By Matters India Reporter
Darjeeling, October 18, 2019: A Gorkha Youth Trust held its first intellectual symposium on October 17-18 in Darjeeling.
Several youths and personalities of the Hills in the field of Education, Research, Environment, Art and Cinema, Music, Drama and Poetry, Literature, Sports, Politics, Journalism, Academics, Business and Social Field took part in the panel discussions and seminars entitled the Gorkha Youth Summit 2019 (GYS).
The MBKS (Mukh Bandh Kaam Suru – stop chatter, start work) Trust designed the summit up on the foundation of the likes of the Literary Fests, Ted Talks, World Economic Forum, Oxford Union Debates & numerous youth festivals. It was held at Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Auditorium.
“MBKS Trust is committed to bring back the lost essence of our Hills and devoted to the furtherance of social, philosophical and intellectual inclination among the youths of the Hills,” said MBKS General Secretary Rahul Amulya Pradhan.
“The GYS has the potential to become an annual event of great significance to make the youths a part of the intellectual discourse in this part of the country,” said Pradhan decrying the exclusion, deprivation and regression youths face in the hills.
Sudarsan Tamang of Sikkim University who quit his job in Japan to return to Darjeeling spoke on importance of research in the hills. He was given the first Gorkha Yuva Ratna Award for his outstanding contribution to academics and literature through his poetry.
Among the panelists and speakers were Sumendra Tamang of Lali Guras and Jadavpur University Kolkata who deliberated on the “Politics and Economics Behind Darjeeling Tea Industry;” and Yougan Tamang of Sikkim Man Hunt fame deliberated on the employment opportunities for the Youths in Darjeeling and Sikkim.
While young achievers Ankit Pradhan, Paralympic spoke on “Global Gorkha Shapers: Opportunities and Hardships for a Gorkha Youth;” Awaz Rai, spoke on the “Living Arts and its Importance;” Vimal Khawas of Sikkim University discussed “the Politics of the Hills: The Past, Present and Future;” Kritika Dahal, renowned poetess, shared on the “Living Arts and its Importance”.
Among other young achievers in the panel who spoke on Global Gorkha Shapers: Opportunities and Hardships for a Gorkha Youth were Sandip Agarwal, Chartered Accountant from Siliguri, Tashi Tamang, National Taekwondo Champion, and Brijesh Giri, U-17 Indian Football Team.
In the panel discussion on “The State of Education in the Hills” Anuradha Rai, Principal, Southfield College, Darjeeling, Salesian Father C. M. Paul former Vice-Principal of Salesian College Sonada; Assistant Professor Tandoop Bhutia from Jadavpur University Kolkata, and research scholar Rinan Shah participated.
On October 18, the young people had the opportunity to hear political leaders from the hills speak from a common platform.