Lal Bahadur Basnett and Section 124-(A) of Indian Penal Code

Late Lal Bahadur Basnet was born on 17^th December 1926 at Nazitam, Sang in East Sikkim. Born to Lieutenant (Honorary) Prem Bahadur Basnett and Narbada Devi, Lal Bahadur Basnett is an enigmatic personality of Sikkimese politics. At the age of 4, Late Basnett, along with his parents, left Sikkim for Dehradun (then United Provinces now the Capital of Uttarakhand) and returned to his native land only after 15 years. He got his basic education at Dehradun and went to Ludhiana and admitted to Punjab University for his graduation. After accomplishing his Graduation, in 1945, he went to United Services Pre-Cadet College Belgaum.  He was court-martial from the Army due to his direct and open letter to a High ranking Army Officer. In his letter he stated about “the dissatisfaction prevailing in 2/5 Gurkha Rifles”, which was not engrossed by other high ranking Officers. He was sent for a rigorous three months imprisonment but, later released after spending one and a half months in the jail. After resigning from the Indian Army, he went to Pokhara (Nepal) and served as a school teacher.

He sat for the Sikkim’s first Civil Service Competitive Examinations and qualified the same and was appointed as a Magistrate in 1961. However, within a short period he resigned from the bureaucracy and joined Sikkim National Congress, a political party headed by L.D Kazi and was entrusted with the charge of Joint Secretary. His ideas of democracy and egalitarianism could not stop there.

In 1966, he published series of three articles on the topic of Democracy in Sikkim (Sikkim ma Prajatantra) which ultimately led to the portrayal of Late Basnett as an anti-national. On 10^th September 1966, the Joint Secretary of Sikkim National Congress was arrested on a non-bail able warrant for having committed offences of sedition under section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.[i] According to Basnett:

“The arrest had been occasioned by a series of three articles entitled “Democracy in Sikkim”, published in NOW, a Calcutta Weekly, and a letter written to the Editor, “Hindustan Standard” a Calcutta Daily, on the sensitive subject of Sikkim’s National Anthem”[ii].

           According to the reports of Kanchenjunga:

“It has come to know that Mr. Basnett had in certain journals and newspaper in Calcutta written articles which have been said to be against the interest of Sikkim. He was arrested under Indian Penal Code Section 124A on the charges of Rajdroha”[iii].

It appears that the accused and the General Secretary of Sikkim National Congress had written nothing sensational against the National Anthem of the Kingdom. He had simply tried to draw the attention of the Indian intelligentsia regarding the existing political situation of the Kingdom. An extract of his article is reproduced here:

“Now, the ruling house- the Sikkim Durbar- had no intentions to part with its powers and prerogatives which a democratic government would necessarily entail. It restored to the time honoured political weapon of divide and rule....The Sikkim Durbar assiduously applied itself to sowing the seeds of discord among the three communities by playing up the probability of the tyranny of the majority over the minority communities”[iv].

In another issue, he continued to criticize the Sikkim Durbar for waiting for an opportunity to impose absolutism in the Kingdom. Mr. Basnett wrote:

“The Sikkim Durbar has almost reached the point where its absolute rule has become a glaring fact....So, with absolutism in the saddle, Sikkim continues on the dizzy path of eventual chaos”[v].

The only matter that the Durbar had to criticize the writings mentioned above was about the existence of absolutism in the Kingdom, which could be refuted in a usual manner by placing the example of the Executive Council of 1958. However, the arrest of Mr. Basnett gives a clear sketch that how  Sikkim Durbar was working on the “democratization” of the country where a single word against the palace was considered as an act of insubordination.

The lone News based journal Kanchenjunga published the event in the news story with the title ‘National Congress Secretary Arrested’ that too was in an equidistant manner between the democratic and autocratic juxtaposition. It writes

“....it would be enough to say that in the history of Sikkim, this is the first case relating to Section 124(A) or treason”[vi].

After spending 48 hours in the police custody, Mr. Basnett was taken before the Chief Magistrate on 12^th September 1966, and he was released on bail of Rs 100,000.[vii] On 10^th April 1967, after the results of Third General Elections Mr. Basnett was acquitted from the charge of treason.

Due to his deviating political views with L.D Kazi he resigned from the Sikkim National Congress and founded Sikkim Janata Party. Though, the party had never been active in the political sphere of Sikkim but, the demands made by Late Basnett and his party cannot be disregarded. After his victory in the election of 1979, he was elected as the Deputy Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

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[i] Basnett, Lal Bahadur,  (1974) Sikkim A short political history, p 129
[ii] ibid
[iii] Kanchenjunga Vol.6, No.2-3-4, 15^th September 1966 pp36, 48/49
[iv] Basnett, Lal Bahadur, ‘Democracy in Sikkim’(Part I) Now, 29^th April 1966, Calcutta,p10
[v] Basnett, Lal Bahadur, ‘Democracy in Sikkim’(Part I) Now, 20^th May 1966, Calcutta,p9
[vi] Kanchenjunga Vol.6, No.2-3-4, 15^th September 1966 pp36, 48/49
[vii] Basnett (1974) op cit p130

The political void of early 60’s and letter of Late Kazini Eliza Maria to Late Brihaspati Parsai

The early 60’s of the last century can be considered as the concluding segment of the tug of war that was prevalent between the political parties of Sikkim and the Sikkim Durbar. It can be articulated that, the period had accurately witnessed “King can do no wrong” as far as the Sikkimese administration was concerned. The Executive Councillors had served for seven years without any break. However, as per the provision, there had to be an election in 1962; but, was postponed for an indefinite period due to the “Chinese encroachments”. From the study it appears that, there was no political party except the Sikkim National Congress of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee which repeatedly clamoured for the political reforms. The political situation of the erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom was thence standing on the edge which is evident from the reports of Kanchenjunga. The monthly Nepali news based journal states:

“…The Chogyal had in accordance to the advice rendered by different political parties, said that political reforms will be carried out or else like 1958’s law of election will be conducted....while looking at the demands of the political parties, all the parties are unanimous in one matter of election which was to be conducted in 1961 and was not be postponed further.....but, when it comes to the formation of the Council, rules regulating election, administration etc., the parties are not unanimous. If the ruler and the different parties do not listen to each other this critical situation will definitely harm the multi-faceted progress of the country” [i]

Though, Kanchenjunga [ii] blamed Sikkim National Congress along with other political parties for maintaining silence against the introduction of reservation on the basis of caste and race, it appears that, the Sikkim National Congress had made some clatters. But, as usual their opposition went unheard as the other two parties namely Sikkim National Party and Sikkim State Congress remained hushed and muted and were busy in proving them as  good and obedient parties to the Durbar.

The photograph attached with this post is a letter from Kazini Eliza Maria of Chakhung to late Mr. Brihaspati Parsai of Namli village East Sikkim. The latter was one of the founding members of Sikkim State Congress founded in December 1947 with a purpose of liquidating feudalism from the very root of Sikkim. It is evident from the letter that late Brihaspati Parsai had invited the Kazi couple for the marriage of their son to his residence at Namli village. However, the Kazini was unable to make her presence with her husband due to ‘ridiculous attitude of Sikkim Durbar’. It is interesting to note that the letter was dispatched from Chakhung House Kalimpong; the unofficial headquarter of Sikkim National Congress. It indicates that the entry of the Kazi couple to Sikkim was banned at that juncture for some unknown reasons and she is hopeful to meet her relations in Sikkim after the riddance of “nonsense”.  

I am quite sure that the Kazi couple was not allowed in getting into Sikkim after the publication of Bulletin No.2 of 26^th January 1972 through which the Sikkim National Congress had a mocking criticism against the Chogyal and the Sikkimese administration. A line published in Bulletin No.2 of the Sikkim National Congress says:

“It should always be borne in mind that there can be no King without people, but conversely there are many countries today which have people without Kings”.[iii]

 

Document acquired from Mr. N.B. Parsai of Namin village East Sikkim

The line quoted above from Bulletin No. 2 was more than adequate to get exiled in a monarchical set up. However, it materializes that the earlier banishment, indicated in this letter was certainly for raising the voices of the majority, where the Kazi probably was reluctant to accept the Durbar diversion of “divide and rule”. Probably he could sniff the tang of prejudice in the approaches of the palace and remained unbending with his democratic ethos and in all probabilities his democratic values were responsible for ‘ridiculous attitude of Sikkim Durbar’.

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[i] Kanchenjunga, Vol.6 No.26 15^th November 1965 Editorial page of the Journal

[ii] Kanchenjunga  Vol.6, No.9 15^th January 1966 pp120-121

[iii] Kazi, L.D. ‘Sikkim at the Crossroads’, (A Party Bulletin) Published by Sikkim National Congress, Bulletin No.2/1972, 26^th January 1972, Gangtok p2

How cognizant are we to preserve our Heritage?

 We cannot live by History, we cannot ignore it either. It seems that Sikkimese populace will never appreciate this saying. The heritage of our state is always neglected by our people who are acquainted to live in the modern acquisitive world. They have almost forgotten the fact that our roots are somehow connected to our past and we need to preserve them to keep our glory alive. It is the tale of a Foundation of an almost forgotten figure of Sikkimese politics Late Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa, who once had single handedly driven the entire politics of Sikkim. He was not only the first Chief Minister of Democratic Sikkim but can also be regarded as the father of Democracy in Sikkim.

The L.D Kazi Foundation at Gangtok

In the heart of the Capital City and in between the fresh and stunning edifices there lies an old House related to this founding father of Democracy. Situated on the back side of the very famous Bansilal Petrol Pump at the busiest place of Gangtok, the structure is at its brink of decay. In an old signboard it is written as L.D. KAZI FOUNDATION and is locked since a long period. Though, it is situated in the heart of Gangtok none of the enlightened eyes have ever bothered to speak something about this old structure.  It is to be mentioned here that this structure is probably the only part of a set in Sikkim allied to Late Kazi Lhendup Dorjee.

I have seen this construction since my childhood at the very same condition and even today while coming to Namchi I do have a glimpse or twice to this old House. I do not have much information about the year of its construction and about its proprietor, but, I definitely can say that it is related to the First Chief Minister of Sikkim and is totally in an abandon condition. We consider tourism sector as the major source of income in our state and accordingly it has played a vital role for strengthening our State’s economy.  But, what kind of impression the structure is leaving among the eyes of the tourists is another topic for discussion. A place that is associated with the Father of Democracy in Sikkim has now become a rest house for the immigrant Nepali coolies, who are spending their leisure time in listening Lok Dohori on their cell phones.    

Once I have posted a similar article entitled PARADISE LOST on my blog and that too was associated with the conservation of monuments in Sikkim. I should consider myself as the luckiest fellow that I had been able to take some pictures of Rani Khola Bridge at Ranipool. Now a day, the said bridge has been dismantled and nobody objected to this act as they all are adapted in living with the present. In the case of L.D Kazi Foundation too, I am very much sure that this structure will be demolished in a near future and it will be replaced by some modern edifices.

Nepali Coolies in front of the Foundation

The main reason for the abandonment of a place with such historical importance is that our people have developed an attitude of “Nothing is there in Dead Past”. Further, the youths are always busy in gaining political favors from their concerned Political Parties. Similarly, the unemployed people with higher degrees are waiting for their fortunes and the most enlightened section of the society, i.e. the bureaucrats have parallel themselves with the Terminators and finally, the villagers who have nothing to do with this. Under such a situation where people are busy in their own way, places like L D Kazi Foundation, Rani Khola Bridge, Rorathang Mining, Lingtam Dak Bungalow have probably meet an untimed downfall.  

 Being a student and a lover of History, I would like to plea the State Government and the Department to take some strong measures to protect such places. If the Foundation is a private property then the related Department for the conservation of such monuments should provide financial support for its renovation and if it is directly associated with the Department and if the said Department cannot handle these monuments, they should hand them over to some other higher authorities to protect and preserve them. If they will not be protected in time, then our history in the coming years will be almost analogous to those of Jawara tribes of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Nar Bahadur Bhandari- The Second Chief Minister of Sikkim

Mr. N. B Bhandari being Sworn in as the Chief Minister for  Second time
 in 1985 by then Governor S. K Bhatnagar.  

Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari was born on 5^th October 1940 at Malbasey Village, Soreng in West Sikkim. Born into a peasant family of late Balaram Bhandari, and Late Chandra Maya Bhandari, Mr. N. B Bhandari was the youngest child. Amid poverty, he had his early education at Soreng and accomplished his High School from Namchi. After completing his high School he went to Government College Darjeeling to complete his Graduation. As a student he took keen interest in Students’ and youths’ welfare and engaged himself in various social and literary activities.

He joined Sikkim Government Service as a teacher at Soreng School and later taught at Chakhung School, Rongli Junior High School, Namchi Senior Secondary School and finally at West Point School, Gangtok. After the protest movement of 1973 (that curtailed the unlimited powers of the Royal House) Mr. Bhandari resigned from his service and joined politics. He along with a few like minded associates like late Durga Prasad Rajalim of Namchi then formed the United Independent Front and became its General Secretary. The main agenda of the party was to protect Sikkim from becoming an integral part of the Indian Union.

The United Independent Front Party of Mr. Bhandari contested the General Election of 1974 which was held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise for the first time in the democratic history of Sikkim. His party was badly defeated in this election. The year 1975, brought a new era in the history of Sikkim. An independent Himalayan Kingdom ruled by an independent monarch became an integral part of Indian Union. A new Sikkim was born on 16^th May 1975 converting the Subjects of Sikkim Chogyal into the citizens of India. Mr. Bhandari along with his associates greatly opposed the decision made by the Sikkim Assembly to amalgamate Sikkim into India. Even after the merger, he was opposing the decision made by the Sikkim Assembly to merge Sikkim. Under this alleged reason, he was arrested under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and was sent to Behrampur Jail by Kazi Lhendup Dorjee’s Government. He spent one year at Behrampur Jail from 1976 to 1977 and after his release, he formed Sikkim Janata Parishad in October 1977.

The Sikkim Janata Parishad took part in the General Election of 1979 and won 16 seats out of 32. With the support of an independent Sangha (Monastic) MLA, Rev. Lachen Gomchen Rimpoche formed his first Government. In May 1984, his Government was dismissed allegedly on ground of corruption charges even having support of the majority in the Assembly. After the dismissal of his Government, Mr. Bhandari formed Sikkim Sangram Parishad and successfully fought the Lok Sabha Election of December 1984. In March 1985, his party contested the Assembly Election under his leadership and came out as victorious by winning 30 out of 32 seats. With this overwhelming victory he became the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the Second time. After becoming the Chief Minister, Mr. Bhandari resigned from his Seat in the Lok Sabha which later went to his wife Mrs. Dil Kumari Bhandari uncontested. His Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party returned to power again in the election of 1989 with a clean sweep. In May 1994, the Government headed by Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari lost a vote of confidence in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly which led to his resignation from the Government.

Mr. Bhandari with the 32 MLAs of 1989 Election 

This teacher turned politician was deeply interested in reading and writing. He has many publications to his credit that includes the very famous Hamro Pukar (Our Voice) (1963) which was the first complete Nepali literary journal edited by a natural Sikkimese. Further, Mr. Bhandari also edited Aaja Ko Sikkim (Today’s Sikkim) a bi-weekly and a Nepali literary journal Archana (1973). He has also written Tuhuro ka Bichar Haru (Thoughts of an Orphan) 1988 another remarkable literary work of him is Nar Bahadur Bhandari ka Kehi Rachana Haru (Few Writings of Nar Bahadur Bhandari). For a long time he was the President of Bharatiya Nepali Rastriya Parishad which played an imperative part for the inclusion of Nepali Language in the VIII Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Apart from a literary figure and politician, Mr. Bhandari is a keen lover of sports particularly Football, Volleyball and Badminton and he is one of the best orators in Nepali speaking world. Due to his indefatigable efforts Nepali language received Constitutional Recognition on 20^th August 1992. Even today at the age of 71, Mr. Bhandari is still active in the politics of Sikkim.

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa- First Democratic Chief Minister of Sikkim

Cheif Minister Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa being sworn
in  as the First Chief Minister of Democratic Sikkim by Governor
B.B Lal on 16th May 1975.

The political upheavals of 1940s precipitated into protest movement of 1973 that finally led to the merger of Sikkim into India in 1975. As the political era from 1919 up to 1947 is referred as Gandhian era in the Modern Indian History, the period of 30 years i.e from 1945 up to 1975 can be regarded as Kazian era in the Democratic History of Sikkim. It is because from 1945, late L.D. Kazi single handedly guided the democratic movement of Sikkim till its merger.

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa was born at Pakyong, East Sikkim in the ancient and noble Khangsarpa family in 1904. As a pious Buddhist he entered the Rumtek monastery at the age of 6 years. His uncle Tshurfuk Lama Rabden Dorjee was the then Head Lama of the famous Rumtek Monastry and young Lhendup became his disciple. During his visit, Sidkeyong Namgyal the then Maharaja of Sikkim 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 of Lamaism for two years. Thereafter, on accomplishment 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 at Rumtek monastery for 8 years, and then left the monastery to work with his brother Kazi Phag Tshering, who founded the Young Mens’ Buddhist Association at Darjeeling. The two Kazi brothers founded a large number of schools in West Sikkim and were instrumental in bringing about a number of social and other reforms.

The 40’s of the last century witnessed a heralding change world wide. A person with the feeling of service to mankind, Kazi Lhendup founded a Political Organization known as Rajya Praja Mandal at his native place at Chakhung in West Sikkim. In 1947 the amalgamation of the three petty political organizations of Sikkim Rajya Praja Mandal, Rajya Praja Sammelan and Praja Sudhar Samaj took place. On 7^th December 1947 they held a joint meeting at today’s Palzor Stadium (then Polo Ground) and decided to form a compact body to combat lawless feudalism. The huge gathering of 7^th December 1947 led to the birth of first ever political Party of Sikkim known as Sikkim State Congress. Tashi Tshering also popularly known as Tashi Babu of Gangtok was the elected President of Sikkim State Congress.

In 1953, Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa (people of his native place fondly called him Kancha Kazi) became the President of Sikkim State Congress and held that post till 1958. During his President ship he led a delegation to Delhi in 1954 to call on the Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Sikkimese had been fighting for political and economic reforms and these were discussed by the delegation with Pandit Nehru, who was deeply impressed by the sincerity of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee. The Indian Prime Minister promised to give assistance for the progress and economic welfare of the Sikkimese populace and assured Government of India’s support towards political reform in Sikkim.

After the foundation of the Sikkim State Congress (which was a pro-peasant party) the pro feudalists founded another political party in 1948 to curb the rising tide of democratic ideas. The new political party was known as Sikkim National Party and it was basically patronized by the palace. The Sikkim State Congress had branded this party as the “party of palace”. Kazi Lhendup Dorjee realizing the futility of the communal approach in the political scenario of Sikkim, and having dear to his heart the welfare of the people, decided to form another party, called the Sikkim National Congress in 1960. His main approach was to form a non-communal party which could give the Sikkimese peace, prosperity and progress. Contesting on this platform his party secured 8 seats out of 18 in the third General Elections of Sikkim in 1963. Kazi Lhendup Dorjee formed the opposition in the Sikkim Council and tried to bring about a feeling of communal harmony.

In the General Election of 1970, Kazi Lhendup Dorjee was appointed as an Executive Councillor and was allotted the portfolio of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Transport Authority. He, after being realized that Sikkim was an agricultural country, tried to bring about certain reforms to reorganize the economic conditions of the farmers. He was however, removed from the Executive Councillor in 1972. It is to be noted here that the Late Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa had his second wife from Belgium. Her name was Kazini Eliza Maria (also known as Kazini Sahiba of Chakhung) who also had played a vital role in guiding and assisting Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa in his day to day affairs. She was an influential woman who used to do most of the paper works of the party of Kazi from their cozy bungalow at Kalimpong. The General Election of 1973, the last general election based on the notorious parity formulae, did not satisfy the Sikkim National Congress. This led to an agitation in April 1973which ultimately led to the merger of two influential political parties of Sikkim the Janata Congress and Sikkim National Congress giving birth to Sikkim Congress.

In the elections of 1974, Sikkim Congress secured 31 out of 32 seats in the Sikkim Assembly and formed its government based in principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. He became the first Chief Minister elected according to the credence of Democracy. The Sikkim Congress delegates used to attend the annual session of the Indian National Congress. After the merger of Sikkim in 1975 the political party of Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa was also merged with the Indian National Congress at Kamagatamaru Nagar in Chandigarh.

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee with the Chogyal of Sikkim
to sign the Government of Sikkim Act 1974

Personally Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa and Kazini Eliza Maria lost everything -- perhaps not really everything -- because the people of Sikkim still remember him with fondness. The father of democracy in Sikkim was even not allowed to enter Sikkim as he lost the election in 1979 due to some political reasons. The memorable Kazi expired on July 29, 2007. He did not live for personal gains; he lived for the people of Sikkim. “By merging Sikkim with India Kazi Lendhup Dorji Khansarpa of Chakung brought new prosperity to the people of Sikkim, restored their rights and gave India a jewel in the crown studded with the silvery Kanchenjunga”. (M. K Dhar, If not for Him Sikkim would not be a part of India)