A BRIEF
HISTORY OF SIKKIM FROM 1642-1889
JEENA TAMANG
Ph.D.
SCHOLAR DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, SIKKIM UNIVERSITY, SIKKIM, INDIA
ABSTRACT
Namgyal
dynasty was founded by Phuntsog Namgyal in 1642. The formation of this dynasty
was not easy. The first king or Chogyal had to suppress the rebels of three
tribes Lepcha, Limbu, and Mangar. After suppressing the revolt of tribes, the
centralized administrative structure was established which was based on the
pattern of the lamaistic theocracy of Tibet. Similar to Tibet, the Chogyal of
Sikkim had both temporal and secular authority. Moreover, Tibetan influences
were visible in social, political, religious, and cultural aspects of the Namgyal
dynasty and continued to exist till the end of the nineteenth century. By the
end of the nineteenth century in 1889, Sikkim came under British influence.
With this, the Tibetan influences end in Sikkim. The traditional administrative
structure was also changed and modified in the modern line.
Keywords:
Chogyal, Theocracy, Tibet, Nineteenth century, British
1.
INTRODUCTION
The Namgyal
dynasty was the first and the last dynasty of Sikkim. This dynasty traced the
descendants from Tibet and was founded by a monarch of Tibetan origin in 1642
with the help of three Tibetan Lamas. The first king or Chogyal of this dynasty
was Phuntsog Namgyal and the last was Palden Thondup Namgyal. The establishment
of the Namgyal dynasty was not smooth at first. The tribes Lepcha, Limbu, and
Mangar, residing in the country before 1642, refused to acknowledge Phontsog
Namgyal as their king. Thus, he had to fight continuously with the tribes.
Finally, he suppressed the revolt and concluded a treaty. After that, a central
administrative structure was organized based on Tibetan lamaistic patterns. In
the central administrative structure, as the Dalai Lama of Tibet, the Chogyal
was the spiritual and temporal head of the state [Sinha, 2008; 39]. Moreover,
Chogyal looks up to Tibet for guidance and support. As a consequence of this,
Sikkim had a very close connection with Tibet. Due to the closeness, Sikkim was
greatly influenced by Tibet. However, once the British intervention started in
Sikkim, the administrative structure of Namgyal based on the Tibetan style
collapsed and marked the end of Tibetan influences in Sikkim.
2. THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF NAMGYAL DYNASTY The initial year of Phuntsog's enthronement
was not smooth. The Chogyal had to fight intermittently to subdue the frequently
occurring rebellion of tribes. Most of the time, he had to employ forces to
bring the tribes under his fold [Chhetri, 2012; 87]. Eventually, the tribes
could not stand long against the excellent maneuver of Phuntsog, who had the
support of three intelligent Tibetan Lamas. Thus by the end, Phuntsog gains
victory despite tough resistance made by the tribes. Eventually, they accepted
Phuntsog as their king and surrendered their lands. Nonetheless, total peace in
the newly established kingdom was possible only after the conclusion of the
Lhomentsongsum Treaty signed in 1663 [Mullard, 2011; 140].
After all
this, the first-ever central administrative structure was established based on
the Tibetan model. The central government was supervised by the Chogyal and his
main tasks were maintenance of law and order, protection of the country, and
its subjects from the enemy, etc. At the central level, he was assisted by
various officers, who looked after the administrative requirements of the
country. At the district level, district officers Dzongpon were appointed to
deal with the affairs of the district [Chhetri, 2012; 88]. Finally, at the bottom
there were commoners.
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Issue-1 2021 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396 13731 www.ijariie.com 1654
The
appointment of the officers was based on the faithful services to the Chogyal.
As Maharaja Thudop Namgyal and Maharani Yeshay Dolma explain, “those
distinguished themselves by loyal and faithful services, saying that the post
of Minister and Prime Ministers would be conferred on them. On the other hand,
those who did not serve well would be classed amongst the common people and
required to contribute services as were required by the Maharaja, and that
thenceforth” [Namgyal & Dolma, 1908; 20].
3. THE
TIBETAN INFLUENCE IN SIKKIM Once the Namgyal dynasty was established, the
Sikkimese political culture was patterned on the model of Tibetan lamaist
ideology and administrative practice. Sikkim lies within Tibetan influence;
therefore, Sikkimese culture was purely based on Tibetan fashion. Like the
Tibetan king, the Chogyal of Sikkim was supposed to rule the subjects in
accordance with the tenets of the ‘Chhos’ Dharma [Sinha, 2008; 39]. As
traditional Tibetan government, which was the formation of clerical and lay
elements, the Chogyal of Sikkim was aided by an assembly of monks and laymen,
called Lhadhi-Mede (the assembly of elders) composed dominantly by the Bhutia
lamas [Gurung, 2011; 47].
Further, the
social and religious system introduced in Sikkim was the adoption of the
Tibetan religion-political theory of state and political power, as represented
by lugs gnyis (a system based on the unification of the secular or political
sphere with that of the religious or spiritual [Mullard, 2011; 23]. Similar, to
Tibet the bravery of the soldiers in Sikkim earned titles. For instance, during
Chogyal Tenzing Namgyal reign Donyer Chagdor son of Solpon Tsang Namgyal, had
performed the most faithful and loyal services at crisis.
Thus for his
loyal and faithful services, he was rewarded with the post and title of Dewan;
afterward, he was also called the aged Kazi Londepo [Namgyal & Dolma, 1908;
49]. The presence of Tibetan regent Jigme Pao indeed widened the Tibetan
influence in the court of Namgyal [Kotturan, 1983: 38]. The matrimonial alliances
with the aristocrats of Tibet and Sikkim further widened the closeness and
almost every Chogyal had a Tibetan wife. The influence of Tibet in Namgyal's
court was such that almost everything was taken from Tibet. Like religion,
titles as such Kalon and Dzongpon, language, manners, and customs etc [Debnath,
2009; 22].
Besides
this, the land economy of the Namgyal dynasty also seems to be influenced by
Tibet. Thus right after Phuntsog Namgyal, Sikkim looked upon Tibet in almost
every aspect from decision making to guidance. More over this practice
continued to flourish in Sikkim till the end of the nineteenth century.
However, under the British influences the administrative structures of Sikkim
based on the model of Tibetan lamaist patterns also changed to suit the British
interest in Sikkim.
4. ADVENT OF
THE BRITISH IN SIKKIM The initial connection between Sikkim and British India
starts during the reign of Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal. Unlike his father and
forefather, Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal was not favored with help and support from
Tibet. Especially, when Sikkim had territorial integrity with Gurkhas (Nepal)
who continued to occupied Sikkimese territory [Kotturan, 1983; 43].
Eventually,
it made Sikkim to seek the help of the British to derive out the Gurkhas from
Sikkim [Namgyal & Dolma, 1908; 55]. Consequently, Sikkim was involved in
the diplomacy of British and was considered British ally in the Anglo-Nepalese
war 1814-1816. With this, Sikkim, for the first time, came under the influence
of the British [Bhattacharya, 1992; 66]. The War came to be an end with the
Treaty at Segauli in 1816. Again a new treaty was signed between the British
and Sikkim at Titalia in 1817.
This Treaty
granted Sikkim protection against the Gorkha invasion, but it also marked the
beginning of the end of Sikkim's independence and initiated the British
penetration [Bhattacharya, 1992; 66-67]. Once again, the Treaty of Tumlong was
signed in 1861. The Treaty had twenty-three articles, and it spelled out a more
elaborate relationship between Sikkim and British India. It made Sikkim a de
facto protectorate of the British [Shukla, 1976; 26]. However, it was the Anglo-Chinese
Convention of 1890 that determined the border between Tibet and Sikkim and
expressly acknowledged British supremacy in Sikkim. So far as the status of
Sikkim was concerned, its external affairs and internal administration came
directly under the authority of the British Government of India [Sengupta,
1985; 6].
5. THE FIRST
POLITICAL OFFICER IN SIKKIM Under British influence, the processes of changes
have taken place concerning Tibet and its traditional socio-political
existences. As said before, with the establishment of the Namgyal dynasty,
Sikkim had maintained a close and cordial relationship with Tibet. But, under
the British, the relationship between Tibet and Sikkim deteriorated and started
with the appointment of a Political Officer. One year before the signing of the
Convention, in 1889, the British Government appointed John Claude White as the
first Political Officer.
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