Beyond Borders - Beneath the Himalayas: the Story of Sikkim
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- Sir Kieran Pendergast interviews Andrew Duff about his book Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom, the true story of a tiny Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that survived the end of the British Empire only to be annexed by India in 1975.
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I had the privilege of sharing a panel discussion on Andrew Duff's book, "Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom", along with C.Rajamohan, a political scientist at the Jaipur Lit Fest, Jan2016. He has done a marvelous job with his research into the socio-political history of Sikkim leading to the crucible of 1975. The book also reads effortlessly with all the twists and turns like a political thriller. What emerges is this fascinating tale of a tragic King, who fought a hard solitary battle to give his Kingdom a new personality, emerging as it were from a nebulous status when the British left the sub continent to the time when geo-politics of the early 1970s forced certain key policies that forever changed the political contours of he Himalayas. I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks to gain an insight into the political history of Sikkim that ultimately culminated with Sikkim's annexation into the Indian union or someone who just wants to curl up in a sofa on a rainy day for a racy political non-fiction.
REST IN HEAVEN KIND KING.
eyeopener to say the least now let's read the book shall we😉😉😎😎....
Informative 👍
Sounds like a very interesting book
mr shashi tharoor speaks the truth.......India fully encouraged and supported Bhutan into the UN .
Just a few observations on Andrew Duff's book titled
"Beyond Borders- beneath the Himalayas: The Story of Sikkim." Your interview with Sir Kieran Pendergast was
fascinating. I am a Nepali (Rai) and I was deeply involved in the uprising against
the rule of Late Chogyal. I am not sure if Andrew did any research on why
Chogyal and Hope Cook were so unpopular with the educated Nepali youth of
Sikkim during late 60's and early 70's.
I am sure Andrew knows about the feudal system (i.e. Kazi system) of
Sikkim. The main reasons for the struggle against Chogyal's rule were: 1)
Socio-Economic condition: the Bhutias controlled all prime lands under the Kazi system and
Nepali worked (in some cases as bonded labourer) for the rich Kazi's and Bhutia
landlords; 2) most of the top government positions were given to the Kazi's and
Bhutia's children, hence depriving the vertical mobility for the educated
Nepali; 3) most important we the Nepali people wanted Chogyal to grant us ONE
MAN ONE VOTE when electing our representative to the Sikkim Parliament, this
was refused. After 1975, the erstwhile rulers Bhutia and Lepcha of Sikkim were given
the status of Schedule Tribe by the Government of India. My question to the
Indian government is "How can a ruling class get the Schedule Tribe
status?" and depriving the underdogs (i.e. Nepali). Lastly, please note
that Sikkim has unmarked common-open border with Nepal in the west and historically,
there has been lot of intermarriages taking place between the people of Sikkim with
the people of eastern Nepal (i.e. Limbus). So in my humble opinion it is wrong
make blanket statement and say all the Nepali people of Sikkim were brought by
the British. Thank you. G.D. Rai, Toronto, Canada
Gopal Daniel Rai you have made some valid points but i believe there were some prominent nepali individuals as well....
Isn't it fascinating that Bhutias and the INDIGENOUS Lepchas have been reduced to a mere 100,000? There are 500,000 Nepalis in Sikkim approx. There are atleast 3 million Nepalese in India. Some of the Nepali tribes have reservation as STs.
What more do you want? If the Bhutias and Lepchas don't have ST, do you think they'll be able to survive in a country with a billion population?
Besides your argument validating Nepali actions against the Chogyal still does not answer one question: Isn't it so obvious that Nepalese rose against the king because of manpower?
But the leaders were quite stupid to guide the people to merge with India in order to achieve this power.
In a way, it was for the best because I can't imagine Sikkim being run by Nepalese without the guidance of Indians. A good example is how the situation in Sikkim is today.
@Sikkimey Narendra you mean, the "migrants"? Not to mention, those Nepalis who are communal supported the influx of Nepalese from Darjeeling-Kalimpong in the recent past.
Because Nepalese population had outgrown population of sikkim ... and it was dangerous for the king ....
And Nepali people created problems in Bhutan and northeastern states of india like assam , nagaland etc and were violently driven out , everyone knows . And some ran and came to all embracing sikkim
Shame one you ..namak haram ...
And in which place nepali people have respect , wealth , equality and accepting other than sikkim ...
I challenge you name the country or state....you feel has done and accepted more than sikkim .
the history of nepali gorkha invaders in Sikkim is well documented. The legacy of sikkim and darjeeling nepali is the gorkha identity that they pledge allegiance to the Shah ruler of Nepal and the history behind the use of the word Gorkha. Nepalese have always been trouble because they want greater nepal everywhere. Darjeeling Sikkim Bhutan parts of India. These hired assassins called gorkhas were mercenaries who fought for anyone the british the indians and elsewhere where they were hired. They were the equivalent cossacks who have made Russia the big brother.
Although slavery in Sikkim Bhutan Nepal may have contributed to the gorkha/nepali population in these places. Both the weak monarchy of nepal and the buddhist royal state and the british who brought these immigrants have both emassed wealth from coolie and labor work more than their native hamlet in the nepal. it is well known the intention of british to destroy the house of royal sikkim and the Tibetan influence in sikkim by bringing in nepali immigrants. The british speak of this very political idea.
Why can't the big bullies (China and India) just leave the smaller countries alone? Their political villany is disgusting. India should have known better espcially after their getting independence in 1947. The British notoriety for self-gain ensured that they would have to have their toxic influence in affairs. Playing with a country and people lives is disgusting.
because deep down India wants to be the big brother. India envies the british empire and the now powerful kingdom still standing strong. The legacy of British was proudly inherited by the wake of Indian nationalism. Just following the british legacy of annexation.
Wrong narrative of 'Sikkim's annexation' has been handed down to the young generation by the powers that be in Sikkiim.
Can anyone calculate the money handed down by New Delhi for Sikkim's development in last 45 yrs? It's rags to riches saga for many many. I was there during Chogyal's years.
All criticizers fall apart when 97.5% of Sikkimese voted to stay within India after annexation. Today Sikkimese have more patriotism than Mainland Indians.
thats because almost more than 50% of the population of sikkim are NOT ethnic sikkimese.....
you dont need to do too much research to know what the reality of the 'referendum' was. if thats what you are referring to [97.5%]
Because most of the Sikkimese(Bhutia, lepcha, Nepali) didn't voted and didn't knew also that there was a voting going on....
most sikkimese of nepali descent also including the darjeeling area a part of sikkim want Gorkhaland. A quest for greater Nepal and allegiance to the royal service that they proudly spell out Gorkha and its royal background of it being the army of the Gorkha Kingdom who pledge allegiance to the brave Nepalese warrior and their origin.
sikkim is territory of nepal india have been colonies of nepals land. back off india
Sikkim was an independent kingdom. I am a Nepalese and I respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sikkim. We cannot claim what was never ours...
shyam ghaley It's more important that you learn to look into improving the pitiful state of Manang and other regions in Nepal.
janis purai
Hey u I am from Sikkim and sikkim is the land of Lepchas and Bhutia u can ask the nepali people of Sikkim....🙄
these conniving Bhutias aka Tibetans had no respect for the blood brotherhood oath taken by the Tibetan overlords.
Sikkim belongs to the Lepcha tribe.