SIKKIM

Pre-History
Much of Sikkims’ history is veiled under clouds of legends and myths. Its geography and location have played an important role in shaping the history of Sikkim.

It is an established fact that the earliest inhabitants of the land were the Lepchas. It is believed that in pre-historic times three tribes of Naong, Chang and Mon existed in the valleys of Sikkim. There are no recorded data and it is believed that they were completely absorbed by the Lepchas, who arrived here a little later.

The origin of the Lepchas are shrouded in mystery. Some contend that they are derived from the clans of the Nagas of the Mikir, Garo and Khasia hills which lie to the south of the Bramaputra valley. Other’s contend that they came from somewhere on the borders of Tibet and Burma.

They led a tribal life with a tribal leader. The first form of organizing into some sort of a society was developed by a person called Tur ve pa no. He was eventually elected leader or king called "Punu" around A. D. 1400. He was later succeeded by three Kings - Tur Song Pa No, Tur Aeng Pa No and Tur Alu Pa No. After the death of Tur Alu Pa No, with no heir to succeed him, the Lepchas resorted to the practice of electing a leader whose advice and counsel was sought on crucial matters.

8 th century
The earliest recorded event related to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche through the land during the 8th century. He is reported to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism, and foretold of an era of monarchy forth-coming centuries later.

AD 1200’s
Guru Tashi, a Tibetan prince had a divine vision to seek his fortune in ‘Denzong, the valley of rice’. As directed, he heads in a southerly direction with his family and in the course of their wanderings, they come to a Sakya kingdom, where construction of a monastery is at a halt due to the workers’ inability to erect the main pillars. Guru Tashis eldest son helps in raising the pillars single-handedly and hereafter is known as Khye Bumsa, meaning, ‘the superior of ten thousand’. The Sakya king after this feat of strength offers his daughters hand to Khye Bumsa, and they settle in the Chumbi Valley.

AD 1300’s
Khye Bumsa’s is issueless and they are advised to seek help from the prophetic Lepcha priest king, Thekong Tek. Having journeyed there and withThekong Tek blessings, Bumsa’s wife bears three sons eventually.

Out of this, there develops a relationship of respect and admiration between between them. Thekong Tek himself is without an issue, and being farsighted signs a covenant of blood brotherhood between them at Kabi Lungchok, where Khye Bumsa takes a solemn oath that he would not discriminate his newly acquired Lepcha subjects. It is a fact that most among Khye Bumsa’s nobility each took a Lepcha spouse to attest the pledge.

AD 1600’s
Political persecution of the Nyingmapa sect in Tibet lead to their seeking sanctuary in Sikkim and Bhutan. In 1642 Phuntsog Namgyal, the grandson of Khye Bumsa is consecrated as the first Chogyal in Yuksam by Rinpoche Lhatsun Chempo, the founder of the Nyingmapa order in Sikkim.

AD 1700’s
Periodic attacks from Bhutan and Nepal forces means the loss of Kalimpong and territories east of it to Bhutan. In latter years, the grandson of King Prithivi Narayan Shah of Nepal overruns most of Sikkims western flank.

AD 1817
British India intervention following their war with Nepal culminates in the signing of the Titaliya Treaty between and restores some of Sikkims, nepalese occupied territory.

AD 1828
British Commercial Resident of Malda, J. W. Grant, and Captain Lloyd visit Darjeeling and are quick to notice Darjeelings strategic position as an outpost for trade with Tibet and also as a recuperative prospective hill resort for the employess of the East India Company.

AD 1835
The Sikkim Raja is coerced to gift Darjeeling on lease from for a fee of Rs. 3,000 per annum.

AD 1850 - 1900
Darjeeling becomes famous in the Raj as a hill station sanatorium cum tea eastate and trade with Tibet develops. In 1865 Kalimpong is ceded to the British Indian Empire by Bhutan, and vies with Sikkim and Darjeeling as a Tibetan trading post.

AD 1889
Claude White is appointed as the Political Officer in Sikkim with a task to keep a tight rein on the activities of the Sikkim. During this period, court intrigues increase and two heirs, die in mysterious circumstances, leaving the throne to a prince, who had actually been groomed for monkhood.

AD 1914
Sidkeong Tulku, educated in Oxford, ascends the throne as the 10th Chogyal . He introduces many administrative and political reforms but his rule is short-lived. He dies within a year of enthronement and is succeeded by his brother, Tashi Namgyal.

AD 1930 -1950’s
Crown Prince Paljor Namgyal, an officer in the Royal Indian Air Force, is killed in action during World War II.

During this period, some disgruntled Sikkimese start a peoples movement and are successful for a short period.

The king takes refuge in the Political Officer’s residency and asks to be reinstated on his throne. After conceding to certain demands of the Political Officer, Sir Tashi Namgyals throne is restored and the 30-day republic annulled.

The Indian government appoints a Dewan in 1949, to serve as the state’s chief administrative officer.

AD 1962
China & India border war flares up with a massive build-up of Indian troops inside Sikkim.

AD 1963
Crown Prince Palden Thondup Namgyal marries American debutante Hope Cooke in a spectacular fairytale-like ceremony covered by the international media catapulting ‘Sikkim’ till then unknown into world attention and awareness for a brief moment.

AD 1965
Sir Tashi Namgyal expires, and Palden and Hope are coronated as Chogyal and Gyalmo.

AD 1973
Lhendup Dorjee Kazi, a former Sikkim Council member, with the help of India leads a peoples-agitation against the monarchy.

The palace administration collapses, Sikkim merges with the Indian Union and the institution of monarchy is abolished, ending 333 years of monarchy.

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee is elected Sikkim states first Chief Minister.