Over 58 awards, citations to Chamling in past two decades,1987 to 2009 – a journey from Chintan to Leadership award
From Sikkim Express
GANGTOK, August 31: From his first award for poetry to most recent award for leadership, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has been bestowed with over 58 awards, honours and citations for his personal and government’s achievements since 1987 till 2007 in a political career spanning around three decades.
These include Bharat Siromani, ‘Greenest Chief Minister’ and a slew of national tourism awards.
The first recorded award to the Chief Minister was for his literary exploits when Sikkim Sahitya Parishad presented ‘Chintan Purashkar’ in 1987 to Pawan Chamling ‘Kiran’ for his poem ‘Maile Samjeka Samjhana Kati Kati Chan’.
A compendium of honours, awards and prizes conferred on the Chief Minister prepared by his Press Advisor and former MP Bhim Dahal records that Mr. Chamling had been presented with Rs. 1001 along with the ‘Chintan Purashkar’ by Sikkim Sahitya Parishad.
One year after forming the government, the Chief Minister was conferred with Balraj Sahani National Award by Shimla based All India Artistes Association in 1995. A UNI copy released that time states that ‘the award was being given to Chamling, who is also a dramatist, poet, actor and singer, for his distinctive contribution to the cause of weak to strengthen the moral fabric of society’.
In 1996, the Chief Minister was bestowed with Bharat Shiromani award which was presented by the then vice president of India, KR Narayanan at New Delhi. The same year, New Delhi based United Children’s Movement conferred the Secular India Harmony Award to the Chief Minister.
Three years later, Mr. Chamling was adjudged the ‘Greenest Chief Minister of India’ by reputed environment specific Down to Earth magazine in 1999. He had been voted above all heads of other States to the pole position for his commitment to environment and sustainable development.
New environment challenges have come up but the ‘Greenest’ cover has now spread oversees with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger inviting Mr. Chamling for Global Summit on Climate Change at Los Angeles. For the record, this is for the second straight time that the Chief Minister is being invited to the international meet.
In between, the Chief Minister became ‘Dr. Pawan Chamling’ following the conferring of Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) by Sikkim Manipal University in 2003. The doctorate was conferred by the university in recognition of ‘his vision, leadership and contribution in the field of social upliftment of weaker sections, backward classes and all round development of Sikkim’.
National organizations like Poets Foundation, Friendship Forum of India and Institute of Economic Studies and Committee for National Integration along with international organizations like Global Economic Council, American Biographical Institute, International Melody Foundation and International Biographical Centre have also honoured Mr. Chamling over the years with various awards and citations.
The Chief Minister had been conferred with ‘Leadership and Good Governance’ award by Universal Peace Federation on July 6 this year
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