Pawan Chamling

Chief Minister of Sikkim (1994 - )

The poet politician Mr. Pawan Chamling who weaves his poem of idealism and human suffering and resolves to  battle all odds to ensure justice to the poor and downtrodden has come a long way since he started his political career at the age of 22.

Born on September 22, 1950 at Yangang, South Sikkim to  Mr. Asbahadur and Mrs. Ashrani Chamling, his early life was devoted in bringing social changes is his village. He actively propagated social consciousness in the neighborhood of his village and inspite of adversities, he was the person who managed to setup the first Library in his village. A born poet and an ardent reader himself, the themes of his poems and prose often depicts social evils and injustice to the poor and downtrodden of the society. In his poem Musings; he talks of musing of the mass under tyranny, he says, death is the desire of all, and there is no one to wipe the tears of the suffering masses; whose humanity is being trampled under steam roller of tyranny. Veer Koh Parichaya; was the first poem he composed in 1967 while still a student. Subsequently his other poems like Paranweek Kavita Haroo, Antaheen Sapana Mero Bipana, Mo Ko Hum and Kranti - Ko Pravesh followed. His collection of poems Antaheen Sapana Mero Biapana bagged him Chintan Puraskar Award in 1987, which was later 1Slated into English. Being a literary figure himself he established Nirman Prakashan a publication unit and a literary magazine 'Nirman' in 1977. Nirman Prakashan as a publication unit has so far published over 200 books authored both by novice as well as veteran writers.

Chamling before he started his political career worked as a first class unlimited contractor and it was only in 1972 at the age of 22 he took up politics.He was elected as the President of Yangang Gram Panchayat Unit in 1982. He slowly joined the mainstream politics and in 1985 he finally got elected to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. In fact in 1989 he made a record victory securing 96% votes from Damthang constituency. While he served as Minister for Industries, Printing and Information & Public Relations, he introduced various welfare schemes for the unemployed educated youth.

While still serving as a Minister in the then Government, he was conscious of the ever widening gap between the have and the have-nots. His very cause to  promote social justice and to serve the poor and the downtrodden was getting eroded by the then Government. A deep sense of dissatisfaction was looming his mind. Since he was determined to continue with his cause, his actions frequently contradicted with The Gvernment. A time came when he openly started defying policies and actions of the then Government. He came to the prominence when he entered the Sikkim Legislative Assembly with a lighted candle in search of Democracy in Sikkim. Dropped from Bhandari Government he played a neutral politics in the great upheaval in 1994 as a leader of SDF which he founded in 1993. Mr. Chamling came to power in 1994, won two Assembly elections and is continuing in power as the leader of the poor and downtrodden who is religiously pursuing the philosophy of "Sarvajan Hitaya Sarvajan Sukhaya" .

In his poem, 'Standing beside thee, I look inward, he says. "My oppressed and exploited people cannot even demand a share of the harvest produced by their sweat and blood". His defiance of the working of the then Government only  brought wrath and one fine day he was dropped from the Ministry. However his expulsion only brought in discontentment amongst the poor and the downtrodden. His dedication and abandoning of power for the sake  of the people brought him even closer to the people. Almost a year after his expulsion on 4th March, 1993, Sikkim Democratic Front was formed with the commitment to uphold Democracy, Justice and Development under the Presidentship of Mr. Chamling. In December 1994, SDF Government came into power bringing in a new era of democracy, justice and development.

He was conferred with the title of Doctorate of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) on the 11th October, 2003 by the Manipal University.