Himalayan Times (1954)

^ix - 3ttir.f<ln»iui i$tmci> June 27, 1954

TOliMST TRADE ? A MEGLECIED CHILD

All of era would liko
to seo oar district (Dar-
jeoling) developed, to have
work tor our unemployed
and to riise the standard
of living of our people.
Butt for the fulfilment of
aH these, we must have
wealth even if wo are to
sacrifice some of our tra-
ditional values. It will
not be too high a price
to pay for the upliftmont
of moro than four-fifths
of our people who have
always, been left ignorant
a:id undernourished. We
earn very little: we save
less. Without saving we
cannot invest, I and no
investments mean no deve-
lopment's. From the very
start our social values
have been against saving
We are prompted more by
approval ot our . neigh-
bours rather than by any
' calculated consideration of
profit and loss. What
we do save, we display
with a mistaken sense of
pride, as ornaments of
useless, pierced coins ' or
unwieldy, superfluous jewe-
lleries.

It is true that we
are praised for our hos-
pitality and generosity,
but, a blind adherance to
these virtues has led us
towards ostentation and
wo look upon thrift as

BY"MOOSA"

something, peculiar only
to merchants and misers.
Tho problem, alas, goes
deeper. Our peoplo can-
not save, even if they
are willing to For, the
proverty-stricken sections
are not merely skin deep,
but. constitute a major
portion of the core and
flesh of our communities.

To support increasing
populations 1 and afford
greater opportunities to
our people, wo must rash
in on every aspect that
holds an inlet for more
income into our district.
Wo may be shrewd in our
experience, well versed in
traditional lore or in the
tried ways of our forefa-
thers These however, are
insufficient to a progre-
ssive society and to a
world that is rapidly
accepting industrialisation.
We must, therefore, make
drastic revisions of our
attitudes, habits, customs
and training. Our district
is subsisting mainly on
agriculture and trade, so
our prime emphasis muet
bo on technical' and eco-
nomic awakening. Petty
prejudices and absurd
demands will do our cause
more harm than good. In
concentrating on such
-matters, we are losing
valuable time and energy.

A first-time visitor to
Kal mpong said during the
course of a conversation:...
Insipid football games and
a ramshacklo tin-ware-
house which has the bra-
zen conceit to call itself
a cinema house, seem to
constitute the sum and
substance, the absolute
whole, of Kalimpong's
attompt at providing en-
tertainment...' I had no
fitting reply to make to
this. Shamefac dly I hr>d
to admit this to be only
too true. Apart from its
intrinsic charm as a fron-
tier hill station, with a
climate that is mild and
salubrious. Kaliropong has
little to offer to tourists
But, with better planning
and organisation,the influx
of tourists can be stimu-
lated providing an avenue
for increased income, hike
inexperienced prospectors
for gold, we are lett ng
rich ore-laden dust trickle
through our fincers with-
out realising its true worth.

Many of the lesser
European countries thrive
mainly on touiists. Swit-
zerland, for one, i« a shi-
ning example of how the
inmate scenic beauties of
a land bo exploited to ad-
vantage. Alluring travel
posters, attractively illus-
trated phamphlets and a