SIKKIM

During the middle of the 16th century, the Red Lamas of Tibet introduced Buddhism to this Himalayan State and appointed Phuntsog Namgyal as its ruler.

Following a period of disturbances between different ethnic groups during the 1970’s, the Indian government of Mrs. Gandhi intervened, deposed the Chogyal on 10th April and annexed the country on 16th May 1975. The inhabitants of the former kingdom have always felt that India and her local agents fermented the unrest.

The movement for the restoration of the Chogyal and the independence of Sikkim remains a focus of much political activity within the country to this day.

Chogyals of Sikkim
1642 A.D. - Phunstok Namgyal
1670 A.D. - Tensung Namgyal
1700 A.D. - Chakdor Namgyal
1716 A.D. - Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal
1733 A.D. - Phunstok Namgyal
1780 A.D. - Tenzing Namgyal Chogyal
1793 A.D. - Tsudphud Namgyal
1863 A.D. - Sidekong Namgyal
1874 A.D. - Thutob Namgyal
1914 A.D. - Sidekong Namgyal
1914 A.D. - Tashi Namgyal
1963 A.D. - Palden Thondup Namgyal

Chogyal Phuntso Namgyal was born in 1604 at Gangtok. Son of Guru Tenzing, a descendant of Guru Tashi, he succeeded his father as leader of the Bhutias and was selected as the first Chogyal of Sikkim by the three Tibetan Lamas, Lhatsun Chempo, Sempa Chempo and Rigzing Chempo, who had converted Sikkim to Lamist Buddhism. »»» more

Chogyal Tensung Namgyal was born in 1644, son of the late Chogyal Phuntso. He was educated privately and consecrated on 1670 after his fathers death. After his consecration, he shifted his capital to Rabdanse. He married thrice, and his first wife was Nyum-bi-enmo, from Tibet, the second was Deba-sam Serpa, from Tinki-jong and his last wife was Yo-yo-hang, daughter of Yong-Yong Hang, a Limbu Chief from the Arun Valley. He died at Rabdanse Palace, in 1700, leaving behind a son and a daughter: »»» more

Chogyal Chhagdor Namgya was born in 1686, the son of late Tensung Namgyal, by his second wife, Deba-sam Serpa. He was educated privately and succeeded after his father deathe in 1700. After a power struggle with his half- sister, he fled to Tibet with Yungthing Yeshe, one of his father’s ministers. In Tibet he became a novice monk and distinguished himself in Buddhist teachings, Tibetan poetry, literature and astrology.
He was killed by his personal physician who severed a collateral artery at the Ralang Hot Springs on behests of adherents of his half-sister in 1716. He died leaving behind a son: »»» more

Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal was born in 1707, son of the late Chogyal Chhagdor Namgyal, by his wife, Lho Gyalma, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father 1716. Crowned, 1717. Reigned under the regency of the Lama Jigme Pao, during his minority. m. 1721 (div.), (d.s.p.), the youngest daughter of the Abbot of Mingdoling, in Tibet. He d. 1733, apparently without issue, but it was soon announced that a nun in Sangna Cholling was enchante with his child, who was duly born (Phuntsog Namgyal). A local governor, Chandzod Tamding, refusing to recognise the child’s royal parentage, proclaimed himself Raja, and ruled for some years before he was expelled by supporters of the child Phuntsog together with Tibetan help. Phuntsog was subsequently installed as the fifth Chogyal after a Regency headed by a Tibetan envoy, Rabden Sharpa.