Botanist and Educationist Dr G. S. Yonzone Conferred Padma Shri, Bringing Pride to Darjeeling Hills

Lifetime of service to science, education, conservation and community recognised at the national level

KalimNews, January 26, 2026, Kalimpong : Renowned botanist, educationist and social activist Dr Gambhir Singh Yonzone has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, marking a moment of immense pride for the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars. The award recognises his lifelong and multifaceted contributions to science, higher education, environmental conservation and community welfare in the Eastern Himalayas.

Congratulating Dr Yonzone, Darjeeling Member of Parliament Raju Bista said he joined “the people of our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars” in celebrating the honour bestowed upon a son of the soil. He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “democratising the Padma awards and opening up space for outstanding contributors from remote regions like ours to be recognised for their immense service to the nation”.

Born on 17 November 1939 at Sinji Busty in Kalimpong, Dr Yonzone is the fifth son of late R. B. Yonzone and Chandramaya Tamang. From humble beginnings in the hills, he went on to become a pioneering figure in botany and education. He completed his MSc in Botany from the University of North Bengal in 1964 and earned his PhD in Plant Taxonomy from the University of Calcutta in 1976, laying the foundation for a distinguished academic and research career.

Dr Yonzone began his professional journey as a Botany lecturer at Darjeeling Government College in 1966 and later served as Principal of Kalimpong College, shaping generations of students and scholars. He subsequently headed the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Department of Botany at Darjeeling Kalimpong College and also served as the first Chairman of the West Bengal Regional School Service Commission, Hill Zone.

His academic excellence earned him international recognition early in his career. In 1983, he was selected by the British Council, London, as a Visitor Scientist to the United Kingdom, during which he worked at the British Natural History Museum, Kew Botanic Gardens, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the University of Reading with Professor V. H. Heywood in the fields of plant taxonomy and ecology. In 1993, he created history by becoming the first person from the Darjeeling hills, and the first Nepali-speaking Gorkha, to receive the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship from the United States Educational Foundation in India.

Beyond academia, Dr Yonzone has been a tireless institution builder and advocate of scientific temper. He founded the Himalaya Science Association in Darjeeling and serves as its Founder–General Secretary, using the platform to promote science education, environmental awareness and sustainable development through seminars, workshops and outreach programmes. He is also the Founder–Managing Trustee of the Darjeeling Goodwill Animal Shelter at Bong Busty, Kalimpong, reflecting his deep commitment to compassion and community service.

As Chairman of the Darjeeling Society for Education, Research and Development, Dr Yonzone has organised numerous national and international seminars on higher education, biodiversity and Himalayan ecology, attracting scholars of global repute and amplifying regional perspectives on development and conservation. His advocacy played a key role in the establishment of the Singalila and Neora Valley National Parks in 1986, safeguarding two of the Eastern Himalayas’ most critical biodiversity hotspots.

A prolific scholar and author, Dr Yonzone has written seven influential books and numerous research papers on medicinal plants, orchids, ethno-botany, higher education and Himalayan ecology, significantly enriching global understanding of the region’s unique floral and ecological heritage. He also authored a biography of his father, R. B. Yonzone, preserving an important chapter of regional history.

Coming from a small busty in Kalimpong, Dr Yonzone has donned many roles over the decades — scientist, educationist, social activist and, at one point, politician, having contested as a BJP candidate in the 2004 Darjeeling Lok Sabha election. His life’s work has consistently been guided by a deep sense of responsibility towards the people and fragile environment of the Eastern Himalayas. Even at the age of 86, he remains active, engaged and deeply concerned about the future of the region and its communities.

The Padma Shri awarded to Dr Yonzone forms part of the government’s announcement of 131 Padma awards for 2026, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards, with two duo cases counted as one. According to the official statement, 90 awardees are women, six belong to the categories of foreigners, NRI, PIO and OCI, and 16 awards have been conferred posthumously.

Among those awarded the Padma Vibhushan are former Kerala Chief Minister and Communist leader V. S. Achuthanandan and actor Dharmendra, both posthumously, along with former Supreme Court judge K. T. Thomas, Hindustani classical violinist N. Rajam and eminent Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan. Padma Bhushan awardees include playback singer Alka Yagnik, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, actor Mammootty, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, banker Uday Kotak, gastroenterologist K. R. Palaniswamy, oncologist Nori Dattatreyudu, social worker S. K. M. Maeilanandhan, Avadhanam performer Shatavadhani R. Ganesh and SNDP Yogam leader Vellappally Natesan.

The Padma Shri list also features Indian aerospace scientists Chandramouli Gaddamanugu and A. E. Muthunayagam, former CRPF Director General Ramamurthy Sreedhar, community radio pioneer Satyanarayan Nuwal, cricketers Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, hockey players Savita Punia and Baldev Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, among others.

The other recipients from the hills are Dr Eklabya Sharma (2024) of Kurseong, recognised for his outstanding contributions to science and engineering, particularly in the fields of environmental sustainability and Himalayan ecology; Kaajee Singh (2022) of Kalimpong, a renowned Gorkha percussionist (madal player) honoured for his contributions to art and music; and Sonam Tshering Lepcha (2007) of Kalimpong, a legendary Lepcha folk musician and cultural icon celebrated for his lifelong efforts to revive and promote Lepcha culture and music.

For the Darjeeling hills and the wider Gorkha community, the Padma Shri conferred upon Dr Gambhir Singh Yonzone stands as a powerful recognition of a lifetime dedicated to knowledge, conservation and service, and as an enduring inspiration for future generations from the mountains and beyond.