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Shangri-La threatened

Shangri-La threatened

Author: Tapash Ganguly/Gangtok
Publication: The Week
Date: August 4, 2002
URL: http://www.the-week.com/22aug04/events2.htm

Introduction: Religio-demographic change sweeps the state

For almost two decades, most of the north-east states groaned under  the effects of terrorism, insurgency and secessionism, but Sikkim, tucked away in a corner of the Himalayas, remained a Shangri-La. "It is no more a paradise," says a senior bureaucrat in the Sikkim government. "Our religio- demographic pattern has undergone such a change in the last decade that Sikkim is no more a land of Hindus and Buddhists."

When Sikkim merged with India in 1975, there were few Muslims and Christians. Now, Christians number more than 53,000 and Muslims 17,000. "Muslims and Christians account for 14.8 per cent of the 5.4 lakh population," says the bureaucrat. "And even before Sikkim can absorb such a big change, it is being threatened by incursions by Nepalese Maoists from across the western border."

The Maoist threat has so unnerved the state government that the 91 km- long Sikkim-Nepal border was sealed after the recent clashes between the Royal Nepal Army and the Maoist rebels in Nepal. "Earlier, each year, almost 10,000 Nepalese landless labourers would cross over to Sikkim in search of work during the harvest season, and return to their villages in Panchtar and Taplejong districts, which lie adjacent to the West district of Sikkim, at the end of season. But this year no one will be allowed to cross the border," says an intelligence branch police officer.

The state government has alerted all police units and outposts to be on a 24-hour border vigil. Simultaneously, New Delhi has entrusted Special Security Bureau (SSB) with the task of manning the border. "Only 42 km of the border are accessible, the rest being snowbound," says Rumesh Kumar Handa, director-general of police, Sikkim. "The SSB is to set up nine more outposts on the accessible terrain to monitor Maoist rebels, hotly pursued by the Royal Nepal Army, who might enter Sikkim diguised as labourers. Sikkim can ill afford such incursions."

Though Handa denies the presence of Maoist rebels in Sikkim, senior intelligence officers believe that hundreds of them have moved in. "It is impossible to distinguish between a Sikkimese Nepali and a Maoist Nepali. They speak the same language and their food habits are similar. Moreover, both are Hindu and in many cases they are related," says an intelligence officer. "We have asked panchayats to identify strangers, but in reality, no one wants to betray one's own relative or friend and face ostracism." Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling maintains that no Maoist has been arrested in Sikkim yet. "We are keeping a strong vigil all along the border," he says. "No Maoist will ever gain ground in Sikkim."

The growth of Islam and Christianity is causing serious concern. But CM Chamling says: "Ours is a secular country."

The phenomenal growth of Islam and Christianity in Sikkim is causing serious concern but Chamling reserves his comment, saying: "Ours is a secular country." But the editor of a local newsweekly is more explicit. "Islamisation is a decade-old phenomenon and it coincided ironically with Chamling's tenure as chief minister."

Chamling's tenure has thrown open Sikkim to major projects in the field of power, roads and tourism, leading to a construction boom in Gangtok, Gayzing, Singtam, Ranipul and Pakyong. To maintain the tempo of construction, Sikkim needs a steady flow of masons, carpenters and plumbers, who come from West Bengal, Bihar and Bangladesh.

"This has created a big problem," says a senior police officer. "Since there is no work permit system in Sikkim, we cannot ask anyone to leave the state on the expiry of his tenure. When one project is done, an artisan is quickly absorbed into another and in this way, his stay in Sikkim is prolonged. Ultimately, he merges into society's mainstream."

The Muslims live mostly in Gayzing, Pakyong, Ranipul, Singtam, Rumtek, Namchi, Mangan and Nathu LaÑthe last two close to the Tibet border. "Most of them come from Islampur, close to the Bengal-Bihar border and are called Islampurias," says intelligence officers. "But many are actually from Bangladesh though they claim otherwise. It is difficult to distinguish between a Bengali Muslim and a Bangladeshi Muslim. Many ISI agents could have entered Sikkim under the garb of masons, carpenters and plumbers."

The influx of artisans has reduced Sikkim's backward castes and Lepchas to the status of orphans in their own land as they are largely unskilled. "If the problem is not solved immediately," says a bureaucrat, "an Assam-like situation may arise leading to ethnic clashes." Christianisation began with the large-scale conversion of Lepchas, the original inhabitants of the state. Sikkim's South District has the largest Christian population with 98 churches, followed by 75 in the East, 16 in the West and 9 in the North District.

Cementing their stay
Bangladeshi masons at work in Sikkim

"Bhutiyas, like the Lepchas, are the original inhabitants of Sikkim," says a Nepali teacher in Gangtok. "They constitute a large portion of the landed gentry. Lepchas and Rais, who belong to the lowest strata of Nepalese society, are the two most deprived classes of people. Lure of money has tricked many into conversion. Surprisingly, the conversion money is said to be funnelled through two senior bureaucrats and a chief medical officer." Handa confirms this saying, "They have already been warned by the government."

Sikkim is the only state which has an ecclesiastical department headed by an officer of the rank of secretary. The department is bound by law to extend financial assistance to build and maintain mosques, churches and mutts. "Lately, Muslims and Christians are taking full advantage of such assistance," says a government official.

"We are really worried about the way religious alignments in our demographic pattern are changing overnight," says a senior leader of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. "Chamling may not admit it openly as his constitutional position will not allow him to do so. Moreover, he is under tremendous political pressure. Sikkim is now being threatened within and outside and it is very important to tackle the triple threat of Maosim, Islamisation and Christianisation."
 


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