Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India also known as Chacha Nehru had a great admiration with
the erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim.
During his tenure as the Prime Minister of India he has visited the tiny
Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim and had received approbation from its subjects. As per the report of Kanchenjunga,
the first news based Nepali journal of Sikkim, the late Indian Prime Minister reached
Rangpo, a bordering town (that bordered Sikkim with India) in the morning of 28th
December 1957 on his way to Gangtok, the Capital of Kingdom of Sikkim. He was
warmly welcomed by then Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal, the heir apparent Palden
Thondup Namgyal, Nari K. Rustamji the Indian Dewan and the Executive Councillors
of Sikkim Assembly. The journal further informs that the Indian Prime Minister
was greatly welcomed by the people of Rangpo. “A crowd, busy in watching football match get into the town after
hearing his arrival to wave their hands to the Prime Minister” the journal
reports. After the grand welcome at Rangpo Dak Bunglow, Pandit Nehru inspected the working at Rangpo copper Mining. He further
insisted for the creation of own Indian machines for the development of such mines
in Sikkim. After his brief visit to Rangpo Copper Mining the Indian Prime
Minister visited Singtam Bazar and acknowledged the greetings made by the
people of Singtam at School Phatak. At
Singtam, he visited food preservation factory, constructed under the Seven
Years Plan adopted by the Royal Government of Sikkim.
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| Indian Prime Minister Nehru at Palzor Namgyal Girls School |
He
was also warmly welcomed by the people at 32 NO Ghattey School (now Brihaspati
Parsai Sr. Sec School) Ranipool Golai, Deorali and Gangtok Bazar. The jeeps accompanying
the Indian Prime Minister made several rounds of the capital clamouring the
slogan of Panchseel Zindabaad. On the same day, the Indian Prime Minister
also visited Technical Institute, Tashiling Secretariat and STNM hospital and made
a round of the Capital Town. In the evening, Pandit Nehru attended Garden Tea
Party at Sikkim Palace hosted by the King Shree Panch Maharajadhiraj Sir Tashi Namgyal.
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| The report of Nehru's Visit to Sikkim published in Kanchenjunga |
The
Report of Pt. Nehru’s visit was published in Kanchenjunga, (Vol.5 year 1957)
the first News based journal of Sikkim. A copy of this journal is preserved by
Shree Ganesh Kumar Pradhan of Rhenock at his private museum Ramgauri
Sangrahalaya Rhenock East Sikkim)
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