Dorjee Khandu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorjee Khandu
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| 6th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh | |
| In office 9 April 2007 – 30 April 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Gegong Apang |
| Succeeded by | Jarbom Gamlin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 March 1955 Gyangkhar Village, North East Frontier Agency, India |
| Died | 30 April 2011 (aged 56) Lobotang, Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Children | Pema Khandu |
| Occupation | Politician |
Dorjee Khandu (born March 19, 1955 – died April 30, 2011) was an important Indian politician. He served as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. This is like being the top leader of the state. He was Chief Minister from 2007 until he sadly passed away in a Helicopter crash in 2011.
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Who Was Dorjee Khandu?
Dorjee Khandu was born in Gyangkhar Village. This village is in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. His father's name was Leki Dorjee.
Dorjee Khandu followed two religions. He was a follower of Buddhism and also Donyi-Poloism. His eldest son, Pema Khandu, is also a politician. He is currently the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, just like his father was.
Dorjee Khandu's Career Journey
Dorjee Khandu served in the Indian Army Intelligence Corps. He worked there for seven years. He received a gold medal for his excellent service. This award was given for his work during the Bangladesh War.
After his army service, he worked to help people in his village. He focused on social activities in the Tawang District. In 1980, he was chosen as the First ASM without anyone running against him. He held this position until 1983.
Early Political Steps
- In 1982, he became the Chairman for Culture and Co-operative Societies.
- From 1983 to 1987, he was elected as the District Vice President. This was for the West Kameng District Zilla Parishad. He was chosen without anyone running against him.
Becoming a People's Leader
Many people called Dorjee Khandu the "People's Chief Minister." This is because he helped build a lot of new things. These include the Trans-Arunachal Highway and a new airport. He also helped with railway lines and new government buildings.
In 2013, he received the Karamveer Award. This award recognized his important contributions to the state.
Entering the Legislative Assembly
In March 1990, Dorjee Khandu was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. He won from the Thingbu-Mukto area without anyone running against him. He was re-elected from the same area in March 1995.
- On September 21, 1996, he became the Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development.
- From 1998 to 2006, he served as the Minister for Power.
- In October 1999, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly again.
- From October 15, 2002, to July 27, 2003, he was the Minister for Mines, Relief & Rehabilitation.
- On July 28, 2003, he became the Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation and Disaster Management.
- In 2004, he was re-elected without anyone running against him. This was from the Mukto area. He then became the Minister for Power, NCER, and relief and rehabilitation.
Serving as Chief Minister
On April 9, 2007, Dorjee Khandu became the sixth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He took over from Gegong Apang.
In 2009, he was again elected without anyone running against him from the same area. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister on October 25, 2009.
Tragic Disappearance and Death
On April 30, 2011, Dorjee Khandu was on a helicopter trip. He was traveling from Tawang to Itanagar with four other people. Sadly, the helicopter disappeared.
On May 2, bad weather stopped the aerial search. So, the Indian Army, police, and other groups started searching on the ground. They looked in a heavily forested area. Witnesses said they heard a loud explosion on April 30. This was around the time the helicopter went missing.
On May 4, 2011, around 11 am, local people found parts of the crashed helicopter. The helicopter was a single-engine, four-seater Eurocopter B8. It was provided by Pawan Hans and had only been used since 2010.
P Chidambaram, who was the Home Minister of India, confirmed the sad news. He announced Dorjee Khandu's death on the morning of May 5.
Dorjee Khandu's last ceremonies were held in his home village, Gyangkhar. This was done following the traditions of the Monpa Buddhist rituals. His power minister, Jarbom Gamlin, became the next Chief Minister.
