Gadul Singh Lama

Gadul Singh Lama was born on 15 June 1939 in [[Gangtok]], in what is now the Northeast Indian state of [[Sikkim]] (but then [[Kingdom of Sikkim]]) to Chandraman Ghising and Phulmaya Ghising.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> After matriculating from the Sir Tyashi Namgyal High School (present day [[Tashi Namgyal Academy]]) in 1956 and, getting selected for the education initiative as a part of the ''7 Year Development Programme'' of the government, secured a diploma in Engineering from MBC Institute of Engineering, [[Burdwan]] in [[West Bengal]], in 1959. Later, he joined the Sikkim State government service as an engineer and served there for 38 years before superannuating as the Chief Engineer.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" />

Gadul Singh Lama was born on 15 June 1939 in [[Gangtok]], in what is now the Northeast Indian state of [[Sikkim]] (but then [[Kingdom of Sikkim]]) to Chandraman Ghising and Phulmaya Ghising.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> After matriculating from the Sir Tyashi Namgyal High School (present day [[Tashi Namgyal Academy]]) in 1956 and, getting selected for the education initiative as a part of the ''7 Year Development Programme'' of the government, secured a diploma in Engineering from MBC Institute of Engineering, [[Burdwan]] in [[West Bengal]], in 1959. Later, he joined the Sikkim State government service as an engineer and served there for 38 years before superannuating as the Chief Engineer.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" />

Lama started writing from his school days and is reported to have been inspired by one of his teachers, [[Rashmi Prasad Alley]], a writer and one of the pioneers of [[Nepali language|Nepali]] education in Sikkim.<ref name="History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iY4bVR9--XAC&q=Rashmi+Prasad+Allay&pg=PA177 | title=History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim | author=J. R. Subba | year=2008 | pages=177 of 463 | publisher=Gyan Publishing House | isbn=9788121209649}}</ref> His first article was published in ''Changya'', a local literary magazine.<ref name="Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice">{{cite web | url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/now/pdf/NOW_2005_02_03.pdf | title=Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice | publisher=Now | date=3 February 2005 | access-date=3 December 2015}}</ref> He published his first short story anthology, ''Katha Sampad'', in 1971,<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QA1V7sICaIwC&q=%22Katha+Sampad%22+Lama&pg=PA666 | title=Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M | publisher=Sahitya Akademi | author=Kartik Chandra Dut | year=1999 | pages=666 of 1490 | isbn=9788126008735}}</ref> composed of stories such as ''Swasni Manchey'', ''Khani Tarma Ekdin'', ''Phurbhale Gaun Chadyo'' and ''Asinapo Manchey'', which has since been selected as a prescribed text for the civil services examination of the [[Union Public Service Commission]].<ref name="UPSC Civil Services(IAS) Exam Syllabus (Pre + Mains)">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yEKqBgAAQBAJ&q=%22Katha+Sampad%22+Lama&pg=PT39 | title=UPSC Civil Services(IAS) Exam Syllabus (Pre + Mains) | publisher=Kalinjar Publications | isbn=9789351720614}}</ref> This was followed by ''Gojika'' in 1981 and ''Mrigatrishna'' in 1993, the latter winning him the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for the year.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi Award winners" /> He also written an autobiographical novel, ''Himalchuli Manitira'', a travelogue, ''Aangan Paratira'', a poem anthology, ''Jahan BagcchaTista Rangit'' and two translated religious works, ''Bhagawan Bhiddha Jeewan ra Darshan'' and ''Guru Padmasambhava''.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" />

Lama started writing from his school days and is reported to have been inspired by one of his teachers, [[Rashmi Prasad Alley]], a writer and one of the pioneers of [[Nepali language|Nepali]] education in Sikkim.<ref name="History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iY4bVR9--XAC&q=Rashmi+Prasad+Allay&pg=PA177 | title=History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim | author=J. R. Subba | year=2008 | pages=177 of 463 | publisher=Gyan Publishing House | isbn=9788121209649}}</ref> His first article was published in ''Changya'', a local literary magazine.<ref name="Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice">{{cite web | url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/now/pdf/NOW_2005_02_03.pdf | title=Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice | publisher=Now | date=3 February 2005 | access-date=3 December 2015}}</ref> He published his first short story anthology, ''Katha Sampad'', in 1971,<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QA1V7sICaIwC&q=%22Katha+Sampad%22+Lama&pg=PA666 | title=Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M | publisher=Sahitya Akademi | author=Kartik Chandra Dut | year=1999 | pages=666 of 1490 | isbn=9788126008735}}</ref> composed of stories such as ''Swasni Manchey'', ''Khani Tarma Ekdin'', ''Phurbhale Gaun Chadyo'' and ''Asinapo Manchey'', which has since been selected as a prescribed text for the civil services examination of the [[Union Public Service Commission]].<ref name="UPSC Civil Services(IAS) Exam Syllabus (Pre + Mains)">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yEKqBgAAQBAJ&q=%22Katha+Sampad%22+Lama&pg=PT39 | title=UPSC Civil Services(IAS) Exam Syllabus (Pre + Mains) | publisher=Kalinjar Publications | isbn=9789351720614}}</ref> This was followed by ''Gojika'' in 1981 and ''Mrigatrishna'' in 1993, the latter winning him the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for the year.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi Award winners" /> He has also written an autobiographical novel, ''Himalchuli Manitira'', a travelogue, ''Aangan Paratira'', a poem anthology, ''Jahan BagcchaTista Rangit'' and two translated religious works, ''Bhagawan Bhiddha Jeewan ra Darshan'' and ''Guru Padmasambhava''.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" />

Sanu Lama was one of the founders of the ''Bhartiya Nepali Rashtriya Parishad'' and served as its secretary on its inception. He was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the [[National Book Trust]] (NBT) and serves as the general secretary of the [[Nepali Sahitya Parishad Sikkim]], an autonomous literary organization under the Government of Sikkim.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> He was associated with the Sikkim Akademi,<ref name="Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice" /> was a onetime member of the Advisory Board for Nepali literature of the [[Sahitya Akademi]] and the president of the Himalayalan Writers' Forum.<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M" /> Besides the 1993 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], he received awards such as Sikkim Bhanu Puraskar, Dr. Shova Kanti Thegim Smrithi Puraskar and Madan Byakhanmala Puraskar.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> The Government of India included him in the 2005 [[Indian honours system|Republic Day Honours]] list for the civilian honour of the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="Padma Awards" /> He lived in [[Gangtok]], the capital of Sikkim, India.<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M" />

Sanu Lama was one of the founders of the ''Bhartiya Nepali Rashtriya Parishad'' and served as its secretary on its inception. He was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the [[National Book Trust]] (NBT) and served as the general secretary of the [[Nepali Sahitya Parishad Sikkim]], an autonomous literary organization under the Government of Sikkim.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> He was associated with the Sikkim Akademi,<ref name="Engineering happened by chance, writing was by choice" /> was a onetime member of the Advisory Board for Nepali literature of the [[Sahitya Akademi]] and the president of the Himalayan Writers' Forum.<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M" /> Besides the 1993 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], he received awards such as Sikkim Bhanu Puraskar, Dr. Shova Kanti Thegim Smrithi Puraskar and Madan Byakhanmala Puraskar.<ref name="The Gentle Literary Giant" /> The Government of India included him in the 2005 [[Indian honours system|Republic Day Honours]] list for the civilian honour of the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="Padma Awards" /> He lived in [[Gangtok]], the capital of Sikkim, India.<ref name="Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M" />

Lama died in [[Siliguri]] at the age of 86 on 12 July 2025.<ref>[https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/sikkim-padma-shri-awardee-sanu-lama-passes-away-at-age-88/ Sikkim: Padma Shri Awardee Sanu Lama Passes Away At Age 88]</ref>

Lama died in [[Siliguri]] at the age of 86 on 12 July 2025.<ref>[https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/sikkim-padma-shri-awardee-sanu-lama-passes-away-at-age-88/ Sikkim: Padma Shri Awardee Sanu Lama Passes Away At Age 88]</ref>