The 279th Birth Anniversary Celebration of King Gaeboo Achyok of Damsang at Mela Ground, Kalimpong, on 20th December 2010

The 279th Birth Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King, Pano Gaeboo Achyok of Damsang, was celebrated with pomp and ceremony on 20th December 2010 at Mela Ground, Kalimpong, West Bengal.  Indigenous Lepchas from Darjeeling, Sikkim Hills, Kolkata, New Delhi and other places assembled in great numbers, approximetly nine thousand of them, in their fine traditional Lepcha dresses.  The Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong, organised a huge but very peaceful rally of the Lepchas from 10th Mile to Mela Ground passing through the Main Road, Kalimpong, with their sacred cry ‘Aachuley !’ Aachuley ! Aachuley ! and it was really a magnificent sight to behold.  

Master of the ceremony, Ren N.T.Lepcha, very efficiently conducted various Lepcha programmes.  Ren Rumden Lepcha and Ren Dorjee T. Lepcha, representating the Lepcha Youth Association, Headquarters Kalimpong, expressed their thoughts on the Lepchas of Mayel Lyang.  The Lepcha youth leaders spoke in impeccable Lepcha telling the world that the ancient and very rich Lepcha language, literature and culture is not vanishing but it is flourishing in the Lepcha world today.  

Various Lepcha cultural groups from Dzongu, See Aa Ree, Sikkim, Kurseong, Meerek, Singringtam, Sokhyam, Karmi, St. Joseph’s School, Git-Dabling, Kalimpong and other places demonstrated and proved to the world that the ancient Lepcha culture, tradition is still alive and well.  

Ren Gautam Lepcha of Mamring, Sittong received the ‘Aathing K.P.Tamsang Lepcha Language and Literary Award 2010’ for this outstanding work on the conservation, maintenance and development of the Lepcha language and literature in Mayel Lyang.

The following Lepcha bilingual journal and calender were also released on the day:

1.  King Gaeboo Achyok 2010 (Annual Lepcha Magazine)

2.  Lepcha Calendar 2011

The President, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong, 

Ren Lyangsong Tamsang Lepcha, speaking on the occasion, called upon the Lepchas, from 

different walks of life, to unite under one ‘Taarsyaok’ the Lepcha flag, and work unitedly for peace, prosperity, dignity and honour of the original indigenous and true sons of the soil, the Lepchas.  He emplored the Lepchas to stand firm, dignified and follow the truth.  

Ren Lyangsong Tamsang, especially, addressing the Lepcha youths and children ask them to follow the path shown by the Lepcha King, Pano Gaeboo Aachyok to attain the Lepchas’ ultimate gaol.  He repeatedly said that the Lepchas should not and must not falter at all in their aims and objectives.  The Lepchas, he added, must be ready to give their sweat, blood and even life for the good cause of the Lepchas and their identity.  He further said that the Lepchas can always learn from his Majesty the King, Pano Gaeboo Achyok of Damsang.  

The 279th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Pano Gaeboo Achyok on 20th December 2010 was a resounding success.  

A Senior Correspondent

RENU HIDAMIT LEPCHA ( Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee 2009 )

REFRENCE OF LEPCHA LANGUAGE AREA MAP INSERTED BETWEEN PAGES 45-46 OF HISTORICAL OFFICIAL LIGUISTIC REGIONS OF INDIA –YEAR 1956

SAARC Festival of Literature

The SAARC Festival of Literature 2011 was organised by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (SAARC Apex Body) and Ministry of External Affairs on 25, 26 and 27 March 2011 in New Delhi.  Ajeet Cour, the President of Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature, and Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, invited Ren Lyangsong Tamsang, President, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong to participate in the SAARC Festival of Literature in New Delhi.  It was a gathering of well known, creative poets, writers, critics, artists, translators, thinkers, philosophers etc. from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India.  Ren Lyangsong Tamsang was one of the delegates representating India in the SAARC Festival of Literature.
The following very important and interesting programmes were included in the Festival:
a.  Paying homage to the great poets of the region:
i. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
ii.  Nazul Islam
iii.  Faiz and
iv.  Ghalib
b.  Academic Seminars on the following subjects were presented and discussed:
i.  Contemporary Creativity and Political-Social Conflicts
ii.  Voices of the Oppressed and the Excluded
iii.  Literacy Legacy of Tagore
iv.  Nazrul Islam, Faiz and Ghalib
v.  New Voices of Young Writers
vi.  Literature and Ground Realities

The First Lady of India, Sardarni Gursharan Kaur inaugurated the Festival of Literature on 25 March 2011.  Among a host of poets,writers,thinkers, the following names come to my mind:
Karan Singh, Mahasveta Devi, Abid Hussain, Shahyar, Kapila Vatsyayan, Abhi N. Subedi (Nepal), Mani Shanker Aiyar, Sitakant Mahapatra, Arpana Caur, Ibrahim Waheed (Maldives), Dr G.N. Devy, K.Satchidananda, Nabaneeta Sen, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, Syed Manzoorul Islam (Bangladesh), Mushirul Hasan, Manmohan Singh Mitwal, Partaw Naderi(Afghanistan) Tshering Dorji (Bhutan), Premini Amerasinge (Sri Lanka), Jharna Rehman (Bangladesh), Neelam Ahmed Basheer (Pakistan), Lutfa Hanum Salima Begum, Prof Alok Bhalla and many others.
The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature brought creative and peace-loving people, artists, activists, writers,poets from all walks of life including indigenous Tribes, Dalits from the Indian Sub-Continents to join hands to create and write for a new and better Sub-Continent to live in with peace, love and prosperity.
The original indigenous Lepcha tribes of Darjeeling District, West Bengal have now many good friends in the SAARC region.




A Special Reporter

Lepcha Puntaong-Palit Four hole bamboo Flute

Four hole Bamboo flute, this particular instrument is specially meant to replicate the sound of the nature.  The speciality of the tune is to interact with different spirits in the nature.The Lepcha culture, tradition,rituals, rites, customs, and ways of life are inextricably bound with the nature.  Twittering and humming of birds and bees; the sound, cry and chirping of animals and insects; cascading of white water falls; rhythmic swinging of bamboos and trees to and fro in the hills and dales have different meanings to them.  They, thus, find themselves imitating mother nature and seeking out aspirations, hopes and optimism in their   Tradition among the natives of Maayel Lyaang the Lepchas are that, they do not instantly or directly interact with the spirits.  Such invocation and awakening to the spirits are done with prior permission by playing different “Sut”.  ‘Sut’ in Lepchas means ‘tune’ and ‘melody’.  The Lepchas basically have twelve ‘Sut’, tunes, and these haunting Lepchas tunes still echo in the foothills of this region.
The twelve Lepcha ‘Sut’ are:
1.  Hit Sut.  A Lepcha priestess or priest, before commencing her or his actual rites and rituals, she/he, first     and foremost,prays to ‘Rum’, the Creator and Deities in ‘Hit Sut’ and requests them to give the necessary power and strength to accomplish and succeed the task and duty entrusted to her/him.
2.  Pildon Sut. ‘Pildon Mun’, a born Lepcha priestess or priest empowerd to search, guide and take the departed soul, to ‘Poomju’, the final resting place of a departed soul,in the Himalayas used the ‘Pildon Sut’.
3.  Tasey Kinto Sut.  A Lepcha priestess or priest foretells the future using the ‘Tasey Kinto Sut’.
4.  Aapik Sut.  A Lepcha priestess or priest who drives out the evil spirits as well as purifies a member of the family after the death ceremony uses the ‘Aapik Sut’.
5.  Palik Sut.  This tune, Palik Sut, is used by a Lepcha priestess or priest during the naming and weaning ceremony of a child.
6.  Tungsung Sut.  This tune is based on the sound, cry, call and message etc. of wild animals.
7.  Kahaom Sut.  It is based on the haunting sound and cry of birds.
8.  Tungkyook Sut.  It is based on the sound and tune of Kooryoom Fo or the sound and tunes produced when two bamboo poles are rubbed or when the wind pierces through a narrow bamboo holes or splits.
9.  Saryaot Sut.  The spring season tune.
10.  Illam Sut. A typical Lepcha tune pertaining to the Lepchas of Illam, Nepal.
11.  Damsang Sut.  A typical Lepcha tune pertaining to the Lepchas of Damsang, the present day Kalimpong Sub-Division.

LEPCHA DRESS CODE  IN THE PAST

These tunes are played specially before and after different prayers ceremony.  It is generally believed that a Pantaong Palit is a necessity in every ceremony and is part and parcel  of the dress code of the Lepchas.        

Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang Traditional Lepcha Archery Contest 09 April 2011

Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang Traditional Lepcha Archery Contest was held on 09 April 2011at Lower Bom, Kalimpong. It was organised by the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association,Headquarters Kalimpong. Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang was the Founder President of Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong in 1925. Owing to his vision and far--sightendness, today, the original indigenous Lepcha tribes of Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal, have a very strong sense of direction, unity, dignity and pride in their cultural heritage. In fond memory of Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang, the Annual Traditional Lepcha Archery Contest is dedicated. The aim and objective of the contest is:

1.To encourage the Lepcha youths, both male and female, to take traditional Lepcha archery

     as a sport and do well in the national and international archery contest.

2. To preserve the tradition and culture of the indigenous Lepcha tribes.

3. To bring and unite the Lepcha youths from all walks of life under one roof.

The Chief Guest of the  day was Ren Tendup Tshering Lama of Kurseong.  The Native English Language Teachers ( AVs),11 of them, currently working and teaching English in the Lepcha Night Schools in remote Lepcha villages, Kalimpong, also  participated in the contest.

  The following Lepcha Association teams were declared the winners:-

1st - (Champion Trophy and Rs.5000.00 cash prize)

2nd - ( Rs.3000.00 cash prize and a Trophy)

3rd - ( Rs.2000.00 cash prize and a Trophy)

Sharp Shooter of the day - ( Rs.1000.00 and a Trophy)

The Native English Language Teachers from England were presented with Lepcha souvenirs. The Annual Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang Traditional Lepcha Archery Contest on 09 April 2011 was a grand success.

A Staff Reporter

Construction of primary school at the birth place of legendary King Pano Gabu Achuk at Longsyaol, Kalimpong, District Darjeeling ,West Bengal, India.

SCHOOL

Reception by the School Children

FOLK SONGS

                 Proposed site 

Inspection by concerned engineer Ren Sebastine Tamsang lepcha

Children dressed in their best

School children performing Lepcha cultural Dance

Pano Gaeboo Aachyok Lepcha Primary School, Doring-Longsyaol 

Construction of a new School Building 

1. A meeting was held to discuss and finalise the plan to construct a new ‘Pano Gaeboo Aachyok Lepcha Primary School, Doring-Longsyaol’, Kalimpong on 03 April 2011 at Doring Lepcha Village. The following were present in the meeting:

a.  Parents and guardians of the school children

b.  Executive Committee Members of the Doring-Longsyaol Lepcha Village Association

c.  Executive Committee Members of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association,                     Headquarters Kalimpong

2.  After a thorough discussion between the Executive Committee Members, Doring-Longsyaol Lepcha Village Association, Parents and Guardians and Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong, the following unanimous decisions were taken to construct the school :

a.  It was decided that the work will start with immediate effect and will finish  the work by the end of September 2011.  It was also decided that the President, Margareta Weisser Foundation Fund for Indigenous Peoples in Asia will inaugurate the new school building at the end of October or early November 2011. 

b.  Blue print of the school building.  Ren Sebastian Tamsang Lepcha, B.E. (Civil), has      already prepared an ideal and suitable blue print of the school.  He physically visited Doring Lepcha village and inspected the school site and took the necessary measurements before the commencement of the meeting.  He showed and explained about the blue print of the school in detail to the assembled Lepchas.  It was decided that he would be inspecting the progress work of the school at regular intervals.

 

c.  Ren Azuk Tamsang Lepcha, executive member of I.L.T.A., Headquarters Kalimpong volunteered to do the market research work and get the necessary construction materials from Siliguri at a very reasonable prices and bring them to Doring-Longsyaol.

d.  Ren Dawa Tshering Lepcha, an experienced and dynamic young Lepcha leader, was appointed as the Supervisor of the construction work at Doring-Longsyaol with immediate effect.

e.  It was also decided that two skilled persons in the construction work will be employed from the plains of India.

 

f.  Both Ren Lyangsong Tamsang Lepcha, President, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong and Ren Palden Lepcha, the President, Lepcha Association, Kalimpong Branch will inspect the site at a regular interval to ensure that the quality work is being carried out.

  g.  It was unanimously decided that the Executive Committee Members, Doring-Longsyaol Lepcha Village Association will formed a School Construction Committee and give responsiblities to their Associations members to carry out the following tasks:

i.  To carry the construction materials from the final jeep stop to the site, a distance of five km approx.  It will be a free service from the Village Association for the construction of school. 

ii.  To provide trees, free of cost, to saw up into planks, beams etc. Men employed to saw up the trees will be paid wages.

iii.  To carry sands from the river at the bottom of the village to the site.  Labourers will be paid wages.

iv.  To breake stone chips.  Women will be paid for their services.

v.  To provide stones.  Free supply of stones by the Village Association. 

vi.  Some unskilled or semi-skilled Lepcha men and women will be employed from Doring-Longsyaol village to assist in the construction of school.

3.  It is a Lepcha community project very kindly and generously financed by Ms Margareta Weisser, President, Margareta Weisser Foundation Fund for Indigenous Peoples of Asia. Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong is determined to construct a magnificent ‘Pano Gaeboo Achyok Lepcha Primary School, Doring-Longsyaol’ in order to give and impart quality education to the marginalised Lepcha children and to make them fine and responsible Lepcha citizens of India. 

4.  All the Lepchas involved in the construction of this Lepcha Primary School are requested to work very hard to bring the desired positive result.

              


Update of the construction will be given as it progresses