Press Release
Date-03/07/2024
The Journey of Sikkim University: From Neglect to Progress
As Sikkim State marches towards its Golden Jubilee year in 2025, a ‘Sunaulo’ dawn is also rising for Sikkim University after more than one and a half decades in existence.
The Himalayan state’s prized education institution celebrated its 17th Foundation Day on July 2nd 2024. The past years have been harsh to the university, its students and faculties, but now there is so much to look forward to.
Neglected since its inception by the previous government, the Sikkim University is presently witnessing a smooth transition from a rented institution in Gangtok to its sprawling, permanent campus at Yangang, Namchi district. Three language departments – Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu – are already functioning from Yangang campus from November 28th, 2022. The other departments of the university, presently operating from rented buildings in Gangtok, are being shifted to Yangang in a phased manner, and comes at a time Sikkim is poised to celebrate its 50th Statehood Day with a vision of ‘Sunaulo Sikkim’ under Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay.
*Years of Apathy*
Sikkim University was established by an Act of the Parliament in 2007 and from next year, the varsity started offering various academic courses while running the departments from various rented buildings in and around Gangtok. After much scouting, Yangang, a quaint rural settlement in Namchi District was chosen as the site for its permanent campus.
Things went downhill from there.
Land acquisition at Yangang was inordinately delayed by the then SDF government, despite receiving funds from the Government of India. At that time, reports were circulating about the differences between the then Chief Minister and the Sikkim University authorities. Funds were not an issue, let’s be clear on this. The Central Government was magnanimous in allocation of funds for land acquisition and construction work. But the then government, for reasons best known to them, simply halted the land transfer to the Sikkim University, thereby holding hostage the future of the institutions and its stakeholders.
Consequently, the campus project failed to take off and students, including those coming from outside the State, had to attend their classes in rented buildings and stay as tenants in Gangtok.
A running joke then was that Sikkim University was the longest university in the world as its campus stretched from Ranipool to main Gangtok town in rented buildings. Jokes were followed by regular protests by the students demanding better facilities and study environment as any Central University should be providing.
*Parivartan expedites campus project*
In 2019, Parivartan happened in Sikkim with the SKM party led by current Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay taking charge of the Sikkim Government. The SKM party also won the Lok Sabha seat with Indra Hang Subba emerging victorious.
Determined to change the sorry state-of-affairs in Sikkim, the new government led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay also took up the permanent campus issue strongly and pressed the Union Government to expedite the Sikkim University campus construction project at Yangang.
Being a research scholar pursuing his Ph.D from Sikkim University, Indra Hang Subba also made special efforts in the Parliament, raising his voice about the status of Sikkim University and the delays in constructing the campus at Yangang. His speech was well-received, as he was a student at the university at the time. He also took the matter to the Ministry of Education.
Due to these tenacious efforts along with persistence shown by the Sikkim University Vice Chancellor Prof. Avinash Khare, the land acquisition process was completed and the campus construction project was expedited. We have now reached a stage where the university is poised to fully transfer to Yangang, which would also bring innumerable opportunities for the local populace.
We keenly look forward to celebrating the next Foundation Day of Sikkim University in its new permanent campus at Yangang in 2025. It would be a ‘Sunaulo’ addition to celebrations of the Golden Year of Sikkim and its people.
Importance of good leadership
There is no doubt that after the campus is complete, Sikkim University would be one of the best universities in the nation. The serene surroundings and peaceful environment will make our university the preferred destination of scholars and students from across the country.
Seriousness shown by the Chief Minister, the Lok Sabha MP, the SKM Government and the Sikkim University Vice Chancellor to correct the historical wrongdoings in the education sector and future of our students is a powerful reminder that we must strive to make things happen. They spared no efforts to ensure that students would not face the injustice and ignominy of not having a proper campus. They acted because Gangtok, already crowded, could not handle the burden of numerous rented university buildings and the growing student population.
This situation highlighted the necessity of a dedicated university campus where everyone can hold their heads high and explore various research possibilities without fear or interference. It is a basic requirement that a university must have its own space where students can pursue education and explore new frontiers confidently and freely. They made these efforts because a university stands for humanism, tolerance, reason, the adventure of ideas, and the search for truth. It represents the onward march of the human race toward ever higher objectives. And this can only be achieved if the university has its own campus.
In essence, the story of Sikkim University from past to present shows how important good leadership and government action can be. This shows how committed leadership can make a big difference, helping Sikkim University move towards a future with a proper campus where students can learn and grow. It also fits nicely into the ultimate goal of Chief Minister Prem Singh-Tamang to make Sikkim an Education Hub of the nation.
Office of the MP (Lok Sabha)
Sikkim
