The State in the Colonial Periphery
A Study on Sikkim’s Relation with Great Britain
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The State in the Colonial Periphery: A Study on Sikkim’s Relation with Great Britain, as the preliminary title of the book indicates, it uncovers the relation between Sikkim and Great Britain, from the period when British East India Company (Britain’s de facto power in India) came into contact with Sikkim, till the end of the British colonial rule in India (1947). This book expands upon the existing literature by uncovering the British influence in the region and its impact in determining the politics of Sikkim. This work connotes Sikkim with the term – colonial periphery – which is neither a state under colonialism, nor outside the zone of influence of colonialism and predominantly acts according to the aspirations of the colonizer. This book also discusses The Great Game of nineteenth century played between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for the prominence over Central Asian region. In the Great Game, Sikkim occupied a pivotal position. Sikkim was on Lenin’s classic route of communist conquest as for Lenin – the road to Paris lies through Peking and Calcutta – and Sikkim was regarded as a – mountain highway to Calcutta – the position of Sikkim was as such, if Russia had gained prominence over Sikkim, then Russia would have had upper hand in the Great Game against Britain. But in the case of Sikkim, during colonial times, no power was successful in gaining prominence over Sikkim except Great Britain, due to Britain’s hold on India. Russians never came closer to Sikkim and never had a chance to penetrate into India through the mountain highways of Sikkim. The British observed that to promote their interests in Sikkim they have to wipe out the pro-Tibetan institutions from Sikkim. For this, they brought-up the sons and daughters of the leading aristocratic families of Sikkim into English education in order to wipe-out the pro-Tibetan institutions and to build their own institution based on English education. The Kazis and Lamas were the indigenous aristocrats of Sikkim and by bringing up their sons and daughters into English education, the British wanted to create a section of pro-British aristocrats. The British made Sikkim – an outpost – guarding British interests in India, which they considered, ‘Jewel in their Crown’. After the independence of India, India not only inherited specific treaties governing relationship with Tibet and Sikkim, but also inherited a fundamental geographical situation which neither the independence of India, nor the communist revolution in China changed. Surjit Mansingh (1984) has said; ‘Sikkim was listed as an Indian Princely State in the India Act of 1935’. Actually, there is no such list in the Act of 1935 which lists Sikkim as a princely state. The Act of 1935 did not make Sikkim a princely state or part of India. In the Act of 1935, the British divided states into three categories namely; a) British India, b) India and c) Indian State. “British India” meant provinces under Governors; “India” contains those states with Rulers who were under Governor General directly, and lastly “Indian State” was ‘any territory, whether described as a State, an Estate, a Jagir or otherwise, belonging to or under the suzerainty of a Ruler who is under the suzerainty of King of Britain and not being part of British India’. After the termination of British paramountcy in India, all the treaties signed between British Government, Princely States and the Eastern Himalayan states became null and void. Paramountcy neither retained nor transferred to the new Government. By the end of the Second World War, the British imperial interest in the region became a question of less relevance. Independent India took over the relations from British Government and Indian interests became the deciding factor in the future of these states. With the withdrawal of the British from South Asia, India was at the core of the relations with the Princely States and Eastern Himalayan States. India became an undisputed power in the region. Therefore, the transfer of the authority from the Colonial Crown to India became inevitable because British Government did not transfer the paramountcy to India. General Assembly treated India as a successor to pre-1947 India and admitted Pakistan as a new member in the United Nations. In International Law, the laws of the predecessor state remains in force until the new sovereign takes step to change it, survival of the old laws depends on the consent of the new sovereign. Since Sikkim decided to keep the Office of the Political Officer and also entered into the same relation with India which she had with Britain, it can be concluded that, India replaced Britain in South-Asia. India inherited the relation which the British had with Sikkim and she also recognised the protectorate right of India over her which made the clarity over the future relation of Sikkim and India on the one hand, and Sikkim and Britain on the other, after the withdrawal of the Britain from the South-Asia. This work has tried to look upon the British influence in the region by making use of existing literature, sources in local languages and the archival materials. But still much work remains to be done on the said theme as pointed out by scholars like Alex McKay. McKay talks about the East India Company Archives in Rangpur, which could cover the period between 1750 - 1850, and which has not yet been looked by any academicians/researchers till now. This work has tried to provide some answers to the questions on the British influence in shaping the politics of the region and its impact on the state of Sikkim. Over all, this study makes the conclusion that the regional, political, economic, and strategic interests of British colonialism played a key role in determining the political developments and present political situation in Sikkim.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The State in the Colonial Periphery: A Study on Sikkim’s Relation with Great Britain, as the preliminary title of the book indicates; it uncovers the relation between Sikkim and Great Britain, from the beginning of the relationship in the early nineteenth century, till the end of the British Colonial rule in India. This book expands upon the existing literature by uncovering the British influence in the region and its impact in determining the politics of the region. This work connotes Sikkim with the term – colonial periphery – which is neither a state under colonialism, nor outside the zone of influence of colonialism and predominantly acts according to the aspirations of the colonizer. After the end of British paramountcy in India, a delegation headed by Crowned Prince, Thondup Namgyal went to Delhi to discuss the matters relating to Sikkim with the British Officials. But since, the paramountcy had already been lapsed, they urged Sikkim’s delegation to discuss the matter with independent India. Independent India didn’t define the status of Sikkim, eventually India signed a Standstill Agreement (1948), to discuss the future and position of Sikkim in open. The Treaty of 1950 confirmed the sovereignty of Sikkim and Sikkim became the protectorate state of India, as it was of Britain. The international implication and the demands for the larger democracy in Sikkim, led to the merger, a peripheral state became the part of India. The contact with the British transformed the traditional monastic state with cultural, political and religious affinities with Tibet, into a modern state. Sikkim is still to some extent a virgin territory for the researchers, much work remains to be done on the period of British influence in the region; perhaps this is the first on the said theme. This work has made an attempt towards contributing to the fulfilment of this need. This work attempts to provide some answers to the question of British influence in shaping the politics of the region and its impact on the state of Sikkim. Overall, this study makes the conclusion that the regional, political, economic and strategic interests of British colonialism played a key role in determining the political developments and present political situation in Sikkim.
About the Author
I was enthused by the idea of writing something remarkable, but I never envisioned about writing a book, since it was beyond my grasp. But Partridge India showed the complaisance or the conviction that I can write a book and publish it, for which I shall remain obliged hereafter. My opportunity arrived when I was writing my MPhil dissertation, since it’s been told that – the past is an explanation of the present – My research is of same kind, this book is an attempt to add knowledge to the existing knowledge pool. While important inroads have been made in recent years by local and foreign researchers, Sikkim is still to some extent a virgin territory for the researchers, only the initial questions of the state formation, seventeenth century religious history and some aspects of the British and Indian periods have been addressed, much work remains to be done on the period of British influence in the region, using both sources in local languages and British archival materials. This book attempts towards contributing to the fulfilment of this need. Right now I am pursuing my PhD from Sikkim University, Gangtok, India, in the Department of International Relations. My area of research is the effects of colonialism in South Asia; its implications on the region and the dynamics of colonial influence on the states, especially Sikkim. There is a history of meddling of the British in the affairs of Eastern Himalayan states, which led to the synthesis between the three major ethnic communities in the region; the Lepchas, Bhutias, and the Gorkhalis. As the numerical majority, Nepali-speaking Gorkhali community plays an important role in shaping the politics of the region. By writing this book although, I have been able to fill up some of the important knowledge gaps in the region, but still works remains to be done. Dr. Alex McKay, talks about the East India Company Archives in Rangpur, Bangladesh which could cover the period between 1750 - 1850, and which has not yet been looked by any academicians/researchers till now. He says, “Good to hear that you are working on this subject; there is much to be done, particularly on the early period (esp 1770-1815 and even to 1888), and I think you can contribute here”, when British had significant influence over the region and these materials have not yet been looked by any academicians/researchers, till now. So, there is a lot of scope in carrying out this research, by using sources held at Sikkim, London, Rangpur, and National Archives of India, New Delhi. I was born and raised and I did my schooling in Sikkim. I did my graduation from Darjeeling, and return back again for the higher studies in Sikkim. The kind of research I am doing, this place would be an ideal place, which is the reason why I am doing my study from this University. Now I am pursuing my PhD, and when I finish my PhD, what would be the prospect for me, that have to be seen.