ArcherMill7063 at 02:25, 30 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian politician and social worker}}
{{Use indian english|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Karma Wangchu
| image =
| caption =
| office = Member of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
| constituency = [[Tawang Assembly constituency|Tawang]]
| term_start = 1978
| term_end = 1994
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office2 = Minister for Health, Transport and Co-operation, Arunachal Pradesh
| governor2 =
| prime_minister2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_date = 27 September 1936
| birth_place = Seru, [[Tawang district]], [[North-East Frontier Agency]], [[British India]] (now [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|10|20|1936|9|27}}
| death_place = [[Tawang]], Arunachal Pradesh, India
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse = Yes
| children = Six sons, three daughters (including Jambey Wangdi)
| occupation = Politician, Social Worker
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2023, posthumous)
| term_start2 = 18 September 1979
| term_end2 = 3 November 1979
}}

'''Karma Wangchu''' (27 September 1936–20 October 2022) was an [[Politics of India|Indian politician]] and [[Social work|social worker]] from [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. He was known for his contributions to the preservation of [[Monpa people|Monpa]] culture and traditions, as well as philanthropic work, particularly in providing education to underprivileged children in border areas. He served four terms as a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for the [[Tawang]] constituency from 1978 to 1994 and was a Minister in the [[Government of Arunachal Pradesh|Arunachal Pradesh government]]. In 2023, he was posthumously awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian honor, for his contributions in the field of social work.<ref name="MyGovPadma2">{{cite web |title=Padma Shri Awardees - MyGov.in |url=https://secure.mygov.in/padma-shri/?field_year_value=All&page=24 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=MyGov.in}}</ref><ref name="EastMojoPadma2">{{cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Ex-Arunachal Minister Karma Wangchu conferred with Padma Shri |url=https://www.eastmojo.com/arunachal-pradesh/2023/03/23/ex-arunachal-minister-karma-wangchu-conferred-with-padma-shri/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=EastMojo}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Karma Wangchu was born on 27 September 1936, in Seru village, Tawang district, then part of the [[North-East Frontier Agency]] (NEFA), British India.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2">{{cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Karma Wangchu conferred Padma Shri award posthumously |url=https://echoofarunachal.in/news_details.php?nid=21205 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Echo Of Arunachal}}</ref><ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2">{{cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=Fmr minister Karma Wangchu passes away |url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2022/10/21/fmr-minister-karma-wangchu-passes-away/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=The Arunachal Times}}</ref> He did not receive formal education.<ref name="EastMojoPadma2" />

Wangchu began his career with the Assam Border Police (NEFA Police) from 1959 to 1960. He then served as a Junior Intelligence Officer-II in the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) from 1960 to 1976.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /><ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> During the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Indo-China war]], he was on active duty, tasked with intelligence gathering attached to the Indian Army in areas like Bumla, Mago-Thingbu, and Zemithang. For his distinguished and meritorious service during the war, he received a certificate and a cash award.<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /><ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /> He was also awarded a silver medal for meritorious service in 1972.<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> At the age of 16, he undertook a trip to [[Lhasa]] on foot and had an audience with [[Dalai Lama|His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama]] at the [[Potala Palace]].<ref name="Arunachal24Obit2">{{cite web |date=2022-10-20 |title=Arunachal: Former Minister Karma Wangchu passes away at 86 |url=https://arunachal24.in/arunachal-former-minister-karma-wangchu-passes-away-at-86/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Arunachal24}}</ref>

Karma Wangchu was married and had six sons and three daughters.<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> One of his sons, Jambey Wangdi, serves as the Chairman of the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik (DoKA), Government of Arunachal Pradesh.<ref name="TibetNetPadma2" /> The Dalai Lama visited Wangchu's residence in Tawang in 1997 and 2003.<ref name="TibetNetPadma2" />

== Political career ==
Karma Wangchu was elected to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Tawang constituency for four consecutive terms, serving from 1978 to 1994.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Former Minister Karma Wangchu passes away aged 86 |url=https://easternsentinel.in/news/state/former-minister-karma-wangchu-passes-away-aged-86.html |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=easternsentinel.in}}</ref> He also served as a Pro-Tem Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. During the Tomo Riba government, Wangchu held the portfolios of Minister for Health, Transport, and Co-operation.<ref name=":0" /> He retired from active politics in 1994, having reportedly never lost an election in his career.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" />

== Social work and cultural preservation ==
After retiring from politics, Wangchu dedicated himself to social service. In 1998, he founded the Choephelling Public School in Tawang, which means 'Land of flourishing virtues'.<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> The school provides free education and residential facilities to underprivileged children, primarily orphans, destitute children, and those from poor families in border villages such as Mago, Thingbu, and Zemithang. It has supported over 1,256 children.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /><ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> He also funded the education of 18 students from poor families in extreme border areas from his pension savings.<ref name="Arunachal24Obit2" />

Wangchu was a devout follower of the [[Dalai Lama]] and his teachings of compassion.<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> He was actively involved in philanthropic activities and worked towards the preservation and promotion of the Monpa culture and traditions in the border areas of [[Arunachal Pradesh]].<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /><ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> He was also a supporter of the Tibetan people and their cause, and was one of the forefront supporters of the central government's decision to implement the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy in 2014 in Arunachal Pradesh.<ref name="TibetNetPadma2">{{cite web |date=2023-01-31 |title=Sikyong Congratulates Padma Shri Award Conferment on late Karma Wangchu, Former Minister of Arunachal Pradesh |url=https://tibet.net/sikyong-congratulates-shri-jambey-wangdi-on-padma-shri-decoration-on-his-late-father-former-minister-karma-wangchu/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Central Tibetan Administration}}</ref> His composition 'Himalayan Range Unit Tawang' reflects his commitment to the cause of Tibet.<ref name="TibetNetPadma2" />

== Legacy and death ==
Karma Wangchu died on 20 October 2022, at the age of 86, in Tawang.<ref name="EchoArunachalBio2" /><ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" /> He is remembered as a pioneering leader who worked to bring government policies and development to remote areas of Tawang district. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister [[Pema Khandu]] described him as "an institution in himself, and a great source of wisdom, vision and guidance."<ref name="ArunachalTimesObit2" />

== References ==
<references responsive="1"></references>{{Authority control}}{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wangchu, Karma}}
[[Category:Politicians from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Tawang district]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]

Karma Wangchu - Revision history

ArcherMill7063 at 02:25, 30 April 2026