Sikkim's transition from a princely state to a protectorate, then to an associate state, and finally to a part of the Union of India is a fascinating journey. It reflects the complexities of India's post-colonial consolidation and the nuanced geopolitical dynamics of the region. We discuss it all here -
Sikkim held a unique position under British India. It was neither like other princely states, nor was it fully independent or internally autonomous. For instance, Bhutan was an independent state under the protection of India, but Sikkim's sovereignty was clouded by ambiguity and competing interests.
As India neared independence, debates emerged regarding Sikkim's status in the Union of India. Sardar Patel and B.N. Rau urged Chogyal Tashi Namgyal to sign the Instrument of Accession, which was the standard procedure for all princely states. However, Jawaharlal Nehru decided to take a more sympathetic approach towards Sikkim, allowing the Maharaja to independently decide how to proceed with the state's integration into India. In the meantime, Sikkim signed the Standstill Agreement to maintain the status quo until a resolution could be reached.
The political landscape in Sikkim was shaped by its major communities: Bhutia, Lepcha, and Nepalese. While the Nepalese population, constituting around 75% of the state's population, held numerical strength, they were politically marginalized.
The Sikkim State Congress (SSC), which had a Nepalese majority, passed a resolution calling for a popular government and for Sikkim's accession to India. In response, Maharaja Thondup (son of Maharaja Tashi Namgyal) formed the Sikkim National Party, which was primarily composed of Bhutias and Lepchas. This party was in favour of maintaining the traditional social and political structures in Sikkim.
Amid growing political pressure from the SSC, the Government of India and Maharaja Tashi Namgyal signed the Indo-Sikkim Treaty in 1950. This treaty declared Sikkim a protectorate of India, granting it autonomy in its internal affairs, while India took responsibility for its defense and foreign relations. However, a subsequent clause was added, giving India overriding powers in the event of a threat to the state's security.
This period marked a critical phase in Sikkim's journey toward greater integration with India, though it still retained a considerable degree of internal autonomy. It also laid the groundwork for further political developments that would ultimately lead to Sikkim's full integration into India as a state in 1975.
In the years following the Indo-Sikkim Treaty of 1950, Sikkim saw Maharaja Thondup accumulating more power with the support of the Indian government, while the Sikkim National Party (SNP), a group primarily composed of Bhutia and Lepcha communities, aligned itself with the pro-democracy Sikkim State Congress (SSC), resulting in the formation of the Sikkim National Congress. This growing political convergence coincided with a turbulent political scenario in India. The Congress Party’s poor performance in the 1967 elections under Indira Gandhi allowed the Maharaja to leverage his unique position and extend his influence in Sikkim.
In September 1970, a revised treaty was proposed, which sought to upgrade Sikkim’s status from a protectorate to a permanent associate state, shifting the relationship from one of protection to a more equal partnership. However, Maharaja Thondup refused to sign the treaty, claiming it was just a step away from a full merger with India. He demanded that the Bhutia-Lepcha communities of Sikkim maintain their independence, marking his resistance to India's growing involvement in Sikkimese politics.
India, in turn, responded by shifting its policy towards Sikkim. The Indian government withdrew its support for Chogyal Thondup and began backing the pro-democracy forces, particularly Kazi Dorji, who was covertly supported by Indian intelligence. This support was significant, as many Sikkimese people, especially those denied Indian citizenship, were dissatisfied with the Chogyal's rule and sought integration with India.
In 1973, large-scale protests erupted against the Chogyal Thondup, invoking the clause from the 1950 Indo-Sikkim Treaty that allowed India to intervene in case of unrest. This culminated in a tripartite agreement between the Indian government, the Chogyal, and the Sikkim National Congress, leading to state council elections in 1974. This was a significant step toward a more democratic system, though still within the framework of Sikkim's complex relationship with India.
On 4th July 1974, a landmark event occurred when the Sikkim Assembly passed the Government of Sikkim Act, which was duly signed by Chogyal Thondup. This paved the way for the promulgation of a new Sikkimese constitution and the formation of a five-member cabinet, with Kazi Dorji becoming the first popularly-elected Chief Minister of Sikkim. This was a historic shift toward self-governance and democratic participation in Sikkim.
On 9th April 1975, Kazi Dorji formally requested Indira Gandhi to remove Chogyal Thondup and merge Sikkim with India. This request was followed by a referendum which was indicative of overwhelming support among the Sikkimese people for Sikkim's full integration into India.
To formalize the process, Y.B. Chavan introduced the Thirty-Sixth Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha to incorporate Sikkim into the Indian Union. The bill was passed almost unanimously in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. On 16th May 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of India, marking the culmination of decades of complex political negotiations.
Sikkim’s merger into India was hailed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a “new great experiment of democracy.” This momentous event reshaped the political landscape of Sikkim and marked a significant chapter in Indian history. The integration of Sikkim not only added a new state to the Union but also symbolized the success of democratic processes in resolving long-standing regional disputes.
For the longest time, districts in Sikkim remained stable. However, in 2021, the Government of Sikkim announced the formation of two new districts (namely Pakyong and Soreng), and the renaming of the existing four districts.
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