Sikkim Statehood day

About the day:

• Sikkim commemorates its statehood day annually on May 16 to acknowledge its integration with India and its emergence as the 22nd state in the country in 1975.
• The state of Sikkim was formed by the 36th Amendment of the Constitution of India in 1975.   

Brief history of Sikkim:

• In the 17th century, the Namgyal dynasty formed the Kingdom of Sikkim. The kingdom was made a protectorate of the British Empire in 1890 but the dynasty continued to function under the Chogyal (Buddhist priest-kings).
• After India’s independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to continue the kingdom’s unique protectorate status. India oversaw Sikkim’s external relations, defence, diplomacy, and communications but otherwise preserved its administrative independence.
• In order to enable constitutional rule under the Namgyal rule, a state council was established in 1953. After around two decades a people’s agitation against the monarchy in 1973 was led by former Sikkim Council member Kazi Lhendup Dorji.
• After riots broke out in front of the Chogyal’s palace in 1973, the Chogyal formally requested security from India and this led to the kingdom signing a contract with India.
• In 1974 a new constitution was adopted in the state, which restricted Chogyal to a titular post. In 1974, The Indian government changed Sikkim’s status to “associated state” and gave it one seat each in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
• In 1975, The Sikkim Prime Minister requested that Sikkim become a state of India in a petition to the Indian Parliament thus Sikkim became a state in India, and the monarchy was abolished on May 16.

Q1) Who is the founder of Namgyal dynasty?

Bhagan was described as warlike, and established the Namgyal dynasty in 1460 after he formed an alliance with the people of Leh and dethroned the Maryul king Lodrö Chokden (Blo-gros-mc’og-ldan) and his brothers Drünpa Aliand Lapten Dargyé (Slab-bstan-dar-rgyas

Source: President, Vice President greet people of Sikkim on their Statehood day

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