History Of Sikkim
The History
The original people of Sikkim were the Lepchas, which means "ravine folk."Lepchas came to the region from the Assam and Myanmar side. During 1200's AD, the Bhutia, a Tibetan people, started moving into the region. They included the Namgyal clan, who arrived in the 1400's and steadily won political control over Sikkim. In 1642, Phuntsog Namgyal (1604-1670) became the Chogyal (king). He presided over a social system based on Tibetan Lamaistic Buddhism. His descendants of Phuntsog Namgyal ruled Sikkim for more than 330 years.
During the 1700's, Sikkim suffered continuos attacks from Nepal and Bhutan, after which it lost much of its territory. Nepalese also came to Sikkim and settled there as farmers. By the 1800's, Sikkim's population was culturally very complicated, and internal conflict resulted. In 1814-1815, Sikkim backed the British in a successful war against Nepal, and won back some of its territory, once lost.
In 1835, the British East India Company acquired the health resort of Darjeeling from Sikkim. During the mid-1800's, Sikkim violently withstand attempts to bring it under British rule, but in 1861 it finally became a British colony. The British had access through Sikkim to Tibet, and Sikkim's independent status was recognised.
In 1890, Britain and China signed a convention recognising the border between Sikkim and Tibet. Later, the British installed a political office to help the Chogyal of Sikkim run the internal and external functions of the kingdom.
It was in the year 1950, the Indian government took over the responsibility for Sikkim's external affairs, defence, and communication. The struggle that had brought Indian independence in year 1947 promoted a democratic boom in Sikkim. The Chogyals lost their power as a result of the gradual introduction of a new democratic constitution. In 1973, India took Sikkim into the union as an associate member. In 1974, Sikkim became India's 22nd state.In 1835, the British East India Company acquired the health resort of Darjeeling from Sikkim. During the mid-1800's, Sikkim violently withstand attempts to bring it under British rule, but in 1861 it finally became a British colony.
The British had access through Sikkim to Tibet, and Sikkim's independent status was recognised.In 1890, Britain and China signed a convention recognising the border between Sikkim and Tibet. Later, the British installed a political office to help the Chogyal of Sikkim run the internal and external functions of the kingdom.It was in the year 1950, the Indian government took over the responsibility for Sikkim's external affairs, defence, and communication.
The struggle that had brought Indian independence in year 1947 promoted a democratic boom in Sikkim. The Chogyals lost their power as a result of the gradual introduction of a new democratic constitution. In 1973, India took Sikkim into the union as an associate member. In 1974, Sikkim became India's 22nd state.
