Swati Chopra of writes a thoughtful article for the Sunday edition of the The Times of India on the Science and Ethics conference which recently concluded in Dharamsala, noting the juxtaposition of celebrities, scientists and lamas: "Even as the Indian media could not keep its eyes off Hollywood celebrities Goldie Hawn and Richard Gere attending Mind and Life X, the crucial exchange between modern science and Buddhism, concluded at the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala.

Over five days, Nobel laureate physicist Steven Chu, leader of the human genome project Eric Lander, chemist Luigi Luisi, geneticist Ursula Goodenough, physicist Arthur Zajonc and biophysicist Michel Bitbol discussed the nature of matter and life with Buddhist monks led by the Dalai Lama.

"Most scientists knew little or nothing about Buddhism, but felt it was important to have a dialogue. Explained Chu, who was jointly awarded the Nobel in 1997 for his work with bio-molecules: ‘‘As scientists, I think our sight often becomes too narrow and we are unable to touch the broader humanistic issues that concern us all. This is what brought me here.’’ Agreed Lander: ‘‘ Science is posing ethical questions today that need to be answered urgently... For me, this conference is really about posing those questions to Buddhism and looking at the reactions."

"Each day began with a scientist‘s presentation, followed by an afternoon discussion with the Dalai Lama and other monks, including the young Karmapa. The origin of life, the testing of fetuses for genetic abnormalities, and the use of animals in research were among the topics discussed."

The Science and Ethics conference in Dharamsala concluded on October 4th. His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the conference, and His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa attended for the first time. See more in Karmapa News October 2, 2002.

His Holiness Karmapa is an observer at the regularly-held conference on Science and Ethics started by His Holiness the Dalai Lama some 10 years ago. The Life and Mind Institute studies the connection between modern physical and biological sciences and the mind as explained within Buddhist teachings. "The main topic of discussion this year will be: 'What is matter – What is life.'"

Approximately 15 senior lamas and scientists from different fields will take part in these deliberations, with another 50 senior Buddhist spiritual leaders, including His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, and scientists present as observers. Participants include the Head of the Genome Research Centre at MIT, and the winner of the 1997 Nobel prize in Physics, Dr Steven Chu. The conference is taking place in Dharamsala. Other observers include Richard Gere and Goldie Hawn.

On his return to Dharamsala from Calcutta, His Holiness Karmapa stopped in Chandigarh. Reuters has a photograph of the Karmapa upon his arrival. The Karmapa gave blessings to about 500 persons who met him at an impromptu gathering and also spoke with reporters.

Envoys of HH the Dalai Lama recently held meetings in Tibet with Chinese officials, the first such contacts in twenty years. (BBC) Asked to comment on the possibility of a breakthrough in relations between China and the exile government of the Dalai Lama, His Holiness replied that he was hopeful of a positive outcome, but was unaware of any details of the talks. The Tribune.

His Holiness also contradicted rumors indicating that before he returned to Rumtek, he might shift his residence away from Dharamsala. "For the time being, I am not moving anywhere, but ultimately I have to shift to the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, which is the real seat of the Karmapa." India Express

Asked about the court action against Rumtek Monastery, His Holiness was reported to have replied: "'The reality is that the Rumtek monastery is still controlled by the administration of the 16th Karmapa and that’s why they are waiting for me to be there. . . We are waiting for the court’s decision.'" Times of India.

Reporters asked the Karmapa whether he could serve as an intermediary to ease the tensions between India and Pakistan. According to UNI, His Holiness wryly replied that ''mediating between the two countries is not the reality for me for the time being as even I am not settled." More seriously, His Holiness noted that in general, that the only way to peace was to encourage tolerance on an individual and collective level, such as holding more conferences on peace and integration. His Holiness restated the Buddhist axiom that problems in society are due to our individual emotional conflicts, which leads to negative actions. Rather than intervention by someone else, the only path to peace is through one's own efforts to clear one's own emotional obstacles. Outlook India/PTI.

As previously mentioned by Karmapa News, a BBC World Service correspondent in Calcutta is reporting that His Holiness Karmapa will be able to visit Rumtek Monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapas. This vaguely worded report should be read only to say that His Holiness intends to return to Sikkim in the future. However, the headline is apparently causing confusion in some circles.

The BBC article is entitled "India allows Karmapa to visit Sikkim," and is erroneous if taken to imply that His Holiness has permission to immediately visit Rumtek Monastery. On September 16th, His Holiness definitively stated that he is planning to go to Sikkim only when security and other preparations have been made, which he anticipates to be completed within two years. "The Sikkimese people and Sikkim government are eagerly awaiting my visit to Rumtek. But there are some matters to be resolved by the Indian government to make a visit possible within the next two years." See recent Karmapa News summaries of the NDTV report (September 17); The Telegraph (India) (September 17), the Associated Press (September 17) and PTI and Reuters (September 16).

The government has stated that it has no objection to the Karmapa returning to his traditional seat in Rumtek, Sikkim in the future, but wishes to make proper security precautions and other preparations before the Karmapa returns to Rumtek, the seat of the Karmapas in India.

NDTV has a very nice video report about the Karmapa, focusing on his aspiration to return to Rumtek Monastery, with clips showing the monastery. (Streaming video reports from NDTV are now available by subscription only.) A text excerpt from the NDTV report by Monideepa Banerjie is available at the website. Describing His Holiness as "upbeat" about being permitted to return to Rumtek Monastery: "“There is no fixed time frame, but in my belief, in around two years time, I might be able to go to Sikkim and Rumtek."

The video report shows footage from Rumtek Monastery, including a overflight panorama, an assembly of monks within and the empty throne of His Holiness in the main shrineroom, which holds a photograph of the Seventeenth Karmapa in a frame. The design of Rumtek monastery was conceived by the 16th Karmapa working through his General Secretary. Though not exactly an "exact replica," it is closely based on "the Tshurphu Monastery in Tibet from where the then 14-year-old Karmapa fled for Dharmsala." More about both monastic seats is available at kagyuoffice.org.

The video also shows His Holiness speaking in Tibetan at the press conference, with subtitled translation in English. One of the Karmapa's statements captured on the video, reported previously in other outlets, is about his attitude towards his return to Rumtek Monastery: "If someone is the owner of a house or temple, there should be no problems for him to go home. But because of certain situations, there are obstacles. But they are temporary." Under the current circumstances, Rumtek Monastery is, as Banerjie puts it "a home so near and yet so far.

The Karmapa is in Calcutta to preside over the Maha Bodhi Society celebration of the anniversary of the birth of its founder, Anagarika Dharmapala, one of the most influential Buddhist leaders in the last two centuries of the history of India. His Holiness held a press conference in Calcutta upon his arrival.

The report of the Calcutta daily, The Telegraph, provides more extensive quotes of His Holiness' remarks on returning to Rumtek: "On his first visit to the city to attend the birthday celebrations of the founder of the Mahabodhi Society tomorrow, the Karmapa, who is staying near the Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, explained why it was not possible for him to go back to the headquarters of his sect at the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre."

“'Certain preparations need to be done before I can go back there. An immediate return is not possible, firstly because of Sikkim’s border with China and secondly my presence there will be a very important occasion, historically and spiritually. The timing of my arrival has to be fixed after all these are made. . . Whatever be the hurdles, they will be cleared soon. Though there is no timetable fixed, I believe I will be there within two years. The people of Sikkim, which is an integral part of India, want me to be there. . . . But in my case, some obstacles are there, which according to Dharma, is a temporary problem.”

This BBC report indicates that His Holiness believes that China may soften its stance on Tibet. This brief BBC report appears not to be very accurate, as His Holiness's most recent statements about Tibet have mainly concentrated on his concern for the welfare of his close aides in Tibet, recently arrested by the authorities there.

His Holiness gave only the second public news conference yesterday, while he was in Calcutta to attend an anniversary celebration of the Maha Bodhi Society. The Times of India describes the Karmapa's Calcutta/Kolkata news conference as follows: "The 17th Karmapa and the rightful owner of Rumtek, looked and sounded mature beyond his 16 years. He told TNN that he hoped to visit Rumtek by 2004 and said he had no problems with an inventory being carried out in the monastery."

'The Indian government has been very kind to me and has given me refugee status. I am a law abiding citizen and it is only correct that we follow the law of the land where we live. I see no clash between politics, judiciary and religion here at all,' he said when asked whether the court order to enter Rumtek went against the Buddhist belief that only the Karmapa could open the doors of the holy monastery."

The Associated Press's photographer Bikas Das has also released a photograph of His Holiness Karmapa. An AP article by Chandra Banerjee is entitled "16-year old Tibetan high lama waits India's nod to visit temple in Sikkim also reports on the news conference about the Karmapa's wish to go to Sikkim.

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa arrived today in Calcutta, for a meeting of the Maha Bodhi Society, at which he is the guest of honor. Outlook Today has printed a PTI report of his news conference quoting His Holiness as expressing a strong wish to return to Rumtek Monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapas in India. Reuters has published a photo of His Holiness at the news conference.

His Holiness was quoted as saying that "The Sikkimese people and Sikkim government are eagerly awaiting my visit to Rumtek. But there are some matters to be resolved by the Indian government to make a visit possible within the next two years. . . Since I came to India, I couldn't manage to visit it."

In response to a question the Karmapa opined that the government had delayed in so far allowing him to visit Rumtek because it hoped to "be clearer on all aspects of the proposed visit," and expressed confidence that he would eventually return to the seat of the Karmapas in India in syllogistic style: "If someone is an owner of a house or a temple, going back to his place is not a question at all. Some obstacles might be there at times but they are temporary and will certainly change. Sooner or later I will go to my own seat."

"Regarding the recent court-ordered inventory conducted at Rutmek, he said: "It is part of the law of the land which has given me refuge. I can not contradict the Indian law."

The Karmapa was also asked about the security forces that constantly accompanied him: "If somebody becomes well known, this is normal. And as far as security is concerned, the Indian government has been kind enough to accept me as their guest and tries to protect me . . . It is difficult to say if there is any threat to me. But in this world, there are people who kill others without any reason. In that sense, yes, the risk is there."

His Holiness was also asked about conditions in Tibet, and brought up again his concern about his aides who have recently been arrested in Tibet: "I came to India amidst a lot of hardships. It was not very easy. But there was a reason behind it. Unless there are certain changes in Lhasa, I won't go back to either Tibet or China. . . . I hope the world supports me in making a formal request [seeking freedom for his recently imprisoned aides]. I don't know in what condition they are."

A photo of the Karmapa at his news conference in Calcutta has been published by Reuters.

The Kagyu Office has announced that "His Holiness Karmapa will be the guest of honor at the celebration of the 138th Anniversary of the birth of Anagarika Dharmapala on September 17, 2002 in Calcutta. He will be hosted by the Maha Bodhi Society of India."

The Maha Bodhi Society was established in 1891 and is perhaps the most influential Buddhist organization in India. When its founder, Anagarika Dharmapala, first visited Bodh Gaya in the late 19th century, Bodhgaya was entirely controlled by non-Buddhist organizations. Buddhism had not effective institutional advocate in India. As a consequence, Bodhgaya—one of the holiest pilgrimage spots in the world for Buddhists, where the Buddha had attained enlightenment under the fabled Bodhi tree—was not respected as a sacred Buddhist site by the local, state or federal government of India.

Dharmapala, who had been born into a wealthy commercial family and came to his commitment to Buddhism through this and other experiences, subsequently founded the Maha Bodhi society. The Society became a vehicle for his activity of gaining government recognition for Bodh Gaya as a Buddhist sanctuary.

"In 1949, Govt. of Bihar passed the Buddha Gaya Temple Act. Under this Act a Committee called the Buddha Gaya Temple Management Committee consisting of 4 Buddhists and 4 Hindus was constituted for the management and control of the temple."

"Mulagandha Kuti-Vihara was built in Sarnath in 1931 with the subsequent establishment of Maha Bodhi Vidyalaya, the Vihara Library, the Maha Bodhi Free Dispensary, the Maha Bodhi Primary School and the Teachers Training College, and Sarnath once again became a centre of Buddhism now." Buddhism Today.

In addition to his groundbreaking work in India and Sri Lanka, Anagarika Dharmapala also became internationally renowned for his Buddhist activities through his travels in Japan, America, England, Honolulu, France and Italy. Today, the Maha Bodhi Society's activity includes numerous charitable and social services throughout India and other countries.

The guest of honor at the Maha Bodhi society celebration last year was His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rumtek website. The Karmapa is traveling to Delhi as well as Calcutta on this trip. Kagyu Office.

The juxtaposition of two recent articles shed an interesting light on how the activity of the Karmapa is perceived by political commentators. "Religion in contemporary Tibet," by Matteo Pistono of the Himal Magazine, notes that the "patriotic education" campaign instituted by Chinese authorities was applied particularly forcefully in monastic establishments such as Tsurphu. A primary aim of this program "is to encourage disavowal of allegiance to the Dalai Lama and to discredit him as a religious teacher." However, as a partial result of the campaign, the Karmapa "fled Tibet in 2000" (technically the waning days of 1999) to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama.

Now, it is common for political commentators to regularly link His Holiness Karmapa with His Holiness Dalai Lama. On September 10, John Pomfret of the Washington Post, writes that two envoys of the Dalai Lama are in Beijing for the first time in a decade, and seem to have permission to visit Tibet on the Dalai Lama's behalf. This is a marked opening in China's stance, since "in recent years, China has chosen to ignore the government-in-exile and to wait for the Dalai Lama, 67, to die." The speculated impetus in the change of heart? "But in 2000, a young lama, known as the Karmapa Lama, escaped China, fueling fears in Beijing that there now was a successor to the Dalai Lama."

Radio Free Asia is reporting that His Holiness Karmapa has appealed to the government of China and the Tibetan Autonomous Authority to release a teacher and two personal attendants who at great personal sacrifice aided his escape from Tibet at the end of 1999. His Holiness made his request during an interview by the Tibetan service of RFA.

"'I appeal to the Chinese government and the Tibetan Autonomous Region government that those arrested may be released quickly, and that they may be spared harsh treatment while in prison," the Karmapa told RFA's Tibetan service. "I am greatly disappointed and also worried," he said. "I escaped to pursue my religious studies, and not to achieve political goals.' The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, is 'greatly concerned and offered extensive prayers,' the Karmapa said. 'Lama Nyima had been my teacher and I am very grateful. Whatever I learned is from his teaching and guidance. Thupten was my cook and he was extremely devoted,' he said."

The three aides of the Karmapa made the escape of His Holiness possible and sacrificed their own safety by pretending His Holiness remained in retreat after he had fled Tsurphu Monastery in the waning days of the millennium."Lama Nyima and Lama Thupten played critical roles in aiding the Karmapa in his escape to India, he said, and they alone knew of his plan in advance. Lama Nyima locked himself in the Karmapa's residence, pretending to be the Karmapa in retreat, while Thupten continued to cook for the Karmapa as if he were still there." (Karmapa News' full account of the escape based on news reports released at the time is available at the website Bodhi Online.)

The RFA reports that it has learned from its sources in Tibet of their arrest: The Karmapa's personal attendants, Lama Thupten and Lama Panam, and his teacher, Lama Nyima, have been detained in recent months inside Tibet, according to sources in Tibet and Dharamsala who spoke on condition of anonymity. Lama Panam was detained in March in Tibet's Kham Prefecture, while Lama Thupten was arrested in January while trying to flee to India, the sources said. Lama Nyima was arrested in June, in Kongpo, they said." The full news report by RFA is at the RFA news site.

The Kagyu Office has announced that "on the 15th day of the 6th Tibetan month, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa received his ordination as a novice monk (dge tshul pha) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was assisted at the ceremony by His Eminence Gyaltsap Rinpoche. This joyous occasion was marked by three days of celebration at Gyuto Monastery. It is considered particularly auspicious that His Holiness was able to receive his Getsul vows from the Dalai Lama. After the Karmapa received his vows, His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred novice and final ordination on some 800 monks from southern India."

It is typical in the tradition for a young lama to receive his first vows at his haircutting ceremony, where he is given refuge. These lay refuge vows (skyabs 'gro'i dge bsnyen) are related to the upasaka vows of the lay person, wherein one commits to refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Three Jewels. One first enters the monastic path as a novice. According to the vinaya, one best takes these vows at a mature age, approximately 18 years of age, although some tulkus take vows at an earlier or later time. On the monastic path, males practice the path of 253 monastic precepts. After one has followed the precepts of a monastic for some five or ten years, one may take the final vows of a monk, or bhikshu (dge slong sdom pa), where males make a final commitment to fully observe the precepts of a monastic.

The Getsul vows are one of "seven vows of liberation [from samsara]." Each of the three sets of vows is administered to both male or female students, making six vows (upasaka/genyenpa, upasika/genyenma (dge bsnyen pa, dge bsnyen ma), sramenera/getsulpa, sramanerika/getsulma, bhikshu/gelongpa and bhikshuni/gelongma) In addition, there is one additional vow taken by female monastics (dge slob ma) prior to the final ordination, making seven vows of liberation.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is currently giving extended teachings in Dharamsala. ANI provides a video clip news report on the public teachings in Dharamsala, "the first since the Dalai Lama fell ill" prior to the Kalachakra ceremony which had been scheduled for January. His Holiness has however been touring and teaching extensively in other countries including Australia and Croatia.

Samdhong Rinpoche, the recently elected prime minister, or Kalon Tripa, who heads the Tibetan government in exile, told Barbara Crossette of the New York Times that HH the "Dalai Lama's health is again 'perfectly all right.'"

Currently touring the United States, the Kalon Tripa further explained that "Tibetans know that sooner or later China will try to impose its own candidate to succeed the Dalai Lama, who is 67, as it did in imposing its own Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. . . .His Holiness is very anxious to institutionalize the continuity of leadership,' Samdhong Rinpoche said. A Constitution has been written and a Parliament in exile given greater power. 'The charter provides that when His Holiness does not exist physically, then there would be a provision for appointing a council of regents that would look after His Holiness's temporal responsibility,' he said. 'So, since there is an elected kalon tripa, there may not be a huge leadership vacuum in the future.'"

Samdhong Rinpoche was the guest of honor at His Holiness Karmapa's birthday celebration in June. (Karmapa News June 26).

The court-ordered inventory process at Rumtek Monastery, seat of the Karmapas in India, concluded on July 13, after the sacred items in the Treasure Room were added to the inventory list. PTI reports that "The treasure room on the first floor of the monastery believed to be the repository of the 'Vajra Mukut', the sapphire studded black hat of the Karmapa, was opened with a duplicate key by the court-appointed commissioner, RBI Regional Director Vinod K. Sharma."

Pema Leyda Shangderpa for the Telegraph reports on the inventory of the Treasure Room, saying that "the RBI team did not touch the sacred black hat or vajra mukut, which can only be handled by the Karmapa. The team took stock of other religious items in the treasure room that have belonged to the Karmapa since the 16th century. Items listed under Schedule A are being photographed and numbered and those not listed earlier have been included in the schedule."

The Treasure Room, which contains some of the most revered items of the Karmapas and Kagyu Lineage, was generally closed since the parinirvana of the 16th Karmapa in 1981. It had been opened on certain specific occasions by the regents of the Karmapa to carry out their duties in the interim between the passing of the 16th and return to Rumtek Monastery of the 17th. According to PTI, the "room was last opened in May 1992 when a high Lama from the Sakya sect of Buddhism entered to read the 'sacred prediction letter' of the previous Karmapa for choosing his successor."

Shortly thereafter, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa was located and enthroned in Tibet. The Karmapa resided at Tsurphu Monastery, the ancestral main seat of the Kagyu from 1992 through 1999. Despite repeated requests, His Holiness Karmapa was not permitted to leave China to visit his seat in India. At the end of 1999, the Karmapa surreptitiously left Tsurphu and escaped to India, arriving in Dharamsala in 2000. Unfortunately, the government of India continues to withhold permission for His Holiness to return to Rumtek Monastery, his seat in India. (See, e.g., Karmapa News May 13, 2002).

Accordingly, in the decade between the discovery of the Karmapa and the court-ordered inventory, the 17th Karmapa has not been allowed to return to Rumtek Monastery, by orders of the Chinese and Indian government, respectively. During that time, the Treasure Room has gone unused, and the key to the Treasure Room was lost. During the court process, a locksmith made a duplicate key pursuant to an order of the court. After the inventory was concluded, the Treasure Room was locked again and the duplicate key was provided to the registrar of the court for safekeeping, per the same order of the High Court of Sikkim.

The Kagyu faithful at Rumtek Monastery and around the world await the return of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa to Rumtek Monastery, so he can take his rightful seat and continue is compassionate activity on behalf of all beings throughout the world.

The inventory of Rumtek Monastery continues in Rumtek. Rumtek Monastery, or Dharma Chakra Centre, is one of the most important seats of the Kagyu lineage outside Tibet. The current Rumtek Monastery was founded by the 16th Karmapa in the 1960's and became the exile seat of the Karmapas. The current monastery was built very near to the 300 year old monastery built under the guidance of the 9th Karmapa, at the request of the Fourth Chyogal (King) of Sikkim. See the Kagyu Office site for more.

As previously noted in Karmapa News, some of the most sacred items of the lineage are stored in the Treasure Room. After the caretakers of the monastery expressed concern that these sacred objects might be damaged during an inventory, His Holiness Karmapa wrote a letter to his followers requesting that they immediately comply with the lawful orders of the court. (See June 23 and June 27). Shortly thereafter, the High Court of Sikkim took jurisdiction over the case and ordered the inventory to proceed according to rules which would respect the sacred nature of some of the objects of the inventory. (June 23 and June 25 )

The Treasure Room has been sealed since 1992, when the former administration was ousted, and the key to the Treasure Room was misplaced somewhere between the former administrators (now plaintiffs suing in the name of the Karmapa Charitable Trust) and the current caretakers of the Monastery (one of the defendants in the lawsuit). The current caretakers accordingly sought permission from the court for a locksmith to open the Treasure Room. The application was joined by plaintiffs in the action.

PTI reports today that the court granted the motion: "Chief Justice Ripusudan Dayal of Sikkim High Court today ordered that the main treasure room of RUMTEK monastery, the key to which was missing, should be opened 'with the help of a keysmith' to enable the inventory being undertaken by an RBI official.

At the conclusion of the inventory, the court apparently ordered that the Treasure Room should be reelected and that the key prepared by the locksmith should be kept in the registry of the court, stating: ''After the (inventory) work will be almost at a close, the parties shall inform the high court registrar general who shall go to the monastery to collect the key in a sealed cover . . The cover shall be sealed with a plain seal and both the counsels shall sign the same before it shall be taken into custody. Upon the envelope the seal of the high court shall be fixed."

PTI reports that Monastery spokesmen believe the inventory of the Treasure Room is expected to begin today.

The Press Trust of India continues to report on the court-ordered inventory at Rumtek Monastery. As noted in previous reports by Karmapa News, recent international press coverage of the inventory proceedings at Rumtek Monastery have contained inaccurate accounts of the inventory proceeding and background of the litigation in Sikkim. PTI is now reporting that the representative appointed by the court to conduct the inventory has expressed his concern with the press coverage:

"Reserve Bank of India's regional director, Vinod K Sharma who is conducting an inventory of the fabulous wealth of the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, the headquarters of Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism, today voiced resentment over the 'leakage' of his reports to the media. As the process continued for the third day, Sharma, who is the court appointed Commissioner, called a meeting of the Rumtek monastery authorities and the Karmapa Charitable Trust and expressed his displeasure over how the reports (of his work) were being 'leaked' to the media. He instructed the representatives of the two factions not to speak to the press, sources from Rumtek said." PTI.

In our view, it is futile to attempt to block coverage of such litigation matters. Based on the extensive press coverage of public-eye litigation that has become commonplace in today's society, it may also be inevitable that parties to the litigation will attempt to provide the press with inaccurate information favorable to their position. A more fruitful course may be to increase the accuracy of reporting on the issue by educating the press on the issues of the litigation. Commissioner Sharma may wish to consider providing some official reports to the press. Similarly, seasoned reporters covering the inventory process may wish to familiarize themselves with the background issues of the litigation and whatever public records of the court proceeding are available.

Summary of prior press coverage of the litigation: The pending court action was filed in July of 1998 in Sikkim. Anil Maheshwari of the The Hindustan Times wrote a background report on this litigation in an article published in the December 17, 1998 edition. He described the issues as follows: </