Late Rai Saheb Bhim Bahadur Pradhan (1895 – 1975)

Late Rai Saheb Bhim Bahadur Pradhan was one of the many illustrious sons of late Taksari Chandrabir Pradhan. Born on 11th December 1895 at Pacheykhani, East Sikkim and educated at the Nepal Boarding School, Gangtok, he started his career as a Headmaster of that School. Later, after completing a three year training at Dehradun School of Forestry between 1916-1919, he joined Government service. In 1925, after six years of hard work, he was promoted as Head of the Department of Forest, a position he occupied for 31 years, till his retirement in November 1956. He continued as Honorary Advisor on Floriculture to the Government of Sikkim for several more years. His services were recognized both by Government of India and Government of Sikkim and he was honoured by the title of Rai Saheb in 1943 and conferred the “Pema Dorjee” in 1965. 

His dedication and concern for the welfare of the State was uppermost in his thoughts and actions throughout his long career. He pursued it with utmost zeal and enthusiasm, ably supported by a fine band of Forest Officers and staff like Atal Singh Dewan, Dakman Lama, Dhopbin Dewan, Kulbir Pradhan, Ganga Prasad Pradhan, Bhuwan Prasad Sharma and others. He was a great advocate of Road Reserves, Medical Herbs cultivation, River Transportation of Timber, leasing out of forests for Cardamom both from the point of view of revenue augmentation and preservation of forests in fragile watersheds, Soil conservation with ‘Amliso’ and Kikiyu’ grass as soil binders, ‘Utis’ and bamboo plantation in individual holdings to meet the basic household needs and of establishment of plantation through Taungya system. The Walnut plantation at Sadam and Teak of Melli stand as some of the monuments of his success in developing forests. Introduction of Trout fish, development of Ipecac and other medicinal plants in Sikkim were also a result of his foresight and planning. 

He was the first to highlight the importance of Horticulture in Sikkim and gave Sikkim the privileged place as producer and exporter of orchids. The flower nurseries in and around Kalimpong and Rhenock owe their existence to his guidance and patronage. His exposition of riches of Sikkim in its flora and fauna attracted a number of expeditions to this part of the world, the most important among these being Schaefer Expedition led by leading German scientists in 1930. He was a man with a mission to develop Sikkim through Agriculture, Floriculture and Horticulture and the Forests of Sikkim to which he devoted his entire career are the living monuments to his long and dedicated work. He pursued it with a great measure of success inspite of meager resources. Sikkim Forest Department owes a great deal to this great Forester who held the reins of Sikkim Forests for almost four decades and put Forestry on the rail. The multifarious forestry notifications which are relevant even today speak volumes of his foresightness.

- SIKKIM FORESTRY : A 100 YEARS OF SERVICE