Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Land taken way from two Old Ladies in Kasyon , Darjeeling District, 2010 Then Darjeeling GORKHA hill Council.
In times to come has already begun .THE ANCESTRAL LAND....????
Modus operandi:
Thump impression on the registration and land Documents by tricking them that the documents are for the doctor treatment. The then Government Officials of the concerned department of land revenue involved in processing the documents. As administration is .....................................
Be prepared . The flood gates are open
5 lepcha houses vandalised at Suruk, Darjeeling District, Under Then Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council 2009 no justice given to them till date even after appealing to Central / State government , Home ministry, Tribal affairs, miniroty commission and the Human rights
Sri. Palaniappan Chidambaram
Hon’ able Union Home Minister,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Respected Sir,
Subject: Atrocities against the original indigenous Lepcha Tribes of Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal .
References:
- The scheduled cast and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and Rules, Government of India.
- Paragraph 3 (1) Sub paragraph (XIV)
- Paragraph 3 (2) Sub-paragraph (IV)
- Mass petitions from the Parmyaang – Suruk Lepcha Village Association, and duly signed and recommended by the Lepcha Association, Kalimpong Branch , dated : 26th July and 27th July 2009 respectively.
- The reference ‘B’ above together with photographs and a copy of C.D. are enclosed; translated versions of the petitions in English are also enclosed for your immediate necessary action. Reference ‘B’ above is self explanatory and it speaks the truth.
- The original indigenous Lepcha tribes, true sons of the soil and number one citizens of the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal, India are not repeat not safe and secure in their own original home land, the Darjeeling Hills, today. They are living in constant fear, danger, dread, distress and horror, physically, psychologically and mentally.
- They, the “unsocial elements”, targeted and vandalized only the three Lepcha tribal houses at Parmyaak- Suruk, a remote village in the Kalimpong Sub-division, Darjeeling Hills, on purpose. Lepcha tribal houses were chopped and vandalized using Khukuri (machete), iron bars, sticks etc. belonging to Sri. Michael Lepcha , Sri Pascal Lepcha and Sri David Lepcha ; the Lepcha Tribal Flag was torn , the National Tri-colour Flag was treated unceremoniously, the alters were deliberately destroyed ;looted gold ornaments, some cash ; chopped a cradle, clothes and utensils; threatened the Lepchas of the village with dire consequences if the Lepchas report the matter to the higher authorities . They also restricted the movement of innocent Lepcha victims.
- We strongly feel that such atrocities will be inflicted on the simple, innocent, honest, backward Lepcha tribes again in the Darjeeling Hills in the future. Such inhuman atrocities must be put to an end at an early stage.
- Protection, justice, democracy and respect for the original indigenous Lepcha tribe’s rights, equality, good governance and good faith must be given and restored immediately in the
- The original indigenous Lepcha tribes, the real sons of the soil and number one citizens of the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal, India, demand that such inhuman atrocities should never occur on the indigenous Lepcha Tribes in the future.
7. We will be very grateful if you could take the necessary action against the culprits and give justice to the simple, innocent , backward indigenous Lepcha tribes of the Darjeeling
With warm regards
Yours faithfully
Thursday, August 25, 2011
THE LEPCHA CUSTOMARY LAW
INTRODUCTION
The Lepcha Customary Law prossesses the conditions of antiquit, faith,positiveness,truth,uniformity,reason,logic,wisdom,and validity.
The Lepcha are the one,true,indigenous tribal race with their own line of king and rulers found in the annals of the Lepcha history in Nye Mayel Lyang, i.e. today’s Sikkim, Darjeeling,and Illam. The Lepcha kings,rulers,priests,priestesses, and wise men have made and drawn the Lepcha Customary Law called ‘Rong Di Hryim’in Lepcha and practised them for ages.These Customary Laws enhanced, strengthened them in safeguarding,protecting, securing and defending their privileges, rights, language and cultural heritage as the true sons of the soil of Nye Mayel Lyang. The present day Lepchas still continue to practise them.
Although the Lepcha Customary Law written in Lepcha was in existence since a very long time in manuscript from, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters kalimpong, is able to translate it into English, publish and distribute it among the Lepchas as well as the relevant Local, State and Union Governments for their information, use, exercise and practice.
SECTION I
Birth
1. Child/children either boy or girl born to a Lepcha parents on reaching three nights and four days, any of the following in order of priority shall perform the ‘Tungbaong Faat’, naming ceremony, of the new born baby/babies with ‘Chi Faat Rum Faat’, purify the house and bless the new born child/children:
a. A wise elder from the same clan as that of the new born baby.
b. A Boongthing or Mun-Lepcha priest or priestess
2. During the ‘Tungbaong Faat’, naming ceremony, the wise elder or priest/priestess after offering his/her prayers to the Himalayas,Mt Kanchenjanga their respective ‘Chyoo’, Mountain Deity,Da, Sacred Lakes,the confluence of Teesta and Rangit, various local deities and the most importantly, ‘Kathaong Fee’ and ‘Nanglyen Nyoo’, the Guardian Deities of Birth, shall announce and confer ‘Aagit’, clan, ‘Chyoo’ Mountain Deity, ‘Da’, Lake and ‘Lyep’, an entrance, door or passage for the departed soul’s final resting place, paradise,’Poomju’ with his/her ancestors in the Himalayas, as followes:
a. If it is a boy
i. Father’s ‘Aagit’,clan, is to be given and announced
ii. Father’s ‘Chyoo’, Mountain Deity is to be given and announced.
iii. Father’s ‘Da’, Lake, is to be given and announced.
iv. Father’s ‘Lyep’, is to be given and announced.
b. If it is a girl
i. Mother’s ‘Aagit’,clan, is to be given and announced
ii. Mother’s ‘Chyoo’, Mountain Deity is to be given and announced.
iii. Mother’s ‘Da’, Lake, is to be given and announced.
iv. Mother’s ‘Lyep’, is to be given and announced.
3. A typical and appropriate Lepcha name shall be given and announced during the ‘Tungbaong faat’.
4. In the eyes of the Lepcha Customary Law, both male and female, boy or girl, man or woman are all equal.
5. A Lepcha son inherits his father’s ancestral land and property.
6. A Lepcha daughter inherits her mother’s ancestral land and property, if any.
SECTION II
Adoption
7. In accordance with the Lepcha Customary Law, a couple without any issue may adopt a Lepcha child belonging to the same ‘clan’ only as that of the couple with thorough consultation, dialogue and discussion with wise elders and the Village Lepcha Association.
8. While adopting a Lepcha from the same clan, the age of the child in question shall be between 5 to 7 for the following reasons:
a. Older child may not be able to give the same affection,love and respect to the adopted parents.
b. The older adopted child may have or develop behaviour problem.
9. While adopting. a Lepcha child shall be from the same clan for the following reasons:
a. In accordance with the ancient Lepcha belief and faith, a Lepcha adopted child from the same clan as that of the adopted parents, is accepted and a room given by the grand or great grand parents belonging to the same ‘clan’ in ‘Poomju’, a paradise with his/her ancestors in the Himalayas, after death.
b. An adopted Lepcha child outside the ‘clan’ is not accepted by the ancestors of the parents in ‘Poomju’ after death.
c. An adopted Lepcha son from the same clan shall be entitled to the ancestral land and property; however, an adopted Lepcha girl from the same clan or mother’s clan, when she is married off or given in marriage, shall not be entitled to any ancestral land and property of her adopted parents. While she was living with her adopted parents, if she has made and accumulated her own personal wealth like gold, silver, mony, domesticated animals like pig, cow,goat, chicken etc. she may take them with her after marriage with the consent and permission from her adopted parents.
10. A non-Lepcha child shall not be adopted by a Lepcha couple because:
a. Disputes shall arise over the possession of the ancestral land and property between the non-Lepcha adopted child and the rightful, lawful, full blooded Lepcha next of kins.
b. The Lepcha ancestral land shall not be passed on to a non-Lepcha at all. If it happens, the very existence of the Lepchas is jeopardised, threatened and endangered.
c. A non-Lepcha adopted child shall not be accepted and given a place in ‘Poomju’ by the ancestors of the adopted Lepcha parents.
SECTION III
The Lepcha Marriage Customary Laws
The first Lepcha Marriage Customary Laws made and drawn thousand of years ago at Rong Zeng Purtaam, Sakyong, Faokraam-Takraam, now known as Dzongu, North Sikkim are still prevelent among the lovers and custodians of the Lepcha tradition and culture in Mayel Lyang. They are:
11. No Lepcha marriage shall take place within the same ‘Aagit’, clan, in accordance with the ancient Lepcha Customary Law. No Lepcha shall marry within his or her closely related family members either. If, in case, it happens, it shall be termed as ‘Naamtaok’ or ‘Thaam Nyaot’ in Lepcha meaning ill-omened, ill-starred, taboo, and evil. If such marriage, unfortunately, shall take place, then the man and woman involved in such illegal, forbidden, illicit, prohibited liaison shall be banished, exiled, never to return from the village and community because the Lepchas believe that same DNA and bone structures shall be found in the members of the same clan resulting in genetic defects. A Lepcha with genetic defects shall never be fully developed and healthy, physically and mentally. Their illicit springs shall not be accepted and entitled to the ancestral land and property.
12. The following very important points, aspects, features and particulars shall also be looked into, enquired, examined before the matrimony:
a. Family or clan affected with ‘Daom’, leprosy and other dangerous hereditary diseases and illness.
b. ‘Sthong Daot’- Member of the family or clan attacked, injured, or killed by a tiger.
c. A family or clan which has a history, tendency and inclination towards suicide and murder.
d. A family or clan involved in fighting and killing over land and water disputes.
No marriage shall take place with such family or clan if the above factors, cases from (a) to (d) are found to be true.
13. Only after 4(four) generation on the mother side and clan, after the death of the great-grand-mother, a Lepcha man shall be allowed to marry from his mother’s clan, ‘Aagit’, again.
14. LEPCHA MAN:- No law or rule exist concerning a marriage outside the Lepcha community: however, in case of a love marriage with a woman outside the community, the parents of the Lepcha son shall act as followes:
a. In consultation with the village elder and Lepcha Village Association, they shall bestow, confer, grant a suitable appropriat female Lepcha ‘Aagit’, clan, to the newly wedded non-Lepcha bride with due to Lepcha traditional ceremony called ‘Aali Oom’ by a Boongthing/Mun (priest/priestess) or a competent Lepcha elder in order to safeguard the intrest of their future offspring, especially girls.
b. A non-Lepcha bride/wife with newly acquired female Lepcha ‘Aagit’, clan however, shall not be entitled to her husband’s ancestral land and property.
15. LEPCHA WOMAN:-
a. If a Lepcha girl shall marry outside her community with a non-Lepcha, she automatically shall forefeit her claim and right as a Lepcha ancestral land and property. She shall become a non-Lepcha. Her off-spring either male or female shall become non-Lepcha.
b. An illicit off-spring, bastard fathered by a non-Lepcha shall not be entitled to the Lepcha ancestral land and property.
16. Bride Price:- Marriage price paid to the bride’s parents and relatives at their residence shall be as follows:
a. Nyaom Aasek Gyu - Engagement Price
i. Chi, fermented beverage - one bundle/basket
ii. Garland (Phogo Rip Lyaak) - one
iii. Jyer Kaat -3 (three) Rupee silver coins
b.Myaok Panaol - Bridegroom’s customary, official presents to the bride’s parents and relatives at the marriage ceremony :
i. Aamoo ‘Dum-dyem’, mother’s dress - one set
ii. Aamoo Kaomjung (sungdrong) - Rs.101.00(One hundred & one) only
- Bronze plate-one
- Bronze vessel-one
iii. Bikgoo Nin-chyer (Pomo- Pakyong)
(mother’s milk) - Rs.35.00(thirty five) only.
iv. Father’s Guardian Spirit of longivity and Life - 1(one) Lepcha hat,
3(three) Rupee silver coins only,
1(one) garland (Phogo Rip Lyaak).
.
v. Bride’s paternal uncle and aunt (2) - 1(one) garland(Phogo Rip Lyaak) and
Rs. 3(three) silver coins each only.
vi. Bride’s maternal uncle and aunt(2) - 1(one) garland(Phogo Rip Lyaak) and
Rs. 3(three) silver coins each only.
vii Bride’s faaming (brother) (one) - 1(one) garland (Phogo Rip Lyaak) and Rs.3(three) silver coins only. viii. Peeboo/Bekboo, Go-between
from Bride side - 1(one) garland(Phogo Rip Lyaak) and
Rs 3(three) silver coins only,
1(one) basket of ‘Chi’ with 1(one) garland
(Phogo Rip Lyaak) and Rs.3(three) silver coins on top of it only.
ix. Laom-sut. It is also called - 1(one) front left leg of a bull
‘Myaok Mungkoong’ 1(one) hind right leg of a bull.
c. Nyaom Lee Hraon - Bride’s entrance to her new house. The following items shall be arranged, provided, and taken to the Bridegroom’s parents:
i. 1(one) basket of Chi, fermented beverage
ii. Two bottles of liquor
iii. Front left leg of a bull
d. Nyaom Mungkong Zo-gool - a complete dressed cock. The above item, Nyaom Mungkong Zo-gool, shall be given to the Bride’s party on completion of the marriage ceremony at the Bridegroom’s house. It is to be taken the to the Bride’s parents as a token of respect and clearly denoting that their daughter has been very gladly acceepted by the Bridegroom’s parents, clan, village.
e. Bride’s dress and jewelry- Although it is not mandatory and compulsory, the following dress and jewelry may be provided by the Bridegroom’s parents for the bride:
i. Dum-dyem (dress) - 1 set
ii. Jyoordaong Tago (black gawn) - one
iii. Takvil Lyaak(neckless) made of cane splits - one
iv. Kakel(bangle) made of cane splits - one pair
v. Aanyaor Kong (ear rings) made of cane splits - one pair
vi. Ka-Chhyaop or Chhyaap Chhyaap
made of silver with Saret-Aajet design - one
vii. Panthop (badge) made of silver - one
viii. Sambraang Baor made of silver - one
17. Aangaop:- Marriage is sacred and holy according to the Lepcha Customary Law. To keep up the good, happy and strong bond, relationship and unity between the two families, clans and villages, the Lepcha ‘Aangaop’ system came into existence. ‘Aangaop’ shall take place under the following circumstances only:
a. On the untimely death of a husband, a young widow, if she wishes, after one year, she shall be betrothed and married to one of the following relations, if he is willing and happy, in consultation with the family members, elders and Village Lepcha Associations from both sides:
i. Deceased husband’s single younger brother.
ii. Deceased husband’s single nephew.
b. On the untimely demise of a wife, a young widower, if he wishes, after a year, he shall be betrothed and married to one of the following relations, if she is willing and happy, in consultation with the family members, elders and Village Lepcha Associations from both sides:
i. Deceased wife’s single younger sister.
ii. Deceased wife’s single niece.
18. Under this unique marriage system of ‘Aangaop’, the child/children, if any from the previous marriage shall continue to receive the same love, affection, and care from the new step-father or mother. A child/ children shall remain happy and above all in safe hands.
19. In case of no issue, single younger sister of the wife, if she is willing and happy, shall also be given in ‘Aangaop’.
20. This way, the same harmony, balance, understanding, relationship, and unity shall prevail in the house and between the two families, clans and villages.
SECTION IV
Death Rites and Rituals
21. The death body shall be covered from forehead to toe with a piece of cloth. A single piece of silver coin shall be placed on the dead person’s forehead. Chimi, light, shall be lighted and a bamboo or wooden cylinder with ‘Chi’, fermented beverage,full to the brim,with the bamboo pipe or straw placed upside down, shall be placed next to the dead person.
22.A competent elder of the village or ‘Boongthing’,a priest,or ‘Mun’, a priestess,with the help of ‘Sanyaol Blee’or bow and arrow,shall pierce opened a small hole on the roof, and facing towards the hole on the roof, shall called the dead person’s personal name aloud three times and his/her ‘Aagit’,clan,’Chu’, mountain,’Da’ lake,and ‘Lyep’, shall also be announced. Name’s of the dead person’s forefathers, ancestors [ grand father or great-grand-father,if already dead] shall also be calledin the case of a male; grand-mother, great- grand mother etc if dead in case of female and request plead them to receive and give a room,place,in ‘Poom Zu’. The village elder or Boongthing or Mun shall also explain to the departed soul,convincingly, about the ultimate truth; that dead is inevitable;we are born to die. The elder/ Boongthing/Mun shall also woo and tell the departed soul to leave this world and go and rest in ‘Poom Zu’ with his/her forefathers and ancestors.
23. On completion of explaining,telling,and requesting the departed soul the ways and methods of the world, the dead body shall be washed with three ‘Kuntek’ leaves and then place the body in a Lepcha bamboo basket in a sitting position. The village elder/Boomthing/Mun shall lead the funeral procession to ‘Chyaok-Dyer’, family/clan cemetery, and shall bury or cremate the dead person in accordance with his/her clan’s custom and ritual. in case of cermation, the ashes, the remains of the human body after cremation, shall be collected after three days and immerse it in the near by river or scattered around the ancestral land. Food and drink shall be offered to the departed soul on the third and seventh day.
24. Non-Lepchas shall not be allowed to share, use the family/clan ‘Chyaok-dyer’. It is sarced to the Lepchas.
25. His/her ‘Sung-lyaon’,death rite and ritual, shall be performed by a ‘Pildon Mun’ within 49 [forty nine] days. ‘Naamthaar’, holy books like ‘Tashey Sung’,’Nyoo Thing Laom Fraon’ etc shall be read and prayers to ‘Rum’, God, shall be offered and request him to take and rest the departed soul with his/her ancestors at ‘Poom Zu’ in peace.
26. Death rite, ‘Sung-Lyaon’. in respect of small childern shall take place, performed, and completed on the seventh day.
SECTION V
House, Ancestral Land, and Property:
27. The house, ancestral land,and property, in accordance with the Lepcha’ Customary Law, on the male linage, shall be inherited and shared in equal proportion by the son/sons after the death of their father. No Lepcha son/sons shall have the right to sell the ancestral land and property to the non-Lepchas, Governments, and institutions.
28. A single Lepcha girl,until she is married, shall have equal rights to the house,
ancestral land, and property of her parents. As soon as she is married to a person, she,automatically, looses, disinherits the claim to her father’s house, ancestral land,and property.She gain the rights to the house, property, and ancestral land of her husband.
29. An unmarried Lepcha daughter/daughters or spinster/spinsters, shall have the right to the house,ancestral land,and property of her parents until her/their death. After the death of the Lepcha spinster/spinsters, the house ancestral land,and property shall be,automatically, inherited by the following, strictly in that order of priority,in equal proportion:
a. Her/their immediate brother/brothers
b. Her/their immediate paternal uncle/uncles
c. Her/their immediate paternal/nephew/nephews
The house, ancestral land,and property shall not be sold out to the non-Lepchas,
Governments, and institutions.
30. House Bridegroom: With consultation and advice from close family members, elders and Lepcha Village Association, a parents without a son, may bring and keep their Lepcha son-in-law, if any, only to their house as the House Bridegroom, if he his happy and willing to accept the position. They,House Bridegroom and his wife, shall have the right to the house,ancestral land,and property of the in-laws after their death.The House Bridegroom and family shall have no right to sell the house, ancestral land,and property of his in-laws to any-body expect to the immediate family members of his in-laws on male linage only on exceptional ground.
31.If a daughter is married to a Lepcha in accordance with a traditional Lepcha marriage ceremony and if her husband is a poor Lepcha without a house, land, and property, her parents in consultation with their son’s and immediate next-of-kins on the male linage, village elders, and Lepcha Village Association, if they have enough land, and if they are all happy and wilingto help their daughter/sister for her survival, may gift a small portion of their ancestral land to their daughter/sister. The newly gifted ancestral land shall not be sold out to the non-LepchasGovernments, and institutions.
32. A Lepcha couple without a son/adopted son [ Section II,paragraph 7], the house,
ancestral land,and property on the male linage shall be inherited by the immediate brothers and in case there is no brother/brothers than the immediate nephew/nephews [ son/sons of his brother ] with the same ‘Aagit’, clan, ‘Chyoo’, mountain, ‘Da’, lake, shall be entitled to inherit in equal proportion after their death.The ancestral land and property shall not be sold out, to the non-Lepchas/Governments/ institution.
33. The house, ancestral land and property in accordance with the Lepcha Customary Law on the female linage, if any, shall be inherited by a daughter/daughters under the following condition and priority only:
a. Single, unmarried daughter/daughters or spinster/spinsters only
b. Daughter/daughters married within the Lepcha community only
34. A daughter or daughters shall forefeit the house, ancestral land and property on the on the female linage, if any, under the following condition:
a. If a daughter/Daughters shall marry outside the Lepcha community with non-Lepchas.
b. If a daughter becomes insane.
35. If Section V, paragraph 33, subparagraph a and b are not fulfilled then the house, ancestral land, property, on the the female linage, shall be inherited in equal propertion by the following in that order of priority:
a. Immediate brother or brothers (from the same parents)
b. Immediate nephew or nephews (brother’s son/sons/brothers’ son/sons)
36. Lepcha Widow : In accordance with the Lepcha Customaty Law, a Lepcha widow has the privilege, entitlement and right to her deceased husband’s house ancestral land and property until her death; however, she has no right to alter or register the ancestral land, house and property of her deceased husband in her name with the Government because the house ancestral land and property shall be inherited, given transferred and registered in the name of their son or sons.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Updates from Kolkata
75 lepchas out of which 11 are ladies have been arrested form Mear Road,Gandhi Statue, Kolkata, and are been proceeded to Presidency Jail.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Medical Camping at Lyang Sa, Kalimpong
A big medical camping was organised and carried out on 1 May 2011 at Lyang Sa, Kalimpong. The Lepchas from neighbouring villages, ‘Lyang Sa Kaa’ and ‘Da Yaon’ also joined in. There were altogether 128 Lepchas, young and old, who came to seek medical treatment and advice from the doctors. The following doctors from Kalimpong readily volunteered to do the medical camping:
1. Dr. Gyalmit Lepcha
2. Dr. Sharon Foning Lepcha
3. Dr. N. Ghose
4. Dr. P. Biswas
5. Dr. P. Chhetri
The aim and objective was:
1. To educate the Lepchas on their general health. The two Lepcha lady doctors emphasised on the negative effect of drinking excessive ‘Chyee’, liqueur, on individual Lepcha, family and the community. ‘Give up Chyee’ was their slogan and earnest appeal to the Lepchas.
2. To encourage the Lepchas to see the Medic, Lyang Sa Lepcha Dispensary when needed and through the Lyang Sa Lepcha Village Association and Medic to seek proper medical advice and treatment from the Lepcha doctors in Kalimpong. The Lepcha lady doctors gave their words to help them if they come to Kalimpong for medical treatment.
3. To give free medical treatment and medicines by the doctors on the day. Dr Sharon Foning Lepcha provided free medicines (three big cartoons) to the patients on the day.
4. To help and advise the Lepcha Medic on simple and practical medical ‘system’.
It took four hours for five doctors to examine and treat the patients. Dr. Sharon Foning Lepcha at the end of medical camping addressed the Lepchas and said that the general health of Lepcha people in the area was generally good except:
1. High blood pressure among the senior citizens is most common because of ‘Chyee’.
2. Pregnant women are not consulting or seeking the doctors’advice. Lepcha women are still giving birth to their children by swinging on the ropes during labour and child birth, an old, ancient method which is not acceptable in the 21st Century!
The five doctors who have carried out many medical camps else where, it was learnt later that it was their first visit to a remote Lepcha village to conduct medical camping. They were really overwhelmed by the reception and welcome they received from the Lepchas at Lyang Sa Village. It was, in fact, their life time experience with the Lepchas. The five doctors also thoroughly enjoyed the medical camping at Lyang Sa.
To conclude, the Lyang Sa Lepcha Village Association and the Medic now has direct access to the two Lepcha lady doctors in Kalimpong. This will help them a lot in sorting out their emergency medical treatments and problems in the future.
The Medical Camping on 1 May 2011 was a grand success.
The Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association would like to thank the the following for organising the first ever medical camping at a remote Lepcha villages in Kalimpong:
Ren Michael Way - for mooting the idea of medical camping and sponsoring it.
Ren Dawa Tshering Lepcha - for his superb administrative arrangement.
A Staff Reporter
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