CM inaugurates renovated BL House

ISABELLA GURUNG

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.