It was not until I received copies from the Director of Namgyal Institute of Tibetology that I could know what the Bulletin of Tibetology is presently all about though I had seen its copies displayed in Rachna books. When former Law Secretary Sri Bhim Raj Pradhan visited with his family accompanied by Dr. Kumar Pradhan for unwinding after the hectic 3-day Conference with seminars on Indian Nepalis last month, he expressed his surprise its being still published and on sale. Had the recent issue (Volume 41 No. 1 May 2005) been seen earlier, I would have certainly suggested him to start getting its copies once again even by subscribing to it.
It is not only because of the superb article on the Ritual and identity in the diaspora: the Newars in Sikkim by Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha of the Leiden University of the Netherlands but also for other informative articles featured therein. We are still amazed what made Dr. Shrestha part with to share with the Institute in reaching readers through this Bulletin. Otherwise, it was the material for his forthcoming book on the research he did painstakingly by making his a month-long stay amidst us worthwhile by visiting almost all the prominent family of this particular section of the society.
The Newars in Sikkim has always been a source of curiosity for their contribution far and wide over the ages but yet to be acknowledged at such an international level. This was the first ever study on this particular minority section of the society that hardly forms six percent of the population here. Presently they may be politically miniscule that does not deserve to be reckoned with for its due share even barring a few stray cases but socially their presence is historic even to this day. Many still find them in an envious position for the dedication and loyalty they have earned that really makes them wonder how they are not the stuff that make them otherwise seeking place inside a Ghyampa or large pitcher at times of need! This could be the reason why serious research scholars working on Sikkim do not forget to include the Newars in their studies and why offers come to them for publishing the findings from all quarters in return as the dividend. We wish someone gets inspired reading the article to go on further in researching the Newars in Sikkim from the days they landed here invited. Ignorance or ignoring facts may not be fruitful but jeopardize overall development of our society.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
Douglas
It was Yangthang Kothi scion Mr Dorjee Dadul who brought this article to my notice when we met during the official function that was held in the Chintan Bhavan here for celebrating 32nd anniversary of the statehood that Sikkim became a constituent unit of India after a massive people’s mandate through a Special Poll (referendum) on April 14, 1975 and a series of quick and successive processes that followed. Mr. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, did not forget to make a note of this in the august gathering that included the Governor of Sikkim, Mr. V. Rama Rao. It would, of course, not be out of context if a mention is made here that some prominent usually avoid attending such State functions in spite of their being in high ranking posts in the Government. They were conspicuous by their absence this time as well. It is a malady. No amount of cajole, strong words or otherwise makes them bring to such gatherings. It was during one of my courtesy calls while serving on deputation in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to the Governor of Sikkim, Mr. V. Rama Rao had shown me a copy of the Bulletin on his table that contained certain portion in an article and expressed his displeasure on how irresponsibly our senior officers in position act sometimes.
I could come to know of Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha through his article The Newars – the Indigenous Population of the Kathmandu Valley in the Modern State of Nepal in the Newar Vijnana : the Journal of Newar Studies (No. 2 for the year Nepal Samvat 1119/ 1998-1999AD) edited by Mr. Daya Ratna Shakya and Dr. Gaurishankar Manandhar published from Portland in Oregon, United States of America. It was based on the talk Dr. Shrestha delivered in Munster and later in the Harvard University on April 17, 1998. I too did not delay and brought out for the benefit of my kith and kin by translating into Nepali and including it in the souvenir, Smarika that commemorated my father’s Sahasrachandradarshanam, Maharatharohan or Jankwa for accomplishing sighting of 1000 full moons in his life in May 2000. He could know of and get a copy of the Smarika only when he met me during his study here.
He was with us for about a month for his studies being sponsored by Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) of Tribhuvan University and also supported by Cambridge University. It was on the eve of his departure that we had the opportunity to felicitate him for his contributions and taking pains for the benefit of the Newars in Sikkim with our traditional Bhatgaunle Tupli and a citation framed in Kumari Jhyal under the auspices of our family trust, Karuna Devi Smarak Dharmarth Guthi on February 27, 2004. As a souvenir he presented us the only copy with him of his The Ritual Composition of Sankhu (ISBN 90-9016170-8). Sankhu is the place in the Kathmandu valley to which he belongs and from where my own ancestors originally came from.
We had to wait all these two years to know the outcome (through the pages of the Bulletin) much to the benefit of all interested that shortens our longing for the report in the shape of a book for which Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha is still working with one more support from / in Ascona ( at the Centro Incontri Umani), Switzerland. A great scholarly task and no need to wonder how come the Newars in the Bulletin of Tibetology!
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology has done really an onerous task by bringing this to light. (May 23, 2006)
If you don't write book you have to write, everything breaks.
A.M. Homes
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I could come to know of Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha through his article The Newars – the Indigenous Population of the Kathmandu Valley in the Modern State of Nepal in the Newar Vijnana : the Journal of Newar Studies (No. 2 for the year Nepal Samvat 1119/ 1998-1999AD) edited by Mr. Daya Ratna Shakya and Dr. Gaurishankar Manandhar published from Portland in Oregon, United States of America. It was based on the talk Dr. Shrestha delivered in Munster and later in the Harvard University on April 17, 1998. I too did not delay and brought out for the benefit of my kith and kin by translating into Nepali and including it in the souvenir, Smarika that commemorated my father’s Sahasrachandradarshanam, Maharatharohan or Jankwa for accomplishing sighting of 1000 full moons in his life in May 2000. He could know of and get a copy of the Smarika only when he met me during his study here.
He was with us for about a month for his studies being sponsored by Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) of Tribhuvan University and also supported by Cambridge University. It was on the eve of his departure that we had the opportunity to felicitate him for his contributions and taking pains for the benefit of the Newars in Sikkim with our traditional Bhatgaunle Tupli and a citation framed in Kumari Jhyal under the auspices of our family trust, Karuna Devi Smarak Dharmarth Guthi on February 27, 2004. As a souvenir he presented us the only copy with him of his The Ritual Composition of Sankhu (ISBN 90-9016170-8). Sankhu is the place in the Kathmandu valley to which he belongs and from where my own ancestors originally came from.
We had to wait all these two years to know the outcome (through the pages of the Bulletin) much to the benefit of all interested that shortens our longing for the report in the shape of a book for which Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha is still working with one more support from / in Ascona ( at the Centro Incontri Umani), Switzerland. A great scholarly task and no need to wonder how come the Newars in the Bulletin of Tibetology!
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology has done really an onerous task by bringing this to light. (May 23, 2006)
If you don't write book you have to write, everything breaks.
A.M. Homes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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