En g li s h

g r a t i o n
I nt e
Art
Efforts by:
Naman Aneja
Vagish Gupta
Pranav Goel
Shobhit
Aggarwal
The Eastern State Of
Sikkim
 Sikkim
Sikkim is a state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast,
Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the
south. Sikkim is also close to India's Siliguri Corridor near
Bangladesh. Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest
among the Indian states. A part of the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim
is notable for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical
climates, as well as being a host to Kangchenjunga, the highest
peak in India and third highest on Earth.[7] Sikkim's capital and
largest city is Gangtok. Almost 35% of the state is covered by
the Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
People & Culture of
Sikkim
 The Lepchas
The Lepchas said to be aborigins of Sikkim are of mongoloid descent. There
are different theories regarding the origins of Lepchas.The most widely
accepted theory relating to their origin is that the Lepchas are originated
from Sino- tar Platue of Burma.The major concentration of Lepchas can be
found in Dzongu in north district and Dikchu in east Sikkim, Rinchenpong
in west sikkim and several other parts.In order to preserve this fast vanishing
tribe, the chogyal had declared Dzongu as a Lepcha reserve. Non Lepchas
were thus barred settling there.Before adopting Buddhism or christianity as
their religion, the earliest Lepcha settlers were believers in the bon faith or
mune faith, which is based on spirits,witch- craftry, exorcism and nature
worshiping. Hence, Lepchas, are shy and quiet in nature, prefer living in
complete harmony with nature and its natural surroundings.One of the
important deity of the Lepchas, Tamsangthing is said to have invented the
rich Lepcha script.
 The Bhutias
The Lepchas said to be aborigins of Sikkim are of mongoloid descent. There
are different theories regarding the origins of Lepchas.The most widely
accepted theory relating to their origin is that the Lepchas are originated from
Sino- tar Platue of Burma.The major concentration of Lepchas can be found in
Dzongu in north district and Dikchu in east Sikkim, Rinchenpong in west
sikkim and several other parts.In order to preserve this fast vanishing tribe, the
chogyal had declared Dzongu as a Lepcha reserve. Non Lepchas were thus
barred settling there.Before adopting Buddhism or christianity as theiar
religion, the earliest Lepcha settlers were believers in the bon faith or mune
faith, which is based on spirits,witch- craftry, exorcism and nature worshiping.
Hence, Lepchas, are shy and quiet in nature, prefer living in complete
harmony with nature and its natural surroundings.One of the important deity
of the Lepchas, Tamsangthing is said to have invented the rich Lepcha script.
 The Nepalese
The Nepalis now constitute more than 80% of the total population of Sikkim
considerably out numbering the Lepchas and the Bhutias. The majority
community of Nepalis began coming to Sikkim somewhere in 1860s with
the then ruler of Sikkim granting a lease in Sikkim to some Nepali traders.
Due to their adjusting nature and hard work, the Nepali setters introduced
the terraced system of cultivation and this brought large tracts of hilly terrain
to yield crops productivity. Major sub-cultural stocks of the Nepalese are the
Kiratis who along with the Lepchas are said to be the aborigines of Sikkim.
Some of the major Nepali social groups are Limboo, Tamang, Gurung,
Newar, Mangar, Sunwar etc. The language spoken by the Nepalis are Nepali
and have the devanagri script. The Nepali language is also used as the
common language spoken for interaction by every community. Majority of
the Nepalis are devout Hindus. They have fabulous art, cultural traditions,
folk lores, legends, rituals, believes and practices.
History Of Sikkim
 Foundation Of The Monarchy
According to legend, Khye Bumsa, a 14th-century prince from the Minyak House in
Kham in eastern Tibet, received a divine revelation instructing him to travel south to
seek his fortunes. A fifth-generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal,
became the founder of Sikkim's monarchy in 1642, when he was consecrated as the
first Chogyal, or priest-king, of Sikkim by the three venerated lamas at Yuksom.[25]
Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal, who moved
the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse (near modern Pelling). In 1700, Sikkim was
invaded by the Bhutanese with the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had
been denied the throne. The Bhutanese were driven away by the Tibetan people, who
restored the throne to the Chogyal ten years later. Between 1717 and 1733, the
kingdom faced many raids by the Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in the east,
culminating with the destruction of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese.[26] In
1791, China sent troops to support Sikkim and defend Tibet against the Gorkha
Kingdom. Following the subsequent defeat of Gorkha, the Chinese Qing dynasty
established control over Sikkim.[27]
 During The British Raj
An 1876 map of Sikkim, depicting Chomto Dong Lake in northern Sikkim. However,
the whole of Chumbi and Darjeeling are not depicted as part of Sikkim in the map.
Following the beginning of British rule in neighbouring India, Sikkim allied with
Britain against their common adversary, Nepal. The Nepalese attacked Sikkim,
overrunning most of the region including the Terai. This prompted the British East
India Company to attack Nepal, resulting in the Gurkha War of 1814. Treaties signed
between Sikkim and Nepal resulted in the return of the territory annexed by the
Nepalese in 1817. However, ties between Sikkim and the British weakened when the
latter began taxation of the Morang region. In 1849, two British physicians, Sir Joseph
Dalton Hooker and Dr. Archibald Campbell, the latter being in charge of relations
between the British and Sikkimese governments, ventured into the mountains of
Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised. The doctors were detained by the Sikkimese
government, leading to a punitive British expedition against the kingdom, after which
the Darjeeling district and Morang were annexed to British India in 1853. The Chogyal
of Sikkim became a titular ruler under the directive of the British governor as a result
of the invasion.
 Indian Protectorate
Following the beginning of British rule in neighbouring India, Sikkim allied with
Britain against their common adversary, Nepal. The Nepalese attacked Sikkim,
overrunning most of the region including the Terai. This prompted the British
East India Company to attack Nepal, resulting in the Gurkha War of 1814.
Treaties signed between Sikkim and Nepal resulted in the return of the territory
annexed by the Nepalese in 1817. However, ties between Sikkim and the British
weakened when the latter began taxation of the Morang region. In 1849, two
British physicians, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker and Dr. Archibald Campbell, the
latter being in charge of relations between the British and Sikkimese
governments, ventured into the mountains of Sikkim unannounced and
unauthorised. The doctors were detained by the Sikkimese government, leading
to a punitive British expedition against the kingdom, after which the Darjeeling
district and Morang were annexed to British India in 1853. The Chogyal of
Sikkim became a titular ruler under the directive of the British governor as a
result of the invasion.
Language Of Sikkim
The official languages of the state are English, Nepali,
Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha. Additional official languages
include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa
and Tamang for the purpose of preservation of culture and
tradition in the state. Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim,
while Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain
areas. English is also spoken and understood in most of
Sikkim. Other languages include Dzongkha, Groma, Hindi,
Majhi, Majhwar, Thulung, Tibetan, and Yakha. The major
languages spoken as per census 2001 are Nepali (62.61%),
Sikkimese (Bhutia) (7.73%), Hindi (6.67%), Lepcha (6.61%),
Limbu (6.34%), Sherpa (2.57%), Tamang (1.87%) and Rai
(1.64%)