Sonam Dupden

Sikkim is a small thumb-shaped picturesque state situated in the northeastern part of India. It has a unique and distinctive folklore, the main tribe living here is the Lepcha. The Lepcha community is deemed to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim. Lapcha signifies beloved children of God and they are about 80,000 in number. In this mesmerising state and tribe, on 13 November 1954 in Chhota Singtam village of East Sikkim, Shri Sonam Dupden Lepcha Ji was born to Late Shri Sarman Lepcha Ji and Late Jimit Lepcha Ji.

As a child, Shri Lepcha was a brilliant student. He received a scholarship under the Indian School Scholarship Scheme from April 1961 to March 1973 and completed his higher secondary education at Bethany School Darjeeling. He graduated in Bioscience from Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapeeth Purulia, West Bengal, Darjeeling, University of North Bengal. After his education, Sonam Ji worked as Horticulture Inspector in the Agriculture Department of the Government of Sikkim.

He was married to Lt. Mingma Doma Ji. Army Nursing Officer Lepcha Ji has two daughters. Mayal Pandi Lepcha and Rep Pandi Lepcha, currently working in the medical and education sectors.

Shortly after, the Forest Department sent Lepcha Ji to the Central Research Centre, Berhampur, West Bengal to get a postgraduate diploma in Sericulture. After completing the course, he was posted as Assistant Sericulture Officer in the Forest Department, Government of Sikkim where he worked from 1979 to 1985.

Shri Lepcha’s stellar performance in politics began in January 1985 after he submitted his resignation from the Forest Department.

Shri Lepcha’s stellar performance in politics began in January 1985 after he submitted his resignation to the Forest Department. He participated in the upcoming state election. He became the candidate of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party and successfully won the election from the then constituency of Assam Lingji. He was elected to the 3rd Sikkim Legislative Assembly. From 1985 to 1989, Shri Lepcha held the charge as the Minister of Animal Husbandry, Land Revenue, Survey and Settlement.

During 1989-1994, Shri Lepcha was re-elected to the 4th Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

He served as the Minister of Forests, Mines and Geology from 1989-92 and also held the charge of the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies till 1994. During his tenure, Shri Lepcha worked dedicatedly towards inclusiveness. He focused on the development of his constituency and the state, especially infrastructure and aimed at the construction of roads and bridges, providing footpaths in villages, upgrading irrigation channels, opening primary health centres, veterinary centres and schools. Besides he also ensured the establishment of basic amenities.

In 1985, Shri Sonam Dupden Lepcha also had the opportunity to attend the Commonwealth Conference on Agriculture in Melbourne, Australia.

He was nominated as a permanent member of the C.P.A and invited to the 1992 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference held in the Bahamas.

Further, on a study tour to France, the United Kingdom and the United States, he made international visits to Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

Lepcha Ji contested the 1995 and 1999 assembly elections as an independent candidate.

After his failed attempts, he decided to quit politics. Although, this setback didn’t dampen his desire to serve the people.

In April 1996, he was elected president of a social organization ‘Renzong Mutanchi Rong Tarium’ (Sikkim Lepcha Association). Shri Lepcha from 2015-2019 under the aegis of Social Justice and Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim to look into the upliftment of the indigenous Lepcha community of Sikkim, served as the chairman of the Tribal Welfare Board.

During his tenure in 2018, he also participated in the Workshop on Sustainable Development under the United Nations Development Program which was held in Guwahati, Assam.

Shri Lepcha has been working tirelessly at the national level with various NGOs like All India Tribal Council and Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

In continuation of these social works, Shri Lepcha has been participating in many programs across the country and is currently working as the President of Sikkim Kalyan Ashram.

Such influential and ardent personalities are rarely found. It is our hope that he continues to contribute to the upliftment of society and the country, in turn, continues to benefit from it.