The history stands proof to the hardships faced by the Lepcha as a minority in their own land. The Lepcha land has time and again been invaded by more aggressive nations and like every battle the vanquished are exposed to different adversities. The peaceful Lepchas did not a stand a chance against the forceful atrocities committed upon them. So the need for a united stand for the Lepcha inspired the formation of SHEJUM. From times immemorial Lepcha had adopted an organized life style in the villages based on respect and love for fellow beings. So the transition into organized SHEJUM who could voice their rights and ensure fairness in their life was very smooth.
It is rather strange but every Lepcha village in Sikkim comes under the folds of the registered Shejums operating from Gangtok. The Shejums have village level branches complete with their own office and office bearers. The Shejums mainly work in the development of cultural activities and language issues. But with time many social issues and local problems are also directly addressed by the Shejums. The Shejums act as a channel to voice grievances to the government and it is the duty of the shejum to ensure that justice prevails.
The presence of the Shejum is very strong in many villages that it is consulted for every social activity. The Shejums also act as the guardians of the Customary Laws of the Lepcha. The involvement in the Shejum also ensures an engagement in activities different from the day to day life in the village. The government also provides financial and other aids to the Shejums so it can be channeled down to the ones in need.
Shejum like "SIKKIM LEPCHA YOUTH ASSOCIATION" has been able to contribute a lot to the upliftment of the community in many spheres right from its formation in 1994. The Shejum operates in all four districts and has branches in almost all the lepcha villages. The village level branches co-ordinates with the Central Executive Commoittee based in Gangtok and is involved in numerous activities. The cultural development has exposed the villagers to opportunities far away from their homes thus providing monetary benefits and platforms to highlight the once forgotten practices. The Central Executive Committee itself is involved in many other higher activities. The Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association has been able to achieve many new milestones in lepcha sphere. The declining festival of Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrated on the 8th of August annually, was brought back to prominence by this association in 1994, which was later declared as a state holiday by the government. This association initiated the campaigning for the introduction of Lepcha language in the ICSE curriculum, which finally was granted by the Board. The inclusion of the Lepcha in the Primitive Category was brought into limelight and followed by constant petitions and memorandums which finally led the state government to include the community in the category.
Thus the role shejum plays in the life of the Lepchas has a very important effect on the quality of life of the Lepchas.
It is rather strange but every Lepcha village in Sikkim comes under the folds of the registered Shejums operating from Gangtok. The Shejums have village level branches complete with their own office and office bearers. The Shejums mainly work in the development of cultural activities and language issues. But with time many social issues and local problems are also directly addressed by the Shejums. The Shejums act as a channel to voice grievances to the government and it is the duty of the shejum to ensure that justice prevails.
The presence of the Shejum is very strong in many villages that it is consulted for every social activity. The Shejums also act as the guardians of the Customary Laws of the Lepcha. The involvement in the Shejum also ensures an engagement in activities different from the day to day life in the village. The government also provides financial and other aids to the Shejums so it can be channeled down to the ones in need.
Shejum like "SIKKIM LEPCHA YOUTH ASSOCIATION" has been able to contribute a lot to the upliftment of the community in many spheres right from its formation in 1994. The Shejum operates in all four districts and has branches in almost all the lepcha villages. The village level branches co-ordinates with the Central Executive Commoittee based in Gangtok and is involved in numerous activities. The cultural development has exposed the villagers to opportunities far away from their homes thus providing monetary benefits and platforms to highlight the once forgotten practices. The Central Executive Committee itself is involved in many other higher activities. The Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association has been able to achieve many new milestones in lepcha sphere. The declining festival of Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrated on the 8th of August annually, was brought back to prominence by this association in 1994, which was later declared as a state holiday by the government. This association initiated the campaigning for the introduction of Lepcha language in the ICSE curriculum, which finally was granted by the Board. The inclusion of the Lepcha in the Primitive Category was brought into limelight and followed by constant petitions and memorandums which finally led the state government to include the community in the category.
Thus the role shejum plays in the life of the Lepchas has a very important effect on the quality of life of the Lepchas.
Khamri to all,
ReplyDeleteI would like to wish all the very happy namsoong and hope to see ya all at Namprikdang, Dzongu...
Ongden Tshering Lepcha