Gangtok, March 26: Sikkim will soon honour its Mato ko kabi (poet of the soil) Jeewan Theeng by installing a statue in his honour.

The Jeewan Theeng Salik Sthapna Samiti (Jeewan Theeng statue installation committee) was has been formed for this purpose with former minister and social activist T. Lachungpa as its president. Chief minister Pawan Chamling is the chief patron of the committee.

Lachungpa told The Telegraph, work on the bronze bust of the poet was nearing completion. “A model of the poet in his youth was first made. The work on the actual bust began later and is now almost 90 per cent complete,” he said.

The former minister said the statue of the poet would be put up in a prominent place in Gangtok. Lachungpa is well-known as the brain behind the installation of the statues of Bhutia chieftain Khye Bumsa and Lepcha chief Thekong Tek and his wife Nekong Nal at Thakurbari complex in Gangtok where the annual Pang Lhabsol festival is celebrated.

In the modern context, the festival is held to strengthen the bonds of unity and brotherhood among the various communities living in the state.

The committee plans to install the statue of the poet in a suitable spot in Development Area which was renamed Jeewan Theeng Marg in his honour in the late eighties. “A small park with water fountains and floral gardens are also planned in the area where the statue is likely to be be installed so that it becomes a place of interest for tourists,” said K. N. Subedi, the chief convener of the committee.

He also said the move was aimed at acquainting the youth of the state with the poet’s contribution to the literary life and culture of Sikkim.

Theeng, who passed away in 1978 at the young age of 23, is considered to be one of the most outstanding Nepali poets and writers of Sikkim. He is also referred to as tarun krantikari kabi (revolutionary youth poet) in Nepali literary circles.

Born in 1955, the poet was the eldest son of Karsang and Dolmi Theeng of Sichey in Gangtok. Sikkim was still a kingdom at that time. Theeng went on to acquire a masters degree in political science from North Bengal University. His work is imbued with a passionate love for his hill homeland.

A year before his death, the government of Nepal formally recognised his contribution to the Nepali language and conferred the Ratna Shri Swarna Padak on him.