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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

 - DEPLETING ALARMINGLY DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT


New motorable roads are being randomly opened in sensitive hillocks instead of repairing  the old ones – thereby hundreds of Rhododendron and Sorbus spp forest have been massacred

There is considered opinion about the fact that Darjeeling Hilly Region is one of the richest biological reservoirs  among  the other hilly regions in the country. As far as record tells  us that the richness of its  biodiversity is due primarily to its great climatic variations and corresponding to the diverse habitats. Much of the interesting factors that contribute to its  wonderfully attractiveness  of this sub- Himalaya Region lies in the possibilities  of seeing a vast varieties of plant species, animals, birds, butterflies, insects within a short distance. It is nothing but the altitude that causes to happen various climatic conditions at different heights which further combine together to create contrast in forest formation, topography and the physiographic of the land surface, soil type, habitat of animals, availability of varieties of food for biotic components. Geo-climatic variation is so finely defined that an ordinary lay man living in the vicinity of the forest could  tell  the occurrence of particular species of plants, animals ,birds etc at certain pockets of the hilly region very easily and  accurately. Sultry hot climate of the tropical zones to the freezing zones of the semi- Alpine Region are the diverse climatic factors in which diverse biological components are known to occur enabling them to  not only survive but they have become successful in their life cycle in the best niche. . Inspite  of all these natural factors combined together to harbor a vast variety of flora-fauna, avifauna in the hills of Darjeeling a number of certain species of these are becoming endangered and their   presence in the physical environment at this present situation. counts to be very scarce.. The tragic scenario is such that some of the plants, animals, birds have become very much threatened and if the trend is not checked in time and concerted efforts are not being  made for reverse the ensuing trend these species will surely get extinct from this area for good. If these tragic scenarios are allowed to happen due to our apathy and selfishness the loss will be a ecologically disastrous in years to come as these species will be extinct before we could assess its scientific, ecological , medicinal, and economical values.

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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

                        The bell rings; the flag drops; hurtling round the tracks in billows of dust come 4 or 5 ponies ridden at desperate speed and with savage concentration of fierce little jockeys, brilliantly liveried in scarlets and yellows, visors low over their eyes rocketing around the little track, as the crowd roar with excitement, until they shoot out of sight, with cheers, laughter, catcalls behind the grandstand and off the course. The Lebong races came to an end in the mid eighties bowing out to the political turmoil, which rocked the hills. 

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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

"A pinch of tobacco, rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at other"

Wonderfully described definition of a cigarette.

Michael Jordan, a basketball legend and entrepreneur has smoked himself into a controversy last year. His enjoyment of cigars is no secret, but now after recent photos of Jordan on some new websites and magazines showed up with Jordan puffing away on a cigar at a celebrity soft ball game.
"When high profile people publicly display unhealthy habits they can mislead young people to emulate their behaviour."

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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

Himalaya Darpan, a local daily yesterday published an open letter addressed to GJM President Mr. Bimal Gurung. Since the writer happens to be Mr. Rajnarayan Pradhan one of the respected and senior writers in the hills. I have tried to translate the contents of the letter for wider readers of Darjeelingtimes. The letter was poetic and elegiac in nature; so the actual sensation, admittedly, may have gone astray in transition. Still, the intent of those verses, I believe (I tried my best), should still be secure and there to be found. He has ended his original letter with Agam Singh Giri’s poem and I could not muster enough courage to translate that part.

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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

                          The original building was constructed in 1881which more or less looked like a wooden ranch, it was redesigned in1891 (see pictures). As the building too looked much like a barn house as described by Lord Ronaldsay the directors were prompted to revise a plan in 1921 to rebuild the station.  In 1934 a severe earthquake occurred in Darjeeling damaging many buildings. The upper floor of the Darjeeling Railway Station was badly damaged as a result the height of the building had to be reduced diminishing whatever grace the building had. It looked ungainly and dwarf like, by 1944 the building was at the point of collapse. Funds were garnered and organized and the dismantling of the old station began in 1945. While the work was being undertaken the stoned portion of the building collapsed killing two Bhutia workmen. The contractor was fined and asked to compensate their families. Again in 1947 the right bay platform roof collapsed in the southern end of the construction killing a man and injuring another. The contractor had prematurely removed the wooden shutters against the advice of Mr. Banshidhar Dixit Permanent Way Inspector causing the mishap.
 

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Sunday, 26 May 2013 08:45

Nature behind science

The day is not too far when you will be able to hang upside down just with one hand from a roof or climb up a wall of a building like Peter Parker in Spiderman. I am not sure why you would want to do that but it sure will be an awesome thing as far as science is concerned. So, what inspires mankind to aspire to such things? Naturally and obviously nature. The design and creation of nature is incredible, inspirational, magical, charismatic infact even if we use all the superlatives in oxford dictionary it will still be sufficiently inadequate. We may be able to understand fully how a heart beats, but we will possibly never know why it beats anyway. So, till somebody figures it out it’s wiser to turn to beloved ones and say, “my heart beats for you”. Good for us.