Rhenock Educational Society Marks 36 Years of Advancing Education in Sikkim

The Rhenock Educational Society, one of Sikkim’s pioneering educational organisations, marked its 36th foundation day at Harkamaya College of Education and Damber Singh College at 6th Mile, Tadong, on Tuesday. The milestone brought together educationists, administrators, faculty members, students and guests to reflect on the society’s journey and its contribution to the state’s education sector. 

The society currently operates three institutions — Harkamaya College of Education, Damber Singh College and the Himalayan Institute of Pharmacy (HPI) at Majhitar near Rangpo — which collectively represent more than three decades of its efforts to expand access to higher and professional education in Sikkim.

Education as a Foundation for Nation-Building

Sikkim University Registrar Pratap Keshari Dash, who attended the event as the chief guest, highlighted the broader responsibility of educational institutions in shaping young people and preparing them to contribute meaningfully to society. Addressing the gathering, he emphasised the role of education in developing responsible and capable citizens who can contribute to the nation’s future. He also congratulated the Rhenock Educational Society on completing 36 years of service and encouraged students to remain committed to their aspirations, work consistently towards their goals and continue pursuing growth opportunities.

Former bureaucrat CP Dewan attended the programme as the guest of honour, while Dr HP Chhetri, founder director of the institutions established under the Rhenock Educational Society, was also present. The gathering included Harkamaya College of Education principal Prof Rajesh Singh, Himalayan Institute of Pharmacy principal Dr NR Bhuyan and Damber Singh College principal Dr Arati Chettri, along with faculty members, students and other guests.

Three Institutions, One Educational Mission

The foundation day also served as an opportunity to look back at the institutions that have shaped the society’s educational journey. The organisation was established in 1990 with the founding objective of expanding education among the people of Sikkim. In the same year, the Himalayan Pharmacy Institute was established, laying the foundation for the society’s contribution to professional education in the state.

The society subsequently expanded its institutional presence with the establishment of Damber Singh College in 1994, followed by Harkamaya College of Education in 2003. The two institutions were named after the late father and late mother, respectively, of founder director Dr HP Chhetri. Over the years, these institutions have become part of the state’s higher education landscape, serving students across different areas of academic and professional learning.

A Commitment to Quality and Innovation

As the society marked its 36th year, it reiterated its commitment to providing quality education while responding to changes taking place across the global education ecosystem. The organisation stressed the importance of keeping pace with new technologies, innovations and evolving approaches to education, particularly as institutions increasingly adapt to changing expectations in higher education and the workplace.

The emphasis on innovation reflects a broader shift taking place across education, where institutions are expected not only to provide academic knowledge but also to prepare students for a rapidly changing professional environment. For institutions serving students in a region such as Sikkim, this balance between maintaining educational values and embracing new approaches can be particularly important in creating opportunities that are relevant to both local and global contexts.

Honouring the Community Behind 36 Years

The Rhenock Educational Society also used the occasion to express its gratitude to the faculty members, former and present students, and everyone who has contributed to its growth over the past 36 years. The acknowledgement recognised that the development of an educational institution is shaped not only by its leadership and infrastructure but also by the teachers, students and communities who sustain it over time.

Foundation anniversaries can offer institutions an opportunity to look beyond individual achievements and reflect on the continuity of their educational mission. For the Rhenock Educational Society, the 36th anniversary marked a moment to recognise its history while reaffirming its commitment to the future of education in Sikkim.

Sapling Plantation Marks the Milestone

As part of the foundation day celebrations, the chief guest, guest of honour and founder director participated in a sapling plantation programme on the college campus. The activity added an environmental dimension to the anniversary celebrations and symbolised growth, continuity and the society’s aspirations for the years ahead.

The plantation activity also offered a simple reminder of the relationship between educational institutions and the communities in which they operate. Colleges are not only spaces for academic learning but can also serve as environments where students are encouraged to engage with broader social and environmental responsibilities.

Looking Ahead

After 36 years of educational service, the Rhenock Educational Society enters its next phase with a continued focus on expanding and strengthening its contribution to education in Sikkim. From its establishment in 1990 to the development of three institutions across pharmacy, higher education and teacher education, the society’s journey reflects the evolution of educational needs in the state.

As technology and professional requirements continue to transform the education sector, the society’s renewed emphasis on quality, innovation and technological advancement will remain central to its future direction. Its foundation day celebration was therefore not only a commemoration of the past but also an opportunity to reaffirm its role in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected and changing world.

Editor’s Note

Thirty-six years in education is more than a number. It represents thousands of classrooms, generations of students, teachers who chose to stay and teach, and families who placed their hopes in an institution.

Educational institutions are often measured through infrastructure, courses and results, but their deeper impact is much harder to quantify. It can be found in the student who discovers confidence, the graduate who becomes a teacher, the professional who returns to serve their community, or the individual who begins to imagine a future that once seemed beyond reach. For an organisation that began with the ambition of spreading education among the people of Sikkim, the passage of 36 years invites a larger question: What does it mean for an educational institution to serve its community truly?

The answer cannot lie only in keeping pace with technology or expanding academic offerings. Those things matter, but education ultimately remains about people. As the Rhenock Educational Society looks towards its next chapter, its greatest challenge — and opportunity — will be to ensure that innovation never comes at the expense of purpose, and that progress continues to remain rooted in the communities it was established to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was the Rhenock Educational Society established?

The Rhenock Educational Society was established in 1990 to promote education among the people of Sikkim.

2. How many years has the Rhenock Educational Society completed?

The society celebrated its 36th foundation day in 2026, marking 36 years of its contribution to education in Sikkim.

3. Which institutions are operated by the Rhenock Educational Society?

The society operates Harkamaya College of Education, Damber Singh College and the Himalayan Institute of Pharmacy (HPI).

4. When was Damber Singh College established?

Damber Singh College was established in 1994 and is one of the institutions operated by the Rhenock Educational Society.

5. When was Harkamaya College of Education established?

Harkamaya College of Education was established in 2003. The institution is named after the late mother of founder director Dr HP Chhetri.

6. Who is the founder director of the institutions?

Dr HP Chhetri is the founder director of the institutions operated by the Rhenock Educational Society.

7. Where was the 36th foundation day celebrated?

The foundation day programme was held at Harkamaya College of Education and Damber Singh College at 6th Mile, Tadong.

8. What was the focus of the foundation day address?

The chief guest highlighted the role of educational institutions in developing responsible citizens and encouraged students to remain committed to their goals and aspirations.

9. What activity was organised to mark the anniversary?

The chief guest, guest of honour and founder director participated in a sapling plantation programme on the college campus.

10. What is the society’s future focus?

The Rhenock Educational Society reaffirmed its commitment to quality education while keeping pace with innovation, technology and developments in the global education ecosystem.