‘Pratibha Milan’ felicitates three literary figures

BHUMIKA DAHAL

GANGTOK, July 31: The members of ‘Pratibha Milan’ today felicitated poetess Binashree Kharel, satirical writer MN Dahal and poet Bhim Thatal during the 72nd episode of the literary group here at Gangtok.

            ‘Samay Ko Padchaap’, a collection of poems penned by journalist-writer Arjun Piyush was also released on occasion graced by famous poet Mohan Dukhun as the chief guest. Padmashree Sanu Lama chaired the function which was also attended by literary figures from Sikkim, Kalimpong and Siliguri.

             In her speech, Binashree Kharel observed that similar honour to those who are giving contributions to the society while remaining in the shadows would further encourage them.

            Satirist Dahal said that he was urged to write by his friends and thanked ‘Pratibha Milan’ for honouring him today.

            Padmashree Lama said that ‘Pratibha Milan’ has provided a huge platform for upcoming talents. 

Gangtok ropeway stalled

Agitated workers demand increment

BHUMIKA DAHAL

GANGTOK, July 28: A favourite of tourists, the sole ropeway in Gangtok which takes commuters from Deorali to Tashiling Secretariat complex remained still today with its 21 workers going on an indefinite strike demanding salary increment.

            “We are working here since 2003 when this ropeway started its operations but our rights and demands have never been heard. We get increment in our monthly salaries every April but this time the increment has been marginal which will not allow us to take care of our families. We have submitted a memorandum to company for increment of at least Rs. 2000 for every employee and till our demand is fulfilled, the ropeway will not function”, said foreman Manik Shil to reporters on behalf of the agitating workers.

            Out of 21 employees hired to run the ropeway managed by Damodar Ropeway Company based at Kolkata, seven are locals. The salaries of the employees range between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 7000.

            “There should be desirable increment in our salaries. Our salary should be at least Rs. 5000 per month but here most of us are surviving on Rs. 3000 per month. We work even during festival holidays but we are not compensated enough to feed our family. We are ready to work hard and all we need is increment”, said the workers. The demand has been presented to the company management.

            It is not that the ropeway is not earning enough, as per the employees.

            The ropeway is much favoured by hundreds of tourists who visit Gangtok and most of the times; its capacity of 40 passengers per box is met. The tourists have a choice to board the ropeway either at Deorali, Namnang or near the Government Printing Press below Tashiling Secretariat.

             “We give more than Rs. 1.50 lakhs to the company daily from the three stations during the tourism season and even during the offseason, the day’s collection is around Rs. 20,000. Now there is good tourism even during offseason and the company is earning well but we the employees are facing hardships”, said the employees. They also alleged their overtime works are not been adequately compensated by the company.

            On the other hand, ropeway site in-charge DB Chowdhary said that he has forwarded the demands made by the employees to the company head-office at Kolkata. It is up to the head-office to decide on this, he said.

            It is informed that the Kolkata head-office has agreed to sit with the agitating employees for talks.

            The ropeway had been installed in 2003 with its construction works starting from 2000. It has been set up at a cost of Rs. 11.42 crores under the Department of North East Region funds.

Kina Maya Ma premier show on August 27 at Gangtok

BHUMIKA DAHAL

GANGTOK, July 29: Indian Idol III Prashant Tamang’s third Nepali feature film ‘Kina Maya Ma’, which is running successfully in Nepal, would have its Indian premier show at Gangtok on August 27.

            This was announced today here by Gangtok based respected filmmaker Chunnilal Ghimire who has directed the movie.  This is the first feature film of Channel Ace Productions run by Ghimire who has several telefilms and documentaries under his banner.

            “The premier show of ‘Kina Maya Ma’ would be held on August 27 at Vajra cinema hall. Then after the movie will run in Gangtok for some time after which we will take it to Darjeeling and Kalimpong for screening”, said Ghimire.

            Prashant, who shot to fame after winning the Indian Idol season 3 reality show, has already two more Nepali feature films to his credit-‘Gorkha Paltan’ and ‘Angalo Yo Mayo Ko’. The latter was released simultaneously in Nepal along with ‘Kina Maya Ma’ on June 24.

            ‘Kina Maya Ma’ was screened in Kathmandu Valley for three weeks in six theaters and presently it is running at cinema halls at Pokhara, Damak and Birtamore.

            Prashant, who in his real-life is a singer, is playing a similar role in the 2 hours, 17 minutes long film where he is a singer from Nepal and falls in love with a girl (played by Sumina Ghimire) from Sikkim.

            But, the ‘Kina Maya Ma’ director feels that Prashant has some distance to go before the audience accepts him as an actor than a singer. “He is singer in real life and playing as a singer in the film. He has not sung in the film as he was out in Europe during the recording. This is his third film and his acting skills have matured. He can act but people still see him as a singer”, he said.

            At the same time, Ghimire asserted that Prashant had not been cast into ‘Kina Maya Ma’ just because of his popularity arising from Indian Idol III. “We did not aim to simply cash on his brand. It was our support to him as we feel that he has been discriminated by major television channels who gave more exposure to other Indian Idol winners”, he said.

            Ghimire said that ‘Kina Maya Ma’ has attracted good response from Nepal. “The response from the audience in Nepal has been good and we are satisfied that we have come up with a quality product. We expect even better response from Sikkim and Darjeeling”, he said.

            The filmmaker argued that people here should not compare the Nepali films produced from Sikkim or elsewhere with those of Hollywood and Bollywood. “Our films are made on a humble budget. ‘Kina Maya Ma’ had a budget of Rs. 58 lakhs. If the Nepali speaking community don’t want their movies then who will watch the Nepali language movies? People must come and watch the movie whether it is bad or good. Just coming to the movie hall will encourage the local artistes and technicians”, he said.

            The film shooting started from September 2 and completed on October 13. Post production was done at Kathmandu.

            Ashoke Rai is the executive producer for ‘Kina Maya Rai’. The other local faces in the movie are Rohit Raj Luitel, Timothy Rai, Hemant Giri, Chanchal Lepcha and Nismani Rai.

Bhanu Jayanti at PNG school`

Bhumika Dahal

GANGTOK, July 26: Students of Paljor Namgyal Girls senior secondary school today celebrated the 197^th Bhanu Jayanti at the school premises with poem recitation, cultural presentations and recitation of the Ramayana.

            Padmashree Sanu Lama chaired the function which was also attended by Sikkim University lecturer Geeta Niraula, Siliguri College lecturer Tej Man Baraily and faculty of the host school. The celebrations started with a reading of Ramayana Path and then progressed to poem recitation, presentation of cultural items and concluded with a rousing debate competition between the four houses of the school.

‘Love@Sikkim.com’ shooting at MG Marg

Pappu Mallick

GANGTOK, July 25: Traffic and spit free MG Marg here has been a prime shooting place for Nepali films as portions of ‘Love@Sikkim.com’ shooting gets underway over the past few days.

The film directed by Anirban Ghosh with Rohit Raj and Bhagarati as lead actors and actress in Sikkim is being shot in four languages – Nepali, English, Bengali and French.

Some untouched, beautiful locations in all the four Districts, it is informed have been chosen as prime locations for the shooting of the film.

Soumyadeep and Junnu are the lead actors in Kolkata. Others acting in the film are Aman Sundas, Kunal Sundas, Bikram Subba, Gopal Sah, Tshering D. Sherpa, Ranjana Karki, Pooja Sharma,TS Subedi, Suboratta, Santa Bir Rai, Rina, Ashish Das and others.

Ugen Gurung to feature in 6th World Taekwondo Championship

Ugen Gurung to feature in 6^th World Taekwondo Championship

BHUMIKA DAHAL

GANGTOK, July 23: Sikkim Amateur Taekwondo Association (SATA) player Ugen Gurung will be representing India in the 6^th World Taekwondo Championship to be held at Vlodivastok, Russia from July 29 to 31.

Gurung will be playing in the junior individual category in this event where players from 192 countries are featuring.

SATA president YB Thapa extended his good wishes to Gurung for the world championship.

It was informed that Gurung has trained under SATA chief coach Trilok Subba.

I will also be attending a pre-selection camp this December and if I perform well then I will be selected for the London Olympics 2010, said Gurung.

Unidentified body recovered

Pappu Mallick

GANGTOK, July 21: Gangtok Sadar Police today recovered an unidentified male body from a jhora here at Lall Bazaar. The deceased, about 30-35 years old, could have been lying dead in the jhora for the past few days as the body was decomposing.

            The body was first spotted by a local resident in the morning who informed the police. No foul play has been suspected at the moment.

            The autopsy was conducted today and an unnatural death case has been registered at Sadar police station. The body is being preserved for 72 hours for identification purposes.