Chandra Das Rai (13 April 1924 – 8 August 2020) popularly known as C.D Rai was a politician of pre merger Sikkim, bureaucrat and former journalist.[2] He was a senior leader in Sikkim State Congress.[3][4]
Chandra Das Rai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Education and Transport | |
| In office 8 May 1949 – 6 June 1949 | |
| Monarch | Tashi Namgyal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1924 Mikhola, South Sikkim, Kingdom of Sikkim |
| Died | 8 August 2020 (aged 96) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Sikkim State Congress |
| Children | Prem Das Rai |
| Alma mater | Banaras Hindu University[1] |
| Occupation | Bureaucrat,Journalist,Leader |
Personal life
editChandra Das Rai was born on 13 April 1924, at Mikhola, South Sikkim. He completed his primary education at the local village school and then went to Darjeeling where he completed his secondary education from St. Robert's School in 1945. Former Member of Parliament Prem Das Rai is his son.[5]
Career
editRai along with Tashi Tshering, Gobardhan Pradhan, DB Tiwari, DS Lepcha, Sonam Tshering, LD Kazi, Roy Choudhary and Helen Lepcha are among the founder members of the Sikkim State Congress. The Congress started agitation in February 1949 demanding the formation of an interim government and democratic reforms following which Rai and five others were arrested. This was followed by Congress supporters encircling the Palace on 1 May 1949. On 8 May 1949, he was made Minister for Education and Transport in the short lived ministry of the first CM of erstwhile Kingdom, Tashi Tshering. However the government was dismissed within 29 days by the Indian Political Officer Harishwar Dayal.[6]
Other works
editIn 1960, he became the Sikkim correspondent for Ananda Bazar Patrika. He also served as the first editor of Sikkim Herald. He was the editor of Himali Bela and Gangtok Times.[7]
Awards
edit- 2010- Kanchenjunga Kalam BBC Purashkar- Awarded by Press Club of Sikkim[citation needed]
- 2014- Bhanu Purashkar- Awarded by Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Sikkim[citation needed]
- 2018- Kashiraj Pradhan Lifetime Journalism Award- Presented by Government of Sikkim[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "www.sikkimexpress.com news-details chandradasrai".
- ^ "CD Rai to be conferred Bhanu Puraskar 2014". sikkimnow.blogspot.com. 4 July 2014.
- ^ Grimes, Paul (23 September 1959). "2 SIKKIMESE ASK CLOSER INDIAN TIE; Congress Party Chiefs Urge Full Accession in View of Chinese Threat". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "A life so long and so well lived". Sikkim Express. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ "CD Rai passes away". sikkimexpress.com. 9 August 2020.
- ^ https://www.ide.go.jp/library/English/Publish/Reports/Jrp/pdf/133_10.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Information & Public Relations Department | State Portal-Sikkim". sikkim.gov.in.
- Bareh, Hamlet (2001). "Introduction". Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-794-8. Retrieved 19 June 2011.