BB Lal's farewell photograph with NB Bhandari

BB Lal was the first governor of the state of Sikkim. He was in office from 18^th May 1975 till 9^th January 1981. Interestingly, the magazine cut-off reads BB Lal was given a warm farewell on December 30, 1980, in the presence of NB Bhandari, the then Chief Minister of Sikkim. The photograph mentioned above is the last one to be clicked in Sikkim. He then left for Nainital, which is now in Uttrakhand.

He became the first governor of Sikkim to have his residence at the heritage building of the British residency, which was also known as Barra Khoti and is now more popular as Raj Bhavan. LD Kazi was the Chief Minister of Sikkim when Lal started his tenure as the Governor of Sikkim. Before 1975, Sikkim was an independent Himalayan monarchy ruled by Namgyal Dynasty. In 1979, NB Bhandari became the second Chief Minister of Sikkim. Lal passed away in 2008 at the age of 91.

Facts related to BB Lal:

Most of the bazaars in popular places are called Lal Bazar, and they are named after him.
He started Sikkim's most popular football tournament, the Governor's Gold Cup, in 1979, where he donated the winning trophy.
Electricity first reached Pakyong on August 4, 1976, when BB Lal, the governor of Sikkim, switched on the light at the stroke of 2 pm.
The governor of Sikkim, BB Lal, inaugurated the Central School at Deorali on September 1, 1976.
BB Lal, Governor of Sikkim, inaugurated the footpath constructed between Zero Miles and Deorali bazaar along the national highway on December 11, 1976.

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