|
 Born in Pakyong, East Sikkim in the
ancient and noble Khangsarpa family in the year 1904, Ka Lhendup
Dorji Khangsarpa entered the Rumtek monastery at the age of 6 years.
His uncle, Tshurfuk Lama Rabden Dorji was the then Head Lama of the
said monastery and Lhendup became his disciple. Sidkyong Namgyal,
the then Maharaja of Sikkim, while visiting the monastery took a
great liking to the young monk Lhendup and took him to Gangtok,
where he placed him in a Tibetan School. At the age of 16, Kazi
Lhendup returned to Rumtek monastery and underwent strict training
for priesthood for two years. Thereafter, on completion of his
training he succeeded as the Head Lama of Rumtek monastery and its
estates on the retirement of Lama Ugen Tenzing. Kazi Lhendup
remained as Head Lama in Rumtek monastery for 8 years, and then left
the monastery to work with his brother the late Kazi Phag Tshering,
who founded the young Mens Buddhist Association at Darjeeling. The
two brothers founded a large number of schools in West Sikkim and
were instrumental in bringing about a number of social and other
reforms.
In 1945, Kazi Lhendup Dorji started the Sikkim
Praja Mandal and was elected its first President. In 1953, he became
President of Sikkim State Congress and held that post till 1958.
During his President ship of the "Sikkim State Congress, he led a
delegation to Delhi in 1954 to call on the Prime Minister of India,
Pandit Jawarhalal Nehru. The Sikkimese had been fighting for
political and economic reforms and these were discussed by the
delegation with Pandit Nehm, who was deeply impressed by their
sincerity particularly that of Kazi Lhendup Dorji. The Prime
Minister promised to give assistance for the progress and economic
welfare of the Sikkimese people and assured Government of India’s
support towards political reform in Sikkim. At that time, there were
two main political parties in Sikkim namely Sikkim State Congress
and the National Party and the political approaches of these parties
were different and bordering on communal sympathies. Kazi Lhendup
Dorji realizing the futility of the communal approach in the
political scene of Sikkim, and having dear to his heart the welfare
of all the people, decided to form another party, called the Sikkim
National Congress, in 1962. His main approach was to fonn a
non-communal party which could give to the people of Sikkim peace,
prosperity and progress. The foundation of this party gave a new
direction to the political life in Sikkim. Fighting on this
platform, his party secured 8 seats out of 18 in the 3rd general
elections of Sikkim. This was by no means a minor achievement in
view of the earlier political influences which were diverting their
energies towards a communal end. Kazi Lhendup Dorji formed the
opposition in the Sikkim Council and tried to bring about a feeling
of communal harmony.
In the 4th general elections held in 1970, Kazi
Lhendup Dorji was appointed as an Executive Councilor and was
allotted the portfolio of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and
Transport Authority. He, realizing that Sikkim is an agricultural
country, tried to bring about certain reforms to ameliorate the
economic conditions of the agriculturists. He was however relieved
of his Executive Councillorship in 1972 and, thereafter, he and his
Belgian born wife Elisa Maria left for a tour of Europe. On their
return, he set about to fight the elections; which was held in 1973.
The events which occurred thereafter are known to our readers and we
need not go into the matter. Suffice it to say that the results of
the elections of 1973 did not satisfy the Sikkim National Congress
who felt that they had not been conducted in a fair manner. This led
to an agitation in April 1973 which ultimately resulted in the
merger of the Sikkim Janata Congress and the Sikkim National
Congress. The United Party subsequently obtained an overwhelming
majority in the general election by securing 31 out of 32 seats.
This gave a massive mandate to Kazi Lhendup Dorji to form a new
Government.
 On the 4th July 1974, Sikkim entered
a new phase in its political development, with the Government of
Sikkim Act of 1974 coming into being. Arising out of that, July 23,
1974 became another historic day, when a popularly elected
Government was sworn in at the Palace by the Chogyal and a Council
of Ministers was formed under the stewardship of Kazi Lhendup Dorji
whose Sikkim Congress Party got 31 out of32 seats in the elections
held in April 1974. The remaining one seat was bagged by the
National Party candidate, Mr. Kalzang Gyatso. The Sikkim Assembly
elected Kazi Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa as its leader and it was,
therefore, natural that the responsibilities of the Chief Minister
should ultimately fall on his shoulders. He was duly appointed as
the Chief Minister of Sikkim on this historic day. The Sikkim
Congress delegates used to attend the annual sessions of the Indian
National Congress. After joining the mainstream of national life in
1975, there was no sense for the Sikkim State Congress to remain
outside the fold of Indian National Congress. Keeping in view the
aspirations of the people and all round progress of Sikkim State,
the decision to merge the Sikkim Congress with the Indian National
Congress was taken at Chandigarh (KAMAGATAMARU NAGAR). Thus Sikkim
emerged as 22nd State of India and the Sikkim Congress became an
integral part of the Indian National Congress and member of the
great Indian family.
Kazi Lhendup Dorji is a venerable and respected
leader of the Sikkimese people and has given the best part of his
life to the service of the people. Selfless and unassuming as he is,
he is a man of few words and believes in working silently. |
