Ajit Doval’s Secret Mission: How Sikkim Became India’s 22nd State – Untold Story of Strategy and Power
Ajit Doval’s Secret Mission: How Sikkim Became India’s 22nd State – Untold Story of Strategy and Power
Ajit Doval’s Secret Mission: Discover the inside story of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s covert operation in Sikkim. From CIA suspicions to mass protests, know how Sikkim’s royal palace lost power and merged with India to become the 22nd state in 1975.
India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, is known worldwide for his daring intelligence operations. But few know that one of his earliest and most secret missions was not across the border in Pakistan or China, but in the small Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim.
Sikkim and Delhi’s Growing Concerns
Around 1970, Delhi was alarmed by reports from the royal palace of Sikkim. King Palden Thondup Namgyal, who married Hope Cooke, an American socialite, in 1963, was facing rising political tension. Delhi suspected that Queen Hope Cooke was in contact with the CIA, potentially influencing Sikkim’s policies at a time when India-U.S. relations were strained.
Ajit Doval’s Secret Mission: Strategic Importance of Sikkim
Sikkim was then a protectorate of India—India controlled defense and foreign affairs, while the monarchy handled internal matters. But during the 1971 Bangladesh war, America openly supported Pakistan. A strategic Himalayan state drifting towards the U.S. was a risk India could not ignore.
Ajit Doval Steps In
A young intelligence officer, Ajit Doval, was entrusted with assessing the ground reality. His covert interactions with Sikkim’s Nepali-majority population revealed growing dissatisfaction with the monarchy. The palace was seen as isolated and anti-India. Doval’s detailed report confirmed that Sikkim’s people wanted democratic reforms and closer ties with India.
Turning Point: Mass Protests and Political Change
By 1973, mass demonstrations erupted across Sikkim, demanding democracy and integration with India. Under pressure, Queen Hope Cooke left Sikkim for the U.S., never to return.
Ajit Doval’s Secret Mission: Merger with India
Finally, in 1975, the Sikkim Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy. A referendum showed 97% approval for joining India, leading to Sikkim’s historic merger as India’s 22nd state.
Ajit Doval’s intelligence played a crucial role in ensuring this transition was smooth and in India’s strategic favor. This lesser-known mission remains a significant chapter in India’s security and diplomatic history.
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