Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

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 cal...

Sikkim observed its 41st statehood by offering khadas and prayers to the statue  of Late LD Kazi the first Chief Minster  of Sikkim at  Chintan Bhawan Complex, Gangtok.

It was a passing of an era, Dal Bahadhur Subba (1924-2012) popularly known as DB Subba passed away at his home town Singtam two weeks back making a sudden void for his close people and family around. He had seen the town of Singtam grow from a small time river side inn bazaar to become today’s one of the busiest town of the state of Sikkim. He was dedicated towards the betterment of society and without doubt he was one of the pillars of modern Sikkim. Since ‘50s’ he came infront for his voice against the social injustice of free labour system that included Kalobhari, Jharlangi and other systems of Kazi-Thekadar. He fought for the rights of the suppressed and he was their ‘voice’. His association with Late LD Kazi, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim State inspired him to play an active role in the pre merger scenario. He was a significant leader from Singtam and the person behind controlling, mobilizing and leading the public of Singtam from the front. He joined hands with LD Kazi, R...

February 17, 1976 - Mother Teresa visited Sikkim

Prime Minister Morarji Desai along with Chief Minister of Sikkim Lhendup Dorjee (left) inaugurates the Secretariat Building by cutting the tape at Tashilling, Gangtok in Sikkim on April 9, 1979.   pic: timescontent

Popularly known as L. D. Kazi, became the first Chief Minister of Sikkim in 1975 thus ending over three century old monarchy system. He became the 1st Chief Minister of Sikkim on 14 MAY, 1975 - 17 AUGUST, 1979. He was born in 1904 in Pakyong, East District. A fonuder President of Sikkim Praja Mandal, established in 1946. Later he became the President of Sikkim State Congress and held the post till 1958. In 4th general election held in 1970, Kazi was appointed an Executive Councilor and was assigned the portfolio of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Transport Authority. Under his presidency in 1973, the united party secured 31 out of 32 seats of State Assembly and became the first Chief Minister of Sikkim in 1974. He was married to Elisa-Maria Standford in 1968, daughter of a Belgian father and German mother who left her Scottish husband in Burma and married LD Kaji in Delhi in 1957. During the Kazi's regime, people of Sikkim had seen both negative and positive aspects...

Source:The Life and Times of a Plantsman in the Sikkim Himalayas

I was not born when Sikkim got merged with the mighty Indian Union, but being a student of Sikkim History, all that is available to me is a rack of books by different authors and those old folks who had been part of that historical “April ‘73’ Agitation”.  When I go through the history of Sikkim, April ‘73 Agitation holds an important role, mostly as the turning point of the Independent Sikkim and the Sikkim State. The mass demonstrations against the Chogyal rule shocked the 300-year-old monarchy system and ushered in democratic rule in Sikkim.  The agitation was a result “due to big differences which ensued with the demand of repoll in one booth by Kazi Lhendup Dorji and Mr. Krishna Chandra Pradhan, as such the Chogyal had to face the people’s agitation launched by the Joint Action Committee with the tacit blessings of the Government of India. This people’s political movement spearheaded by Kazi Lhendup Dorji finally resulted in Sikkim joining the mainstream as the 22nd State...

Today holds a special place in the history of Sikkim as it was on this day that mass agitation against the Chogyal rule took off, which led to the downfall of the monarchy rule in Sikkim.  The agitation was a result “ due to serious differences which ensued with the demand of repoll in one booth by Kazi Lhendup Dorji and Mr. Krishna Chandra Pradhan, as such the Chogyal had to face the people's agitation launched by the Joint Action Committee with the tacit blessings of the Government of India.  This people's political movement, spearheaded by Kazi Lhendup Dorji, finally resulted in Sikkim joining the mainstream as the 22nd State of India in 1975 (sikkiminfo.net)". I was going through an article, " Lesson of Democracy from Sikkim, " by Carleton Cole, that recapitulates the movement of the April 73 Agitation.   Cole writes, " In April 1973, after making allegations that a round of elections had been rigged in favor of the Bhutia, thus making ethnic Nepali...

Elisa Maria, wife of the first Chief Minister of Sikkim, L D. Kazi with former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi Photo shared by Binoy, Singtam

This article i found in a site Bhutan Times and i believe it is worth going for anyone interested to know more about Sikkim. India and Kazi Lhendup murdered Sikkim The last Prime Minister of the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim , Kazi Lhendup Dorji, met an ignominious death. On the northern corner of West Bengal state of India , there is a hill station-- Kalimpong, which once hosted celebrities from all over the world. The hill town, where most of the settlers are of Nepali origin, no longer retains its old charm. But until a few weeks ago the last prime minister of a country—that has lost its independence—used to live here. Kazi Lhendup Dorji, who died on 28 July this year at the ripe old age of 103, had played a pivotal role in the merger of Sikkim into India . Dorji is seen as a ‘traitor’ in the contemporary history. He lived, and died, with the same ignominy. “Everybody accuses me of selling the country. Even if it is true, should I alone be blamed?” he asked me, when I met him in Kalim...

Gangtok: Soon after the Assembly Session in the morning, the Chief Minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling accompanied by Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Members of the Assembly, Advisors, Adhaksyas, Chairpersons, Chief Secretary, DGP and others visited nearby Chintan Bhawan premises and paid homage to the first Chief Minister, late L.D. Kazi on his first death anniversary. Padma Vibhushan, Mr. Kazi passed away on 28th July, 2007 at the age of 103 at Kalimpong. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries offered khada on the life size bronze statue of late L. D. Kazi in front of Chintan Bhawan. Earlier, the Speaker, Mr. D.N. Thakarpa, along with Secretary, Officers and Staff of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, felicitated the Chief Minister in his chamber, at the Assembly Secretariat, for securing exemption ...

The mortal of the first former Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa brought to Sikkim from his Chakhung residence, Kalimlpong who had passed away on July 28 evening at 8.35 pm at his Kalimpong's residence. He was 103 years old and was under treatment since a long time and his condition was stated critical since a week ago. The State Government has taken all the necessary arrangement for his funeral and last rites. His body will be received at Rangpoo by Government officials and representatives and a procession with guard of honour will be taken to old Rumtek Monastery with the body of deceased and the same kept at Old Rumtek Monastery for public darshan.  The funeral will be contemplated on August 3 with State honour and 21 gun salute there. The State Government has taken all the necessary steps to prepare for the last funeral of the grand old man and father of democracy in Sikkim in a befitting manner and in this regard, a high level committee has be...