Born as the youngest amongst four sons and one daughter of Shri Kashi Nath Dangal and Smt. Chandra Maya Dangal of Takshang, a small and beautiful village near Pakyong in East Sikkim, Smt. Subadra Dangal was elected to represent the people of Amba Taza Territorial Constituency in the East District Zilla Panchayat with a huge margin as a SDF Candidate in the recently held local bodies elections in the state. She is married to Mr. Bijay Bhattarai and the couple is blessed with a boy named Chaitanya. Here are the excerpts of her interview given to Wandering Soul of Sikkim:
Wandering Soul of Sikkim (WSOS): Would you like to share something about your early years and about your days as a student? Subadra Dangal(SD): My parents raised me and my siblings in hard circumstances, our family was engaged in agricultural activities and dairy farming. I completed the early years of my schooling from Takshang Primary School and completed it from Government Senior Secondary School, Mamring, and thereafter completed my graduations from Sikkim Government College, Tadong and Masters in Nepali from NBU and Masters in Social Work from IGNOU, then after I completed my B Ed from Harka Maya College of Education, and presently I am pursuing my Phd from Vinayaka Missions Sikkim University.
WSOS: What Inspired you to join Politics? SD: Politics is the way forward to take up social service. Also the leadership qualities of our leader and the political scenario and environment in Sikkim is conducive for young people to come forward and also I was interested to be actively involved in social service, so I joined politics.
WSOS: What would be that one thing you would like to change in the system? SD: Mentality of our people and their thought process needs to be changed. Public needs to be positive and should be able to understand what is happening outside Sikkim and what is happening inside Sikkim and should be able to critically analyse all that. We as a politician should be able to bring in our people a broader perspective about matters, for that to happen we need to enlarge our own perspectives first.
WSOS: What is your take on those who term politics to be “a dirty game”? SD: In my opinion politics is social service, it is a science, it is truly a responsibility. But age old practices of lying and other bad things associated with some politicians and their bad works have made politics a dirty game. If we take politics in a good sense it is going to bring about a lot of positivity in our villages, towns, states and the country as a whole. Like in the case of our state, the positive leadership of our Chief Minister has brought about a lot of progress and prosperity.
WSOS: How important it is to involve students and youth in mainstream politics? SD: It is essentially very important to involve them, since they are going to be the leaders of tomorrow and are also going to be the pacesetters of our progress and prosperity in the days to come. To strengthen our future, we need to strengthen our young people by giving them responsibilities today.
WSOS: What are you looking forward to do for Amba Taza territorial constituency as its Zilla Panchayat? SD: I will selflessly and fearlessly work to transform the mindset of our people and do whatever is possible and is required to be done for the people for our area, in a dedicated manner for their progress and prosperity. I have not lied a single word during my campaign and I will continue to work ahead with the same degree of dedication and truth. People of Amba Taza have given me a huge mandate, I understand that this support comes with a lot of responsibilities, therefore I will never run away from my duty and dedicatedly serve our people.
WSOS: Your take on the need of an intellectual and informed debate on issues that matters in the state of Sikkim. SD: Young people need to informed and should be made aware about matters, therefore it is very important to engage them in our public discourses. They need to be engaged and be made aware to try and find solutions to the problems that exists in our state. We need to encourage them to participate in debates and organize such events where they can come forward to discuss.
WSOS: Your message to the youth of Sikkim. SD: It is the responsibility of the youth of our state to take Sikkim forward now. Our leader has give us a vision of progress, so we need to follow in his footsteps and should come forward and progressively march towards the path of progress and prosperity of our state.
WSOS: Thank You Madam for talking to Wandering Soul of Sikkim in the Young Leader Series.
Other in the Youth Leader Series: YOUNG LEADER: An Interview with Bhusan Adhikari (President, Rhenock Gram Panchayat)
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