Sikkim

Sikkim is a mountain state of India. It has borders with Tibet in the north, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west and the Indian state of West Bengal in the south. Its capital is Gangtok[?]. Population: 540,493 (2001 census).

History

In 1861, the British declared a protectorate over the rump of Sikkim left after detaching portions that passed directly under British control. On Indian independence, the British treaties with Sikkim continued with India as protecting power.

The last hereditary ruler, the Chogyal[?] ("righteous ruler"), Palden Thondup Namgyal[?] came to the throne in 1963.

On April 14, 1975, a referendum favored a merger with the union of India. Sikkim became the 22nd Indian State with a popularly elected chief minister on April 26, 1975. It should however be noted that the demographics of Sikkim had been changed with influxes of people from outside, both Nepalese and Indians (the latter often Indian-provided bureaucrats with a vested interest). The position of Chogyal was thus abolished and the monarchy ended. On May 16 the annexation was complete.