The political void of early 60’s and letter of Late Kazini Eliza Maria to Late Brihaspati Parsai

The early 60’s of the last century can be considered as the concluding segment of the tug of war that was prevalent between the political parties of Sikkim and the Sikkim Durbar. It can be articulated that, the period had accurately witnessed “King can do no wrong” as far as the Sikkimese administration was concerned. The Executive Councillors had served for seven years without any break. However, as per the provision, there had to be an election in 1962; but, was postponed for an indefinite period due to the “Chinese encroachments”. From the study it appears that, there was no political party except the Sikkim National Congress of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee which repeatedly clamoured for the political reforms. The political situation of the erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom was thence standing on the edge which is evident from the reports of Kanchenjunga. The monthly Nepali news based journal states:

“…The Chogyal had in accordance to the advice rendered by different political parties, said that political reforms will be carried out or else like 1958’s law of election will be conducted....while looking at the demands of the political parties, all the parties are unanimous in one matter of election which was to be conducted in 1961 and was not be postponed further.....but, when it comes to the formation of the Council, rules regulating election, administration etc., the parties are not unanimous. If the ruler and the different parties do not listen to each other this critical situation will definitely harm the multi-faceted progress of the country” [i]

Though, Kanchenjunga [ii] blamed Sikkim National Congress along with other political parties for maintaining silence against the introduction of reservation on the basis of caste and race, it appears that, the Sikkim National Congress had made some clatters. But, as usual their opposition went unheard as the other two parties namely Sikkim National Party and Sikkim State Congress remained hushed and muted and were busy in proving them as  good and obedient parties to the Durbar.

The photograph attached with this post is a letter from Kazini Eliza Maria of Chakhung to late Mr. Brihaspati Parsai of Namli village East Sikkim. The latter was one of the founding members of Sikkim State Congress founded in December 1947 with a purpose of liquidating feudalism from the very root of Sikkim. It is evident from the letter that late Brihaspati Parsai had invited the Kazi couple for the marriage of their son to his residence at Namli village. However, the Kazini was unable to make her presence with her husband due to ‘ridiculous attitude of Sikkim Durbar’. It is interesting to note that the letter was dispatched from Chakhung House Kalimpong; the unofficial headquarter of Sikkim National Congress. It indicates that the entry of the Kazi couple to Sikkim was banned at that juncture for some unknown reasons and she is hopeful to meet her relations in Sikkim after the riddance of “nonsense”.  

I am quite sure that the Kazi couple was not allowed in getting into Sikkim after the publication of Bulletin No.2 of 26^th January 1972 through which the Sikkim National Congress had a mocking criticism against the Chogyal and the Sikkimese administration. A line published in Bulletin No.2 of the Sikkim National Congress says:

“It should always be borne in mind that there can be no King without people, but conversely there are many countries today which have people without Kings”.[iii]

 

Document acquired from Mr. N.B. Parsai of Namin village East Sikkim

The line quoted above from Bulletin No. 2 was more than adequate to get exiled in a monarchical set up. However, it materializes that the earlier banishment, indicated in this letter was certainly for raising the voices of the majority, where the Kazi probably was reluctant to accept the Durbar diversion of “divide and rule”. Probably he could sniff the tang of prejudice in the approaches of the palace and remained unbending with his democratic ethos and in all probabilities his democratic values were responsible for ‘ridiculous attitude of Sikkim Durbar’.

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[i] Kanchenjunga, Vol.6 No.26 15^th November 1965 Editorial page of the Journal

[ii] Kanchenjunga  Vol.6, No.9 15^th January 1966 pp120-121

[iii] Kazi, L.D. ‘Sikkim at the Crossroads’, (A Party Bulletin) Published by Sikkim National Congress, Bulletin No.2/1972, 26^th January 1972, Gangtok p2

Government Senior Secondary School Ranipool- A Story of its Establishment

Ranipool School at Ghatttey Hill  in the 60's

Since my school days I was always curious to know about the founder of the school from where I got into the world of knowledge and acquaintance. It was indeed a slumbered historical sense that was at its initial stage which forced me to know much about the founder of my school. I also had a big question on my infant mind why my school was entitled as Ghattey School? Few people informed me that before the establishment of a school at the earlier site there used to be a Pani Ghatta (Grinding machine that runs with water power) and the place was thence known as Ghattey Dara (Ghattey Hill). Hence after the commencement of a Primary School at the Ghattey Hill the school got its name as Ghattey School. Few others informed me that the school was founded by a person from Namli called Brihaspati Parsai. This was the only knowledge that I had been able to acquire about Government Senior Secondary School Ranipool before I accomplished my Twelfth Standard.

Teachers' and Students' in the 60's

Late Brihaspati Parsai collecting funds for the School 

To acquire more knowledge about Government Sr. Sec. School Ranipool I decided to meet the descendents of the founder of my School during my fieldwork. I met Mr. N. B Parsai one of the sons of Late Brihaspati Parsai from whom I had been able to extract many unheard and unknown facts about the establishment of the said school. According to him the founder of Ghattey School Late Brihaspati Parsai had never seen any schools in his childhood. During the construction of NH 31A he worked there as a labour and later became an A Class contractor. In 1944 as a contractor he took up the task of “Cutting off Land” where he had to suffer a heavy loss. The Officer of Public Works Department Fakir Chand Jali (who was also the First Overseer and First Chief Engineer of Sikkim) told him that he incurred loss owing to his lack of knowledge in English language. That incident was a turning point for the foundation of Ranipool School. Immediately after this event Late Parsai with the help of a supervisor started a school in 1945 at Labours’ Quarter. Later Brihaspati Parsai asked a piece of land from one Langadey (Limp) Kazi for the construction of a school. The Kazi was kind enough to donate a piece of land to start a school at Ghattey Dara. Thus, the foundation of Ranipool School was laid with the efforts of an illiterate at the Ghattey Hill.

Mr. N. B Parsai has given me additional information about the first teachers of this school. According to him, Late Jayadev Sharma of Rumtek and Damber Gurung were the first teachers to serve Ranipool School. He further updated me that the school was once visited by Maharajkumar Sahib Palden Thondup Namgyal. “It was in the summer of 1946 a Wyllian Jeep came to the school compound and a gentleman in a royal costume came out of it. We did not pay much heed to know about him as we were busy in playing. The gentleman looked us for a while and moved into the office. Within a minute Jaydev Sir came out and introduced him as Maharajkumar Sahib. Maharajkumar Sahib Palden Thondup Namgyal encouraged our teachers to impart good education to the children. It was indeed a great moment for all the students to get a glimpse of the Maharajkumar Sahib at our School Compound”.

Welcoming the dignitaries during an event in the 60's 

Late Brihaspati Parsai had a deep lament that he could not study therefore; he had a determined thought that the children of peasants would be suppressed until they do not get education. Hence, with the intention of educating everybody he raised donation to run the Ghattey Hillock School. For several years he himself paid the salary for the teachers and other staff. Later the Royal Palace turned the Ghattey Hill School into a government aided institution and began to provide a grant of Rs. 30/- per month. But, the sanctioned amount from the Royal Sikkim Government was not enough to run a full fledged school. Therefore, late Brihaspati Parsai moved from door to door asking for donation for the salary of the teachers.All the students of today’s Brihaspati Parsai Memorial Senior Secondary School are greatly indebted to its illiterate founder who had an extreme faith in educating the masses for a colossal change.

Students and Teachers with new furniture on the day of becoming a Govt. aided school

Recent picture of Brihaspati Parsai Memorial School 

Respecting the contributions of Late Brihaspati Parsai to impart modern education among the peasantry of Sikkim the Sikkim Government has changed the name of Government Sr. Secondary School Ranipool as Brihaspati Parsai Memorial Senior Secondary School. For the encouragement among the students the Parsai family of Namli is providing a scholarship of Rs. 10,000/- each every year for the best two students of the school founded by their grandpa late Brihaspati Parsai.

Brihaspati Parsai- The Peasant Leader of Sikkim

Late Brihaspati Parsai addressing peasants at Rangpo during Satyagraha

Late Brihaspati Parsai a.k.a Parsai Bajey was born on 30^th June 1899 at Karkaley Pipaley village of Mechi district of Nepal. At the age of seven he lost his father Tikaram Parsai and two of his brothers due to chickenpox. In frustration, his mother decided to leave their original place and took 10 years old Brihaspati to the plains of Jhapa in Nepal. There young Brihaspati lost his mother due to malaria and became a total orphan. After hiding the corpse of his mother at a forest at a place called Chandragadi in Jhapa district, the young lad moved further east and reached Silagadi (now the place is known as Siliguri). He stayed at Silagadi for a year and thought of entering Sikkim. Coincidentally, he met a bullock carts’ caravan moving towards Sikkim and by pursuing it he reached lower Martam (32 Number the place is also called Middle Camp). It was at Martam the orphan met Chandrasingh Bhansari a Thikadar (Contractor) of Martam Estate who took him home and gave him the task of shepherd. Impressed by his truthfulness and diligence, the Thikadar gave one of his daughters Chulmaya in marriage to Brihaspati. After his marriage he bought a piece of land at Namli, a village near Ranipool and began to live a life of a householder.

Late Parsai (sitting) with L.D Kazi (Right to him)

After the conclusion of First World War Sikkimese peasants also began to witness little development in their Kingdom. It was during this period the construction of auto able road from Siliguri to Gangtok commenced which is now known as NH 31 A. Brihaspati also began to work as a coolie in the construction process, and then he became a supervisor and finally a contractor. He was a founder member of Sikkim State Congress and also an educational enthusiast who had played a vital role for the foundation of Ranipool School at Ghattey Hill. His contributions and efforts for the foundation of said school will soon be updated in the blog. After the formation of Sikkim State Congress on 7^th December 1947 late Parsai unconditionally threw him in politics. He became the Publicity Secretary of the newly founded Sikkim State Congress and began to raise his voice against the vices of feudalism like Kalobhari, Jharlangi, Theki Bethi, Kuruwa and Ghar-Lauri. In the beginning, the Central Office of Sikkim State Congress was raised at Rangpo. Due to his witty and mocking speech against the exploitation he was arrested during Satyagraha of 1949 at Rangpo and was put behind the bars for 62 days.

Parsai leading a procession at Singtam in 1961

Late Parsai played a vital role for the elimination of parity system from Sikkim. During agitation of 1973, he led a procession to the Sikkim Palace which was thence asking for one man one vote. The Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal coming out of the palace questioned late Parsai “What do you want?” He answered “We want the King, we do not want the Councillors, and we need Ministry, not one man six votes but one man one vote”. It is to be noted here that the greatest cause for dissatisfaction of the peasants during the agitation of 1973 was the notorious Parity System in Sikkim.

People gathered at Alley Ground Namchi to listened to Late Parsai

During my field work I got an opportunity to meet one of his sons Mr. N. B Parsai an ex- teacher who also has a greater involvement for the development of Ghattey Hill School. He has informed me that his father was a person who always believed in the theory of Karma enunciated by the Upanishads. It is because of this philosophy of Upanishad he had been able to contribute a greater part of his life for the liberation of the Sikkimese subjects from the clutches of Kazism and Thikadarism. Many of his contemporaries have informed me that he was a brawny politician who used to speak as if he has nothing to loose in this world. Most of such contemporaries were inspired by his flamboyant speech consequently they joined late Parsai to uproot the evils of forced labour from Sikkim.  This stalwart of Sikkimese politics died at the age of 80 on the evening of 9^th June 1979 at his residence at Namli in East Sikkim.