‘Sikkim: The Wounds of History’ reopened by Biraj Adikhari

‘Time has come when we need to bring a sense of closure to history’

GANGTOK, January 27: Claimed as a ‘hard look’ through the lens of the Constitution by a ‘new generation’ Sikkimese into the tumultuous events of 1973 which changed Sikkim and its spillover into present, Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) Biraj Adikhari authored book ‘Sikkim: The Wounds of History’ was released by the party treasurer Diley Namgyal Kazi and working president Tseten Lepcha here on Republic Day.

Running over 131 pages, the book’s central theme plays around the pre and post events of Article 371 F, the Constitutional shield of Sikkim. Due to the conflict introduced by certain procedures and provisions of the Constitution of India, the Sikkimese people are today increasing looking back to whatever protections they had, asserts Adikhari in his book.

Admitting that the subject matter is an old story, Adikhari said that the book is a fresh and totally radical look with some serious questions.

“This book is not about the people’s revolution of 1973. Enough books have been written about that. Rather it shall focus on retracing the constitutional jugglery which took place to define Sikkim’s status within the Union of India. The question of status is important here because we need to determine whether it is correct to club Sikkim with other ‘regular’ States of the Indian Union”, said Adikhari in his introduction of the book.

The author said that the book shall enquire into the fact that ‘after the merger/annexation, were the Sikkimese people expected to shed their distinct identity which was cultivated over the decades, and if their identity is to remain then how do they address it constitutionally’. The book ‘shall also point out the controversial steps which were taken in this whole exercise so that it invigorates the younger generation to take interest in their political past because, unfortunately, succeeding generations of Sikkimese children are growing up having a distorted version of their own history, as none of these facts are included in the school curriculum in Sikkim’, he said in the introductory part.

Questioning on the 35th amendment of the Indian Constitution that turned Sikkim into an ‘associate State’ which was retracted seven months later paving way for the 36th amendment which officially declared Sikkim to be a ‘regular State’, Adikhari said that ambiguity was further compounded considering the declaration of emergency in the country.

“At a time when India’s most powerful opposition leaders were almost voiceless, the Constitution was amended not once but twice to accommodate Sikkim. So how much of a voice did the representatives of Sikkim have in these debates for something as important as constitutional amendments”, said Adikhari in his book.

Claming the outcome of the tumultuous transition of Sikkim into a part of the Indian Union was the raging debate among the younger generation on who is a Sikkimese, Adikhari’s book adds that ‘while the Sikkimese is confused about his rights within India, the normal Indian citizen is even more confused about his rights in Sikkim today’.

He had highlighted some landmark verdicts, which he said, seems to suspend the most fundamental rights of non-Sikkimese Indians in Sikkim.

Due to the massive rate of influx during the last three decades, the rapid demographic changes have increased the urgency for a clear distinction between who is a Sikkimese and who is not and special provisions accorded by Article 371F should be acknowledged by all, said Adikhari. Perhaps a new nomenclature like ‘associate State’ needs to be cooked up, he added.

Justifying the issues reinforced in his book, Adikhari said that he is bringing this up because he believes ‘time has come when we need to bring a sense of closure to history’. “There are so many questions which have not been answered yet, and this state of continuing confusion has caused the wounds left over from history to fester again. These are the wounds of history, which have been around for more than three decades now, and shall have to be addressed if Sikkim is to move into the future”, said Adikhari.

While releasing the book, the SNPP president said that he wrote the book because he had been ‘jailed’ on Republic Day last year along with the party treasurer and working president because he was claiming that Indian Constitution had been ‘violated’.

There are two types of constitution existing in Sikkim which is very unfortunate, said Adikhari adding that he is attempting to clear the confusion in his book. The book is not an extensive book but is done in a simple manner to be a first hand reference on the history of Sikkim, he added.

Excluding the introductory part, the book has six chapters on Sikkim’s history starting from the uprising to the insertion of Article 371F in the Indian Constitution. The book has also five appendixes – May 8 Tripartite Agreement of 1973, the Constitution (35th) Amendment Act 1974, The Government of Sikkim Act 1974, Resolution Dated 10/4/75 passed by the Sikkim Assembly and The Constitution (36th Amendment) Act 1975.

source: sikkim express