Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

It was a passing of an era, Dal Bahadhur Subba (1924-2012) popularly known as DB Subba passed away at his home town Singtam two weeks back making a sudden void for his close people and family around. He had seen the town of Singtam grow from a small time river side inn bazaar to become today’s one of the busiest town of the state of Sikkim. He was dedicated towards the betterment of society and without doubt he was one of the pillars of modern Sikkim. Since ‘50s’ he came infront for his voice against the social injustice of free labour system that included Kalobhari, Jharlangi and other systems of Kazi-Thekadar. He fought for the rights of the suppressed and he was their ‘voice’. His association with Late LD Kazi, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim State inspired him to play an active role in the pre merger scenario. He was a significant leader from Singtam and the person behind controlling, mobilizing and leading the public of Singtam from the front. He joined hands with LD Kazi, R...

Lets also speak through old photographs.... The two photographs taken during 1973 revolt against monarchy rule shows two different pictures of the pre-merger activity at Sikkim that changed the political scenario of the then independent Himalayan Kingdom. The place shown in both pictures is MG Marg at the heart of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.

30 years ago in India Today   Our jeep jolted to a halt before the border town of Rangpo. The Nepalese driver leapt out to survey the scene and said, “We will cross into Sikkim now. All this was India.” “But Sikkim is a part of India,” we said. “That is what they say,” he replied. It was under the shrewd gaze of New Delhi thousands of miles away that Sikkim changed governments. In April 1975, the Government of India introduced the 36th Amendment Act making Sikkim the 22nd state of the Indian Union. The Sikkim issue, which had earlier developed into a national debate a year ago, never got complete hearing due to the declaration of Emergency. In Gangtok, the deposed Chogyal’s eldest son’s death has caused a sudden tightening of political reflexes all around. The Sikkimese continue to recognise Chogyal as the divine defender of their faith. — Sunil Sethi http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_registration&task=home_30yearsin...

Elections to the State Council were held in 1973. A small controversy with reference to the counting center at Gangtok ignited and within no time political parties organized demonstrations against the Government. The police force was used to control the agitation, which added fuel to fire. Sikkim National Congress and Sikkim State Congress demanded countermanding of the election and ordering a fresh poll. The Durbar adopted its old dual policy of repression and causing dissension in its political rivals. But this time it did not work.  Demonstrators began to attack and take over the police stations in the interior. The two political parties decided to boycott and disturb the ruler’s birthday celebration on April 4, 1974, in spite of appeals made on the contrary. The situation was grim and a pitched battle was fought between the demonstrators and the police. The palace went ahead with the birthday celebrations, which angered the masses even more. The administration collapsed and...