Pang Lhabsol-A Lepcha's take

The two rong festivals taken up by the denjongpas are “Pang Lhabsol” and “Kagyet dances”. When coaxing the native Lepchas to accept them within their fold , Khye Bhumsa , the far sighted and intelligent ancestor of the kings of Sikkim had accepted the conditions laid down by Thekong Tek among which were the CHYU  RUM FAAT and gave it a glorious name “Pang Lhabsol”. Pang Lhabsol means “come to witness the thanksgiving”.

To start off the ceremony and the function of the “Pang Lhabsol” the traditional royal Bongthing comes from Dzongu for the propiation of the Gyapdut (Yabdu) who is supposed to come up from the plains. Yabdu is considered as the deity who gaurds the southern gate of the Kingdom. The worship (by a local bongthing) is undertaken from a high hill above the Golma forest near Sevoke Kalijhora (Suvok) overlooking the plains of the Zo lashi. –REN ARTHUR FONING (LEPCHAS MY VANISHING TRIBE)

The worship of Yabdu and Dzonga (the supreme guardian deity of Sikkim) together make up the “pang Lhabsol” as we know today. The Pang toed Chaam introduced by the third Chogyal Chyagdor Namgyal (early 18^th century)performed during the Pang Lhabsol festival involves the invocation of the two main deities mentioned above. Earlier this Chaam used to be done at the grounds of the “Tshuk La Khang” but after its discontinuance it has been taken up by the Karma Kagyu Monastery of Ralong, South Sikkim.

An observation of the Lepcha festival of the Chyu Rum Faat or the worship of the great Lepcha protector mountain KONGCHEN KUNGLHO reveals that the general idea behind the “Pang Lhabsol” is but almost similar to the Lepcha worship. The Pang Lhabsol is said to have its origins to the first invocation done by Lhatsun Chempo who entered this area through the western side. But yet again it took the third Chogyal to institutionalize this festival and introduce the Pangtoed Chaam. Here too it maybe noticed that the invocation is for protection very similar to the lines of the Chyu Rum Faat.

Chyagdor Namgyal (the third Chogyal) had fled the state to Lhasa with one Yukthing Tishey during the intrigue initiated by his half sister Pendi Wangmoo. It is mentioned that he underwent rigorous religious training in Lhasa and also became the royal astrologer to the Dalai Lama. He was also granted Magisterial rights to some estates there. So when he returned the occupying Bhutanese forces (up to Mangbru) retreated (no plausible reason cited so far) across the Singtam but the Kingdom lost the region Kalimpong (Dumsong) for ever. There are other sources that claim Gyelpa Achog (Punu Gaybu Achyok) of Dumsong had a major hand in this retreat. The general Public morale of a Kingdom whose king had fled the nation leaving the Lepcha (Rongkups) citizens to fend for themselves deserved a new rejuvenating event which re-laid the lost nationalism in the souls of the recently defeated citizens. Thus was born the only “true Sikkimese” festival of Pang Lhabsol- a festival that inculcated local religious elements and Buddhist elements that appealed to both the Rongs and the Lhopos.

LEPCHA Gorkhas??

Khamri RENYU/RENSONG.

             It is with much regret and disappointment that we have come to realize the futility of our efforts in the issue of the non recruitment of the Lepcha candidates in the “RIFLEMAN /RECRUIT IN EASTERN FRONTIER RIFLES, WEST BENGAL ”. It has come to our notice that the Lepcha candidates who had cleared the recruitment process were asked to submit “Gorkha certificates” failing which they were asked to submit “Sikkimese” certificate. The entire selection process has come up with series of discrepancies.
                     The Recruitment notice clearly states that the selection is restricted to “Gorkhas” and Jharuas ((and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) yet the panel for recruitment admitted Lepcha candidates’ application and no one noticed the error which clearly elaborates the fact that the panel was not aware of Lepchas status as a Scheduled Tribe (non-gorkha) in the State even though the EFR is a state paramilitary unit. The successful Lepcha candidates were asked to submit “Sikkimese” certificate which is but another major discrepancy as the recruitment notice does clearly mentions that the applications are invited from Gorkhas and Jharuas (and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) only. No where in the notice is there any reference to the word “Sikkimese”.

As you may be well aware that the Lepchas (scheduled under Article 342 of the Constitution of India and West Bengal Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Recognition (Identification) Act, 1994 & SC STs Welfare department Order No.261-TW/EC/MR=103/94 dated 06.04.1995) are the indigenous and the original tribe of the Darjeeling district hills, so categorizing the Lepchas under the head “Sikkimese” with no official notification is inconsistent with the above mentioned constitutional recognition.

Article 371-F was included in the Indian Constitution according to 36th Amendment Act in the year 1975, which were the condition and an agreement between the people of Sikkim and the Indian Union for the merger. In the same manner, Article 371-F (k) protects old laws of Sikkim . Under the same, the definition of the term “Sikkimese” has different Constitutional implication. As such the West Bengal Government cannot issue a certificate to the effect.

The clubbing of Lepchas of Darjeeling Hill District as “Sikkimese” as highly confusing which has adverse ramifications in the near future to the “sons of soil” of the region.

About 400 members of Kalimpong and Darjeeling Lepcha Shejum has gone down to Silguri to protest this discrepancy. The Hunger strike is likely to start from 10.08.2010 In the Tenzing Norgay Bus stand in Siliguri.

NURSYING LEPCHA ...first RONGCHYO lupon

Pundit Nursying Lepcha (Fonningmoo) of Pakyoung Sikkim was appointed as a Lepcha language teacher in the Bhutia Boarding School, Gangtok in 1913. He was the first Lepcha language teacher of a recognized school in Sikkim. His service was terminated when the Maharajah of Sikkim Tashi Namgyal decided that Hindi instead of Lepcha should be taught in the school.

In the testimonials 3 different spellings of his name has been used. Shri Sidkeong Tulku And Shri Tashi Namgyal wrote the name as “Narsing Lepcha” JU Turner (the Civil Surgeon and Superintendent of Vaccination at the Sikkim Agency Gangtok spelt his name as Nar Singh Lepcha. A Dracote on December 10 1915 wrote his name as NURSING LEPCHA

A Dracote wrote in her testimonial “the lepcha language and people may pass out of the world without a fuller record being kept than those already exist but which are very incomplete.” The then Maharajah of Sikkim Shri Tashi Namgyal was almost apologetic and regretful to see Pandit Nursying Lepcha go.

Office order No.8 of 1913-14

            Narsing Lepcha is appointed as a Lepcha Teacher of the Bhutia Boarding School on Rs. 15/- per month with effect from the date on which he will join the School.

Dated Gangtok,

The ………June 1913                                                  Signed

                                                                                    S. Tulku

                                                                                    (Maharaj Kumar of Sikkim)

Memo No.172/m

Dated Gangtok, the 9^th June 1913

            Copy forwarded to Narsing Lepcha through Munshi Timbu for his information and guidance. Nursing Lepcha should report himself for duties to the Headmaster of the Bhutia Boarding School at an early date.

                                                                       

                                                            (Maharaj Kumar of Sikkim)

 CERTIFICATE

Pandit Nursing Lepcha served in the Bhutia Boarding School for the last two years or so as a Lepcha Teacher. The services rendered by him were quite satisfactory. I was told that he is about the best Lepcha knowing man in Sikkim. I am sorry that I had to leave him as it has been decided to teach Hindi Language to the Bhutia boys instead of Lepcha.

                                                            Sd/ Tashi Namgyal

                                                            Maharajah of Sikkim