Sikkim

Sikkim
National Assembly		Sikkim
History: Firsts
-	Pioneers	Uday Narayan Singh
-	Local Assembly	Gangtok
-	National Convention	1967
Related media
Categories: Sikkim • People

Sikkim was a small independent Himalayan Kingdom with a Maharaja as its constitutional ruler closely linked to Inda by treaty. It is situated north of India, east of Nepal, west of Bhutan, and south of Tibet. Following anti-royalist riots in 1973 put down by the Indian Army, a referendum was held that led to the dissolution of the monarchy and Sikkim became India's 22nd state in 1975.

History

Shoghi Effendi called for the opening of Sikkim in the Ten Year Crusade in April 1953 as one of the high priority areas to be opened was assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Pakistan and Burma. By August, Uday Narayan Singh (Knight of Bahá'u'lláh) had arrived in Sikkim.

The Bahá'ís of Sikkim at a meeting in Gangtok, 1957

By January of 1957, there were 10 Bahá'ís in Sikkim. They expected to form a Local Spiritual Assembly in April. The priority of Sikkim was reduced due this accomplishment in preference to other areas still needing further development.

By 1963, there were six Local Spiritual Assemblies (Ganchukbusty, Gangtok, Pacheybusty, Pachey, Packyong, and Tarethong) and one Bahá'í Group (Dickchu).

In February of 1964, Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum left on an extended trip to visit India that would include a visit to Sikkim. Access to Sikkim was very tightly controlled but on May 18, she arrived in Gangtok, Sikkim. The drive to Gangtok was only 70 miles through some of the loveliest scenic regions in that part of the world. There she met Kedarnath Pradhan a stalwart of the Faith in Sikkim. The women of Siikim were "unusually outspoken, courageous, independent, and influential." Many of the Bahá'ís there were women. While there, Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Mrs. Boman, and Violette Nakhjavani had an informal audience with the Maharaja and the Maharani of Sikkim. Later that same day she visited Pakyong some 12 miles distant from Gangtok where she met with a large number of Bahá'ís and some inquirers from Pakyong and the surrounding area. On May 26th they returned to Calcutta.

In 1963, the Director of Education gave the Bahá'ís permission to open a school at Pachey, Pakyong on the condition that there be no religious preaching during class hours and that there be no government assistance.

The historic first Baha'i convention held in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, April 30 - May 2, 1967. 'Amatu'l-Baha RuQ,iyyih Khanum, special representative of the Universal House of Justice, is shown in second row, center.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim was formed in 1967 with its seat in Gangtok.'Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum represented the Universal House of Justice at the convention April 30 to May 2. of the 58 delegates, 33 were present and 54 votes were cast. When she visited in 1964, there were 300 Bahá'ís in Sikkim and now there were thousands with a very active community. She spent 10 days in Sikkim and there were over 200 enrollments during that time. One of the highlights of her visit was a friendly call to the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim who is Both the spiritual and temporal head of the country. A tea-party was given in her honor and a great number of high government officials in attendance listened to her explanation of the Teachings. She also was invited to the home of the Chief Administrative Officer (Prime Minister) of Sikkim because he was unable to attend the tea due to ill health.

The country of Sikkim was absorbed by India in 1975, but the National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim continued to administer the Bahá'í activities in the state until 1992.

From May 7 to 9 of 1977, The Bahá'ís of Sikkim hosted a conference in Gangtok. The conference was preceded with a Unity Feast attended by the Governor os Sikkim, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and other state ministers. The conference was attended by 3 members of the Continental Board of Counsellors and 3 members of the National Spiritual Assembly of India plus Bahá'ís from Belgium, Irán, Ireland, and Malaysia. The conference strengthened the efforts toward the completion of its Five Year Plan Goals and towards the completion of four Hazíratu'l-Quds. Additionally, a National Youth Committee was formed.

In 1978, the Bahá'ís of Tadong, Sikkim dedicated a new building for the Tadong Bahá'í School (one of three Bahá'í schools in Sikkim). The governor of Sikkim was invited as an honored guest. He spoke highly of the school and the 200 students of the school.

A class in the Tadong Bahá'í School, 1980

The Bahá'í School at Tadong, Gangtok was founded in 1975 and enjoyed great prestige. It was an important factor in the spread of the Faith in Sikkim and other Himalayan states. The schools students reflected the religious diversity of the area. Students were Tibetan, Indian, Lepcha, and Bhutia. It started with 25 students and by 1985 had 565 students (some were boarding there) and a new 5-story building was under construction for the school which would include offices for the National Spiritual Assembly. Classes were held for nursery through 6th grade. Courses are expected to be added with one new grade each year. Three other Local Spiritual assemblies in Pachey Khani, Pachey Phirphiray, and Pakyong based on the model of the Tadong School.

The Himalayan Conference was held in Gangtok, Sikkim in May of 1977.

In 1984, His Excellency Shri Homi J. H. Talyarkhan, governor of Sikkim, paid a visit to the administrative offices of the governments's publicity department. There were many uniformed children in the welcoming crowd. He was told that they were from the Bahá'í school next door. They had been asked to join the crowd so there would be enough present to properly welcome the governor. The governor extended his visit to see the school. Governor Talyarkhan spent two hours at the school and was presented a performance by the children, toured the library and had tea with the school staff.He then gave a talk at which he encouraged their education and added that all should take the "Each One Teach One" program. The governor was presented a copy of the book A Cry from the Heart by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

In February 1985, the National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim with the encouragement of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and others the Bahá'í-inspired Bahá'í Senior Secondary School, Saramsa was created in Saramsa, Ranipul village, near Gangtok in East Sikkim.

In 1987, new construction for additional classrooms at the Tadong Bahá'í School was in progress to replace rented space in the area for the 1987-88 school year. The school provides 50 per cent tuition scholarships for children from Bahá'í families and 20 full and partial scholarships for non-Bahá'í children whose parents are unable to pay the school fees.

At Naw Rúz 1988, 400 adults and 200 children attended a Peace Conference held on the Temple Land School premises at Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim. Krishnan Iyer, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim, gave a speech followed by entertainment by the school children of Tadon and Ranipol. The honored guest at the conference, S. D. Lepcha, the minister of animal husbandry, congratulated the Bahá'ís for the disciplined education in their schools and for the efforts by Bahá'ís around the world in establishing peace. The event was covered the same day by the All India Radio station.

For the 1988-1989 school year the Tadong school had more than 870 students from nursery to Class IX in attendance. The school was known locally for its high academic standards and harmonious integration of the multi-ethnic population. The Bahá'í schools emphasize the education of women and people living in rural areas. The Tadong school is now one of more than 600 schools of learning world wide.

In July of 1989, a training course to help real development was held in Tadong, Sikkim. In attendance were 38 Bahá'í youth from 9 rural areas and 54 students from Tadong Bahá'í School (including 18 women). There were courses in domestic electricity, plumbing, and jeep and motorcycle maintenance. The instructors were from the New Era Development Institute in Panchgani, India. George Menezes, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly spoke at the graduation ceremony on July 27. The event closed with the students chanting prayers they had memorized during the course.

The first summer school of Sikkim was held in Saramsa in July of 1991.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim was absorbed into the National Spiritual Assembly of India in 1992.

In 1997, Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Rupa Sharma and other Bahá'ís visited Jorethan, Sikkim, and proclaimed the Faith at a school and hospital as well as other personal contacts. 13 people enrolled and another I declared their belief at a conference organized by the State Youth Committee of Sikkim the next day.