Cry for tiger tea logo..

A worker plucks tealeaves in a Dooars garden Siliguri, May 5: The Royal Bengal Tiger is more suitable than elephant, feel some of the stakeholders of the north Bengal tea industry, as far as the proposed logo for tea produced in the Terai and Dooars is concerned. Following the Tea Board of India’s decision to feature the elephant in the logo for the brew produced in the region, a section of people associated with the sector believe that the predator is better suited than the pachyderm to indicate the area of the produce. “The idea to feature elephant in the proposed logo that the tea board plans to bring out for branding the brew produced in the foothills of sub-Himalayan West Bengal deserves appreciation,” said Rajiv Lochan who is associated with the Siliguri Tea Traders’ Association. “But we feel the elephant lacks uniqueness as it is found in other parts of the world like Africa. The Royal Bengal Tiger is a unique animal which truly represents our region and can be ideally featured in the logo,” said Lochan. Lochan expressed the apprehension that if the region, which produces CTC tea, is symbolised by the elephant, there are chances that the sale of Kenyan tea would increase. “As CTC tea is produced in the African country also, such a possibility cannot be ruled out. The basic objective of branding of Indian tea produced in different regions may also suffer a jolt.” Representatives of Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA) have also similar opinions. “We had earlier suggested to the tea board that the Royal Bengal tiger should be the animal to be featured in the logo designed for the Terai and Dooars tea,” said N.K. Basu, the principal advisor of the ITPA. The board, which has assigned Lintas, an advertising firm, to create the logo, is planning to release the same by this year. This would be the fourth logo indicating the region of tea production after Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. A tea board official said the logo was yet to be finalised.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080506/jsp/siliguri/story_9231939.jsp

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080430/jsp/siliguri/story_9205231.jsp

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060527/asp/siliguri/story_6276095.asp

Darjeeling revisted…

It was Sunday yesterday and as usual we went on our family outing. The road we took yesterday was thru Dudhia khola to Bunklung forest busti on the way to Minju division of Singbulli tea estate and then thru Soureni busti to Soureni bazar to Mirik.

These are the same hills and people with whom I have lived since 1976, but yesterday I felt something new – they are Chinese with a quirk of fate – that they speak languages of this side of the Himalayas.

There was so much similarity in everything – food, habits, body movements. I am lucky to be here and lucky to be part of all this. 

Also early yesterday in the morning Siliguri market I saw an elderly couple selling “parwal” a type of dry fried rice and they were the cross between the yellow and black race. This is the transition – the fusion- which I talk about.  

Serenedipity…

Today morning a public meeting was convened in Khalpara by business community to strengthen the hands of Ashok Bhattacharya to face the Bimal Gurung’s Siliguri onslought, where an apprehension of communal roit was discussed during 7th May proposed meeting of GJM in Indira Maidan, just behind our office.

After that meeting Ashok Babu spoke to me about his personal preference of Royal Bengal Tiger for Begal Tea logo. I suggested to him to bring this to Basudev Banerjee’s knowledge before Lintas, who are doing this, finalise the artwork.  

Nature helps if you desire things with clear heart. I must thank Tim Grover to bring this idea to light.

Are we doing justice…

Do we have right to do what we are doing to Darjeeling and its tea in the name of Gorkhaland?

Why Siliguri should be punished in the process?

Or are we simply doing it because Nepal and Tibet had their own ways in the recent past and Bhutan had its own share of bomb blasts?

Answer lies within ourselves and we must strengthen the hands of Ashok Bhattacharya, our local Minister & Madan Tamang, who have so painstakingly conjured the peace in our area.

Royal Bengal Tiger…

Magestically associated with vigour and a symbol of Bengal world over, will be a better explaination of Bengal teas over Assam, as compared to an Elephant.

An African or an Indian – shall be the question – and Kenyan teas will be better suited for this then our Bengal teas.

After all these are personal prefernces.

A tale of an Elephant… 

On 27th May 2007, Telegraph, took out a story that our local minister Sri Ashok Bhattacharya, liked my idea of a separate identity for Bengal teas and the idea was put forward to the Tea Board.

Today we are so happy to note that Tea Board Chairman, Sri Basudev Banerjee, has come on the verge of finalising Bengal Tea logo where the elephant will replace the Rhino.

What is important is that we must utilize the chances nature has provide to us.

Innocence…

Happiness is from within. These people of Meghma has the real organic looks.

If I call this fusion point of Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Burma & China as the melting point of Mangloid & Negroid races, I think I am not wrong.

I am lucky to be here and I wish to travel in these areas extensively. Tea grew in these soils – this gives me added attraction. Carol knows this area by heart.

Ecstacy…

Indira, my grand-daughter in Oslo, got a cousin, Sara, daughter of Arild & Cari Sundgot, recently and both of them are sitting in the laps of their paternal grand parents in their home in Raholt, near Oslo.

This is ecstacy. Happy growing family. All the best.

Mitochondria…

I have discovered the force behind China’s hyper-growth.

Young generation, both boys and girls alike, are working so forcefully  and tirelessly to built their nation.

Here I am introducing two of them. First one is a Wuhan girl named Hao Jie based in Xiamen now, whom I lovingly call, Chini, meaning Suger in hindi. Other one is a Hongkong girl named Zi Min, based in Beijing now, whom I lovingly call Ji, but she calls herself Carol for ease of pronunciation.

All the best to them both.

Vegetative Propogation…

French never liked tea simply because British liked it. Time has changed things now and we are lucky to train university students in the art of tea.

A steady flow of them since 2005 and the latest is Marjorie Galad from Bordeaux and other two, Audrey and Marine are from Caen. We are slated to train four boys and girls this year.

And we plan to offer placements too at the end of their three months training and final university certification.

Keeping our fingers crossed for a still stronger flow in the times to come.