Talk:Sikkim

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The article says

Sikkim became the 22nd Indian State, with a popularly elected chief minister, on April 26, 1975. The position of Chogyal was thus abolished, ending the monarchy. On May 16 the annexation was complete.

Do we know anything abt what kind of steps took place from Apr 26 to May 16? Sounds incomplete as it stands.--Jerzy 14:51, 2003 Oct 23 (UTC)

I've removed the following from the article.

However, Sikkim is still recognized by the People's Republic of China as a sovereign country.

As of 2003-2004, China no longer treats Sikkim as an independent nation [1] Ambarish Talk 06:51, 7 May 2004 (UTC)

I've changed the wording in the chapter Demographics from "The demographics of Sikkim changed in the 20th century due to immigration of Nepalese, Tibetans, and Indians (many of the latter being Indian-provided bureaucrats who may have foreseen personal advantage from Sikkim's incorporation into India)." It becomes quite absurd to describe Indians as a separate ethnic group, both since there is no uniform Indian ethnicity but also since the Sikkimese themselves are Indians. Also many of the Nepalese and even Tibetans that have migrated to Sikkim are of Indian nationality. --Soman 23:11, 28 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Well, its more 'plainsman' now. Though inadvertantly we still refer to them as 'Indians'. Course everything's so distinct from one another. Right from appearances to what we eat. Even Jana Gana (the national anthem) is so alien to most of us. Not our fault. Half of us wouldn't know what its referring to!!! Sisney dude 18:58, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] "Pathetic"

Does saying the roads are in "pathetic" condition have an encyclopedic tone? Thc420 05:26, 8 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Fixed. -- Sundar 05:37, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)

A realistic expression of Sikkim's annexation, I read was its 'absorption' into India as original Sikkimese were outnumbered by migrants from surrounding regions. Bhutan is trying to fight a similar fate. I find small nations or cultural entities getting engulfed by bigger ones (naturally or by force)as a sad event. But history, is replete with it, so in 1975 the world said goodbye to the independent Sikkim.[Ralph Eskimo]

Yaaaa, its so sad! We could have done without it Sisney dude 19:00, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Annexation of Sikkim -- Referendum under Indian Bayonets

India's annexation of Sikkim was definitely NOT due to the unpopularity of the last Chogyal and the Kazi was coerced into requesting merger with India by Mrs Gandhi. This article is factually inaccurate when it describes the events of of 1975-76. There is also no mention of the clashes between the ethnic Nepali and Lepcha peoples during the 70's that contributed in part to the instability that gave India a pretext to annex Sikkim. The Far Eastern Economic Review, Hope Cooke and Siddharth Ray provide a less biased account of the actual events. --Notquiteauden 15:09, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

So its popular belief that the Kazi was coerced? My references say that the Chogyal was unpopular. Any articles online which contradict the mentioned statement?  =Nichalp (talk · contribs)= 18:54, Apr 7, 2005 (UTC)
In today's newspapers in Germany a military invasion is mentioned as anniversary, and the german version of this article says to, too. Looks like much research is to be done yet... 213.196.217.71 10:25, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)
97% seems a bit too much for me. I bet there is something that we're missing.--Luci_Sandor  09:06, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
Well Article 2 of Indian Constitution says that Indian Parliament can allow a state to join the Union of India on conditions it seems fit, it was argued in RC Poudyal v UoI that India had rigged the referendum, but if it was so then why is so much of problem in Kashmir? The army could have easily rigged the poll in Kashmit too. the high percentage of votes for amalgamation was reflecting the aspiration of the sikkimese people as almost 45% of them were working in India and their families felt that in order to have a secure future they have to join the Union of India. Now to a neutral viewer this incentive can seem coercion however the field realities may not always be the same. Legaleagle86 04:02, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Mentioned that referendum on joining India took place after Indian troops had invaded Sikkim. Source: Elite Forces of India and Pakistan, Ken Conboy and Paul Hannon, Osprey Publishing, London 1992 ——Nussknacker胡桃夹子^.^tell me... 05:34, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vbras Ljong

Please do not remove the Tibetan words of Vbras Ljong, the Tibetan name of Sikkim. If you cannot see the words, please go to [2] and install the font.

Tan, 12:52, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Iraq

Can someone explain to me how this "Indian state" can be the second most populous state in "Iraq"? Shouldn't it be "India"?

Venice, 09:39, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

One word. "Vandalism"  =Nichalp (talk · contribs)= 18:51, Apr 8, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Mismatch between the geography and economy sections

I have added a single line to the geography section to state that the land of sikkim does have farmable areas due to terrace farming. Otherwise, it seemed like there was a mismatch between the geography section which vehemently states that the land is not good for farming and the economy section which states that the state has a mostly agrarian population.

Thanks for doing so. -- Sundar (talk · contribs) 04:49, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Really great article, i wasn't suprised it is featured

This link is what triggered me to visit the article [3]

[edit] Page watch

I don't watch this page anymore so any replies expected may be directed to my talk page. User:Nichalp/sg July 3, 2005 06:56 (UTC)

[edit] Too many images

There are waaaaay too many images here. I say we have tah delete some of them! अमेय आरयन AMbroodEY 19:10, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

The pictures are a great addition. More articles need lots of pictures like this. PoolGuy 19:57, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Least densely populated state?

Surely the least densely populated state is Arunachal Pradesh with only 13/km².

[edit] Own Airport in 2005?

The article says "Sikkim is slated to get its own airport in 2005." I am removing this sentence since it is obviously out of date. I googled around a bit but was unable to find anything on the current status of the airport project, so I will leave it to others with more knowledge to update the article wwith the latest on that. Wbrameld 18:03, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

You are right. It'll take few more years for the airport to be made. There is not half a mile that is plain so it'll take whole lotta work. The roads too need to be widened and smoothened Sisney dude 19:00, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] History

In 1849 two British doctors ventured into the mountains of Sikkim unannounced and unauthorised. The doctors were detained by the Sikkim government, leading to a punitive British expedition against the Himalayan kingdom, after which the Darjeeling district and Morang were annexed to India in 1835.

What happened between 1849 and 1947 (the next year mentioned), anyway? 219.77.98.22 04:55, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] size of state

The article on Goa says that Goa is the second smallest state after Delhi, this article says Sikkim is second smallest after Goa. Which is it? Rmpfu89 19:53, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

Elementary, Watson: Delhi's not yet a state. —Nightstallion (?) 02:10, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tone

Inapporpriate The intro presently reads (emphases added):

"Sikkim (also Sikhim) (Devanāgarī: सिक्किम pronunciation (help·info)) is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second smallest in area after Goa. Sikkim was an independent country ruled by the Namgyal Chogyals (kings), but following a referendum forced by the Indian Government on Sikkim that was held in 1975 in which the people of Sikkim were outnumbered by immigrants from outside the state voted in favour of merging the state with India..."

Even if this is true, it's an improper way to word this section. Can someone who knows more than me fix this? -Justin (koavf)·T·C·M 23:21, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Agree strongly with Koavf. I reverted the current version back to the previous version but it was reverted back by another editor and I decided not to get into an edit war. Viewfinder 02:59, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] inappropriate and unverified claims

Okay this page lacks in editorial quality:

"Sikkim was annexed by India following a referendum forced on it against the will of the majority of its people." Could you present a source where we can verify this without having to buy an obscure paperback on Amazon, please.

I'm not saying it is untrue, but it sounds like a divisive statement strongly implying India used force that needs to be backed up by strong sources.

"Sikkim has become one of India's most visited states, owing to its reputation of cleanliness, scenic beauty and political stability."

Okay, this sounds like straight out of a tourist brochure. Surely a small distant provice isn't "one of India's most visited". regardless, please provide facts of visitor numbers, reports of cleanliness and stability. (The scenic beauty I buy, mostly because this is always subjective).

195.24.29.51 14:29, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

You are right, these need strong referencing. Am deleting the same. The original editor can add them back again backed with adequate & appropriate references. AshLin 14:53, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sikhim/Sikhs

In view of the alternate spelling, non-Asians probably deserve something clarifying, perhaps both a ToP Dab and something parenthetical in the text. Perhaps what i've edited:

Sikhim redirects here. For members of the Sikh religious group, see Sikhism.
Sikkim (also Sikhim; the similarity of this transliteration to "Sikh" is a mere coincidence between words from two separate language families and two widely separated areas of northern India) (Devanāgarī notation, in various local languages: सिक्किम pronunciation (help·info))

BTW, the above attempts to correct

(Devanāgarī: सिक्किम ...

which is contrary to our usual specification of the native language for a place name. My guess is that the same spelling in the Devanāgarī alphabet is used in most or all of the various local languages. (Neither of my unabridged dictionaries gives a language for the name; http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sikkim/id/1897059 favors Nepali as language of origin, but mentions also a theory for Limbu, which a number of other sites advocate for. But origin is not really to the point IMO.)

The Devanagari spelling is incorrect. As written it would have to be pronounced "Sakkimi". Shouldn't it be written िसिक्कम ? LADave 04:01, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sikkim Wikiproject proposal at Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals

Description 
A project, probably working with Wikipedia:WikiProject India, to work on articles relating to the Indian state of Sikkim.
Interested Wikipedians (please add your name)
  1. [your name here]
  2. Chris (talk) 09:07, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
Comments
  • The proposer should also add their name. Chris (talk) 09:07, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Scouting

Did Sikkim have Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts prior to its absorption into India? Chris (クリス • フィッチ) (talk) 21:43, 15 February 2008 (UTC)