GANGTOK,: The Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) community of Sikkim felicitated Chief
Minister PS Golay, for his dedicated support towards the community and the
dedication of the remodeled Bhutia-Lepcha House here.
The
felicitation ceremony was held in Manan Kendra, here today, in the presence of
Kyabje Rinpoches, Tulkus, Khenpos, Dorjee Lopens from various Gompas, Lamas,
devoted members of the Sangha, cabinet ministers, MLAs, officials from the
Culture department, dignitaries and students.
Chief Minister
PS Golay expressed honor to be felicitated by the members of the BL community.
“I am blessed
to be part of the celebration, among the dharma gurus. Sikkim may be a small State,
but we are forward in different sectors in India, due to the blessings of our
dharma gurus of different religions.”
“The remodeled
structure stands as a tribute to the rich heritage and contributions of the BL
community in Sikkim. The BL House aims at preserving the culture, heritage and
identity of the community. The renovation has introduced various amenities
designed to serve the community’s needs. Among these is the multi-purpose hall,
which can be used for celebrations and gatherings, rooms with attached
bathrooms, commercial space etc. The State government urges the BL community to
use the bhawan wisely and also for the upliftment of the community,” expressed
the Chief Minister.
Golay further
stated that the SKM government's motto is ‘unity’, where different communities
collectively work for the upliftment of the Sikkimese society.
“Your growth
and development are united, not divided. Unlike the previous ruling party, who
focused on the ‘divide and rule’ policy for political gains, the SKM government
has worked in unifying the Sikkimese. I feel proud to wear different
traditional dresses at functions of different communities and I proudly wear
them. Different communities in Sikkim, including the Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali,
among others, come together to celebrate their distinct identities, while
fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity. The Sikkimese have a sense of
shared responsibility,” he added.
The CM further
urged the Sikkimese to wear their traditional attires without fear of
victimization or being tagged ‘communal’. He also motivated schools to allow
students to wear traditional attires, once a week.
Golay further
highlighted the different initiatives of the State government for the
upliftment of the different communities and religions in Sikkim. He also
stressed on reservations of the different communities during the elections.
The Chief
Minister handed over the keys of the BL House to the members of the community.
Ecclesiastical
minister Sonam Lama, on behalf of the BL community thanked the CM for his
support and dedication.
“On behalf of
the 1.35 lakh BL community, I would like to thank the CM and the State
government for his dedication for the upliftment of the BL community, and also
other communities in Sikkim. The BL House is a pride for our community, as we
were desperate for the BL House, which was in a devastating condition prior to
the remodeling,” said the minister.
He further
highlighted the different initiatives of the State government for the
upliftment of the community.
Advisor to CM, Kunga
Nima Lepcha expressed that the BL House was established during the Bhandari
government, but over the years the bhawan was in a bad condition, and the total
transformation after the remodeling is a blessing for the BL community. “Before
the SKM government was formed in 2019, the previous government, which was in
power for 25 years, did not do anything. Today, the SKM government has brought
the BL community together. The BL community is extremely thankful to the State
government,” he said.
During the
event, the Lho-Men (BL) flag was also unveiled by the CM and dignitaries. The
Lho-Men flag serves as a reminder of the enduring bond between the Bhutia and
the Lepcha communities, a bond that traces its roots to the historic
brotherhood treaty of Kabi Lungchok.
The technical
report of the remodeled BL House was presented by Culture department chief
engineer Rimp Dorjee Lepcha. He informed that Rs 2.27 cr was sanctioned in
2022-23. With three basement floors with 16 fully furnished rooms with attached
bathrooms and commercial space in the ground floor, the remodeling of the BL
house took two years of research of the Blood Brotherhood treaty, he informed.
On behalf of
the Culture department, Rimp extended gratitude to be part of the project.
