During my stay in Sikkim I came across many illustrious newars .I am indebted to all of them to make my stay memorable and for their love and affection ; specially my Class fellow Smt Ganga Devi Pradhan Director Handicrafts Sikkim and her husband Sh Pratap Pradhan who were great support to me and my wife Rani ;then Sh Dheeraj Pradhan Director Denzong Society Gangtok. Newars are one of the the Nepalis community of Sikkim ,originally from Nepal who migrated to Sikkim around 150 years ago from Kathmandu valley and settled around Silk route to Tibet and mainly in Rhenok , Rigu ,Pandam ,Ranka , Melli, Jorethang, Soreng,Daramdin,Legship Dramdin in East and south west districts of Sikkim . Laksmi Dass Pradhan(Kasju) was the first to come to Sikkim from Kathmandu valley many folklores are floating around about his exploits ,he with his brother Kancha Chandervir established himself as a successful businessman and later on in the service of Sikkim king he excelled. He started mining in south Sikkim and minted for the first time Sikkim coinage . He is believed to have exhorted Newars to discard their castes in preference to the title Pradhan now most of newars have forgotten their original surnames due to the time factor and also due to the fact that they have lost contacts with their relatives in Nepal .Numerically their strength is not much but they have contributed significantly in the development of Sikkim , Newars are occupying important posts in the government as officers, even ministers and many of them are into business , in tourism etc. . Govt. has acknowledged their contribution and named a road in Gangtok after K R Pradhan ;a renowned political figure around the time of Sikkim merger with India . Vigorous efforts are being made to revive Newari language and culture through various Guthis(cultural organisations) or goshtis in diffrent parts of the state .
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