Sikkim: Three Decades Towards Democracy

Sri R.S. Shresta, IAS started his chequered career as an I.A. & A.S. Probationer of the erstwhile Chogyal's regime and has a multifaceted personality that a very few people are blessed with. Completing his matriculation in 1962 from Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok, he is an Honours in Zoology and a post-graduate of North Bengal University from Darjeeling Government College in 1969. He started writing during his early school days and while still a student he penned in 1967 a book on nature science Saral Jiva Vigyan that must have given birth to many a doctors serving in Nepal. His love for nature and wildlife took him to the Manas Game Sanctuary, where he a year just before he joined the then Government of Sikkim in 1972. His memoirs on Manas were then brought out in Himalok, the first Nepali digest from Darjeeling. Thought selected for a Government of India Scholarship for medicine by the Political Officer in 1963, Sri Shresta was destined for something else. He has co-authored with his wife Ranjana Newa: Varna, Lipi Ra Bhasha Parichaya (two editions so far) in 1997 to express gratefulness on recognition of the Newari as one of the nine State languages in Sikkim. He rapaid as the Commissioner-cum-Secretary in teh Science and Technology Department with Vikasko Goreto: Gramin Proudyogiki on low cost rural technologies in Nepali for the benefit of rural masses that had generous support from Sri Pawan Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim and token gratitude from ICIMOD, Nepal. When the Chief Minister announced in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly his Government's policy to make Sikkim a Total Organic State, Jaiwik Vikasko Goreto was brought out just within five days and released by the concerned Minister, Sri D.d. Bhutia in a State function on the National Science Day 2003 when the House was still in session. Earlier he gave new face and life to the four decades old Sikkim Herald with editorials when he served as the Secretary in the Information and Public Relations Department. Later in the Cultural Affairs Department, he organised the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence throughout Sikkim in an unprecedented grand manner the first ever State function that turned out the culminated to be a public function that went on after hours till early morning, memories of which is fondly treasured and even remembered now. Dedicated to various social activities directly and/or indirectly in his capacity as the Successor-in-Office of his family Trust, Karuna Devi Smarak dharmarth Guthi for a decade now, he is the Convenor of INTACH State Chapter Sikkim since 2001. The present work is his concept. collation, compilation and presentation on various parliamentary and commonwealth activities that Sikkim is associated with and he found worth documenting during his present sojourn in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly on deputation since August 2003. He is a firm believer in Sir Winston churchill's saying, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." and that his works are his rewards, besides his son Raman and daughter Rachna.