Sikkim

The Lost Himalayan Kingdom Caught Between Empires

Andrew Duff on the tragic fate of an independent Buddhist nation

About the Ebook

This is the true story of Sikkim, a tiny Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that survived the end of the British Empire only to be annexed by India in 1975.It tells the remarkable tale of Thondup Namgyal, the last King of Sikkim, and his American wife, Hope Cooke, thrust unwittingly into the spotlight as they sought support for Sikkim's independence after their 'fairytale' wedding in 1963. As tensions between India and China spilled over into war in the Himalayas, Sikkim became a pawn in the Cold War in Asia during the 1960s and 1970s. Rumours circulated that Hope was a CIA spy. Meanwhile, a shadowy Scottish adventuress, the Kazini of Chakung, married to Sikkim's leading political figure, coordinated opposition to the Palace. As the world's major powers jostled for regional supremacy during the early 1970s Sikkim and its ruling family never stood a chance. On the eve of declaring an Emergency across India, Indira Gandhi outwitted everyone to bring down the curtain on the 300 year-old Namgyal dynasty.Based on interviews and archive research, as well as a retracing of a journey the author's grandfather made in 1922, this is a thrilling, romantic and informative glimpse of a real-life Shangri-La.'Clearly the most comprehensive account so far of Sikkim's fall... a masterly skill in story-telling' - Calcutta Telegraph

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Discover the extraordinary history of one of Asia's vanished kingdoms
• Explore how Sikkim was caught between India, China, and the Cold War
• Engage with first-rate narrative history on a little-known subject
• Read another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher

Reviews

'Andrew Duff's book is a remarkable piece of detective work — exceptionally well‑written, compelling, and a valuable contribution to understanding how the Cold War played out in South Asia.' Michael Burleigh, author of Small Wars, Faraway Places

'An enthralling retelling of the Sikkim tragedy, rich in human drama and historical insight.' Barbara Crossette

'Clearly the most comprehensive account so far of Sikkim's fall, told with a masterly skill in story‑telling.' Calcutta Telegraph

About the Author

Andrew Duff is a freelance journalist based in London and Scotland who writes on India and related subjects. In the UK his work has appeared in The Times, The Financial Times and the Sunday Telegraph, and in India in the Times of India and the India Quarterly. He travels frequently in India and East Asia.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Publication Date: 14 May 2015

Print Length: 416 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9780857902450

Format: Ebook

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