Dorjee Khandu
Encyclopedia
Dorjee Khandu was an India
n politician belonging to the Indian National Congress
. He was the sixth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was reelected in 2009 general elections for the second term as the chief minister. Khandu died in a helicopter crash near Sela Pass
on 30 April 2011.
Intelligence Corps and worked there for more than seven years. He received a gold medal for the meritorious intelligence services rendered during Bangladesh War. Later, he was engaged in social activities for village people of Tawang District
and looked after their welfare up till 1980. In 1980, he was selected uncontested as the First ASM and worked in same capacity till 1983.
. In 2009, he was again elected unopposed from the same constituency and sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state on 25 October 2009.
disappeared. On 2 May, the aerial search for Khandu was halted due to inclement weather, necessitating a move to ground search by the Indian Army
, police, SSB
and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
. Personnel were searching a heavily forested 66 square kilometer section of West Kameng district, where satellites detected possible plane remnants. Witnesses said they heard a large explosion on the morning of 30 April.
On 4 May 2011, at around 11 am, remnants of the crashed helicopter were found by a group of tribals near Tawang district
. Although the crash has been blamed on the poor condition of the plane, a single engine four seater Eurocopter B8 provided by Pawan Hans
, the helicopter was only put into service in 2010.
P Chidambaram, Home Minister of India confirmed the news of the death of Dorjee Khandu on the morning of 5 May. Earlier in a briefing Minister of External Affairs, SM Krishna said he is deeply pained by the demise of Dorjee Khandu.
The last rites of the Chief Minister were performed in his native village, Gyangkhar, in Tawang district as per Monpa
Buddhist traditions.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician belonging to the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. He was the sixth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was reelected in 2009 general elections for the second term as the chief minister. Khandu died in a helicopter crash near Sela Pass
Sela pass
The Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located in Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It has an elevation of 4170m . It connects Tawang Town to Tezpur and Guwahati and is the main road connecting Tawang with the rest of India...
on 30 April 2011.
Early life
Dorjee Khandu was born in Gyangkhar village in Tawang district, North East Frontier Agency, India to Leki Dorjee. He belongs to the Monpa tribe. He was a secondary school dropout;Career
Dorjee Khandu was in the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
Intelligence Corps and worked there for more than seven years. He received a gold medal for the meritorious intelligence services rendered during Bangladesh War. Later, he was engaged in social activities for village people of Tawang District
Tawang District
Tawang district is one of the 16 administrative districts of Arunachal Pradesh in eastern India. The area is historically Tibetan territory and is claimed by both India and Republic of China as a part of South Tibet...
and looked after their welfare up till 1980. In 1980, he was selected uncontested as the First ASM and worked in same capacity till 1983.
- 1982: Chairman, Culture and Co-operative Societies in those years. Due to enthusiastic efforts, cultural and co-operative societies established in Tawang and lead the cultural troupe representing Arunachal Pradesh in DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
for ASIADAsian GamesThe Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in 1982 and won silver medal for good performance. - 1983–87: Elected uncontested as District Vice President, West Kameng District Zilla Parishad 1983–87.
- 1987–1990: Engaged in intensive social works and brought water supply, electricity, communication, schools, religious institutions etc. to far flung villagers from 1987 to 1990.
Political career
In March 1990, he was elected uncontested to the First Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from Thingbu-Mukto constituency. In March 1995, he was re-elected to Second Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from the same constituency. He became the Minister of State for Cooperation from 21 March 1995.- On 21 September 1996, he became the Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development.
- In 1998, he was the Minister of Power from 1998–2006.
- In October 1999, he was elected to third Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh. He was the Minister for Mines, Relief & Rehabilitation from 15 October 2002 to 27 July 2003.
- On 28 July 2003, he became the Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation and Disaster Management.
- In 2004, he was re-elected unopposed from Mukto constituencyMukto (Assembly constituency)Mukto Assembly constituency is one of the 60 constituencies of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. This constituency is reserved for the Scheduled tribes candidates. This constituency came into existence on 20 February 1987 with the attainment of statehood of Arunachal Pradesh.Mukto is...
in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections and became the minister for Power, NCER, and relief and rehabilitation.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh
On 9 April 2007, he became the Chief Minister of the state, replacing Gegong ApangGegong Apang
Gegong Apang is an Indian politician from Arunachal Pradesh. He was born to parents of Adi descent. He served as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from January 18, 1980 to January 19, 1999 and again from August 2003 to April 2007, when he was replaced by Dorjee Khandu.-Political career:Apang...
. In 2009, he was again elected unopposed from the same constituency and sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state on 25 October 2009.
Disappearance and death
On 30 April 2011, the helicopter carrying Khandu and four other people on a trip from Tawang to ItanagarItanagar
Itanagar is the capital of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Itanagar is situated at the foothills of Himalayas. It comes administratively under Papum Pare district....
disappeared. On 2 May, the aerial search for Khandu was halted due to inclement weather, necessitating a move to ground search by the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
, police, SSB
Sashastra seema bal
Sashastra Seema Bal or SSB is one of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It is often referred to as a paramilitary force...
and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is an Indian force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometres...
. Personnel were searching a heavily forested 66 square kilometer section of West Kameng district, where satellites detected possible plane remnants. Witnesses said they heard a large explosion on the morning of 30 April.
On 4 May 2011, at around 11 am, remnants of the crashed helicopter were found by a group of tribals near Tawang district
Tawang District
Tawang district is one of the 16 administrative districts of Arunachal Pradesh in eastern India. The area is historically Tibetan territory and is claimed by both India and Republic of China as a part of South Tibet...
. Although the crash has been blamed on the poor condition of the plane, a single engine four seater Eurocopter B8 provided by Pawan Hans
Pawan Hans
Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited is a helicopter service company based in India. The operations are based at Vile Parle . Other than providing helicopter services to ONGC to its off-shore locations, this public sector company is often engaged for providing services to various state governments in...
, the helicopter was only put into service in 2010.
P Chidambaram, Home Minister of India confirmed the news of the death of Dorjee Khandu on the morning of 5 May. Earlier in a briefing Minister of External Affairs, SM Krishna said he is deeply pained by the demise of Dorjee Khandu.
The last rites of the Chief Minister were performed in his native village, Gyangkhar, in Tawang district as per Monpa
Monpa
The Monpa are a major people of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. Currently they are also one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China. Most Monpas live in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, with a population of 50,000, centered in the districts of Tawang and West Kameng...
Buddhist traditions.