Annexation of Sikkim, remembered 50 years later in India by Ramakrishnan
Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim: The title of the famous book by renowned editorSunanda K. Datta-Ray, aptly describes the process of how Sikkim, an independent country like Nepal and Bhutan, was reduced into India’s 22nd state, in 1975 May, fifty years ago. If May 2025 marked a “decimation” of Pakistan by India, May 1975 had marked disappearance of Sikkim as a country. The “Annexation” by India was “unjust and immoral”, said Morarji Desai as Prime Minister in 1978. Vajpayee was then his Foreign Minister in the Janata Party ministry. Modi prefers to emulate Nehru and Indira, not Morarji and Vajpayee. This article, drawing from various accounts of those involved, briefly recalls the event and the process, unknown to younger generations of the Information revolution era, and conveniently ‘forgotten by elders’, of a self-righteous India. It was an event that shocked and struck fear among India’s neighbors, and led to a new term Sikkimization i...