Report on Workshop on Self Defence held at
Algarah Higher Secondary School on 13th Oct 23
A workshop on self-defence was organized by the RC Kalimpong at Algarah Higher Secondary School on 13th Oct 23, as part of International Girl Child Day which is observed on 11th Oct every year. PP Rtn Sanjogita Subba as Chairperson of Women Empowerment Committee was the driving force behind this workshop. When she informed the SP Kalimpong Ms Aparajita Rai about her intention to include a self-defence training session for girls at Algarah Higher Secondary School, the SP on her own suggested that the program should include a demonstration by the Lady Constable team “Winners”. She immediately passed instructions to SI Manisha Lama to depute a team to be part of the workshop.
On 13th Oct PP Sanjogita Subba, Rtn Arun Zimba and self, arrived at Algarah Higher Secondary School in the morning. The Principal Mr. Bijoy Pradhan detailed students from classes XI & XII for the workshop. About 200 students, both boys and girls participated in the workshop. It started after the lunch break at 1.00 PM. PP Rtn Sanjogita Subba welcomed the students, members of Winners Team of Lady Constables (LC) of Kalimpong Police and Shihan Susan Thapa and his assistant Swaraj Rai to the workshop. She spoke on women empowerment and why it is important. Why is International Girl Child Day is observed. She then asked me to introduce Shihan Susan Thapa to the audience, which I will cover subsequently. First half of the program was a briefing by LCV Padma Mukhia and demonstration by two of the LCs. In her briefing to the students, LC Padma Mukhia emphasized that the girls must be alert of their surroundings, where they go and what they eat or drink. She briefed the students about “Winners” and their role. “Winners” is a team of dedicated Lady Constables of Kalimpong police trained in martial arts. They patrol the vulnerable areas of Kalimpong against any harassment to women and specially girls. At present there are about 25 of them. They seek out the vulnerable areas frequented by young boys and girls. They keep these areas under surveillance for any kind of harassment specially to girls. They discourage and disallow any dating by minor girls by counselling. They have a rigorous training schedule under supervision of a certified coach. After her brief, two of the LCs gave a demonstration of various self-defence techniques with explanations on how to use them, to the students. PP Sanjogita Subba thanked the LCs for their expert demonstrations and then called upon Shihan Susan Thapa to take the floor. A few words about Shihan Susan Thapa.
Shihan Susan Thapa. His name starts with the word Shihan. Shihan is a formal title meaning Master Instructor or Teacher of Teachers. Very few people in the world have achieved this ranking. Son of Sri Kumar Thapa and Shantimaya Thapa, he was born on 8th Jun 1992 at Gitkolbong Busty near Lava.
Legend says that about 1,400 years ago, a monk from India by the name of Daruma went to China to teach Buddhism. He also taught his disciples a weaponless combat technique for physical fitness and self-defence. This technique over the years developed to present day Karate.
Shihan Susan Thapa is a National and International Gold Medalist. He had participated in the World Karate Federation Cup at Istanbul, Turkey. Presently he is the chief coach of Susan’s Karate-Do Academy & General Secretary of Kalimpong District Karate-Do Association. He is Blackbelt – 5th Dan from Japan & World Karate Federation, a National Certified Karate Coach, Referee & Judge.
Ranking System of Karate – White belt – Yellow – Orange – Green – Blue – Brown (Junior – Senior :2 stages) – Black belt.
He is also a Yoga enthusiast – Ayush Level 1 and a Basic Teachers Training Certified Yoga Instructor. Ayush is an acronym of Ayruveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy.
He is a certified Sports Therapist from Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports Patiala under Sports Authority of India and has done PG Diploma in Karate from Tamil Nadu Physical Education & Sports University, Chennai.
That’s our chief instructor for the day at Algarah His assistant Swaraj Rai is also a Black Belt – 1st Dan and a State Medalist doing his Masters in Maths from Sikkim University. Both went on to demonstrate & teach several self-defence techniques with practice sessions to the students. The students received the training session very well specially when they had to try out the techniques on the spot. Some who could not follow the techniques were asked to come in front and then they corrected the moves to each one of them personally. His message to the students were to be mentally alert and physically fit. If you are mentally alert, you will be able to develop your sixth sense and anticipate danger. Physical fitness comes with eating well, sleeping early, getting up early and doing exercises. Sports develops your reflexes. So, you could take up any sport of your choice. If you are taking gutka and other form of drugs and think that you are enjoying, you are wrong. It will have its effect on you and your health later. So, take a vow to give up these bad habits.
Some pictures & videos of the event have been shared in the Official Group. Dark clouds were gathering overhead and PP Rtn Sanjogita Subba thought it best to call it a day. Rtn Arun Zimba gave the vote of thanks and we finally broke off at 3.00 PM
Thank You
Rtn Col Gogoi
