Darjeeling monasteries Ghisingh funding

Darjeeling: The DGHC has decided to recruit monks on contract in certain monasteries of the Darjeeling hills.

The council will support “needy monasteries” from July by “engaging head priests, assistant priests, mali (gardener) and chowkidar (guard)”, a circular issued by the council on May 23 states.

All executive officers, the acting director of tourism and executive engineers of Kurseong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Mirik divisions have been told to scout for monasteries that need funds.

The notice further states that “after recognition, approval…for grant of such posts can be given for a period of one year. This will be reviewed after the formation of new council under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution”. No one is sure about the authority that will “review” the workings of the monks, but there have been instances in the past when caretaker administrator Subash Ghisingh instructed priests on the “right” way to offer prayers.

A senior DGHC official confirmed that the circular, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, has been issued and justified the recruitment drive. “Since monasteries are an important cultural component of the hills, funding will be under the promotion of culture head and the monks will be engaged keeping that in mind,” said the official.

The council also made it clear that only those monasteries which are not funded by other agencies can apply for the aid. Asked whether other religious institutions, too, would be considered, DGHC officials declined comment.

Political observers believe that Ghisingh’s effort to fund monasteries is a means to placate the Buddhists. Last year, the GNLF chief had antagonised them by introducing the Living Buddha, a concept generally associated with Southeast Asia. This form of worship is not prevalent here and Buddhists in the hills did not take to the idea well. Not only that, the GNLF leader’s tirade against the Tamangs (who are predominantly Buddhists) had generated anger among the community members.

The order has produced mixed reaction in the monasteries. While some monks have welcomed it since it will ease the financial burden, many fear unwanted interference. The notice, however, states that the proposal is not binding: “The council will like to give support to the needy monasteries by engaging head priests…on contract basis if they apply for such requirement.”

A DGHC source also confirmed this. “Ghisingh is not interested in directly interfering with the working of the monasteries. He only wants to ease the financial burden,” the source said.

Source: The Telegraph