With all the collected information, I'll now provide a comprehensive analysis on the topic of Sikkim's incorporation into India, focusing on Hope Cooke's alleged CIA connections and Ajit Doval's purported role.
Sikkim was an independent Himalayan kingdom ruled by the Namgyal Dynasty for over 300 years before becoming India's 22nd state in 1975. The kingdom was established in 1642 with Phuntsog Namgyal as its first Chogyal (king). During the colonial period, Sikkim became a British protectorate in 1861, and after India's independence in 1947, it became a protectorate of India through the Indo-Sikkimese Treaty of 1950.
This treaty gave India control over Sikkim's external affairs, defense, and communications while allowing Sikkim to maintain internal administrative autonomy. Politically, Sikkim was a theocratic monarchy with limited democratic participation, creating growing tensions between the palace and the people who increasingly demanded democratic reforms.
The Path to Merger (1950-1975)
Following the 1950 treaty, India began exercising significant influence over Sikkim. The country's development plans were integrated into India's five-year plans, making Sikkim heavily dependent on India economically. During the 1960s and early 1970s, political unrest grew in Sikkim as democratic forces gained strength and opposition to the monarchy increased.
The pivotal events leading to merger began in 1973 when anti-royalist riots broke out in front of the Chogyal's palace. This unrest led to the May 8, 1973 agreement between the Government of India, the Chogyal, and political leaders in Sikkim. This agreement established a more democratic government while maintaining the monarchy. Further political developments followed, including elections in 1974 that saw the pro-India Sikkim Congress win 31 out of 32 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
By April 1975, the Sikkim Assembly passed a resolution seeking abolition of the monarchy and full integration with India. A referendum was held on April 14, 1975, with reported results showing that 97.5% of voters supported abolishing the monarchy and joining India. On May 16, 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of India with the passage of the 36th Constitutional Amendment.
Operation Twilight: RAW's Secret Mission
The incorporation of Sikkim into India wasn't merely the result of spontaneous political developments. According to multiple sources, particularly the detailed account in the research paper "Operation Twilight (Nail Biting Mission of Raw That Merged Sikkim with India)" and GBS Sidhu's book "Sikkim Dawn of Democracy: The Truth Behind the Merger with India," India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), led a secret operation codenamed "Operation Twilight" to orchestrate Sikkim's merger with India.
According to Sidhu's account, the operation was initiated in February 1973 under direct orders from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to RAW founder Rameshwar Nath Kao. The operation was so secretive that only three officials knew its ultimate objective: Kao himself, eastern regional director P.N. Banerjee, and Sidhu, who was then the RAW station chief in Gangtok.
The operation reportedly involved:
1. Intelligence gathering on opposition leaders and the Chogyal's inner circle
2. Supporting and funding anti-monarchy political movements
3. Orchestrating public demonstrations against the Chogyal
4. Creating divisions within Sikkim's political leadership
5. Ultimately disarming the Sikkim Guard in April 1975, leading to the referendum and merger
The final phase of Operation Twilight was carried out in April 1975 when Indian troops disarmed the Sikkim Guards and took control of the palace. This was followed by the referendum that led to Sikkim's formal integration with India.
Hope Cooke: American Queen and Alleged CIA Agent
Hope Cooke, an American socialite who became the Gyalmo (Queen) of Sikkim after marrying Palden Thondup Namgyal in 1963, played an interesting role in this political drama. Her background as an American during the Cold War era naturally raised suspicions among Indian officials.
According to the excerpt from "Sikkim: A History of Intrigue and Alliance" by Preet Mohan Singh Malik, Hope Cooke was actively involved in political matters through the "Study Group," a think tank that advised the Chogyal on matters related to India. In 1967, she published a controversial article claiming that Darjeeling belonged to Sikkim and should be returned from India. This article significantly contributed to the distrust between the Chogyal and the Indian government.
Indian officials reportedly came to view Hope Cooke as a "trojan horse" planted by the CIA in Sikkim. According to the article in The Print:
"This article contributed to the atmosphere of distrust between the Chogyal and the Indian government, and it was felt that Hope Cooke was a 'trojan horse' planted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Sikkim."
However, there is no concrete evidence supporting these allegations. According to a post by "Nomad Culture" on X (formerly Twitter):
"There is no concrete evidence that Hope Cooke, the American wife of Sikkim's last Chogyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, was a CIA agent, though such suspicions were prevalent during the political turbulence in Sikkim leading up to its annexation by India in 1975."
The post further notes that historians, including Andrew Duff and former RAW officer G.B.S. Sidhu, have stated there is no credible evidence supporting claims of her involvement with the CIA. Hope Cooke herself denied such allegations in her autobiography, "Time Change."
Nevertheless, her actions, particularly advocating for Sikkim's greater autonomy and the return of Darjeeling, heightened suspicions about American involvement in Sikkim's affairs during the Cold War era when the United States was seeking to establish influence in strategic Himalayan territories.
The Contested Role of Ajit Doval
One of the more controversial aspects of the Sikkim merger concerns the alleged involvement of Ajit Doval, who would later become India's National Security Advisor. Some sources claim that Doval, then a young intelligence officer, played a crucial role in the operation to merge Sikkim with India.
According to a Quora answer:
"Indian government sent Ajit Doval as an undercover Agent in Sikkim 1970. He was assigned the job of merger of Sikkim in India. Ajit Doval and [R.N.] Kao were the brain behind merger of Sikkim."
Similarly, The Quint states: "NSA Ajit Doval had played a prominent role in Sikkim's merger with India."
However, these claims are disputed by other sources. The NewsClick article "The James Bond in the Himalayas" directly challenges this narrative:
"Firstly, Ajit Doval was born in 1945, when he was ready for posting he was 22 years old, at the time of the 'merger' he would have been 30 years old. According to Sunanda K. Dutta Ray as well as Andrew Duff, the 'merger' was being overseen by the then fledgling Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) under R. N. Kao was the agency credited with the 'merger'. RAW was created in 1968, by bifurcating the Intelligence Bureau. Ajit Doval had joined the IB in 1974. In which universe would anybody appoint someone with around one year of experience to head essentially an operation to destabilize a country and overthrow its government?"
The article suggests that associating Doval with the merger is problematic as it would imply admitting that "the Sikkim 'merger' was an occupation which then became an annexation, and at no point was any attempt at democracy undertaken since intelligence agencies were involved."
The academic paper on Operation Twilight mentions specific RAW officers involved in the mission, including P.N. Banerjee, Ajit Singh Sayali (not Doval), and others, with no reference to Ajit Doval's participation.
Doval's official biography does mention that "He played an important role in...post-merger political transformation in Sikkim," but this wording suggests involvement in the aftermath rather than orchestrating the merger itself.
US Influence and Cold War Politics
The geopolitical context of the Sikkim merger is important to understand. During the 1970s, the Cold War was at its height, and the Himalayan region was strategically significant as it bordered China, which had clashed with India in 1962.
According to some sources, the United States saw Sikkim as a potential buffer state in the region. A Facebook post cited in the search results suggests:
"With the Cold War at its peak, the United States saw an opportunity to create another pro-Western Himalayan buffer state akin to Bhutan."
However, US official documents from the era indicate a more hands-off approach. According to historical documents from the Office of the Historian:
"Hence, we propose to limit public comment on Sikkim situation to following: As we have previously stated, Sikkim is not a problem in which the U.S. is involved."
Later documents note: "The Indian absorption of Sikkim does not directly involve the U.S. We have never questioned India's protecting authority over Sikkim and its new status raises no issues for us."
These statements suggest that officially, at least, the US maintained a position of non-interference in the Sikkim situation, recognizing India's predominant influence in the region.
The Legacy of Sikkim's Merger
The incorporation of Sikkim into India remains a contested topic. Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai reportedly referred to it as an "annexation" and a "wrong step." The Constitution of India has barred all courts, including the Supreme Court, from reviewing any documents or agreements related to the merger.
After the merger, developmental activities in Sikkim increased significantly. According to academic research, the traditional feudal society gradually transformed into a modern democratic one, with profound changes in social, political, and economic sectors. Sikkim has seen significant improvements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare since becoming an Indian state.
However, questions about identity and cultural preservation have emerged. The merger made Sikkim transition to democracy but raised concerns about preserving the unique identity of its people. As stated in the dissertation by Bishwas Mani Rai:
"The merger made smooth transition in the process of democratic participation in 1975, yet it has failed to establish smooth transition in terms of Sikkim's people's identity. In the process of counting developments, the loss of identity that accompanied the merger was undermined. The merger of Sikkim with Indian union can be reckoned as a political success with a social failure."
Conclusion
Sikkim's incorporation into India in 1975 was a complex process influenced by multiple factors: India's strategic interests in the region, growing democratic aspirations among Sikkim's people, internal political dynamics including tensions between the monarchy and democratic forces, and the broader geopolitical context of the Cold War.
The evidence suggests that India's intelligence agency RAW orchestrated "Operation Twilight" to facilitate Sikkim's merger with India, though the exact details and ethical implications of this operation remain contested. While Hope Cooke was certainly active in promoting greater autonomy for Sikkim and was viewed with suspicion by Indian authorities, claims about her being a CIA agent lack substantive evidence.
Similarly, while Ajit Doval is often credited with playing a key role in Sikkim's merger with India, the timing and his relative inexperience at the time raise questions about the extent of his involvement, with some sources suggesting his role may have been more limited or focused on post-merger developments.
The merger represents a significant geopolitical achievement for India in securing its northeastern borders, but also raises questions about the legitimacy of the process and the balance between national security concerns and the principles of self-determination and democratic consent.
