[3][4] Chandra Das Rai was born on 13 April 1924, at Mikhola, South Sikkim.

[5] Rai along with Tashi Tshering, Gobardhan Pradhan, DB Tiwari, DS Lepcha, Sonam Tshering, LD Kazi, Roy Choudhary and Helen Lepcha are among the founder members of the Sikkim State Congress.

The Congress started agitation in February 1949 demanding the formation of an interim government and democratic reforms following which Rai and five others were arrested.

On 8 May 1949, he was made Minister for Education and Transport in the short lived ministry of the first CM of erstwhile Kingdom, Tashi Tshering.

However the government was dismissed within 29 days by the Indian Political Officer Harishwar Dayal.