Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia: A Pioneer in Thangka Painting

Dr. R. B. BISWAKARMA

A Thangka painting, also called as Hangka, Tangka, Thanka, or Tanka is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk appliqué that usually depicts a Buddhist deity or mythological scenes. Thangka serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas.
Sikkim is one of the popular countries in North East region of India in Thangka Painting. In Sikkim, if there is a name that needs to be reckoned with Thangka painting, then Shri Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia stands at its epitome. Shri Khandu is one of the most prominent independent Thanka artists from Sikkim, and has been practicing his art since the age of 15. Khandu acquired the art under the guidance of his masters Zapa Acho and Phuntshok Sangpo, and has passed the techniques and teaching of Thanka Art to almost 400 young minds in Sikkim.
63 years old Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia from Namchi, South Sikkim comes into limelight when he makes it to the list of awardees for the fourth highest civilian award in India ‘Padma Shri’. He is being conferred with the prestigious award in Art Category by the Hon’ble President of India on 28th March 2022 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Early life & Education
Shri Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia was born in the year 1969 to Late Jigme Wangchuk Lama, the Dungzin Rimpoche, who built the Sangdopalri structure at Pemayangtse Monastery. He is the nephew of Late Khacheod Rimpoche, former Dorje Lopen of Pemayangtse Monastery. He is also the son-in-law of Yap Kunga, Dorji Lopen of Sanga Choling Monastery, Pelling. Hailing from Sakyong in West Sikkim, the 65-years old had his formal education from Government Senior Secondary School Geyzing, Pelling and Namchi Senior Secondary School. He further studied under Shri Phuntsok Sangpo in Kalimpong and Lata Zapa Acho in Ghoom. After his formal education, he ordained monastic life in Pemayangtse monastery. Once in the monastery, he took up Thangka painting as a profession.
His father had built the Sangdopalri wooden structure at Pemayangtse Monastery, and his father was naturally talented, and had built statues and structures throughout Sikkim. This creativeness inspired him to get into the creative arts. His father noted the sincere interest and sent him to study under Shri Phuntsok Sangpo in Kalimpong.
Professional Contributions
He mastered the art of Thangka Painting under Dungzin Rimpoche, Late Jigme Wangchuk Lama along with renowned Thangka artist Late Shri Phuntsok Sangpo and Late Zapa Acho. Khandu has taken his art to train over 350 students from the Sikkim populace in local handicrafts including Thangka Painting, wood carving, and carpet weaving. Among his prominent students, Yeshey Zangpo Bhutia from Pelling went on to win the National Award in 2008. Some of Khandu's notable works include wall Buddhist murals in Pemayangtse Monastery (Pelling), Boomtar Tamang Gumpa (Namchi), Gnadak Monastery Old (Namchi), Gnadak Monastery New (Namchi), Allay Gumpa (Ravangla), and Tashi Choeling Monastery (Khechupalri).
He has attended a series of seminars & exhibitions both in India and internationally, some of which include India International Trade Fair, Delhi India (2004), Surajkand Mela in Haryana (2006), Made In NorthEast India Fair, Bangkok Thailand (2010), and Jeddah International Trade Fair, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia (EPCH) in 2014.
Honours & Awards
Shri Khandu Wangchuk went on to a series of awards beginning with the National Award (Handicrafts) in Thangka Painting in 1981, Bharat Excellence as part of the Friendship Forum of India in 2001, and Kala Nidhi at the  Surajkund fair in Haryana in 2006.  He has also been awarded with various awards and accolades. He has been conferred with the National Award in handicrafts from the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India in the year 1981, Kala Nedhi Award in the year 2006 and the Bharat Excellence award from the Friendship Forum of India. He currently resides at Namchi, South Sikkim and is married to Tshering Diki and has a son and two daughters.
Social life
Shri Khandu Wangchuk is married to Tshering Deki Bhutia. He has a son Tashi Woiser Bhutia and two daughters, Sonam Yangchen Bhutia and Nima Lhamu Bhutia. He currently resides in Allay Dara, Namchi, South Sikkim as the proprietor of Kanchendzonga Handicrafts Centre which was registered in 1982. He expressed his happiness over the received the India’s third highest civilian award, Padma Shri by the Govt. of India for his valuable contributions in the field of Thangka Painting. He is fine gentleman due to his cordial and helpful by nature.  
He said, “I had never thought for such a biggest achievements (Padma Shri Award) in my life. Now I realized, I had done something in my profession. Thanks to the God, my family, friends and well-wishers.” He informed, his role models were his father (H .E  Dunzin Rimpoche late Jigme Wangchuk Lama), his teachers Shri Phuntsok Sangpo and Shri Zapa Acho. His message to youth is to reinvigorate the old craft of Thangka, to keep the culture and tradition alive. He follows hard work, diligence and faith and wants the youth to follow these regardless of craft or profession because he believes these will definitely prove fruitful in the long run. He has taught the youth (students) regardless of religion or caste or gender and wants people to eradicate these barriers to progress the youth for a brighter future.
On this historical moment, people of Sikkim wish to express our heartiest congratulations to Shri Khandu Wangchuk for the Padma Shri Award.
(The writer is a Joint Director, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Govt. of Sikkim)