A brief history of Sikkim

The history of Sikkim basically unfolds with the coronation of Phuntsok Namgyal as the first Chogyal. He was coronated at Yuksom in the year 1641, and the coronation throne which witnessed this historic event, still stands today, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. Chogyal Phuntsok Namgyal was succeeded by his son Tensung Namgyal in 1670. He shifted the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse. Rabdentse, the second capital was very close to the Nepal border, and the Gorkhas used to constantly raid the Sikkemese territories. Owing to this, Chogyal Tsupshud Namgyal, the seventh Chogyal, shifted his capital to Tumlung in Northern Sikkim. These may have been prompted by the fact that Tibet was traditionally an ally of the Chogyals, and shared a close bond by way of marriages and other relationships. Unlike other countries, the Namgyal dynasty continued to rule Sikkim until it was annexed to the Indian Union on 16th may 1975, although it had to face its share of intrigues and wars with their neighbors, from time to time.

The Bhutanese army invaded Sikkim in 1700 and captured Rabdentse and large parts of West Sikkim. Chador Namgyal, the third Chogyal had to flee to Tibet and take refuge there. Later, the mediation of H.H, the 5th Dalai Lama of Tibet, the Bhutanese army retreated and Chador Namgyal was re-installed as the Chogyal. Although Kalimpong, which was a part of Sikkim, was lost to Bhutan forever. During the reign of the sixth Chogyal - Tenzing Namgyal, the Nepalese forces invaded Sikkim and captured a large part of the country, which were restored later when the Nepalese were defeated by the British in 1816, and the subsequent signing of the treaty of Suguali. As a direct spin off, British Indian signed another treaty with Sikkim in 1817, known as the treaty of Titalia, in which the former territories which the Nepalese had captured where restored to Sikkim. Darjeeling and its adjoining areas were gifted by the Chogyal to British India. In the year 1889, British appointed Claude White as the first Political Officer in Sikkim and the Chogyal virtually became the nominal head of the country.

After the independence of India, Harishwar Dayal was appointed as the first Indian Political Officer to Sikkim. There were rumblings in the political ranks by the beginning of 1970, which demanded the removal of monarchy and establishment of a democratic setup. In the year 1973, the Sikkim Durbar suffered widespread upheaval and the monarchy finally collapsed. The Sikkim Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on 10th April 1975, abolishing the institution of the Chogyal and declaring Sikkim as a constituent unit of India.

Sikkim became a state of India by the 38th amendment of the constitution of India on 16th May 1975. The first election for the Assembly was held on 8th April 1974. Kazi Lhendup Dorjee became the first Chief Minister of Sikkim. Sikkim has seen five Chief Ministers till date. At present Dr. Pawan Champing is the Chief Minister of Sikkim, who heads his regional party Sikkim Democratic Front. which has been ruling the state since 1994 .