They call Sebastian Pradhan the Father of Rishikhola, and not without reason.
The Reshi river separates the little hamlet of Rishikhola in northeastern India’s Sikkim from the West Bengal state. During our two-day stay at Mr Pradhan’s eco homestay at this beautiful location, we got to know how this man’s efforts over the years have resulted in positive changes in the local community.
Since 1996, Mr Pradhan has been doing extensive work to promote eco-tourism in this East Sikkim area. What was then a totally unknown place has now become fairly popular with tourists.
After founding the Damsang Fort and Fish/Wildlife Environment Protection Committees in 1996, Mr Pradhan started his project to develop Rishikhola as a tourism destination with practically no funding possibility.
With no funds but ample willpower, the social worker began by clearing a patch of barren land. He gradually built his eco-tourism homestay there and has been expanding over the years. The homestay can now accommodate around 50 people at a time and offers activities to guests such as fishing in the Reshi river.
The 69-year-old is now building an app to let tourists book rooms easily and inspire more people to visit Rishikhola. Mr Pradhan lives with his family at the property and his wife and children help him run the facility.
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Joking that his brain works at “10G” speed, Mr Pradhan says he serves a chief advisor to a dozen committees in the region such as Pedong Senior citizen Forum, Pedong Nepali Sahitya Manch, North Bengal Chit Fund Association, New Himalayan Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Pedong Beautification and Protection Organization.
Mr Pradhan helped revive interest in the old silk route in East Sikkim and contributed to the popularity of tourist locations such as Sillery Gaon, Ichhe Gaon and Mankhim. Always bubbling with ideas, the Father of Rishikhola can often be seen with his fishing net in the river Reshi and suited up for a meeting the next moment.
A big advocate of home-grown products, Mr Pradhan is also planning to cultivate the Himalayan coffee to bring about significant economic development in this area.
The author is a statistical analytics professional based in Bangalore. She enjoys singing and loves to travel.
Views expressed by the author are her own.
