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Sikkim
is a beautiful state in the periphery of India.
Nothing substantial has been known regarding the
history of Sikkim, still this article will try to
capture a gist of the origin of Sikkim. It is
believed that 'Lepchas' or rong (ravine folk) were
the first inhabitants of Sikkim. Later, the 'lepchas'
got engrossed with other clans. In the 9th century,
Guru Rinpoche, a Buddhist saint, happened to pass
through the lands of Sikkim. The monk sanctified the
land and introduced the religion of Buddhism to
Sikkim. He also prognosticated that the state would
be ruled by the monarchs in the later centuries.
Guru Tashi, who was a prince of Mi-nyak House in
Kham of Eastern Tibet, came in the Chumbi Valley of
Sikkim and settled down. The Sikkim Coronation Bank
depicts Guru Tashi to be the ''first ruler of Sikkim
who made way for a regular monarchy'. The
descendents of Guru Tashi learned the local culture
and made good relations with the 'Lepchas' clan.
Owing to these relations, the grandson of Guru Tashi
became the chieftain of Sikkim.
The Tibetans migrated to Sikkim and the 'lepchas'
were enforced to leave their abodes. In the interim,
the struggle between the followers of the "Yellow
Hats" and the "Red Hats" cropped up in Tibet. The
followers of the "Red Hats" were forced to hunt for
shelter in Sikkim. Phuntsog Namgyal (the fifth
generation descendant of Guru Tashi) was made as the
first Denjong Gyalpo or the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim
by the three great Lama immigrants. Phuntsog Namgyal
shifted his capital to Yuksam and formed a
centralized government.
Tensung Namgyal, the son of Phuntsog, acquired the
throne in 1670 and shifted the capital to Rabdentse.
During the whole period of reign, Sikkim underwent
various reforms and with the arrival of Tenzing
Namgyal, the rule came to an end. With the onset of
the British rule in India, Sikkim became a puppet
state. When the British were thrown out, Sikkim
emerged to be an independent state in India. After
much controversies and disputes among countries like
Nepal, China and India. |
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