Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, officially called Arjuna Award is the second highest sports honour in India after Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Constituted in the year 1961, the award comprises a bronze statue of Arjuna (a character from the epic Mahabharata), a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$20,000 - as of 2020). Sonam Gyatso (1923–1968): Sonam Gyatso claimed fame when at the age of 42 became the second Indian to summit Mt Everest on May 22, 1965. He was then the oldest person to reach the top and spend more than 50 minutes the longest time at the peak. Recipient of Padma Shri (1962), Padma Bhushan (1965) and Arjuna Award (1965), Gyatso was the founder and Principal of Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute at Rathong, Sikkim. He is the only person from Sikkim to get featured in an Indian Postage stamp. Jaslal Pradhan (born 24 April 1957): Jaslal Pradhan, a boxing legend from Sikkim was an Arjuna Awardee in 1983....
Proud to be a Sikkimese is the definitive digital encyclopedia of Sikkim State. Since 2007, we have archived the rich heritage of the Himalayas, from the history of the Namgyal dynasty to the vibrant cultures of the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. Explore expert insights on Sikkim travel, Buddhist monasteries, folklore, and biodiversity.