Earlier, in our very own article titled “Dorjeling: The Land of Thunder” (https://darjeelinghistoryclub.in/2019/02/03/the-origin-of-the-name-darjeeling/), we had come to the conclusion that the origin of the name Dorjeling came about as a result of its geography and various religious implications and the literal translation of the name Dorje Ling. New findings suggests otherwise. The report of Sonam Ladenla on Observatory Hill, which was written in the year 1912, sheds light on many new potential findings.
In his report he writes that there was a Buddhist Monastery at the very top of the Observatory Hill. This Monastery was a branch of the Dorling Monastery in Sikkim, presently the Doling Monastery at Ravangla. The lama or the Buddhist monk by the name Dorje Ling Pa, founded this Buddhist Monastery at Observatory Hill. The monastery was named after its founder and was referred to as Dorje-ling Gomba. A brief analysis of his report suggests that the reason behind naming Darjeeling has very little to do with its literal meaning, but more to do with the founder of Dorje-ling Gomba.
Laden La also writes that the original monastery was destroyed by the Gorkhas in 1788, during the invasion of Sikkim by the Gorkhas, but was rebuilt and eventually moved to Bhutia Busti.
The report also suggests a phenomenon akin to Hinduization. Laden La in his report writes that during his childhood, the Dorje-ling Gomba rarely witnessed any castes other than the Buddhists. Sacrificing animals such as goats, fowls and pigeons became a recurring event. So in order to curtail these events a chowkidar by the name Pento was employed. Offerings of different kinds whether it be sweets, pan leaves and nuts and in one particular incident, Laden la mentions offerings of cash money became prevalent.
The Report of 1912 is important as it sheds light on the important events and changes taking place in Darjeeling then. It is an important document to understand the history of the region and various socio economic developments that took place in the beginning of the 20th century.
By,
S. K. Ghising
References
1. Deki Rhodes and Nicholas Rhodes, A Man of the Frontier: S. W. Laden la (1876 – 1936) His Life & Times in Darjeeling and Tibet, Kolkata, 2006.
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