Four

Himalayan Times

August 6, 1961

Editor:
S. C. JAIN

Uol. 14 J^a. SI, Kal

HAIL.............. AND FAREWELL!

It is with vary sincere
regrat that we bars to
bid farewell to the popu-
lar and active Politioal
Offiosr in Sikkim, Shri
Apa Saheb Pant, who will
shortly be leaving Sikkim
to take up a new assign-
ment as Ambassador of
India in Indonesia.

" "Apa Saheb", as he is
af feotionately known, cam*
to Sikkim an Politioal Offi-
cer in 1955, and by hit
friendly interest in the peo-
ples of Sikkim and Bhutan,
he has done muoh to ce-
ment the already happy
relations existing between
these two border States
and India.

It is to his abiding
o rod it that ha succeeded
in making the Govern-
ment of India realise, the
imperative neoessity of
developing both Sikkim
and Bhutan. He himself
did suob a lot in this field.
It is, therefore, not quit*
understood how at this
oritioal junoture, unparal-
led in tbe history of the
Border area, his services
should be transferred else-
where.

Apa Saheb's devotion

to democracy began in his
early youth, when, as the
youthful Prims Minister of
the State of Aundh (of
which his father was Raj ah),
he started soeial reforms.
He also played a leading
part in the Independence
movement, and was olosely
associated with Gandhiji.

It is said that Gan.
dhiji onoe asked Apa
Saheb to go on an inde-
finite fast, if necessary,
to persuade his father
Rajah of Aundh. to intro-
duce politioal reforms in
the State But then, the
Rajah of Aundh was no
less an enthusiast in the
field of social and politi-
oal reforms and he, even
before any other State
in India oould even re-
concile to the idea of
introducing politioal re-
forms in their respective
states, brought about
changes in the political
struoture of his state,
which astounded tbe Bri-
tish rulers of India. It
was at that time that
Apa Saheb got in olose
touch with Gandhiji, and '
particularly with our
Prime Minister, Jawabarlal

Nehru, whom Apa Saheb
revers-perhaps more than
he would have revered
his father.

Throughout his years
of devoted service in Sik-
kim and Bhutan, Apa
Saheb has maintained the
most cordial relations and
the olosestoontaot with the
Maharaja of Sikkim and
the Maharaja of Bhutan.

The Pants, both hus-
band and wife, are devo-
ted to philosophy in its
real sense. Born with a
silver spocn in his mouth',
Apa Saheb now keeps
fasts for three days in
a week. And Mrs. Pant,
as if not to be beaten
even in this field, also
fasts for three days in a
week. Both have been
studying different religious
philosophies with not only
all interest but with all
gusto. Mrs. Pant, left to
herself, would perhaps
ohoose a life which would
be soun what simpler. She
does not have the gossip,
ing nature or the nature
of unnecessarily poking
ones nose inte everyones
affairs, which is very often
observed amongst the
wives of diplomats. Bus
she has her own interests
and the pronounced • one
out of these is her interest
in social serviee. A kindly,
unassuming personality,
she will long be remem-
bered by her unaffected

( Continued en pegs 6 )