Sikkim: A History of Intrigue and Alliance by Preet Mohan Singh Malik

About the Book

Sikkim is an enigma for most, its history and its 1975 merger with India shrouded in mystery. This book fills the lacunae on both fronts, combining insights into the erstwhile royal kingdom's unique history with the intriguing story of how it became India's twenty-second state. It examines the often-fraught relationship between its original inhabitants, the Lepchas, and the Bhutias (people of Tibetan origin) who established institutions of religion and governance - Lamaist Buddhism and the Namgyal dynasty respectively. Aspects of the Indian relationship with Tibet form part of this narrative, in particular, due to the British involvement in the Himalayan region as a consequence of the 'Great Game' and great power rivalry with the Russian empire. For India today, Sikkim remains significant from a strategic point of view, given its proximity to the border with Tibet, now China, and the presence of the vital Siliguri Corridor that connects India's northeast with the rest of the country.

About the Author

Preet Mohan Singh Malik

Preet Mohan Singh Malik has been a member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1962. He was posted in Gangtok from October 1967 to April 1970 at the political office for India to Sikkim and Bhutan. He has also served as India’s ambassador to Bahrain, Cuba and Myanmar, and as high commissioner to Tanzania with concurrent accreditation to the Seychelles and Malaysia, with concurrent accreditation to Brunei. He has worked at the permanent missions of India to the European office of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva where he was also a delegate to the Disarmament Conference and on the governing body of the International Labour Organization. He was a deputy permanent representative at the UN Mission in New York. He specialized in economic diplomacy, covering both bilateral and multilateral areas. He was a member representing the ministry of external affairs, of both the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the steering committee on economic reforms chaired by the principal secretary to the prime minister (1992–95).