My anecdotes with NB Bhandari

 

I still remember RB Subba, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development Department of Sikkim, during his recently concluded Teacher’s Day speech at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok said, “…..this year is a sad one as one of my teachers passed away who had taught me at my elementary classes. A teacher with whom I fought against and defeated in his last political battle. He was none other than NB Bhandari, former Chief Minister of Sikkim”. 

Nar Bahadhur Bhandari, three times Chief Minister of Sikkim, passed away two days before my 39th birthday day in New Delhi (July 16, 2017) after a prolonged illness. I was in shock like most of the Sikkimese and Nepali-speaking population, it was just a few weeks back a letter written by Mr. Bhandari to Bhim Rawat, President of Press Club of Sikkim had surfaced on Social Media regarding his words on the ongoing Gorkhaland issue. It seemed he would come back to support the movement of the Gorkhaland. 

Returning to my childhood, I don’t remember the exact year; it could have been the late 80s. But I somehow recall it was his birthday, the birthday party of Mr. Bhandari, the then Chief Minister of Sikkim. I accompanied my father and his hospital staff to the party somewhere in Gangtok. I saw people everywhere, and I could move my eyes around. Happy celebration mood across, and I had never seen such huge gatherings. People were standing in a queue, offering khadas to HIM; I, too, was among them, looking around at HIS smiling face, waiting for my turn.

 

 

I was given a khada by my father. As I was about to offer my khada, HE surprised me by putting my khada around my neck. HE asked for an envelope (I still remember it was a brown envelope) from a person nearby and handed it over to me and said ‘mithai khanu’. I never knew what to do with it, so I moved a few steps further, went near a corner, and looked inside. It was a hundred rupees note of five. I was very happy, almost on cloud nine. With joy around, returning home, I just recalled when I would visit him again on his next birthday! 

The year passed by, and the D-day arrived. It was the birthday of the Chief Minister of Sikkim, and Bua was there again to accompany me to the party. Like the previous year, my visit was nothing but the expectation of that brown envelope – which, to be very frank and with sadness, I did not receive, nor did I see anyone near HIM. Though there was unhappiness around my face and my heart, the charisma of the party was something to be seen. I had never come across such celebrations for ages now. In between, many years later I learned about him more from my mother. I was told HE was a teacher at Rongli before joining politics; he and his family used to stay in a rented room at Aja’s place. Even today, when I enter THAT room, I can feel the aura of presence. 

In my growing years, I was always fond of hobbies, and one such hobby was autograph collecting. In 2003, despite little hope, I wrote to a few of Sikkim's leaders for an autograph, and to my surprise, I received two letters within some time, one from BB Goorong, the shortest reigned CM of Sikkim, and one from Mr Bhandari.

My second meeting with HIM was at STNM Hospital, Gangtok, a few years back. My father was kept in one of the private wards of STNM Hospital. I heard Bhandari Sir was admitted to the next ward. I wanted to meet him, but I was hesitant. 

Breaking my hesitant, I went inside the room. I greeted Namaste and went near HIM. There were four people around, and HE greeted me with folded hands. Bhai lai chinnu sakinah, he told. I replied I am the grandson of Siba Narayan Pradhan from Rongli. CB (Siba) Gurubau, he said to which I nodded my head. He told me about his days at Rongli and his bonding with Aja. As I talked with HIM, a man came and asked HIM for his identity card so that he could complete the hospital discharge form. 

He handed over a card. A little later, that man returned, claiming the nurse wanted a voter card and no other card. He laughed at that man’s words and said, "This is a Member of Parliament Identity Card that your Chief Minister also does not have." Smiling back, he gave his voter card to that person. I, too, bid farewell. He told me to introduce myself whenever I came across him. 

That was Nar Bahadhur Bhandari, three times Chief Minister of Sikkim, one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India. During the first death anniversary of my grandmother, held at our home in Shantinagar, Singtam, earlier in March, HE arrived. I did not go near him but clicked his few photographs with Dhaba and others. That was the last time I saw HIM.