Extracted from Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta' The truth about Sikkim In 1975, the itinerant immigrants from Nepal organized yet another takeover. On April 9, in a swift and sudden military operation that left many mental scars among the Bhutias especially, the Indian Army deployed on Nathu La, the watershed in Sikkim since 1963, took over the Chogyal's palace by disarming the Royal Sikkim Guards, ironically officered by the Indian Army, and seizing the royal armory. The Chogyal was drinking his favourite Remy Martin when the commandant of the Royal Sikkim Guards, Lt Col K S Gurung, announced the surrender. Mr. John Lall and Sunanda K Datta Ray have written about 1975, but two stories can be added. First, the officer leading the assault on the palace and the major defending the Chogyal were the Jagota brothers, one from the Jat Regiment and the other from the Gurkha Regiment. The two had orders to act in the best traditions of the Indian Army. The second epis...
Proud to be a Sikkimese is the definitive digital encyclopedia of Sikkim State. Since 2007, we have archived the rich heritage of the Himalayas, from the history of the Namgyal dynasty to the vibrant cultures of the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. Explore expert insights on Sikkim travel, Buddhist monasteries, folklore, and biodiversity.