Sikkim is a beautiful region located in the mountains between India and Tibet. It’s one of India’s 28 states today, but did you know it only joined India in 1975? If you’re curious about how Sikkim became part of India, let’s look into its rich history. This includes ancient curses, foreign marriages, tribal conflicts, Sikkim’s cuisine, and its political journey.
The Curse of the Monarchical Rule
Sikkim’s last monarch, Palden Thondup Namgyal, ascended to the throne due to a tragic accident in the western Himalayas. His elder brother, Crown Prince Paljor, a Royal Air Force pilot and heir to the throne, died in a plane crash in Peshawar on December 20, 1941.
An old curse on the Namgyal family suggests that firstborns never ascend to the throne. This led many in Sikkim to believe that the plane crashed because of this curse.
Sikkim was home to the Lepchas, Bhutias, and ethnic Nepalis. It was a Buddhist kingdom ruled by the Namgyal-Chogyal dynasty from around 1642 to 1975. Until the 20th century, the people of Sikkim were accustomed to monarchical rule, having been governed by the Chogyals for about 333 years.
Phuntsong Namgyal was the first ruler of Sikkim and had complete control over the Chumbi Valley. The kingdom enjoyed a certain level of independence during his reign.
For centuries, the Buddhist Namgyal kingdom recognized the religious authority of Tibet.
Here’s how Sikkim got its name
The Sikkimese court had strong matrimonial and cultural connections with Tibetan nobility. These historical ties supported China’s claim to Sikkim as part of Tibet.
Traditionally, Tibetans called the region ‘Denjong’, meaning ‘Valley of Rice’. The name ‘Sikkim’ comes from ‘Su Khyim’, a term in the Limbu tribe’s language that translates to ‘New Palace’ of the Namgyal. Over time, this name came to represent the entire kingdom.
East India Company in India
In 1706, Sikkim faced a series of disputes with its neighbors – Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. By the early 17th century, the East India Company had arrived in India. Amidst ongoing conflicts between Sikkim and its neighboring regions, the East India Company backed the Chogyals. As a result, in 1835, the English took over Darjeeling, using it as a health resort for British officers.
The Treaty of Tumlong
As the East India Company gained control over India and Sikkim, they signed a treaty with the Kingdom of Sikkim in 1861. This treaty, known as the Treaty of Tumlong, aimed to protect travelers and promote free trade in Sikkim. The British were interested in Sikkim because it provided the easiest route to Tibet, making it strategically important.
In 1861, the British took control of southern Sikkim. They seized the regions of Morung and Terai and declared Sikkim a ‘British Protectorate’. The Treaty of Tumlong governed the relations between Sikkim and India until 1975, marking a significant point in Sikkim’s history.
Post-1947 Developments in Sikkim
For a long time, Sikkim was a protectorate of British-occupied India.
At that time, the majority of the three main communities in Sikkim were ethnic Nepalese. They were mostly poor farmers and workers, oppressed by the Lepcha-Bhutia landlords.
A movement emerged to improve their situation – The establishment of democratic rule, the end of landlordism, and a merger with India.
Over the next two years, protests escalated and the situation in Sikkim worsened. Under pressure, a democratic government was established on May 9, 1948, with Tashi Tshering as the Chief Minister. However, just 28 days later, the Chogyal, with the support of the Indian government, dismissed the government.
After the events, the people of Sikkim felt that the Indian government had betrayed them by siding with the Chogyal.
The Indian government was hesitant to empower the ethnic Nepalese, especially around Darjeeling, where they were demanding ‘Gorkhaland’. This sparked fears of a potential demand for a ‘Greater Nepal’.
As a result, for the next two decades, the official Indian policy was to back and strengthen the Chogyal, even at the expense of democratic parties.
In 1950, a new treaty was signed between Sikkim’s Maharaja Tashi Namgyal and Harishwar Dayal, India’s then-political officer in Sikkim. The treaty stated that Sikkim would remain a protectorate of independent India, with certain provisions allowing it full autonomy to manage its internal affairs. Both authorities agreed to this arrangement.
The conflict against the Chogyals
Over time, the people of Sikkim grew increasingly dissatisfied with the Chogyal rulers. They were tired of the feudal oppression and lacked rights to essential resources. They strongly desired to end the monarchy in Sikkim.
In response, they formed a party known as the Sikkim State Congress (SSC) in 1947. In 1953, the Chogyals introduced a new constitution, promising four general elections in the coming years to establish some form of democratic rule. However, these elections did little to establish the democracy that the people of Sikkim sought.
Role of India in Sikkim Election
In 1973, thousands of protesters surrounded the royal palace and to resolve the situation, the Chogyals had no option but to ask India for help.
In 1974, under India’s supervision, reformed elections took place in Sikkim. The leader of the Sikkim State Congress, Kazi Dorji, won the election. That same year, he introduced a new constitution for Sikkim, and India recognized Sikkim as an ‘associated state’.
This new constitution significantly limited the Chogyals’ powers, which angered them. In response, the Chogyals announced their intention to bring the issue to the international stage.
How Sikkim became a part of India
In 1975, the people of Sikkim voted in a referendum. Most of them (97.55%) wanted to join India as a state and end the monarchy. So, Sikkim became a full state of India. It also got seats in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This happened on May 16, 1975, making Sikkim the 22nd state of India.
On March 11, 1978, Crown Prince Tenzing, who was 26 years old and studied at Cambridge, died in an accident. He was the eldest son of Chongyal Thondup. This ended the dynasty and is a big part of Sikkim’s history.
LD Kazi was a very important person in Sikkim. He died in 2007 when he was 102 years old. In 2004, he got the ‘Sikkim Ratna’ award.
