October 24 1954

iliimalaua v (Jimej

• 'J Krce

SIKKIM STATE

Gangtok,

The following addresj was
delivered by Mr. N.K. Rustomji,
I.C.S., Dewan of Sikkim. on
the opening of the October
Session of the Sikkim State
Council on 16th October, 1954.

I have, for some months past,
been looking forward with eager-
ness to the time when I should
bo able to meet you all in this
Council Chamber. When I came
to Sikkim last April to servo
His Highness as Dewan, I was
anxious, above-all, to gain
knowledge of the State and to
understand its problems, so. that
I might be able to make somo
contribution to its sound and
most propo9eful development.
I have had the good fortune
of serving under tho happiest
of circumstances. From His
Highness, I havo received, al-
ways, courtesy and kindness.
While his deep and keen interest
in prom, ting the welfare
of his people have been for me
my greatest encouragement and
inspiration. My colleagues in
the Government, the Executive
Councillors as well as the per-
manent Services, have given
me the fullest oo-operation and
it is on account of their cons-
cientious guidance that I havo
been able to gain some under-
standing of the needs of the
State and the moans by which
they may best be fulfilled.

I have been feeling,
nevertheless, a sense of discon-
tent in not having had the
opportunity of meeting earlier
with tho Councillors of the
State. I have come to know
several of tho members of this
House individually either nt
G mgtok or during the cour83
of my tours. But I have been
keenly wishing that we could

COUNCIL MEETS

)ctobcr 20

sit together at an early oppor-
tunity and pool our resourcos
of knowledge and experience
for the evolving of policies that
might be in Sikkim's greatest
interest. It is to this end that
we are assembled together in
this Council Chamber today.

"You will hear from the
Government benches of the
progress that has been achieved
by the various departments.
The questions and resolutions
submited by the members will,
in the attending discussions,
throw further light on our
problems and the steps that
have to be taken for their
solution. It is not necessary
for me, therefore, to speak to
you in detail, at this stage, of
the various aspects of the. ad-
ministration. The general spirit
and tho general policy that
should guide the administration,
however, are matters of vital im-
portance, upon which, if we ar.e
to work together as a team for
achievement of our common
propose, the welfare of the State,
we should be in complete accord.
The principle I should have
you bear inj mind is f hat true
achievement 'lies not so much
in imitation, as in bringing to
finest fulfilment the potentiali-
ties that are inherently latent in
the State or in the individual.
Sikkim has her own cultural
tradition and her own pattern
of lifts And in both, there is
a quality of loveliness and of
strength. This quality we must
preserve and nurture, and en-
sure that it should not vanish
away witli Hip changes tlirt
mint ci-n", ine.vitalily, with the
develonm nt of the State. I say
"inevitably", for we should be
unwise not to take account of

the change in things that is
coming over the whole world
around us, and w.tu quckeiiing
p.u-e, from day to day. 'I he
people whom we Serve' and whom
you no.vrepr sent in this Coun-
cil owe it to the State to en-
sure aiid &af-.guard. t:icir fun-
damental rights and to provide
the services, — educational,
medical, agricultural, to men-
tion but a fciw,—that will enahe
them to play their proper pari
in tho lif« of the community.
We ha<'o. therefore, to move
with speed in the opening up
of communications, the estab-
lishing of schools and dispen-
saries, and the improvement of
our agricultural methods. With
these developments, however, a
change will come, albeit imper-
ceptibly, in the way of life
and in the way of thinking of
our people. We have, here in
Sikkim, a happy heritage — a
land of simplicity, content and
beauty, where people know what
is truth and value it. Our
most precious ri sponsibjlity muf t
be to ensure that, with the
changes that may follow the
development of the Stale, a
proper sense of values is main-
tained, that the lovely things
of Sikkim are not crowded
away, but, find a vol richer
Celd for their growth.

I have spoken of the need
to develop the State, and I feel
it a privilege to he able to
inform you, during this my first
association with the Council, of
the generous aid that is being
granted to Sikkim by the Govern-
ment of India forf the imple-
mentation ' of S' ate's Develop-
ment Plan. ■ While the details
havo yet to be finalised, it is
expected that Sikkim will be
assisted to the extent of two
■crorea and more during the
period of Seven Year Plan. I
am happy to bo able to state
that, very considerable pr'".'ress

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