STATALES
2003: CHINA WENT FOR A SWAP
OFFER, SOMETHING THAT IT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO WITH ARUNACHAL PRADESH - IT
AGREED TO FINALLY RECOGNIZE SIKKIM AS AN INDIAN STATE AFTER INDIA AGREED TO
DECLARE TIBET A PART OF CHINA.
NATHU LA REOPENING IN 2006: THE
FAMED TRADE ROUTE OF ANCIENT DAYS WAS REOPENED AFTER 44 YEARS AFTER IT WAS
CLOSED IN THE 1962 WAR. IT EFFECTIVELY PUT TO REST ALL CHINESE DESIGNS ON NOT
ACCEPTING SIKKIM AS INDIAN TERRITORY.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1890 - THE BRITISH-CHINESE
CONVENTION: SIKKIM DECLARED A “PROTECTORATE” OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE - LATER ON, IT
BECAME A PRINCELY STATE OF THE BRITISH INDIA.
1947-1950: SIKKIM AS AN
INDEPENDENT NATION - AS PEOPLE OF SIKKIM REJECTED THE PROPOSITION TO MERGE INTO
INDIA THROUGH A POPULAR VOTE.
1950: INDO-SIKKIM TREATY
WHICH MADE SIKKIM AN INDIAN PROTECTORATE - SIKKIM CONTINUED TO BE A SOVEREIGN
NATION - BUT WOULD DEFER TO INDIA IN ISSUES OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND
COMMUNICATION.
1975: CONTINUING ANTI-ROYAL
PROTESTS - SIKKIM'S PRIME MINISTER REQUESTED FOR MERGER INTO THE INDIAN UNION.
- APRIL 1975: INDIAN ARMY IN GANGTOK - REFERENDUM HELD - 97.5% VOTED TO JOIN INDIA.
- MAY1975 : KINGDOM OF SIKKIM BECAME INDIA'S 22ND STATE.
CHINA ON MERGER: CHINA TERMED
THE REFERENDUM ILLEGITIMATE, UNDER MILITARY PRESSURE - FOR CHINA, SIKKIM
REMAINED AN INDEPENDENT NATION TILL 2003 WHEN THE SIKKIM-TIBET DEAL WAS REACHED
AT.
©SantoshChaubey
