It’s exactly a year now today, since two young men and their friends, lit a candle with showered scarves on them, and set out to do something rather unprecedented in our little state’s history. They started the most arduous phase of the already brewing struggle to protest against the mega dams threatening their homes in North Sikkim, by deciding to sit on an indefinite hunger strike.

No doubt this form of gandhian protest has been tried through the pages of history here, but, this time it seemed like a conviction like never before.

Long and torturous days lay ahead of them and for 63 days at a stretch last year and 96 the second time, did they have the courage and conviction to go hungry.

With it brought the hydel debate right out of the closet and which was earlier maybe only known and pondered over perhaps in only comfortable wooden paneled offices and homes and in the corridors of power.




Their sacrificial protest did throw up uncomfortable questions to the people as to why our dear, sacred and beautiful hills had started to be scraped dry of its clothing and everything it sustained for something called hydro electric projects and such questions will always be asked more and more and explanations sought.

Sikkim, always preferring its sweet slumber to having to think much of a more difficult tomorrow, does wake up to answer difficult questions facing it each morning.

This blog was and is dedicated to them and their courage.

And yes.....the hydel debate will continue........................