Dil Kumari Bhandari (née Rai; born 14 May 1949) is am Indian politician and the first woman member of parliament (Lok Sabha) from Sikkim. She was also the president of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, an organisation of the Indian Gorkhas till 2012. She has been constantly working for the cause of Nepali-speaking people, her most notable contribution being the inclusion of the Nepali language in the Eight Schedule of the Indian constitution.[2]
Dil Kumari Bhandari | |
|---|---|
| Former Member of Parliament | |
| In office May 1985-27 November 1989; 20 June 1991 – 10 May 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dil Kumari Rai 14 May 1949 Bana Puttabong, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India |
| Political party | Sikkim Sangram Parishad |
| Spouse | Nar Bahadur Bhandari |
| Parent |
|
| Residence(s) | Gangtok, Sikkim, India |
Early life and education
editDil Kumari Bhandari was born on 14 May 1949 in the village of Bana Puttabong in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. She comes from a highly cultured and traditional Rai family. She studied up to pre- university level.[3] Dil Kumari was elected as a Member of Parliament from Sikkim twice from May 1985 to 27 November 1989 and from 20 June 1991 to 10 May 1996[4]
Career
editShe worked as a teacher, social worker and journalist.[5]
Political career
editIn 8th Lok Sabha elections of Sikkim in 1984, Nar Bahadur Bhandari swept the polls by securing 56, 614 seats out of 86, 024 seats. Dil Kumari Bhandari lost in this Assembly election. But Nar Bahadur Bhandari had to quit his seat in parliament, owing to the fact that he was elected to the State Assembly to become the chief minister of the state. As a result, a by- election was ordered in April 1985 wherein nine candidates including Dil Kumari Bhandari filed their nominations. But at the eleventh hour, everyone except Dil Kumari Bhandari, withdrew their nominations. As a result, she was declared elected unopposed and she served the Assembly till 27, November 1989.
In the 9th Lok Sabha election from Sikkim in year 1989, Dil Kumari Bhandari (Indian National Congress) winning only 28, 822 out of 1, 33, 699 seats while the winner, Nandu Thapa (Sikkim Sangram Parishad) won 91, 608 seats.[6]
In the 10th Lok Sabha election from Sikkim in year 1991, Dil Kumari Bhandari, who had returned to Sikkim Sangram Parishad, won the election by securing 1, 03, 970 votes from a total of 1,18, 502 valid votes, serving the assembly up to 20 June 1991.[7]
Electoral record
edit- Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
| Year | Constituency | Political Party | Result | Position | Votes | % Votes | % Margin | Deposit | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Gangtok | SSP | Lost | 2nd/12 | 1749 | 37.56 | 5.61 | refunded | [8] | |
| 1994 | Jorthang–Nayabazar | Lost | 2nd/5 | 2519 | 35.73 | 23.27 | refunded | [9] | ||
| 1999 | Temi–Tarku | Lost | 2nd/3 | 3071 | 41.01 | 17.69 | refunded | [10] | ||
| 2009 | Melli | INC | Lost | 2nd/8 | 2454 | 26.25 | 41.22 | refunded | [11] | |
| Year | Constituency | Political Party | Result | Position | Votes | % Votes | % Margin | Deposit | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 (by-election) | Sikkim | SSP | Won | 1st | Uncontest | |||||
| 1989 | INC | Lost | 2nd/4 | 28,822 | 21.56 | refunded | [12] | |||
| 1991 | SSP | Won | 1st/7 | 10,3970 | 90.12 | refunded | [13] | |||
Personal life
editShe married Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who later became the chief minister of Sikkim, on 28 March 1968. She is the mother of a son and three daughters.[14]
Awards and recognition
editThe Sikkim Sewa Ratna for 2016, the second highest civilian award of the state, was conferred upon Dil Kumari Bhandari for her contribution in the inclusion of Nepali language in the Eight Schedule of the Indian constitution.[15]
She is also a recipient of Gaurav Award, from the Hamro Swabhiman.[16]
References
edit- ^ "loksabhaph.nic.in writereaddata biodata".
- ^ "5 Parliamentarians Who Helped Sikkim Become a Flourishing State". Nelive. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Bio-Data of Member of X Lok Sabha". www.indiapress.org. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok10/mp73.htm. [bare URL]
- ^ "Bio-Data of Member of X Lok Sabha". www.indiapress.org. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Lama, Mahendra P. (1994). Sikkim: Society, Polity, Economy, Environment. Indus Publishing. ISBN 9788173870132.
- ^ Lama, Mahendra P. (1994). Sikkim: Society, Polity, Economy, Environment. Indus Publishing. ISBN 9788173870132.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1985 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1994 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2009 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 1989 to the Ninth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 244. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 1991 to the Tenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 258. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Bio-Data of Member of X Lok Sabha". www.indiapress.org. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Sikkim Sewa Ratna conferred on 42nd State Day". India.com. Press Trust of India. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Gaurav Awardee | Hamro Swabhiman". hamroswabhiman.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017.