Strategic Sikkim

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Sikkim-perched precariously between India and China-is of immense strategic importance for the defence of India. The Himalayas were once considered to be the gigantic defence line of India but the ultramodern methods of war have thwarted this concept in toto Height no more means might. The Indo-China war of 1962 made India realize the geographical and strategical importance of this Himalayan borderland Militarily, Sikkim, the royal route for Chinese Aggression, is vulnerable.

The book is an unparalleled venture in the field of strategic and defence studies. It is the result of an indepth study into the geo-political, geo-strategical, politico-military aspects and obstacles in tactical military operations-accessibility visibility, mobility, communicability as also availability and potentialities of defence resources in the tiny frontier state of Sikkim.

This book will serve as a beacon light in an otherwise dark area of military studies-Sikkim.

Dr. O.P. Singh was born in 1949 at Hardoi District of UP He did his post-graduation from D. A. V. College, Kanpur. Through his activities with NCC he was drawn into defence studies. In 1972 he joined Attara Post-Graduate college. Attara, Banda (affiliated to Bundelkhand University, Jhansi) as lecturer where he was head of the Department of Military Studies.

He got his Ph.D. from Avadh University, under the supervision of Major R. C Kulshrestha, where he was an external expert of Board of Studies. Besides, he was Convener of the Board of studies and Research Degree Committee, Military Studies, Bundelkhand University. He guides a number of research scholars registered under him in both the universities.

Defence of a nation is subjected to its geographic location, boundaries, frontiers, the strength, weakness of its neighbours and therefore it largely depends on potentialities of people and their land. With the advancement of science and technology and its application to war, waging of war in the form of mechanized and highly devastating weapons, the idea of mobile defence seems to have replaced old ideas of static defence. But the object of war is not achieved until and unless the strategic and tactical objectives are physically occupied in battlefield and this requires speedy movement of troops and military hardware in the thick of the battle.

The lofty Himalayas had served India in the past as a natural barrier against the aggressions by foreigners but in the present times heights are no more barriers and therefore China could succeed in fulfilling her dreams and ambitions. During Chinese invasion Indians were psychologically and militarily so unprepared for war that although there were enough number of maps to go round, some of those supplied to Indian forward commanders were incorrect. Indian forces were defeated in every sector due to lack of strategic knowledge of the borderland. It was a Himalayan blunder at all levels. Thus, the Chinese aggression has impelled India to have strategic survey of total Himalayan Borders including Sikkim.

Sikkim became the twenty-second state of the Indian Union in May 1975. Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an area of 7298 Sq. km. with a population of 3,14,999. It is bounded on the North by Tibet, on the East by Tibet and Bhutan, on the South by West Bengal and on the West by Nepal. The population consists mostly of Lepchas who are a tribe indigenous to Sikkim, with their own type and language. The Bhutias are originally from Tibet, and the Nepalese came from Nepal in large number in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sikkim had frequently been involved in conflict over her territory, and as a result her bounda ries have, over the centuries, been very much reduced.

Sikkim is a State with great strategic importance to India. And it was amply proved by the Indo Chinese war in 1962. It is necessary that its borders are properly protected. The present work Strategic Sikkim' written by Dr. O.P. Singh, originally formed part of his thesis for his Ph.D. degree and is now being brought out in the form of a book. The author has gone into great detail about the various aspects of the State particularly from the defence point of view. In the process, he has also dis- cussed the system of administration, industries, means of communication, education and welfare of the people living in this area. He has made on-the-spot studies and consulted a wide variety of literature and documents. I am sure the book will be not only of general interest, but will also provide material for students of research particularly those who are directly concerned with the defence of the nation and its relationship with the neighbouring countries.

**Contents and Sample Pages**