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 of 32 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 has 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.

Kazi Lhendup Dorji was born in Pakyong, East Sikkim in the ancient and noble Khangsarpa family in the year 1904. He 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 of lamaism 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 Presidentship of the Sikkim State Congress, 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 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 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 realising 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 form a non-communal party which could give to the people of Sikkim peace, prosperity and progress. The formation of this party gave a new direction of 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 Councillor and was allotted the portfolio of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Transport Authority. He, realising 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 subsquently 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.

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 outisde 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.