Binita (name changed) in a remote village from the small
market place of the big Monastery, Tashiding was difficult to reach. Her
Grandparents wanted to marry off the 14 years old girl to a rather rich man in
Nepal, belonging to the same caste. Her mother did not agree as she had faced
the burden of bearing children at an early age. The mother and daughter were
running a small temporary shop at Tashiding during the festival of Bumchu. This
is the biggest festival of the East Himalaya agrarian society which attracts
pilgrims and believers from across Bhutan, Nepal and Darjeeling Hills. It was
after the festival that we went with them to their village, to reach them with
their left over and belongings from the temporary tea shop to their village. It
is here that we learnt that the mother and daughter did not agree as the
Government of Sikkim not only looked after her education, but she was eligible
to all facilities free from the Government till the time she studied and even
for her motherhood and child care after the age of 23.
.JPG)
Unlike the rest of India, where the family mother and
daughter had to fight against an age old social system for marriage of a girl
child, here there was the most innovative system built in by the good policies
of the Sikkim Government. There were more surprises when the Sikkim Chief
Minister, Shri.Pawan Chamling had come to inaugurate 03 days MCCS Gitanjali
Mango Festival and ACT Rural Tourism Mart at Siliguri during 7th of
June, 2013 and announced his next program to launch the ‘Pavitra Kranti’, a
revolution from the sacred land where the quality of life for the Sikkimese
Indian has been confirmed to be the best in the country. Also the Peace factor,
which is the prime jewel in tourism development, has been rewarded number of
times.
.JPG)
The concept of Pavitra Kranti which Shri.Chamling launched at
the 3rd MCCS Gitanjali Mango Festival at Siliguri, he explained that
it is his dream to make the life of every Sikkimese Indian to be Pavitra in all
terms, in his words “ecotourism and organic farming is the way of life in a
Sikkim Village, the Forest Department has confirmed zero tree felling and zero
cattle grazing in Protected Area of
Sikkim, killing of any wild animal or use of diclofenac and pesticides has been
stopped, through conservation of nature and deep rooted traditions combined
with good medical treatment, we have achieved some of our goals”. He further
added “through the concept of Khangchendzonga Region International Ecotourism
Park, I wish to spread this sacred green revolution to the entire region
covered under this landscape”.
Sikkim Tourism History
In page 60 of the
Sikkim Darbar Gazette, it mentions the entry conditions to Sikkim as per the
Darbar of the Maharaja of Sikkim. Great secret journeys were then taken up by
several Pundits, which is the only authentic record of the landscape of the
Himalayan Kingdoms, Sikkim and Tibet. Several English people did take up such
journeys but their record was specific to the opportunities of financial wealth
and a very western documentation of the then Governance of the Kingdoms.
NOTIFICATION
- Any person who needs
a permit for entry into Tibet and makes an unauthorised entry through Sikkim is
liable to simple imprisonment which may extend up to one month or fine of Rs.
500/- or both. Any person assisting such a person to make an unauthorised entry
whether personally permitted to do so with or without a permit is liable to
similar punishment.
J. S. LALL, ICS
7.8.1950
Dewan, Sikkim State
For the purpose of tourism, the first
Foreign group consisting of US citizens, under the leadership of Donnel
Ferguson made it to Sikkim in 1954.
Sikkim
became a part of India in 1975 and tourism was thought about sometimes in 1985,
almost a century after Darjeeling. In the early days of tourism, Darjeeling
played a major role, as a few Foreign groups did day visit Gangtok from
Darjeeling. Gradually, overnight and 02 nights halt at Gangtok became a trend
in the late 80s. The Hotel Managers of Tashi Delek, Norkhill, Mayur etc went on
Christmas picnic to Tsomgo Lake. This was the time when I said that let us make
this a day excursion for visitors to Gangtok, so that the number of nighthalts
increases. There was not much of a permit procedure, with friends and tourists,
I often made it to Tsomgo lake, Kupup Lake and Memencho Lake. I remember spending
some full moon nights at Tsomgo Lake with army friends to see if the legend
lives, ‘the King and Queen of Sikkim visited the Lake on horseback on a certain
full moon night, a golden temple would rise from the waters of the holy Lake’. I
still remember some of the numbers of the first Maruti Vans on MG Marg, SK-04 0016..0019..0021...all
of them were owner driven taxis, the other day I met Kailash Daju at Bagdogra,
both of us became nostalgic...Sikkim has been my first love in tourism, it
still continues.
