History of Sikkim
The history of Sikkim begins with the indigenous Lepcha's contact with early Tibetan settlers.[1][2] Historically, Sikkim was a sovereign Monarchical State in the eastern Himalayas. Later a protectorate of India followed by a merger with India and official recognition as a state of India. Lepchas were the main inhabitants as well as the Ruler of the land up to 1641.[3] Lepchas are generally considered to be the first people, indigenous to Sikkim also includes Darjeeling.
The establishment of the Buddhist kingdom under the
Ancient history
According to one of the legendary accounts, the Kirati people are ancient tribes of Sikkim. The Kiratis came out of the shackles of primitive living and slowly and gradually marched towards civilization.[4] Dr. A. C. Singh (1983) stated that "Sikkim is known as the home of the Kirati tribesmen from the pre-historic times".[5] When the Kirat King Yalambar captured outer Nepal in 1,500 B.C his kingdom extended from river Trisuli in the west to river Teesta in the east.[6][7] According to Hindu mythology, Lord
In the 7th century, Thekung Adek consolidated the
Kingdom of Sikkim
By 1641 the Lepchas, the Limbus and the Magars were ruling in different villages independently.[14] The Limbu and the Magar tribes lived in the remote Western and Southern regions.[15] In the early 17th century Tibetan migrants (called "Bhutias" locally) were forced to take refuge in Sikkim due to the conflict between followers of the Yellow hat and the Red hats in Tibet. The Bhutias tried to convert the Sikkimese worshippers of nature to Buddhism and succeeded to an extent.[16] The Tibetan Lamas sought to establish Sikkim as a Buddhist Kingdom thereby electing a Lhopa King of Tibetan origin.[14]
In 1642, the fifth generation descendant of Guru Tashi,
The event, Naljor Chezhi, was as predicted byThis historical gathering of the three virtuous lamas is called Yuksom, which in Lepcha means 'The Place where the Three monks met' as in Lepcha a lama is called a "Yukmun" and the word for three is "Som". The Chogyal, along with the three lamas proselytised the Lepcha tribes into Buddhism and annexed the Chumbi Valley, the present-day Darjeeling district and parts of today's eastern Nepal.[citation needed]
Shortly after his coronation the new Chogyal appointed 12 kalon or ministers from the Bhutia community and split his kingdom into 12 Dzongs or administrative units, which each contained a fort. Individual Dzongs were headed by a Dzonga drawn from amongst the Lepchas. The lands of Sikkim were leased as gifts to Kazis and thikadars who in turn leased sub-plots to peasants at high rents. Mandals (headmen) and karbaris (assistants to the mandals) were employed by the kazis and thikadars as rent collectors and dispute mediators. Out of Sikkim's 104 revenue estates, 61 were leased to kazis and thikadars for fixed sums, five were given to monasteries and fifteen were retained by the Chogyal for his private use.[20][21] The Limbu chiefs or the Subbas were also given full autonomy of their districts under the King.[14]
Thus
Invasions from Bhutan and Nepal
Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded by his son, Tensung Namgyal in 1670. The reign of this Chogyal was peaceful and saw the capital move from Yuksom to Rabdentse. Chakdor Namgyal, the king's second wife's son, took over the throne from him in 1700. This outraged his elder half-sister Pendiongmu, who ousted him with the help of the Bhutanese. From 1700 to 1706, when Chakdor Namgyal was a minor, most parts of it were occupied by Deb Naku Zidar, the king of Bhutan. Chakdor Namgyal went into exile in Tibet. The Tibetan people subsequently expelled the Bhutanese army, and called Chakdor Namgyal back to Sikkim.[22] Chakdor's son Gyurmed Namgyal succeeded him in 1717. Gyurmed's reign saw many skirmishes between the Nepalese and Sikkimese. Phuntsog Namgyal II, the illegitimate child of Gyurmed, succeeded his father in 1733. His reign was tumultuous in the face of attacks by the Bhutanese and the Nepalese who managed to capture the capital Rabdentse.
His sonRelations with the British Empire
With the arrival of the
However, ties between Sikkim and India grew sour with the taxation of the area of
In 1849, British doctor
Alongside "British Sikkim", "Independent Sikkim" continued to exist as a rump state centred around the capital at Gangtok ruling over 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2) of territory.[27][failed verification] The former Chogyal was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, Sidkeong Namgyal in 1863.
The Chogyals endeavoured to modernize Sikkim in the succeeding decades, along with their army. A state visit to Darjeeling by Sidekong's half-brother, Chogyal
In 1895, the Chogyal was released, but the British governors in India reneged on an agreement – the Ten Clauses Agreement – which returned sovereignty to Sikkim. The Political Officer in Sikkim, John Claude White, refused to return any sovereignty, and only let the Chogyal retain the judiciary of Sikkim.
In 1905, the
Independent monarchy
Sikkim had retained guarantees of independence from Britain when it became independent, and such guarantees were transferred to the Indian government when it gained independence in 1947. A popular vote for Sikkim to join the Indian Union failed and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. Sikkim was to be a tributary of India, in which India controlled its external defence, diplomacy and communication. A state council was established in 1953 to allow for the constitutional government of the Chogyal, which was sustained until 1973.[citation needed]
In 1949, Sikkim State Congress led a state-wide agitation for democracy leading to the formation of Sikkim’s first interim government led by Chief Minister Tashi Tshering and his popular ministry. However, the government was dismissed within 29 days.
In the 1950s, Sikkim was used by the American CIA as a base for secret operations supporting Tibetan guerillas opposed to Chinese control of Tibet.[28] The dramatic 1959 escape of the Dalai Lama demonstrated Sikkim's value to both India and China. Nehru said the Chumbi Valley, controlled by China, was a "dagger pointed at the heart of India." During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Indian troops arrived to block a possible Chinese invasion; there were some skirmishes between Indian and Chinese forces. After the war, India closed the ancient pass; it reopened in 2006. The 50s and 60s marked the emergence of political parties in Sikkim including Sikkim State Congress, Sikkim National Party, Sikkim Swatantra Dal, Sikkim Janata Party and Sikkim National Congress.[29]
The old ruler Tashi Namgyal died in 1963 from cancer. The last hereditary ruler, Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, ascended to the throne in 1965. Trouble began to brew for the crown even before the Chogyal assumed the throne, as Nehru, who had carefully preserved Sikkim's status as an independent protectorate, died in 1964. His daughter Indira Gandhi, who became Prime Minister in 1966, had little patience for maintaining an independent Sikkim or its monarchy. The chogyal, who responded to the increased pressure by drinking, was viewed by India as politically dangerous, especially after his wife, the American socialite Hope Cooke, advocated a return of certain former Sikkimese properties.
In December 1950, by signing the "India - Sikkim Peace Treaty", Sikkim became India's protectorate. India took control of Sikkim in April 1973 and overthrew the monarchy. On April 9, 1975, the Sikkim Parliament announced the king was deposed and declared Sikkim had become part of India through a referendum. On May 16, the Indian parliament announced that Sikkim officially became a state of India.[30] Sikkim is a state in India, which currently has 6 districts. Gangtok is the largest district in terms of population, but Mangan is the largest district in terms of area.[31]
Political history of Sikkim
The 1979 assembly election saw
In 2003, with the thawing of relations between the two nations, Indian sovereignty over Sikkim was finally recognised by China. The two governments also proposed to open the Nathula and
On 18 September 2011, a magnitude 6.9Mw earthquake struck Sikkim, killing at least 116 people in the state and in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Tibet, China.[34] More than 60 people died in Sikkim alone, and the city of Gangtok suffered significant damage.[35]
See also
References
- ^ Jigme Wangchuk Bhutia. "Locating society, economy and polity in Pre monarchical Sikkim". Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ISBN 9788121209649.
- ^ https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-documents/lsi/lsi_sikkim/2Sikkim%20pg-i-xvii%20pg-1-23.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Bulletin of tibetology seminar Volume 1995".Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology Gangtok, Sikkim India
- ^ "Population of Sikkim:A Geographical Analysis" (PDF).
- ^ Chemjong 2014, chapter 1, The term 'Kirat' and its origin.
- ^
Kirat Yoyakhha "History of Kirat". Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Gautam, Keshav (2014). Society and Economy of Sikkim Under Namgyal Rulers (1640–1890). pp. 10–11.
- ^ "Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple". Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^
Choudhury, Maitreyee (2006). Sikkim: Geographical Perspectives. Mittal Publications. pp. 25–28. ISBN 81-8324-158-1.
- ^ Chemjong 2014, chapter 3, Mawrong Hang.
- ^ Mullard, Saul (2003). "Brag dkar bkra shis shings kyi sku 'bum: the text, the author, the stupa and its importance in the formation of religious politics in Sikkim". Bulletin of Tibetology (1, 2): 13–24.
- ^ Mullard, Saul (2005). "Brag dkar bkra shis shings kyi sku 'bum: the text, the author, the stupa and its importance in the formation of religious politics in Sikkim". Bulletin of Tibetology (1, 2).
- ^ a b c d e Chemjong 2014, chapter 5, Kirat Kings of Namgyal Dynasty.
- ^
Skoda, Uwe (2014). Navigating Social Exclusion and Inclusion in Contemporary India and Beyond: Structures, Agents, Practices (Anthem South Asian Studies). Anthem Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-1783083404.
- ^ "History of Sikkim". Government of Sikkim. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b Bareh 2001, p. 2.
- ^ Datta, Rangan (6 March 2005). "Next weekend you can be at ... Yuksum". The Telegraph.
- ^
Gautam, Keshav (2014). "Society and Economy of Sikkim under Namgyal Rulers (1640–1890)". University. Gauhati University/Shodhganga: 21. hdl:10603/64249.
- ^ Arora 2008, p. 4.
- ^
George L. Harris; Jackson A Giddens; Thomas E. Lux; Frederica Muhlenberg; Farancis Chadwick Rintz; Harvey H. Smith (1964). Area handbook for Nepal (with Sikkim and Bhutan). Washington, D.C.: Foreign Areas Studies Division, US Army. p. 368.
- ^ a b "III. A Brief History of Sikkim". Journal of Qinghai Nationalities Institute. III: 34. April 1978. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
- ^ Long Bo (龙波) (2007). "中国的"邻国"——锡金" [China's "Neighbours" – Sikkim]. Guidance for Junior High Students. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011.
- ^ a b Paget 1907, p. 41.
- ^ Arora 2008, p. 8.
- ^ Chakrabarti, Anjan (February 2012). "Migration and Marginalisation in the 'Himalayan Kingdom' of Sikkim". Journal of Exclusion Studies. 2 (1): 3. .
- ^ Temple, Richard Carnac (1887). Journals Kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepal. W.H. Allen. p. 152.
- ^ Lhamu, Palden (24 January 2024). "From Kingdoms to Statehood: A Comprehensive History of Sikkim". Gangtokian.com. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Andrew Duff, "A Himalayan Chess Game" History Today (2016) 66#1.
- ^ Duff, "A Himalayan Chess Game".,
- ^ Dhungel, Pankaj (22 December 2021). "Sikkim gets two new districts, rejigs others. Details here". EastMojo. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Satya Narayan Mishra, "RST Parliamentary Election in Sikkim" South Asian Studies (University of Rajasthan). 1982, 17#1 pp 89-94.
- ^ Urmila Phadnis, "Ethnic Dimensions of Sikkimese Politics: The 1979 Elections." Asian Survey 20.12 (1980): 1236-1252. online
- ^ Gupta, Saibal (21 September 2011). "Himalayan Quake Toll Climbs to 116, 40 Stranded Foreign Tourists Rescued". DNA online.
- ^ "Earthquake Toll Over 80; India 68; as Rescue Teams Reach Quake Epicentre". Gangtok: NDTV. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011.
- Bibliography
- Arora, Vibha (2008). "Routing the Commodities of Empire through Sikkim (1817–1906)" (PDF). Commodities of Empire: Working Paper No.9. Open University.
- ASIN B00JH8W6HQ, GGKEY:PP03Y9PZZBD
- Bareh, Hamlet (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-794-8.
- Mullard, Saul (2011), Opening the Hidden Land: State Formation and the Construction of Sikkimese History, BRILL, ISBN 978-90-04-20895-7
- Paget, William Henry (1907). Frontier and overseas expeditions from India. Indian Army Intelligence Branch.
- Risely, H. H., ed. (1894), The Gazetteer of Sikhim, Calcutta: Bengal Secretariat Press – via archive.org
- Sinha, A. C., "Sikkim" (PDF), in Mayumi Murayama; Kyoko Inoue; Sanjoy Hazarika (eds.), Sub-Regional Relations in the Eastern South Asia: With Special Focus on India's North Eastern Region, Institute of Developing Economies
Further reading
- Datta-Ray, Sunanda K. (1980). Smash and Grab: The Annexation of Sikkim. Vikas. ISBN 0-7069-2509-2.
- Duff, Andrew. "A Himalayan Chess Game" History Today (2016) 66#1.
- Forbes, Andrew and David Henley. China's Ancient Tea Horse Road. (Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books, 2011) . ASIN: B005DQV7Q2
- Phadnis, Urmila. "Ethnic Dimensions of Sikkimese Politics: The 1979 Elections." Asian Survey 20.12 (1980): 1236–1252. online
- Tiwari, Chitra K. "India's Northern Security and the Himalayan States" Asian Profile 14.5 (1986): 442–49.
External links
- Sikkim, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 3 December 2021.
- History of Sikkim (in Hindi)