Kingdom of Sikkim

Not to be confused with Sikh Kingdom or Sikh Empire.
Kingdom of Sikkim
  • Protectorate of India (1861–1947, 1950–1975)
1642–1975
Seal of Sikkim
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem
Jahan Bagcha Teesta Rangeet
where flows Teesta Rangeet
Historical map of Sikkim in northeastern India
Capital
Languages Sikkimese, Nepali
Religion Mahayana Buddhism
Government Monarchy
Chogyal
 •  1642–1670 Phuntsog Namgyal (first)
 • 1963–1975 Palden Thondup Namgyal (last)
Legislature State Council of Sikkim
History
 •  Established 1642
 • Treaty of Titalia signed 1817
 • Darjeeling gifted to British India 1835
 • Palden Thondup Namgyal forced to abdicate 1975
 •  Merger with India 16 May 1975
 Succeeded by
Sikkim
Today part of  India

The Kingdom of Sikkim was a hereditary monarchy from 1642 to 16 May 1975 in the Eastern Himalayas. It was ruled by Chogyal Kings.

History

Nepalese domination

In the mid-18th century, Sikkim was invaded by Nepal (then the Gorkha Kingdom) and was under the Gorkha rule for more than 25 years. Between 1785 and 1815, almost 100,000 ethnic Nepalis from Eastern and Central Nepal migrated to Sikkim and settled down after pledging allegiance to the Tibetan immigrant ruler, Chogyal. However, after the creation of india by the British, Sikkim allied itself with them as they had a common enemy – Nepal. The infuriated Nepalese attacked Sikkim with vengeance, overrunning most of the region including the Terai. This prompted the British East India Company to attack Nepal in 1814, resulting in the Anglo-Nepalese War. The Sugauli Treaty between Britain and Nepal and the Treaty of Titalia between Sikkim and British India resulted in Partition of Nepal with Nepal losing Sikkim in 1817.

British and Indian protectorate

Under the 1861 Treaty of Tumlong Sikkim became a British protectorate, then an Indian protectorate in 1950.[1]

Annexation by India

In 1975, allegations discrimination of Nepali Hindus in Sikkim lead to resentment against the Chogyal.[2][3] Their instigation led to Indian Army personnel moving in to Gangtok. According to Sunanda K. Datta-Ray of The Statesman the army killed the palace guards and surrounded the palace in April 1975.[1]

After the annexation a referendum on the monarchy and Sikkim became a state of India.[4][1]

Culture and religion

In culture and religion, Sikkim was linked closely with Tibet, from which its first king migrated, and Bhutan, with which it shares borders. The presence of a large ethnic Nepali population, mainly from eastern and central Nepal, also leads to cultural linkages with Nepal.

List of Chogyals of Sikkim (1642–1975)

Main article: Chogyal

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Indian hegemonism drags Himalayan kingdom into oblivion". Nikkei Asian Review. Nikkei. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Larmer, Brook (March 2008). "Bhutan's Enlightened Experiment". National Geographic. Bhutan. (print version).
  3. ↑ "25 years after SIKKIM". Nepali Times (#35). 23–29 March 2001.
  4. ↑ Sethi, Sunil (18 February 2015). "Treaties: Annexation of Sikkim" (2). India Today. India Today. Retrieved 4 December 2016.

External links

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