Thursday, Apr 16, 2026 00:15 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Apr 15, 2026 18:39 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay on Wednesday congratulated
Sikkim Express and the Patro family for their “praiseworthy service” to the
State, describing the newspaper as a leading institution that has chronicled
Sikkim’s democratic journey over the past five decades.
Addressing
the Sikkim Express Golden Jubilee celebration at Manan Kendra, the Chief
Minister said journalism remains a challenging profession, with many opting for
safer and more secure career paths. Despite this, he noted, Sikkim Express has
emerged as a platform where many budding journalists have grown into seasoned
professionals.
Highlighting
the contribution of Sikkim Express founder, Late Ram Patro, the Chief Minister
said his decision to dedicate his life to Sikkim since 1976 helped establish
the newspaper as a vital link between the people and a young democracy. He said
the publication played a key role in building trust among the masses during a
formative period in the State’s history, calling it a service not only to
Sikkim but to the nation as a whole.
Golay
also acknowledged the role of Mala Rana Patro and Amit Patro in transforming
Sikkim Express into the State’s first daily newspaper in 2004, noting that
sustaining a publication over such a long period is particularly difficult in
the present digital media landscape.
The
Chief Minister said the newspaper’s archives now stand as a valuable record of
Sikkim’s democratic history, reflecting the State’s progress over the years. He
added that Sikkim Express has played an important role in uniting communities
and continues to endure despite a decline in newspaper readership in recent
times.
