Explained: How Sikkim became a part of India

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It was on May 16, 1975 that Sikkim became the 22nd State of the Union of India. Let’s understand how Sikkim became a part of India.

About the Sikkim Rulers before the advent of Europeans 

In 1642, Sikkim came under the rule of the Chogyal (or kings) of the Namgyal dynasty of Tibetan descent who ruled the kingdom for close to 333 years. 

Back then, the kingdom of Sikkim spread from Chumbi Valley, now in China, to Darjeeling, now in West Bengal, and beyond. 

After 1706, there were a series of conflicts between the powers of the region, which included Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, resulting in a shrinking of Sikkim’s territorial boundaries, 

The arrival of the East India Company

When the British arrived, their expansion plans in the Indian subcontinent included controlling the Himalayan states.

Meanwhile, the kingdom of Nepal continued with its attempts to expand its territory. This resulted in the Anglo-Nepalese war (1814 to 1816) also known as the Gorkha war which was fought between the Gorkhali army and the East India Company.

In 1814, Sikkim allied with the East India Company in the latter’s campaign against Nepal. The Company won and restored to Sikkim some of the territories that Nepal had wrested from it in 1780.

Administrative Control of British

​​A turning point in the history of Sikkim involves the appointment of John Claude White as Political Officer of Sikkim.

Sikkim by then was a British Protectorate under the Treaty of Tumlong signed in March 1861.

The scenario of Sikkim after 1947

In 1950, Sikkim became a protectorate of India through a treaty. A clause in the treaty read: “Sikkim shall continue to be a Protectorate of India and, subject to the provisions of this Treaty, shall enjoy autonomy in regard to its internal affairs.”

Public discontent against monarchy: The period between the 1950s and the 1970s marked growing discontent in Sikkim.

Anti-monarchy protests grew in 1973. Indian troops arrived after the monarch was left with no choice but to ask New Delhi to send assistance.

Finally, a tripartite agreement was signed between the chogyal, the Indian government and three major political parties, so that major political reforms could be introduced.

Attempts for constitutional development: In 1974, elections were held, where the Sikkim State Congress won defeating pro-independence parties. That year, a new constitution was adopted, which restricted the role of the monarch.

In the same year, India upgraded Sikkim’s status from protectorate to “associated state”, allotting it one seat each in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Accession into India

A referendum was held in 1975 where an overwhelming majority voted in favor of abolishing the monarchy and joining India.

Sikkim’s new parliament proposed a bill for Sikkim to become an Indian state which was accepted by the Indian government.

Source:  The post is based on the article “Explained: How Sikkim became a part of India” published in Indian Express on 17th May 2022.