Nima Namgyal Lama
Nima Namgyal Lama (1930–2009) was an Indian civil engineer. He was the recipient of Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour. He was from Darjeeling district of West Bengal . He won the commendation in 1989 for meritous service during his years in the Border Roads Organisation as Chief Engineer.
Shri Nima Namgyal Lama was born on 11 December 1930 to a pious Yolmo family, in the picturesque village of Alubari in Darjeeling, his mother Pema Lhamu and father Norkay Tshering Lama, being the direct descendants of the first Yolmowa settlers who had migrated from Helumbu, the small village skirting the border of Tibet and Nepal.
His family shifted to Kurseong where he grew up with his siblings, studying in the local school. His mother Pema Lhamu (a self taught lady) recognizing the brilliance in her son, encouraged him to pursue the Pure Sciences, which he did both at North Point and later at St Xavier’s Kolkata securing a Gold Medal. Soon he joined the eminent Shibpur (Bengal) Engineering College completing his Civil Engineering course with distinction.
Working for a few years in the Construction Board, Kurseong, Nima Namgyal joined the newly constituted Border Roads Organisation, a special Project of the Govt of India for undertaking the planning monitoring and construction of roads in the inaccessible and remote border areas of India and Bhutan .
Project DANTAK at Bhutan was his first assignment , he spent 10 years in this Dragon Country (1961 – 70 )facilitating access to its inaccessible interiors – through roads, bridges , Health Centres and schools. His work was appreciated by the Govt of India as well as by His Majesty the King who personally commended him for his diligence and dedication .
Project SEWAK : From there he moved to Dimapur , Nagaland from where GREF supervised the North Eastern states of Nagaland and Manipur.
Project DEEPAK, his next assignment offered him a larger canvas – headquartered at Shimla , Himachal Pradesh , this job embraced – the breathtakingly challenging work of the Hindusthan Tibet Road on the Chinese Border, the Ditch cum Bundhs of Punjab on the Pakistan border, the untrammeled deserts of Rajasthan, the Pilgrimage routes leading to Char Dham at Joshimath, Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib , Tehri Garwhal, Kumaon in the then undivided UP, and to top it all the weather dependent Manali Leh Highway - 3rd Highest Road in the world –– but irrespective of the Danger and Demand of the job, he left an indelible imprint of Courage, Dedication and National Pride both amongst his juniors as well as his peers.
Tripoli the capital of oil rich Libya in North Africa, was the next port of call. Heading the IRCC’s (Indian Road Construction Company) Libya Office, Shri Nima Namgyal Lama was assigned the construction of modern roads and Highways in the difficult Desert terrain of Sirte, Benghazi , Garian. But here too his experience and skill came to the fore and he was able to successfully complete the job assigned to him much ahead of the schedule. This earned the organization a good name and helped the Govt of India save precious foreign exchange. Tripoli also saw Shri N N Lama’s natural qualities of people- friendliness attract the Indian diaspora of the city. The Indian Community of Libya looked up to his leadership qualities and elected him Chairman which role he fulfilled with dedication and diligence for the length of his tenure there.
Project PUSHPAK : Prior to his retirement he was posted at Mizoram where Indian roads on the porous Myanmar border fell under his jurisdiction. The State of Tripura also fell under the broad gaze of this Project. With his expertise and acumen Shri N N Lama successfully completed his Target.
This work was appreciated not only by Chief Minister Shri Lalthanawala but also by the then Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi who came out of his way to visit Shri N N lama and his wife during his visit to Mizoram.
Shri N N Lama retired in 1988 and in recognition of his outstanding services to the Nation, in India and abroad, the Hon’ble President of India conferred on him the Padma Shri, the only citizen of the Darjeeling Hills to receive this prestigious award for Social Service. Post his retirement he settled in his ancestral beloved Kurseong where his fellow citizens elected him the Hon’ble Chairman of the Municipality. Completing his tenure of 5 years, he retired from public life spending his time in spiritual pursuits and scriptural study. His wife Norzam died in 2005. On 14 August 2009, he died.
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