4 January 2024
A ‘Manch’ to Transform Sikkim
"That, that time, it was a small town like still like, you know, so and let's try and like see what we can do. So what this main pedestrian main street in GTO, which was the killer and it was like very congested. And that was the center of town. There was a proposal like to pedestrianize that...And me also being the senior I was trying to push, I think everybody in that direction that here like let's take a look at what's happening in the city, what it means for the future as planning a professional.
We are that part of the community which should be taking care of the future of the city. So it started off like that."
The first of 2024, Episode 1 of Season 3 of our podcast “Talk in the Town”, features Mr. Kailash Pradhan, an architect by profession who has also been involved in electoral politics in the city of Gangtok. Known for his proactive approach to environmental protection and sustainable architecture, Mr. Pradhan has made significant contributions to various local initiatives in the state. One of his key projects, “Bato Khoju”, addresses the degrading quality of life and the built environment in Gangtok, aiming to foster awareness and solutions within the community.
Mr. Pradhan, who describes himself as “a Gangtokay working for a better Gangtok”, believes that positive change starts with citizens taking ownership of their city’s problems before looking for solutions. In addition to his work as an architect and activist, he is actively involved with Manch Sikkim—a grassroots movement rooted in the belief that the people are the government and the government is the people.
In this episode, we delve into Mr. Pradhan’s vision for Gangtok, his commitment to sustainable urban development, and his passion for fostering community-driven change.