Dorjee Khandu

He received a gold medal for the proficient intelligence services rendered during Bangladesh War. He was also engaged in different social activities later.

He was actively involved in social activities for the village people of Tawang district and looked after their welfare up to the year 1980. In the year 1980, he was selected uncontested as the first ASM and worked in the same capacity till the year 1983. In the year 1982, he was the Chairman of the Culture and Co-operative Societies in those years. 

Due to his enthusiastic efforts, from the cultural and co-operative societies, he lead the cultural troupe representing Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi for Asian Games in the year 1982 and won silver medal for good performance. 

From the year 1983 to 1987, he was elected uncontested as District Vice President of the West Kameng district Zila Parishad. From the year 1987 to 1990, he was engaged in intensive social works and brought water supply, electricity, communication, schools, religious institutions to far flung villages.

Political Career of Dorjee Khandu:

In March 1990, Dorjee Khandu was elected uncontested to the first Legislative Assembly of the state of Arunachal Pradesh from Thingbu-Mukto constituency. In March 1995, he was re-elected to second Legislative Assembly of the state of Arunachal Pradesh from the same constituency. 

He subsequently became the Minister of State for Corporation from 21st March 1995. On 21st September 1996, Dorjee Khandu became the Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Dairy Development. In the year 1998, he was the Minister of Power from the year 1998 to 2006.

 In October 1999, Dorjee Khandu was elected to third Legislative Assembly of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. He was the Minister of Mines, Relief and Rehabilitation from 15th October 2002 to 27th July 2003.

On 28th July 2003, he became the Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation and Disaster Management. In the year 2004, he was re-elected unopposed from Mukto constituency in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections and became the Minister for Power, NCER and Relief and Rehabilitation. On 9th April 2007, Dorjee Khandu became the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh replacing Gegong Apang.

In the year 2009, he was again elected unopposed from the same constituency and sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on 25th October 2009.

Death of Dorjee Khandu:

On 30th April 2011, the helicopter which was carrying Dorjee Khandu and four other ministers on a trip from Tawang to Itanagar disappeared. On 2nd May, the aerial search for Dorjee Khandu was halted due to inclement weather. 

A ground search was then started by the Indian Army, police, SSB and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. On 4th May, remnants of the crashed helicopter were found by a group of tribal people near Tawang district. 

Different ministers from across the nation condemned the death of Dorjee Khandu. P Chidambaram, Home Minister of India confirmed the news of the death of Dorjee Khandu on the morning of 5th May. 

The last rites of the Chief Minister were performed in his native village, Gyangkhar in Tawang district according to Monpa Buddhist traditions.