A semblance of peace has returned to Darjeeling but the tension still lurks.
It was a sunny day in Phuentsholing, the picturesque border town in southern Bhutan, nestled amidst evergreen forests atop a misty hill. A comforting February chill permeated the air. Zephyrs swept through the valley deep down creating ripples in the crystal waters of the river below. Morning light glittered like gold on the leaves of trees. At a distant monastery, bells rang, its sounds reverberating across the mountains.
And yet Mohammed Mustafa and SK Ajgar Ali heard nothing except for the vroom of their car engine. They saw nothing except for the patch of road just ahead. They felt nothing except for the intense pressure to follow the instructions in minutest detail, written down on the sheet of paper just handed to them.
Reporting and Videography: Dola Mitra; Editing: Suraj Wadhwa
바카라We block out everything else and focus completely on the task at hand,바카라 Mustafa told Outlook later, when asked what their secret was, for winning the biggest motorsport event of the eastern region, the annual Himalayan Drive, three years in a row.
The mega rally, which attracts the best driver-navigator teams from across the country, has just concluded its sixth edition late last month. But this year the event took on a special significance. The organizers deliberately charted its course through a region which has been the locus of tremendous recent political disturbance 바카라 Darjeeling.
The local separatist group, Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha, which has been agitating for a separate state of 바카라Gorkhaland바카라 had imposed crippling strikes on trade and transport in the hill station. Led by Bimal Gurung, now absconding and wanted by the state police, they attacked government buildings and burnt down administrative offices. Overnight, they blocked off the main route to the hill station after packing off frightened tourists, cramming them into buses and other vehicles scurrying to the 바카라safety바카라 of the foothills in Siliguri.
The imbroglio lasted several months during which time the region erupted in sporadic violence. At least one civilian reportedly died in crossfires between the agitators and the police. During a siege on what was believed to be Gurung바카라s hideout, a young police officer was killed. Gurung managed to escape.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has unequivocally dismissed the idea of dividing Bengal, invited the more moderate faction of the party, led by Binoy Taman, for talks in Calcutta. This seems to have successfully diffused the agitation, at least for the time being. "We are not giving up the demand for Gorkhaland because it is a question of idenity," says a member of GJM, "but the way to do it is not by making the lives of our people miserable."
A cross-section of common local men, women and children whom Outlook spoke to talked about "being more comfortable with peace than violent agitations." Said a school girl Maya Chhetri, "It was terrible when the roads were blocked and the shops were shut. It was like living in a prison. Now it is back to normal and i and my friends and family like it."
Most pleased are the business communities. "The people of Darjeeling are essentially peace-loving. We don't like trouble. And tourists are welcome here because they keep our economy vibrant," said the owner of a luxury hotel.
When the Himalayan Drive arrived in Darjeeling from Phuentshiling, Bhutan, it found that the legendary summer capital of the British, was bustling with life. The comforting sight of shops lining the most famous street, the Chowrasta, chockablock with tourists haggling with merchants over every kind of merchandize, from tea to t-shirts, woolens to wine, was indication that Darjeeling was back to business.
바카라We were keen to highlight the present situation in Darjeeling and therefore decided to conclude the rally here,바카라 explained Tamal Ghosal, founding member of Just Sportz, a Calcutta-based motorsport management company and organizers of the Himalayan Drive. Ghosal, however points out that the key endeavor of the 바카라Sixth Edition바카라 바카라 over and above the rally바카라s main aim, which, essentially is the pursuit of motorsports 바카라 was to 바카라revive interest in this entire region.바카라 Indeed, India바카라s northeast shares borders with so many countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar, that the region바카라s significance as far as India바카라s international relations with its neighbors is concerned cannot be overemphasized. 바카라Our rally traversed three countries, Nepal, Bhutan and of course India,바카라 Ghosal points out. 바카라This is a definite first and a rare achievement in the history of car rallies.바카라
As for the participants, the micro is so much more immediate. 바카라Initially I thought they were really rude,바카라 said one of the organizers about Mohammed Mustafa and SK Ajgar Ali. 바카라Throughout the duration of the five-day rally they didn바카라t even return a 바카라hi바카라 or 바카라hello바카라 far less smile or speak a few words. They duo just kept to themselves. But they consistently scored high and eventually won the first prize 바카라 one lakh rupees 바카라 and the trophy. After that they finally laughed with all of us.바카라
The same level of focus was observed in the runners up, Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta, who lost by a mere five points. 바카라We are disappointed but we are sportsmen after all so we have to take it in our stride,바카라 Roy told Outlook after the prize distribution ceremony in Darjeeling.
For the uninitiated, car rallies are not about speed. 바카라On the contrary it entails a complex calculation of distance, time and speed,바카라 explains Sanjay Maheshwari, founder of Just Sportz. 바카라If a motorist arrives earlier than the time designated for him, which is based on the distance from start to finish and the speed limit allocated, he is imposed more penalty points than if he were to arrive late. (Three penalty points for arriving earlier where as one penalty point for arriving later than the time designated.) This is because rash or reckless driving is discouraged.바카라
Controlled driving is key and of the two teammates in each car, the 바카라navigator바카라 is in charge of reading out the directions based on the instructions on his sheet while the latter바카라s job is to follow the instructions. The two categories of participants are the 바카라national바카라 or seasoned rallyists, whereas the 바카라open바카라 category participants are amateurs. There is an application process and a fee charged if selected.
바카라The common misconception about rallies is that it is all about racing and reaching first,바카라 says Rajendra Gaire of Nepal who was amongst the international participants in the rally. 바카라But really rushing is not an option.바카라
And yet, interestingly, a common trait runs through all the participants whom Outlook spoke to. 바카라There is an indescribable adrenaline rush, a need for speed, which drives us,바카라 says SK Ajgar Ali. 바카라And so it is as though we have been compelled to drive.바카라