that the case will follow Dhakal like the dreadful death itself. Sow the wind, you are sure to reap storm. Dhakalji, around whose neck is the scaffold, after all? Dhakal's or Bhandari's? Having lured into his fold, Bhandari, thus light not your hearth but bum down your heart into ashes. Mr. James Basnett appealed to High Court to hand over the case to the CBI, but the Court rules that since the State government has withdrawn the jurisdiction of CBI in Sikkim, the case could not be tried under CBI. A fresh wind swept through the case. There was a clear human right violation. It was unacceptable that the culprit should go scot-free only because no witnesses reported in the court. In the Lakhubhai Patel case, the government instituted enquiry commissions at the residence of every witnesses in the United States and Canada and other cities to record their testimonies. Why could the State police not reach out to Ms. Manju Sharma and Prem Pal who were practicing Advocates in Goa at the time? There again was a serious conspiracy here. In the first terl1l Bhandari tested his power against his own legal wire, Bedrnaya, and failed drastically. In the second term, Dharmadalta Sharma formula was thoroughly applied because Dhakal escape. On the strength of muscle power, money power, deceit and intrigue, the judiciary was rendered impotent, used government machinery to his own advantage and threw State economy in a state of disarray and confusion. In the second and third term, he fell into an illusion of being the eternal ruler, the king , and considered himself above law, his self pride swelled, narrowness expanded and Bhandari became a disport. He strangled democracy to save his own neck from being twitched. The development fund that the centre allocated went into his private passbook . In real terms, all the hoarded money should have been left with the people when he was thrown out of the chair. The money came in the name of the people but not Bhandari’s. Without people’s mandate, he could not have holed in central assistance. Why no more? The answer is in the wind. The people withdrew power back into their own hands. Bhandari was orphaned.

As the case progressed, many essential documents could not be found in the file. The government Advocate sought time to retrieve the documents. Finally, the documents were reported to be ‘missing’. If telling documents get lost in the court more easily than you lose your coat, where do we go begging for justice ? It personal file is missing in the office, where do we go to seek justice? If gold rust, isn't silver helpless? Can we bestow Can faith on the judiciary? This is an open war against the 11I1illnon masses, The criminal commits his crime in perfect hiding, There is nothing wanting in his behaviour-in holy meditation in his maintaining official portfolio, in keeping holy friends-nobody suspects. Successful he may remain in betraying the physical world but what about his own soul? There are means to camouflage his real intention and behaviour. lie has darkness, his loneliness, his clothes. He is adept in the art of concealment. The soul, however, does not die. It outlives his physical body and judges his action even after his death. This is divine power-power which extends from the finite world to the infinite. No one is above law-no one can remain above the law. Ultimately it is nature's law which prevails and not the world of lawlessness.

Here we reproduce the Court's orders to reflect on the black deeds of Narbahadur Bhandari. It is an effort to add flavour to the delivery of the present feast. Here it goes if the government itself destroys evidence against criminal records, why not play a perfect chamchaa? In a game of cards, who is afraid of three aces? Thus, it is the big and powerful who inflict hole into the strong net of the law and its agencies. It is only the common masses who are trapped into the net. All and sundry propose that no one should take law in his hand, but there is difference in saying and doing. He says one thing and does the other.

Gangtok Petrol Pump

The Kazi L. D. incident at the Gangtok Petrol Pump on 17th July 1994 acted as a moral booster for Bhandari. The time was 6.00 pm in the evening, a group of Sangram party commando boys declared war on Amar Lama (who was travelling in the vehicle bearing No.-SKM-6335) and pitched in a deadly pataang (a sword-like weapon usually carried by lachung people in North Sikkim) into his stomach. The vehicle SKM -1414, MRB, and a taxi brought the boys there, who were all refugees. Armed with pataang, knives, cycles chains, hockey sticks, the commando boys suddenly descended from the vehicles and attacked Amar Lama without any introduction. The incident occurred under the nose of some policemen and government officials , but they chose not to see it. L.D. Kazi and his party supporters assembled and transferred Amar Lama to the hospital. The Sangram commando boys got into the vehicles and drove away to Gangtok bazaar with a sense of inflated glory. Kazi sahib filed an FIR. but no one was arrested. When New Delhi expressed its serious concern over the incident, the State home (department hatched a false story and reported that the culprits were arrested and the police after the initial questionings released t hem on bail. Law has a greater circumference. The State 'Government promised to expedite the case in the Court which never happened-a mere paper work. The same case was resurrected later on, Bhandari again suppressed it. Thus, antisocial elements were encouraged by Bhandari himself. Black money flowed free and fast in the Assembly election. The Sangram commando boys in their classified dress would travel in three motor vehicles heading Bhandari's long lines of vehicular show. The chamchaas would direct the people to submit demand applications to their boss. Bhandari with his inflated ego would promise heaven after the election. An elaborate feast would characterise every political meeting. People, on their part, were wanton happy just to drink and eat. Opposition parties would follow suit. Irrespective of whom he voted for, he attended every political meeting-to eat! Bhandari would invest the choicest abuses for Delhi and the photos. The Sangram boys and the women wing of the party would collect people with the promise of free GCI sheets, loan, cow and sow. They would return from the meeting empty-handed, only with their bellies filled to the brim. And it took 15 years for the people to understand Bhandari's essential program for the Animal Farm - (Bhandari treated Sikkimese as his animals satisfied with filling their bellis).

If the exhibition of muscle power precedes the process of occupying the highest chair in the state, why not try on your own? The commando's morale increased by leaps and bounds and day-dreaming began for occupying the CM seat themselves. Bhandari quite forgot himself). He forgot and underestimated the very agent who insured him the chair. He quite forgot the composition of first, second and third Cabinet and the differences that prevailed in the Ministry. What happens to the party supporters when MLAs start vying for the Minister's chair and ,Ministers for the Chief Minister chair? Those who helped with black money was deputed as an MP. But who guards secret between the saucepan and the sunflower (oil)? The essential Darwinian-might is right became the order of the day. Bank was emptied and the State employees were not paid for days together. Corruption penetrated the whole government machinery and the poor people were forgotten at the hustling. The common man lost faith in the government. There was a marked difference in people's perception between 1979 and 1994. The newly formed SDF had taken good number of people into its fold. The talk concluded for the king maker to be the king himself. The BL legislatures formed a separate camp. Since they represent the minority community in the State, they experienced the political bitterness to elect someone from the majority t community as the next CM. They threw the trump cards in the formation of the next ministry, but had to fall into political obligation, the arithmetical compulsion of deputing someone else in the Chief Minister's chair. A loot in the Parliament, Chief Minister a confirmed robber and State Assembly filled Will. motley thieves-what happens next? An intellectual robber and robbey. The accumulation of wealth other than the known source of income. The wealth and property far outreaching their basic necessities. All such properties-movable and immovable owned by such looters should be properly investigated and attached with the State as state's property. The officials who cannot serve people without govt. vehicle must quit his job. There are more wiser, talented and committed educated youth force than himself, going without motor car. There is a need for committed politicians who should love the poor-in words and deeds; man who would love his country more than money. This is the need of the hour. Thus, Bhandari was betrayed and rendered poorer by the people who prospered under his rule And then, finally, all were finished.

Eight sisters and four brothers-total 12 and then Dharmadatta Sharma, born in the unlucky number, was the thirteenth child of the his parents. Born and brought amidst sufficient love and, affection, his primary education at Timburbong Upper Primary joined Soreng Junior High School for his educational pursuit. A boy with sharp brain, Dharmadatta earned envy of the villagers and he was hushed away from his sleep in the death of night and taken to Kuberjung Subba's house. What happended then? In his own words (while he was Class VI)- Those days Kuberjung was the ultimate boss in the village. Padamshee Subba, his nephew, was a big officer in education department. He came to Soreng to pass judgement on Dharmadatta Sharma for doing nothing. Dharmadatta, a school boy was dismissed from the school. He was blamed for lilt, involvement in some terrorist act-a more figment of imagination to punish the boy. Mr. L.D. Kazi, under the banner of Sikkim National Congress reached Soreng to intensify its campaign against the Chogyal regime. Dharmadatta after presenting all his grievances to Mr. Kazi was admitted to the microphone to put his case against the injustice. Dharmadatta gave a graphic description of how the rich people of Timburbong Sheltered and asked the police to administer injustice to the common people. All the people were spell bound at the audacity of the small boy. Dharmadatta, having been expelled from school, went all over the State with Kazi and spilled the beans on the cruelty of the rich people and police officers. Different people, different opinions. One day the party leaders opined that the young mind which became a plaything 'for the rich people should be given one more chance in his schooling. They prepared an application and sent Dharmadatta to the Dewan (tile then Chogyal's administrator). The Dewan directed the Education department to furnish the real ground for his expulsion. The department promptly re-admitted the boy in Soreng JHS. Dharmadatta's recorded surname in Sikkini Subject document was "Phuyeil". But he as a broad-minded man later went to the Court for affidavit and changes it to "Sharma". Once trained as an orator, he became rather unmanageable in the class-room situation. The teachers read an exaggerated behaviour in him. Domestic problem and poverty forced him to abandon studies after Class VIII. Later he found solution and passed S.L.C.E. from Elaam in Nepal. He did not shoes to be a government servant, but the master of his fate.

A married woman, for how long would she live under the patronage? When I visited the village, she would say, " MP sahib, the Sikkim's CM has failed to do his duty towards his legal wife. How long would I ''live under sympathy? Arrange my meeting with Indira Gandhi at Delhi. Only woman can understand the soul of a woman. I'll let her know everything about Bhandari". Emotion would get the better of her with tears flowing down her cheeks like the torrent of summer rains. She must have communicated the same feeling to Dharmadatta. "Give me in writing" - it was Dharmey, after all. One morning, the police handed over the Summon letter to the Chief Minister, Bhandari. The letter read Narbahadur Bhandari, your wife has filed a report against you for neglecting her. Attend in person in my office along with all the documents, on the stipulated date and time without fail. Can't leave Panchayat Bhawan before the hearing of the case is over. Sd/- Dharmadatta Sharma, President, Timburbong- Thurpoo Panchayat Unit, West Sikkim.

The Chief Minister did not turn up, but arranged to buy a paddy farm for his wife. The field was bought from Ram Jiwan but it was registered in Primula's name (Bhandari's daughter from second wife.) Dharmadatta's concept was clear-MLA and Panchayat are both the representatives of people. Chief Minister cannot be grater than Panchayat President. In individual capacity and position , he is greater than the Chief Minister. Sword can not replace needle. The seeds of enmity was sown. Bhandari to wait for their opportune time to hit back. One day, as luck would have it, Dharmadatta recommended a foreigner to be a bonafied Sikkimese. Bhandari discovered it and directed , Bhandari discovered it and Collector to file a case against Dharmadatta. He went to the DC office, put forth his argument- "DC sahib, yourself hail from Kalimpong. Do you possess Sikkim Subject? being yourself without the Subject, who authorised you to issue Sikkim Subject on my recommendation?" Dharmadatta was released on bail by his friends. Had he been not released, the dictatorial foria1 regime of Bhandari would have flogged him to death.

One day, the Sikkim Pradesh Congress (I) organised its meeting at Geyzing bazaar in West Sikkim. It was reported that the DC had holed up inside a room on top of a building-obviously to spy on the political speeches. Dharmadatta threw acid on DC through his able oratory power-brilliant eloquence interspersed with enduring humour. Spoke on his recent case and trained in and out the issue of foreigners. He blamed that the D.C was Bhandari's agent-a member of Vigilance. A man who was arrested and later released on charge of embezzlement of public fund, is the DC now?-(T. P. Ghimire U/S-154 Cr. P. C. on 15.04.1981-1400 hrs. Section 5 (1) (e) Prevention of Corruption Act 1947). Does Bhandari's government guarantee bigger chair for bigger criminal? -so on and so forth. Dharmadatta left nothing to imagination. The District Collector found himself trapped on top of the building-like the mouse inside a cylindrical pole. There was no exit point other then climbing down the building. He was sure to be discovered leaving the building and was sure to suffer yet another humiliation amidst the slogan-DC ... flying ... f1ying .. and flying! Sensing it, he resigned like the proverbial Ostrich in a wide stretch of desert-head deep in the pool of humiliation.

After the speech not a single summon was given. Bhandari went after him death. One day I suddenly found him climbing the stairs of my house in great trepidation. A haggard looking man with unshorn bread, he explained that the State police were after him. I asked him if he considered my residence a safe place to take refuse? Dharmadatta continued, @Bhandari dars not send his police force to your housenor police dare to come.. I have gathered this from the Sangram camp". Why not earlier then? I asked. Dharmadatta replied that he understood the problem- "Had Bhandari not troubled Madam with victimization transfer, she would have cooked and we could have talked together for hours."

I remember Sikkim House, New Delhi, 1980. Bhandari in his full-throated public speeches in villages, every haat day, blamed Kazi on the issue of merger and lamented that Kazi stabbed the King from the back, sold the motherland Sikkim and said the people should pee off the earth that buries Kazi. He called the Congress party as dhoti patty and abused its leader Indira Gandhi for betraying Sikkimese people effecting the merger of Sikkim with the Indian union. Later when the Prime Minister Mr. Morarji Desai visited Sikkim, he contended that the merger of Sikkim with India was not done in the correct manner. Bhandari would say that the Assembly which merged Sikkim with India can alone revoke its resolution. And in his speeches, he promised its demerger if voted as Chief Minister, and swear on sacred Kanchenjunga, every known deity, every monastery, church, masjid, almost everything and shed crocodile's tears with elan. Patriotic, pro-King, Sikkimese people followed Bhandari dutifully-why not if there was someone to bring back Sikkim's lost glory? The people did not salute Ministers travelling in tricolour cars. People would lose count of time when they listened to Bhandari till 7 p.m. in the evening and would return home amidst spirited talk among themselves. A good actor, Bhandari would carry medicine in a handkerchief and apply to the eyes at the right moment and then-weep. In a similar act of dramatisation, Bhandari went down to the ground readily when the C.R.P.F. personnel gave him a slap or two. Chettri plus Bhandari----a coward at heart, there was no question of fighting back. Does C.R.P.F. personnel hit without reason? Is there no C.R.P.F.s in Sikkim these days? His own personal security men comprised CRPF for ten years. The incident which took place in front of Daronga’s (forest guard) tea stall at Gangtok Bazaar was again a case of the action and the actor at his best form. Or else, is there any historical record of any popular leader being flogged and loaded in sack while the people look on. Bhandari was only taking advantage of the silence that prevailed after the formation of Kazi government in Sikkim.

To give relief to Dharmadatta from the impending trouble by Bhandari’s men I deputed him to Jaldhaka in a small business trip—Cardamom seedlings (sapling). When no news reached me even after one month of his departure, I personally reached farm (a fully-day journey on horseback from Jaldhaka) and found that the farm was thoroughly cleared. The middleman who had made the arrangement calculated loss by loss by the time the saplings reach Mizoram. Heated argument was finally doused when I offered to bear the expenditure incurred on transportation. It was no longer the question of profit or loss but life or death. Having agreed on the condition he allowed us to collect the saplings, bundled up, and loaded up in trucks for its final journey to Guwahati, Labour charge was realised and the owner of cardamom farm received his amount. Nil sooner had we finished this process then a gang of boys
Surrounded us from every direction. Slogan was raised protesting against the transportation of saplings across the border. One after the other the demand swelled from thousands to lakh, to few lakhs. Dharmadatta, arms akimbo, began speech at the middle of the market.

Indifferent to his argument, the hungry leeches climb up the vehicles and threatened with dire consequences. Having 11lTcndered everything that we had, including ball pens, we unturned home as a vanquished army. I took lasting lesson and Stopped supply of cardamom seedling except from Sikkim . Thus, many years before his martyrdom, he had these kinds of omens played and replayed as prelude a generous flogging at New Delhi at the hands of his own Congress friend---he complained to non. Argue tirelessly, thrust his index finger at every opponent. A group of friend managed medicine for his recovery. Later, at every public speech, he alluded to the incident and would held every Congress leaders to ransom. The poor man, with a ready argument, and a fiercer opponent of injustice is not among us today, but his ideals and his guts still live with is not among us today, but his ideals and his guts still live with many people whom he guided while alive. . Some people may be gloating over his death, but the soul remains for ever. And it continues to trouble those who troubled him on earth. The man who does only good things is know as Mahatma, the great soul. The man who views power and physical chair as his ultimate mission is satanic. The Almighty has not discriminated between man to man in leading soul. The other name of god is soul. God is there in every human being. THE BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF SOUL AND IT MUST BE KEPT CLEAN OF ALL DIRTY DESIRES. When your heart is clean and open, you find admirer all around. That means the souls or god in another people loves you. If you wrong or betray someone at any point of your life’s journey, the black deed would resurrect itself and torture you time and again . Thus Dharmadatta would, sometimes alight from nowhere and inform me that he has admitted a patient in the hospital and fallen short of few hundreds! On leaving , he would grin from ear to ear and said the responsibility to feeding and looking after the patient rest with ”Sir”. He would collect petrol coupon from all the Ministers and return home.

A man with a very generous heart, Dharmadatta was ever ready to save people from difficult times. In his capacity as a social worker, many people would come to him with different problems. He would approach some rice moneylenders for helping the people . Poor as he was, but he knew how to get oil out of desert. With a ready tongue, he would not relent until the rice man part with his money. Dharmadatta, on his party, would sell his domestic fowl and animals to help the poor. On his courtyard, one could see a sea of stools and benches. AS the Panchayat President, people would keep swarming around him day and night.

Among the first partyworker at Timburbong, Durga Parsad Chalisey was popular know as “sewa dal” in the area. In 1949, Tashi tshering raised and led the first protest against the king and the landlords. The 29-day Democratic government was formed comprising C. D. Rai, Capt. Dimiksing Lepcha and nominated members namely Rashmi Prasad Alley and Dorji Dadul, who were led by Tashi Tshering as the first Chief Minister. Tashi “Babu” could not speak Nepali well. The ministers toured all over Sikkim on foot and formed political bodies at remote villages. Durga Prashad was chosen as one of the sewa dal by the same political body. Doing politics is no child’s game. After exhausting all the movable and Immovable properties Durga Prashad hopped over to Nepal . Panna Subba of Thambon sold his land to sponsor the Congress under unguarded emotions. The congress forgot him and he died later in miserable condition. IN poltics, we raised a common issue and once that is resolved, you should settle down for individual life. For the same reason, political parties sought to unearth some common issue and hold them for the people. After the people revolution of 1973, K.B. Gurung of Sepoy village, ourselves including all boys from Timburbong started a campaign to take Kanchan Samiti to a new height. We organised drama show, and other means of collecting funds. Some adverse reports reached the ears of Kazi and the reports did not go well with him. We were summoned, we came down to Jorethang. The villagers had approached B.B. Gurung to lodge their complaint against us. Ramjiwan had introduced a temporary system called “Dharma- Bhandari”, i.e. a reservoir of grain to be repaid back after harvesting along with the interest incurred on it.

He had already briefed Ramjiwan that we were responsible for ending the system of dharma-bhandaar . The idea behind the system was ideal, but the poor could not pay back. The Committee did not collect grains during harvesting and the poor did not volunteer to pay. The increased year after year. The rich began casting its hungry looks at the immovable land properties of the poor and mortgaged many of them. The share of the interest was realised during the harvesting but it never came to the knowledge of Ramjiwan. I was the village when our boys had called meeting to end the system. The meeting which was chaired by the son . of Ramjiwan voted in favour of ending the system and I retrieved all the documents connects with dharma-bhandaar. They Are still with me - in safe custody and in their originall form.

B.B. Gurung had called the Timburbong workers as "Naxalitc" Argument ensued. We sticked to our guns and refused to relent Amidst heated argument, B. B. Gurung tried to defuse the issue.

Kazi was not moved—so what? People do not get entry into the party even after paying hundreds of rupees? Do as you pleased’.

It was late at night and we retired to bed. The next morning We took leave of Kazi. He tried to patch up and said that among Tsong (Limboos) I was educated and should work dispassionately for the party and arrest my emotion for all the time, Kazi further contended that he is a man for whom people want for 5/6 hours to gain simple audience, which sent the eccentr1c Dharmadatta into a fit of eloquence at his best. He went to the beginning of time and reminded Kazi of all their sacrifices in installing him as the Chief Minister, and contested that he could not afford
gnore them at any point of time. Having said so, we returned home-sewa dal, KB, Dharmey and other friends. Days of physical strains and poor management, KB contracted Tuberculosis. Durgaprasad Chalisey and sewadal saw their premature ends while working for the same party. Political, like any other addiction, enters your veins and sucks your blood out and exhaust your energy till you are finished. Politics is a game, just a gambling. Motilal started the game-not only the sons and grandsons but even daughter and daughter-in-laws once insidethe Casinos were forced to take part in the game. Thus, our Brother Dharmadatta played it as well but the man on the throne played a foul game.

In a Poet's Garb

Bhandari, enough is enough. You've done the maxim possible, you've lied as much as fancy can imagine. The once honourable belly now looks like a 12th century rusted nail More than a political leader, you have established yourself as master of betrayal, lies and falsehood. Born at Malbanshey. your life began with a wisp of straw and ended in a garb of royalty. Like the change in season, you acted a good Chameleon and lured the Sikkimese into political betrayal. Having tried the holy Rakhi, you were able to grope the same sister into your passion and left the legal wife like a widow. With Bedmaya you left behind the two sons that you had fathered in abject negligence. The youngest became a grass cutter. You dishonoured our rich and proud ancestors by flinging down your traditional "topi" (a traditional head wear worn by Nepali community) or the dusty ground. You declared that you are caste-less, yet played a proud President of the All- India Nepali Bhasah Parishad, gave a full-throated call that you would sacrifice everything for the recognition of Nepali seats and languages. There is nothing left now to make donkey out of Sikkimese people who showered onto you endless blessings. The false promises that you made have so accumulated, that ten generations of your lineage would call it unfathomable. No matter how much you suck on the blood and the sweat of the poor people, you have become a real loner: caste-less. The other community says, 'Bhandari has done the last thing he could do. How you created your own opposition? -you know it full well. Remember how you yourself were born into your political avtaar? You have trampled upon your religion, your custom and tradition. Out of the sweat and blood of the people, erected your elephantine palace, looted people’s money with that satanic appetite. Bhandari, that is no palace but a mere house of cards built upon the sandy stretch of eternal hell. You may cry hoarse and push yourself into insanity—But look ! you’re the lone traveller on the other side of the sea quite oblivious of the new world that walks on earth oil have finished doing everything that you could possibly do.

Justice Based on Truth is What t, Common Sikkimese Need

For many centuries the Sikkimese people toiled hard under the sun to make inaccessible terrain and hills fit for human habitations and with the eternal hope for better tomorrow sought real justice with the rulers-our ancestors' graves are testimonies to this truth. It was in 1947 that the Indians could breathe the air of freedom from foreign yoke. 1949 was the year when a 29-day Ministry was formed and dissolved for various reasons-that was Sikkim. After the people revolution in 1973 against widespread injustice, Sikkimese people rejected the autocratic rule to usher in an era of Democracy. It is 11 years since the establishment of democracy in Sikkim, but the people continue to suffer for the reasons-(l) Election has suppressed people's rights; (2) corrupts are revered but the poor villagers are being ignored; (3) those who occupy the position of power have hoarded enough property to guarantee comfortable life for their family members but there is no place for the villagers, anywhere; and (4) there is no check on communalism and corruption. For the above reasons, the people who lived miserable lives during Chogyal's regime continue to suffer. The Sikkimese politicians are busy building their own fate and on pleasure making and with Bhandari becoming the Chief Minister the hope for better future, the promises towards its motherland were shattered beyond remedy.

Bhandari's name travelled far and wide-first Nepali CM. The Sikkimese Nepalese swelled with pride for their own son. Coming from the family of an ordinary farmer plus an oppressed teacher—the Sikkimese voters were ready to forget anything but not Bhandari. Bhandari, as Nepali Chief Minister succeeded in presenting the following reports to the Indian Government

When a simple teacher from Malbashey became Chief Minister, he came to be the owner of a palace at Gangtok and will add another mansion at New Delhi if he becomes an MP next but cannot raise any demand on the restoration of lost Nepali Seats and language, for the simple reason that he is not a Nepali but a curious brand of Sikkimese businessman. The youths that go with Bhandari begging votes, are they from any village? They all come from the towns commissioned on daily wages, and the common villagers need to understand this reality. Quite a handsome figure himself, Bhandari's retinue comprised mostly of women who are waiting to be his next wife. Or else, Bhandari has failed to look after his sons and the wife with whom he shared many a passionate nights. Before one could believe in Bhandari, it is imperative for all the justice-loving common people to understand the misery in which his first wife lives at Tharpu in Soreng. Hence , we the simple and gentle folks would like to appeal to all the simple people in Sikkim that--

When a man coming from an ordinary family from amongst ourselves and simple teacher came to occupy the highest position in the State, it was but natural to experience a profound sense " of pride for the Sikkimese Nepali Chief Minister-not only Sikkimese Nepali but Nepalese living in India as a whole. May be we could not reach him but we did pray to the Almighty his long life and able leadership but there emerged a different of opinions among the Cabinet members. Bhandari dismissed his own long-time friends Sherab Palden and Sanchaman Limho from the Ministry and replaced them with some of the very MLAs who constituted the erstwhile 32 members at the time of' merger and around whom he had invented the popular myth or unfortunate merger. He broke the bond with the people the very moment he installed some of these MLAs into his party. At the same time Bhandari government was dismissed on several corruption charges and another government was formed with B. B. Gorong as Chief Minister. After collecting 21/22 MLAs, Bhandari went to Delhi to claim next govt. formation but Delhi brushed aside the request and imposed President Rule after dismissing B.B. Gorong's Ministry. The government was dismissed when "I demanded the restoration of Nepali seats," he lied to people and having sensed no advantage in continued affiliation with Congress(I), he returned to Sikkim with a new party-Sikkim Sangram Parishad and was able to win this year's MP election. Here was a clear rift between Delhi and Bhandari. The people liked Bhandari but the Centre did not care much. Neither Delhi listens to Bhandari's request, nor was Sangram Parishad in a position to fight it out. Sandwiched between these political opportunists, our future was pushed to the darkness. Let us think ourselves-we are no criminals, but these power- hungry politicians have sold people's dignity and are making life difficult for us-do we still believe in these promise-brokers? Till yesterday, they said that Sikkim's demands and aspirations will be fulfilled by "this hand" (Congress symbol) and forced Command people into a frenzy of sloganeering, Zindabad and Murdabad, loaded truck spitting out human cargo at number of police meeting -Jorethang, Geyzing, Gangtok and again at Karfectaar. When the centre punished them for their wrong-doing and dismissed the government, and now when they emerge after a secluded meditation to throw emotive issues like citizenship right, language and seats, it is our greatest mistake to go after them just like that.

When R.C. Poudyal filed a case in the Supreme Court calling for the “revocation of Bill NO.79" (in an effort to restore Nepali seats in the State Assembly), Bhandari as Chief Minister filed government’s report against Poudyal quoting only 50/55% of Nepali population in the State. Later he said that the names of 30,000 Nepalese in Sikkim are not enlisted in the voters' list! What is the meaning? When do you help people enlist their names in ther voter’ list? while still in chair? or when begging for vote? If we still fail to understand this simple but significant thing we have bad days ahead. It is our misfortune that in Sikkim we have thugs, robbers and liars in place of ideal politicians. We call Bhandari a Nepali in good faith. Bhandari says he does not have caste and he is only a Sikkimese. While undressing Bhutia-Lepcha community, he says, "Beware of Poudyal, he is the one who tries to bring down your reservation quotas in the State Assembly". Head held high, the Nepalese reach out to Bhandari to decorate him with the traditional "topi". lie flings it down with scorn. If Bhandari were to bring Nepali seats in Sikkim, why did he say earlier that the two seats for Scheduled Caste belonged to Nepali and the Nepalese are happy about it? And later why did he file a false report of 50/55% instead of 80%? He is only laying political trap and Bhandari will not bring seat.

In places where three ethnic communities are equally divided, the business community becomes his target. Bhandari roars that the dhoti-wallahs are here for mere business and can not do any other things-"I will drive them away tomorrow". The villagers roll up their sleeves., ever willing to hit at his call! Bhandari returns back to Gangtok and the business community pull their triggers at the villagers in their day-to-day business transactions. Let us understand at least that R.K. Goyal from Jorethang , Phulchand (Geyzing), Birdhi Chand & family from Mangan, Gangtok's Ridhkaran Madangopal, Balchand Udairam Yamraj and Sardar Nima Tshering Ladhakey are Bhandari's friends and number one Sikkim's citizens. Instead of empty threats, will it not be in the interest of the people if the share of negotiations supply, factory reserved for these rich businessman are evenly distributed? The mind says Yes-but what happened? Let us go then for a short journey to the hills, jungle, fields and our village:

(1) Roads : Contractor?-from Gangtok. Coolie?- from Islampur. How it benefits us? Road in village. Vehicles ply, easy communication to market, to hospital. Whose vehicle? The fare? What is your domestic income? Any additional source of income with the farmers, the villager? What happens tomorrow with more population? .

(2)Water Pipes: Contractor & Coolie-the same source. Pipe?--- on public demands big iron pipe. Water source was identified bu one Keralean Overseer and the measurement done. By the time the pipe reached its site, rust developed and leakages formed. Water reservoir is built during winter and water runs for 4-6 months between June to October, and rest of the months the same ancestral water well . The leaders come and pounce on the innocent people-"Do the same, I did so much after my government. Still if you can not repair it I'll clear your village of the water pipes!" Poor people, what is their fault??

(3) Electricity : Electrification has covered most of our villages now. All day long the current is there but towards the dusk, it goes off. It returns at midnight with the brightness of a coal. Darkness rules if you don't arrange for K. Oil. The consumption of kerosene has not diminished even after the wiring has been done but rather the bill has increased further.

(4) The financial aids entitled to Schedule Caste has given birth to yet another bitter story. The process is so winding that by the time the man receives his 1000, he would have emptied 2000 of his own while shuttling between different offices. Is it the profit or loss? The leaders, while begging votes, would recognized you by mere shadow but forget your existence after winning the elections .

(5) Banking Loan: Bank extends loan for taking up productive project but it is necessary to open bank account first. For small banking loan, the villagers have to spend more money while meeting various formalities. Cannot the leaders simplify this complexity and make arrangement to provide 2/3 lakhs for five blocks for 50 people each? The political leaders have always played hide and seek with common people, and we continue to live a live of misery as a we lived during Chogyal’s time. It takes of over one year to get our Domicile certificates and the process involved gives a lot of headache to the common people. Why not the leaders think of simplifying the method in the interest of Sikkimese. Still people take routine journey to Geyzing for their domicile whereas people from Darjeeling are already the proud owner of the certificates. Should we become a refugee just like that?

Till date, justice has remained in the hands of Ministers, people close to IAS officers. The landlords of yesteryears have not 1'1Ilegorised us as human. In order to prove that men from the from the lower strata of society are equally able, I am, as the son of a poor farmer, seeking your blessing in the coming election so that the people's money allocated by the centre may percolate down to its rightful owners. Many oppressors despise me as a man who frequently seeks poor people's right and privileges, may you remember that these oppressors have never recognized you as human beings. There are many village-level grievances which could not be accommodated here in this writing. I would personally arrange to reach your door for further discussion. the money for the State remained concentrated and got exhausted at Gangtok, Calcutta, or Delhi, but these leaders have mortgaged our names and dignity at the centre. As flood does not occur throughout year, so does central funds. This is time to think-and think in terms of right perspective about tit( future and then form government. It is but one month before. you go to poll, and if you have faith in me you will give me II chance this time. Regarding election symbol, I will come before you personally.

Yours faithfully
Dharmadatta Sharma

My Appeal to the Voters ¨Soreng Constituency

This is going to be the third time for you to exercise your franchise and voting for the candidates of your choice since the establishment of democracy. This is part of our democratic right. In the last two elections, we voted for Late Chatursingh Rai of Gangtok and relying heavily on his bhasan (political speech) voted Bhandari to the position of Chief Minister. In the ensuring election, every one must vote but must think before you vote.

Hence, I have decided to project myself as one of the candidates for the coming election from this constituency and I count on your blessing in my endeavour. I am not from far away place and not unknown to you. I joined politics at the age of 17 when I was reading in the same Soreng school. The year was 1972 and you know it too well. I have entered into the 13th year of ,dive political life since I joined it. Having faith on the Hindu belief that 12 years of meditation would please God and showers him with uninterrupted blessing in the 13th years, I take the blessings of you people in the image of god as granted and bless me with the privilege of serving the people.

All these years I have represented your grievances at various platforms. I refused to sell my soul for money and always rejected opportunism in politics. I tried to do my level best to fulfill the commitments made by leaders to alleviate people's misery. As the education in the classroom I took political lessons under Kazi' s party of National Congress from 1972 to 1977 but remained detached when Kazi defected to Janata party. In the 1979 election, I considered Bhandari as "one of us" and listening to his woeful tales joined Sikkim Parishad but felt high betrayed when Bhandari, on his part, merged the party with national Congress. We formed a separate party and also organized a meeting at Soreng under the same banner. But having spent long time thus I attributed broad vision with Bhandari's activities and again joined the Congress. As the state-level youth Congress(l) General Secretary, I toured all villages in West Sikkim campaigning and distributing party's batch.

I believed Bhandari's Manifesto of 1979 promising demerger, and its pronounced commitment to restore the motherland back to people's hands. The Manifesto had further iterated that Bhandari's party will have no political understanding with any of the 32 members responsible for Sikkim's merger. The people believed and recognized his political programme and voted him to power.

In the immediate vicinity if the Elephanta Rock, on top of Timburbong, amidst pine trees stands Shashidhar's house who takes note of the past and the future! When cattle disappeared from the stable, or a theft occurred or someone felt sick, Sashidar Sharma was the man to approach-a ready man with his astrological calculation to unearth the mystery. A man of words, his prediction was infallible, used to read books on Arya Samaj and never believed in ghost and some such spirits. Quite a hilly terrain, he had tended his not-so-fertile field with manures-cow dung, the produce was just enough to support five persons. Wife, two daughters and one grand-daughter, the family was well-fed on curd and butter. The youngest daughter was too full of vitality, she would leave nothing to chance in the management of household works. Looking after the old parents is not easy -old age is second childhood, a minor provocation would send him into a white rage. Joys and sorrows-it alternates as part of cosmic law. Time moved on. Suddenly one morning was Heard the sonorous wailing of girls among the pine trees. The sound was no clearly audible because of disturbing winds but the message not difficult to understand…. .

The relatives---far and near, the neighbors, friend assembled. Narpati Phuyel had three sons. Dharmadatta Sharma was coincidentally away in Nepal. The villagers arrangement for the transfer of land in the name of one man who agreed to shave off his head and observe Hindu rites for the dead Sashidhar. The funeral was decided for the next day. I reached the house and was informed of all the decisions. I asked the youngest daughter, she nodded. I assembled the villagers and deliberated on the possibility of the daughters performing rites for the deceased man. . It is no sin not to have a boy progeny and if there is a God He never discriminate against daughters. I proposed that the youngest daughter, still a maiden, could always perform he rites. "Are you willing ?" - she expressed her willingness to do anything to please the deceased soul. The priest, however expressed his inability to perform it which was unheard and unprecedented.

The members of Kanchan Committee agreed to arrange for the other priest. I, in the capacity of the President of the Committee announced that the Committee will bear all the expenditure incurred on the rites. The poor should be protected from impending loans. It Sashidhar's field is mortgaged for performing rites, where will the daughters go? It is no service to spend lakhs on the dead. The youngest daughter made it known to the assembled villagers about the will of the deceased to inter him in his own field and then individual work was assigned for burying the dead. There was yet another interruption resulting from some opinions on the propriety of removing the dead body before each member pay his respect. The funeral was postponed but I interfered and forced for immediate disposal of corpse. I recruited boys for digging up the ground and prepared I wooden casket. In time all was arranged and the dead body was buried with quiet attention.

On our return, the boys pitched a tent and under it started munching beaten-rice with tea. I ate also. Wailing stopped and ritual formalities finished. Human psychology does not subscriber to difference in sex, high-born and the low-born caste differences. It border around all and is applicable to all or none.

Today Timburbong cannot forget the name of Tshering but there is only a raised ground where once stood her hut. Sashidhar has lived in his youngest daughter. The death of her father was immediately followed by her mother's death. Dharmadatta, on hearing the news rushed to the house. Although a time III mourning, it was the last day for filling of Panchayat form, and hence he hurried out of the house in his sleepers - and .... never returned home. Bhandari's cruel sepoy, SDPO Roland Christopher pumped hot bullets into his being and shut hi mouth fore ever. The Sikkimese people will not forget till' particular black deed and the black rule of Bhandari for many ages to come. The shameless, irresponsible Bhandari in public speeches said that Dharmey was roaming in Nepal. Having heard Bhandari, Dharmadatta's mother Rukmani Phuyel, on her death- bed, expressed her last wish to see her youngest son and left this world on 15.08.1991-her wish unfulfilled.

Dharmadatta began his schooling in Timburbong Primary School and had to abandon his education while in Soreng IHS due to pressing poverty. What is it to be poor? It belies all explanation to account for the misery of the poor people under the grip of poverty. The rich show off his affluence and treat the poor as a beggar. The poor toil in the field but it is the rich who reap the harvest with rich foods in high palaces-but sleep does not come easy with them, resort to sleep-including tablets, digestive tablets. The poor derive satisfaction on simple food and sleep falls on them as easily as the morning dew. The rich zealously guard the dignity of their female members but play with 'the prestige of the poor. They frown at every progress being made by the poor but they can not escape the great cosmic wheel which would finally grind them into pieces- we have seen and heard about this universal justice. Hence, O’ poor! endure the present. Wait and use your time judiciously. Time will bless you.

There is a piece of politics behind the establishment of Timburbong school. The enmity that existed between Chogyal and the kazis in Chakung has gone down in history as a traditional To destabilize the then Chogyal, the Chakung kazi brought in and sheltered a large number of Nepali’s citizen in Chakung to multiply the population. Those days Lepachas and Limboos were in the majority . Chakung's Fakanshi Kazi realised that the conspiracy to overthrow monarchy would be further delayed unless the subjects are made literate and educated. He opened the campaign to establish more and more schools all over Sikkim. The Timburbong school is one of them where we all started initial education.

Initially an arrangement was made by the villagers to engage some priest and astrologers from Nepal to impart education. The temporary arrangement was improved upon by a more relatively permanent system when the villagers entrusted the job to one local Chalisey pandit (priest). The education was basically religion-oriented and hence failed to cope with the requirement of the age. Anyone who could do small arithmetic, maintain small account was invariably counted as learned and intellectual. The village was characterized by ancient traditions HI ways of life. People would draw lines and symbols with charcoal on the wall to preserve certain information and keep certain accounts. The school started in the Winter-Prabhuarj Subba, Himandhoj Subba, Padamsingh Subba studying in WMBA in Darjeeling arrived for the winter vacation and began provisional , classes. The thatched hut at Timburbong hilltop, benches and wall made of bamboo rafters, the incessant strong wind beating against the wall and roof, education did come at a cost!

One Morning in the middle of the lesson, came in one of the plain people (madhishe). Having seated himself on the children's bench, he lighted a bidi. Prabhuraj Sir prohibited smoking inside the class and squeezed the man out of the classroom. Prabhuraj died while studying. One Library was opened at Soreng his memory with the collection of many good books. single copy exists today. You need good environment to do good work.

Mandal Hangjeet shouldered the responsibility to built the school. The land on which stands present day's two-storeyed school belonged to Amarsingh MandaI those days. The President was Tiloksingh MandaI and after he acquired some land from one Havaldar in the village, registered the land school property. The villagers would collectively look after till land for school teachers who would grow some eatables in till farm.

Manorath Brahman was the School Secretary and would work as school administrator. The grants-in-aid sanctioned by till government was too meagre an amount to run the school Monthly donation had to be collected from the people. Secretary sahib was at a loss on whether to write his surname as Dahal or Brahman in those days. He would come and collect student' enrolment from time to time. There was no watch in the school The daughter of the President would come to school with a table clock and in the evening would return home along with the clock.

Angbir Khewa in those days was the Forest Guard. He was said to have known each sapling and tree in the forest, who torched it and who fried fish the last evening. That is not exactly correct, The truth would come to light itself in the absence of falsehood and lies. All the people in the village would light forest fire if it caught one, had to construct village roads collectively. The guard would return home on horseback amidst much fanfare with scores of horse at each side. With birchis on and the hat on his head, moustache bordering upper lip, the people would look up to the guard with much awe and fear. He had taken the responsibility of preparing school ground. The work ensued and people began leveling the earth. Everyday people would unearth heaps or bones, stumble on countless skulls. One day they unearthed a mystifying skull. On its forehead was discovered illegible scribles. The workers condescended that the fate line was being written in English script and hence, many English scholars were consulted to unravel the meaning. No one could do it. Even the palm lines are beyond correct interpretation? Our people in those days tried to give meaning to a meaningless impression on the skull! No prophet can forecast the future correctly. Dharmadatta's father-in-law! Angbir Khewa, on his part, died a premature death before the ground was leveled.Before the commencement of the construction of school building, a water source was discovered and identified in the field of Narayanjit Kami. He agreed and the water was managed along  rafters laid one after the other, passing across the Gambhirey Limboo, Paladin and Jahansingh. The water course was interrupted by an imposing hill. People bored hole .With the bamboo rafter pushed through it to the other side. In 1942, the water reached school. Something happened to Hangjit Mandal feet. A terrible pain developed in his feet sans injury, sans nothing. He could not live to see the school building personally.

In Memory of their mothers, Tilaksingh, Kuberjung and Dhanprasad Subba volunteered to build Teachers' residence but in no time the house collapsed. In his own name, Kuberjung developed a water source, tried to dug up well for his own cattle gave rise to some complexities in the distribution of ,water in the village. On behalf of the then D.C. P.K. Pradhan, the school Inspector S. N. Lal Gupta arrived with one Engineer to dismantle the existing school building (constructed by Late Hangjit) and erecting another in its place. We collected all our students and opposed the proposal, for the school building bridges old thoughts to the new. It provokes trains of old associations-the toil, the collectiveness and the people associated with it who are no more. We saw into the project a selfish design on the part of the affluent and the rich, trying to establish their influence here.

The local boys dared--Inspector Gupta to pull down a single block of stone from the old school building. One of the enraged boys was Dharmadatta. He stood up and left for Sombaria. Later, I became D.IO. Hari Sir was the area's Inspector. He also insisted on new structure. Rich go for Taj Mahal, poor plant trees as a lasting mark of love for their dear ones. Thus, we together saved our old school from the clutches of hungry generation. Fakanshi Kazi-we fulfilled his wish. The school bell given by Kazi sahib still tells times-9.0am; 12.00am 4.00 pm-keeps people informed when dark clouds hang upon the sky. There is a kind of competition to earn one's own name by associating oneself with the school. The name of the erstwhile dictator has also been engraved on the wall of the school. By transforming the temple into a political platform, the then Chief Minister roared, "who called this Kazi, the seller of motherland?"-referring to Kazi sahib who was present in the meeting. The officials in the Bhandari government debarred Kazi from addressing the public-to a gentleman who once was the President of the School and the Chief Minister of Sikkim. Kazi finally, said something to the public after begging , a minute with Bhandari. Kazi's claim that he introduced Democracy in Sikkim was only a show. He gave birth to a mall like Bhandari-a despot. Is it democracy, when he was himself debarred from speaking his own mind? By compiling all these bitter experiences, Kazi spoke on the following subject 0n 16.05.1995

May 16, 1995 Camp: Gangtok

Today (May 16,1995) the Government and the people of Sikkim celebrated "State Day" to mark the completion of 20 years of Sikkim's integration with the Republic of India. It may be recalled that following a mass political movement against the monarchical regime and for the establishment of a democratic set up, the then Choygal of Sikkim, the three political parties of Sikkim and the Government of India signed the Historic Tripartite Agreement on May 8, 1973 thereby paving the way foe a fully responsible democratic government elected on the ,basis of one vote. After the first democratic election held in April 1974, a popular government was established in Sikkim the Chogyal as its Constitutional Head. Soon thereafter,, Sikkim became an Associate State of the Indian Union, and eventually, the 22nd State of .India by virtue of the Thirty Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 which carne into forced with effect from April 26,1975.

The people of Sikkim wholeheartedly joined the Indian Union in order to enjoy the democratic right and liberties guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and also to be the beneficiaries of Sauce-economic and political justice enshrined in the Preamble to the constitution. In addition thereto, the people of Sikkim had high expectation that the Union Government would zealously safeguard the interests of the people of Sikkim guaranteed under the May 8, 1973 Agreement and also the provision of Article 371 of the Constitution of India which n' specifically designed to protect the Sikkimese people for their all-round development and progress. Most unfortunately, the Union Government did not live up to our expectations over the past twenty years. It is true that we did get ample amount of central subvention for the economic development of the people and the State. But the central assistance for the economic betterment of the State was marred by rampant corruption at all strata of State administration, besides creating sharp communal disharmony and perpetuation of the British-inherited policy of divide and rule. The Central Government pampered former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari for 14 years and who institutionalized corruption throughout Sikkim and divided the united and homogeneous people into various ethnic groups with the ulterior motive of creating a vote bank for himself and his party. The Union Government chose it wise for over six years to sleep over the corruption cases against N. B. Bhandari hi several top-ranking public servants who had amassed huge amount of tax payers' money for their own benefit. Unable to tolerate the economic offences in Sikkim, I was compelled move the Supreme Court and restore the consent earlier accorded to the CBI for the prosecution of all offenders in Sikkim including Mr. Bhandari.

What we achieved over the past 20 years is indeed a sad story. Corruption has engulfed the administration and the people; communal disharmony has ripped apart the fabric of unity and brotherhood amongst the three ethnic groups of Sikkim and the economic offenders-particularly the petty minded politically and civil servants-have thrived unpunished due to the negligence and apathy of the Union Government. The net result is: democracy and sauce-economic and political justice in Sikkim has become an illusion over the past two decades and people are beginning to feel that their struggle of the early seventies has gone in vain, for only a handful of people have the fruit of the democracy in this tiny State. The yawning gap between the rich and the poor has widened to such an extent that I do not find appropriate words to describe it. As an architect of democracy and Sikkim's integration with the Republic of India, I am extremely disappointed to observe that the Union Government has, consciously or unconsciously, violated in letter and spirit the historic May 8, 1973 Tripartite Agreement and the specific provision of the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 and that too, despite my innumerable letters, personal visit to Delhi and meetings with the Central leaders, and repeated requests for attention to our miserable plight in Sikkim.

I must, at the very old age of 79, in the capacity of a signatory to the May 8,1973 Agreement and the first Chief Minister of Sikkim, now am compelled to demand and call upon the Union Government to immediately restore to us-the people of Sikkim the status of "Protectorate State" guaranteed to the Sikkimese, by the Indo-Sikkim Treaty of 1950 thereby aborting all the instruments of merger like the Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 that reduced us to a part of India. This is because have waited enough and eventually lost our We, therefore, feel confident that we are competent to our self better according to our own political genius and outside the framework of the Constitution of India.

Kazi Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa
First Chief Minister of Sikkim

Kazi had no money during the people uprising of 1973. The people voted in favour of Kazi not for any special preference of him to Chogyal but out of fear that monarchy once challenged and offended would take your skin alive. Indira Gandhi was responsible. Had there been Nehru, the merger would not have come about, for he had kept Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal untouched for its own protection. Kazi was only a medium. But for Indira’s protection, Kazi would have been a fish out of Telegrams, letters and resolutions proposing mergers are still with us. Having usurped power form Chogyal, Kazi talks of May 8 treaty at this point of time. When Article 371 (F) was inserted in the Indian Constitution through amendment, where he gone? When his own office, his official vehicles and his residence were fluttering with the tri colour instead of Sikkim's royal flag, his own heart was consumed with fear. When the centre is far weaker today, Kazi is hitting with the barrel on others, shoulders. It took 20 years for Kazi to understand this things? He made a mistake in 1973 and made yet another greater mistake to cover up the mess. The Bhutias in Sikkim cannot be likened to other less privileged Bhutias. Here, all are literate. They can discriminate between the good and the bad. They are rich. Now the Bhutias distance themselves from Kazi, because he antagonized Delhi! The Nepalese were much relieved only after the merger. The Lepchas of today are different from the I,epchas of 1973 on guard outside the royal gate. They are beginning to claim their rights and privileges. It was not much for Bhandari's promise for demerger that Kazi lost out, but in imitation of the Chogyal, he would address the crowd first in Bhutia dialect and then in Nepali. Nepali was the language while begging vote, once elected Bhutia dialect would dominate the office. This kind of discrimination brought about frustration among the people. Bhandari, once elected became a giant also He would transfer govt. employees on flimsy grounds. Traders and people were forced to display Bhandari's photographs ill their shops under coercion. People were afraid of him not because he was a great administrator but because that the cobra might bite them. This fear psychosis was eliminated by P. K. Chamling. During Kazi's time, state Almanac would bear the photographs of Governor and Kazi the eyes plucked out. Head retained, Bhandari was replaced by enticing pornographic pictures and in the new impression was widely circulated in and outside the State. No one is responsible for communalism, the time factor was important. Who says communalism is arrived? the Bhutias, for there appeared others to take away chunk of his share. Lepcha were maltreated. Bhutias did not share the rights and privileges due to their fellow tribes. The days for high-class people were numbered. People picked up their own individual languages and customs ignoring them. They call it communalism because they could not understand the language. As long as people sang their tune, there was no communalism? This is no communalism, it is progressivism. Live and let live. Do and let others do. Protest if some are to strangle your language, your dialect. Why a sense of animosity when one says that Bhutia came from Bhot and Nepali from Nepal? They came-came from anywhere. Bhutia marry Bhutia girl from Bhot and Nepali from Nepal.

It calls for tremendous psychological strength to say and write truth. One should be ready to face any eventuality. Ayutollah Khomeni pronounced death sentence on Salman Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses and is still going underground. Likewise, the Urdu poet, Md. Alvely had to face social boycott for speaking the truth. The revolution in Sikkim had its roots in the plain. It was not Bhutia or Nepali who did it. With a view to drive away Nepalese, the people from plain encouraged the Bhutish. Lepcha community to cry out-"Nepali Coolie, cross Mechi" (river separating India and Nepal) and instigated Kazi to revolt against the king. They assured of continued flow
Of money from outside. The cane for driving away Nepalese eventually drove away Bhutia. There is more sense is living together in amity among ourselves then become a plaything in the hands of the outsiders. Kundan MalIa who coined the historical "Nepali Coolie, cross over Mechi" sided with the Nepali during the revolution. Torching Bhutia's houses, inflicting physical torture and tying them around Mango tree at Singtam bazaar-- all originated in the fertile mind of the outsiders. When the revollution was successful, they had the best laugh, by far the happiest. It was natural. Some had gone mad due to excessive joy is necessary to understand that by following the divide and rule policy among our brothers here, the outsiders have gathered rich harvest. If they can promote let people ask for their language. If they ask for their right and speak their own language, they can not be branched as separatist. If it falls Within reasonable constitutional demands, let them ask for the inclusion in the tribal lists. That proves they are not dead, they awake. We must broaden our horizons, must sharpen our thought processes. There has to be a universal government. Any one unwilling to follow its direction should be punished outright. The people in the world must be able to identify themselves with the Guitar. We can play our folksong in it so does Russian tribal song. The same guitar can also screech out the American Rock 'N' Roll, only there has to be a mutual co-ordination between the instrument and the player. With a broad world-view, we will be able to co-exist together, but narrowness destroys us. What Kazi brought was not perpetual Summer, Autumn and Winter soon came and ended spring into regular lull. Kazi cannot claim the credit for bringing democracy himself. People and Delhi were with him. Instead of people showering praise, he now involves in self-adulation-a narcissist. A childish behavior in his old age! While settling scores with the king, he changed kingdom into an associate State. How much success will he get to settle score with Nar Bhahadur Bhandari by inciting Nepali this time is to be seen. This time around, there is no common cause between Bhutia and Nepalese. The misuse of the 13 BL reserved seats has not been erased from the collectively psyche of the Nepali community. The B's stand on the Income Tax issue reflects how selfish they could be. Action speak, louder than words. In trying to "use" others, Kazi was himself the victim in 1973. While we fancy a universal world, selfishness should not be introduced.

Immigration should not be encouraged-by Bhutias, Lepchas and the Nepali, all together and at once. When China dropped bomb in the Tsange border, what category of Agarwal, Behari, Bhutia, Lepcha, Nepali were still in Gangatok? Nepali possessing land in Nepal, land holding, Agarwal from Rajasthan, land holding Behari, rich Bhutias had all left Sikkim. Are we alone, the poor people, who should be left behind to die? If handful of people do not learn to live together, someone will gobble up, Delhi will gobble up all of us. We are inching towards this unpleasant ending. In real sense, Kazi did not bring democracy. He brought demon-cracy in which Bhandari and his machinery accomplished cold-blooded death in Dharmadatta who had been together with Kazi since 1971. In other countries, leader abandons his chair on moral grounds if he is charged with small offence like alleged affairs with his typist. But Bhandari? He would guard his chair like his treasure island, always worried that other might occupy it and in a well-orchestrated chorus with Dilkumari, they said that Dharmadatta was roaming in Nepal. Such a irresponsible utterance with reference to such grave crime-people are waiting for divine judgment, waiting for the inevitable end of both the criminals. The false glory that they have attained after the blood-bath-it is nauseating sensation, but every ounce of blood would pay back for the crime. The effort of Bhandari to buy arguments and bribe witness is only a temporary lull. The then D.C. was also an accomplice in the act of gravest crime. Is truth hidden from God? We rely More on divine dispensation than Indian justice. No one can escape the eternal wheel of time, sooner or later he is bound to overpowered by the powerful presence of time. Dharmadatta's soul, one day or other, would leave its grave and would assume a mystical form or born into a family to avenge the murderers with equal measure. Time is all-powerful, all-consuming. Like a colossal giant it moves-which is beyond immediate human comprehension. In his hid to earn his own name, Dhojbir Karki volunteered plantation around the school. Died prematurely before the ceremonial marriage of the bur and peepal trees, The son, Chhatrabir exhausted all his energy playing Sancho Panza to the political bosses, There was virtual pandemonium among leaders to inscribe his own name in the school.

Eventually, we succeeded in bringing the then MLA and Assembly Speaker C. S. Rai to lay foundation stone of the of the school building. The people were happy to see the person of their choice laying the foundation stone. Dharmadatta and his and friends were very happy about it.

Mr. P. M. Subba, Timburbong, 1-2-75

This is to inform you of the government's notice to dismantle the existing school bhawan constructed by Late. Chhangjit Subba and only then to raise new school building on it. Hence, to deliberate on the matter it has been decided to hold a meeting ill Timburbong school ground on 05.02.75 You are requested to attend the meeting.

Today dated 05.02.75, a meeting was held in the Timburbong school ground in the active participation of Timburbong Panchayat, Karthok Panchayat, Buriakhop Panchayat and the villagers. The meeting deliberated in detail about the old school built by Late. Chhangjit Subba and new government school and passed the following resolutions:

Resolution No.1: The meeting passed resolution that the school building constructed by Late Chhangjit Subba will remain because of great service it provided to the people and not just a whetstone to shine on his personal name.

Resolution No.2: Some people informed the meeting that till school building site recommended by the DDO, Overseer WII also ' approved by PWD Overseer.

Resolution No.3: The people in the meeting approved to raise school building in the given site recommended by the PWD Overseer, DDO, and Inspector sahib.

Resolution No.4: The school ground measuring 156' 10n1' meets present requirement and is sufficient for the children.

Resolution No.6: The meeting also acquiesced that the road leading to the new school building site from the old building is well enough.

After the death of Forester Angbir Khewa, all his sons abandoned their studies. Pumasingh Khewa read upto class six. They sold out father's horses. Two mothers separated. In 1945, a landslide occurred and their cattle were buried alive with only Their house left alone. People took interest in education and a school was opened in Reedah. Pumasingh became the teacher. The other school opened by Lalman Babu was located at Magarjung. Here Kripasalyan was the teacher. He left Magarjung later joined Dodok school. Thereafter he reached Daramden proposed to provide Rai script to the language. Armed with Lithograph he was alone. Later, he was awarded the Bhanu Puraskaar..

After Magarjung, several small initiatives were taken by P. K. Pradhan and others. At Reedah, Pumasingh Khewa shouldered responsibility for a long time. When Kashiraj Pradhan became the Executive Councilor of Education Department, he brought both the schools at Reedah and Magarjung under one roof and as a result Tharpu school was created-Pradhan had political connection with School Secretary, Hastabir Karki. Purnasingh teacher's training in 1955. One school at Danra Kharak was merged with Dodok school. The master's affair with a girl (his own sister from a distance relative) was coming to light. Such incestuous relationship was not approved by the society. The elders in the village tried to reconcile the matter at the village level. Purnasingh had sons and daughters. When everything was looking up, some people at Yangthang resurrected the dead issue and sparkled the dead amber. Pulling and pushing began. The smoke spread out to Daramden, Malbashey, Chakung etc. Money, power and society was put against two contesting poles. Bhandari, with an eye on votes, set aside the issue saying-" My father is also signatory to the social Ostracism" .

Today dated 5-2-1958, I Sukhrani Limbooni would like to approach and petition the Panchayat for early redressal of my grievances that after the inappropriate relationship with Purnasingh I have been separated from my parents and family members since 13.09.1957. I am in a miserable condition . Hence, I request you to consider my situation and arrange food and shelter for my survival.

The bastardly acts of Purnasingh Khewa would raise its head time and again in Timburbong even after decades of the unholy union. The letter submitted to Dharmadatta Sharma has been reproduced for the reader. A man should not do such an act. It survives generations and the unpleasant story is recounted by his grandsons and great grandsons. Let not your single act put a black mark on your family.

The Panchayat President, Dharmadatta Sharma, who could call Narbahadur Bhundari to his office, summoned both parties to settle the case. But he himself sanded up locking horns with Roland. Narbahadur Bhandari got TADA as his handy tool to finish Dharmadatta. He used D.C. and the SDPO, Ronald to accomplish his mission; in the process he himself was trapped. In politics, both the Manager and the player should be adept in me game. If the chain is broken at certain point, the whole -sequence will drop down. No politician has ever been born who as not made a mistake or two. To err is human. With the passing of time, it was Roland who got an opportunity for the shot and then, earned for his family the name of murderer which will be played and replayed in days to come. What does heart say? He knows best. The mass protest rally led by Dharmadatta at Tharpu was not a new thing in a democratic state, but the act was unprecedented in the history of Timburbong. Bhandari's lieutenant reported the matter to him and Dharmadatta was to be tried in the District Court under article 406 LP.C. Although, he was trying to flee police arrest, Dharmadatta was arrested by Roland on 12.02.1988 in the presence of people. Since then, he has not returned home. There were some people who were instigating his arrest, some from the very village. Chhabilal Subba could not understand or pretended not to understand. Dharmadatta was charged with _creating unrest and involving in anti-social activities. His own disciples forced Hemlock to Socrates, who crucified Jesus? who immolated Joan of Arc? who were behind Sidonkyu Tulku's mysterious death? who laid trap for Tshering of Timburbong? own people, the same villagers sharing the same joy and sorrow. New thought, new creation was unable to find their place in the thinking pattern and hence, beginning with the B.C. today Dharmadatta lost his life on the petty issue of protest rally against the ruler. Roland confessed his mistake in the Church towards the end of his life. He told me of his willingness to present the whole details even in Court. He told me that he would record complete episode with the judge before his death; treatment against cancer (from which Roland was suffering) was thought impossible. But I was to approach the Court for providing security men for Roland. I declined to escort him to Court for his self confession and buying peace. Who am I to e peace for murderer? What is the guarantee that peace would come, after all? I was in a dilemma. I did not do it. We were worried about Parvati's (Pooja) future. Mandodharra tried to transfer Dharmadatta's land in her name, we resisted, The State government has agreed to provide for her (Pooja) education and means of livelihood. We are feeling indebted.

Dated: 21.09,' 86

I, Purnasingh Khewa, resident of Tharpu Block, West Sikkim beg to pray you that I was isolated and socially boycotted in 1957 for no wrong of mine.

As per the reconciliation paper of 1960, my family member and myself are freely involved in all social activities in the village. I organised a small puja in 1987. I had invited a total of 9 priests to conduct the puja ceremony, and Rudraprashad Chhalisey, one of the priest of Timburbong was issued notice of social isolation by some anti-social elements of Timburbonp Tharpu Block. Rudraprasad appealed to the Panchayat and a meeting was called on 07.06.'87. I was also called to attend the ' meeting and as per the 1960 arrangement, I was accepted into the meeting.

Hence, I approach you for ascertaining the grounds on which the notice was issued and request you for impartial justice.

Yours faithfully
Purnasingh Khewil
Tharpu Block

The Society in Timburbong has been broken up into groups on a single issue . Keeping in mind that such development will prove detrimental to any creative endeavour and peace, we have decided to hold a mass meeting here on 11.10.1987 in the Timburbong playground between two contesting groups to discuss and to thrash out the matter for finding a permanent solution to this recurring problem. A similar direction has been received from the Sub-Division office in Soreng. Hence, you and your friends' presence have been deemed essential in the meeting. You are requested to attend the meeting along with your friend and offer opinions and suggestions.

Yours faithfully

Dharmadatta Sharma President
Panchayat Seal

I, Chhabilal Limboo, resident of Timburbong Busty, ex-army beg to pray that as per the direction issued by the Sub- Division Magistrate, a meeting was held at Tharpu School playground on 11.10.87. As per the Panchayat letter (enclosed) I was present in the meeting.

The meeting was related to religious matter. No sooner had I started to present my honest ideas, then Mr. Sombahadur Khewa, S/o Shri Purnasingh Khewa, S/o Shri Puranasingh Khewa others attacked me. The Sub Division Magistrate did not speak a word in my defence and I fled the meeting place to save my life. Later I understood that the sub-Division Magistrate had spoken in favour of revoking social ostracism by saying that the death penalty could b" revoked by granting immunity to the accused. It is sad to mention that I was not permitted to present my opinion even in the presence of sub-divisional Magistrate. I felt highly insecure and discriminated.

I am the one who had joined Indian army at the age of 19 years and served country's integrity and security for 28 years. I took oath to save the country honour, my religion and follow command. After returning home, I have identified myself as a social worker and have committed to preserve the traditions and customs of the Limboos of the Soreng Sombaria areas.

Yours faithfully

Ex-Army, Hon. Lieutenant
Chhabilal Limboo
Timburbong Block, West Sikkim
18/10/87

After his schooling in Soreng School Dharmadatta entered into lilies with unrestrained vigour. Later he finished S.L.C.E. (school Leaving Certificate Examination) from Elaam, Nepal ('nod division as a private candidate. He was already holding various political positions. He was also the govt. Contractor. As per Government Notification NO.8, April 7, 1979, Notice No. 2/LR, he was appointed executive member of Khadi and industrial Board as per government Notification No. 16/111/799HO (Vol-II) dated 24th June 1980, Instead of educating himself, hl' started education about Bhandari's misrule. With police, he had always a tussle since his childhood. He would argue that the policeman is also human being with his own share of good and bad. He was a professional talker, a great argumentative man. Wherever he went, he had a huge following.

He would not sleep on the eve of election. He would keep his friends awake all night and would visit people opposing him and try to win over them. On the very day the result announced, he would disappear along with his three electing friends. On the day of electing, the President would report back, He would become President unanimously. Many a times, they took shelter in my residence at Gangtok. He was also thinking of contesting in the district, but Roland's bullet finished everything. By losing him, Soreng lost a fortune, the light went off.

While in Soreng JHS, he did not enter into politics but was forced into it by the circumstance. With eight sisters ready ,at home, Dharmadatta was brought up in considerable attention but hard times came since his student life. His childhood was spent in association with a number of rural games with friend He would go wild at the plenty that the nature had to offer. Sometimes, they would go hunting or fishing or trapping birds and yet other times hunting wild fruits, tubers and the like. It was a case of unbounded freedom among the echoing green. The hills and forest today are mourning his untimely death and feeling lonely. During Dipawali, Dharmadatta with his friend would go to the customary round in the village and the day next day would organise a picnic party with his friends.

Some adverse circumstances coupled with his poverty, forced Dharmadatta to abandon his dream of regular study. His own friends went to number of good schools for pursuing further study, but he could not. He spent many a sleepless nights just wondering at the strange twist that his life has taken. There was a strong desire to serve the society, but there were no means, A picnic was organised at a place in the jungle and invitation was issued to all literate villagers. Organising programme was not an easy job under Chogyal's rule. On the day, Dharmadatta proposed opening a village Committee. Everyone concurred and next meeting was notified to people for apparently holding a puja to avoid Chogyal's suspicious eyes. Kanchan Committee was born. The defining milestone in his life came when he was hustled out of his house at 11.00 pm in the dead of night and beaten black for no fault of' his own. He was just 17 and the year was 1971. Here we present his personal account of the ordeal in the first person: “I was going regularly to school from 26.10.71. I had no idea of whatever was happening in the school area. On 31.10.71, I went down to Nayabazar to look for my uncle’s son who had fled from home. I met him there and persuaded him back to home. On 01.11.71, I went to school at around 10.00 pm in the night, the Soreng Havaldar and three Hell came to my house and hustled me out of my sleep to Kuberjung’s residence. At Kuberjung's place, the OC slapped in my face and asked, "What have you done along with Pahalman Subba?”

By then, my nose was bleeding and I was taken to a last room under the roof. The Forester, Nayabazar and C.I. were drinking home-brewed fermented malt (alcohol) sitting on a bed. I said customary Namaste. Both of them told me to confess and say “yes”.The CI stood up and waving rum bottle at me said that would kill me at Jorethang thana.

“Look, you don't run away in the night?", the OC asked me. I replied that I would run away if I have committed a crime, I wouldn't if I am innocent. He was drinking, I slept. On the second day, dated 02.11.71, my ordeal began early when they start beating me. They gagged my mouth because I was crying quite a good deal and the beating continued. Kedamath Sharma , Punyaprasad Dahal and Syamlal arrived and also my mother, but she was driven away by the OC. Around 2.00 pm in the afternoon, Punyaprasad came to me saying that they would not beat me if I say Yes. Himandhoj Subba, Punyaprasad and Overseer Manbir Subba all agreed that saying yes was the way out of the hell. The persuasion persisted and Manbir subba promised me Rs. 1000 and a good suit in exchange of the only yes. He said that he would throw Pahalman into the jail and make life difficult for him. The OC braced up again to beat to death. Out of acute pain and to save my life I said Yes. The OC put handcuff around my wrist and took me to Timburbo school, smoking cigar. Punyaprasad was also with us. I said and did everything they commanded me to do and say, to save myself from further physical torture. At Kuberjung's house at night, they fed on venison and other delicacies. I did not eat meat. I ate rice and milk. The next morning they took us-S B. Pradhan, Dilip Pradhan, Tilak and myself, all handcuffed to Jorethang thana. I was strictly ordered to narrate their version of story. If I say the truth, they would kill me. Afterwards, we were taken to the CI at Namchi thana on 06.11.71. We repeated the same story at Namchi thana.

When govt. officials and the police danced at the tune of the rich and the affluent in the village, the Brahmin boy took to drinking. Address people all over Sikkim, and the party's vehicle would drop him at Soreng. He would never go alone-always with village boys. Towards the evening, when alcohol takes control of him, he would belch fire at people who had wronged him unnecessarily.

On completed of my University education , I went to Kazi at Kalimpong and began revolt against Chogyal. All the youths from Timburbong were with me. The soreng havalder after his retirement went to Kansi for pilgrimage with Pt. Rudramani Bhattarai and never returned. To cleanse himself of the sins that he had committed as a policement, he want to Kansi but it became his death .bed .Rudramani Bhattarai returns and under the protection of the satanic Bhandari, announced, "Your hushand fell sick at Kansi and went straight to heaven. Very few would have death in a place of god", the wife was assured. But divinity has its own laws. You can manipulate human laws and may escape punishment, but blood? Blood will have blood! No more no less!

After revolution, Kazi began ignoring us. We broke our link with him, and his men would abuse us when they find us in the street. We resorted to seller-of-land slogans. Those days the police would try to ignore Ministers. It was unfortunate to now realise that the country was slipping out of hand. Kazi was the , second CM. 1t would have been better if it had been merged during Tashi Tshering. He was a scholar of English, at least, not a like Kazi. If not merged, the condition of Nepalese would have been no better than that in Bhutan. Kazi claims credit for bringing democracy in the State, but there is a difference between caged birds with food than a free one going without food. We are human beings-noble living creatures.

The rich people take advantage of difficult times of the poor. They don't part with a single paisa before you mortgage your farm, bullock, jewellery. The poor die like animals. With a view to mitigate their misery, we formed a committee. The rich countered and open their "samaaz". We had to encounter many Interference when we tried to collect monthly fee of 50 paise Indian annual fee of Rs 6. In time of calamity like death, the 'committee decided to bear expense for the rites. Through 'contribution by rich members and our collective initiatives, we procured mike system. Dharmadatta was going places in the State telling people about Kuberjung and the police atrocities against him, from the party platform. With our own mike system, we decided to stage a drama in the village. The rice left nothing to chance to disrupt . it is organised and still going very strong. Dharmadatta was its Librarian his mother Rukmani was the head of the women's wing. Both of them have singed the Constitution in their own hands. As long as Dharmadattu lived, he opposed any form of injustice. As his dignity enhanced, his enmity with the rich people increased and towards the end,, he came face to face with the State Chief Minister.

12-02-88 : The kidnapping drama began at around 4 pm in the evening. Before parting with KK Pradhan the same morning, Roland had informed him saying, " I am going to kidnap Dharmadatta". "The journey is long but the place is near" Roland told Dharmadatta after his kidnapping. From 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm at night, the dead body was left with someone while Roland washed his vehicle under the Gammon bridge. AI 6.30pm, the dead body was disposed off across the border and at 9.45pm at night, they instructed the check post personnel to see that the dead body was not transported back.

14.02.88: The Pulbazar OC arrived and after taking photographs, the dead body was buried and on the basis of the agreement, the body was cut into pieces and disposed off into the Rangjit river.

15.02.88 : Roland arrived at Gangatok and presented detailed report to Bhandari and received direction from Bhandari.

16.02.88 : Dambersingh Subba and Kamal Pradhan received their share of money for their co-operation while Roland threatened at a hotel at Jorethang.

Timburbong's Late Dharmadatta Sharma, the Panchayat President of Timburbong Tharpu, committed leader of Sikkim Congress Committee was 35 years of age. Having come to know that Dharmadatta would be contesting on a Congress ( I ) ticket from Bhandari's Constituency, Soreng, he committed political murder against his political opponent on 12.02.’88. What would have happened if Bhandari had defeated h opponent in the electoral fields? But why did he commit ruthless murder as a coward? Bhandari, we need the answer. The F.I.R. filed by Nayabazar OC in connection with the murdered of Dharmadatta has been reproduced here: IL. Lhendup Bhutia, OC, Nayabazar thana do hereby inform that as per the reliable source, Dharmadatta Sharma, a residence of Timburbong has been murdered at 4.50 pm at Zoom Busty, West Sikkim while he was being taken to Nayabazar after his abduction at Timburbong. The men involved are SDPO Roland Christopher Chhetri and SI, Geyzing Mani Kumar Thapa who have camped in presently at Jorethang. The dead body has been disposed off across the border at Single, under Bijanbari area, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal.

On the basis of the above information, I have filed a case under IPC, Article 364/3021201 and section 34 on 20.02.88 against the police officials for investigation.

The murder of Dharmadatta is the murder of democracy. Instead of following the democratic spirit of "live and let live", the Sangram Parishad government killed Dharmadatta by unduly using its police officials. We appeal to the people to come I It Icondemn this barbarous act of Bhandari. The policy which transforms forms the protector of people into the murderer must be finished once and for all. Or else, Bhandari will kill all the people.

The week March 13-19-88 recorded Mandodharu (Dharmadatta's wife) accusation to Bhandari. It says-The letter written by Mandodhara Sharma to the Indian Prime Minister mentions that the Sikkim's Chief Minister deputed Roland Chhetri, SDPO West and Mani Kumar Thapa, SI to murder. Dharmadatta Sharma. Dharmadatta was popular among tilt people in the Chief Minister's constituency, and Bhandari thought him to be thorn in his path. She said, " I was made a widow at a tender age of 28 and the only daughter (hardly 5 years of age) lost his father. I do not have the strength to express my opposition to Bhandari's autocratic policy.

Government cannot murder people-give justice to widow Mandodhara. After returning from a public meeting of Congress(l) on 30.03.88 at Rabongla, Sangrami boys tried to kill the Congress leaders by rolling down boulders and logs about one km. from Rabongla Bazar. Similarly, an attempt was made on the lives of the Congress leaders when they were going to Soreng to hold public meetings. A report has been sent to the Home Minister in New Delhi and the Governor of Sikkim.

Chattraman Subba and Roland knew each other for a long time. Roland was the captain of Sikkim Guards when Chattraman was recruited. They stopped the vehicle above Chattraman's home and went to fetch Dharmadatta with spy-agent Pradhan. before leaving with them asked answer was a vague one, “the journey is very long nearby" and added that he won't lake him just nearby. No body informed Mandodham. She did ask either. We took the case seriously and went down to Naya Bazar on 19.02.88, met his brother Dilliram and filed and FIR in his own hand. There was only OC-II and said that sahib was unaware of police laws. During Chogyal's Roland was Sikkim Guard captain and later Fire Service officer and as far as police laws go he was a big "zero". Once a man is arrested he has to be presented in the thana for registration. We do not have any information, the OC told us.

In the Darjeeling district (West Bengal) Subhas Ghising had 40-day bandh. When we reached Melli we were told to enter West Bengal at our own risk. We did. There was not a single vehicle except army and police vehicles. The situation was tense. There was sporadic firing and one CRPF jawan was injured at GNLF's bombing and firing across the border but my friend was primarily occupied with securing justice for my friend killed by Bhandari's autocratic rule. I had strong moral strength.

Again on on 21.02.88 we headed for Naya Bazar via Rangpo. Melli along with Athup Lepcha and Davendra Sharma in SKM-9973. At Jorethang, people were too cautions to commit any word. There were only subdued whispers in the whole market. At one of the hotel some people were talking about Dharmadatta. Roland reached there and threatened with dire consequences. The police official under the protection of Bhandari was like proverbial bull in the china shop. We went to Naya Bazar thana.. No truth came out. No one was ready to speak out openly . The crime eye witness Chhatraman Limbooni was loaming at Jorethang market after his statement at the thana. Realising that his life was also in danger under the despotic rule of Bhandari, I took him along with me in my vehicle.

On 22.02.88 I hurried to Assam Lingzey at 4.00 in the morning to call R. C. Poudyal. His reaction was very casual. He came to party office and gave a high-flown talk on Delhi and left without signing. The same day we received a confirmation from Jorethang about the filing of FIR by L. Lhendup Bhutia, O.C. police station, Naya Bazar, West Sikkim vide case NO.6 (2) 88 date 20.02.88 Article 364/302/201/34, IPC R. C. Poudyal and Nar Bahadur Khatiwara were in the good books of III community. The relationship between Poudyal and Khatiwara was not the best of its kind. There was a need for collective support from both the communities. The President came from the BL. The 40-day strike in Darjeeling district made thing difficult. As Dharmadatta's dead body was disposed off at Singla, it came under the jurisdiction of Pulbazar thana in West Bengal, Those days the name DIG Handa would sound an alarm in till' region. After arranging meeting with Handa and the DC at Siliguri, we went down with Athup Lepcha and Khatiwara 011 24.02.88. It was towards midnight we reached Siliguri after tedious arguments with Khatiwara. We put up at the Gateway Hotel. We met a number of Communist leaders and Advocates in the night and retired to our bed. We met DC after four days and received words of full co-operation. We left Siliguri at 4.30 in the evening. On our return, a number of hand grenades and bombs were hurled at our vehicle. Khatiwada a popular talker among his friends was rendered speechless at the sounds of gunfire and the smell of dead bodies along the road. Having crossed the Rangpro Bridge towards Sikkim, Khatiwada regained his self and began laughing at our expense. A chicken-hearted fellow himself. he found an easy prey in our presence and made us the butt of his ridicule. In the event of an attack he could have always saved his life by hiding in the jungle which was not the case with me. The driver was there and the vehicle, I was responsible for both. At such hours people don't part with their vehicles normally. But for the sake of dead friend, I had come out in the field along with Athup Lepcha, and in every step there was death lurking in the comer. This was our moral obligation against the autocratic rule of Bhandari, a voice against his policy . We had information in Siliguri itself that the death body was sliced into pieces and thrown into Rangit on 14.02.88

Having , received an information , we decided to go to Siliguri---Madan Sahib,Saring and myself, But, later, Madan's name was dropped from the list by others. With great difficulty, I opened my mouth and Madan agreed. He did not go. To run a big party. You have got to have a broad and comprehensive mind. In Sikkim, however, the matter does not click somewhere between Bhutia-Lepcha and Bahun-Chettri. He runs into trouble who wants to immediate. . These two communities seem like two shores of the same river-which never meet. S.S. Saring and myself went to Siliguri and met Handa. We had routine talk, nothing new as such. I was trying to exploit Madan's personal acquaintance with Handa but it failed. Handa and Madan were co-mates at the IPS training camps. I sent Saring to Delhi and I returned to Gangtok.

After Dharmadatta's death, Bhandari had not gathered enough courage to go to Timburbong. It was Kuberjung Subba's death anniversary. Nary. Bhandari had a golden opportunity. I gathered from 1Iiagers that the murderer was arriving at Timburbong on Bhandari had a golden opportunity . I gathered from the villagers that the murderer was arriving at Timburbong on the occasion. I prepared number of postures and enveloped SKM 9983 vehicle with the posturing. On each side of the vehicle was written-"Dharmadatta's murderer, Murdabad" and “Beware, Sikkimese people". And with the Congress flag fluttering high, I set out for Timburbong. After taking a round Gangtok Bazar I came down to Singtam, Rangpo, Melli, Jorethang Naya Bazar, Soreng and went to my home for the night. Next day, I met Ranbahadur Subba and Rudraprasad Dahal who were waiting for me at the residence of Tikaram Dahal. decided to procure black flags to protest the arrival of and his chamchaas. On way to Soreng to purchase flags, we encountered Sanchaman Limbooni who was Minister Bhandari's cabinet. I stopped our vehicle on the middle of the mad and asked the Minister's driver to turn back.

Sanchaman Limbooni little disturbed reached out for his pistol and muttered-"You dare touch me". The police threatened my driver that he could not stop Minister just like that and drove away. We reached Soreng and bought the cloth. I pitched in black flags about the site from where Dharmadatta was adult I, People gathered but soon they reacted and started thinning away. Only the small children were left behind and by noon I finished my job and had lunch. Bhandari's emissary Sanchaman Limboo had confirmed the arrival of Bhandari to the area. It was no new thing to see Bhandari sending Limboo against Limboo, Bhutia against Bhutia etc. The Minister has no license to kill human being. He is provided with his body guard. Taraman Rai, the then Minister was reported to have said, “We kill people and that is the end of it." What a shame for Sikkim to have sheltered such wise Minister!

I went to my uncle's place but people sensing some lurking danger isolated me. I traded words with the owners on some ideological differences. Bhandari is leader and so an 1. Between two leaders, there will be quarrel as well as understanding, I left the place to facilitate a smooth functioning. But at the end , Bhandari failed to turn up on the occasion. Bhandari's men were disappointed.

The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee(l) decided to hold mass public meeting at Soreng Bazaar on 17.03.88 to highlight the brutal killing of Dharmadatta. We sent Thakur Pant to make necessary arrangement for the meeting but news reach us that there was hardly any preparation. Dharmadatta's own people were hiding under the rug and would say that they would meet with the same fate. I set out myself to mobilise people participation in the meeting, announcing on mike that Bhandan who sups on blood must be checked in time or else he will drink all human blood. SP Negi and K.K. Pradhan carne Tharpu to spy on my activity and enquired about my movement with the local people.

The next day-the day of meeting, Negi threatened that that would withdrew the right of holding if we resort to sloganeering and black flags. On the suggestion of our friends, we held only a simple meeting. When the meeting began , Advocates Uday P. Sharma, R.B. Subba, Dugey Bhutia, Athup, Mrs. Mandodhara, Ms Pooja and myself went to the SDM office and met the D.C, T.P. Ghimire and SDM Dhakal talked about the murder. Ghimire tired to show off his official position. He failed . Tara Pradhan, Asstt. Teacher of Soreng School bunked his duty and recorded our speeches for Bhandari. He died later but will his progeny ever admire him as a respectable father? Or forefather? Only Kazi sahib was unable to attend the meeting. All other elderly including C.D. Rai were present in the meeting. Mrs. Mandodhara began the first speech and people gaped at her with admiration at her presentation. With her emotional appeal, the people's eyes were moistened. Chhatraman Limboo gave a detailed account as the prime witness. The same meeting dispelled Bhandari's fear from every heart. In conducting the meeting Mrs. Dhandevi Dahal, Mr. Dawa Tshering Lepcha, Sanchabir Limboo and Varante Rai played a major role. SP Negi could have arrested me very easily but we received untiring support from Sikkim police. We are very indebted to all of them.

I am writing to inform you that your brother was killed at 7.40 on 12.02.88. This is true. The people who killed your brother resting Zoom "resting shed" include (I) Roland Chhetri, (2) I.B.O./ C Geyzing (3) One-eyed Kamal Bihari, Naya Bazar (4) Anan Agarwal. . They have taken photographs also. You can talk to these people if you can meet them. R. C. Poudyal does not that the dead body is in West Bengal and in the burial placed, they have dug up three graves. Roland Chhetri, I.B.O./C Subba have been arrested but Anan Agarwal and Kamal Bihari are not. They were the ones who stoned him to death. In all these , Bhandari has a prominent role. It is true that at 7.30 pm, the dead body was taken across the border and at 7.35 Roland's vehicle was washed under Gammon bridge. The people who were boarding in SKM. DCM car (999) to transport include SDPO Roland Chhetri, IB Chhetri, Dak Maya police Budhay, Kamal Bihari, Anan Agarwal.

Anan Agarwal, Kamal Bihari and Dak Maya Chhetri Hilt back at Rangvang Check post while the other two disposed off the dead body. During police investigation, Agarwal fled the State and kamal lied.

The public meeting organised to raise Dharmadatta's issue evoked considerable interest among the public. In the midsummer, we held public meetings at Jorethang, Melli, Rangpo Singtam, Ranipool and other places to alert people. The hearing of the case began in August in the Court and we concentrated on the witnesses. Among Sikkimese witnesses, be it common people or police officers, we did not find any hide and seek game. But there was no sincerity among the West Bengal witnesses. We had tremendous difficulty in bringing our the truth from them. Influenced by hefty bribes, they were not ready to part with their secrets. But death comes to us sooner or later. We may not achieve our mission now but the divinity will be there to judge our actions. Not even the Yamraj accept bribes that side of the world.

After all these initiatives, I encountered much opposition in the village by Bhandari's men. Backed by the Chief Minister, they played gallant heroes to stain my image. But they had no light of their own and disappeared at the very first break of day. I opposed not Narbahadur but the murderer for the unity and security of posterity.

Madhavprasad Dahal was the number one witness. While the police was taking him to the police station to record hi statement, his mother fearing that his son might as well sufficient the same fate as Dharmadatta at the hands of police, yelled-Help. help and help Everyone rushed to his rescue-students, labourers villagers. And then it was the police who from the villagers. Such was the impression of police in Bhandari government. But, later, the same Dahal had opened Sangram office at his residence and hoisted Sangram party flag they are, our honourable citizens, Timburbong voters Dharmadatta's nearest neighbour, who refused to stand before the High Court to speak against the murderer.

The people of Timburbong, Karthoh, Tharpu and Soreng d t he government to hand over the dead body for the They called but no dead body. Many a time in the sweltering heat, the people measured out every square and searched the dead body in the Singla forest. Instead of Dharmadatta’s dead body, his sleepers, a 50-rupee note, party Identity , tobacco container were discovered.

I received tremendous support from the West Bengal parties and their cadre helped me wherever I went. Once I took Mandodhara and Pooja to N.B.U. and D.G.C. (Court Nos. at Siliguri and Darjeeling respectively) for moral support. I saw party cadres killed and being killed in West Bengal. I was not disturbed. One of my own brother had been killed by Bhandari's later thrown into the river for its fishes. Mandodhara would curse Bhandari day and night and in every party meeting. The women wing of the Sangram party later commented that why throw so much of acid on 'our' boss. She being herself still young could go for another man!! Well, are all women hiding Dilkumari the wives of Bhandari??

The decision of the case has not been pronounced as yet and hence, it is difficult to ascertain who said what. But since the murder was at the hand of police official, this case has penetrated into the distant land of London. The International Human Rights Commission has taken extra note of this case. Even the central government has failed to arrest this case from spilling over to the international platform. Roland Christopher Chhetri, who is the main accused in this case, was slowly consumed I, incurable cancer. He is dead, but his crime remains. In many of the public speeches, we have heard that Bhandari has replaced his decayed rib with a golden one. If he is not lying, then his funeral pyre his relatives should look for the gold rib and deposit it in State coffer-metal does not melt into ashes. else CBI would depute their man to discover the gold disturb his peaceful soul. In death as well as in waking, CBI would chase him to eternity. The Dharmadatta case is now at the disposition of the International Human Rights Commission.

Dharmadatta had rented a house at Jorethang belonging" Rudraprasad Dahal to set up a printing press. He had written an application to the Power Deptt. for electrification. One employee Ms. Menuka Shepra handed over the same letter to Rudraprasad and Dharmadatta received that letter on the morning of 12.02.88. Dharmadatta asked his maternal aunt for Rs. 50 to fill up form. She gave him a new 50-rupee note bearing the number - NJLG 154339, Sd- R.N. Malhotra. The same note had been recovered from his grave but the police returned it back to us for want of sufficient proof. The letter which he received on 12.02.88 was also recovered by the police from his grave.

In the night of 12.02.88, Manikumar's disconcerted hands groped through Dharmadatta's body and his pockets. He retrieved Panchayat's pad and seal, dry cleaning receipt, some letter documents and destroyed them. But the police still recovered a 50-rupee note, tobacco container, Identity card, official letter, from Power Deptt. and the sleepers. The criminal, no matte I how much he tries, would fall short of destroying complete evidence and leave behind many proofs of his criminal act. He commits one mistake after another to hide his original sin and is finished finally. One day, the court conducted identity parade for the witnesses. In a closed room, with the electricity on, some of our Congress Advocates were with the Judges. Among the heaps of tobacco containers, Mandodhara was asked to identity Dharmadatta's. She make out her husband's handwriting and picked up the correct container. Next, Purnabahadur identified his sleepers from among the many identical chappals provided on the day. The things were sealed by the Judges.

While attending a mass meeting of the Congress at Guwahati, Dharmadatta was given Press and Publicity identity card and the same was recovered when he was dug out of the grave. Along with the approval paper from Power Deptt.

At around 11.45 am of 13.02.88, seven to eight boys from across the border came to the Sikkim border and enquired about the Muruti car the last night. The police told them that the car belonged to Roland sahib. The boys asked the police to call Roland for one dead body had been found in their area. The SDPO who had been lodged in the Forest bunglow later came to the Rangvang check post. Having found that the boys had already departed, Roland asked his man to call one of them. All the boys returned. After a protracted argument, Roland sought security and said, "Would you give me security if I go place?". The boys said yes but once they crossed over the West Bengal, started chanting slogans against Roland –Hack Roland, Finish Roland, and so on. The same day, Kamal Prasad was interrogated and asked to identify the dead body while was returning from Gok jungle carrying firewood. I knew Intimacy that existed between Dharmadatta and Kamal. He was a regular visitor to Dharmadatta's house. But that day he feigned ignorance-while money speaks, the truth shuts its mouth. Manikumar Subba tried to project that the dead body actually belonged to a man involved in black marketing across the border and met with a fatal accident while fleeing from police. Next, on 13.02.88, Manikumar did a complete U turn in this version and said, "I abducted Dharmadatta" to Laxuman Yonzon at Soreng. And again on 16.02.88, Manikumar said " Dharmadatta killed himself while fleeing from police and said that in consultation with the O.C., Pulbazar. (W.B.) arrange to bury him at Kerabari near Singh "One thing is done”, he gloated over his feat but gave three different 12.02.88 to 16.02.88. He destroy Dharmadatta’s panchayat pad and seal but preserved his dry cleaning receipt to try to prove that he was still living. Manikumar broke the bond of secrecy undertaken between Roland and himself about the grue some murder. From 14.02.88 onwards, there is no evidence to show that Roland and Manikumar ever crossed the border. But reliable evidence reflects that Kamal Prasad continued to meet Roland afterwards. I personally volunteered to meet Damber Singh Subba at his house at Karmataar (W.E.) but he refused to divulge with the secret-now open. Roland Christopher Chhetri himself left this world on 09.10.1995. Hence, where money speaks, the truth shuts its mouth.

While the com monist comrades reached Singla on 13.02.88 Manbahadur Mukhia witness to the nocturnal adventure and identified the man who washed the maruti car under the Gammon bridge . The people from Singla were highly enraged over the incident and the matter was put to rest only after an agreement was singed at Kazi Lohagan’s residence located close to Kerabari Forest Rest House.

The dead body was in the open till 10.00 am of 14.02.88. In the afternoon, the pulbazar OC inspected the body and after taking photographs was buried with the help of some coolies. Manikumar was witness to the whole process of burial of dead.

On 15.02.88, Roland met Bhandari at Mintokgang and next reached Pangthang to dispose off the empty cartridge and for reloading.

On 16.02. 88 S,.I. . S.K. Bania reached Forest bunglow. Dhambersingh and kamal Prasad were both stated that the dead man is Dharmadatta. Bania Reported the matter to the Special A.G.P. Sonam Bhutia .

On 18.02.88 in the morning, SP Negi arrested Roland Christoper and Manikumar at Geyzing . On 20.02.88, they were transported to Nayabazar thana.

On 15.02.88, the Nayabazar O.C. met SP Negi at Geyzing and lodged a complaint on the possible murder of Dharmadatta. Negi tries to understand the case with Roland. Roland lied and said that it is only a propaganda fuelled by GNLF supports. SP Negi was summoned to the Headquarters at Gangtok and received direction to personally investigate into the case. Negi returns and drove to Timburbong and compiled statements from Kedarman Sharma and Chhatraman Subba. The same day he went to Geyzing and arrested Roland and Manikuamr. Next day, on 20.02.88, Negi followed Maruti car 999 carrying Roland and Manikumar down to Nayabazar and hurled them into the prison. A formal investigation began as per law. The case was transferred to I.O. Crime department. On 23.02.88, the crime branch seized Roland's Maruti car, SKM. 999 from his official residence at Gangtok. They discovered hair in the car. The hairs were sent down to Calcutta for examination which confirmed that the hair belonged to a man.

The case started at the Session Court and later transferred to Human Rights Court. The Session Court released them on bail. We approach Sikkim High Court and appealed for the revocation of bail, and for nearly one year they were put under house arrest. After Dharmadatta's abduction, people at Timburbung Tharpu, Jorethang and Nayabazar would not raise their voice above studied whispers. The people were afraid of Roland and Roland, on the other hand, was afraid of the people. There was mass posturing at Timburbong, Soreng, Nayabazar and Jorethang against the gruesome killing of Dharmdatta. "Beware, Sikkimese people”-- a big posturing pitched at the hilltop at Timburung remained for their months. Later, people from the same village pulled it down, the same people oppose Bhandari today. How low people stoop to earn money! This is an irony, however that in politics there is neither permanent enemy nor a permanent friend, my enemy your enemy; your enemy's enemy my friend Minus into minus is equal to plus-it is nowhere so except in Algebra. In politics, they call it strange bed fellows, but there again we do not talk of sleep but only of the bed. In politics, we understand opportunity both in negative and positive sense. But peace bought with unmindful bloodshed is always painful, always disturbing.

It is but natural for a man to crave for changes. One government was followed by another. People enjoying unrestrained monopoly and protection under Bhandari could not enjoy subsequent change. Every moment, every hour, change is perceptible to a sensitive mind. People closest to Chogyal thought themselves drown during Kazi's rule. Again, Kazi's men thought themselves as less-privileged during Bhandari's rule. Today, the first blow of the all-important "siren" sends Bhandari to a wild rage. He raves and rants at the sound which announces the approaching Chief Minister. With or without wanting, changes take place every passing moment.

The day of 12.02.88 witnesses a gruesome killing of a man by Bhandari with the help of Sikkim Police. On 16.02.95, the Chief Minister, Mr .. Pawan Kumar Chamling announced the naming of Sombaria-Soreng routes as Martyr Dharmadatta Path. Bhandari still talks big and says that he constructed the road! Any Chief Minister based on people's mandate, must feel a shamed call it 'me' and 'I'. Well, if Bhandari could build roads and bridges and building before and after he ceased to be the Chief Minister; he could be great and can talk of 'me' and ‘I’. In the process, the government named the Naybazar- Sombaria route as Ghorley Path, Sombaria-Soreng route as Martyr Dharmadatta Path and the Soreng-Dodak road as Tshering Thus, the government immortalised the departed souls for all time to come. Time is very strong. On 20.06.96, the Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Kumar Chamling unveiled the statue Dharmadatta at Soreng. The former government killed the man With its police force. The latter government erected statue in the memory of the departed soul. But who can help if man shuns responsibility and fails to discharge his assignment with sincerety? These days, the head of the statue is developing certain sign of wearing and tearing-it is going bald with its hair falling, and looks more like an egg. The Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling further announced government's responsibility towards the surviving daughter of the deceased Dharmadatta. A prominent party worker did not die a death of dogs and cats, at least, and the SDF Government has a prominent contribution towards this end. The savoir has greater right than the murderer. We salute the government and offer many thanks behalf of the departed soul.

Barrel Saaf

It was 21st October of 1991 mid afternoon, the air suddenly rent the blaring of siren like an earthquake and the Chief Minister Bhandari, with his characteristic ogle looks, did a quick round of the market ---both old market and the new. In a tea shop, he finally issued his decree-Arrest him. The police , the underground and upper-ground mafias bundled up Maj. Tshi Ongdi Phempo and hurled him inside the jail at Sadar thana . Like a war general bent on complete extinction or all his adversaries Bhandari arrested K.C. Pradhan (former Minister), Dawa Gyalpo Kazi (ex-Police Officer), Aitasingh Tamang and Chhakanlal Sarda and put them in prison charging them of reading pamphlets. With Maj Phempo still in the jail, Bhandari sent the police to his house and raided, everything in the house was pulled upside down. They seized a licensed pistol, pataangs, and his father Nedup Bhutia was arrested on charge of possessing explosive materials. Both father and son met in the jail. For want of evidence, the Session and District Courts released Maj. Phempo and his father. Many of Bhandari's mistresses came sounded hollow threat to the father-son duo languishing in the jail. The enraged Phempo faced them with his pants 'down'. The wife of A.K. Shresta was mentioned as one of the visitors, which sent Mr. Shresta into a wild fury-a fire without heat. Even after his death, the name still hangs on-there must be a solid reason. Without fire, you don't see smoke? Do you?

It was quietness everywhere. Gangtok town was fast asleep, with its silence only broken by the ding-dong of wall clocks ;had the distant howling of foxes at certain intervals. But the police were wide awake. The night of 24 October, 1991: Dukhnath Nepal, the then State Secretary of the State CPI(M) was dreaming of some fairyland when there was a sudden knock at his door with the ominous stomping of boots. The next moment, the policemen carne flooding in and took him away in a vehicle. Dukhnath clad only in the flimsy night dress was applied Third degree method. Words of abuse flood free even as the unaccounted police caning continued. And next, the pack of hungry commandos headed towards Rawtey-Rumtek, the home place of Advocate Hemlal Bhandari.

The police conducted a thorough search at the house of Harvard-educated Hemlal Bhandari, an L.L.M .. Nothing was recovered They collected his pen-pencil, inkpot and some paper-cutting. They arrived at the Gangtok thana with Hermlal Bhandari. Both met at the jail-Dukhnath and Hermlal. Although quietness descended with the advancing night, the thana would records cry, shrieks of unbearable pain. One after another, they were taken out of the jail and tortured physically. Sadar thana, those days, was located at the present day Thekungthek statues complex.

After his arrest, on 25th October 1991, a handcuffed Hermlal was paraded along the Gangtok town barefoot and produced in till court. This was against human rights-Attack on Justice, The harassment and persecution of judges and lawyers: GENEVA (June 1991- May 1992). When Rajendra Vaidya the Editor of the Hindi daily, Janpath was produced in the Delhi High Court with the handcuff, the Judges reprimanded the police and ordered to free him of his handcuff. In Sikkim, the Magistrate intentionally helped Bhandari to inflict more and more human rights violations. They did not uphold the rule of law. With the help of money and power, Bhandari threw stones at the High Court. But the same Bhandari now vanquished, approached the same court with the begging bowl-begging excuse on 14th October 1997. "Excuse me, Have mercy on me".

We talk of the of repeated independence of Judiciary in the country. But since the executive and the Legislative power rest with the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the Judiciary has lost certain teeth in its functioning. If politicians do politics just for money and vote, the voters would not enjoy true justice. The judiciary in Sikkim had its bad days during Bhandari's time. And still he never failed to project Sikkim as the "land of peace" outside the state. Once in the Supreme Court, Bhandari's Advocate General called Sikkim a peaceful state. The statement generated a peal of laughter among the Judges. The Court echoed with the thundering laughter of the Judges---wah….wah…kya…diya… practical joke. It was laugh of derision. Because the Judges in the Court were all too aware of T.N Dhakal shooting orgy, Dharmadatta formula, abduction of Rajendra Vaidya, the nailing down of Biraj Adhikari, the arrest of Hemlal Bhandari on false of anti-national, and again the same Honourable Court had ordered Bhandari government to provide body guards to HernIal Bhandari, Shiv Shanker Dhakal and the present Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. The Supreme Court knew it too, well that the Judges in Sikkim resorted to white lies in presenting false image of the despotic rule Bhandari. Ever since his unceremonious exit in 1994, the CM "s chair has alluded Bhandari like the proverbial mirage in the vast desert. The votes remain with the voters, but Bhandari is not prepared to live respectable retired life. He hops about the horizon to catch the sweet-sweet chair like an idiot.

Both Hemlal Bhandari and Narbahadur Bhandari were close to the erstwhile while Palace. Both were the champions of the demerger movement.. One became Chief Minister, the other left Sikkim. Hemlal Bhandari stopped getting his regular scholarship at the at the order of Narbahadur Bhandari, The powerful man intercepts into your march, but how can he interpret or write your destiny. Hemlal completed the highest degree in law from the Harvard University flying colour-Bravo, son of Mother Sikkim, As you sow, so shall you reap, Bhandari has begun to realise this lately.

The pamphlet written by Hemlal Bhandari at Siliguri was with the police. Rajendra Vaidya was brought to the thana on 6th November. He was arrested the same morning at his house in Silliguri. Bhandari was the virtual Ravana in the Ravana Raj. In the assumed garb of a saint, he abducted Vaidya. In the Sugriv Baali duel, the Chhetri killed Baali from a hiding after garlanding him. Thus, repeats the History. On crossing the Rangpo bridge, Vilidya was beaten black and blue by the money-in fasted police under the protection of Bhandari. In the jail Hemlal and Vaidya were jointly questioned on the genesis of the pamphlet widely known as Barrel Safe which constituted a scathing attack against Bhandari-“To the Hon'ble Chief Minister Narbahadur Bhandari, on the occasion of auspicious Deussera and Tyohaar 1991-A Present" was the heading or summing up Bhandari's sensual adventure and his numerous feats as Don Juan. With Hemlal and Vaidya on one side the police were no match for their argumentative skills. They won the , the argument but invited a fresh bodily torture. While they were beaten the walkie-talkie telephone would remain on line and engaged and busy to carry the message to Bhandari A diabetes patient, Vaidya would lose consciousness now and then due to excessive physical torture. During Bhandari's time journalists had a nightmarish time. If the reports meant anything bordering the truth, he would inevitably land up at the thana the next moment and all night long would suffer at the hand of vain glorious lout. At the break of day light, they would shut him inside the jail. Vaidya's wife and his son arrived from Siliguri to bail out. No use-they were denied entry into the cell. Hemlal was transferred to the jail danra after the Police was convinced that his rows of teeth were safely unsettled! Lakkhu Tshering from Namchi was one of the police force who arrested Vaidya. He could not bear to look at the treatment meted out to Vaidya in the jail. He had heart attack. He died at the STNM hospital. During his tenure, Bhandari's commandos were perpetually after the journalists like Suresh Parmer, Jigme Kazi, Chhetri, P.B.Yata, YN.Bhandari, Ganga Prasad Rai, Shiv Kumar Pradhan, Jeet Raika, Pranay Lamichaney, C.B. Chhetri, R.K. Pradhan, B.B. Subba, G.P.Sharma and would pounce upon them at the slightest excuse.

This was one of the techniques he used as a cover-up to his misdeeds. When Vaidya's wife and son got the sign of Bhandari's barbarism, they approached the Supreme Court and filed Habeas Corpus against Chief Minister Narbahadur Bhandari for speedy justice.

The Secretaries in Sikkim, the Advocate General having failed to justify the arrest of Vaidya. In the Courtroom, the Supreme Court judges discovered that Vaidya had never been to Sikkim and the dirty pamphlet was published nowhere but at the very Press owned by Bhandari’s wife Dilkumari. Vaidya a diabetes patient was administered no medicine but police cans rained downed non-stop for many days and night. While Vaidya was recounting these rales before the panel of Honourable Justice M.L. Sharma , J.S. Verma and S.C. Agarwal he collapsed midway from is chair. Considering the seriousness , the court ordered Sikkim Government to admit him at AIIMS immediately and bear all his expenses till his recovery. The Court simply realised who was the spoiler of peace in the peaceful state of Sikkim. Every citizen has to bear the burden of Government spending. Bhandari did the act and the poor Sikkimese had to suffer the brunt. At the time he was forced down from his chair Bhandari had lakhs of rupees stacked away in the Swiss bank and every Sikkimese was carrying the burden of loan running into crores. In an independent nation, print media must also be independent. The country-wide incidents and accident must be reflected and mirrored through the papers. Where the free flow of newspapers is gagged and strangled, people’s voice do not reach the Government and the bridge between the people and the Government is broken. This way pen mightier than sword. Princess Diana died while fleeing from the press camera. The United Front government had to go because of the Jain Report. Newspaper, today, is the most powerful weapon-a bridge between the people and the government..

Narbahadur Bhandari broke this linking bridge and tried to accomplish his satanic end with the help of borrowed refugees. He neglected the initial sparks, it burnt down his own house. There was revolt from within his party, he underestimated his enemy. The man vying for the coveted chair must also be willing to face the truth. When the "Barrel Safe" pamphlet declared that Bhandari had contracted AIDS (Acute Integrity Deficiency Syndrome) he became mad with fury. This is simple psychology -when you really have it you get disturbed about discovery. This explains that Bhandari has sreal deficiency and thus he got angry.

Once up a time Shiv Shanker Dhakal was Bhandari's no. 1 friend. they separated over some petty differences and became two shores of the same river. Dhakal joined CPI (M). People took no notice of this, taking it as the routine dramatisation, of the aaya Ram and gayaa Ram cliche in state's politic, In Sikkim, people do not find it comfortable to pronounce the term Communist. Bhandari, too, was afraid, and the Bhutia boys driven away by the Communist China became his handy weapons. Remember the history before Bhutia revolted against China and the Sikkimese against Delhi. The Sikkinml Bhutias would find themselves in trouble because of the Refugee Bhutias- in future. They do not hesitate to kill each other over the issue of money! Bhutias are afraid of Nepali? Marry refugee girls and multiply. Divide your landed property with the refugee and offer them shelter. Refugee Bhutias enjoy state tribal quotas for higher studies, and job reservation. Sikkimese Bhutias are sheltering their own enemies within their own house while they point a-t the enemy walking at a distance. All Bhutias, after all came from Bhot and the Nepalese from Nepal. Even the Lepcha came but a little earlier-or did they originate from the soil? Certainly not. This is a scientific age. The concept of reincarnation is slowly getting obliterated from our psychic pattern. The question of incarnation will no longer help. Bhot or Tibet the birth place of religious incarnation, is under the Chinese. Hence, the solution is living together in amity and brotherhood The Darwin theory almost certainly apply here. Those who all hard working, laborious do survive and the lazy fool head towards final extinction. The day the Nepalese feel insecure, the day will be the beginning of second revolution. Remember September 27, 1997.

Amar Lama, Prempal, Manju Sharma, S.S. Dhakal and Harvard intellectual like Hemlal became the playthings of the refugees I f he protection of Bhandari. After the assaults with soda, knife, paatangs and pistols, they would quietly disappear in the in the Yama building. Narbahadur and Dilkumari under the protection people and Refugees under the protection of the couple? the people are with Truth. People are nobody's doll. We offered shelter when they (refugees) failed to fight back the tank. Now these refugees are trying to rip apart our own beasts-their very protectors. How justified is this? Sikkim is not their battlefield - Hindi Chini bhai…… bhai. While they remain in our house, eat our food, wear our clothes, we will not allow our motherland to transform into a battle fort between the Chinese and the refugee Bhutias. They have disturbed peace among the Sikkimese Bhutias and other Sikkimese. We need peace. These refugees claim Tibet while staying in Sikkim, and hr Name refugees lay claim on Sikkim Government? Do they think all the Sikkimese as fools? Yesterday an unshorn beggar with hand drum and bell and today a ruler? The unfortunate incidents at Dharamshala in D.P., Darjeeling, Gangtok and Ravangla in our own State is an ominous indicator about some serious communal disturbance in the near future. Before this happens, not only the refugees but even we need to think of it seriously. There is quarrel in our own courtyard and it is foolish to hope about the third party bringing solution to our differences. Nathula Pass is neither in favour of Sikkim nor of India. It is the shortest route to Tibet. In the name of business, a sort of war will begin. Till date China has not acknowledged Sikkim as part of India. Let not the next incarnate come from Bhutia forever. The other followers of Buddhism-like Lepchas, Gurung, Manger, Sherpas, Sikkimese Bhutias and Tamangs also should conceive incarnate child. Tamang Lamas, Sherpa Lamas, Gurung Lamas are no second-hand Lamas? In 1973, it was the refugee Bhutias who had sounded war trumpet against the Sikkimese people. To check the surge of tens of thousand people at Ranipool, the police (refugees) began to destroy trucks’ tyres carrying people. The khukris bounced back from the tyres every time and cut their own heads-a foolish act. The people suspected something and arrested the police and discovered , to their surprise, refugee Identity Cards in their pockets. They reported the matter to the Kazi. Kazi was Bhutia, after all. The matter ended there. The refugees poisoned foods and water the people stationed at Polo ground. The India military provided empoisoned water to the people, the people sided with the Indian government who saved them. One night, the people mistook one of their own brother as refugee and he was stoned to death at the dead of night.

The time was 2.30 p.m. in the evening of 13.12.1991. Shiv, Shanker Dhakal was alone at home. The telephone rang, he answered and satisfied all the queries over the line. It was a lady's voice. Within 10 minutes of the telephonic talk appeared a familiar refugee boy and told him that one Aagya (brother in Bhutia) was waiting for him on the road. When Dhakal came upon the road above his house, there was a group of refugee boys and also some Bhutias from Kalimpong and Darjeeling, They shook hands with him and one of them pulled him toward him and the other held his right hand. After going a distance, one of them plastered his mouth and his both hands were tied together. Some shrill students voice of "Dhakal uncle" penetrated their act, and he was hurriedly hushed away in SK-02/2332, a Gypsy car. The car headed towards Tadong, Dara Gaon and went to the Indira Bypass. After 10/15 minutes of drive, the boys tried to hurl him down the gorge, the cleft but decided not to for the presence of many labourers on the road. They turned the Gypsy and sped past Deorali bazaar along the 31A National highway and reached Gangtok. While the car sped, they stripped him inside. To whom? To a Gorkha at the command of Narbahadur and Dilkumari-themselves Gorkhas! It is the fomenter, the incendiary who is a greater criminal than the actual doer! O Gorkhas, is it a personal attack on S.S. Dhakal? No, it is an attack on the whole of Gorkhas by the refugees. Sikkim rightly belongs to those who are ready to die and and live who have nowhere to go. Corrupt people, who have huge farms in Nepal, mansions at Bombay, Delhi, West, Bengal, properties in Rajasthan, Bihar, and U.P. are our real enemy living without our houses. The enemy within is ever dangerous than enemy without. The time has come for correct identification. Gypsy reached hospital Danra and turned towards M.GMarg. Shiv Shanker Dhakal was pushed out of the car in the Middle of the market-naked. He fell down. As his hands were tied mouth plastered, he somehow managed to stand up. In the clear day light, the people could not see this in the middle of market. Let alone other citizens, even one policeman turned round to ignore the scene. Begged for a piece of cloth to cover up his shame, but the shop owner drove him out. He dragged himself to another shop, he received no help. A small boy used newspaper, but it would not suspend on the naked body. Still naked he entered into the Congress (I) office. Some boys in the office pulled down window curtain and covered his waist. Photograph was taken and the office informed about this inhuman act to all concerned. The matter was reported to the police. The office boy typed out FIR and all agreed to go to Sadar thana to register a mass protest. But by the time we reached thana, we were only two. When we turned back to see our friends, not a single was within sight - what a piece of art It. man, really!

All the relatives were informed of Dhakal's ordeal. Only one Chawan Dhakal arrived. Shiv Shanker Dhakal decided to go down to Siliguri after submitting the FIR. Bengal Chief Minister had arrived in Siliguri the same day. The officer-in-charge, however, submitted that he could not go down without giving his statement, since the incident occurred under Gangtok police jurisdiction. With the dense jungle-like beard and moustache, the plaster on his mouth was not easy to remove. After long lime, it was removed and he gave his statement, submitted the names of the refugees. While he was on his way to hospital for medical examination, he spotted the Gypsy and identification refugee boys. He reported this to the police. The police blew his whistle and the refugees were taken to thana along will one constable. When they returned from the hospital, one police officer played a good cop to save the refugee from possible trail. The refugees were no longer there. Thus, Police officer during Bhandari's rule were no protector but themselves destroyers, the murderers.

On 23.09.93, some boys threatened and threw stones at Dhakal’s house. When Dhakal reported the matter to the police station, one police officer reprimanded him and said that he would pay very dearly for opposing Bhandari. The very night he reached Siliguri and the next day he reached Delhi and appealed It 1 tit Supreme Court. The Supreme Court passed notice to the Bhandari government to ensure the safety of Dhakal and his family members. Until the last day of Bhadari's regime, Shiv Shanker and, his family members were provided with body guards. Thus, Bhandari would declare war against his own people and hence his party Sangram Parishad! Bhandari is fully responsible for all the incitement and the inhuman action perpetuated by the refugees here in the state. Tibetans are men, after all, and fallible. With Bhandari's money they stoop as low as killing people. Tibet is a country. Tibetans are not caste but a class. Refugees, without land and home would always do till same on the slightest allurement.

The most shameful and inhuman accident occurred at Kaluk thana in 1991 under Bhandari’s regime. This thana is situated in between Soreng and Dentam thana where once sikkimese fought battle with the Britishers. This historical place in West Sikkim lies under Rinchenpong constituency. Facts some sometimes are more that makes yoy Ram or Ravana..

Sagbaari village in West Sikkim falls under Kaluk police jurisdiction. One Nirkumar Rai, a widower from the village married Manmaya Rai to add sunshine to his old age days. A long with Manmaya came her two sons and one daughter-in-law. As the time moved forward, Nirkumar found it increasingly difficult to keep pace with the flying time. In one quiet place, he committed suicide with his own khukri and finished his own life. The news of the suicide spread like a wild fire. Different versions, different conflicting suggestions filled the air. Those days, there lived in Mintokgang a Rakshyasha only better than the one in Ramayana. Like a mad man, he would spill vengeance at every opposition leader and worker - "Those who oppose me must say his final words to his wife ..... There (pointing towards a dense forest) ... if ever vultures hover around, my party men will go with Sikkim police to see it." And hence, from 1979 to the middle of 1994, the policemen were under the spell of such satanic verses and they did it with elan. The police officers posted at Kaluk were no different either. People would live in perpetual fear, while police were out in the open to satisfy their own desires. The donkey in lion hide would bray in the style of roaring, declaring eternal war against the detractors. The man who knew no caste beyond man and woman!

On hearing the news of suicide shrouded in mystery, the Kaluk O.C. sahib to Sagabaari and after some investigation, the dead body was taken to Geyzing. Rabindrakumar Rai and Lokbahadur Rai returns home after burying their stepfather with the help of some village friends. When they reached home a group of police personnel and the OC greeted them with hand cuffs. They were taken a Kaluk thana along with Rabindra’s wife Anita gathered to see the whole episode, the grown-ups were stealing the view from their hidings, for fear of police wrath.

The accused once inside the prison undergo untold suffering, and cruelty. Some are Immersed in a running stream nearby while others are doused in petrol and set alight. So the relatives and friends of the accused follow police to secure their man on bail. The inhuman act inside the prison without any proper trial is usually termed as human right violation by the international organisation. The Kaluk episode which began at midnight was characterised by flagrant brutality, animal desires,--totally outrageous, heinous and disgraceful. The tune was so composed from Mintokgang itself. The police simply danced to the tune.

After the first round with two sons, the ordeal began with the mother and Anita. “Who killed, speak out?”---The police beat them at every direction the way one uproots a radish. Who hit how much-on one exactly knew. The policemen got tried after doing so much of their duties. The conditions of the two woman is beyond imagination. Like the bird in a herd of sheep, one lady police with wild frenzy beat them up with a ruler! Quite a record in police itinerary . many be, she was one of the Saralas, blessed but bereft of all women’s virtue, religion, and above all, the milk of human kindness, O women!

The policemen were a shameful lot. They stripped all the accused and asked them to stand up in “attention” posture, in opposite rows. Then they ordered the poor accused to face each other without blinking eyes. If they close their eyes, police canning and the other punishment were sure to follow . the mother lying down on the floor pleaded the sons to face her and the naked Anita to save their lives—“if I die, you must continue to live” she said. “A…..hoy…..Manmaya shut up your mouth”. Came police’s commandment. What compulsion? They handcuffed the two women to another room. The scene ended. The curtain dropped.

In a moment , the OC appeared and began questioning Anita. Nearby was her mother-in-law lying on the floor motionless with acute pain. When pistol in his hand, he threatened her with dire consequences if she opened her mouth to any one. Rabindrakumar and Anita was recently married.

As per rule the OC produced the accused before the Sub-district Magistrate at Sorenge. The Magistrate asked about their well-being. They nodded. If they tell the truth they would be dead. This encouraged the OC into more action. They youngest sonPadambadhur Rai was also arrested and he was laid down—all chained by a bed. Manmaya Rai was subjected to further torture. There was blood everywhere, on the floor, wall, table. One part of her flowing hair tore away along with the scalp. The police threw them at near mount. The two brothers were in the room. The police forced down pin between fingers and pulled it out. Blood gushed out simultaneously and stained police dress as well. When they emitted a cry of pain, the police shut them down by regular canning. In the process of regular brutality, they forced Rabindrakumar and Anita Rai to have sex before them. The OC climbed up the back of Rabindrakumar – “how feels now"? he asked and danced on the body with his police boots.

Every night, the brothers would face physical torture. One night, the brothers were suspended from the ceiling upside down and beaten black and blue with bamboo canes. Sometimes, they were tied to a bed and few policemen would climb up their bodies with their boots. The brothers were as good as dwell dumb and blind.

On the last night, Lekbahadur was stripped naked and asked to have sex with his mother. He did not move, but the sudden landing of police boots forced him upon his mother. The police, as usual, danced on the bodies. Even after all the brutality, she' might have been still willing to live, but with the last action of police-having sex with one's own mother, she fell down for ever and never rose again. Early morning the next day, the police found her dead inside the jail. The OC announced the death of Manmaya before her sons and the daughter-in-law. Rabindrakumar wailed to find solace, the OC shouted at him and did not allow him do that. They were freed of their handcuff and let them go. "O Mother! You did secure freedom for your sons and daughter at the cost of your own life". As long as Teesta and Rangit continue flowing in the land of Sikkim, your sacrifice will be remembered, thus. Once upon a time a Ravana called Narbahadur ruled Sikkim. Today, sometimes, he roams the State as a stray dog-"here comes, he comes!" - the people would say with that sarcastic, characteristic tone.

In 1989 with the induction of Pawan Kumar Chamling into the Cabinet, Bhandari saw the real thing. Bhandari had the own the latest election with a sort of magic wand. He did not celebrate victory day. After the election result, he did not meet the public neither did he attend office. He shut himself inside Mintokgang with his close men preparing magic potions, conspiring, hatching secret plans. By the end of six months, Bhandari tried to move out of the hibernation while the people already meditating for an alternative. Pawan Kumar Chamling proved his mettle within these six months in office. Bhandari played a magician in all the 31 constituencies, but did not play the clown to hypnotise the people in Chamling's constituency. Chamling won the election on the strength of his own merit-the only constituency. kalousy, envy, morbid suspicion got hold of Bhandari and he began to see Chamling as a thorn in his monopoly raj. Although, Chamling was able to earn good opinion of the people, he was for reconciliation and good governance. Bhandari, however, dealt a blow and expelled Chamling from the Cabinet. Blood for blood-all Rais came together and the OBCs followed. The wind of OBCs swept through the State to protest against the autocratic Bhandari. And the tribals used the reserved tribal seats (13) at an opportune time and overthrew Bhandari from the power. His own men like Karma Topden uprooted Bhandari and usurped power. Sanchaman Limboo was made the Chief Minister-a dummy Chief Minister, a puppet with the strings on someone's fingers elsewhere. The Nepalese understood. After the experience, the tribal seats were represented more by Sherpas, Yalmos, and Kagatey who also fall under the tribal list. Till date, the Bhutias were the ultimate master of the tribal reservation in every field, in every area.

Pawan Kumar Chamling called Bhandari as Pitaji, the father but Bhandari failed to love him as a son. Chamling could not receive his dues as a son. Chamling got thirsty and tried to claim his share. Hungry man is angry man, angry man is dangerous man. Bhandari sent his commando force to Alley danra at Namchi to demonstrate his unquestioned power. Till commando had 53 vehicles with them. They pitched tents on the hill and sometimes, inspired by Rangpo's wine would shout slogans at top of their voices - "Paw an Chamling –quit Namchi". On the fourth day of their arrival, the commandos organised a rally travelling in the 53 vehicles. Shouted filthy and dirty slogans against girl students going to school or returning home from school-quite in the style of Bhandari. The Namchi residents could not digest such behaviour against their daughters and sisters by the Bhutia boys.

Pawan Chamling's house at Ghurpishey was raided without a search warrant. All files and paper-cuttings were seized without seizure list. The lady police were at the peak of their frenzy. They jumped off from one bed to the other with their boots on. In a bid to get hold of some revealing documents, they would climb on bed with white bed sheet, arranged pillows on top of one another, and gained their height to reach out for the higher destination on the wall, on the ceiling. For the police, these were a mere game unconcerned with other people's misery. Bhandari declared that after the 1994 election, he would rule like a dictator. He lost the election and his dreams remained just a dream. By misusing Government machinery and the law, Bhandari tried to suppress people's voice. In legal terms, such action is known as punishable offence. When the protector of law becomes the violator and murderer, who would punish whom? As the Sangram commandos, the refugee boys would direct pataang in broad day light and take refuge in a refugee's home. The police would pretend to be blind and dumb. Police force's moral standing had slipped into the lowest ebb-the all time low. In Bhandari's autocratic administration, the people had always a tough time with the Sangram commandos. On 17.06.93 the Sikkim Dcmocratic Front party had organised a public meeting at Temi-Tarku (South Sikkim). The Sikkim Sangram Parishad commandos were stationed at Alley to impart training on the latest technology. Bhandari himself being the lady-killers, the fate of the school-going girl student could be imagined at the hands of Bhandari's commandos. The parents guardians of the students had sufficiently briefed their M.L.A about the behaviour of the commandos-individually and collectively. After the meeting, the huge rally headed towards and descended at Namchi bazar. The red and white flags were pulled down. Those traders who ignored the order, their shops were destroyed. They burned down two vehicles in the market. Then tents at Alley were uprooted and destroyed. Sangram supporters were overwhelmed, even the Sikkim police officers got nice thrashing in the hustling. The night at Namchi wore a tense look. In the morning of 19.06.93, Section 144 was clamped down. Raid order and arrest order were issued in the name of Pawan Kumar Chamling and five others. All of them stayed inside the house while the SDF youths stood firm all around the house to protect the leaders-khukris in hands. After some consultations, Hissey Lachungpa, Anil Lachungpa, Samdup Lachungpa, Bhoj Raj Rai and Binod Pradhan voluntarily surrendered as part of court of arrest. They were immediately transported to Gangtok jail. They were treated as political prisoners and kept in a separate room. On 20.06.93, Advocate Hemlal Bhandari arrived to take stock of the matter. SI Tashi Sherpa was also kept in the same room.

There was regular telegrams from Namchi which continued all through the night. The morning of 19th June, Gangtok was also rather tense, The Sangram commandos fled Namchi the very night and arrived at Gangtok. The next day commandos from Kalimpong returned. The Alley danra wore an uneasy silence. In the afternoon the same day, Section 144 was also lifted. A number of Advocates from Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Hemlal Bhandari from Gangtok arrived at Namchi. They went to the police station to submit FIR. The police took unusually long time to take the FIR. For every action, they had to wait for Bhandari's order. It is beyond imagination for Sikkim's officers to advance qualified arguments with Advocates. They cannot do anything more than displaying their name plates in bold metallic words-a fake IAS and IPS! The medium is English but speak faltering English with embarrassing interruptions.

The police had collected more than 40 nos. of khukris. The SDF party taught such a lasting lesson to the SSP that even the bossy police officers were wearing a colourless face. When the MLA and the party President himself led the procession and dealt the first blow to protect the dignity of the students, the supporters were all willing to sacrifice their precious lives. Hence, the commandos lured with money power were miserably quelled by the devotion and strength of the volunteers. He could have been arrested any moment. Chamling arrived at Gangtok, with the party supporters-quietly. The intelligence personnel and the police force could not smell any of his move. Telegram were dispatched to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Opposition leaders in Delhi. Letter was prepared for the Governor. Copies of letters were circulated among the newspaper editors. On 19.06.93, at exactly 4.40 p.m. in the evening, On Tibetan refugee injured Begbahadur Rai (Panchayat President, Assam Linzey) fatally in the head with his pataang at M.G. Marg and disappeared in the Yama shop. The police saw but ignored it. The police station did not accept FIR. Not a single man stood witness to an incident which occurred in the middle of the market. His friends took him to hospital, he was bleeding non-stop. The Tibetan refugee was not arrested. The same night, few boys were returning home after leaving some clothes for Begbahadur, they were attacked with soda bottles and injured fatally. No hearing, nothing.

On the morning of 26.06.93 at 7.30 am three Bhutia boys arrived at the Press owned by Bhim Chhetri and pulled down to pieces and grounded the Press with rods and hammers. All people at Deorali saw the destruction, but no one volunteered to stand witness. The FIR was accepted as a formality, but the police slept over the document. On the midnight of 26.05.93, the police arrived and seized Congress bulletin along with its frame-forma, when the printing was on. Who listens to your grievance? All things happened on behalf of Bhandari, with his blessings Without his wise , not a single egg is broken , no wind ever blows!

Bhaichung Bhutia, the only son of Phurba Ongdi from Chumbung village, West Sikkim was fatally beaten up by a group of boys at Lal Market on 26.05.93 in the broad-day light. One teacher; the son of late B. Tshering was with him. Both thrashed. His friend somehow took him to the hospital. But his hot blood had already penetrated into his brain, he died in the hospital. The dead man was a relative of the Assembly Speaker, Dorjee Tshering, yet the murderer was not arrested!

The administration did not allow the SDF to take rally to demand unconditional release of the 5 SDF men. The police formed a barricade to block the supporters from entering Gangtok market. PT. Lucksom, Rastaman Rai and G.M. Rai gave speech denouncing the Bhandari government. The dharna lasted for about 2 hours from 4.30 pm to 6.30 p.m. in the evening. Ultimately, the supporters moved towards Deorali party office when their own leaders intervened, shouting slogans against Bhandari There were about 3000 people. The same day, Narasimha Rao government at the centre had sent two Congress observers to the State unit, on the completion of two years in office. The meeting was going on at the SPCC party office at the town.

The Bandit Queen Phulan Devi, the bandit king Veerapan, the jungle raj Laloo , cassette king Gulshan Kumar and the king of corruption narbahadur Bhandari. In the world, how much you beat your drum, we basically do two things-good services or a criminal act. Bhandari did injustice and corruption. The Chhetries had to suffer Bhandari in justice, to some extent the Bhauns also suffered. After Chamling’s expulsion from Sangram party the war of cartoons and pamphlet took a serious turn. Bhandari targeted people deserting his community and his party. In the haunt for people leaving caste and party, Biraj Adhikari became his easy prey. In his autocratic regime, Sikkimese could see a number of government gazettes coming one after the other. The name list of the Opposition parties were handed over to every concerned officials. The plans came on the surface. The secret was no secret, it spilled over and the people knew about it. The leaders went into hiding. Biraj Adhikari was arrested in the same context, the youngest son of Addl. Chief Secretary Tulsi Prasad Sharma, IAS. He was 32 years old. Having completed Computer Engineering course, he had set up a small factory for making plastic sack near Bagghey river. He could not tolerate Bhandari's corrupt rule and had joined the newly formed SDF party as General Secretary. At the time of his arrest, he was the Vice-President of the party. Bhandari had alleged that all the people supporting SDF party were anti-nationals but the Sikkim High Court ruled that there was no sign of anti-national elements in the new party, Bhandari was legally defeated. When the whole of Gangtok was in deep sleep, the Gangtok Sadar thana and Mintokgang was wide awake. The telephones, walkie-talkie, and cordless phones were busy with its destination at Mintokgang . The night of his arrest, Bihari Adhikari was not allowed to meet his wife and mother. He somehow managed a small message on apiece of paper addressed to his father. His father had already cautioned the police officers.

“No Problem” was the only casual reply. The cigar cover carrying brief message told his story. His wife and mother felt as if the sky had fallen down . They rushed to thana. The police lied that he been taken to the hospital. They rushed towards hospital.

Adhikari was nowhere to be found. The son begged the police to take him to hospital in the morning. The stone heart refused to melt . No hearing, no Magistrate. After an appeal from every quarter, three Doctors were sent to attend to Biraj. Some suggested admitting him in the hospital, but the doctors undecided and were trying to ignore the suggestion. Mrs. Aradhana Adhikari moved to the Sikkim High Court to file a case basis of Habeas Corpus Act on 01.07.93.

Arrested on 24.09.93 and the very same night he was tortured almost to death. At 11a.m. the next day he was admitted to STNM hospital, and X-ray film was taken the same day. But it was sent to the concerned doctor for examination only after two days on 27th June, 93. It was clear that even the giving doctors were also siding with Bhandari.

The Court order was complied with and it ruled that the proper medical treatment was not possible at STNM. Besides threat to his life and property, medical care under more competent medical practitioners was deemed urgent. The honourable Court ordered Sikkim government to urgently admit Biraj Adhikari in the AIIMS or Ram Manohar Lohia hospital or PGI Chandigarh and bear all the expenses. The Court also ordered to take wife Aradhana and a Doctor with the patient.

In the appointment of the first class Magistrates, T.N, Dhakal was one of them. After the shooting adventure against Manju and Prem Pal, the Adhikari episode adds insult to his injury. Biraj Adhikari arrested at 6 p.m. on 24th June, 99 was produced before Dhakal after 36 hours on 26th June. This was Dhakal's version. When newspaper reporters asked his opinion, an angry Adhikari hit back saying that ever since he was admitted to the hospital at 11 p.m. on 25.06.93, there is no record of him going out of the hospital. How and when , anyone produce him before Dhakal for police remand? He was carried on a stretcher when he was produced before the Court. The emergency Magistrate lied to the Court. Thus, Narbahadur Bhandari coached everyone to tell lie. These days the Secretaries, without the slightest hesitation, lie to the people at the drop of a hat! The shameless Bhandari says to the Reporters that he was equipped with two FIR to arrest Biraj Adhikari. That Adhikari has violated the basic human rights and disturbed the constitutional rights of the people, Indeed, Bhandari targeted everyone who dared oppose his goonda raj. He even threatened people at Green Park in New Delhi over the phone.

After his treatment at New Delhi, Biraj Adhikari went abroad for medical check-up. He would hardly cover a distance of half a mile on the crutches. The authority at Gangtok hospital had described his foot injury in the following manner:

1. There were numerous red swollen holes on both the heels. There was an increased temperature at the heels, ankles and feet.

3. The thumb and ankle were stiff. A slightest movement would send terrible pain down the spine. The feet were softened due to the injury.

Many days after the treatment in the famous hospital, he has to treat his feet in warm medicine water. He should take pain killer regularly . More than the pain in his feet is the burning his heart. The sore is there to remain for eternity between the Bhandari and Adhikari family. It is not restricted to their families alone, the whole of Sikkimese feel the pain. It is not important to ask who Biraj is, where he lives and he does. The real thing is the same may happen to you. If a Secretary's son could be so treated, what about us? Will we be spared? Biraj was arrested on Bhandari's personal instruction and so tortured under his supervision. It appeared that Bhandari has deep enmity with T.P. Sharma and P.K. Chamling. To ask some one to leave certain party and stay home with peace is basic human right violation-the violation of fundamental rights. In an independent state every citizen has the right to live independently. Does the Sangram party want to declare war on its own people? No other man has the right to be a political leader except Bhandari? Does Narbahadur intend to establish one region, one leader, one party and one language hegemony in Sikkim? Does he want to control all people by coercion and physical torture ,alone?

Biraj Adhikari, while undergoing treatment at New Delhi, wrote a petition to the Officer-in-charge, Police stations, Gangtok giving a graphic description of physical torture meted out to him by the Sikkim police and thereby pleading justice to him. The SP (E) A.C. Negi arrested him from his Scan Industries Pvt. Ltd., on 24.06.93 at around 2.30 p.m. and took him to Gangtok Sadar thana. The arrest was made without the formal Warrant of Arrest issued by the Magistrate. On their way to Gangtok, they stopped at Rangpo and at Singtam where Negi had his lunch. They took him to the SP office and later to Sadar Police Station. The time was 6 p.m. in the evening. He was put into a prison room. There was other party workers as well. He was not produced before any Magistrate. In the midnight the same day, he was take to the room of Officer-in-charge. The SI Purnabahadur Chhetri and constable Rajesh Pradhan were in the .room who later joined by SI Mohan Gurung and constable Durga Charan Thapa.

They locked the door and asked him to take out his spectacle wrist watch and his shoes. He was tied down by the bed his heels facing the ceiling. They began thrashing his heels with their rod. The SI Mohan Gurung would ask him about his father's name and job, and the whereabouts of the party President Pawan Kumar Chamling. He was beaten more and more when he told them he did not know about it. Upon his motionless body, one constable threw sack and jumped Oil the body. He was suspended upside down from the ceiling and the SI Purnabahadur Chhetri kicked all over his body He took out his handkerchief, but the constable Durga Charan Thapa snatched it away from him. "Bleed to death" he told him. He stole a look at the constable's watch, it was exactly 1.20 a.m. in the morning. Until the arrival of Doctors from STNM, blood was flowing down his feet like stream.

They dared him open his mouth and threatened him with his life along with the lives of his families. They told him that the instruction came from the "greatest man in the country", They referred to the disappearance of Dharmadatta and the same formula would be applied should he be arrested for the second time. They threatened him to leave the SDF party.

The very moment, two constables joined them. One constable was holding a rod with q L-shaped nail heels as an axe, and continued doing that. Blood gushed out of the heel and splashed police uniform, the wall and the floor. With unbearable pain, he went down the floor and lay motionless-like a dead. They climbed up with police boots and jumped off the body. While he was laying half-dead, he was instructed to move to the prison room. He dragged himself out of the room on all fours, the blood from his heels was flowing uncontrolled.

Delhi Chalo

The SSP men attacked SDF party office at Deorali and the same act became part of their undoing. Bhandari brought out four Sikkim gazettes in one single day! The news of possible arrest spread like a wild fire and all the leaders opposing Bhandali decided to leave the State for the time being. Bhandari was enraged over the publication of my book - O.B.C. kelt ho?. (What is O.B.C.?) and I also decided to leave Sikkim. The search was on for Hemlal Bhandari and Duknath Nepal. That day, Pawan Kumar Chamling had suggested me to go to, Kalimpong, and I accordingly, set out for Kalimpong along with Hemlal and Duknath. Vehicle was very hard to come by The vehicle owner refused to go to Kalimpong. We looked for another Jeep at Pakyong but failed. At Rorathang, the police helped us to find one. We again failed. One Darnal suggested that there is one available at Tarpin danra, we walked Fortunately we got one unto Algara. Towards the first crow in the morning, we set out, myself as a serious patient and the other two as my attendants! Somehow we were successful in making fool of the police at the border. Some of the police cooperated and salvaged us out of the situation. At the break of day, we reached "Chakhung House" at Kalimpong, the residence of Kazi. Kazi sahib himself volunteered to open the gate for us. No sooner had Kazi informed us about Chamling's arrival in midnight on a scooter, Pawan Kumar Chamling was standing at the door with a smile - "Aa sewa roh", he greeted and welcomed us. The house, without Kazi's wife looked rather colourless. The revolution of 1973 began from the same place and after the span of 20 years we gathered together again at the same place.

After the initial musings over the pleasant past, I phoned up the CPI (M) office and presented the political scenario of Sikkim in brief. Comrade Anand Pathak and Anjan Upadhaya arrived and we formed the Joint Action Committee under the leadership of L.D. Kazi. All parties protested against Bhandari's regime. The Committee dispatched messages to Delhi and the Governor about the political situation. One group of people tried to project Kazi as the President .He fell the President. He fell into an illusion of being the Chief Minister for the second time. The Governor called the JAC to Gangtok.. He met the Governor and had a discussion. In Kalimpong, a kind of pseudo-Cabinet was formed headed by Kazi. Suddenly, one night the Sikkim Police raided Chakhung House with the help of Kalimpong police but failed in their mission. Chamling had already shifted to another house after being briefed by the Intelligence about the impending raid. The house was raided three times by the police in civil dress. Ultimately, the West Bengal Chief Minister intervened and gave the Kalimpong police a piece of his mind. The raid was discontinued. Later, Bhandali let loose a number of goondas, after us. The murderers were arrested with the help of Central Intelligence. Darjeeling and Kalimpong became increasingly insecure for us and we quietly left for Delhi. In Delhi, we were conducted to a pleasant Guest House and we immediately engaged ourselves in preparing reports, meeting political leaders including the Prime Minister, other Ministers and various party leaders. We extracted words of full cooperation from almost all of them. We discovered that in Delhi Bhandari was known as leader of double standard. We went to AIIMS where party man Biraj Adhikali was recently admitted as per High Court directive. We called T.P. Sharma to our House and discussed relevant matters in full details. We impressed upon the Centre and succeeded in projecting Bhandari as anti-centre. It had never occurred to me that Pawan Kumar Chamling can speak such lucid Hindi. He speaks the language with all possible nuances and his presentation is brilliant. Delhi honours people who speak good Hindi and English. Delhi could understand Chamling in the true light. At the same time, he also obtained Anticipatory Bill from the Supreme Court and returned to Sikkim amidst huge welcome rally. The party organised a welcome ceremony at Singtam. Every Sikkimese paid for his conveyance and every Taxi joined the huge rally voluntarily. Pawan Kumar Chamling addressed the huge gathering which was punctuated by collective applause. The people wanted a change.

All these years, the Sangramese ruled the State with the aid of commando force, with muscle power, but then enough was enough. Too much of everything was bad. SK-0212755 underestimated the bandh call, it could not even reach Hospital danra. The boys smashed the vehicle. The driver fled and saved his life. The gate in the SNT complex was closed. The damaged vehicle was removed to a garage with the help of police at 10.30 a.m. The SDF men closed down shops, schools and reached the Metro Point where they were stopped by the police and the S.A.P. They raised slogans against Bhandari. Thuckchuk Lachungpa (then Minister) led Sangramese boys from the hospital danra. They advanced towards the market amidst slogans. The State Ministers led political rally - K.N. Upreti, Chamla Tshering, and O. T. Bhutia were present. Upreti moved forward with the big show of a Law Minister. The DGP stopped his vehicle. The vehicles turned away. Thukchuk argued. that they are leading a Government rally, party's rally and must be allowed to move. The DGP sounded a red alert among the police force and said he would order lathi charge if they advance by a single step. Thukchuk turned away, other Ministers turned away with drooping heads, as a vanquished army even before the real battle has started. Ministers are not above law, and the maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the police. The SDF supporters saw the Ministers return and the air filled with high-pitched slogans against the Government and the Ministers. In Sikkim, it is basically the outsiders who try to dictate politics. In the Sangram fort, the majority of women and youths were from outside there State. Those who prepared fake Identity card have the audacity to call a Sikkimese as the outsiders. Hundreds of people were breaking loyalties with SSP and were joining SDF. The market was filled with SDF workers and police.

It appeared that the police were more supportive to the SDF party. At a road-crossing leading to Tibet Road and Denzong Cinema to the South, Thukchuk fired his gun. It was that same point where Duknath's private part was laid bare in public h Bhandari's cruel commandos. Before firing, Thukchuk sought order from the DC Kharel. The District Collector declined and then he took law in his hand. The police threw tear gas. The people fled in all directions. The injured Jack was taken to the hospital via Tibet Road by some boys. The administration imposed Section 144. The SDP demanded the arrest of Thukchuk. Two vehicles belonging to Thukchuk were smashed. At Tadong, Kiran Chhetri fled while his vehicle was damaged.

At night, the police force surrounded Thukchuk House. SP Negi got into the house through the window and arrested him at 10 p.m. in the night and sent him to jail. The house was searched till mid night, by the police force under Bhandari! It could not have been possible without Bhandari's prior knowledge in his capacity as the State Home Minister? The next day Thukchuk was released on bail.

Bhandari & Chambling A Comparative Study

The difference in policy matters between Bhandari and Chamling changed into personal enmity. All Ministers and M LAs were addicted to signing a dictated tune - a mere caged parrot wont to speak languages prepared by Bhandari. A deep sense of envy gnawed at him to hear Chamling speak language outside his dictation. Bhandari would quickly smear any body with the communal tag who speaks things outside his narrow understanding. He so mixed up his language that later he called his own K.N. Upreti as communal.

The movement against the Bhandari government intensified. People from all the four districts began flooding the capital demanding the release of leaders arrested at Namchi. They shouted slogans against Bhandari and the whole of Gangtok town reverberated with the revolutionary cries. The rally reached Zero Point and returned back and was stopped at Metro Point. Bhandari did not allow political rally into the market, banned sloganeering. But the SDF insisted and a small group was finally allowed into the market area. They reached Nam Nam road and defying the ban shouted slogans against the government. They returned and joined the bigger . masses at Metro Point. The traffic came to a standstill. Some chosen leaders gave speeches at the very point and came down to the party office shouting, and crying. The Bhandari government tried to bar people entering the capital, but people from all districts came in on different pretext to their relatives and enrolled themselves as SOF party workers.

The second day, the party decided to lead a huge political procession to the market and finally to the Polo ground. The government put prohibition to go by 31A national highway. The party declared the prohibition as against democracy while the government ordered the procession to move Indira Bypass, The party questioned the decision and excited party workers forced their way towards Deorali taking the national highway. The police hurled tear gas at the people. The ex-army men tossed it back to the police. The people, like an ocean wave, moved forward at the call of the leaders. The DC ordered the force to "charge" but himself got into his vehicle and fled the field. The police and the people scrambled. Till' police did not beat people. The CRPF pretended to but did nothing. Because, the very DC who issued "charge" order disappeared. People saw him fleeing. After being escaped from the turmoil, the DC imposed Section 144 from his cozy chair in the office! People were dispersed and fled to every direction. Some broke their legs while fleeing across the high wall, some went down due to tear gas. One took to his heel and covered such distance that he finally woke up to his real sense only when he was wading through the cold Bhusuk river in the distant valley! He turned and hurried back in the 'gathering darkness. He spent the night beneath a tree. In the town, no government vehicle was spared. After a moment, a lull descended upon the Gangtok town. Those workers who had no relatives gathered at the party office. They somehow managed some food for the night. At the dead of night, the SAP swooped down and picked up the party workers at once. They were loaded in a large vehicle and transported to an unknown destination. No one knew where. The prison house was empty. In a day or two, it came to light that the police vehicle spit the human cargo at Pangthang SAP camp and shut in like animals. Nothing to eat. The question was put. There was no answer, no justification. Eating is natural right, above constitution and Bhandari is not above the Constitution. The people cried against injustice and against violation of basic human rights. The people can make or break a Chief Minister. Chief Minister is no Chief Minister without the power of people. They argued. This incident took place in the last week of June in 1993. History repeated again in the last week of 1997, with the Deuserra festival only a week away.

This year, the opposition blew an issue out of proportion. They make mountain out of a mole hill. In 1984, when the then Governor wrote that Sikkim was sliding into the Africantype "Apartheid" regime, Bhandari had reaped a huge dividend by capitalising on the statement and formed his second government. Likewise, this time he gambled with the sensitive Sikkim subject issue to grab power from the back door. After 13 years, this was a fake issue. Sikkim Subject is a dead issue. It was finished in 1975 itself. We are no longer the subject but a citizen. The politicians want "subject" but no Chogyal? They need May 8 treaty but no King? The introduction of new treaty supersedes the old ones. They talk of protection of Article 371 F, but want 16/16 seats on the basis of May 8 treaty. If the provision is honoured, the change can not be digested for allotting 50% seat reservation to the minority community!-they would call "Revolution" again for their political gain? This time the fake issue, raised by false politicians was suitably countered by brandishing khukris and local guns held aloft by the OBCs. Time has brought change. Learn to live with the changing world. Think and acknowledge that others too are humans like yourself who eat and live on food. Bhandari and Tewari collected some people from Gangtok and the surrounding areas including an infant or even the child in the mother's womb was taken into account. In political terminology, this is known as the show of majority! Under the condition, CRPF and RAF and the police will have strong helmet to protect their heads. But the heads of the poor misguided people will be exposed to the mercy of the nature as well as the situation. The SP (E) said "charge" because of the certainty that any amount of boulders or pebbles would finally or pebbles would finally land up on the heads of the chamchaas.

During Bhandari's time, the coward D.C. said "charge'" and got into his car and fled. During Chamling's time, the opposition hurled stones at the police. One of the stones caught a milkman and went down. The SP acted and ordered “charge" and led the force and did not show his back. Iii supporters fled after they clearly saw Bhandari himself scrambled up a vehicle from its back and fled. In the process, his poor supporters received a wholesale thrashing. A real leader should be willing to face and bear people's thrashing with a smile. In 1993, when Bhandari's DC fled, the police had to suffer. In 1997, his workers suffered because Bhandari himself fled.

During Bhandari's time, he would haunt down people with 144 or the commandos, during Chamling's time, they were allowed to unleash choice abuses against the government from the same platform. Had it been Bhandari in place of Chamling, he would have invoked Section 144 immediately after his speech and broke people's ribs. During Chamling's speech, Bhandari interrupted by shouting slogans, but Chamling quietly cleared the dais for Bhandari. Chamling could have organised a huge procession and interrupt the Joint Action Committee and Bhandari's speech. He did not do so. Bhandari underestimated Chamling. The next day at Polo ground, they had the bitter taste of SAP rods. To play good arithmetic, he collected daughters/grand-daughters, fathers/grand-fathers, sons-in-law and settled down on cosy chairs. When the RAF rods moved in the air they were unsettled and fell down into the drain, unconscious!

The Joint Action Committee was formed, educated unemployed and self-employed organisation called bandh. It was Bhandari who stole the limelight, he took over the stage. Loden Tshering was the Convenor of the JAC, but Bhandari spoke more like the Convenor. People did not listen to any JAC member except Bhandari. And Bhandari still pretends like Chief Minister in his speech and action! The member quickly dissolved JAC. They understood its meaning and its political implication. The Governor played open politics. He was preparing to rule the State while creating a fissure among Sikkimese but backed out when he saw people doing a war dance with khukris. We are against the opening of the Nathula route for business. The Governor project it as a source of money. Why not start other business if it is only money? He is trying to transform our land into another Kashmir-a battle ground between India and China. He need lilt interfere into the private affairs of the Sikkimese. This not 1973.

Not only did the JAC transform the Educated Unemployed and Self-employed association into a political body, but also made them total illiterate in political matters. They called the bandh but later got mired in selfish politics of the opposition. the leaders who knew Bhandari's true colour suddenly dissolved the JAC. Bhandari spit venom at Metro Point, and the next day hefted from Polo ground oblivious of the police lathis raining down on his few supporters! Again he says that a leader must bear such hardship and be ready to go to the jail, and you would be counted as leader. He himself quickly escapes the flogging. There were many others who instigated people against Employment Exchange, but Bhandari was the main player to misled people about the Act. His own ignorance, and illiteracy put the people in deep confusion. This Act is very much extended in the North-East. After it was implemented in Assam, the central offices in Assam have been buzzing with the Assamese. Under the Act, if any vacancy is created in Central offices in the State, 80% of the total vacancy is reserved for the State unemployed. In all the Central offices in Sikkim, only outsiders work. Why and how? No one volunteers to ask. They talk of 371F, but comfortably forget that there are A,B,C,D,E before the popular F? The state of Jammu and Kashmir is the Indian state which enjoys special protection under the Constitution . As long as Sikkim was an Associate state, it had similar protection . Bhandari has already passed laws in the Assembly abrogating the old laws, and the Government has put in his final signature and sealed our fate. Sikkim has been merged with the Indian union not for nothing. All are responsible to some extent. But we are coward. We do not want to confess. We are dying a thousands deaths before our death. This is unfortunate.

Till date, the difference in Bhandari and Chamling is that Bhandari ruled the State by threatening the centre, Chamling has been doing so by selling love. Bhandari before, the election mews and roars afterwards. In Chamling there is no difference in his speech before and after the election. In Delhi, Bhandari reads document prepared by the officials and speaks Anglo-Hindi, with difficulty, and if it is strictly necessary to open his mouth. Chamling, on the other hand speaks smooth Hindi and wins Delhi's heart. One frightens the other loves.

Bhandari takes the help of commando force and the police to protect his chair. During his time, the robber when chased by the people ran towards Police Station and hid himself inside. The police officer emerged and would admonish the people that the robber is our "sahib's son", nothing wrong at all! It is hard to believe how could the people tolerate Bhandari's autocratic, goonda rule? In Chamling's government, if any calamity engulfs them, they turn back to the village and its people. It transfers any officials found guilty of delinquency of duty. Or else, it openly challenges any erring officials to the political field. No hide and seek. The people are the ultimate source of Chamling's power. Bhandari cried hoarse that Chamling did away with Sikkim Subject, spoke as member of JAC. L.P. Tewari rushed to M.K. Subba for help. Sitting on his comfortable chair. Tewari tried for bigger chair. No Secretary has ever found success as a politician. The is a game fraught with too others, a game where eloquence counts where oratory matters. The time presented an opportunity for unifying Bhandari and Tewari, but one platform can not accommodate two leaders. They got together under JAC and Chamling gave chance to tossed up government mistakes right at Gangtok bazaar. Next, Chamling collected huge number of people at Polo ground. The people came to Gangtok brandishing naked khukris all along the procession. They stopped vehicles at Sangramese residence and demonstrated their fury and did the "khukri dance", adjusted gun's barrel towards their homes. The OBCs certainly buy time, but once heated up do not cool off. When Ram Chandra Poudyal filed case against the minority Bhutia, Lepchas, he ended up as a saint. Bhandari and Tewari in their wisdom moved the Court to file case against the majority OBCs and the women. Their future is not difficult to contemplate. This time Bhandari bribed some people to move the court on his behalf, but Tewari approached it personally. Bhandari finished Tewari's dream of doing politics. Bhandari monopolised the JAC. Tewari was state Secretary, of course, hut an infant in political arena.

Pawan Kumar Chamling took every step with great caution, with great patience-be it at Raj Bhawan, Community Hall, Polo ground, or Mintokgang. The opposition who came together to destabilize Chamling finally got disintegrated. The mud-slinging ensued among themselves. They stained their own image. Thus, the strange, queer show of strength. in 1997 at Polo ground ended with the Rapid Action Force!

On 23-09-97, the Court passed judgment in favour of the State government on the issue of reservation of seat to OBCs and women in Sikkim Panchayat Election. Bhandari raised a fake Sikkim Subject Issue and had to lick the dust yet another time. Dilkumari, on her part, closed her gate for four days and shut herself inside her den. She did not open the door even for her own Bhandari! Immediately after, she has started raising high cemented wall around her building. She is doubtful that the same people who made her MP, times may descend on her with fury and finish her. She is trying to fend off her fear with the high wall but it is out of her control to arrest her fear. When the whole town rose up to receive the Sikkimese people, she had her gate closed, suspended by big lock. What was the compulsion?. The people sent her to argue but shed few tears in the Parliament Today, she has no moral courage to held her head high. Till wholesale corruption and siphoning of public money into their own pocket has finally landed her in deep moral abysi How long does the money last? The world will live to see.

Communalism- As You Sow, So Shall You Reap!

Bhandari used communalism as a castiest politics to smear his political opponents. The weapon was first targeted at Sherap Palden and Sanchaman Limboo. At about the same time, Ramchandra Poudyal moved the Supreme Court on the issue of seat reservation. Bhandari instigated Bhutia-Lepcha community against Poudyal. He incited Poudyal's own brother Somnath Poudyal to dismiss the case. If Somnath could betray his own brother, what will happen to the people? Instead of going to people's court, Poudyal went to the court. People's voice is the most powerful agent of change. Sonam Tshering was next in the series. Athup Lepcha, Lachen Gomchen Rimpooche, Samten Tshering Bhutia, Tenzing Dadul Bhutia, Pahalman Subba and others were painted with the same communal brush and projected himself as above casteism! Bhandari prepared the ground for virtual split with his one-sided policy. The OBCs broke away and refused to buy his argument. Bhandari suddenly changed his tune-let us come together and not break. All these years, they were always in the forefront ? We missed our real trains many a times while we were served with sweet words and sugary tea. The minority bog god down the majority, they themselves are the messengers of god and ourselves the Satan, the Bedh and Puranas-the ancient scriptures composed by the god himself! There are ancient scripture even in Rome, Greece and communist China describing gods and Goddesses, but there is no disparity, division between man to man we tried to be good, they launched a virtual attack, through cassettes, pamphlets and newspapers and always painted us as communal and casteist. We did react and reacted decisively. Every man is born with his own destiny. Rishang Keishang in Manipur , a naga, coming from a minority, was forever the Chief Minister. We have the right to vote and with the same power, we can make and break any government. We have to come together and work. Division has emerged as a problem, there is a solution to this problem.The solution lies within the very problem. You see all others as fools and yourself as wise? We have to stand on our own feet, we must have self pride. We need not suffer for other people's faults.. For this, we must have self-strength and wisdom. When Bhandari painted Pawan Chamling with fake communal brush, all notified castiests rallied behind him. And when he underestimated the opposition Chamling dealt the first blow at Namchi and the Sangramese commandos disappeared. People were looking for a leader who could wage war against Sangramese. They got one and rallied behind him. Bhandari continued to live in 1979, and tried to extract people's sympathy. He referred to his historical encounter with the CRPF, the people, instead, felt grateful to the central force. He tried to create laughter by ridiculing different communities, people reacted with scorn. When people were taking extra interest in communalism, Bhandari added fuel to fire and burnt down his own citadel. Time is very powerful. Bhandari tried to entertain people with his juicy communal jokes, he ended up weeping.

The caged tiger is often irritated by a child by pelting stones, by spitting, pulls whiskers of a dead tiger. The bravado exhibited by Bhandari is similar to that child-like act. At Geyzing, a Tamang was killed, Manmaya Rai was raped at Kaluk, Ranini was killed, the Brahman was killed at Soreng, one Lepcha officer was killed at Mangan, people were admitted at the AIIMS in Delhi. Many were Pradhans, Gurungs, Rais and there was not a single Chhetri who suffered Bhandari's barbarism. Tell, who is communal? Who is casteist? We or you?

Bhandari claims full credit for the inclusion of Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule. In its recognition, Darjeeling has greater contribution Although, ineffective politically, Darjeeling has played vital role in the development of Nepali language. Dilkumari wept, said to be the last weapon of woman to extract the pound of flesh! Bhandari claims the exclusive right to his own name in gold! Acknowledge other's contribution as well and do not try to politicise issues like language. Do not make people laugh. The recognition is the result of collective endeavour a team work. There were other players as well. The team clicked and we won. Do not look at everything with selfish eyes. Narbahadur Bhandari and Ramchandra Poudyal fought political battle. In the 1979 election, Bhandari won 16 seats and and one Independent formed the government. Ramchandra Poudyal, with 11 seats remained in the opposition. The OBC commission came to Sikkim in 1980. The Chhetri-Bahun community voted for Ramchandra Poudyal. Bhandari wreaked vengeance on Chhetri-Bahun for discarding him and refused to include them in the list of OBC. In 1994, he suddenly became Chhetri-Bahun leader? He raised the issue of 371F. When the Constitution introduces any new amendment for Sikkim, the government and the people can always oppose it like the Income Tax issue. The State has been left outside the preview of Central Tax. When the Mandal Commission arrived in Sikkim in 1980, Bhandari himself being the Chief Minister could have always opposed it. He did not do it. He wanted to project himself as the leader of Newar-Bahun-Chhetri after 14 years. Who will believe him when he defines N.B.C. as Newar-Bahun-Chhetri? Does he want to make Sikkim as Paradise of fools? Now let there be a thousands Bhandari, he cannot go against the Constitution-OBC is secure in the Constitution.

In the fight of two bulls, we are being crushed in the wilderness. Ramchandra Poudyal moved the Court in the interest of majority Nepalese, Bhandari defeated him at the very cost of Nepali interest. He boasts of his feat in the recognition of language and claims himself the representative leader of the Indian Nepalese! Leader of Sikkimese Nepalese. Today, he is the leader of Chhetrin-Bahun! Both of these men make Bhutia and Nepali an immigrant.

Bhandari sang the tune of communalism and it finally boomeranged. Sanchaman was made Chief Minister and later the OBCs elected Pawan Chamling as Chief Minister- the basis of communalism. Initially, his casteist rhetoric helped him to remain in power, later the same weapon cut him into pieces-as you sow, so shall you reap. The concept of high born and low born is nowhere so pronounced as in India . Bhandari's ancestors tirelessly propagated that they born from the upper part of the body and ourselves from the lower part. On the contrary, even the most illiterate and a dumb women would give the correct answer as to the seat or human origin!. Today's world does not recognise a baseless statement. We suggested Bhandari to remain together under the collective fold of the MandaI Commission. But Bhandari was adamant. He dealt a serious blow to Chhetri-Bahun. He lied when he said that Limboo language has been recognised. Those days, he was afraid of Poudyal. Bhandari, at first, offered the MP ticket to C.D. Rai, but he declined knowing full well the complexity of politics. Later Bhandari offered the lone seat to me. I put Limboo language as a bargaining chip. Bhandari agreed and said it is the easiest thing on earth! He could not have said less because Sanchaman, Indrabahadur, Tilakbahadur Limboos were members of the State Assembly. The unity among the Limboos, those days, was very strong. I resigned my government job to contest. When Bhandari was projecting my candidature and begging votes, he would refer to Pahalman as having finished "18 Class". But later, he saw only "worm" and "insect" in the person of Pahalman, and invested dirty rhetoric to oppose me. He has no respect for human relationship. With only two castes of man and woman in his mind, he saw all women in the image of his own mistress. We felt directionless in his Chief Minister ship for over a decade.

The Time Brings Change

The issue of recent merger of the country into the Indian union whipped up patriotic fervour among people who loved the kingdom. Many left their jobs. Ashok Kumar Tsongs could not take advantage of the situation. While the palace was looking for an alternative, Narbahadur Bhandari arrived enacting a perfect show of a patriot-lover of the lost kingdom. One day in the royal chapel (Monastery) located at Chungalakha, Bhandari took an elaborate oath in the presence of royalty- Chogyal's family, relatives and the well wishers. Eyes closed in divine meditation, Bhandari muttered some vague mantras and rose like a warrior with "Hari Om Tasath ", took out a new blade from his pocket and inspected to make it sure that it cuts! He then invoked all known deities, Teesta and Rangit, Kanchenjunga etc. and promised that he would regain Sikkim's lost soul even at the cost of his own life. He promised that there was not a grain of suspicion and doubt as to the sincerity of his mission, and ran the ready blade through his finger. The blood gushed out and he offered the sacrificial blood and applied it on his forehead. The act culminated in his blood and he sought individual blessings from all the royal members-"May success come to me".

A poor farmer's son education earned through pawning wife's jewellery, a small-time school teacher-all were impressed. A charming Palden Dhendup Namgyal was overwhelmed by his smooth promise of demerger. In the emotional hours he failed to realise that Bhandari has the power to change his colour more readily than chameleon according to the situation" has that unique strength to shed crocodile tears until the people shed real tears. But all these magic emanated from his power his chair. Bhandari, before and after, has been shorn off his magical feats-a mere 1973 replica.

Few days after the Chungalakha drama, the Chogyal shed tears, of profound elation at the thought of regained kingdom. The royalty honoured Bhandari with the traditional wreath, the khadas, and filled up his pocket with generous donation. Encouraged, Bhandari next begged for a housing site at Gangtok. The CBI later ran into the old application and filed corruption case for accumulation of property disproportionate to his known source of income. Pol Pot the notorious Cambodian dictator fled his country, but towards the middle of 1997 the Cambodian people unearthed him from his hiding in forest and awarded death sentence.

ldi Amin in 1970s ruled Uganda like a cruel dictator. There is no any difference between Bhandari and Amin. Rampant corruption and widespread prostitution had made living difficult. The number of wives and concubines was unaccounted for. There was a total human right violation. People called him Hitler when he introduced an autocratic, one man rule in Sikkim. In 1994, Bhandari roared that he would rule like a true Hitler if elected to power. IT he lose, he promised total annihilation of the State within 24 hours, as the creator could also destroy; What happened now. As a representative of peace-loving and god-fearing people, Bhandari wreaked havoc on all fronts including moral. What would be the fate of the country if he occupies Prime Minister's post? People widely hold Chamla Tshering comes to his dream, sometimes. Living in two different worlds, Bhandari and Chamla are yet to snap their friendship. Will they ever meet?

During Bhandari's time all road side trees, boulders, and seductive girls were, as a rule, decorated with Bhandari's poster. The guardians and parents would sigh a thousands sighs and pray to the Almighty that wives should only conceive an ugly. What of this, if it is not Bhandari’s dictatorship. Every village and every house was forced to display Sangram’s flag. The chamchaas would worship his photo as a living god. In every government building, private house, the literary prostitutes boosted his image as an architect of bhasa recognition accompanied by Sangram’s flag and his photographs. For others, law was there. But Bhandari was above law. What is he if not the dictator. He could not have been our representative, in the real sense of the term. If the sisters and your daughters visit Bhandari alone, the next day your building, your labour, your sweat, would inevitably earn the tag- Tshallah (literally means skin, here it has sexual connotation ) building. And bad words fly more faster than wind, you can not face people’s denunciation forever. More importantly, the girl is forever an outcast in the eyes of the society. She could not marry the man of her choice-her womb went barren. What is Bhandari if not the dictator? Without fully realising, Bhandari acted like the dictator. Now he openly declares that he would act like a "dictator". What will happen to the State if we vote for him. This is a time to think. Do we announce our own death sentence, the fatwa? We have a right to live our in lives our own ways. We must utilise our Rights fully.

The Chogyal presented land, all other materials were provided by the well wishers in Gangtok. Primula Cottage came into being. The mini Palace engulfed one forest guard's quarter ruthlessly. The CBI is eyeing on this palace. Since Bhandari was Chogyal's emissary, there were very few Chhetri-Bahuns in Sikkim Janata Parishad. His near-fatal encounter with the CRPF was only a political slogan to win the sympathy of the people. Bhandari stabbed Chogyal from the back when he declared that the issue of demerger ended with the election result - the fait accompli. Many friends were dissatisfied. In the MP vote, all royal members including the Chogyal voted in my favour. Many a times the Chogyal would refer to Bhandari's betrayal and shed tears. We opposed Bhandari to protest his wilful act. B.B. Goorong was installed as the Chief Minister. It was 1984. The government lasted for 16 days.- there was serious wrangling over Ministership. The President Rule was imposed. The then Governor raised the sensitive? issue of Sikkim Subject and RC. Poudyal, the Rising Sun president returned as Congress (I) President. The minority &Bhutia-Lepcha did not like the changes. The circumstances paved the way for Bhandari's poll victory. He captured 30 out of 32 seats. Bhandari withdrew CBI's jurisdiction in the state of Sikkim on 12th February 1987. The unprincipled, power-hungry man blocked CBI's investigation; into the corruption case filed during the 16 day Goorong government. B.B.Goorong filed corruption case against him' Bhandari returned to power and removed CBI from the State. He was unwilling to fight back, because he knew the end result. He was a coward.

The Supreme Court ordered the reopening of CBI case against Bhandari and A.P. Subba was appointed as a Special Judge by the High Court. The special court of A.P. Subba ruled that Bhandari can be tried in the corruption case. Bhandari moved to High Court. He lost. The CBI first unearthed the RDD scam. The case could not be tried in the Special Court because of the existing old laws. Bhandari tried to fool people by marking elaborate celebrations. The people understood in time. A leader 'should be a visionary, with the power to contemplate things to come in huJ1d:ceed years. Bhandari won the first election on the demerger issue. After his victory he betrayed Chogyal. Later, he organized an elaborate feast to celebrate Indira Gandhi's death, for he said Indira betrayed him. Bhandari levelled corruption Charges against Paw an Kumar Chamling and went to the Supreme Court. The Court ignored his claim and sent him back td the people.

Bhandari alluded to fox and jackal to draw a parallel in connection with the recently implemented OBC provision in the State. It is only the mad men who become OBCs and compared people with the filthy worms. He could not respect people's power, and tried to project himself as the Creator himself. He consistently blew his trumpet as the only leader who could bring development in this tiny State. II as there been no development after his unceremonious exit in 1994??

Before Saying ta...ta